PROJECT INTRODUCTION:

With the completion of Enron Field Baseball Stadium on the east side of downtown Houston Gust to the west of Interstate 59) came the re-birth of Houston's east side of downtown. Known to many Houstonians as Chinatown, the area to the east of Interstate 59 mostly consist of abandoned lots that have been classified as brown fields and used for event parking and as a warehouse storage district. That is until the Lofts at the Ballpark were born.

 

The Lofts at the Ballpark is a multi-family residential development on the east side of downtown Houston across the street from Enron Field. The high-density urban infill project consists of 87 dwelling units per acre on a 4.3 acre site totaling 374 dwelling units. The 4.3-acre site is a full three (3) city blocks of prime real estate in Houston. Within walking distance are many of downtown Houston's office buildings and entertainment venues which create a unique experience for residents and guests alike.

 

CHALLENGES AND OPPERTUNITIES:

In 1999 the developer and owner of a multi-family real estate development firm assembled a group of design consultants with the [Landscape Architect] playing a leading role in the urban design. The developer and owner had a vision and a dream to create an urban infill project that would link the east side of downtown east of Interstate 59, now known as the East Downtown TIRZ, with the Enron Field District to the west. The project was to be built in four phases, one phase for each building. Phase 2 and 3 would happen simultaneously with a parking garage built between the two buildings and Phase 4 would include the green belt. The most visible challenge for the [Landscape Architect] to address was the ever-present elevated section of Interstate 59 that separates the East Downtown TIRZ from the Enron Field District to the west. A barrier not easily overcome through the eyes of many developers.

 

At the time the project was conceived no other developers had ventured to the east side of

Interstate 59 fearing that the elevated highway was too much of a barrier and that people would not be willing to live there. The challenge to the [Landscape Architect] was to overcome the barrier and transform the three city blocks of a derelict urban brown field into a thriving new-urban infill development. To succeed in the challenge the streetscape needed to be designed in a way to create a seamless transition between the east side of I-59 and the west side ofI-59 while being able to accommodate the large, seasonal influx of pedestrians during sporting events. Within the streetscape there needed to be quasi-public settings for street furniture as well as accent lighting for the landscape that would provide ambient light for pedestrians at night. Private space challenges included designing two private courtyards for resident use only with swimming pools and other amenities. Other opportunities afforded to the [Landscape Architect] included designing on street parking to help narrow the streets and provide convenience parking for residents and guest, work with the architects on building ornamentation such as the entry canopy and balcony railings, design a greenbelt on the east boundary of the project to link future developments in the East Downtown TIRZ, help the East Downtown TIRZ set design guidelines for streetscapes, and work with the City of Houston/Reliant Energy to accomplish the desired street lighting.

 

SOLUTIONS:

To help bridge the gap beneath Interstate 59, it was decided very early on that the repetition of materials, both hard and soft, would be the unifying element that would link The Lofts at the Ballpark and the Enron Field District. To accommodate the large influx of pedestrians, sidewalks were kept to a minimum of6'-0" clear walking width with over 90% of the walks having an 8 '-0" or wider clear walking width. Street trees, in sidewalk tree wells, were used to separate pedestrians from the street traffic and help the streets cape to have a human scale. Up-lights were used to accent the street trees and give ambient light at night while adding spatial definition that guides pedestrians along the sidewalk. Accent pavers were used to define the building entrances and quasi-public spaces like carpets rolled out to greet guests at a resort. At the main entry large planters and lighted bollards were used to define the space and give accent to the main entry. Also, two areas on either side of the main entry were designed for small cafe tables creating a quasi-public space were residents and guest could enjoy coffee or a book. Street furnishings will be provided in selected locations so pedestrians can stop to congregate or rest. In trying to keep with new urbanism guidelines as much as possible, public transportation stops were designated that will take people to and from downtown and outlying locations. Private space was defined by the architecture. Two of the three blocks have an interior courtyard consisting of a swimming pool, outdoor fireplace, arbors, and gas grills for resident use. Since grade change was not available, the [Landscape Architect] created change in elevations with planter walls and steps in the pool deck. Planting design was used to emphasize the architecture and define space while adding color and human scale to both the interior courtyards as well as the streets cape.

 

Plant material was selected based upon its ability to survive in Houston as well as potential abuse from pedestrians. Great attention was paid to small details that would be seen up-close and touched by people. Some of this detail can be seen in the simplicity of the handrails and the intricate connections on the poolside arbor as well as in the paving patterns. The green belt will be used to link the project to future developments in the East Downtown TIRZ with a park-like setting. Many of the streetscape details and plant material, as well as the site furnishings and lighting will be put into a design guidelines book for the East Downtown Management District to use as a standard guideline for future developments in the East Downtown TIRZ.

 

COMMUNITY IMPACT:

Since construction began on The Lofts at the Ballpark new development deals have been consummated and construction of other residential projects is underway. Ralph Bivens, real estate columnist for the Houston Chronicle, has profiled The Lofts at the Ballpark on many different occasions in his Sunday business section. One such article on Sunday, October 15, 2000 called the project, "a cornerstone of development on the east side of downtown". The project has also generated local media attention with a report on the growth of downtown residential projects. As construction of phase four draws closer to an end it is easy to see how a once derelict urban brown field can become a thriving new community with a vision and a dream.