'Walkable, inviting, outdoor environment': East River Development breaks ground in Houston

A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the East River Development on Aug. 26.

East River is a 150-acre retail and housing development located along Buffalo Bayou in Houston's Fifth Ward.

"Today, we broke ground on the East River Development which will be one of the most impactful revitalizations for a generation in Houston's urban core," Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said in a post to his Twitter account on Aug. 26. "This development sits at the intersection of two culturally rich and historic communities, the Historic Fifth Ward and #EastEnd."

Developers are very optimistic as to the quality of the project. 

"We are really focused on creating a very walkable, inviting, outdoor environment in all our project. There will also be 360 multi-family units," Anna Deans of the Houston-based developers Midway told ABC 13 in May.

The developers were also pleased that the project would be located on the bayou. 

"We are very fortunate. While it seems counterintuitive being located on the bayou, it is actually high and dry," Deans told ABC13.

East River emulates City Centre at I-10 and the West Sam Houston Tollway. The project will be completed in numerous phases over the next few years. It will include retail, offices, residential property and walking trails along the Buffalo Bayou, according to a report by ABC13. 

The project will take place in four phases, with the groundbreaking being the first, with the intent being to bring extensive new activity to the area. ABC13 reports that the developers intend for spaces in the project to provide scenic views of the downtown area. The development is across the bayou from Minute Maid Park, with Clinton Drive to the north, Jensen Drive to the east and the Buffalo Bayou to the south. 

ABC13 raised concerns about flooding in the area with the closeness to the Buffalo Bayou, but it was noted that the area did not flood during Hurricane Harvey. The developers of the East River Development said they are consulting with local and federal officials to protect the development from rain in the future.