The Red Dragon flies into the Bayou City

​​​​​​HOUSTON – Several Chinese developers are launching their first U.S. projects in Houston despite the oil slump.

Foreign investors have long flocked to Houston, attracted to its booming business, lack of zoning and affordable cost of living. But in recent years, foreign developers, particularly from China, are making their first forays into U.S. development—and they are starting in the Bayou City.

Here are some of the most notable Chinese real estate projects underway in Houston:

•Tianqing Real Estate Development LLC has partnered with DC Partners to develop a $500 million mixed-use project near Buffalo Bayou Park. The joint venture plans to develop a luxury hotel, office tower, retail and a condominium-apartment tower on six acres, located at the southeast corner of Allen Pkwy. and Gillette St.

Tianqing and DC Partners plan to start construction on the yet-to-be-named mixed-use project in late 2017 or early 2018.

•American Modern Green LLC plans to develop Ivy District, a $300 million mixed-use project in Pearland. Ivy District will feature gated townhomes, condos, apartments, retirement homes, restaurants, shops, offices, hotel, conference center and green space on nearly 49 acres at the southwest corner of SH 288 and Spectrum Blvd.

American Modern Green broke ground on the project in May.

•McKinley Development Co. Ltd plans to break ground next year on a new master-planned community in Cleveland. The community will feature single-family homes, apartments, condos, office, retail and a nine-hole golf course on 615 acres at the intersection of SH 105 and 321, just east of U.S. 59, northeast of Houston.

McKinley Development Co. plans to break ground on the new community in the middle of 2017 with the first homes to be delivered in early fall. The developer is also planning to construct a strip center with offices and a restaurant in Huffman as well as an industrial park in Cleveland. 

The company’s new headquarters, located on 2.8 acres at the northeast corner of US Hwy. 59 and East Martin Dr. in Porter, is expected to break ground later this year.