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Shasta
Jul 15, 2013, 4:27 AM
I think the plan is for phase I to rise on the acreage. Once the office tower is up and running, then I think the plan is to clear the site of the old garage and office building and build the hotel/condo portion as phase II.

TexasPlaya
Jul 15, 2013, 6:13 AM
I think the plan is for phase I to rise on the acreage. Once the office tower is up and running, then I think the plan is to clear the site of the old garage and office building and build the hotel/condo portion as phase II.

This.

Urbannizer
Jul 16, 2013, 1:46 AM
The Vue on MacGregor

Website: http://www.vuecollegeliving.com/

http://cdn11.g5search.com/assets/179174/large-houston-student-apartments-for-rent.jpg

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash2/575088_10151366080737058_1335874755_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/64228_10151366082367058_390991510_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/479706_10151366082452058_297283966_n.jpg



2929 Weslayan, by fastesdisatr (http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/15624-40-story-residential-tower-by-interfin-at-weslayan-and-west-alabama/?p=428271)

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/TscreamosoulT/photo_zpsb712f563.jpg

photoLith
Jul 16, 2013, 3:11 AM
Wow that ones rising fast.

Shasta
Jul 16, 2013, 4:21 AM
The Vue on MacGregor is such a HUGE project for several reasons. First, it's the first privately funded dorm to be built around U of H. This shows how much the school has changed over the last decade. More than 8,000 kids live on campus now and now a private company is showing faith that UofH will become even more of a "residential" college. Secondly, this is the first major project in and around UofH on the South side of Braes Bayou. Thirdly, this will be built right near a rail stop meaning more potential riders. This will essentially become the 4th UH stop if I remember correctly. UofH should work with METRO and give kids on campus transit cards are build them in as a part of their fees. Imagine, if you lived at the Vue, you could wake up, grab a train, and ride to class, a football game, or to downtown to bar hop. NICE.

toxteth o'grady
Jul 16, 2013, 4:10 PM
Is it considered to be a campus residence or will it be offered to non-students?

Von
Jul 16, 2013, 9:30 PM
Saw this today on the news and thought it was a cool story to share :)

Doug Miller / KHOU 11 News
July 15, 2013 at 10:40 PM

"It was a secret," said Guy Hagstette, a consultant for the Buffalo Bayou Partnership, who tells a fascinating story about the buried treasure that was Houston's first city reservoir.

http://www.khou.com/news/local/What-will-they-do-with-Houstons-cistern-215617911.html?fb_action_ids=10201280954161488&fb_action_types=og.recommends&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%7B%2210201280954161488%22%3A585751071469100%7D&action_type_map=%7B%2210201280954161488%22%3A%22og.recommends%22%7D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D

Shasta
Jul 16, 2013, 10:34 PM
The Vue will be a privately owned student- centered project. I'd imagine anyone could live there, but it will be marketed to students and I imagine wouldn't be too attractive for non-students.

toxteth o'grady
Jul 17, 2013, 12:07 AM
The NIMBY movement hits other neighborhoods and other high-rises.

Residents fight high-rise developments in affluent neighborhoods (http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2013/07/residents-fight-high-rise-developments-in-affluent-neighborhoods/)

pacarlson
Jul 17, 2013, 12:13 AM
Wow, the Vue looks nice. U of H has really changed in the last 30+ years since I went there.

AustinTay
Jul 17, 2013, 12:18 AM
Saw this today on the news and thought it was a cool story to share :)

Doug Miller / KHOU 11 News
July 15, 2013 at 10:40 PM



http://www.khou.com/news/local/What-will-they-do-with-Houstons-cistern-215617911.html?fb_action_ids=10201280954161488&fb_action_types=og.recommends&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%7B%2210201280954161488%22%3A585751071469100%7D&action_type_map=%7B%2210201280954161488%22%3A%22og.recommends%22%7D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D

I saw that and thought it must be a slow day for news. This is nothing new.

http://www.chron.com/life/gray/article/Gray-Buffalo-Bayou-s-dark-secret-2736594.php

Urbannizer
Jul 17, 2013, 12:39 AM
Not sure if you call it a highrise, but Emporis would... the 12 story Hanover Tower in Rice Village is moving forward. The garden store and small apartment building are now vacant and fenced off. Demolition should start very soon.

http://i.imgur.com/nS49PWl.jpg

Bailey
Jul 17, 2013, 1:31 PM
The NIMBY movement hits other neighborhoods and other high-rises.

Residents fight high-rise developments in affluent neighborhoods (http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2013/07/residents-fight-high-rise-developments-in-affluent-neighborhoods/)

When will these people understand that we do NOT have zoning and that every zoning, or city plan, has been voted down by the residents of Houston?

I understand not wanting such a scale in their neighborhood but they have nothing legal to stand on.

toxteth o'grady
Jul 17, 2013, 4:14 PM
When will these people understand that we do NOT have zoning and that every zoning, or city plan, has been voted down by the residents of Houston?

I would imagine a majority of them even voted against zoning a few times.

Having nothing else, I'm sure they must be looking to prior covenants and deed restrictions to aid them in their fight. But Hines is a big developer and probably can't be intimidated so easily.

Urbannizer
Jul 18, 2013, 1:49 AM
Skyhouse, taken earlier today from ze webcam:

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5489/9309169176_b447175eea_b.jpg

And a little bit more on 1500 Post Oak, the tower that will be built for BHP Billiton.

Complementing and completing the adjacent Four Oaks Place, owned by TIAA-CREF and designed by Cesar Pelli & Associates, 1500 Post Oak Boulevard creates a new focal point for the development and defines a fresh southern edge along the complex's central garden. The office tower also serves as the main entry for the development and welcomes visitors with a spacious, naturally lit lobby. At night, the prismatic crown atop the building reveals the building's presence in the Houston Skyline.

Seven levels of parking serve the building's Class-A office space. The efficient floor plates conserve resources and lend themselves to convenient planning and office space management by tenants. The tower design includes numerous sustainable features, and is expected to achieve LEED-CS Gold certification. For example, a glass curtain wall clads the tower, articulated by a delicate screen of sunshades that reduce heat gain from the Texas sun, while bringing a more intimate scale to the building.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3736/9306464769_393dcaaffa_b.jpg

Urbannizer
Jul 18, 2013, 9:23 PM
Several reliable sources on HAIF say a 102-Story tower may be planned for downtown near Minute Maid Park.

It was first mentioned a few days after the Chevron tower was announced.

Post by jimenez (http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/27752-new-chevron-tower-for-downtown-houston-50-stories-at-1600-louisiana/?p=427137):
Don’t worry my friend. I have reliable sources that tell me a 100+ story tower is coming to DTHouston very soon.

Post by Nativehoustonian (http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/27752-new-chevron-tower-for-downtown-houston-50-stories-at-1600-louisiana/?p=427158):
It is s only a rendering. Once completed I believe it will appear very sleek. It seems it may be almost 800 feet high. It is also bringing more jobs to Houston. I think Hines is next at 609 Main St. I have heard that a very tall skyscraper will go up by Minute Maid Park because it is out of HOU airport flight pattern. With the tax abatements a lot of buildings have already been announced. I believe a little boom is coming for downtown. I wonder what Trump is up to?

and new info today, by lockmat:

Urby, I talked to my elevator man and he said a developer tried to build a 102-story building in Dallas but the airport shot it down an now he is planning it for Houston.

If all of this is indeed true, and goes through as planned, this tower may be well over 1,000ft and the tallest building west of the Mississippi by height and floor count.

Bailey
Jul 19, 2013, 1:10 AM
Good news, several reliable sources on HAIF say a 102-Story tower may be planned for downtown near Minute Maid Park.

It was first mentioned a few days after the Chevron tower was announced.



And who would be the developer of this mythical tower? IF (big IF) it was to happen I'm guess it would be a foreign investor, one who likes to build ego towers a la Dubai.

I don't think any of the established developers already in Houston would dare to seriously consider a project like this.

Rail Claimore
Jul 19, 2013, 5:26 AM
And who would be the developer of this mythical tower? IF (big IF) it was to happen I'm guess it would be a foreign investor, one who likes to build ego towers a la Dubai.

I don't think any of the established developers already in Houston would dare to seriously consider a project like this.

A 70-story supertall is a real possibility if this current boom in Houston continues, but a 100-story building? Haha, yeah... I'll believe it when I see it.

Onn
Jul 19, 2013, 4:30 PM
100+ stories for Houston, yikes! Then again Houston's had the #1 economy in the nation for like years now.

StoOgE
Jul 19, 2013, 5:40 PM
So we are supposed to believe someone was going to build the tallest building outside of Chicago and New York in Dallas.. it never made it to the Dallas zoning board but they were somehow told no because of flight paths (what?).

So now they are moving it to Houston as though building a massive speculative office tower is something done on a whim and it doesn't really matter what city you do it in.

I mean, you are likely talking about a building in the 1200-1500 foot range at that point.

Von
Jul 19, 2013, 6:04 PM
By Mike Morris and Nancy Sarnoff
Houston Chronicle
07/18/2013 1:00 P.M.

The Houston City Council could veto a $12 million state grant to help Chevron build a 50-story tower downtown if it fails to add some city money to the pot.



http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/City-veto-of-abatement-could-hinder-12M-state-4673789.php?t=465c481865b05374ef

Urbannizer
Jul 19, 2013, 6:27 PM
So we are supposed to believe someone was going to build the tallest building outside of Chicago and New York in Dallas.. it never made it to the Dallas zoning board but they were somehow told no because of flight paths (what?).

So now they are moving it to Houston as though building a massive speculative office tower is something done on a whim and it doesn't really matter what city you do it in.

I mean, you are likely talking about a building in the 1200-1500 foot range at that point.

Maybe there were other factors as well, who knows. We'll just have to wait and see if this one is true or not. One of the guys over on HAIF revealed (http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/28424-102-story-tower-planned/?p=428640) his source:

One of my vendors. His company provides equipment necessary for any high rises, so they're always part of the bidding processes. He said they have quarterly meetings to discuss projects they're bidding on and what's in the pipeline.

He said they haven't placed a bid on it, but it's planned

toxteth o'grady
Jul 19, 2013, 6:45 PM
I tend to doubt anything in Dallas was proposed recently at 100 stories. For one thing, their vacancy rates are higher than Houston. They've got a lot of space to absorb.

I also think 100 stories is ambitious, given the number of other buildings planned downtown.

toxteth o'grady
Jul 19, 2013, 6:49 PM
"City veto of abatement could hinder $12M state grant to Chevron"

Well, that's one way to screw the pooch...

Urbannizer
Jul 19, 2013, 11:14 PM
Hanover Rive Village Phase II moving along, new rendering:
http://i.imgur.com/R1k7Rr2.jpg

The Village Apartments near Rice Village has seen its last days. It — and the Garden Gate Nursery property – are being demolished for a 12-story apartment building.

Hanover Co. bought the properties and is developing the project. The company recently built a 380-unit complex nearby at 2455 Dunstan called Hanover Rice Village. The average-size unit — 970 square feet — rents for more than $2,300 per month.
Units in the new building will average around 1,400 square feet, Hanover’s David Ott Jr. said earlier this year.

“It generally will be geared toward the more mature renter coming out of large homes in the neighborhood. We’ve seen great demand from residents of Southampton wanting to sell their homes and stay in the area as a renter,” he said.

Article: http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2013/07/apartments-near-rice-village-being-razed/#14184-2

Demolition photos:

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/wp-content/blogs.dir/1876/files/aging-complex-to-be-replaced-with-120-story-building/demo.jpg

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/wp-content/blogs.dir/1876/files/aging-complex-to-be-replaced-with-120-story-building/demo3.jpg

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/wp-content/blogs.dir/1876/files/aging-complex-to-be-replaced-with-120-story-building/demo2.jpg

photoLith
Jul 19, 2013, 11:38 PM
Man, glad they are tearing down those apartments, those things were atrocious.

Urbannizer
Jul 21, 2013, 12:46 AM
Construction Updates by LarryDierker on HAIF

1717 Bissonnett (http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/13095-1717-bissonnet-ashby-highrise/?p=428776) (Ashby Highrise)
http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x322/tebor79/IMG_0672.jpg

http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x322/tebor79/IMG_0670.jpg

Hanover West University
(http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/28309-hanover-west-university-apartment-going-up-at-bissonnet-and-dincans/?p=428778)http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x322/tebor79/IMG_0669.jpg

http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x322/tebor79/IMG_0668.jpg

http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x322/tebor79/IMG_0666.jpg

Alexan West U (http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/27689-alexan-west-u-near-bissonnet-and-weslyan/?p=428780)

http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x322/tebor79/IMG_0664.jpg

Willowick Place at River Oaks
http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x322/tebor79/IMG_0663.jpg

http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x322/tebor79/IMG_0662.jpg

and more thanks to the HBJ (http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/breaking-ground/2013/07/slideshow-springwoods-village.html)

Springwoods Village
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2841/9324702260_72de0f4025_b.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2865/9321910473_7ae8a80f64_b.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5536/9324702136_cdd21eec51_b.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5477/9324702328_09eb19f043_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3668/9321910515_0c4aca2d75_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7351/9321910377_1b0ee38ffe_b.jpg

Southwestern Energy HQ
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2850/9324702078_f9c5d43a56_b.jpg

DCReid
Jul 21, 2013, 1:10 AM
I tend to doubt anything in Dallas was proposed recently at 100 stories. For one thing, their vacancy rates are higher than Houston. They've got a lot of space to absorb.

I also think 100 stories is ambitious, given the number of other buildings planned downtown.

I doubt any of US city besides NY or possibly Chicago gets anything more than 50 or 60 stories for an office building. Even NYC can hardly get a 100 story office building, except for unusual circumstances such as rebuilding the WTC or leasing at a substantial discount, as in Hudson Yards. Most of the NYC planned tall buildings are mostly residential or mixed use in the central core, and have a high demand from foreign buyers. It does not seem that Dallas or Houston have a high demand for residential living downtown, or have an extremely high desirability by foreign buyers for downtown living.

Urbannizer
Jul 21, 2013, 2:18 AM
http://ww2.hdnux.com/photos/22/65/77/4939761/3/rawImage.jpg

Four-story townhouses that start at $2.2million

Project Aims at Ultra-rich Wanting to Live Smaller

To most people, downsizing means moving out of a two-story house into perhaps a patio home or even an apartment.

For the ultra-rich, a downsized home can be a 6,000-square-foot townhouse with a wine cellar and home theater. That's small, after all, compared to a 20,000-square-foot estate on several acres.

That's the crowd being sought for a new residential project proposed at 1900 Revere and San Felipe in the River Oaks area.

"In Houston, people want big," said Jacob Sudhoff of Sudhoff Properties, which is marketing the development, called Saint Honoré.

Röhe & Wright is the developer in partnership with the Willis family, owner of the Urban Retreat spa that previously operated on the site.

The four-story homes - there will only be 10 - will range from 5,000 square feet to nearly 7,800 square feet and start at $2.2 million.

Each unit will include a partially underground lower level for parking and other uses. A brochure says the space will give the owners room for things like a "home gym," "caretaker's quarters" or a "safe room."

Preston Wood & Associates designed the Parisian-inspired building and Mirador Group designed the landscaping.

Saint Honoré is Röhe & Wright's follow up to the adjacent Winfield Gate project, which was 90 percent sold before the developer broke ground last year.

Sudhoff said he expects construction to start on Saint Honoré in early 2014.


50-Story International Tower Moving Forward

Developers planning an office tower on the northern end of downtown haven't put shovels in the ground yet, but some recently patched holes on the site reveal the group is moving forward with its proposal.

The holes were part of a geotechnical study on the land.

Before any tall building is constructed, holes are drilled into the ground to collect soil samples that provide guidance for designing the foundation.

The site is next to Market Square Park and is bordered by Preston, Prairie, Milam and Travis.

Civil engineer Edward Ulrich, whose firm conducted the geotechnical study, compares the different components of engineering a skyscraper to the human body.

"The architect designs the skin. The structural engineer designs the bones. The mechanical engineer designs the circulation. My job as a foundation engineer is to design your feet," said Ulrich, of Houston-based Ulrich Engineers.

The proposed tower would be developed by Essex Commercial Properties, the real estate firm affiliated with general contracting firm Linbeck Group, and Stream Realty Partners.

Essex president Eugene Lee said the developers are exploring ideas that would enhance the area's pedestrian and retail environment.

"We're hoping we can be an additional catalyst around Market Square Park," he said.

A start date has not been set for the project, which could have 750,000 square feet.

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/Project-aims-at-ultra-rich-wanting-to-live-smaller-4676395.php

JoninATX
Jul 21, 2013, 2:51 AM
A lot of construction going on in Houston.

JoninATX
Jul 21, 2013, 2:52 AM
I doubt any of US city besides NY or possibly Chicago gets anything more than 50 or 60 stories for an office building. Even NYC can hardly get a 100 story office building, except for unusual circumstances such as rebuilding the WTC or leasing at a substantial discount, as in Hudson Yards. Most of the NYC planned tall buildings are mostly residential or mixed use in the central core, and have a high demand from foreign buyers. It does not seem that Dallas or Houston have a high demand for residential living downtown, or have an extremely high desirability by foreign buyers for downtown living.

Well don't tell Midland, Texas that, they are about to break ground on a new 58 story mixed use tower. The tower itself will rise at 864ft. eclipsing the new Devon tower in OKC.
It's already lease 40% if not more.

Onn
Jul 21, 2013, 3:00 AM
Well don't tell Midland, Texas that, they are about to break ground on a new 58 story mixed use tower. The tower itself will rise at 864ft. eclipsing the new Devon tower in OKC.
It's already lease 40% if not more.

And Houston is pretty much the 4th most important city in the country now, it has by far the fastest growing economy of any of the biggest cities, and probably the cheapest to build in because of taxes. A 100+ floor building would probably be built in LA too, if the downtown weren't so complicated financially speaking.

JoninATX
Jul 21, 2013, 3:33 AM
And Houston is pretty much the 4th most important city in the country now, it has by far the fastest growing economy of any of the biggest cities, and probably the cheapest to build in because of taxes. A 100+ floor building would probably be built in LA too, if the downtown weren't so complicated financially speaking.

No doubt about it, I was stating to DCReid that there is demand for a 50+ story office tower, even in the most unlikely places.

Cory
Jul 21, 2013, 4:10 AM
Hanover West University
http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x322/tebor79/IMG_0669.jpg


For atleast 10 seconds, I thought that was Chase Tower.

Double L
Jul 21, 2013, 4:22 AM
^^^

Same here.

shakman
Jul 21, 2013, 6:08 AM
Construction Updates by LarryDierker on HAIF

Hanover West University
[/URL]http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x322/tebor79/IMG_0669.jpg

http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x322/tebor79/IMG_0668.jpg

http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x322/tebor79/IMG_0666.jpg



Another "Hanover" development. :tup:

rdavis4559
Jul 21, 2013, 12:01 PM
Well don't tell Midland, Texas that, they are about to break ground on a new 58 story mixed use tower. The tower itself will rise at 864ft. eclipsing the new Devon tower in OKC.
It's already lease 40% if not more.

Really?

LMich
Jul 22, 2013, 7:18 AM
http://ww2.hdnux.com/photos/22/65/77/4939761/3/rawImage.jpg

Four-story townhouses that start at $2.2million

LOL! @ the architecture. It's in such incredibly bad and tacky tastes.

mousquet
Jul 22, 2013, 8:16 AM
LOL! @ the architecture. It's in such incredibly bad and tacky tastes.
Ha, LMich in his harsh mode... One should feel the same kind of skepticism anyways.

Still, let us acknowledge that if they did some tremendous efforts on the construction methods (by avoiding precast materials in particular, I guess), their thing could look astonishingly genuine, like some we see in thread New Buildings Built in Traditional Architecture Style (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=176535). Lots of things in there would easily fool me like I'd take them as recently cleaned up old buildings come from the times of their respective styles. In such cases, results are convincing, even though original buildings will be worth much more for long.

And pretty sure that if they wanna do that really properly, it's gonna cost a lot for a complex of that scale.
I hope they get something decent. If it looked too tacky, it'd be bad for Haussmann's reputation.

chris08876
Jul 22, 2013, 1:52 PM
Really?

Yes it kinda came out of know-where but nevertheless great news for Midland.

Urbannizer
Jul 22, 2013, 3:37 PM
UH Stadium progress, via Mahattan Construction webcam.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3791/9343765242_7a5de1fac1_b.jpg

2 Waterway Square Place to be completed by early 2015.

http://waterwaysquare.designbynewton.com/imgs/banner-hotel.jpg

Officials from The Woodlands Development Company said future hotels are also planned at Hughes Landing and at Waterway Square. A luxury hotel at Waterway Square could house 300-plus rooms and open in early 2015

http://impactnews.com/houston-metro/the-woodlands/new-projects-signal-need-for-more-hotels/

toxteth o'grady
Jul 22, 2013, 3:56 PM
I doubt any of US city besides NY or possibly Chicago gets anything more than 50 or 60 stories for an office building.

LA and San Francisco are talking up the possibility of 1,000-foot+ towers.

Supposedly, the foreign investors are kicking the tires around Houston, but that may lead to several smaller buildings rather than one big structure downtown.

toxteth o'grady
Jul 22, 2013, 4:01 PM
For atleast 10 seconds, I thought that was Chase Tower.

Yeah, I could see how that would be possible - in an eyes-squinted sort of depth-perception deprived way. :P I look at that and think that if they left that elevator core just like that, it would resemble that town in Italy with the high-rise towers that the residents built in the 15th Century to protect themselves from home invasion.

toxteth o'grady
Jul 22, 2013, 4:05 PM
Another "Hanover" development. :tup:

That sounds like a curse - the 5-story cell-block structure wrapped around a seven-level parking garage. They're all over Houston...and Dallas and Fort Worth.:no:

johnme
Jul 22, 2013, 10:23 PM
Here are some images from this week, taken by me.

Downtown

Future Chevron Tower Site
http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww338/espiau1074/20130722_144937.jpg (http://s733.photobucket.com/user/espiau1074/media/20130722_144937.jpg.html)

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww338/espiau1074/20130722_144933.jpg (http://s733.photobucket.com/user/espiau1074/media/20130722_144933.jpg.html)

I-10 West Energy Corridor

Energy Center 3; prep work is ongoing for Energy Center 4
http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww338/espiau1074/20130718_181908.jpg (http://s733.photobucket.com/user/espiau1074/media/20130718_181908.jpg.html)

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww338/espiau1074/20130718_181907.jpg (http://s733.photobucket.com/user/espiau1074/media/20130718_181907.jpg.html)

Woodbranch Campus
http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww338/espiau1074/20130718_181603.jpg (http://s733.photobucket.com/user/espiau1074/media/20130718_181603.jpg.html)

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww338/espiau1074/20130718_181547.jpg (http://s733.photobucket.com/user/espiau1074/media/20130718_181547.jpg.html)

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww338/espiau1074/20130718_181541.jpg (http://s733.photobucket.com/user/espiau1074/media/20130718_181541.jpg.html)

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww338/espiau1074/20130718_181447.jpg (http://s733.photobucket.com/user/espiau1074/media/20130718_181447.jpg.html)

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww338/espiau1074/20130718_181444.jpg (http://s733.photobucket.com/user/espiau1074/media/20130718_181444.jpg.html)

Energy Towers
http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww338/espiau1074/20130718_181256.jpg (http://s733.photobucket.com/user/espiau1074/media/20130718_181256.jpg.html)

Energy Tower 3; Energy Tower 4 will go up to the West of this tower.
http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww338/espiau1074/20130718_181351-1.jpg (http://s733.photobucket.com/user/espiau1074/media/20130718_181351-1.jpg.html)

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww338/espiau1074/20130718_181344.jpg (http://s733.photobucket.com/user/espiau1074/media/20130718_181344.jpg.html)

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww338/espiau1074/20130718_181342.jpg (http://s733.photobucket.com/user/espiau1074/media/20130718_181342.jpg.html)

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww338/espiau1074/20130718_181338.jpg (http://s733.photobucket.com/user/espiau1074/media/20130718_181338.jpg.html)

llamaorama
Jul 22, 2013, 10:41 PM
What is that tower next to 2 Waterway square in the rendering?

AviationGuy
Jul 23, 2013, 1:33 AM
LOL! @ the architecture. It's in such incredibly bad and tacky tastes.

I'm not particularly fond of this style either, but seems like a moderator could set a better example for the forum than "LOL".

Actually, since it looks like this development will be along the main artery along the south side of River Oaks, it may not be all that out of place, considering the extreme wealth of River Oaks.

chris08876
Jul 23, 2013, 2:09 AM
LA and San Francisco are talking up the possibility of 1,000-foot+ towers.

Supposedly, the foreign investors are kicking the tires around Houston, but that may lead to several smaller buildings rather than one big structure downtown.

Miami as well. Some proposals but there's bound to be a super tall eventually given the increasing market that leading to another crazy boom.

Urbannizer
Jul 23, 2013, 7:01 AM
What is that tower next to 2 Waterway square in the rendering?

1 Waterway Square Place, the 22-story condo tower. Not sure when it's expected to go up, the construction date has been pushed back many times before.

Urbannizer
Jul 23, 2013, 7:05 AM
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7328/9350064652_b1f403cc43_b.jpg

Phillips 66 shares early headquarters details, rendering

Houston-based Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX) on Monday provided early details of the new headquarters the company plans to break ground on this year.

The new facility, designed to house the downstream company that spun off from Houston oil major ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) last year, will be spread across a 1.1 million-square-foot, multibuilding campus with a café, fitness center, credit union, covered parking and a training and development center.

Spokeswoman Janet Grothe confirmed the company plans to break ground by the end of this year, with completion expected in 36 months.

Phillips 66 also plans to pursue LEED Silver certification initially and then enhance the design to achieve a Gold certification level.

Because the design isn’t yet finalized, Grothe said she cannot disclose a dollar figure on the building’s construction, nor can she name the architect in charge.

Phillips 66 selected the 14-acre site for its new home — in the Westchase District, located off Beltway 8 West between Westheimer Road and Briar Forest Drive — in September. The company has leased 210,745 square feet of space for its interim headquarters at Pinnacle Westchase, and it will relocate all of its 1,800 Houston-area employees to the new facility once construction is complete.

Article: http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/drilling-down/2013/07/phillips-66-releases-details-of-new-hq.html

LMich
Jul 23, 2013, 7:26 AM
I'm not particularly fond of this style either, but seems like a moderator could set a better example for the forum than "LOL".

Actually, since it looks like this development will be along the main artery along the south side of River Oaks, it may not be all that out of place, considering the extreme wealth of River Oaks.

I do regret the tone of the post, and wished I'd expressed my feelings on it more constructively. It's just that I like what's going in in much of Houston, and this just stuck out like such a sore thumb that I found myself unable not to comment on how over-the-top, nouveau riche, Beverly Hillbillies the thing looks. It's trying way too hard.

You guys forgive me? :)

vjhe
Jul 23, 2013, 9:20 AM
ACTUALLY LMich, as Aviationguy mentioned it may not be so out of place as one would imagine. It is on on edge of the "Beverly Hills" of Houston so it actually may fit in better than you may think. Cheap knock-off or not, it just may work.

And yes we forgive you :-). By the way, you should make a visit down to Houston.

toxteth o'grady
Jul 23, 2013, 1:36 PM
I'm sensing a familiar theme with the Phillips 66 complex - the four lower floors are taller and the upper floors are shorter. They must be planning conference rooms or a data center on the lower floors and need the additional floor-to-ceiling height.

toxteth o'grady
Jul 23, 2013, 1:49 PM
It's just that I like what's going in in much of Houston, and this just stuck out like such a sore thumb that I found myself unable not to comment on how over-the-top, nouveau riche, Beverly Hillbillies the thing looks.

There's another residence not far away from that in the Montrose that's just as over-the-top. You'd spot it immediately; it is eight stories tall and ringed with 15-foot tall statues on pedestals around the building exterior. The whole place screams La Cage aux Folles.

Tom In Chicago
Jul 23, 2013, 5:49 PM
^That thing is truly awful. . .

. . .

DanielG425
Jul 23, 2013, 8:56 PM
I have a question and didn't know where to ask so I decided here is a good place. Is the State National Building downtown abandoned, and if not, what's in it? Thank you

rdavis4559
Jul 24, 2013, 12:49 AM
I have a question and didn't know where to ask so I decided here is a good place. Is the State National Building
downtown abandoned, and if not, what's in it? Thank you

I don't know the answer to that but according to HCAD, the property taxes are not delinquint so if it is abandoned, SNB PLC (State National Bank Company) is still paying ~%18500 per year in taxes with no revenue coming in.

http://www.hcad.org/records/details.asp?crypt=%94%9A%B0%94%BFg%84%8D%80zlh%8El%87tXuaW%9E%99%A2%D3%89%95%C2e%7CU%8A%7F%86%C0%AB%A8%AD%86%5E&bld=1&tab=2

http://www.hctax.net/Property/TaxStatement?Account=0010440000019

Urbannizer
Jul 24, 2013, 3:21 AM
Crane is up for SWN HQ, by bachanon (http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/27270-swv-10-story-building-announced/?p=429050) on HAIF:

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/p480x480/1069340_10151538912233587_1974508950_n.jpg

DanielG425
Jul 24, 2013, 5:58 AM
I don't know the answer to that but according to HCAD, the property taxes are not delinquint so if it is abandoned, SNB PLC (State National Bank Company) is still paying ~%18500 per year in taxes with no revenue coming in.

http://www.hcad.org/records/details.asp?crypt=%94%9A%B0%94%BFg%84%8D%80zlh%8El%87tXuaW%9E%99%A2%D3%89%95%C2e%7CU%8A%7F%86%C0%AB%A8%AD%86%5E&bld=1&tab=2

http://www.hctax.net/Property/TaxStatement?Account=0010440000019

Thanks for the research! Look at the price jump from $750k to $3M (that's if I understood and read it correctly, I might be wrong)!

Urbannizer
Jul 24, 2013, 4:27 PM
The Sovereign

http://swamplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/sovereign-construction.jpg


http://swamplot.com/the-sovereign-apartment-highrise-beginning-to-stand-on-its-own/2013-07-24/

toxteth o'grady
Jul 24, 2013, 5:03 PM
Thanks for the research! Look at the price jump from $750k to $3M (that's if I understood and read it correctly, I might be wrong)!

All the downtown tax valuations have taken a healthy jump. A lot of landlords are screaming about that.

toxteth o'grady
Jul 24, 2013, 5:38 PM
Saw this one hiding on the pages of Swamplot. Another highrise with statues.

The Mixed-Use Tower Uptown Park Has Been Waiting For?
(http://swamplot.com/the-mixed-use-tower-uptown-park-has-been-waiting-for/2013-07-23/)

http://swamplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/kirksey-highrise-uptown-park.jpg

Reverberation
Jul 24, 2013, 8:51 PM
I like that! The towers look like they came from Spanish missions.

Urbannizer
Jul 25, 2013, 12:56 AM
^ It's not a serious proposal, just a rendering from a marketing video to show what can be built on a site in Uptown Park that will be available to developers next year.

2929 Weslayan, today by Tumbleweed_Tx (http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/15624-40-story-residential-tower-by-interfin-at-weslayan-and-west-alabama/?p=429115)

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7390/9362486614_5cba7ee0b2_c.jpg

Urbannizer
Jul 26, 2013, 10:32 PM
A mixed-use tower is planned for Houston, one thinks it's the rumored 102-story tower.

I posted this in the 102-story thread, but this is too exciting not to have its own. The only disappointment I might have with it is if it is not downtown. If it is, the sky is the limit for downtown. It will be a paradigm shift for Houstonians opinion of our cbd.

From Bisnow:

Kurt (whose office is designing 7M SF totaling $1B across property types) proved his prowess as a prognosticator. During last year's event, he predicted mixed-use would grow. (Now we call him every day for the weather and the trifecta winners at the horse track.) He was right, but there's been a shift within that sector from horizontal to vertical mixed-use. The facilities are high-rises with product types stacked on top of each other—Ziegler Cooper is designing two of these, one in Houston and one in Austin. The Houston facility will include multifamily, hotel, retail, and office components.

but the office portion may be a seperate tower, according to Lockmat on HAIF

Well let me just rain on the parade already.

My journalistic source said the one in Austin is not that tall and the office component in Houston may be a separate project. Very strange.

http://www.bisnow.com/commercial-real-estate/houston/why-build-now/

http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/28453-ziegler-cooper-mega-mixed-use/

Tumbleweed_Tx
Jul 28, 2013, 4:43 PM
thanks, Urbanizer! I was just about to post that here, too.

I really like the way the curvy lines are turning out on 2929 Weslayan. It's going to be cooool when its done!

Brijonmang
Jul 30, 2013, 9:15 PM
After a long wait, a rendering of the Stream/Essex building in downtown near Market Square park has been made available to the public.

http://swamplot.com/is-this-the-41-story-office-tower-planned-beside-market-square-park-downtown/2013-07-30/

http://i.imgur.com/H8dO0nB.jpg

JoninATX
Jul 30, 2013, 10:21 PM
Nice looking tower. :tup:

pacarlson
Jul 31, 2013, 12:07 AM
Love it!!!

AviationGuy
Jul 31, 2013, 1:03 AM
Wow...that is sharp.

vjhe
Jul 31, 2013, 1:21 AM
Oh now THAT is a BEAUT! For this design to be in Houston is REALLY REALLY exciting. Maybe the rank has finally been broken for this city.

photoLith
Jul 31, 2013, 2:14 AM
That is super freaking sexy, wow. Ive always despised that surface lot right across from one of the nicest parks in Houston. It will be great to see the area becoming more New York City esque.

shakman
Jul 31, 2013, 3:28 AM
After a long wait, a rendering of the Stream/Essex building in downtown near Market Square park has been made available to the public.

http://swamplot.com/is-this-the-41-story-office-tower-planned-beside-market-square-park-downtown/2013-07-30/

http://i.imgur.com/H8dO0nB.jpg

Please review this thread before some of you get too excited...
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=206523&page=2

LMich
Jul 31, 2013, 7:11 AM
http://swamplot.com/is-this-the-41-story-office-tower-planned-beside-market-square-park-downtown/2013-07-30/

nice!

bobbyv
Jul 31, 2013, 10:30 AM
After a long wait, a rendering of the Stream/Essex building in downtown near Market Square park has been made available to the public.

http://swamplot.com/is-this-the-41-story-office-tower-planned-beside-market-square-park-downtown/2013-07-30/

http://i.imgur.com/H8dO0nB.jpg

That looks very similar to the supertall LA is getting, who is the architect?

Urbannizer
Jul 31, 2013, 11:10 AM
That looks very similar to the supertall LA is getting, who is the architect?

Gensler

toxteth o'grady
Aug 1, 2013, 1:26 PM
Hines is doing a Q&A for their office building, trying to beat back the neighborhood complaints.

Hines posts Q&A website for new River Oaks tower (http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/breaking-ground/2013/07/hines-posts-qa-website-for-new-river.html)

toxteth o'grady
Aug 1, 2013, 1:31 PM
After a long wait, a rendering of the Stream/Essex building in downtown near Market Square park has been made available to the public.

http://swamplot.com/is-this-the-41-story-office-tower-planned-beside-market-square-park-downtown/2013-07-30/

http://i.imgur.com/H8dO0nB.jpg

THat rendering looks a lot taller than what has been speculated, if the comparative height against the Chase Tower is correct. If nothing else, the parking levels have been well disguised.

toxteth o'grady
Aug 1, 2013, 1:36 PM
Two more low-rises:

Exclusive: New luxury condos underway in the Heights (http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2013/07/31/new-luxury-condos-near-completion-in.html)

Sneak peek: New mixed-use development comes to Museum District (http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/breaking-ground/2013/07/rendering-new-mixed-use-development.html)

Urbannizer
Aug 2, 2013, 2:08 PM
Hanover Post Oak (left) BLVD Whole Foods (right) by Golyadkin (http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/6106-latest-blvd-place-news-and-pictures/?p=429757)

http://i538.photobucket.com/albums/ff345/bppedersen/DSC_09131_zpsac294e7b.jpg

http://i538.photobucket.com/albums/ff345/bppedersen/DSC_09141_zps1962824a.jpg

http://i538.photobucket.com/albums/ff345/bppedersen/DSC_09161_zps4e96efaa.jpg

Richmon and Yoakum, by Triton (http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/27613-richmond-and-yoakum-new-officecommercial/?p=429583) Rendering: http://jhib.savageproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/4306_Yoakum_1.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/bDPrygl.jpg?1

shakman
Aug 2, 2013, 3:31 PM
:previous:

Will Whole Foods occupy the glass facade structure or the portion on the opposite end of the parking garage?

Urbannizer
Aug 2, 2013, 4:08 PM
:previous:

Will Whole Foods occupy the glass facade structure or the portion on the opposite end of the parking garage?

I think parking is in the back and underground, the main portion is also where the Whole Foods will be. I'm not sure who will occupy the glass structure.

http://www.blvdplace.com/Images/Gallery/RetailRenderings/Large/1.jpg

Urbannizer
Aug 2, 2013, 4:38 PM
Houston's skyline in..2017? Five Allen Center, 1600 Louisiana, International Tower, 38-story residential tower and Marriot Marquis are in these photos. By brijonmang on HAIF.

The ones that are not included:
- Hines Residential Tower
- Capitol Tower
- Cresent Office Tower
- 23-story Macy's replacement
- Hampton Inn / Homewood Suites
- Hyatt Place


http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/brijonmang/DtownSkyline_zps33e272e2.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/brijonmang/DtownSkyline2_zps30b547b0.jpg

And here's how 102-story tower near Minute Paid would change the skyline (old photo used). By TowerSpotter on HAIF
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2822/9421512813_6e233a901a_c.jpg

toxteth o'grady
Aug 2, 2013, 6:49 PM
Rendering of the proposed Kingwood Town Center (from the Chron):

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3825/9427458313_8ac51a1c9a_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3760/9430223422_43c404c353_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3686/9427457507_ff1a182fb6_b.jpg

shakman
Aug 3, 2013, 3:13 AM
Minus the parking lots, this project looks great. Where is Kingwood?

futuresooner
Aug 3, 2013, 4:38 AM
The amount of activity going on in Houston is just absolutely mind boggling. I'm really happy for y'all that it is finally showing Houston is progressing into a dense urban metropolis as the years fly by.

Urbannizer
Aug 3, 2013, 5:13 PM
Minus the parking lots, this project looks great. Where is Kingwood?

Kingwood is 30 miles northeast of Houston, east of I-69.

Here's another look at BLVD Place, by Skylineview (http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/6106-latest-blvd-place-news-and-pictures/?p=430058)
http://i1241.photobucket.com/albums/gg515/SkylineView/2013%2008%2003/IMG_1899_zps00380024.jpg

Apartments being demolished for River Oaks District, again by SkylineView (http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/14504-river-oaks-district-retailofficeresidential-project-westheimer-westcreek/?p=430059)
http://i1241.photobucket.com/albums/gg515/SkylineView/2013%2008%2003/photo_zps74f3dde5.jpg

http://i1241.photobucket.com/albums/gg515/SkylineView/2013%2008%2003/photo8_zps0e836c9c.jpg

Skyhouse:
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3772/9428120833_b4fae58572_b.jpg

UH Football Stadium
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2891/9430854124_b02c807b12_b.jpg

natenate
Aug 4, 2013, 12:23 AM
Houston's skyline in..2017? Five Allen Center, 1600 Louisiana, International Tower, 38-story residential tower and Marriot Marquis are in these photos. By brijonmang on HAIF.

The ones that are not included:
- Hines Residential Tower
- Capitol Tower
- Cresent Office Tower
- 23-story Macy's replacement
- Hampton Inn / Homewood Suites
- Hyatt Place


http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/brijonmang/DtownSkyline_zps33e272e2.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/brijonmang/DtownSkyline2_zps30b547b0.jpg

And here's how 102-story tower near Minute Paid would change the skyline (old photo used). By TowerSpotter on HAIF
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2822/9421512813_6e233a901a_c.jpg

I'm late on this, but where did this 102 story building come from? Link? or just rumor

Shasta
Aug 4, 2013, 1:45 AM
102 story tower is a rumor that started on a blog post and has grown from there.

Here's what are real proposals downtown

Skyhouse (24 floors under construction)
Fingers' Ballpark Apartments (7 floors under construction)
Chevron Tower (done deal, 50-58 floors)
609 Main (pretty much a done deal, 48 floors)
International Tower (rumors of being a done deal, 41 floors)
Skanska Tower (33-34 floors, demolition of old bldg underway)
Hines Residential (22 floors of apartments, proposed)
Old Texas Company Hdqts (rehab and addition of 38 story apt. tower, proposed)
Marriott Marquis Hotel (34 floors, 1,000 room, done deal)
Hampton Inn/Homewood Suites (14 floors each, shared base, ground breaking soon)
Hyatt Place (11 floors, ground breaking soon)
HSPVA (new high school for the arts moving from Montrose District)
Savoy Hotel (turning vacant hotel into Holiday Inn- underway)
5 story apartments across from Skyhouse (proposed)
6 Houston Center (revived proposal- office, 29 floors)

dc_denizen
Aug 5, 2013, 12:50 AM
That area around the skyhouse looks ripe for development. Are those lots long for this world?

N90
Aug 5, 2013, 5:57 PM
Got another one.

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/breaking-ground/2013/07/hines-posts-qa-website-for-new-river.html

shakman
Aug 5, 2013, 9:39 PM
Got another one.

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/breaking-ground/2013/07/hines-posts-qa-website-for-new-river.html


This has been previously posted. There are too many proposal in metro Houston to keep count.

Bailey
Aug 5, 2013, 11:42 PM
That area around the skyhouse looks ripe for development. Are those lots long for this world?

We are hoping that is what happens, especially if there is more demand for residential and then retail.

OZ1970
Aug 6, 2013, 1:53 AM
102 story tower is a rumor that started on a blog post and has grown from there.

Here's what are real proposals downtown

Skyhouse (24 floors under construction)
Fingers' Ballpark Apartments (7 floors under construction)
Chevron Tower (done deal, 50-58 floors)
609 Main (pretty much a done deal, 48 floors)
International Tower (rumors of being a done deal, 41 floors)
Skanska Tower (33-34 floors, demolition of old bldg underway)
Hines Residential (22 floors of apartments, proposed)
Old Texas Company Hdqts (rehab and addition of 38 story apt. tower, proposed)
Marriott Marquis Hotel (34 floors, 1,000 room, done deal)
Hampton Inn/Homewood Suites (14 floors each, shared base, ground breaking soon)
Hyatt Place (11 floors, ground breaking soon)
HSPVA (new high school for the arts moving from Montrose District)
Savoy Hotel (turning vacant hotel into Holiday Inn- underway)
5 story apartments across from Skyhouse (proposed)
6 Houston Center (revived proposal- office, 29 floors)

Thank you for posting this GREAT List! Is there any new news on 5 Allen Center? I understand that, although it has been proposed for a couple of years, it is still a very real proposal that will eventually see the light of day??? Thank you again for posting this list!

photoLith
Aug 6, 2013, 6:51 AM
Rendering of the proposed Kingwood Town Center (from the Chron):

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3825/9427458313_8ac51a1c9a_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3760/9430223422_43c404c353_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3686/9427457507_ff1a182fb6_b.jpg

Uh what? I grew up in the suburban hell hole of Kingwood, is this going to be in place of the crappy 90s town center on Kingwood Drive? If so, this would be huge for Kingwood.

shakman
Aug 6, 2013, 1:48 PM
Thank you for posting this GREAT List! Is there any new news on 5 Allen Center? I understand that, although it has been proposed for a couple of years, it is still a very real proposal that will eventually see the light of day??? Thank you again for posting this list!

Five Allen Center is currently in its marketing phase.

toxteth o'grady
Aug 7, 2013, 11:52 AM
That means we watch, we wait...

toxteth o'grady
Aug 7, 2013, 7:01 PM
It's a done deal, as far as the City goes...

Houston City Council passes downtown tax abatement for Chevron (http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/breaking-ground/2013/08/houston-city-council-passes-downtown.html)

Wattleigh
Aug 8, 2013, 5:43 AM
Ongoing improvements along the Buffalo Bayou park belt have led to an extensive revamp that is coming to Eleanor Tinsley Park.

From KUHF (http://app1.kuhf.org/articles/1375721874-Construction-Starts-To-Turn-Eleanor-Tinsley-Park-Into-Buffalo-Bayous-Signature-Green-Space.html)...



Construction Starts To Turn Eleanor Tinsley Park Into Buffalo Bayou's Signature Green Space

August 5, 2013

by: Florian Martin

Eleanor Tinsley Park is probably best known to Houstonians for events like Freedom Over Texas or Free Press Summer Fest. As part of the continuing Buffalo Bayou development, the park is now undergoing some significant changes.

Workers at Eleanor Tinsley Park just off Allen Parkway start removing benches overlooking the bayou and the downtown skyline.

It’s the first part of the park’s remodeling, with the main purpose to improve the area as a venue for major events.

Guy Hagstette, who led the development of Discovery Green, is the project manager for the entire Buffalo Bayou improvement project.

“They’ll start removing the old shelters, the metal shelters; the playground equipment; taking out trees, including the grove of pine trees behind me, which kind of blocks the skyline view; opening up the meadow, the future Bud Light Amphitheater, to the skyline view once again.”

In addition, other trees will be planted, the parking lot remodeled, a big pavilion added and the garden expanded.

Anne Olson is the president of the Buffalo Bayou Partnership, which has been revitalizing the bayou for more than 25 years. She says Eleanor Tinsley Park is special for Houston.

“Major events are held here, such as the Fourth of July and Summer Fest. And by putting in this needed infrastructure, it will be a lot easier to put on the events but also the landscape will be more protected.”

The special upgrades for the park are possible thanks to a $2 million donation by local beer distributor Silver Eagle. In addition, the park renovation, including hike-and-bike trail improvements, is part of the $58 million Buffalo Bayou revitalization project.

Olson says as Houston grows, so does the importance of having more green space – not just for economic development but quality of life.

“I think in the past Buffalo Bayou was an undiscovered resource for Houston, but I think more and more people are coming to realize, you know, it’s the historic birthplace of our city, and it’s a very, very important amenity to attract young people to Houston.”

Guy Hagstette says once the entire project is complete, Houston will be right up there with other cities known for their water front attractions.

“One comparison we had is Ladybird Lake or Town Lake in Austin. I’d say the lake front in Chicago would be another example. This is 2.3 miles of linear park. Most cities would, you know, just die to have this kind of parkland at the doorstep of their downtown.”

The Eleanor Tinsley Park renovation is expected to be complete by next spring, in time for summer events. The entire Buffalo Bayou project is scheduled to be done in mid-2015


http://app1.kuhf.org/userfiles/Eleanor-Tinsley-Park-during-an-event-Rendering-by-SWA-Group.jpg
-from the same article

DanielG425
Aug 8, 2013, 8:34 AM
Downtown is finally becoming a destination!