Whitestone REIT (NYSE: WSR) announced it has signed a lease agreement with architecture and engineering firm Parkhill for approximately 5,800 square feet of office space at BLVD Place in Houston's Uptown District.

Parkhill will establish its Houston headquarters on the second floor of the 217,074-square-foot mixed-use center located at Post Oak Boulevard and San Felipe Street. The multidisciplinary firm will use the space to expand its operations into the Houston market.

"Attracting prestigious operators like Parkhill is exactly what we had in mind when we made the strategic decision to reposition BLVD Place," said Christine Mastandrea, President of Whitestone REIT.

Whitestone acquired BLVD Place in 2017 and has since upgraded the dining and retail offerings at the Whole Foods-anchored center. The property includes tenants such as Cactus Club Café, North Italia, True Food Kitchen, Ninfa's, and Rooftop Cinema Club.

The company also executed a lease with a national sports operator for a rooftop location at the property, scheduled to open later this year.

"We are excited to expand into Houston and establish a presence at BLVD Place, one of the most vibrant mixed-use destinations in the Uptown District," said Jay Edwards, President of Parkhill.

BLVD Place is situated near Interstates 610 and 10, with more than 700 retailers within walking distance. The location experiences over 91,100 vehicles per day traffic volume.

Eric Anderson and Katy Gragg of Transwestern represented Whitestone in the lease negotiations, while Stayton Wright and Nathan Donahue of Transwestern acted on behalf of Parkhill.

Whitestone REIT operates open-air shopping centers in Texas and Arizona markets including Phoenix, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio.