|
|
6/16/26
|
Montauk Development Company, a development entity of Roberts Markland LLP, is advancing a six-acre revitalization initiative in Houston’s Riverside Terrace, one of the city’s most historically significant neighborhoods. The approximately $20 mil initiative focuses on adaptive reuse and preservation of former residential properties. This effort will transform the area into a cohesive, community-driven cultural district while safeguarding its architectural integrity.
At the heart of the initiative are three historic homes now serving as the offices of Roberts Markland LLP, alongside a growing collection of preserved properties being thoughtfully reimagined for public use. Rather than replacing existing structures, the project prioritizes restoration, retaining original design elements while introducing new purposes that activate the land in meaningful, community-oriented ways.
Among the other activated sites is The Art Gallery, currently open and housed within a restored structure at 2516 Riverside Drive. The gallery represents the first phase of a broader cultural vision that includes the forthcoming Black Art Museum of Houston (BAMH) at 2506 Riverside Drive. Now under renovation and expected to open this year, the museum will serve as a permanent cultural anchor, showcasing rotating exhibitions, educational programming, and community events that celebrate Black art and history.
Adjacent land at 2501 Riverside Drive, an urban farm, garden, and nursery is being developed to complement the hospitality ventures located further along Riverside Drive. The farm activation transforms underutilized land into a productive, community-serving food-bank, and also supports local food access through a weekend farmers market while supplying fresh ingredients to nearby restaurants. The space reinforces the project’s broader philosophy: that land can serve both cultural and functional purposes without compromising its legacy.
The six-acre revitalization will also introduce a mix of complementary uses over the next year, pending construction conditions, including a restaurant, hotel, café, and expanded gallery programming. Notably, Augustine’s Restaurant, located within The Riverside (a boutique hotel), will bring a new hospitality experience to the corridor, further activating preserved spaces while maintaining their historic character.
“Sean Roberts is pursuing a bold initiative: to preserve the architecturally significant houses and distinctive landscapes of Houston’s Riverside Terrace neighborhood by installing new, non-residential uses in them,” said architectural historian Stephen Fox. “This is an ingenious tactic to ensure that the great houses of this historically significant Houston neighborhood survive and prosper as they enter their second century.”
To date, the firm has acquired and is stewarding nine properties along Riverside Drive, each undergoing careful restoration rather than redevelopment. The result is an emerging district rooted in adaptive reuse, where former homes now house legal offices, galleries, hospitality spaces, and community resources, all connected by a shared commitment to preservation.
|
|
 Return to the previous page
|
|
|
|
|
Printer-friendly Version
Email an Associate
