EAST RIVER 9 TO OPEN IN 2022!

NEW PUBLIC 9-HOLE, PAR 3 GOLF COURSE AND DRIVING RANGE TO DEBUT WITH

RESTAURANT AND PATIO BAR IN MIDWAY’S EAST RIVER DEVELOPMENT

Together, ‘East River 9’ and ‘Riverhouse Houston’ will offer a casual, family-friendly outdoor experience

overlooking Buffalo Bayou and downtown Houston

(HOUSTON, TX) – Houston-based Midway, a privately owned, fully integrated real estate investment and development firm, today announced that East River 9, a public, nine-hole, par-three golf course, and Riverhouse Houston, a family-friendly restaurant and patio bar, will open on the site of its 150-acre East River development in the Historic Fifth Ward.

“Our objective is to create an inviting and recreational environment for the local community as well as all Houstonians,” stated Clayton Freels, founding partner of the concepts. “East River 9 will grow the game by filling a void in the market between the driving range and the full 18-hole experience. It also brings a fun, community-oriented activation that will welcome neighboring residents to a site that has been closed to the public for over 75 years.” 

PGA REACH Southern Texas, the charitable foundation of the Southern Texas PGA, is working with East River 9 to positively impact the lives of youth, active and retired military and individuals of diverse backgrounds.

“PGA REACH Southern Texas is excited to have a new presence in Houston’s inner city,” said Thomas Hutton, Executive Director for the Southern Texas PGA. “We look forward to working with East River 9 to host programs that will welcome juniors, veterans and neighboring residents to the game of golf. PGA REACH Southern Texas’ mission is to impact lives through golf and this facility will do just that!”   

Well-positioned within a mile of downtown Houston and situated above the 500-year flood plain on the northern bank of Buffalo Bayou, East River 9 will be the only public, nine-hole, par-three golf course inside the 610 Loop, complete with stadium lights for evening play. The links-style short course will be composed of holes that range from 80 – 150 yards; a natural grass, 300-yard driving range with a downtown skyline backdrop; a 12,000 square-foot social putting green; and a 1,000 square-foot pro shop which will feature merchandise, rental clubs, and refreshments. Two staggered tee boxes play into all nine greens and provide players with the ability to play two unique nine-hole rounds. 

Phillis Wheatley High School in the Historic Fifth Ward is also working with East River 9 to ensure that it will create an inclusive environment for students and their families. Wheatley is discussing the addition of a golf team to its athletic program once the facilities are complete.

Principal Joseph Williams shared, “I am truly excited about the development of the golf course and restaurant at East River which will afford our scholars and families a space for recreation and will highlight our Fifth Ward Community to Greater Houston! Wheatley’s partnership with these businesses will truly support our efforts around career readiness and offer opportunities for internships and employment.”

Bianca Dugas, Fifth Ward resident and Associate Principal at Wheatley added, “I am elated about the employment opportunities for Fifth Ward community members and the addition of a family-friendly establishment in the neighborhood. The wealth of opportunities that East River 9 will bring will surely improve the community’s economy.”  

Riverhouse Houston, a new concept with DKC Group, will anchor the golf course and will serve a scratch kitchen menu coupled with a well-rounded beer, wine, and spirits selection. The family-friendly restaurant and patio bar will be in a repurposed industrial structure that overlooks the golf course, Buffalo Bayou, and downtown skyline. In the evening, patrons will enjoy frequent live music and incredible sunset views on Riverhouse’s expansive terrace which will feature a kids playscape, outdoor games and fire pits. The building’s refined-industrial design will seamlessly meld with the aesthetic of the greater East River development. The laid-back establishment was designed to host corporate, social, and charity events and can accommodate over 1,000 people and park over 300 cars.

“We are excited to create a welcoming and natural atmosphere that will serve Houston for years to come,” said Don Cristopher, project partner and founder of DKC Group Companies. “Riverhouse will offer much more than a traditional clubhouse and can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion.”

Once open for business, the project will have numerous, full-time employment opportunities for neighboring residents. East River 9 and Riverhouse will begin sharing these positions with the Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation this fall. Construction commenced in May 2021, and the entire golf and restaurant offering is on schedule to open by the first quarter of 2022.

East River 9 and Riverhouse Houston have assembled an accomplished project team composed of: Smelek Design, golf and landscape architect; VM Golf, golf general contractor; Sterling Golf, golf operator; Phil Schawe, Riverhouse design architect; MaRS, Riverhouse interior design; Trinity Constructors, Riverhouse general contractor; and DKC Group, Riverhouse restaurant operator.

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ABOUT EAST RIVER

Currently in its pre-construction phase, East River’s 150 acres of carefully designed, multi-phase, mixed-use development will transform the city’s waterfront east of downtown into a new economic center. Designed to grow and evolve through multiple phases, East River is ideally positioned to serve a wide range of residents and a spectrum of housing price points, innovative and globally competitive companies, cutting-edge retail and restaurant concepts, and a host of institutional, educational and recreational opportunities. The project’s early phases of development set the tone for a world-class collection of districts by focusing on connecting Houston’s urban fabric to central green spaces, active transportation, upgraded infrastructure and an impressive mile of waterfront along Buffalo Bayou. To stay up-to-date on East River’s progress, follow along on Facebook @EastRiverHouston, Twitter @EastRiverHou and Instagram @EastRiverHouston. 

ABOUT MIDWAY

Houston-based Midway is a privately owned, fully integrated real estate investment and

development firm that has provided the highest level of quality, service and value to clients and investors for almost 50 years. Midway’s portfolio of projects completed and/or underway consists of more than 45 million square feet of properties ranges from mixed-use destinations to office, industrial facilities, and master-planned residential communities. Midway continues to develop projects of distinction, aesthetic relevance and enduring value for investors, clients, and the people who live, work, and thrive in the environment they create.