High-rise condo building coming to Galveston will have a luxe Miami beach vibe
A Houston developer unveiled designs for a contemporary 10-story condominium building in Galveston that draws inspiration from luxury beach side residences of Miami. The project could break ground in late 2023.
Satya, a condo developer and commercial real estate consulting firm led by CEO Sunny Bathija, announced plans for Tiara on the Beach, a wide, glass-clad building with ocean views for all 63 residences at 10525 San Luis Pass Road on Galveston’s West End. The building is proposed on a 2.9-acre parcel the company acquired in 2020 next to the Diamond Beach condos.
Bathija, working with architecture firm Place Designers on both the building and its interiors, aims to capture demand from buyers who can work from anywhere in the post-COVID era, which has driven demand for coastal properties across the U.S. It will be among the first new condo projects on the island in about 15 years.
“Galveston is ready for a new project,” Bathija said. “There’s lack of inventory and the inventory which is there is dated.”
Having owned and shopped for condos in Galveston and Miami, Bathija came up with a list of features and amenities he believed to be lacking in the market. The modern design, with floor-to-ceiling windows, provides ocean views and outdoor terraces at each unit. The latest technology will be incorporated into the building, which will have elevator banks that open directly into residences and LED lighting.
The third floor will contain an expansive lobby with 24/7 concierge services and amenities, including private wine storage for residents and a wine tasting lounge, all above two levels of parking The resort lifestyle will include services such as an activities coordinator, yoga and aqua aerobics classes, dog grooming and walking and housekeeping services.
The project would join Galveston’s newer condominiums of Palisade Palms, the Emerald and Diamond Beach. Condos in those buildings have been strong sellers, although competition has been less fierce since July as high interest rates cut into buying power.
“When any of those units come on the market, they sell fairly quickly, because people like new,” said Andrea Sunseri, a real estate agent with Sand and ‘N Sea Properties in Galveston. “We were getting multiple offers on properties at the beginning of the year. Not so much anymore.”
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Tiara on the Beach is designed with seven penthouse units. Units will offer gourmet kitchens with gas stoves, high-end appliances and Italian cabinetry. Open layouts and ceilings up to 11 feet will provide views of the Gulf of Mexico.
“We realize everybody coming to Galveston is coming more for the outdoors than the indoors,” Bathija said. “All of our balconies are between 13 and 14 feet deep and they’re as big as 20 to 30 feet long.”
Condos will be priced upward of $1 million, with one, two and three-bedroom options available, according to Satya. Sizes range from 1,661 square feet to 4,306 square feet.
Satya anticipates breaking ground on Tiara on the Beach in the fourth quarter of 2023 after pre-selling 20- to 30 percent of the units, Bathija said. Construction could take 24 to 30 months. The company is also involved with luxury condominium developments in Houston, including The Giorgetti, The Westmore and The Sophie at Bayou Bend.
A Galveston sales center with a large scale model of Tiara on the Beach resting on an 8-foot by 9-foot table opens Saturday, Oct. 8, at 4918 Seawall Blvd., Suite C. Nan Properties Developer Services is overseeing sales and marketing of the property, which will not allow short-term rentals.
Place Designers, which is also designing The Residences at Tiki Island, worked on neighboring Diamond Beach and a number of other coastal projects.
“Though we have a track record for designing significant coastal condominiums in Galveston and South Padre, Tiara on the Beach is intended to be our firm’s crowning accomplishment,” Steven Biegel, director of architecture of Place Designers, said in a statement. “We are creating an iconic crown to be positioned atop Tiara on The Beach to identify its significance along the Galveston coast.”
