A long-empty Montrose corner is on track to trade cracked asphalt for sky views. Skanska USA is planning a 31-story apartment tower called Starling at the corner of Westheimer and Montrose, with recent filings pegging the construction value at about $110 million. The project would bring hundreds of new apartments and a substantial retail podium to a block that has sat largely vacant since the old shopping center was demolished in 2020. Renderings show a high-rise with downtown views and amenity spaces clearly aimed at higher-end renters.
As reported by the Houston Business Journal, filings list the project's estimated construction value near $110,000,000, underscoring the scale of Skanska’s first major residential play in Houston. That coverage emphasizes that the figure comes from construction value reported in public filings tied to the development.
Marketing materials and a leasing brochure from Colliers outline a plan for roughly 340 residential units and about 31,000 square feet of ground-floor retail, with amenities that include a pool, gym, co-working spaces and pet facilities, according to a Colliers brochure. The same materials map out retail suites and a proposed tenant mix geared toward food, beverage and neighborhood services. Earlier coverage has described Starling as a 31-story tower at the Westheimer and Montrose intersection, aligning with what is shown in the renderings.
Timeline and filings
Public records highlighted by Realty News Report point to a long runway for delivery. A Texas licensing filing lists an October 1, 2026 construction start and a February 28, 2029 completion date. The same state document breaks out the estimated project costs as roughly $66.8 million for core and shell and $44.2 million for interior build-out. Realty News Report also notes that Skanska acquired the approximately 2.86-acre site in 2020 for about $27 million, a detail that highlights how the company has been holding and marketing the parcel while lining up approvals and leasing.
What it means for Montrose
Starling is set to join a growing pack of large developments reshaping Lower Westheimer and Montrose, from mid-rise residential projects to mixed-use complexes that have replaced older strip centers. Local coverage and market writeups have been tracking the neighborhood shift toward larger, higher-amenity projects and the churn in retail that often follows, according to CultureMap Houston.
Retail prospects and neighborhood reaction
On the retail side, Colliers is actively marketing roughly 30,000–31,000 square feet of street-level space to restaurants, cafes and service tenants, a clear signal that the developers want to lock in neighborhood-focused operators before construction really ramps up. At the same time, longtime residents and small-business owners have previously voiced mixed feelings about large towers replacing low-rise retail, and that debate is likely to continue as Skanska pushes ahead with permitting and leasing.
Put together, the filings and marketing materials cast Starling as a major bet on Montrose’s retail and rental market. The roughly $110 million construction value places it among the larger residential projects planned inside the loop. We will be watching permit records and leasing announcements as the project works its way through municipal and state approvals.
