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#EastEndStrong: New Growth and Prosperity
By Sonia RamirezDespite navigating challenging times throughout 2021, the East End community continued to show resilience and a new way of doing business. While many organizations and companies brought workers back to the office and customers again were able to meet face to face for business meetings, it wasn’t without its challenges. Virtual events, Zoom calls, and smaller gatherings seemed to dictate much of the year, but that didn’t stop projects and new developments from continuing to transform the East End into a mecca of growth and future opportunities.
2021 was a year of collaborations as the Chamber celebrated its 30th anniversary serving the needs of the community. During September, they participated in a project called “30 Days for 30 Years,” highlighting social media postings about members and collaborated with Rebuilding Together Houston on one big volunteer project to renovate and repair a home in the East End.
NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS
Rebuilding Together Houston, a non-profit organization that helps families, veterans, and senior citizens with home repairs, collaborated with the East End Chamber to help Maria Isabel Melo, a long-standing resident of the East End for 38 years, update her 1930s home. Together with a community of staff and volunteers, they worked on a project that included painting, caulking, replacing some siding, fascia, soffit, and yard cleanup, among other updates.
NEW SPACES TO GROW
New developments have already begun popping up along the East River, a 150 acre multi-phased, multi/mixed-use development. Developed by Midway, a privately owned, fully integrated real estate investment and development firm, the area is already seeing commercial and residential spaces along with residential/townhomes in the lower 5th Ward.
Phase 1 will include a 360-unit apartment home complex, two office buildings (both with ground floor retail/hospitality), a free-standing restaurant building, and a parking garage is scheduled to be done in spring 2023. The overall completion will take about 20 years. “Given East River’s size and scope, we believe it will act as a major catalyst to spur additional redevelopment and investment in the 5th and 2nd Ward communities, bringing more employment and business opportunities,” said Executive Vice President of Midway David W. Hightower.
The East End is home to an exciting new venue now open called Ronin Harrisburg. What started as a space for a creative arts agency has blossomed into a chain of Houston’s most unique event venues and the 3rd and largest venue of the Ronin Art House brand, according to Keagan Harley, Ronin creator and managing partner. “The 4,400 square foot venue combines an industrial aesthetic with a sophisticated edge. Ample natural light features and custom lighting panels make the venue the perfect setting for day or evening events.”
Upon first glance, you could even say the all-inclusive spaces are works of art themselves. Inspiration for the chic modern style was taken from the Louvre in Abu Dhabi.
Another exciting new development now open for business is the East End Maker Hub, a 300,000-square-foot industrial incubator developed by Urban Partnerships CDC and TxRX Labs. The industrial incubator opened in 2021, wrapping up construction on phases one and two, according to their website.
“This project provides an opportunity to reclaim our history of innovation in manufacturing and to ensure that the process of innovation is equitable,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said in a statement held during the grand opening. New tenants are already coming on board, including Syzygy Plasmonics, who signed a lease for 6,736 square feet in the East End Maker Hub.
THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT
While there are new developments, a few projects are still in the planning stages or nearing completion, such as Little Red Box Grocery Story (LRB). Scheduled to open in late February 2022, LRB is a traditional neighborhood market reimagined to a quaint small store format where customers can purchase fresh foods and pantry essentials you buy most often with convenient online ordering and curbside pick-up. Free cooking and nutrition classes will also be available.
Samuel Newman with LRB said the idea behind the store is to be an access point for providing an assortment of items at affordable prices that can be a challenge to find in the neighborhood. “What we think will set us apart is our desire to be engaged with the community above and beyond food,” Newman said. “That could be anything from health and wellness screenings; it could be voter registration drives, whatever the community doesn’t have access to; we want to provide the ability for organizations to come in and leverage our space.”
There’s also going to be a new Sheriff’s Complex coming to the area in the next few years. Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia shared the following regarding that new development-“The new Harris County Sheriff’s Office building in the East End is a great example of how public facilities and amenities can help our community progress in multiple ways. Our law enforcement partners will get the space and resources they need to keep us safe while the community also gains a space to gather, learn, and grow together while strengthening the relationship with law enforcement. Making this a dual-purpose facility from the beginning is a win-win for everyone involved.”
Coming in late 2022, Shipley Do-Nuts will set up its corporate office at the site of the old Finger Furniture’s flagship showroom. The state-of-the-art facility will feature an interior drive-thru going right through the building providing a behind-the-scenes look into the making of "The World's Greatest Do-Nut,” according to a press release.
The headquarters, named after founder Lawrence Shipley's son, the L.W. "Bud" Shipley Jr. Support Center, replaces Shipley's longtime Houston headquarters on North Main Street showing that East End is the place to be to lay down roots.
The Chamber continues to be the premier catalyst for economic and community development in the area. Our mission to connect businesses to promote economic expansion and investment in the East End is seen in the abundance of growth we are experiencing throughout the region. We encourage you to join us and take advantage of the opportunities to network and create new partnerships. Together we are #EastEndStong.
Neighborhoods
The East End represents a number of the city’s most historic and culturally significant neighborhoods. Many area residents can trace their ancestors back to some of the area’s early settlers and some of Houston’s original recorded deeds are in the East End.
The homes built in Eastwood were custom homes reflecting the early 20th century fondness for Craftsman, Arts & Crafts, Foursquare and Mission architecture. Today, Eastwood has one of Houston’s largest intact collections of these architectural styles.
Please take a look at the East End's premier neighborhoods:
Houston Country Club Place
Eastwood
East Lawndale
Fullerton Place
Harrisburg Civic Association
Idlywood
Greater Magnolia Park Pine View
Middle Street Lofts on the BayouTwenty-two new residential communities have become a part of the East End landscape bringing new and old together in a fashionable way. In town Homes the newest development in east downtown offers a variety of townhomes and lofts sure to suit your style!