CHRON.
Elliptical tower in Upper Kirby tops out
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The residences at Kirby Collection, the 25-story elliptical-shaped tower along Kirby Drive, has just topped out, a construction milestone for the high-end office, retail and residential project being developed by New York-based Thor Equities.
The Richard Keating-designed building will have 199 units. About half will have one bedroom and the other half two. There will be a small number of three-bedroom apartments.
"(Keating) designed a building where everybody has a view of lights at night -- downtown or the Galleria," said Thor developer Jack Bousquet. "Everybody's got a grand view."
The additional cost to construct the tower's elliptic form was minor, the developer said, and will "pay off in the end when the units rent for more."
Keating called the ellipse "more of a benign shape for the neighbors."
The tower overlooks an affluent single-family neighborhood to the west. The lower garage levels facing the west side will be lined with two-story townhouses "so houses look at houses," he said.
A sixth-floor landscaped deck will have more than an acre of amenities including a pool, cabanas and fitness center. The 25th floor will have a lounge and rooftop terrace.
Thor has not yet said how it will price the rentals, but rents will be known soon as leasing is slated to begin this year with the building scheduled for completion in September.
Units will be have 1,400 to 16,00 square feet and have floor-to-ceiling windows, balconies and wine coolers.
The 13-story office tower at Kirby Collection topped out last year. JLL is leasing the 186,000-square-foot building.
"We're getting a lot of interest," Bousquet said.
The project, on Kirby Drive between Colquitt and West Main, also will have 65,000 square feet of retail space spread among two stories facing Kirby. Bowling and dining concept Pinstripes has pre-leased 33,830 square feet and several other spaces are slated for restaurants.
Despite a glut of inner-loop apartments, Thor's Chief Operating Officer Melissa Gliatta said the Upper Kirby area has been underserved.
"I think we're entering the neighborhood at a really good time," she said.