Client: Shepherd 10 LLC

Overview

The joint venture of Radom Capital, Triten Real Estate Partners, and Long Wharf Capital collaborated with artist-focused organization Fresh Arts on multiple contemporary, public art installations at the new 12-acre M-K-T development. This repurposed commercial district was born of a keen preference to adapting current structures with an eye on evolving trends and environmental needs, versus unnecessarily bulldozing. The entities involved believe this is a necessary requirement for a healthy Houston moving forward. As the RFP was posted, we were one month into the coronavirus pandemic. We remained committed to seeing through the project on schedule, and to provide Houston-area artists with much-needed income while creating a new, inviting public space.

“To us, M-K-T is more than a collection of retail concepts and modern office space. We have always treated M-K-T as an outlet for creative expression”, says Steve Radom, Managing Principal, and Founder of Radom Capital. “That creativity has allowed us to collaborate with an amazing design team, artisans that are manufacturing the light fixtures and landscape moments onsite, and local muralists and artists who create bespoke artwork that we hope the community will enjoy for years to come.”

Goals

Located in the heart of The Heights, one of Houston’s most historic and dynamic neighborhoods, M-K-T is a collection of industrial buildings adapted to modern-day space providing retail, restaurants, and creative office space designed by the Michael Hsu Office of Architecture.

The development team was committed to contributing to the neighborhood through restrained scale and distinctive architecture. With a dedication to preserving and enhancing The Heights’ distinct fingerprint upon Houston, the design and creation of M-K-T had always been thought of as a blank canvas that would provide creative expression in multiple mediums. Once the exterior of the property was fully delivered, Houston area artists were sought to commission for a series of integrated murals on the property. The murals were planned to enhance the design of the property and the connection to its history in Houston and in the Heights neighborhood.

Process

The ownership behind M-K-T, Steve Radom (founder of Radom Capital) and Scott Arnoldy (founder of Triten Real Estate Partners) reached out to Marci Dallas at Fresh Arts, the facilitator of a unique framework that helps rising artists shine alongside their peers by breaking through common barriers that could otherwise impede the advancement of their careers. Steve wanted to make the arts a highlight of the new M-K-T development in the Heights neighborhood of Houston. Fresh Arts brought consultant Sara Kellner on board and the team ran an open call to artists in the greater Houston area. Two artists were selected, and the artists collaborated with the team on the final design of their projects. Sebastien “Mr. D 1987” Boileau describes his style as “canpressionism,” which involves spray paint and street art techniques like tagging and drip painting. He uses his skills, experience, and credibility to combine urban arts and fine art in an engaging and exciting manner. Michael C Rodriguez weaves fine art, street art, animation, illustration, and graphic design into his projects. Rodriguez's unique style and subjects have earned him a reputation as one of the most original voices in the Street Art movement in Texas

Additional Information

Radom Capital is a diversified, award-winning real estate development and investment firm based in Houston, Texas. They aspire to combine culture, creative design, and commerce in all of their projects. Their investments include ground-up value-added and repositioned properties with the overarching theme of molding each investment into a community-enhancing environment. Their work is differentiated by enduring spaces, long-term relationships, and complex problem-solving. Their projects have received awards from the Urban Land Institute, the American Institute of Architects, the Houston Business Journal, and Preservation Houston, among others. Triten Real Estate Partners (TREP) is a full-service and vertically integrated real estate development and operating company. With offices in Houston and Dallas, TREP focuses on identifying opportunistic relative-value strategies and unique placemaking investments where value can be created through a tailored experience focused on the changing trends in our industry. TREP is active in development, value-add repositioning, as well as undervalued assets where a mark-to-market arbitrage can be achieved. The company prides itself on being entrepreneurial and flexible to find investments through a disciplined research and market driven approach