HOUSTON | Development Thread II

[Green Country]

Do you have any idea how public universities are funded in the state of Texas?

Texas basically ONLY funds two school systems (UT and TAMU) and the rest either fund themselves or have to go to Austin and beg for funding on an as-needed basis.

This type of protected funding is called the Permanent University Fund, and it is written into the Texas Constitution.

That pot of $17.5 BILLION ONLY goes to those two systems...not UH, not TT, or the dozens of other state schools outside of the UT or TAMU systems.

Read more about it here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permanent_University_Fund

The University of Houston has been grossly underfunded for their whole life by the state and, despite that, have created a Tier One research Public University. So....justifiably so, they are going to push back on a state, and a UT system, that is NOT an ally and is a threat to the school they built themselves.

Furthermore, if you go back and watch the congressional hearings over this specific project, you will find out that the University of Texas broke a number of laws in acquiring the land and revealing the campus. UH merely had to point out the rules that were broken or ignored. It was a slam dunk case for UH.

There is a reason why Texas A& M isn't proposing a Texas A&M-Austin (which is more of a need in fast growing Austin than a new campus in Houston BTW) or Texas proposing a University of Texas-college Station miles away from the main campuses in both cities. It's a crappy thing to do to other state systems WITHOUIT taking the proper channels to do so. UT planned this all on their own..and were called out for it.

UH's stance to the state of Texas is to HELP US, an already 100 year old State School, become another prestigious public school in a top metro, another UCLA, INSTEAD of using those resources create yet another a mediocre start-up campus a few miles away.

The fact is that states like California produce way more AAU public Universities than the state of Texas.

In my opinion, the state of Texas should focus on helping the University of Houston and then Texas Tech improve to be in contention for that coveted AAU status.

There's so much wrong with this post, it's hard to know where to start. So I'll start with some low-hanging fruit...

From 2010 to 2020 "fast-growing Austin" metro area added about 570,000 people. Houston metro added twice that many - almost 1.2 million. Between 2000 and 2020, Houston metro added well more than the entire current population of Austin metro. As between Houston and Austin, it's pretty clear which metro area might need a new campus (and it's not Austin), and of course UT wasn't proposing a new campus anyway...

[AviationGuy]

I was at a friend's house a couple of weeks ago on Waycross a bloc or so away. Not too familiar with that area other than property values are going way up.

Waycross is VERY close to the elementary school my siblings and I went to!

[JManc]

There's so much wrong with this post, it's hard to know where to start. So I'll start with some low-hanging fruit...

From 2010 to 2020 "fast-growing Austin" metro area added about 570,000 people. Houston metro added twice that many - almost 1.2 million. Between 2000 and 2020, Houston metro added well more than the entire current population of Austin metro. As between Houston and Austin, it's pretty clear which metro area might need a new campus (and it's not Austin), and of course UT wasn't proposing a new campus anyway...

570k for Austin is much bigger than 1.2 million for Houston since the latter is over 3x Austin's size. Houston is slowing down a bit.

[Wattleigh]

TMC / MD Anderson

-2ACB / 3 ACB

Previously mentioned these towers to be constructed over the next few years. Looks like they may be a bit taller than initially reported. The 2030 master framework has bumped the proposed tower(s) up to 25 floors when finally built out. They will be located on the site that's currently the MD Anderson Prairie Park at Fannin and Holcombe - adjacent to the existing Mays Clinic & Duncan Buildings and just east of the TMC Transit Center.

In addition, there's a mention of a possible new Faculty Office Tower just northwest of that site where the existing Fannin Holcombe Building sits.

Still waiting for more on the proposed patient tower(s) that are planned at MD Anderson Blvd & Moursund.

Found by Highrise Tower on HAIF (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/45347-md-anderson-tmc-master-facilities-framework-2030/?do=findComment&comment=663667)

https://i.imgur.com/Z2NYhRY.png

https://i.imgur.com/1S6251Q.png

https://i.imgur.com/XudpUM6.png

https://i.imgur.com/Z31Rgn3.png

https://i.imgur.com/e6IQQCT.png

[Twitter1]

TMC / MD Anderson

Still waiting for more on the proposed patient tower(s) that are planned at MD Anderson Blvd & Moursund.



The rendering looks like one long podium base with two vertical towers integrated.

:cheers:

https://i.imgur.com/IKOX9ij.png

[Green Country]

570k for Austin is much bigger than 1.2 million for Houston since the latter is over 3x Austin's size. Houston is slowing down a bit.

Yes, of course. But if we're measuring who might need a new campus... it's number of additional people that matters not the percentage growth.

[DCReid]

Yes, of course. But if we're measuring who might need a new campus... it's number of additional people that matters not the percentage growth.

If only Rice U. was twice or three times as large....

[AviationGuy]

The rendering looks like one long podium base with two vertical towers integrated.

:cheers:

https://i.imgur.com/IKOX9ij.png

As related to TMC, I visited a family member on the 24th floor of the relatively new Walter Tower almost a year ago. The view of the TMC was incredible. I walked to every vantage point I could find on the floor. The view of downtown was spectacular, and I was surprised at how close it looked. The distance is about 3 miles at the closest.

[Wattleigh]

Buffalo Bayou Park

The interconnected series of parklands along the Bayou moves east toward the section that passes through EaDo which is seeing more development as of late.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/food-culture/article/Kinder-Foundation-100-million-gift-fast-tracks-17457977.php

Houston philanthropists Nancy & Rich Kinder give $100 million to expand Buffalo Bayou Park eastward

Diane Cowen,
Staff writer
Sep. 25, 2022

An ambitious plan to expand Buffalo Bayou Park eastward to East End and Fifth Ward neighborhoods will launch officially Monday with the announcement of a $100 million catalyst gift from the Kinder Foundation. Both the City Council and Harris County Commissioners Court are expected to sign off on final documents this week.

In 2019, Buffalo Bayou Partnership presented a 10-year master plan for Buffalo Bayou East that will create walking and biking trails, parks, ball fields, entertainment venues and even affordable housing for those neighborhoods, extending the Buffalo Bayou Park several miles to the east on land they've been quietly accumulating since 2004.

as to what will occur specifically...

In mid-October, Olson and her team expect to break ground on the first element of Buffalo Bayou East, an 80-unit affordable housing project, that hasn’t officially been named but is going by the term “Lockwood South.”

Then, in the first quarter of 2023, work will begin on a pocket park at Japhet Creek on the north side of the Bayou in Fifth Ward. Later, that park will be connected to work done at Tony Marron Park with a new pedestrian bridge that will allow residents on both sides to access amenities on each side.

Now, Tony Marron Park is a nice greenspace with trails and a playground, but the partnership’s master plan shows it becoming the jewel of the East End. It will grow in size and get new entry gardens, sports fields and nature play areas, a picnic lawn and boat launch, barbecue plaza for small and large gatherings, picnic pavilions and support for a food truck court. A new maintenance facility here would support the entire eastern expansion and house equipment already used for regular bayou cleanup. Work at the park is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2024.

Later, they’ll tackle Turkey Bend, the wharf and industrial site where existing structures would become an entertainment hub similar to Gas Works Park in Seattle or Concrete Plant Park in the Bronx.

Renderings from article

https://s.hdnux.com/photos/01/27/44/55/22956918/3/ratio3x2_1200.jpg
The Kinder Foundation has announced a $100 million catalyst gift to the Buffalo Bayou East parks plan, fast-tracking a massive bayou-front parks plan for the East End and Fifth Ward. This artist rendering shows how they'd transform the nearly depleted Japhet Creek into a park. -Asakura Robinson


https://s.hdnux.com/photos/01/27/44/55/22956916/3/ratio3x2_1200.jpg

The Kinder Foundation has announced a $100 million catalyst gift to the Buffalo Bayou East parks plan, fast-tracking a massive bayou-front parks plan for the East End and Fifth Ward. This artist rendering shows how they'd transform a greatly expanded Tony Marron Park. -MVVA

https://s.hdnux.com/photos/01/27/44/55/22956917/3/1200x0.jpg
The Kinder Foundation has announced a $100 million catalyst gift to the Buffalo Bayou East parks plan, fast-tracking a massive bayou-front parks plan for the East End and Fifth Ward. This artist rendering shows how they'd revitalize an industrial site called Turkey Bend. -NADAAA

https://s.hdnux.com/photos/01/27/44/55/22956915/3/1200x0.jpg
The Kinder Foundation has announced a $100 million catalyst gift to the Buffalo Bayou East parks plan, fast-tracking a massive bayou-front parks plan for the East End and Fifth Ward. This artist rendering shows how they'd transform a downtown Houston site. -MVVA

[Bailey]

There's so much wrong with this post, it's hard to know where to start. So I'll start with some low-hanging fruit...

From 2010 to 2020 "fast-growing Austin" metro area added about 570,000 people. Houston metro added twice that many - almost 1.2 million. Between 2000 and 2020, Houston metro added well more than the entire current population of Austin metro. As between Houston and Austin, it's pretty clear which metro area might need a new campus (and it's not Austin), and of course UT wasn't proposing a new campus anyway...

You are denying the PUF exists?

Also, I wasn't aware of any other major Universities IN Austin.

The UT equivalent in Houston is UH - a large public school with 50,000 students.

Then Houston has a premiere private University in Rice- Austin equivalent is?

Then Houston has a HBC in TSU- Austin equivalent is?

Houston then has smaller religious schools in St, Thomas, HBU- Austin has what, St. Edwards?

Both Houston and Austin have extensive Community College Systems- HCC & ACC.

The point is that Houston has WAY more Educational options than Austin.

Maybe the University of Houston should move in and build a UH-Austin campus.

Also...tell me more how I'm wrong about how the PUF only funds TWO systems.

[Bailey]

If only Rice U. was twice or three times as large....

Rice actually has announced they are increasing their student body. they are adding 20% more Undergraduates by 2025.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2021/04/01/rice-university-will-expand-its-enrollment-why-other-elites-should-follow-suit/?sh=6c53b316b6a7

[JManc]

Keep in mind that PUF benefits Houston. There's UTHealth and MD Anderson as well as Texas A&M's massive new facility.

[TexasPlaya]

College Station is also just 1.5 hours from downtown Houston. I wouldn’t say TAMU is a Houston university but it does have a sphere of influence in Houston. Houston metro somewhat recently completed two highway connectors from NW Houston to College Station.

I don’t think Houston needs another full, main campus, but a UT Data Science Center would have been nice…. If UT would have been transparent about their intentions from the get go.

[TexasPlaya]

Buffalo Bayou Park

The interconnected series of parklands along the Bayou moves east toward the section that passes through EaDo which is seeing more development as of late.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/food-culture/article/Kinder-Foundation-100-million-gift-fast-tracks-17457977.php



as to what will occur specifically...



Renderings from article



Great news. Buffalo Bayou East is another game changer for the east side.

[Wattleigh]

College Station is also just 1.5 hours from downtown Houston. I wouldn’t say TAMU is a Houston university but it does have a sphere of influence in Houston. Houston metro somewhat recently completed two highway connectors from NW Houston to College Station.


I think I've noticed the closeness the more I've had to drive it over the past few years. Usually, I'm coming from or going to the Sugar Land area and take the Grand Parkway to 290 then to 6 (or vice versa of course). Time really flies by now. Other than whatever volume may be on that stretch of 290 from Cypress to Hempstead, it's pretty much impossible not to make good time from what I've found.

Still curious about the Aggie Expressway. Will have to try it when I'm down there again. Getting to Navasota is basically there anyway.

[Wattleigh]

University of Houston

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2022/09/26/university-of-houston-john-m-oquinn-law-building.html

Photos: University of Houston celebrates opening of $93M John M. O’Quinn Law Building

By Sofia Gonzalez – Reporter, Houston Business Journal
Sep 26, 2022

The University of Houston celebrated the opening of the UH Law Center's new $93 million John M. O’Quinn Law Building with its first large-scale event, a celebration and dedication conference, on Sept. 23.

The all-day conference focused on the theme “Legal Education and the Legal Profession in Promoting Democracy and Community in the 21st Century.” More than 20 prominent speakers and panelists, who hold positions in bar association leadership, the judiciary, law firms, legal employers and academia, presented at the conference.

“We are proud to be a platform for thought leadership and host events such as this conference that provide greater interaction with the legal community,” said University of Houston Law Center Dean Leonard M. Baynes.

Located at 4170 Martin Luther King Blvd., the approximately 180,000-square-foot ultra-modern building opened its doors to students for the fall semester. The building houses UH’s J.D. and LL.M. degree programs, clinics, specialty institutes, pre-law pipeline programs and career services. Notable amenities of the building include a mothers' lactation room, a meditation room for quiet reflection, an active learning room, a courtroom, a multilevel library, an advocacy skills lab, commuter showers with changing rooms, a convenience store and a rooftop lounge with views of the city.

The five-story building was designed by the Houston office of woman-owned international architecture firm Shepley Bulfinch, and Austin Commercial served as general contractor.

Selected photos from article

https://media.bizj.us/view/img/12349953/jmoq-evening.jpg

https://media.bizj.us/view/img/12349951/jmoq-twilight.jpg

https://media.bizj.us/view/img/12349966/james-and-carol-roach-rooftop-lounge.jpg

[Wattleigh]

Lyric Market

https://munozalbin.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Lyric-5.jpg

Image c/o Munoz + Albin (https://munozalbin.com/project/lyric-center-market-garage-with-retail-below/)

While the structure itself has been complete for some time, the food hall had not been developed until recently. It will add to the existing slate of food halls in the Downtown district including Underground Hall, Finn Hall, Bravery, Understory and POST Market.

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2022/09/26/lyric-hall-to-open.html?cx_testId=40&cx_testVariant=cx_27&cx_artPos=2#cxrecs_s

Lyric Market food hall finally ready to open after pandemic, permitting delays, operator says

By Jeff Jeffrey – Senior reporter, Houston Business Journal
Sep 26, 2022

After years of planning and multiple delays, the Lyric Market food hall is finally set to open in downtown Houston’s Theater District next month.

Lyric Market at 411 Smith St. was first announced in 2018. However, the Covid-19 pandemic and a change in operators pushed back the food hall’s opening several times. Most recently, Lyric Market had scheduled an opening date for winter 2021, only to see that date postponed once again.

Akhtar Nawab, co-CEO and founding partner of New York-based Hospitality HQ, Lyric Market’s operator, told the Houston Business Journal that the primary reason the food hall has taken so long to get up and running is one that has become a common lament among Houston developers: permits.

“We were surprised by how much of a challenge the permitting process was in Houston,” Nawab said. “If this were New York or San Francisco, of course it wouldn’t have been a problem. We didn’t realize it would be such a struggle in Houston.”

When it was built, Lyric Market was designed to include a 7,500-square-foot deck, a 14,000-square-foot culinary marketplace, 10,000 square feet of space dedicated to private dining and events, a communal plaza, a street-side terrace, a conference center and a bar.

Hospitality HQ — an operator of restaurants and food halls in New York City; Omaha, Nebraska; New Orleans; and Washington, D.C. — was brought on as Lyric Market’s operator in 2020 after the previous operator, Houston-based Clark Cooper Concepts, parted ways with Houston-based U.S. Property Management, which manages the 27-story Lyric Centre office building where Lyric Market is located.

Since then, Hospitality HQ has been working to secure permits and line up vendors for the chef-driven concept.

[Green Country]

You are denying the PUF exists?



Wow. Great strawman. Of course I never said anything that even hinted at denying the PUF exists. Of course it exists.

[Green Country]

You are denying the PUF exists?

Also, I wasn't aware of any other major Universities IN Austin.

The UT equivalent in Houston is UH - a large public school with 50,000 students.

Then Houston has a premiere private University in Rice- Austin equivalent is?

Then Houston has a HBC in TSU- Austin equivalent is?

Houston then has smaller religious schools in St, Thomas, HBU- Austin has what, St. Edwards?

Both Houston and Austin have extensive Community College Systems- HCC & ACC.

The point is that Houston has WAY more Educational options than Austin.

Maybe the University of Houston should move in and build a UH-Austin campus.

Also...tell me more how I'm wrong about how the PUF only funds TWO systems.

And of course I never suggested you were wrong about the PUF only funding two systems. But it is also false to suggest, as some have above (I don't recall if it was you) that the state does not provide any funding for other universities.

Not sure what point you are trying to make with your very incomplete list of colleges and universities in the two metro areas... but since you brought it up... The information I find shows that Houston has a little less than twice the number of college students in the metro area; with more than 3 times the population.

[JManc]

Anyone know if this parking garage will ever be finished into an office tower? Is this project on hold or dead?

https://www.google.com/maps/@29.7618614,-95.3637575,3a,75y,87.59h,100.56t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sLgjf1fLpwC2tiGt7tbzL8w!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

[Green Country]

Anyone know if this parking garage will ever be finished into an office tower? Is this project on hold or dead?

https://www.google.com/maps/@29.7618614,-95.3637575,3a,75y,87.59h,100.56t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sLgjf1fLpwC2tiGt7tbzL8w!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

I’ve seen nothing to suggest it is either on hold or dead. They have pretty recently gotten to the point where the office floors would start.

[Wattleigh]

Buffalo Bayou Park East

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/local/2022/09/28/434079/houston-city-council-finalizes-83-5-million-investment-in-buffalo-bayou-park/
(https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/local/2022/09/28/434079/houston-city-council-finalizes-83-5-million-investment-in-buffalo-bayou-park/)

Houston City Council finalizes $83.5 million investment in Buffalo Bayou Park
The city’s investment is part of a $310 million investment for the park, the largest gift in the city’s history for a park.

ASHLEY BROWN | POSTED ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2022, 3:57 PM (LAST UPDATED: SEPTEMBER 28, 2022, 5:55 PM)

Houston City Council voted unanimously to finalize its part of a $310 million investment into the redevelopment of Buffalo Bayou Park. The agreement is a partnership between Harris County and the Buffalo Bayou Partnership.

The city will invest $83.5 million, the county will invest $24 million, and the Buffalo Bayou Project has already raised $37 million and will continue to raise the private funds that's needed to complete the project. The project has also received $14 million in federal housing tax credit.

The city will contribute $37.6 million for Park Projects and $46.8 million for Non-Park Projects while covering 25% of the maintenance and operation of the park.

"This gift represents the largest gift to any park in the history of this city, ” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. "It will transform the greater East End, and the Fifth Ward community – you’re talking about providing additional connectivity in that area to pedestrian bridges," he said.

The project will include extending the hike and bike trail along Buffalo Bayou, two pedestrian bridges – the Gregg Street and Japhet Creek Bridge-that will connect the greater East End and Fifth Ward, new parks and trails, the East River development, the expansion of Tony Marron Park, a new Central Maintenance Facility, and a multi-family development.

Overview w/ segment notations c/o MVVA (https://mvvainc.com/projects/buffalo-bayou-east)

https://mvvainc.com/media/pages/projects/buffalo-bayou-east/6f680cd856-1639616549/bb-east-page-06-2048x-q60.jpg

[Wattleigh]

TMC BioPort

Current view of the general area from Highrise Tower on HAIF (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/20619-tmc-bioport-500-acre-bio-manufacturing-campus/?do=findComment&comment=663818)

https://i.imgur.com/g0Vwax7.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/vcUsmGN.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/pDq94zH.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/zflm7Ub.jpg

The same user also adds (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/20619-tmc-bioport-500-acre-bio-manufacturing-campus/?do=findComment&comment=664001)...

Anyone else notice that this may not be located where UT is selling their 307 acres?

The BioPort campus might actually be located on Buffalo Speedway, in between Holmes Road and W. Airport Blvd. This would also explain the circular roundabout featured in the concept rendering. The roundabout is located about halfway to W. Airport on Buffalo Speedway.

Screenshot from the State of Texas Medical Center 2022:

https://i.imgur.com/HoNcNfR.png

[Wattleigh]

TMC & TMC Helix Park

State of Texas Medical Center Address now available online.

https://youtu.be/HfWXI-JFF14

From the Texas A&M State of the University Address yesterday (https://president.tamu.edu/state-of-the-university/index.html?_ga=2.77300117.1889984132.1664459151-652174275.1664459151&_gl=1*trm86*_ga*NjUyMTc0Mjc1LjE2NjQ0NTkxNTE.*_ga_SJ5GMN0ZQL*MTY2NDQ1OTE1MC4xLjAuMTY2NDQ1OTE1MC42MC4wLjA.*_ga_3LYM4WJM04*MTY2NDQ1OTE1MC4xLjAuMTY2NDQ1OTE1MC42MC4wLjA.) - two new A&M Facilities coming to the TMC.

Finally, we are committed to developing programs that will increase our funding from the National Institutes of Health. To support this effort, we will construct two new research facilities in the Texas Medical Center in Houston.

The first of these – known as the TMC3 Collaborative – is a joint venture with MD Anderson Cancer Center and UT Health. The second is a $200 million dollar biomedical research building developed in partnership with the University of Houston. These facilities, along with the EnMed program, will attract international research talent and increase the prominence of our biomedical research portfolio.

[Wattleigh]

UNITi Montrose


https://i.imgur.com/979N9D4.jpg

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2022/09/29/uniti-montrose-ground-breaking.html

Exclusive: Apartment project focused on co-living arrangements to break ground in Montrose

By Jeff Jeffrey – Senior reporter, Houston Business Journal
Sep 29, 2022

The Shelter Cos., the residential development subsidiary of Dallas-based Civitas Capital Group, is set to break ground on its first-ever project, and it has chosen Montrose for what will become a 238-unit co-living development.

UNITi Montrose at 701 Richmond was designed as a nine-story, 199,320-square-foot multifamily midrise that caters to young professionals looking for high-end amenities in a more affordable setting. The first three floors of the building will be a cast-in-place parking garage, according to The Shelter Cos.

While the building will have 238 units, UNITi Montrose will have 381 available bedrooms for renters to lease. The idea is that the building will be aimed at renters looking for roommate living.

“For a lot of young people, there just aren’t a lot of options for places to live because rents keep getting higher and higher,” said Mark Drumm, managing partner and co-founder of The Shelter Cos. “We think this will offer a more affordable option in a highly sought-after area.”

Drumm said most of the units will have three or four bedrooms with a single kitchen and laundry area that all of the residents can access. The Shelter Cos. will help to line residents up with roommates to fill out each unit.

“It saves them the hassle of having to find a roommate, and each resident signs their own contract, so they are not on the hook for anyone else’s rent,” he said. “We believe there is a market for renters who just got out of college and are used to living with roommates.”

The building will also offer a number of “microunits,” essentially smaller-than-average studio apartments with their own, albeit “pint-sized,” kitchen. Those units will be between 320 square feet and 420 square feet and cost between 10% and 20% less than a traditional studio apartment, which is typically around 500 square feet, Drumm said.

[Wattleigh]

3615 Montrose

https://therealdeal.com/texas/2022/09/28/sizing-up-vero-sades-houston-multifamily-pipeline/

So far, the firm’s Houston acquisitions are all focused on inner-loop properties, including a $130 million mixed-use development project, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, first reported by Community Impact.

Construction on the 850,000-square-foot project will start in November 2022 and is expected to finish in February 2025.

The development is located in Houston’s Montrose neighborhood adjacent to the Museum District at 3615 Montrose Boulevard on the site of the former Bacco Wine Garden. The development will have a 36-story, 369-unit apartment building with 369 units and a 10-floor parking garage over a single floor of the residents’ entry and 5,000 square feet of retail. There will also be a 12,000-square-foot “amenity space” on the 11th floor of the apartment complex.

[Wattleigh]

Fairfield Waugh

https://i.imgur.com/hrIH4kr.png
Meeks+Partners / HAIF (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/46999-fairfield-waugh-multifamily-at-1010-waugh-dr/)

Permits have been issued for the foundation and other portions of the building in the past month and a half. Utilities are now being disconnected for the existing structure at this site.

Photo c/o hindesky on HAIF (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/46999-fairfield-waugh-multifamily-at-1010-waugh-dr/?do=findComment&comment=664119)

https://i.imgur.com/sXV9VxSl.jpg

[Double L]

Uniti Montrose has a nice set of light colors that are light to the eye, they will fit in well with the area and I like the architecture feature on the top with the circle in the square. This is a unique architectural feature that you rarely find in a building and it is nice to see a unique architectural feature that makes the building look different, while still working well architecturally.

3615 Montrose will be a high rise that will stand out in a generally single family home and mid rise residential neighborhood. I do not like these kinds of developments in Houston. We should reserve the high rises to high rise neighborhoods designed for them. This is an issue with Houston’s form of planning.

[Wattleigh]

3615 Montrose will be a high rise that will stand out in a generally single family home and mid rise residential neighborhood. I do not like these kinds of developments in Houston. We should reserve the high rises to high rise neighborhoods designed for them. This is an issue with Houston’s form of planning.

I'd worry more if there wasn't what seems to be a precedent for building taller or denser structures on or around this stretch of Montrose Blvd - especially since the Parc IV & V 12-story condo buildings across the street from this site have been there since the 60s. Where Hanover Montrose is now used to be a building, about the same height as the Parcs, and it was a 1950s building IIRC. It was where Skybar used to be. About the only exception is the tower behind La Colombe d' Or - but that's a given since the historic building for the hotel is on Montrose, and the only demolition required was for a 1990s era ballroom.

If anything, it seems the new wave of larger structures seem to be taking spaces directly along the boulevard - the commercial stretch. Even the larger and taller current proposals I can think of like WestMont at Westheimer and the Farb tower at Fairview embrace Montrose rather than retreat into the lower density areas.

What I'm interested in seeing is if the trend will continue. If it does, the Montrose cluster of highrises can expand and may eventually bridge the gap between the taller structures in the Museum District and the new ones starting to go up along West Dallas & Allen Parkway.

[Wattleigh]

The Allen

Photos c/o Cityliving on HAIF (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/20277-the-allen-mixed-use-development-at-allen-parkway-gillette-st/?do=findComment&comment=664071)

https://i.imgur.com/r4lqSvq.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/H6iqAaO.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/rWGT6wR.jpg

Updated rendering showing the first phase - c/o HoustonEB5

https://cdn-dbefi.nitrocdn.com/qPqsNFmlEdOvZuUePIgskFjRWuNMvXbO/assets/static/optimized/rev-f805ddf/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/The-Allen-Development-Nightime.jpg.webp

There's also this from the developer, DC Partners (https://dcpartnersusa.com/the-allen-lifestyle-pavilion-100-leased-phase-ii-planning-underway/).

HOUSTON (September 29, 2022) – Houston-based DC Partners announces multiple sales milestones for Texas development projects in Houston and San Antonio. The Lifestyle Pavilion at The Allen is 100% leased and Residences at The Allen are now 65% sold. This announcement comes on the heels of the completion of developer sales at The Arts Residences at Thompson San Antonio and the sale of 4411 San Felipe, the 77,189 SF of Class-A office building in Houston.

Phase II of The Allen is now in the planning phase. Phase II will include approximately a 300-unit multifamily development, as well as approximately 40,000 SF of retail space.

[Wattleigh]

UNITi Montrose

I thought this was only just now breaking ground - apparently this one is already underway.

c/o hindesky on HAIF (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/45579-uniti-montrose-9-story-apartments-at-701-richmond-ave/?do=findComment&comment=664227)

https://i.imgur.com/Cs8EVcWl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Z7Ij6V1l.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/CCQGyiMl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/myvqlQzl.jpg

[Wattleigh]

Houston Endowment Headquarters

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/lifestyle/home-design/article/Houston-Endowment-building-17487069.php

New Houston Endowment HQ brings brings the city one step closer to new age of modern design

Diane Cowen,
Staff writer
Oct. 5, 2022
Updated: Oct. 5, 2022 5:59 p.m.

Perched at the peak of Spotts Park, the new home of the Houston Endowment seems not quite anchored to the ground, a gleaming white bird ready to soar over the grove of oak trees below.

The work of Kevin Daly Architects, Productora of Mexico City and TLS Landscape Architecture, this modern structure will launch a new era for the endowment, which just finished moving from its longtime office space on the 64th floor of the JPMorgan Chase Tower. One more in a series of modern office and residential towers, this new Houston Endowment is a signal that — at least architecturally — Houston has taken another big step into a new age.

Created in 1937 by businessman Jesse H. Jones and his wife, Mary Gibbs Jones, Houston Endowment has grown to a fund of $2.57 billion. Each year, the endowment disburses about $100 million to dozens of Houston area organizations, focusing on public education, civic engagement, arts, parks and social services, as well as in response to emergencies such as Hurricane Harvey.

From cars passing by on Memorial Drive, the new $20 million building is a flash of white above the gentle slopes of a park filled with meandering walking paths and clusters of live oaks. If you feel like turning onto Waugh Drive for a closer, drive-by look, go ahead — you're likely not alone.

Visually, the building is bright and light, downright inviting. Its sculptured exterior of curved aluminum panels is combined with a unique trellised canopy made of rows of 3D ovals of perforated metal, angled to filter harsh sunlight while still allowing soft breezes to sift through.

Selected images from article

https://s.hdnux.com/photos/01/27/54/43/22989033/3/ratio3x2_1200.jpg

The newly built, energy-efficient Houston Endowment has finished work at the top of Spotts Park on Memorial Drive at Waugh. It was designed by Kevin Daly Architects and the Mexico City-based Productora.

Meridith Kohut/Contributor

https://s.hdnux.com/photos/01/27/54/43/22989029/3/ratio3x2_1200.jpg

About 80 percent of the building’s shading canopy is covered in solar panels. The building is expected to operate with a net zero carbon footprint nine months of the year.

Meridith Kohut/Contributor

https://s.hdnux.com/photos/01/27/54/43/22989034/3/ratio3x2_1200.jpg

Willia Street signage for the new Houston Endowment building was designed by Rice University architecture professor Reto Gieser.

Meridith Kohut/Contributor

https://s.hdnux.com/photos/01/27/53/52/22985362/3/1200x0.jpg

The building's scalloped exterior was made with curved aluminum panels. A trellised canopy of perforated metal tops the whole thing.

Meridith Kohut/Contributor

https://s.hdnux.com/photos/01/27/53/52/22985361/3/ratio3x2_1200.jpg

A series of terraces provide a “back porch” that looks out over Spotts Park and the downtown skyline.

Meridith Kohut/Contributor

[colemonkee]

What a nice building, and great to see net-zero architecture in a city that is so historically - and currently - invested in fossil fuels. Showing the rest of the country how it's done, frankly!

[Double L]

Houston is such a great city for Architecture. One of the best. Particularly recognized for its post modern Architecture.

[llamaorama]

I like Dallas and Austin more, but Houston will always have the best skyline in Texas IMO.

[AviationGuy]

I like Dallas and Austin more, but Houston will always have the best skyline in Texas IMO.

What I like is the multiple skylines that you can see from many vantage points around Houston. I think Austin has an incredible downtown skyline, but not much else. The Domain is developing a skyline of its own, but it's about where Uptown Houston was in the late 60s. Some day the Domain in Austin will be impressive, I'm sure.

[Wattleigh]

Galveston Projects

-Tiara on the Beach

https://media.bizj.us/view/img/12360255/1-tiara-on-the-beach-exterior-rendering-courtesy-of-bogza.jpg

https://media.bizj.us/view/img/12360253/2-tiara-on-the-beach-exterior-rendering-courtesy-of-bogza.jpg

Sales underway for Satya’s luxury condo development Tiara on the Beach in Galveston

By Florian Martin – Reporter, Houston Business Journal
Oct 8, 2022

Houston-based Satya Inc. on Oct. 8 opened a sales gallery for its beachfront luxury condominium complex on the west end of Galveston’s Seawall.

Tiara on the Beach's design phase is complete, and Satya will now start working on obtaining all necessary permits, the company’s president, Sunny Bathija, told the Houston Business Journal.

He expects to break ground on the project at 10525 San Luis Pass Road late next year followed by first move-ins in the fourth quarter of 2025.

The condominium building will have 63 one- to three-bedroom units ranging from 1,661 to 4,306 square feet, each with 10- to 11-foot ceilings. Six of the floors will have nine units each, and there are seven penthouses on the 10th floor as well as two "penterras" on the third.

Units will feature wood-inspired and porcelain tile flooring, quartz countertops, gourmet kitchens with Thermador and Gagganeau appliances, and Italian soft-closure cabinetry.

The units will range in price from $1 million to about $2.8 million.

-East Beach Hotel Tower

Found by hindesky on HAIF (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/48835-galveston-hotel-east-beach-228-east-beach-dr/). 14-story / 334 key hotel. 2023-2025 timeline. Site is southwest of the Islander East Condominiums along East Beach Drive.

https://i.imgur.com/wkPa2IIl.png
https://i.imgur.com/J2DxTE0l.png

[Wattleigh]

1617 Fountain View

Information about a possible development of a section of a 70's/80s era garden apartment complex just northwest of Uptown from this thread on HAIF (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/48925-uptowngalleria-6-story-multifamily/)

From a linkedin post (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/heights-venture-architect-design_hv-multi-family-residential-rendering-fly-through-activity-6982744411004661761-2Q00) mentioned in the thread...

Join us as we fly through this epic rendering of one of our current design projects. This project will be a 390-unit Class A multi-family rental project in Houston’s Galleria/Uptown District. The complex is six stories over structured parking and features an array of enticing amenities including 21,000 square feet of clubhouse space, a leisure and lap pool with a wet deck, expanded work-at-home support facilities, a fitness center, concierge services, and integrated pet-friendly outdoor spaces."

"Major shoutouts to Jared Tipps for the excellent design, Jerry Tipps and team for code consultation and support, and Pacific Star Capital MGT LP for trusting us to help them realize their vision for this project!

The video itself: https://dms.licdn.com/playlist/C4E05AQHwzyR3GAnevw/mp4-640p-30fp-crf28/0/1664815983788?e=2147483647&v=beta&t=yXg7R7-x8Xjhra46l2kcbZ9p1To4jWeSeoKp0BNZ63Q

Renderings on Instagram c/o Jared Tipps from this summer.

https://i.imgur.com/wOtJLYz.jpg
https://www.instagram.com/p/CfWdZX7grat/

https://i.imgur.com/PvidinR.jpg
https://www.instagram.com/p/CfW24IzJUxy/

https://i.imgur.com/Cet4jao.jpg
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cfexi2ipJYs/

[Double L]

1617 Fountainview is more great Architecture for Houston. If Houston had built all of its high rises downtown, our downtown would be like Chicago. I think that would have been better for Houston.

[kingkirbythe....]

1617 Fountainview is more great Architecture for Houston. If Houston had built all of its high rises downtown, our downtown would be like Chicago. I think that would have been better for Houston.

I agree and agree.

[JManc]

I actually like the multiple skylines around Houston rather than one huge concentration

[Bailey]

I actually like the multiple skylines around Houston rather than one huge concentration

...but they are just that, cluster of skyscrapers in different locations, instead of a concentrated synergy.

Only downtown has a synergy- mix of offices, entertainment, restaurants, bars, sporting venues, urban parks, theater, etc.

The Med Center has dense offices (medical) but little else.

Uptown, does have offices plus shopping but they are so spread out it is literally a safety hazard to walk through Uptown.

The others, like Greenway, are automobile dominated suburban clusters in the city.

[Double L]

One thing Houston could have done is have a deed restriction ordinance that limited high rises to neighborhoods that the city deemed fit for high rises. Not only would that do what we are talking about but it would keep high rises out of single family home residential neighborhoods where people have a high rise peeking in to their back yards.

[DanielG425]

I think the multiple clusters of towers makes Houston the perfect candidate city to create multiple nodes in a true 15-minute city. It’d be great to see each cluster turned into the neighborhoods “downtown.” It would also be a good candidate for an express train rapid transit network and could somewhat easily be transformed by walkable zoning in places like downtown, galleria, med district, and the various clusters within the loop.

[JManc]

...but they are just that, cluster of skyscrapers in different locations, instead of a concentrated synergy.

Only downtown has a synergy- mix of offices, entertainment, restaurants, bars, sporting venues, urban parks, theater, etc.

The Med Center has dense offices (medical) but little else.

Uptown, does have offices plus shopping but they are so spread out it is literally a safety hazard to walk through Uptown.

The others, like Greenway, are automobile dominated suburban clusters in the city.

There is no synergy downtown only when there's an even or the Astros/ Rockets are playing. Otherwise it's pretty dead. Perhaps in another 10-15 years with more residential development it will change. As for the TMC, no need for it to be anything else. It's where sick people go so not exactly the funnest place to be.

[Double L]

There is no synergy downtown only when there's an even or the Astros/ Rockets are playing. Otherwise it's pretty dead. Perhaps in another 10-15 years with more residential development it will change. As for the TMC, no need for it to be anything else. It's where sick people go so not exactly the funnest place to be.

I disagree with you here highly. I can go there on a weekend, or weekday morning and it will be filled with people, who live work and visit the area, depending on where you are downtown. Visit the historic district/skyline district/ Main Street/Discovery Green area more often. It will be busy with people at most times of the day on both weekdays and weekends.

[Bailey]

There is no synergy downtown only when there's an even or the Astros/ Rockets are playing. Otherwise it's pretty dead. Perhaps in another 10-15 years with more residential development it will change. As for the TMC, no need for it to be anything else. It's where sick people go so not exactly the funnest place to be.

Really? The Discovery Green area is usually always packed...during the week and on weekends.

I was there a few weeks ago when the conventions were getting out and all of the restaurants around the park were 'waiting list' only.

And that is a normal occurrence these days....now add Astros, Rockets, concerts, theater, park visitors and a growing residential population and you have the roots of 'Synergy'.

I do wish we would locate some more museums downtown.

[Double L]

Yeah, JManc doesn’t live in Houston anymore from my understanding. The new residential downtown high rises have had a big impact, IMO.

[Bailey]

Yeah, JManc doesn’t live in Houston anymore from my understanding. The new residential downtown high rises have had a big impact, IMO.

I agree, the residential + added hotels+ new parks has really helped.

Downtown is, bar far, our biggest hope of a urban district full of a synergy of different uses.

All of the other areas have glaring negatives, missing pieces, or "bad bones".

[JManc]

I only left Houston on July and am back every few weeks. Downtown still leaves much to be desired when there's no game, nothing going on at DG or a convention. Covid didn't help matters either. As I said, I do think as more residential opens up, downtown will flourish at but for a metro Houston's size, it's way behind the curve.

Agreed about a museum.

Still back to my original point, i like the multiple skyline clusters which has little to do with activity on the street level.

[AviationGuy]

I like things the way they are in Houston. An increasingly vibrant downtown and multiple tall building nodes around the city. When I'm in cities that have just a downtown area and nothing else but low rise stuff, I get really bored after leaving downtown.

[Zapatan]

I admit I underestimate Houston, it definitely has potential to be #3 in the US, probably tied with Miami.

I know there are a few 5-700+ foot proposals but I feel it's been ages since we've heard anything. A new tallest is overdo as well I'd say.

[Wattleigh]

I admit I underestimate Houston, it definitely has potential to be #3 in the US, probably tied with Miami.

I know there are a few 5-700+ foot proposals but I feel it's been ages since we've heard anything. A new tallest is overdo as well I'd say.

I think a lot of people do that for whatever reason. Part of it is probably because the Houston specific website - HAIF (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/) is where most of the discussion about projects takes place rather than on SSP. Same story for Dallas and Dallas Metropolis (https://dallasmetropolis.com/dfwu/index.php) and Fort Worth and Fort Worth Architecture (https://www.fortwortharchitecture.com/forum/index.php?act=idx). Part of it also is that buildings of certain heights don't necessarily phase people in some places like they might in others. A lot of the towers that have been built in the past few years are somewhere between 200-500 ft, minus some of the more substantial trophy towers.

I edited the information for Houston's section on Emporis for close to 20 years, and basically set up a project entry as soon as I saw something substantial in terms of information on HAIF. Other than HAIF, that was probably the most up to date website on local developments. That's why the number of projects that were under construction on that site was probably never under 60 for the past ten years, and there were at least 220 active proposals. In fact, just before it closed down last month, we were tracking 83 or 84 individual buildings of various sizes being built! Keep in mind that was within the city proper, and doesn't count projects that were being tracked around the metro!

There are more than a few issues with the current list of buildings on SSP for what it's worth. Some have individual project threads on this site, but no entry in the database here. Many structures are missing heights. Others are in the wrong status.

Some examples...

Texas Tower (https://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=117743) & Brava (still listed as The Preston) (https://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=129175) have been complete for a while.

This one (https://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=104320) ultimately ended up being a 17-story tower that was completed in 2021 and is now named Marathon Oil Tower. The building that previously had that name (https://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=1718) reverted to identifying by it's address of 5555 San Felipe.

Here are just a few that I know that are missing from the database but are either proposed or under construction. They are linked to either the HAIF or SSP thread, if one exists.

Under Construction

Houston Methodist Centennial Tower - 29 Floors / 511 FT (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=242678)

Texas A&M Innovation Plaza (Life & Horizon Towers) - 19 Floors / 268 Ft & 30 Floors / 488 Ft (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=239615)

X Houston - 35 Floors / 370 FT (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=239573)

Modera Waugh - 17 Floors (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/39188-modera-waugh-multifamily-at-716-waugh-dr)

The Hawthorrne - 17 Floors / 215 FT (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=237362)

Haven at Elgin - 16 Floors (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/45664-haven-at-elgin-student-housing-high-rise-at-3719-elgin-st/)

Proposed

2120 Post Oak - 43 Floors (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=208364)

1661 Tanglewood - 34 Floors / 522 Ft (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=247975)

3615 Montrose Blvd - 36 Floors / 512 Ft (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=251870)

Uptown Oaks - 34 Floors (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/29117-uptown-oaks-34-story-senior-living-high-rise/)

Iconia Hotel & Residences - 39 Floors / ?Ft & 22 Floors (x2) 271 FT (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=239425)

Holiday Inn Express / Staybridge Suites Downtown Houston - 16 Floors (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/29510-holiday-inn-expressstaybridge-suites-hotel-at-1319-texas-ave/)

Completed but not in Database


The McKinley - 25 Floors (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/37626-the-mckinley-residential-high-rise-9753-katy-fwy-office-building-memorial-city)

Bowen River Oaks - 25 Floors (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/44908-bowen-river-oaks-multifamily-high-rise-at-2020-westcreek-ln)

[JManc]

Awesome list!

[JoninATX]

https://www.skyscrapercity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,onerror=redirect,width=1920,height=1920,fit=scale-down/https://www.skyscrapercity.com/attachments/1665537089116-png.3967647/
https://www.skyscrapercity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,onerror=redirect,width=1920,height=1920,fit=scale-down/https://www.skyscrapercity.com/attachments/1665537118074-png.3967650/
https://houston.culturemap.com/news/entertainment/htx-surf-houston-generation-park/

[Wattleigh]

2120 Post Oak

https://uptown-houston.com/app/uploads/2022/05/2120-Post-Oak-Boulevard.jpg
Image c/o Uptown Houston (https://uptown-houston.com/2120-post-oak-boulevard-coming-soon/)

https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/TABS/Search/Project/TABS2023002749

Project has shown up the TDLR database. Starting in December and wrapping up in 2025.

COH permit pulled for structure - c/o Highrise Tower on HAIF (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/16292-pnc-plaza-2120-post-oak-blvd-mixed-use/?do=findComment&comment=664938)

https://i.imgur.com/74HdPgb.png

[Wattleigh]

TMC Helix Park

The University of Houston Biomed Research & Education Building at the development was mentioned during the 2022 Fall Address (https://uh.edu/president/communications/fall-address/2022/) given yesterday by UH President Renu Khator.

Image from presentation
https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_2022_10/Screenshot_20221012_125733.jpg.dbe0fe00c110d29ae9d12efdeec45498.jpg

University of Houston Campus

Among the updates to the campus include a redevelopment of Cullen Family Plaza, expanding it to the northwest toward McElhinney Hall. It will require the demolition of Farish Hall and will be renamed Centennial Plaza when complete.

https://scontent-hou1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/311604692_10159939550054876_4043923922639171793_n.jpg?_nc_cat=1&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=5FTLY3RGciAAX9rQzP9&_nc_ht=scontent-hou1-1.xx&oh=00_AT90ljjlh2JNdojWer-Z2A8hABt4rNEJODCFtWgKdANNbw&oe=634BE309

[Wattleigh]

3300 Montrose / Ex-Disco Kroger Site

https://southeasternco.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Picture1-1-990x632.png

Rendering c/o Southeastern, somehow with the wrong address on it.

Then again - the article itself is a bit off. The building is 9 floors, not 7. A photo of the old Kroger describes it as the "current" version of the site though the site has been cleared for some time. Oh well...

https://therealdeal.com/texas/2022/10/12/site-of-houstons-disco-kroger-set-for-68m-mid-rise/

Site of Houston’s ‘Disco Kroger’ set for $68M mid-rise
Luxe complex will have 330 units and two parking garages

By Karn Dhingra | Research By Christian Bautista

Texas
Houston
October 12, 2022 03:34 PM

Plans for the former site of the “Disco Kroger” — once arguably the most famous grocery store in Houston — have been finalized.

Georgia-based developer Southeastern plans to turn the site of the former 24-hour Kroger — which for nearly 40 years was frequented mostly by late-night and early-morning shoppers leaving nearby Montrose neighborhood LGBTQ bars and clubs when they closed for the night — into a seven-story $68 million mid-rise apartment complex, with two parking garages.

The Houston office of Swedish construction giant Skanska reportedly bought the site for $27 million in 2021, according to a piece from longtime Houston real estate reporter Ralph Bivins.

Houston’s “Disco Kroger ” was also unique because of its art deco-inspired accents and the dance music pumped through the store’s speakers. Soon after the store closed in January 2021, the boarded-up store was graffitied with the message: “RIP Montrose.”

[Dariusb]

I think a lot of people do that for whatever reason. Part of it is probably because the Houston specific website - HAIF (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/) is where most of the discussion about projects takes place rather than on SSP. Same story for Dallas and Dallas Metropolis (https://dallasmetropolis.com/dfwu/index.php) and Fort Worth and Fort Worth Architecture (https://www.fortwortharchitecture.com/forum/index.php?act=idx). Part of it also is that buildings of certain heights don't necessarily phase people in some places like they might in others. A lot of the towers that have been built in the past few years are somewhere between 200-500 ft, minus some of the more substantial trophy towers.

I edited the information for Houston's section on Emporis for close to 20 years, and basically set up a project entry as soon as I saw something substantial in terms of information on HAIF. Other than HAIF, that was probably the most up to date website on local developments. That's why the number of projects that were under construction on that site was probably never under 60 for the past ten years, and there were at least 220 active proposals. In fact, just before it closed down last month, we were tracking 83 or 84 individual buildings of various sizes being built! Keep in mind that was within the city proper, and doesn't count projects that were being tracked around the metro!

There are more than a few issues with the current list of buildings on SSP for what it's worth. Some have individual project threads on this site, but no entry in the database here. Many structures are missing heights. Others are in the wrong status.

Some examples...

Texas Tower (https://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=117743) & Brava (still listed as The Preston) (https://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=129175) have been complete for a while.

This one (https://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=104320) ultimately ended up being a 17-story tower that was completed in 2021 and is now named Marathon Oil Tower. The building that previously had that name (https://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=1718) reverted to identifying by it's address of 5555 San Felipe.

Here are just a few that I know that are missing from the database but are either proposed or under construction. They are linked to either the HAIF or SSP thread, if one exists.

Under Construction

Houston Methodist Centennial Tower - 29 Floors / 511 FT (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=242678)

Texas A&M Innovation Plaza (Life & Horizon Towers) - 19 Floors / 268 Ft & 30 Floors / 488 Ft (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=239615)

X Houston - 35 Floors / 370 FT (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=239573)

Modera Waugh - 17 Floors (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/39188-modera-waugh-multifamily-at-716-waugh-dr)

The Hawthorrne - 17 Floors / 215 FT (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=237362)

Haven at Elgin - 16 Floors (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/45664-haven-at-elgin-student-housing-high-rise-at-3719-elgin-st/)

Proposed

2120 Post Oak - 43 Floors (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=208364)

1661 Tanglewood - 34 Floors / 522 Ft (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=247975)

3615 Montrose Blvd - 36 Floors / 512 Ft (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=251870)

Uptown Oaks - 34 Floors (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/29117-uptown-oaks-34-story-senior-living-high-rise/)

Iconia Hotel & Residences - 39 Floors / ?Ft & 22 Floors (x2) 271 FT (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=239425)

Holiday Inn Express / Staybridge Suites Downtown Houston - 16 Floors (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/29510-holiday-inn-expressstaybridge-suites-hotel-at-1319-texas-ave/)

Completed but not in Database


The McKinley - 25 Floors (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/37626-the-mckinley-residential-high-rise-9753-katy-fwy-office-building-memorial-city)

Bowen River Oaks - 25 Floors (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/44908-bowen-river-oaks-multifamily-high-rise-at-2020-westcreek-ln)

I'm sure some of those high-rise clusters will over time connect and form larger skylines.

[Urbannizer]

I think a lot of people do that for whatever reason. Part of it is probably because the Houston specific website - HAIF (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/) is where most of the discussion about projects takes place rather than on SSP. Same story for Dallas and Dallas Metropolis (https://dallasmetropolis.com/dfwu/index.php) and Fort Worth and Fort Worth Architecture (https://www.fortwortharchitecture.com/forum/index.php?act=idx). Part of it also is that buildings of certain heights don't necessarily phase people in some places like they might in others. A lot of the towers that have been built in the past few years are somewhere between 200-500 ft, minus some of the more substantial trophy towers.

I edited the information for Houston's section on Emporis for close to 20 years, and basically set up a project entry as soon as I saw something substantial in terms of information on HAIF. Other than HAIF, that was probably the most up to date website on local developments. That's why the number of projects that were under construction on that site was probably never under 60 for the past ten years, and there were at least 220 active proposals. In fact, just before it closed down last month, we were tracking 83 or 84 individual buildings of various sizes being built! Keep in mind that was within the city proper, and doesn't count projects that were being tracked around the metro!

There are more than a few issues with the current list of buildings on SSP for what it's worth. Some have individual project threads on this site, but no entry in the database here. Many structures are missing heights. Others are in the wrong status.

Some examples...

Texas Tower (https://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=117743) & Brava (still listed as The Preston) (https://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=129175) have been complete for a while.

This one (https://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=104320) ultimately ended up being a 17-story tower that was completed in 2021 and is now named Marathon Oil Tower. The building that previously had that name (https://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=1718) reverted to identifying by it's address of 5555 San Felipe.

Here are just a few that I know that are missing from the database but are either proposed or under construction. They are linked to either the HAIF or SSP thread, if one exists.

Under Construction

Houston Methodist Centennial Tower - 29 Floors / 511 FT (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=242678)

Texas A&M Innovation Plaza (Life & Horizon Towers) - 19 Floors / 268 Ft & 30 Floors / 488 Ft (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=239615)

X Houston - 35 Floors / 370 FT (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=239573)

Modera Waugh - 17 Floors (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/39188-modera-waugh-multifamily-at-716-waugh-dr)

The Hawthorrne - 17 Floors / 215 FT (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=237362)

Haven at Elgin - 16 Floors (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/45664-haven-at-elgin-student-housing-high-rise-at-3719-elgin-st/)

Proposed

2120 Post Oak - 43 Floors (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=208364)

1661 Tanglewood - 34 Floors / 522 Ft (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=247975)

3615 Montrose Blvd - 36 Floors / 512 Ft (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=251870)

Uptown Oaks - 34 Floors (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/29117-uptown-oaks-34-story-senior-living-high-rise/)

Iconia Hotel & Residences - 39 Floors / ?Ft & 22 Floors (x2) 271 FT (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=239425)

Holiday Inn Express / Staybridge Suites Downtown Houston - 16 Floors (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/29510-holiday-inn-expressstaybridge-suites-hotel-at-1319-texas-ave/)

Completed but not in Database


The McKinley - 25 Floors (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/37626-the-mckinley-residential-high-rise-9753-katy-fwy-office-building-memorial-city)

Bowen River Oaks - 25 Floors (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/44908-bowen-river-oaks-multifamily-high-rise-at-2020-westcreek-ln)

A few more:

1550 on The Green - 28 Stories - Under Construction

Hanover Autry Park - 40-Stories - Proposed

The RO Residential - 37-Stories - Proposed

Farb Hyde Park - 20-stories - Proposed

Regent Square Phase III - 16-stories - Proposed

[Wattleigh]

Regent Square

A 16-story mixed-use structure that is part of this development is making it's way through the permitting process.

c/o hindesky on HAIF (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/9534-regent-square-mixed-use-on-allen-parkway-at-dunlavy-st/?do=findComment&comment=664613)

https://i.imgur.com/Dl4Djthl.png
https://i.imgur.com/5w9qgAvl.png

Screenshots of the website c/o Noahb on HAIF (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/profile/27578-noahb/)

https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_2022_10/D0DCBF15-CD0F-4E09-B02C-E301A66C5200.jpeg.e3a92a71343d088477314ba1af2567d1.jpeg

https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_2022_10/6EEB0630-992C-49B2-9B68-18A48BE0C0B7.png.0320c331999549fd6bd28a550c04a087.png

[Wattleigh]

East River

I'm kind of excited about this one. The Houston Maritime Center & Museum is moving from it's space adjacent to Forth at Navigation nearby at Navigation and Jensen to one of the new buildings that is being constructed at East River: Trail Head I. Since the earliest renderings, there has been speculation that the organization would either lease space or move into a purpose-built venue at this development along the Bayou.

https://rejournals.com/midways-east-river-announces-houston-maritime-center-will-open-in-mixed-use-projects-first-phase/

Midway’s East River announces Houston Maritime Center will open in mixed-use project’s first phase

OCTOBER 17, 2022

Houston-based Midway, the privately owned, fully integrated real estate investment and development firm, today announced Houston Maritime Center has leased a 6,281-square-foot space in the first phase of its East River mixed-use development.

Established in 2000, the Houston Maritime Center (HMC) is an extension of founder James “Jim” L. Manzolillo’s unique experiences, personality, and lifelong association with the ocean. As a naval architect, Manzolillo traveled extensively, collecting artifacts from around the world. He eventually decided to share them with the public, and Houston offered a logical place to do that. Hence, Manzolillo began channeling his resources to create a museum to engage people of all ages in the history of ships and sea exploration.

A 501(c)3 non-profit organization, HMC seeks to connect the community to one of Houston’s most valuable industries, offering a wide variety of exhibits that cover centuries of maritime history and the city’s impact on the maritime world. The Center also hosts a vast variety of virtual and in-person educational activities, modules, lectures, programs and events for all ages. Currently occupying an interim space at the confluence of Navigation and Canal streets in the East End, HMC will relocate to its new, larger space at East River in Spring 2023. Fittingly, their new space is in East River’s Trail Head 1 (Buidling F) office building, adjacent to the project’s bayou-side greenspace with stunning views of downtown Houston.

https://rejournals.com/wp-content/uploads/East-River-Bayou-front-and-Walking-Trail-Rendering-Courtesy-of-Midway37-copy.jpg

[Wattleigh]

c/o cityliving on HAIF (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/45448-discovery-west-mixed-use-development-downtown-by-skanska/?do=findComment&comment=665571) - Go Astros!

https://i.imgur.com/ua5KFC8.jpg

[Wattleigh]

The Allen

Retail Pavilion is 100% Leased, Condos 70% Sold

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2022/10/20/dc-partners-texans-fit.html

Recent photos c/o cityliving on HAIF (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/20277-the-allen-mixed-use-development-at-allen-parkway-gillette-st/?do=findComment&comment=665275)

https://i.imgur.com/uD1l142.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/KsG6Skf.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/8AM41FE.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/1pobBCo.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/h57b2as.jpg

[TexasPlaya]

^^^ Nice updates. Here's a rendering of the entire project from Hindesky on HAIF (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/20277-the-allen-mixed-use-development-at-allen-parkway-gillette-st/page/23/):

https://i.imgur.com/Irwrnzq.jpg

Looks like the high rise ended up being shorter.

[TexasPlaya]

[South TMC] Baylor College of Medicine- Health Sciences

From Paco Jones on HAIF (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/46812-baylor-college-of-medicine-jamail-specialty-care-center-campus/)

https://i.imgur.com/zRH6RUP.png

https://i.imgur.com/8jZI6DM.png

The Health Service Center project will consist of the construction of three buildings with variable basement levels. The buildings will be constructed in two phases. The garage will be constructed in Phase 1 and education and commons buildings will be constructed during Phase II.

The project will consist of following .
1. 10‐story education (health science tower)
building plus a basement level.
2. 3‐story commons building with a partial basement level.
3. 9‐story parking garage with a partial basement for detention. East side of the garage will include enhanced structure for the future 6‐floor extension of the education tower.

There's also a recent apartment complex near TMC that built a detention basement. Hopefully this will be a future trend in Houston where larger buildings are built on top of "detention ponds" or "basements".

[Wattleigh]

1414 Waugh / "River Oaks Multifamily"

New tower revealed by Paco Jones on HAIF (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/49157-34-story-multifamily-tower-at-1414-waugh/) with what sounds like at least another building coming just north of the site.

PROJECT:

River Oaks Multifamily (assigned prelim name)



ADDRESS:

1414 Waugh

Houston, TX 77019



ARCHITECT:

Page



OWNER / DEVELOPER:

Camden Securities Company



INFORMATION:

34 floor residential high-rise tower containing 302 apartments with attached 6 level parking garage for 460 cars with amenity deck on roof. It will sit on the block bounded on the four sides by Waugh Drive, Bell Avenue, Rosine Street, and Pierce Avenue. The tower is approximately 594,826 gross square feet and the tower balconies are approximately 53,020 gross square feet. The parking garage is approximately 199,290 gross square feet. Residential floors will typically have private unit balconies on east and west elevations. Ground Floor areas will include the main lobby, building tenant services, office areas, fire command, security, mail room, maintenance, storage, loading dock, building fire and domestic water room, emergency generator, building electrical rooms, and drive through drop-off/delivery roadway. Tower level 6 is a tenant amenity floor containing fitness, recreation, socializing and workspaces for tenants. Contiguous with this floor level is the top of the parking garage where there will be 29,800 square feet of exterior tenant amenity spaces such as a lap pool, spa, lawn decks, paved decks, walking paths, fitness areas, and covered lounge areas. There is also a 2,063 square foot amenity deck at level 31 for social gatherings.
The staggered picture frames on the exterior of the building will be translucent glass with internal LED lighting while the perimeter of the building elevations will be porcelain paneling.

I have no information on the other phases except that a mid-rise / tower will be north of this one, between Bell and Clay.

Renderings from post

https://i.imgur.com/n5vg9wY.png

https://i.imgur.com/lNq23h4.png

https://i.imgur.com/rT1kRf4.png

https://i.imgur.com/pax1MRr.png

[TowerSpotter]

This is a cool looking box.

[AviationGuy]

I like it. Haven't seen such a design before.

[Urbannizer]

I like it. Haven't seen such a design before.

Very Miami-esque for Houston.

[JManc]

Phase 2 and 3 replacing that shopping center?

[Wattleigh]

1661 Tanglewood

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/lifestyle/home-design/article/Judges-order-allows-1661-Tanglewood-high-rise-to-17546939.php#photo-22945098

Judge's order allows 1661 Tanglewood high rise to move forward

Diane Cowen,
Staff writer
Oct. 31, 2022
Updated: Oct. 31, 2022 6:03 p.m.

A Harris County judge has signed an order allowing developer Kendall Miller and his family to proceed with a 33-story condominium high rise on their Tanglewood property.

Miller's grandfather, William Farrington, developed Tanglewood back in the late 1940s and early 1950s and established office space at 1661 Tanglewood, where he and family members who followed operated their development and property management business. When Miller and his siblings, through their WMJK Ltd. business, first sought to demolish the one-story office building and replace it with a high rise in 2019, the community's Tanglewood Homes Association challenged them in court.

Last week, Judge Jaclanel McFarland of the 133rd Civil Court of the District Court of Harris County signed an order that finalizes what was discussed in court proceedings months earlier. That signed order allows the Miller family to use the 1661 Tanglewood site for residential, commercial or mixed purposes.

Miller said he expects to break ground on 1661 Tanglewood in April 2023.

[Wattleigh]

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/9-story-dual-branded-hotel-planned-near-Toyota-17548069.php

https://s.hdnux.com/photos/01/30/11/67/23109100/5/1200x0.jpg

9-story, dual branded hotel planned near Toyota Center in downtown Houston
Dallas-based Hall Structured Finance provided the construction loan.

Katherine Feser
Nov. 1, 2022

A Houston-based hotel developer will start construction on a nine-story hotel in downtown Houston after lining up construction financing in the latest sign of confidence in the hotel market.

PA Hospitality has obtained a $37.4 million construction loan from Dallas-based Hall Structured Finance to build the Home2 Suites by Hilton and Tru by Hilton dual branded hotel at 1514 Leeland Street. The property, located south of the Toyota Center and the George R. Brown Convention Center, would provide an option when the city's convention hotels are at capacity during large events.

PA Hospitality, a company led by Alif Maredia, will develop and manage the 221-room hotel, which is expected to break ground by the end of the year. Completion is planned in the third quarter of 2024.

[JManc]

Ugly but at least more infil removing another surface lot.

[pm91]

1414 Waugh is the old Luby’s. Do I see correctly that Rosemont is moving to the ground floor?

[Wattleigh]

1550 On The Green

c/o Nate99 on HAIF (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/45448-discovery-west-mixed-use-development-downtown-by-skanska/?do=findComment&comment=666507)

https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_2022_11/8A7BD9D0-8C27-4B64-ABD2-5249028D3C6B.jpeg.69b7ba0732a36ce8c69b0fcbab4729bd.jpeg

https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_2022_11/6746F432-2A71-484D-974A-BB221F7C4E76.jpeg.6d6abfce1ac175164cd6680936ae2a4a.jpeg

The Allen

c/o cityliving on HAIF (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/20277-the-allen-mixed-use-development-at-allen-parkway-gillette-st/?do=findComment&comment=666280)

https://i.imgur.com/yoa1XNj.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/ZyamSlW.jpg

c/o hindesky on HAIF (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/20277-the-allen-mixed-use-development-at-allen-parkway-gillette-st/?do=findComment&comment=666554)

https://i.imgur.com/GkHkhLn.png

X Houston

c/o cityliving on HAIF (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/45018-x-houston-residential-high-rise-at-5501-la-branch-st/?do=findComment&comment=666131)

https://i.imgur.com/mttkF1v.jpg

c/o hindesky on HAIF (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/45018-x-houston-residential-high-rise-at-5501-la-branch-st/?do=findComment&comment=666274)

https://i.imgur.com/JEBIA6M.jpg

Houston Methodist Centennial Tower


c/o Highrise Tower on HAIF (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/19831-houston-methodist-north-campus-expansion-walter-centennial-tower/?do=findComment&comment=666309)

https://i.imgur.com/03lANAW.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/VHlHLxk.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/uyUs6pl.jpg

[Wattleigh]

The Langley / 1717 Bissonnet

https://s.hdnux.com/photos/01/25/42/55/22424409/3/1200x0.jpg
Rendering c/o Streetlights Residential / Houston Chronicle (https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/Exclusive-Six-years-after-Ashby-high-rise-17139055.php#photo-22424407)

COH Permit is out on the general buildout for this one

https://i.imgur.com/uXAXG9tl.png

[JManc]

It's back!

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2191/1736545708_05acd10fcf_z.jpg

[Wattleigh]

Seabrook - The Residences at Highland Center

13-Story, 238 unit residential tower with attached parking and adjacent restaurant on NASA Road 1, just east of JSC on the Seabrook/El Lago line.

http://www.seabrooktx.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10202022-1536

http://seabrooktx.gov/DocumentCenter/View/15143/The-Residences-at-Highland-Center-005-002?bidId=

https://i.imgur.com/5OxJYdX.png

https://i.imgur.com/b0AsW7i.png

https://i.imgur.com/0BdvbXF.png

https://i.imgur.com/pDWkIib.png

[Wattleigh]

Really cool East End project that ultimately should tie into the work the BBP has planned for the eastern stretch of the Bayou nearby (https://buffalobayou.org/our-vision/buffalo-bayou-east/).

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/the-plant-second-ward-east-end-houston-17589799.php#photo-23173998

Exclusive: New 17-acre East End project aims to make cars obsolete with
walkable, 'micro' living

Marissa Luck
Nov. 18, 2022
Updated: Nov. 18, 2022 1:01 p.m.

Plans to turn a swath of the East End into a walkable district are getting larger and more ambitious – setting the groundwork for what could become Houston’s next 15-minute neighborhood -- where everything a resident needs is within 15 minutes of walking distance.

Houston real estate firm Concept Neighborhood – a group of entrepreneurs that include some of founders of the Axelrad beer garden -- previously unveiled plans to convert the former W-K-M warehouse complex in the East End into a mixed-use destination with hyperlocal businesses and walkable streets.

Now, the scale of the project -- estimated at $350 million -- has grown to 17 acres, and developers plan to incorporate up to 1,000 mixed-income apartments with 250,000 square-feet of retail and office space over the next decade. Working with global architecture firm Gensler on a master plan, Concept Neighborhood is expanding its vision for the district after purchasing additional land from Union Pacific Railway and a handful of other property owners over the past few months.

While some neighbors are nervous about gentrification, the developers, if successful, could achieve what urban planners say could be the first project of its kind in the city: a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood of adaptive reuse buildings where low- and middle-income residents can live affordably, and where owning a car would be optional.

“Houston does not have a neighborhood for people that want to rely on micro mobility, biking and transit," said Jeff Kaplan, principal with Concept Neighborhood who lives in the district he’s helping to redevelop. "People can choose to have a car if they want to, and if they want to live car-free, they can.”

In the project called The Plant/Second Ward, developers are stitching several parcels together to create a nearly mile-long corridor of streets lined with small businesses, restaurants and housing across a mix of about 21 old and new buildings -- starting from Harrisburg Boulevard in the south and extending north to Navigation Boulevard, a critical thoroughfare in the East End a few blocks south of Buffalo Bayou. Concept Neighborhood also plans to convert a section of a former Union Pacific railway into a hike-and-bike trail running one-third of a mile through the development from Commerce Street to Navigation Boulevard.

https://s.hdnux.com/photos/01/30/32/65/23178612/5/1200x0.jpg
Rendering of the southwest corner of Roberts St. and Commerce St. showing "Roberts Row" ("RxR"), the name of a collection of shops and businesses along Roberts Street proposed within The Plant/Second Ward, a proposed adaptive reuse mixed- use project comprising historic warehouses, plazas, trails, and greenspaces adjacent to the Coffee Plant/Second Ward METRORail stop in the Second Ward.

CultivateLAND

https://s.hdnux.com/photos/01/30/32/72/23178924/5/1200x0.jpg

An early conceptual map of The Plant/Second Ward district, showing proposed upgraded greenspaces throughout the area (including projects proposed by other entities). The buildings in brighter white are properties Concept Neighborhood controls.

Concept Neighborhood

https://s.hdnux.com/photos/01/30/32/66/23178665/5/ratio3x2_1200.jpg

An early conceptual map showing where Concept Neighborhood wants to build residential, retail and office. Harrisburg Boulevard is to the south of the map while Navigation Boulevard is in the right upper corner a few blocks from Buffalo Bayou.

Gensler

https://s.hdnux.com/photos/01/30/32/66/23178644/5/1200x0.jpg

Rendering of Garrow Street between Sampson Street and Roberts Street in "Roberts Row" ("RxR"), a collection of shops within The Plant/Second Ward district, Concept Neighborhood's proposed adaptive reuse mixed-use project comprising historic warehouses, plazas, trails, and greenspaces adjacent to the Coffee Plant/Second Ward METRORail stop in the Second Ward.

CultivateLAND

https://s.hdnux.com/photos/01/30/32/65/23178574/5/1200x0.jpg

Rendering of Roberts St. looking north in “Roberts Row” ("RxR"), a proposed adaptive reuse mixed-use project comprising historic warehouses, plazas, trails, and greenspaces adjacent to the Coffee Plant/Second Ward METRORail stop in the Second Ward.

Cultivate Land

[Double L]

Really an excellent project to have and I’m glad it will have affordable housing but these developers who want to build urban development in Houston would be smartest to build along the Light Rail lines or the Bus Rapid Transit in order to achieve full success. I don’t see how it can successfully make living without a car a possibility in that development. I don’t see nearly enough retail development to achieve that.

[Jerry1331]

Let’s be real it’s mainly homeless on the light rail. Who wants to ride that? Takes you from no where to no where.

[Double L]

Let’s be real it’s mainly homeless on the light rail. Who wants to ride that? Takes you from no where to no where.

Such optimism. Attitudes like this is why we have a hard time building light rail here. It is essential for a walkable, urban environment.

[JManc]

Such optimism. Attitudes like this is why we have a hard time building light rail here. It is essential for a walkable, urban environment.

But the reality is especially post Covid, not nearly many people are using transit outside of transit heavy cities. MetroRail was nasty before the pandemic and until they get a handle on bums and vagrants loitering on the trains, people will drive or Uber.

[Double L]

That’s not what’s best for urban planning and Metrorail ridership has been going up since the pandemic ended, although it is not at pre-pandemic levels. Public Transportation will be essential for Houston to urbanize or else we will be a dense city relying on cars and that won’t work.

[TexasPlaya]

I haven’t used light rail in forever… I used to use it when I was doing my sports tourism for Astros and Rockets games but I always use ride share now when in downtown Houston.

It’s a shame if the light rail has gone that downhill, I always felt like the best tourism aspect of Houston was the sports facilities and nearby bars/food.

[Double L]

At one point, Houston had the highest ridership per mile in the country because our system went to all the right neighborhoods. BRT will only help expand ridership. We can’t afford to become a highly dense city while relying on cars.

[Resident H-Town]

I love that we have light rail, but it's too slow (about the same as buses) and every line we have is built on street level and interferes heavily with street/pedestrian traffic.

I wish Houston had a mid-high speed subway loop with about 8 or 10 stops max to allow for higher speeds connecting these areas:

1) Downtown

2) U of H

3) TMC/Reliant Park (would love to see the Astrodome area become a destination and a mass transit hub)

4) Rice Village

5) Greenway Plaza

6) The Galleria

7) Uptown Park area

8) Memorial Park



Just for kicks, add an elevated or submerged commuter line (that does not interfere with street/pedestrian traffic) down Westheimer and another one down the Kirby corridor with stops in these areas:



Westheimer Line:

1) U of H

2) Main/Elgin for connectivity w/ Red Line

3) Westheimer/Montrose

4) Westheimer/Kirby

5) Highland Village

6) The Galleria

7) Westhemer/Voss

8) Westchase area

9) Chinatown (obviously not on Westheimer but a direct link to Chinatown).



Come to think of it, a Bellaire/Holcombe Line with no more than two or three stops between Chinatown and TMC (perhaps a stop in Sharpstown and a stop at the Bellaire Triangle before connecting with the Red Line) wouldn't be a bad idea as the QuickLine currently takes 35 minutes to get from Chinatown to TMC. That commute would go from about 35 minutes to 12-15 minutes.



Kirby Line:

1) Reliant Park

2) Kirby/S. Main for connectivity w/ Red Line

3) Rice Village

4) Kirby/Westheimer for connectivity w/ Westheimer Line

5) Regent Square

6) Dallas/Main



I know that would cost a fortune, but it would probably save money in the long run by eliminating the need for an automobile for a lot more people, plus all the issues associated with them like accidents/pollution/gas consumption/etc. that come with automobiles. It could also absolutely change the way we develop. Just imagine having that service available moving forward and the future transit options that would open up to the suburbs/airports...hopefully also either elevated or submerged to prevent street intervention. That's the (logistical) problem with our current light rail system. It creates as much traffic as it alleviates.

[bilbao58]

I wish Houston had a mid-high speed subway loop with about 8 or 10 stops max to allow for higher speeds...

It is said that the water table is too high for a subway. I would assume keeping it not filled with water during and after one of Houston's downpours (what my mom referred to as "toad stranglers") would cost too much as well.

[Resident H-Town]

It is said that the water table is too high for a subway. I would assume keeping it not filled with water during and after one of Houston's downpours (what my mom referred to as "toad stranglers") would cost too much as well.

I've heard that before too, but we've had large areas of underground development all over the core of the city for decades from downtown to the med center to the Galleria, plus the subway at IAH airport. I-10 is completely submerged from 610 to downtown, 59 is submerged from Shepherd to Montrose, and they're also talking about submerging 59 from the Montrose area all the way past the Minute Maid Park area.

Every time there's a major flood, our freeways and streets also flood. Maybe I'm missing something, but I just don't get the deterrence with regard to building that kind of subway network. If it's truly not feasible, elevate the trains...although that would likely bring imminent domain into the equation and could still disrupt street/pedestrian traffic along skinny corridors like Westheimer inside the loop.

[Green Country]

Really an excellent project to have and I’m glad it will have affordable housing but these developers who want to build urban development in Houston would be smartest to build along the Light Rail lines or the Bus Rapid Transit in order to achieve full success. I don’t see how it can successfully make living without a car a possibility in that development. I don’t see nearly enough retail development to achieve that.

Good thing there's a light rail station roughly at the south end of the development (that will provide an easy connection to the University Line BRT). And a north-south bus line and an east-west bus line that go through the development.

[bilbao58]

Really an excellent project to have and I’m glad it will have affordable housing but these developers who want to build urban development in Houston would be smartest to build along the Light Rail lines or the Bus Rapid Transit in order to achieve full success. I don’t see how it can successfully make living without a car a possibility in that development. I don’t see nearly enough retail development to achieve that.

As Green Country mentioned, the Harrisburg Metrorail line runs along the south side of that development.

[Double L]

I checked google maps and according to google maps, that was not the case. Perhaps I misunderstood.

[Wattleigh]

I checked google maps and according to google maps, that was not the case. Perhaps I misunderstood.

The southernmost part of the development looks to be at Harrisburg Blvd & Sampson St. The Coffee Plant/Second Ward station on the Green Line is within 2 blocks of that intersection.

There's actually some decent and small infill going in around that particular station right now, not associated with this project.

On the north side - Platform Group rehabbed 3501 Harrisburg (http://www.platformgroup.com/project/3501-harrisburg/) and is building a 3-story structure adjacent to it at 3509 Harrisburg (http://www.platformgroup.com/project/3509-harrisburg/)

https://i.imgur.com/bXSNT1ul.png

https://i.imgur.com/jPvsIJPl.png

https://i.imgur.com/GTI0sdol.png

Drone photo c/o hindesky on HAIF (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/46429-office-with-retail-3509-harrisburg-blvd/?do=findComment&comment=666534)

https://i.imgur.com/lV7o3rnl.jpg

On the south side, a 5-story apartment complex called Harrisburg Lofts is underway.

Renderings from Paco Jones on HAIF (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/46419-multifamily-development-at-3506-harrisburg-blvd/?do=findComment&comment=658812)

https://i.imgur.com/SBaVFHcl.png

https://i.imgur.com/nHXbWCtl.png

Drone photo c/o hindesky on HAIF (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/46419-multifamily-development-at-3506-harrisburg-blvd/?do=findComment&comment=666539)

https://i.imgur.com/dCHkO03l.jpg

[bilbao58]

I checked google maps and according to google maps, that was not the case. Perhaps I misunderstood.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52516386807_daefc6d387_c.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/gp/23333264@N00/HN5M007aW8)

[Green Country]

I checked google maps and according to google maps, that was not the case. Perhaps I misunderstood.

It shows up on my Google maps... for that matter one doesn't have to go to Google maps, one can see the station in the posts above.

[Double L]

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52516386807_daefc6d387_c.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/gp/23333264@N00/HN5M007aW8)

Wattleigh’s post is correct. The light rail station is two blocks away.

[Wattleigh]

Autry Park

The next residential tower may be coming sooner than later. Per this information from hindesky on HAIF (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/44432-hanover-autry-park-mixed-use-at-allen-parkway-w-dallas-st/?do=findComment&comment=667404)...

The tower crane operator who works for TAS just messaged me on IG saying his bosses just told him they are moving him to a Hanover high rise project to build a 42 story high rise here in Houston. He is currently operating the tower crane at the Marquette Companies White Oak apartments. He was told he would transfer over to his new job around Jan-March. He was also the operator at the Allen project on the taller crane and the tower crane operator at the Hanover River Oaks. Only building that qualifies in that height range is the one at Hanover Autry Park.

Sure enough, permitting appears to have gone out per the COH database for a residential tower of at least 40 stories.

https://i.imgur.com/c9fD2eXl.png

https://i.imgur.com/pUgp1czl.png

Renderings of at least a "placeholder" tower c/o CBRE (https://www.showcase.com/3712-autry-park-dr-houston-tx-77019/22777270/)

https://images1.showcase.com/i2/WKSpL7xIkukBml4YHi7r-5pLOKv2EMbGD_smGnx7oYs/116/image.jpg

https://images1.showcase.com/i2/kkYGA_HS9ZTBxsTFsXAMrpiVpNaosMkhlUx3mSoeIZU/116/image.jpg

[Wattleigh]

1934 West Gray

A few blocks south of Autry Park (and Regent Square) at West Gray & Woodhead, an existing 4-story Chase Bank building may not be long for this world.

Circled from a rendering in the previous post

https://i.imgur.com/Tm605YQ.png

Current structure on site, looking back toward Autry Park

https://i.imgur.com/JzSuXle.png

Renderings from Urbannizer on HAIF (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/49303-residences-at-1934-west-gray-st/?do=findComment&comment=667408) via the COH Planning & Development Department (https://plattracker.houstontx.gov/edrc/login.aspx).

https://i.imgur.com/s3KcQx7.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/0DKzl3e.jpg

It is on the agenda for the December 1st meeting of the Planning Commission (http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/Commissions/commiss_plan.html).

[Wattleigh]

Residences on Westheimer (2311 Westheimer Road)

info c/o Paco Jones on HAIF (https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/39294-residences-on-westheimer-multifamily-at-2311-westheimer-rd/?do=findComment&comment=667904)

Project:
Residences on Westheimer

Architect:
Ziegler Cooper

Information:
9 levels of residential over 4 levels of parking (1 level below grade). 209 units for a total of 359,551 SF of gross residential area. 2,800 SF of ground floor retail space. Construction will begin very soon.

https://i.imgur.com/6ihV0zv.png

https://i.imgur.com/f0L4NGK.png

https://i.imgur.com/f0L4NGK.png

https://i.imgur.com/s3CxXmO.png

https://i.imgur.com/s3CxXmO.png

https://i.imgur.com/7Ck7KWK.png