Gerald Hines’ $34.5 Million Estate Hits the Market

Gerald Hines’ $34.5 Million Estate Hits the Market

Gerald Hines' River Oaks estate / Photo by Sonya Bertolino

The estate of Gerald Hines, one of the world's most successful developers, and namesake of the University of Houston's architecture school, who passed away in August at the age of 95, has hit the market. Hines' River Oaks villa at 2920 Lazy Lane is listed for $34.5 million by Douglas Elliman Texas' Cathy Cagle and Patricia Reed.


The 4.5-acre property, situated on the famous street between Buffalo Bayou and Kirby Dr., has five bedrooms and 11 bathrooms, plus a 3,000-square-foot atrium with an enclosed pool and tennis court. The home, designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects and completed in 1992, was initially inspired by holidays spent in Tuscany. Traditional elements — inlaid floors, chandeliers, a lacquered-wood-wrapped library, marble-bedecked bathrooms — abound.

Hines' credits include the Galleria and Pennzoil Place in Houston, as well as other iconic structures the world over — like New York's oval-shaped and pinkish Lipstick Building by architect Philip Johnson, and Frank Gehry's half-traditional, half-spectacle DZ Bank building off the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. Founded in 1957, Hines' private Houston-based company, known simply as Hines, has 4,820 employees worldwide and does business in 25 countries, with about $144.1 billion of assets under management. He developed or acquired well more than 1,400 projects — as close as a few blocks from this very River Oaks mansion and as far away as Beijing.

"I just like building," Hines told CityBook editor Jeff Gremillion in 2015, who was on assignment for Houston magazine at the time. "And I like great architecture. Some people have scorecards for just money, but ours is a lot more than that. It's about creating better places."

Home + Real Estate
Leadership in Action: Entrepreneur Saba Syed of Moroccan Bath Determined to Build ‘Lasting Legacy’

Saba Syed, Founder of Oasis Moroccan Bath

How did you get to where you are today? My journey began with a need to be financially independent and an even a deeper drive to create a lasting legacy. The centuries-old Hammam tradition has always fascinated me—not just for its relaxation benefits, but for its holistic approach to cleansing the body, mind, and soul. So, combining my passion with a vision to bring an authentic yet luxurious Hammam spa experience to Houston, I took the leap less than two years ago to open my own spa.

Keep Reading Show less

Marla Hurley, Ben Berg, and Laura Goodson

NEVER TURNING DOWN an excuse to dress up and get down, Houston VIPs descended upon Ben Berg's The Ranch Saloon & Steakhouse to celebrate the opening of the Rodeo's only sit-down restaurant, now back for a fourth year running.

Keep Reading Show less
Parties

Lauren Anderson and Fady Armanious

EVER A GLAMOROUS event, the Houston Ballet's annual black-tie ball was a glimmering affair at the Wortham, where 500 guests joined event chairs Kristy and Chris Bradshaw and Melissa Juneau.

Keep Reading Show less
Art + Entertainment