By George Slaughter
An artist’s rendition of Boardwalk Lofts, the residential component of the Katy Boardwalk District. (Courtesy Katy Boardwalk District)
The Katy Boardwalk Project development team has added two new partners as the project continues to evolve.
One new partner, the Colliers Retail Team, will manage the project’s tenant leasing activities. The other, Method Architecture, will re-imagine the mixed use and retail site plan. The goal is to better maximize the appeal of the nature-inspired lake to showcase the region’s native trees, flora and wildlife.
The Colliers team of Wade Greene, Kimberly Lenardson and Hannah Tosch is presently discussing several notable restaurant, bar and entertainment concepts, according to a news release.
“We’ve heard from a number of concepts both here in Houston across the country,” Greene said. “We’re certainly evaluating all of these opportunities to determine the best ones for the project.”
An announcement of Katy Boardwalk District’s first tenants is expected in early 2022.
Keith Dalton of KBH Venture, co-developer of the district, said greater emphasis will be placed on improved sight lines and accessibility to the lake for hotel guests and for visitors to dine or enjoy outdoor activities on the public green space. A redefined site plan is expected this fall.
“The impact of COVID-19 gave us extra time to re-evaluate the site plan to ensure we’re incorporating the lakefront experience into the entire project,” Dalton said.
City officials praised the changes.
“As a public/private partnership, we’re delighted to work with a team of professionals with the experience and vision needed to bring the boardwalk to life,” says Skip Conner, Katy Development Authority president and former mayor.
Said Katy City Administrator Byron Hebert: “They represent the best and brightest in design, development and leasing. We’re looking forward to collaborating with the entire team.”
The district will be a full-service hotel and conference center, a 304-room, four-star property with ballroom and event space to accommodate large meetings and social gatherings.
The district’s residential component, Boardwalk Lofts, is expected to open this fall as a luxury apartment community.
The 169-acre setting at Kingsland Boulevard and Prairie Parkway, just south of I-10 and the Katy Mills Mall, is a public/private partnership among the City of Katy, the Katy Development Authority, and developers KBH Venture and Sueba USA, all key stakeholders in Katy Boardwalk District.
For more information, visit www.katyboardwalkdistrict.com.