HOUSTON – (Realty News Report) – Mark Davis of Davis Commercial has been doing deals in the heart of Houston for decades. He also redeveloped some properties on Westheimer Road. Davis recently took time to discuss Houston’s commercial real estate in Houston’s Inner Loop.
Below are excerpts from Mark’s recent appearance on The Ralph Bivins Project podcast.
To listen to the entire podcast, please CLICK HERE for Spotify or CLICK HERE for YouTube.
RALPH BIVINS – This is Ralph Bivins with the Ralph Bivins Project. Today, we’re talking to Mark Davis. Mark Davis is the founder of Davis Commercial which he established a long time ago, in 2001.
MARK DAVIS – That’s right, a long time ago.
RALPH BIVINS –Mark knows a lot about property in this town, especially in the Inner Loop. He has done a lot of work in the Museum District and the Montrose area. So, Mark, what’s happening in the Montrose -Museum District area?
MARK DAVIS — Well, first, thank you for having me, Ralph. I always enjoy talking to one of the expert journalists — the expert real estate journalist in Houston, so it’s always a privilege.
It is a very active market and it’s been that way ever since COVID, for several years now. Aside from high-rise office uses, which are obviously not taking place anywhere for the most part, the market is clicking on all cylinders. Retail is strong, probably more demand than supply. Prices are going up for retail space, land, etc. Multifamily – there’s new construction going on. So, I’d say overall that the Inner Loop – the Museum District and the Montrose area – is thriving and continuing to do so.
RALPH BIVINS – Sometimes you wonder what’s driving all this. People complain about high prices in the grocery stores, but then they wonder where all the growth is coming from. Warehouses. I get warehouse construction announcements every day. It never stops.
MARK DAVIS – Regarding the Inner Loop and Houston, which I love, to a large degree, it’s homogeneous. Inside the Loop are more older buildings. It’s all redevelopment versus sort of new development. You know, the city grew from inside the Loop outward. I think because of some of these characteristics, it’s a little more unique. Certainly, it’s more convenient to all the major employment centers, the Texas Medical Center, the downtown; it’s easy to get around from Inside the Loop and the fact that it’s a little different than most other parts of the city – it’s a little more homogeneous which I’m not saying is a bad thing. But people appreciate uniqueness. Another thing. Houston is not that old a major metropolitan city. It’s a little different and unique in a lot of positive ways that drive the people who want to be here.
RALPH BIVINS – I heard we added 200,000 population last year, which is pretty phenomenal. Speaking of redevelopment, what can you tell us about the Skanska project on the southwest corner of Westheimer and Montrose Boulevard? It’s now in progress on a pretty high-profile site. The project began when they tore down a strip center that included a Half-Price bookstore and Spec’s. It’s on a pretty good size piece of property on a prominent site. What do you hear about that?
MARK DAVIS – It’s a great corner. It’s definitely the spot to be. The Skanska folks, who always do a terrific job and are always conscientious of the impact on the neighborhood, have studied this and studied this and re-studied this because of the changing environment, particularly the need, if any, for office space. I believe their latest iteration does not include an office component, so the project will just include retail and residential. That’s what they are working on now, which makes sense. Demand for high-rise office space is next to nothing, as we know. As yet, I have not seen a timeline.
RALPH BIVINS – Just south of that area, we just had a groundbreaking at the property known as the Disco Kroger, there, on about 2 acres, is bordered by Lovett, Yoakum, Hawthorne and Montrose Boulevard. It used to be a big Kroger Store and shut down several years ago.
MARK DAVIS – Now, this will become a midrise residential project. I think it will be about five stories tall or so, Class A, no retail on the bottom. They’ve owned that property for several years and just got around to developing it. I think it will be a nice improvement.
That whole sort of little intersection over there, there’s a lot of things that have been happening. Covenant House just opened its $50 million brand new campus. Behind that, Radom Capital is redeveloping a shopping center that had been the site of the old Tower Theater, which is terrific. Under contract is a blue building across from Covenant House, at the corner of Lovett and Yoakum.
RALPH BIVINS – Is that the blue building? It’s very cool, a ‘60s modern look.
MARK DAVIS – That’s exactly right. It’s a two-story building, about 15,000 SF. A developer has it under contract to put in an interior design firm. It’s a relocation for the firm, but they are going to renovate the building. It will be really cool and a good addition to the neighborhood.
RALPH BIVINS – Is the design firm going to buy it?
MARK DAVIS – They’ll be the tenant. A developer is buying it. He’s going to renovate it for the tenant.
RALPH BIVINS – By the way, Covenant House assists homeless young people. Mark Davis is on the board of directors of this worthy cause. I guarantee you that Mark’s ethics are impeccable, so anything you donate in support of this cause will be used in the right way.
MARK DAVIS – Thanks for the plug, I appreciate it. Yeah, Covenant House is a wonderful cause. It’s dedicated to helping homeless youth aged 18 to 24. With this new facility, we kind of went from a Chevy to a Maserati. Houston is so philanthropic we were able to raise the $50 million in a couple of years…
RALPH BIVINS – Wow!
MARK DAVIS — … and we will be able to double our capacity. It’s a wonderful facility, a wonderful cause. Of course, we still need money because we are a not-for-profit organization. So, if anyone is interested in helping, contact me or go to the website.
Covenant House Texas
1111 Lovett Blvd.
Houston, TX 77006
713-630-5670
For donor support: fbroussard@covenanthouse.org
Website: https://covenanthouse.org
To listen to the entire podcast, please CLICK HERE for Spotify or CLICK HERE for YouTube.
Mark Davis bio
Mark Davis has spent more than 29 years in the commercial real estate business and has executed hundreds of transactions for clients involving the sale, acquisition, leasing and development of commercial properties. “We are a Houston commercial real estate company that represents everyone from small business owners to Fortune 500 firms. We are experienced in sales, leasing, and buyer/tenant representation and can cater to the needs of all kinds of businesses.”
Prior to forming Davis Commercial in 2001, Mark worked at the Trammell Crow Company in Houston where he was a top producer for the company on a local and national basis.
Mark serves as a board member of Covenant House Texas, which offers care to homeless and trafficked youth. He also serves as a leader in EO (Entrepreneurs’ Organization) Houston, whose mission is to engage leading entrepreneurs to learn and grow.
Jan. 9, 2025 Realty News Report Copyright 2025
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File: The Ralph Bivins Project: Podcast Guest Mark Davis The Ralph Bivins Project: Podcast Guest Mark Davis, Covenant House, The Ralph Bivins Project: Podcast Guest Mark Davis