Role: Principle contact with the developer for construction, engineering and general public information related to all phases of the project.
The Hardy Rail Yards was the oldest rail yard in Houston and located just north of downtown. At the height of its operation it provided major train maintenance location a switching yard. It was equipped with a turn table to
turn engines. Therefore, the site was highly contaminated.
Cypress Real Estate Advisors bought the 40 acre site, remediated it and in 2014 began improvements to the site’s prime access from Main St.; rebuilding the two-lane Burnett St. to four lanes; adding the first internal street in the site to reach the first mid-rise residential structure. This $58M+ development began with improvements to Main and Burnett Streets that will soon be followed by a four-story, Class A apartment community and that is being built as a public-private partnership.
As site work began METRO opened the new north route of the light rail train along Main St. with a station within walking distance of the coming mixed use development. That will lead to transit oriented development (TOD) in the near future adjacent to the station.
On-site and off-site improvements are being undertaken by Cypress who will be funded by the tax increment (increase in property taxes due to increased value created) when the increment occurs due to the improvements being made.
A significant off-site improvement is a large storm sewer line and a new and larger water line. Those are sized to serve the development as well as the neighborhood immediately north thereby improving the quality of life and property values for those residents.