This spring, commercial real estate options will be expanding in Greens Crossing, thanks to a couple of projects to bring office and warehouse space to the area. Simmons Vedder is building a 600,000 square-foot business park that will feature a public linear park. The park, when completed, will be connected by pedestrian walkways and four plazas, with the main plaza anchored by a major piece of sculpture art that will grace the intersection of Greens Crossing Boulevard and Greens Parkway. The Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) is selecting the artist to design the sculpture, which is part of a series of public art projects that showcase the TIRZ’s commitment to the arts. In addition to the public art, the park will be dressed with extensive landscaping and special lighting as part of the Greenspoint TIRZ's streetscape program.

“The public art and plazas that will surround the office and warehouse space bring creative activity to Greens Crossing’s office environment,” said Sally Bradford, executive director of the Greenspoint TIRZ, the group managing the project. “By actively engaging the designers and developers, we work collaboratively to create unique places that revitalize our business neighborhoods and transform the way people see and experience Greenspoint.”

Construction of the $20 million park is expected to be completed in April. The TIRZ is contributing $225,000 toward the streetscape program.

“Bridging” the Art Gap

The TIRZ’s partnership with developers on capital improvement projects serves as a catalyst for incorporating and encouraging public art to build a sense of place and pride throughout the community. Last March, Benmar Bridge, an indigo-colored bridge connecting West Hardy Road to the Greenspoint Business District, opened to commuters. A TIRZ project, the tile mosaic artwork that adorns the bridge was designed by Dixie Friend Gay, the artist who created the tile mosaic wall connecting Bush Intercontinental Airport’s Terminals A and B garages.

Yet another artistically designed bridge is planned to extend Greenspoint Drive south to Aldine Bender. Conceptual designs call for a sleek champagne and blue-colored structure that will grace Greenspoint’s skyline. This project, along with existing public art pieces in the Airline and Benmar Drive corridors, allows the TIRZ to showcase the area to commuters.

The bridge is part of a project between the TIRZ and Industrial Development International for a business park with more than 1.3 million square feet of office and warehouse space. Construction is expected to begin in April with completion of phase one expected in early 2008, according to the TIRZ.