Organic Development: Luxury Community Built Above a Whole Foods
The Morgan Group will develop a mixed-use concept that is a first for the area.
By Keith Loria, Contributing Editor
Houston—The Morgan Group will develop its latest Pearl luxury apartment project in Houston’s Midtown district with construction set to begin in 2016.
The new eight-story Pearl will consist of 260 apartments above a Whole Foods Market, a mixed-use concept that is a first for the area.
“The slogan for our Pearl brand is ‘live well’ and we’re focused on catering to the busy lives of our residents and providing them the best in comfort and convenience,” Philip Morgan, Morgan’s vice president of development, told MHN. “Amenities such as on-site bike share stations, walkable retail, in-unit Bluetooth speakers, and dry cleaning pick up/delivery all cater to our residents’ busy lives. Having a Whole Foods downstairs will certainly be a great convenience for our residents.”
Located at 3101 Smith St., across the street from Morgan’s Pearl Midtown midrise that opened last summer, the building will offer a choice of studios, and one- or two-bedroom units. Amenities will include a sky lounge, oversized fitness center, resort-style pool with cabanas and outdoor TVs.
The new Pearl will include components of the developer’s LiveWell program, which focuses on providing a healthy and comfortable apartment lifestyle for residents of its Pearl branded projects.
The area has experienced tremendous population growth in the last decade and Morgan noted that a walkable Whole Foods Market will fit in perfectly with the culture in Midtown.
“Midtown has a great mix of retail and residential, which brings with it great energy as the most walkable neighborhood in Houston,” Morgan said. “This development will spur continued growth for Midtown as a live-work-play environment.”
The Whole Foods Market store will be 40,000 square feet, with a second floor mezzanine for seating. It’s the 11th Whole Foods store in the Houston area.
“We’re focused on providing a great sense of community, comfort and convenience at all of our Pearl developments, not only with the amenities and finishes within the development, but also by tying them into the character of the surrounding neighborhood,” Morgan said. “There is no better amenity for our residents—or better enhancement to the Midtown neighborhood—than an urban grocery store like Whole Foods Market.”
