Storied Ballroom Celebrated as it Gives Way to a New High-Rise With a Respect for History: Special Room Dates Back to 1715

What: Cocktail hour announcing the Residences at La Colombe d’Or

Where: Le Grand Salon de la Comtesse (the Ballroom at La Colombe d’Or)

PC Moment: In both a fond farewell to a storied ballroom and a warm welcome to a new residential building destined to be a landmark, some 100 guests and Houston history buffs gathered to send off La Colombe d’Or’s lavish ballroom and say hello to the Residences at La Colombe d’Or.

The new 34-story tower, set to open in 2020, will contain 285 luxury units — all for rent — representing a grand partnership between Hines and the  Zimmerman family. The ballroom, dating from circa 1715, was acquired by hotelier Steve Zimmerman from the late John Mecom Sr., and installed in a special wing of the boutique hotel in 1995, but has now finally reached its end at this location — as the building encasing it will be demolished (but the historic paneling preserved and stored).

In its place, a new high-rise will rise as the neighborhood where it sits grows taller and denser. The hotel, part of the Montrose-facing historical Fondren mansion of 1923, will remain, however.

Gerald Hines and Steve Zimmerman, joined by wives artist Barbara Hines and Becky Zimmerman, respectively, toasted to their new collaboration, as large-scale renderings of the entire development project were revealed. Barbara Hines displayed some of her own paintings for acquisition, with proceeds benefitting Aishel House. The art was a nod to the new Residences at La Colombe d’Or that will connect to the hotel via an art gallery and outdoor plaza.

Who: Jorge Munoz of Munoz + Albin Architecture and Planning, along with Lauren Rottet of Rottet Studio, who joined in unveiling the thoughtful design of the project; Hines bigwigs George Lancaster,  Mark Cover with wife Ann Marie, and Kevin Batchelor with daughter Francesca; and guests including the sons of La Colombe d’Or owner Dan Zimmerman and Mark Zimmerman; Sally Munoz; Mona and Andrew Sarofim; Martine Weitz; Marc Schindler who expressed interest in moving in; art consultant Heidi Vaughan; Christine Poleski Gaona; Shelley and Mike Melody; Robert Sakowitz; and Merrill and Joe Hafner.

Additional reporting by Catherine D. Anspon