Houston's Appetite for Luxury High Rises Slowing Amidst Oil Slump

The ups and downs of the oil market are having an effect on the future skyline of the city of Houston.

1 minute read

July 8, 2016, 6:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Downtown Houston

VanHart / Shutterstock

"Luxury high-rise developers began to thrive during the oil boom as the condo lifestyle seemed to finally catch on with wealthy Houstonians drawn to expansive views, private terraces and resort-style pools," explains Erin Mulvaney to set the stage for an article about the state of the high-rise housing market in Houston.

That newfound interest in high-rise living, driving the construction industry in cities like San Francisco and New York, has run against a "persistent oil slump" in Houston. "Though May was a record-breaking month for condo sales locally," writes Mulvaney, "evidence of a slowdown at the high end is mounting."

The article includes more examples from the current market, as well as aggregated data and an interactive map to provide an overall picture of the high-rise luxury market in Houston.

Tuesday, July 5, 2016 in Houston Chronicle

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 10, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

A line of white wind turbines surrounded by wheat and soybean fields with a cloudy blue sky in the background.

Wind Energy on the Rise Despite Federal Policy Reversal

The Trump administration is revoking federal support for renewable energy, but demand for new projects continues unabated.

April 15 - Fast Company

Red and white Caltrain train.

Passengers Flock to Caltrain After Electrification

The new electric trains are running faster and more reliably, leading to strong ridership growth on the Bay Area rail system.

April 15 - Office of Governor Gavin Newsom

View up at brick Catholic church towers and modern high-rise buildings.

Texas Churches Rally Behind ‘Yes in God’s Back Yard’ Legislation

Religious leaders want the state to reduce zoning regulations to streamline leasing church-owned land to housing developers.

April 15 - NBC Dallas