[Wattleigh]

Parc Binz II

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/bus...photo-23406420

Museum District office project targets medical users
The founder of Cloud 10 Creamery plans a 40,000-square-foot office and restaurant building to the neighborhood.

Katherine Feser
Jan. 27, 2023

A five-story mixed-use building is taking shape on Binz Street in the Museum District, in a walkable area of Houston two blocks from Hermann Park as the follow up to a project across the street.

Houston-based Balcor Commercial unveiled details of Parc Binz II, a 40,000-square-foot office and restaurant building going up on half an acre at 1802 Binz St. The project broke ground early last year and is targeted for completion in late 2023 or early 2024.

Parc Binz I, encompassing 50,000 square feet of office and about 10,000 square feet of restaurant space, was completed in 2014 and substantially leased up within a year and a half of opening. That building is home to Barnaby’s Café, Fadi’s, City Cellars HTX wine bar along with medical and technology tenants. The land for both buildings was purchased in 2011, according to the company.

Christopher Balat, director and founder of real estate and hospitality firm Balcor Cos., said the firm was proceeding with the development as part of a plan to create new neighborhood places in a growing area near the Texas Medical Center. With high property taxes and other costs, maximizing the use of the land by going vertical was a must, Balat said.

"It has to make financial sense. It also has to make sense to the eyes of our neighbors,” Balat said. “For us, it’s always been very important to have an urban landscape with parks and museums.”

Collaborative Designworks is the architect for the project, which represents about a $10 million investment for Balcor. Colliers is providing leasing services with Sam Hansen and Doug Pack handling office and Kimberly Lenardson on retail.

Balat started the Cloud 10 Creamery chain with Chef Chris Leung in 2011 in an attempt to spread cheer.

“I was having a bad day and I really wanted a banana split,” Balat said of the idea for the hand-crafted ice cream business, which has four scoop shops and is sold in select grocery stores.

Cloud 10 Creamery will occupy one of the three or four small restaurant spaces on the ground floor of Parc Binz II, replacing a location on Shepherd Drive that closed at the end of the year. More than half of restaurant customers at the original Parc Binz come by foot, Balat said.

“Neighbors are constantly walking in the area. It’s a really pleasant thing to see in Houston.”

Parc Binz II, a project of Balcor Companies at 1802 Binz St., is set to open between late 2023 and early 2024.
Katherine Feser / Houston Chronicle