New in the Heights: Restaurants, Rooftop Bars, & a Direct Trail Connection Are Coming to the Swift Building
If you love patios, skyline views, and being able to roll up to brunch straight from the Heights bike trail, YOU ARE IN LUCK!
The long-anticipated transformation of the historic Swift & Company Refinery is finally underway! Think coffee shops, restaurants, office space, rooftop bars, and lush green spaces, all designed to flow straight into the nearby M-K-T development and connect directly to the Heights Hike & Bike Trail. It looks like the kind of place that you go for brunch and end up staying all day!
Brought to life by the same visionary teams behind M-K-T and Heights Mercantile (Radom Capital + Triten Real Estate), this adaptive reuse project will transform a historic industrial property into one of the most walkable, trail-connected destinations in the Heights.
As construction on The Swift Building renovation kicks off, read on for a sneak peek of everything to know about this game-changing project, including:
- What the Swift Building is and why it’s a big deal for the Houston Heights
- How this project connects directly to the Heights Hike and Bike Trail and M-K-T
- The team behind the project (hint: it’s the same group that did M-K-T and Heights Mercantile)
- The Lawrence Park is getting a glow-up, and what it means for the neighborhood
- Renderings of what the Swift Building will look like once complete.
🎥 Watch the Video Below for my quick take and a look inside!
What’s Coming to the Swift Building in the Houston Heights?
📍 Location: 621 Waverly St, Houston, 77007
This 4-acre, 60,000-square-foot mixed-use development will completely reimagine a 4-acre stretch just off Shepherd, directly next door to M-K-T Market. The feel? Industrial chic meets walkable lifestyle hub.
The overall vision for The Swift BLDG:
- ✅ A mix of new restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and retail
- 🏙️ One tenant is rumored to be a rooftop bar with skyline views
- 🪑 Tons of indoor-outdoor seating, perfect for brunch, dinner, or post-ride hangs
- 🚲 A direct connection to the Heights Hike & Bike Trail
- 🌿 A large central courtyard, ideal for family time, dog hangs, or events
- 🌸 Landscaped paths that connect seamlessly to M-K-T, creating a cohesive destination
What we know so far (confirmed tenants):
- Escalante's Tex Mex: At Swfit, Escalante's will occupy a 4,500-square-foot space with two patios.
- Merit Coffee: The San Antonio based coffee shop will make its Houston debut with an outpost at Swift.
Whether you’re grabbing sushi, letting the kids run around the green space, or taking Zoom calls from the shaded patios, the Swift Building is shaping up to be a go-to Heights hangout.
Fun Fact: Many of the original structures are being preserved and reimagined, keeping the gritty, industrial charm while making it fresh, functional, and community-friendly.
A Walkable, Bikeable, Rooftop-Vibes Destination
This isn’t just another restaurant strip. The Swift Building, along with neighboring M-K-T, is designed to blend top-tier style and functionality for Heights residents who love walkability. Here’s why:
- Heights bike trail access: Hop off the bike trail and straight onto a patio
- Green space: Plenty of shade, plantings, and places to relax
- Connected community: With neighboring M-K-T just steps away, it’ll feel like one giant open-air social hub
- Work & play mix: Upper floors include creative office spaces… aka, yes, people will actually work there too
Whether you're hopping off the trail for a cold brew or meeting friends for dinner, it's the kind of place you could spend hours.
A Closer Look at the Location: The Lawrence Park Improvements
The Swift Building will overlook Lawrence Park. And good news? Thanks to the efforts of the Friends of Lawrence and Milroy Parks (FOLAMP), it is finally getting some much-needed love.
- Renovations at Lawrence Park started in summer 2025, beginning with the basketball court and expanding to new play areas and landscaping.
- Community-led efforts from FOLAMP are pushing for broader updates, increased accessibility, and a long-term beautification plan.
- The project fits into the larger M-K-T Promenade initiative, aiming to link nearby parks and green spaces into a connected trail corridor.
This means residents, visitors, and future Swift tenants will enjoy better access to more green space right outside their doors.
Why Houston Heights Locals Are So Excited
Let’s be real. The Heights already has:
- Great restaurants
- The best bike trail in Houston
- Cool shops and a tight-knit community vibe that feels like its own small town within Houston’s inner loop.
But this development is checking some new boxes:
This project blends the best of the Heights lifestyle—walkability, green space, history, and community—into one beautifully restored block.
My Take: Why This Matters for the Heights
This is exactly the kind of thoughtful growth that keeps the Heights special. It’s got all the right ingredients: great food, outdoor seating, more places to gather, skyline views, and a seamless connection to the Heights Bike Trail; all without losing the historic charm that makes the Heights a favorite in the first place.
As someone who used to live and currently works in this neighborhood, I couldn’t be more excited! It’s going to be one of those places that locals use daily, from weekday meetings to Saturday family hangs.
If you're curious how this might affect nearby home values or want to talk real estate strategy in the Heights, reach out any time. I'm always happy to share local insights.
Beyond These Developments: More Projects Shaping Houston’s Future
Curious what new commercial developments are coming to The Heights, Memorial City area, and the Energy Corridor? These Four New Commercial Developments Coming to Houston in 2025 and Beyond will bring exciting new entertainment hubs and mixed-use spaces!
Houston’s about to flip its reputation with more walkability finally coming to the Inner Loop! Here is what you have to know about the New Uptown Memorial Park Trail & Bridge, a scenic pedestrian bridge that will connect the Galleria to Memorial Park.
What makes the Houston Heights so unique? It’s walkable, eclectic, full of charm, and the only place in Houston’s inner loop that blends classic small-town charm with inner-city convenience. Here is our Inside Houston Heights Neighborhood Guide with everything you need to know about the types of homes, top neighborhoods, and why buyers want to call it home.
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