Portico at West 8

Barrel-tile roofs, arched entries and wrought-iron balcony railings give Portico at West 8 a Spanish Mediterranean face uncommon among Westchase rental buildings. The four-story community is laid out around courtyards, fountains and pedestrian paseos at the corner of Westheimer and Beltway 8, one of the busiest intersections in west Houston. Richfield Real Estate Corporation manages it.

Studio, one- and two-bedroom homes are finished with hardwood-style flooring, granite counters, stainless appliances and private balconies. Amenity space includes a resort-style pool and hot tub, a fitness center, a media and movie theater, conference rooms and a common kitchen. Parking is in a structured garage with reserved VIP spaces and emergency phones.

The Westchase District office towers are the immediate draw, with Phillips 66, Bechtel and BMC among the employers based in the district. Beltway 8 and the Westpark Tollway put the Galleria, the Energy Corridor and the Chinatown restaurants along Bellaire Boulevard all within a straightforward drive, and I-10 is a few minutes north.