HOUSTON – Plans to add a luxury hotel and residential tower to the Galleria were announced Thursday by Simon.
The hotel and residences, co-located in one building, will be built on the corner of Sage and West Alabama streets with direct access to shopping and dining at the Galleria. Simon officials said they will also be near the office buildings in Houston's Uptown District
"The Uptown area comprises a very dynamic and unique mix of office, retail, hotel and residential offerings," said John Breeding, president of Uptown Houston District. "The demand for residential space remains strong. The overall densification of Uptown is a testament to the fact that our city continues to grow and people want to live and visit this area. Simon's commitment to this project speaks to their confidence in the Houston market and Uptown. This project will be a welcomed addition to our prestigious area known for fashion, fine dining and luxury living."
Simon officials said the addition is part of a multi-year transformation of the Galleria, beginning with the creation of a new flagship Saks Fifth Avenue store adjacent to its current location, which is slated to open this month.
Once the new store opens, Simon said it will convert the existing Saks store into a new and vibrant multi-level mall extension. The extension will feature 110,000 square feet of space to house 35 new retailers and several new restaurants, all expected to open in 2017.
Officials said additional components of the renovation include the construction of a 14,000-square-foot, free-standing retail building referred to as the Jewel Box, which is now home to the Webster, a luxury fashion boutique that opened in January and will add Yauatcha, a Michelin-starred Chinese dim sum tea house, later this year.
"The Galleria attracts premiere brands that desire to be part of our enviable list of retailers and restaurants, and take advantage of our strong market positioning and sales performance," said David Contis, president of Simon Malls. "With 30 million domestic and international visitors coming into the Galleria annually and retail sales among the highest in the nation, adding a luxury hotel and residential complex with global appeal is the perfect next step in the evolution of this iconic property."