A Conroe developer is moving forward with a five-story, cruise ship-themed condo project on Galveston Island’s west end, adjusting earlier plans after zoning hurdles stalled a taller design.
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A Conroe developer is steering a cruise ship-themed condominium project toward Galveston’s west end, adding to the wave of luxury housing now rising along the island’s shoreline.
Developer Galen Dru Kahlenberg said this week that his firm, Clearlake Asset Management LLC, is moving forward with Solarus, a five-story, 46-unit luxury condominium designed to resemble the upper decks of a cruise liner. Kahlenberg told the Houston Business Journal in September that the project’s rooftop will feature a pickleball and basketball court, a miniature golf course, a children’s play area, Jacuzzis, and a lounge.
“Cruise ships absolutely spend millions and millions of dollars designing an ergonomic space that fits on a ship; you don’t waste any space,” Kahlenberg said. “That’s what this rooftop amenity is. It’s basically like a cruise ship.”
The distinctive design emerged only after the original plan, a 10-story, 50-unit complex requiring zoning variances, stalled at City Hall. Kahlenberg said his modified proposal follows Galveston’s building code but will generate far less tax revenue—about $750,000 compared with the $2 million his taller design might have delivered.
Solarus would sit near the point where Seawall Boulevard becomes Termini-San Luis Pass Road, roughly three miles west of the 61st Street Fishing Pier. The site has become a focal point for upscale coastal development. Construction began last December on the Tiara on the Beach, a 10-story condo tower that had spent years in the permitting process.
Earlier this month, Galveston’s planning commission cleared the way for Sachs on the Seawall. This $540 million project will feature two towers, each with 150 units, and a 70,000-square-foot mixed-use development anchored by a Marriott hotel.
Airport officials have raised concerns over building heights in the corridor. Scholes International Airport objected to the proposed height of Sachs’ tallest tower, referencing the previous issues that required Solarus to reduce its plans. Kahlenberg’s initial 11-story concept faced similar scrutiny from aviation authorities concerned about northbound approaches.
Despite setbacks, Kahlenberg said Solarus maintains its luxury appeal while adhering to city guidelines. Construction timelines have not been released, though the project joins a surge of high-end coastal housing reshaping Galveston’s west end.
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