Few parts of Houston bring together as many workers, residents and businesses as Westchase District.

This special management district, established by the Texas Legislature in 1995, sees more than 60,000 people come to work across its 1,500 businesses each day. Additionally, nearly 30,000 people call Westchase home.

But it’s not stopping there. Investment dollars are pouring into the four-square-mile-plus district in West Houston, and for good reason, said Irma Sanchez, president and CEO of Westchase District.

“Westchase is a very desirable market,” Sanchez said. “West Houston is becoming the center of the city. All of the suburbs around us, like Fulshear and Katy, have surged in popularity in recent years. People don’t want to travel as far east as uptown or downtown, so we become that preferred option for those communities.”

By 2050, the population of West Houston is expected to exceed 2.2 million people. This is more than double the population in 2000.

This kind of growth is creating new opportunities for Westchase District, as developers and property owners look to make the most of the district’s position between Houston’s downtown and its western suburbs, Sanchez said.

Places Us On the Map

Several developments in particular are turning heads, Sanchez said. These include Park Eight Place, a $1B, 70-acre mixed-use development on the site of the former Halliburton campus, and One Oak Park, a 153K SF office building being repositioned to medical office space. In addition, a 21-story mixed-use tower will feature a mix of condominium residences and retail options.

Park Eight Place is a 2M SF development that will make Westchase a walkable destination. It will feature more than 2,000 residences, a hotel component, 1M SF of office space and 200K SF of retail and restaurant space.

This development will border Arthur Storey Park, a 175-acre park filled with more than three miles of biking and walking trails, playgrounds and green spaces. This was a strategic decision by Johnson Development Services to provide the Westchase community with a cohesive live-work-play experience, Sanchez said.

Sanchez said the district has long awaited these types of developments and the benefits they promise for the surrounding community.

“We’ve been trying to attract mixed-use development to Westchase for over two decades,” she said. “The majority of our apartment communities were built in the ’70s and ’80s, so it’s time to update our housing stock. This will place us on the map and make us a more competitive market.”

Retail and Hospitality Gain Ground

The density of developments of this size and scale will spur a new wave of retail, dining and entertainment options in the district, Sanchez said.

Westchase already has award-winning restaurants, such as Kasra Persian Grill and Pacha Nikkei, and dozens of shops and stores. But recently, more national retailers announced they would be moving into the district. This includes Ulta, slated to open its new location this fall in the Westchase Shopping Center, and Skechers, which opened earlier this year.

“We’re now able to offer a better-quality product to our residents and employees alike, thanks to the investment we’re seeing,” Sanchez said. “We have high-income earners moving to our area as West Houston becomes the go-to hub, so being able to offer more retail options is becoming a game-changer.”

New hotel space is also part of the plan, Sanchez said. Westchase already has multiple hospitality venues, including the Houston Marriott Westchase and Hilton Houston Westchase. These properties are investing in exciting multi-million dollar renovations to accommodate the next wave of growth in Westchase, she said.

As a result, both properties are making tens of millions of dollars in renovations, Sanchez said.

The Office Market in Westchase

Westchase has historically been a corporate hub, with the district’s 4.2-mile radius accounting for nearly 120 office buildings, about one-third of which are Class-A developments.

Though other types of development are taking shape in the district, more employers are doubling down on Westchase. Major employers such as Microvast, Linbeck, HRSS CPAs, and IES Holdings are relocating to the area and even purchasing their own properties in some cases. This shows that companies see the long-term value that Westchase has to offer, Sanchez said.

“The wave of redevelopment that we’re seeing has to do with the market that we’re in,” she said. “Real estate is affordable right now, and investors can actually buy a quality product that will increase its value over time. There’s a real opportunity for investors to lock into Westchase.”