Jeff Beard, president of the J. Beard Co. in Houston, says Six Pines Medical Center is 40% preleased, with the lead tenant having signed a 15,000-sf deal. "We have three other good prospects for Six Pines as well, with a total additional square footage between 8,000 and 10,000 sf when these are done," says Beard, whose company is handling the preleasing activities for the properties.

Meanwhile, the 26,000-sf Pinecroft building is 60% preleased. The lead one tenant plans to occupy "about 18,000 sf of space, plus or minus a few," Beard says.

The average rate on both buildings is $19 per sf to $20 per sf, triple net, which has led to strong demand for the space, even though ground has yet to be broken on either location. "The primary feature is that both of these are in exceptional locations, where good, high-quality buildings are being constructed," Beard says.

Greg Jordan, director of commercial land sales for Woodlands Development, says the master-planned community's rapid growth has stepped up interest for medical space. "These types of properties also help open opportunities for people starting their practices," he says.