HOUSTON | Development Thread II

[Von]

love rainy Houston pictures")

[Great_Hizzy]

OOP is turning out very nicely. The renders don't do the skin justice. Almost everything about the building materials appear to be of great quality.

[vjhe]

OOP is turning out very nicely. The renders don't do the skin justice. Almost everything about the building materials appear to be of great quality.

Totally agree. I think this is going to be one of those projects that actually turns out better than the rendering for a change.

[Wattleigh]

Really haven't been able to see it from that angle all too often. Thank you Rdavis4559 for the photo!

Noticed they were starting to install the balconies on that side and along the narrow portion facing 5 HC.

[rdavis4559]

Really haven't been able to see it from that angle all too often. Thank you Rdavis4559 for the photo!

Noticed they were starting to install the balconies on that side and along the narrow portion facing 5 HC.

You should see it in person. It is rather more imposing than you'd imagine.

[weatherguru18]

New rendos:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3156/2693648621_759a137584_b.jpg

http://www.sppre.com/projects/projectsheets/TWNCT_RiverOaks.pdf

What project is this again? By the way, I counted the floors of the left tower and it counted to 40 stories!

[Shasta]

The Finger Co. is easily my favorite apartment developer in town. I knew One Park Place was going to be nice because my sister lives adjacent to the Museum Tower. That one is nice looking on the outside and simple fantastic on the inside. Considering the fact that OPP was adding ground floor retail, I knew it would be A-OK.

I hope this leases up so quickly that there will be a Two Park Place rising soon...

[Trae]

What project is this again? By the way, I counted the floors of the left tower and it counted to 40 stories!

River Oaks District.

[Great_Hizzy]

The Finger Co. is easily my favorite apartment developer in town. I knew One Park Place was going to be nice because my sister lives adjacent to the Museum Tower. That one is nice looking on the outside and simple fantastic on the inside. Considering the fact that OPP was adding ground floor retail, I knew it would be A-OK.

I hope this leases up so quickly that there will be a Two Park Place rising soon...


So do I: a critical mass of highrises around Disco G.

[SkyHigh]

Anybody know what rental rates PSF will be for One Park Place? When will it be move-in ready?

[rdavis4559]

Don't know the rental rates but here are a few more pics. The first lot is where Discovery Tower will be, the second lot is for Main Place.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/IMAG0005.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/IMAG0008.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/IMAG0010.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/IMAG0011.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/IMAG0006.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/IMAG0003.jpg

[Wattleigh]

Anybody know what rental rates PSF will be for One Park Place? When will it be move-in ready?

I'm just going off of memory, but I recall reading in the past that the lowest priced units may start at $600-750 and the highest (penthouse) are in excess of $2000. Maybe $2500 or so. In terms of square footage, I'm not absoloutely certain.

I think the a number of the highest priced ones may be off the market though. Word is that leasing has been pretty good (%20 pre-leased, approx.) in terms of corporate buyers prior to any actual promotional push.

[Shasta]

According to the Houston Biz Journal, the Highland Tower has officially broken ground. They also claim the tower will be 16 floors and contain 96 units instead of the original 15 floors and 99 units. Pelican Builders' site also says 16 floors but the actual building website still says 15...?

Highlights of the article include,

28 units have pre-sold
financing is set in stone through Whitney Bank
set for a Spring 2010 completion date

[Wattleigh]

According to the Houston Biz Journal, the Highland Tower has officially broken ground. They also claim the tower will be 16 floors and contain 96 units instead of the original 15 floors and 99 units. Pelican Builders' site also says 16 floors but the actual building website still says 15...?

Highlights of the article include,

28 units have pre-sold
financing is set in stone through Whitney Bank
set for a Spring 2010 completion date

It is 16 now. I spoke with one of the sales reps earlier, and apparently there was enough interest in the larger units on the top three floors that they decided to add an additional one in the planning process.

[rdavis4559]

According to the Houston Biz Journal, the Highland Tower has officially broken ground. They also claim the tower will be 16 floors and contain 96 units instead of the original 15 floors and 99 units. Pelican Builders' site also says 16 floors but the actual building website still says 15...?

Highlights of the article include,

28 units have pre-sold
financing is set in stone through Whitney Bank
set for a Spring 2010 completion date

Here is the article:
http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2007/09/10/focus3.html

and render:
http://cll.bizjournals.com/story_image/96174-400-0-2.jpg

[YakuzaIce]

Some pictures from this morning.

One Park Place
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/YakuzaIce/DSC00774.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/YakuzaIce/DSC00775.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/YakuzaIce/DSC00777.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/YakuzaIce/DSC00768.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/YakuzaIce/DSC00771.jpg

Discovery Tower
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/YakuzaIce/DSC00782.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/YakuzaIce/DSC00783.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/YakuzaIce/DSC00784.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/YakuzaIce/DSC00785.jpg

Main Place
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/YakuzaIce/DSC00793.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/YakuzaIce/DSC00794.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/YakuzaIce/DSC00796.jpg

[Complex01]

Ah kewl. Yakuza are you new to Houston? Nice pics btw. Here are mine from today...

Ah I went downtown today. Here are a few pics i took from the area. Enjoy...

One Park Place

Hey look at that, look who is making the skyline ever better...

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/am4ever7/OPP0727g.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/am4ever7/OPP0727b.jpg


http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/am4ever7/OPP0727f.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/am4ever7/OPP0727d.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/am4ever7/OPP0727e.jpg

Houston Pavillions

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/am4ever7/HP0727b.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/am4ever7/HP0727c.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/am4ever7/HP0727a.jpg


Main Place

I took this pic and did a little sketch. MP should be about this height when viewing DT from the south. It will look very nice indeed...

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/am4ever7/MP0727e.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/am4ever7/MP0727d.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/am4ever7/MP0727a.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/am4ever7/MP0727c.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/am4ever7/7eacae5a.jpg

Discovery Tower

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/am4ever7/DT0727a.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/am4ever7/DT0727b.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/am4ever7/DT0727c.jpg


Now its time for some rest...

:tup:

[YakuzaIce]

Ah kewl. Yakuza are you new to Houston? Nice pics btw. Here are mine from today...

Nope, been living in Houston for about 20 years. However I've been in Austin for a while due to work.

[Complex01]

Ah kewl, was just curious. Kewl Deal...

:cool:

[TexasBoi]

I'm just going off of memory, but I recall reading in the past that the lowest priced units may start at $600-750 and the highest (penthouse) are in excess of $2000. Maybe $2500 or so. In terms of square footage, I'm not absoloutely certain.

I think the a number of the highest priced ones may be off the market though. Word is that leasing has been pretty good (%20 pre-leased, approx.) in terms of corporate buyers prior to any actual promotional push.


$600-750 for the cheapest? That just seems so low even for the cheapest price. I think once the area is developed and if the park grows with even more popularity, the land value of that area will quickly drive that price up to well over $1000 even for an efficiency.

[rdavis4559]

From HBJ today:
"New York tops tourism survey; Houston No. 15

The influx of international visitors lured by favorable exchange rates due to the slumping U.S. dollar pushed New York City to the top spot in the country for total tourism spending in 2007, according to a comprehensive study.

In its listing of the top 100 U.S. tourism city destinations, Massachusetts economic forecasting firm Global Insight points out that foreign visitors boosted tourism at a time when the U.S. economy began to weaken.

New York gained 1.5 million international visitors and increased its share of foreign tourists by 3.3 percent to top the list, moving up three spots from 2006.

Houston, meanwhile, slipped one spot to No. 15. Elsewhere in Texas, Dallas maintained its No. 13 ranking, followed by San Antonio (24); Austin (40); Fort Worth-Arlington (75) and Corpus Christi (86)...."

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2008/07/28/daily3.html?ana=from_rss

[HOUSTONIAN57]

I just made a thread for Houston on skyscrapercity.com I realized that this Houston didn't have a city complitation thread so I made one.

Heres the link: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=673634

[rdavis4559]

Two videos of Main Place are now up and ready for viewing. One is just more of a flyover and walk-through video and the other is more detailed description of the project, team, etc.

http://www.mainplacehouston.com/videos/Video%20Rendering.html

http://www.mainplacehouston.com/videos/Building%20Presentation.html

[Von]

omg definetly a gorgeous tower and will definetly change that horrible corner that was there... !

[Reverberation]

Based on what I have heard this week from (credible) anonymous sources, 5 Allen Center is confirmed and is going up.
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/5AllenCenter.jpg

[rdavis4559]

Based on what I have heard this week from (credible) anonymous sources, 5 Allen Center is confirmed and is going up.
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/5AllenCenter.jpg

But no idea on the groundbreaking date?

In other news (unrelated to development):

"Rice ranks high for quality of life and race interaction

Rice University ranks second in the nation for best quality of life and for interaction among students of different races and class in the 2009 edition of the Princeton Review's “Best 368 Colleges.”

Based on a survey of 120,000 students attending the 368 colleges in the book, Rice also ranks No. 15 for “happiest students.”

The annual college guide rates Rice as one of the country's best institutions for undergraduate education. About 15 percent of America's 2,500 four-year colleges and two Canadian colleges are profiled in the book.

The profiles reflect both the student survey and information provided by the institutions.

Princeton Review evaluated the schools based on institutional data it collects about the schools, feedback from students attending them and visits to schools over time.

In the race/class interaction category, Rice ranked No. 1 in 2007."

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2008/07/28/daily30.html?ana=from_rss

[Wattleigh]

Based on what I have heard this week from (credible) anonymous sources, 5 Allen Center is confirmed and is going up.


That's good news if it all pans out! They said they'd only begin construction if the building were 50% leased beforehand. If that's the case, I wonder who the tenant(s) are.

Of all of the lesser-discussed projects, this one has seemed among the most consistent in terms of location, plans, etc...

[Reverberation]

That's good news if it all pans out! They said they'd only begin construction if the building were 50% leased beforehand. If that's the case, I wonder who the tenant(s) are.

Of all of the lesser-discussed projects, this one has seemed among the most consistent in terms of location, plans, etc...

Devon Energy is rumored to be the main tenant.

Also, u/c on the corner of Westheimer and Yorktown.

http://www.amreit.com/_filelib/ImageGallery/AmREIT08/Property_Services/5433_Westheimer/aLoft_420_0513.jpg

Website: http://www.amreit.com/fw/main/5433_Westheimer_Houston_TX-34C921.html?LayoutID=72

Aerial Rendering: http://www.amreit.com/_filelib/FileCabinet/Real_Estate/5433_Westheimer/5433_aerial_0513.pdf?FileName=5433_aerial_0513.pdf

[Wattleigh]

Devon Energy is rumored to be the main tenant.

Even that's consistent with what's been out there before, which would be great. :)

I'm guessing Brookfield may have put their smaller (30-40? story) tower on the backburner if they're opting to talk more about Five.

Thanks for posting the aloft stuff as well. I was curious since the early renderings showed a 5 story building, but later pieces mentioned a 10 story building.

[Complex01]

Based on what I have heard this week from (credible) anonymous sources, 5 Allen Center is confirmed and is going up.
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/5AllenCenter.jpg

I hope this one really comes through. It will be a great addition to skyline. Now to get a really good rendering to see how it will look. Still very promising news...

:tup:

[rdavis4559]

I hope this one really comes through. It will be a great addition to skyline. Now to get a really good rendering to see how it will look. Still very promising news...

:tup:

We need more renders

[rdavis4559]

From a post made by Mister X on the HAIF Five Allen Center thread, I stole these pictures to show you guys (he stole them too).

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/5AC_01.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/5AC_02.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/5AC_03.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/5AC_04.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/5AC_05.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/5AC_06.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/5AC_07.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/5AC_08.jpg

[Shasta]

HBJ has an article about the Houston Ballet building a headquarters building downtown near the Wortham Theater. They purchased a full block along Smith, Congress, Preston, and Louisiana and then sold the Louisiana halft to help raise funds for their new home. No real news on the building but the rendering looks to be 13 floors.

http://cll.bizjournals.com/story_image/201158-400-0-1.jpg

[Complex01]

Yea, another project for downtown. Very Nice...

:yes:

[Texas Tuff]

Wow, those placement renderings of Five Allen Center from HAIF look awesome! I sure hope that gets built, it would certainly be a nice addition to the skyline.

:yes:

[Reverberation]

The skyline has a nice "mesa" going on. It wouldn't look bad to drop a 90-100 story tower in the mix.

[CALMSP]

The skyline has a nice "mesa" going on. It wouldn't look bad to drop a 90-100 story tower in the mix.


yes........that is somethign we could use right about now!!!!:haha:

[TexasBoi]

yes........that is somethign we could use right about now!!!!:haha:

Patience.

[JManc]

so is this building on the other side of the pierce elevated? i can't picture where in that immediate area they could fit it.

[Trae]

Now, it is in the Downtown Loop.

[rdavis4559]

"Houston House of Blues rolls out big-name opening schedule

Several big-name musicians are scheduled to christen the stage at Houston's House of Blues, which will officially open on Oct. 18.

Los Angeles, Calif.-based Live Nation Inc. (NYSE: LYV), parent company of House of Blues, released a performance line-up Monday that includes concerts by B.B. King, Willie Nelson and The Black Crowes during November.

The grand opening celebration on Oct. 18 will feature The Blues Brothers, with Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi. The VIP event, which includes dinner, hors d’oeuvres and a poster signed by Dan Aykroyd, will be sold through a Ticketmaster auction from Aug. 8 through Aug. 15.

Once the Blues Brothers have broken in the multilevel music hall, All Time Low, TV on the Radio and Los Lonely Boys will be among other acts in October.

House of Blues expects to produce more than 200 live music events each year at the venue, which is located in the Houston Pavilions development downtown, at the corner of Caroline and Dallas streets.

Anthony Nicolaidis, who currently books HOB Dallas, will be heading up the venue’s talent department. Mason Jambon is general manager of the new facility."

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2008/08/04/daily9.html?ana=from_rss

[Shasta]

I just heard that BLVD Place is about to announce a new gym for the project. Will contain about 60,000 square feet. Also was told that the Hanover deal is a done deal and the 37 story apartment tower should open by 2011.

[JManc]

well, there are rumors of a high-rise replacing the 24 hour fitness in post oak so i could see the demand for the new gym.

[Saddle Man]

That ballet building rendering from the HBJ is just a picture of a building on San Pedro Avenue in San Antonio.

[Von]

thats good b/c it's not an eye catching building..I hope the real one is a lito bit better

[TexasPlaya]

According to Chron, the Ballet is consolidating all of its office and rehearsal space into this building. It will be connected to the Wortham Center w/a skybridge. Hopefully they will construct something nice and reflective of the performing arts since they will be rehearsing in this building.

[Shasta]

There was a blurb in the local 002 Magazine about a project called America's Plaza but it lacked information. Well, I found a rendering;

http://www.studioredarchitects.com/images/stories/easygallery/125/1216150132_Birdseyeview.JPG

This is set to rise on a 7 acre parcel in the shadows of downtown just on the other side of US 59. Apparently it will be adjacent to the proposed Dynamo Stadium and will have 1,800 residential units, 100,000 square feet of retail and office space, and an outdoor amphitheater. I really PRAY that this one gets off the ground. Looks like a high quality project.

[Complex01]

:previous:

That looks very nice. That whole area is going to be something else in the next few years.


:yes:

[Trae]

There was a blurb in the local 002 Magazine about a project called America's Plaza but it lacked information. Well, I found a rendering;

http://www.studioredarchitects.com/images/stories/easygallery/125/1216150132_Birdseyeview.JPG

This is set to rise on a 7 acre parcel in the shadows of downtown just on the other side of US 59. Apparently it will be adjacent to the proposed Dynamo Stadium and will have 1,800 residential units, 100,000 square feet of retail and office space, and an outdoor amphitheater. I really PRAY that this one gets off the ground. Looks like a high quality project.

Very nice. Time to HAIF it.

[Sulley]

What is the most "interesting" highrise project going up in Houston right now?

The great majority of architecture around here seems to be stuck in the early 80s.

[Trae]

What is the most "interesting" highrise project going up in Houston right now?

The great majority of architecture around here seems to be stuck in the early 80s.

It's so weird that you're in Houston ;). The most interesting will probably be One Park Place, or MainPlace. Check out MainPlace here (http://www.mainplacehouston.com/). Watch the videos. The Ritz Carlton looks nice, too (the tall building):

http://www.wulfe.com/Images/BPPhotos/Lg_01.jpg
http://www.wulfe.com/Images/BPPhotos/Lg_03.jpg
http://www.wulfe.com/Images/BPPhotos/Lg_07.jpg

You should join HAIF. It's Houston's local forum.

[toxteth o'grady]

http://www.studioredarchitects.com/images/stories/easygallery/125/1216150132_Birdseyeview.JPG

This is set to rise on a 7 acre parcel in the shadows of downtown just on the other side of US 59. Apparently it will be adjacent to the proposed Dynamo Stadium and will have 1,800 residential units, 100,000 square feet of retail and office space, and an outdoor amphitheater. I really PRAY that this one gets off the ground. Looks like a high quality project.

It would be the first high-rise on that side of the freeway. Well, aside from the old Brown & Root facility...

[Xeelee]

It would be the first high-rise on that side of the freeway. Well, aside from the old Brown & Root facility...

Dont forget the old Maxwell House coffee factory. A personal favorite of mine. :)

[VivaLFuego]

There was a blurb in the local 002 Magazine about a project called America's Plaza but it lacked information. Well, I found a rendering;

http://www.studioredarchitects.com/images/stories/easygallery/125/1216150132_Birdseyeview.JPG

This is set to rise on a 7 acre parcel in the shadows of downtown just on the other side of US 59. Apparently it will be adjacent to the proposed Dynamo Stadium and will have 1,800 residential units, 100,000 square feet of retail and office space, and an outdoor amphitheater. I really PRAY that this one gets off the ground. Looks like a high quality project.

Wow, this would be really great.

[Reverberation]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/sarnoff/5933328.html

Office market leveling out
Leasing activity is down. Availability rates are up. And there's an increase in large blocks of space to lease.

Houston's hardy office market of the past few years is showing signs of leveling out, according to a second-quarter report from the Houston office of Studley, a national real estate firm specializing in representing tenants.

While demand for office space is off slightly from its historical average, it's not reflective of a slowdown in the local economy, said Steven Biegel, an executive vice president at Studley.

Over the past couple of years, many companies with plans for expansion renewed their expiring leases or signed bigger ones, anticipating a tighter market and higher rental rates.

"They don't need space now because they took it last year," Biegel said. "It's kind of pre-purchased inventory."

For the trailing four quarters, leasing reached 13.8 million square feet, a 17 percent decline from the year-ago period. The overall availability rate of 15.8 percent, which includes sublease space, posted an annual increase of 1 percentage point, the report said.

The number of large blocks of available space grew, as well.

In the second quarter, there were 40 chunks of at least 50,000 square feet of contiguous Class A space, up from 27 last year.

Biegel suspects another reason demand could be tapering off is because of individual perceptions about the economy.

"Everything you read says the economy is in the tank," he said. "That's having an effect on people's psychology."

And new construction has also changed conditions. The Houston area has 9.7 million square feet under development, and less than 25 percent of it is preleased.

Most of that space is along the Katy Freeway, downtown and the northwest part of town.

"The region will have to sustain above-average demand over the next few years to absorb the new space in the pipeline," the report said.

Still, rental rates are gaining, posting a 3 percent increase in the second quarter to an average of $24.09 per square foot. Rates for the nicest spaces available were up 3 percent to $30.39.

[Xeelee]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/sarnoff/5933328.html

Partyp00per:hell: :hell: :hell: :hell:

[Cory]

WOW. That Warehouse district project is nice. That side of downtown probably has more potential than Midtown. When I went to the Art Crawl last year, they had some open houses of the three story patio homes in that area and I was surprised of how cheap they were for what you get. Although there is a lack of retail in th area, if more developments like this pop up on the east side of downwtown, now is a good time to buy while the places are cheap.

[Dale]

What is the most "interesting" highrise project going up in Houston right now?

The great majority of architecture around here seems to be stuck in the early 80s.

Because roughly a gazillion square feet of office space was constructed in Houston in the 80s ... then the bottom fell out.

[Von]

that kinda sucks... but off topic...I went to Discovery Green today...super hot!.. but took these pics hope u guys like em'http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g263/Geebuzz102/066-1.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g263/Geebuzz102/067.jpg http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g263/Geebuzz102/031.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g263/Geebuzz102/014-1.jpg http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g263/Geebuzz102/032-1.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g263/Geebuzz102/003.jpg

[Trae]

Partyp00per:hell: :hell: :hell: :hell:

Did you read the article?

[c4smok]

This was posted on the HAIF

http://www.houstonarchitecture.info/haif/index.php?showtopic=17183

THE TWIN TOWERS
NEW HORIZON VILLAS
http://www.gbiinternational.com/images/full/hVillas3.jpg
CENTRAL PARK HOUSTON
http://www.gbiinternational.com/images/Full/Cpark4.jpg
http://www.gbiinternational.com/images/Full/Cpark5.jpg
INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIAL PARK
STONE BROOK AT RIVERSTONE

These are the 5 projects they proposed on the site of GBI sited here

http://www.gbiinternational.com/index.html

[JManc]

^ as it has already been mentioned on HAIF, very slim chance of any of that getting off the ground.

[Xeelee]

Sheesh. Beechnut at where? I hope they don't build this ugliness way out there in the middle of nowwhere. Ugh.

[TritonHouston]

Although I didn't say it on HAIF, most of those photos are of the same project. Look very closely.

[Wattleigh]

Sheesh. Beechnut at where? I hope they don't build this ugliness way out there in the middle of nowwhere. Ugh.

They're not building any of the projects, period.

They are just fanciful designs for a developer to have in their portfolio to make it look like they're a bit more established then they actually are.

[JManc]

there's activity where the 2nd mercer tower was supposed to be (a big pile of dirt) so does this mean that tower 2 is in the works or we be graced with another drug store or stand alone bank?

[CALMSP]

there's activity where the 2nd mercer tower was supposed to be (a big pile of dirt) so does this mean that tower 2 is in the works or we be graced with another drug store or stand alone bank?

probably a CVS "signature" store :notacrook:

[Reverberation]

More along the West Sam. This one is an expansion of the Seismic Exchange Campus near Clay Road.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/realestate/5960922.html
http://www.chron.com/photos/2008/08/22/12640860/260xStory.jpg
(From the chronicle)
11050 Capital Park Drive
73,400-square-foot, five-story office building

[Great_Hizzy]

Like I said some time ago, that area is slowly developing a mini-skyline of its own.

[vjhe]

there's activity where the 2nd mercer tower was supposed to be (a big pile of dirt) so does this mean that tower 2 is in the works or we be graced with another drug store or stand alone bank?

We should be so lucky to have another drug store or stand alone bank in that location. Almost anything besides a twin of the monstrosity known as the Mercer. I loathe that building like no other. :yuck:

[Wattleigh]

More along the West Sam. This one is an expansion of the Seismic Exchange Campus near Clay Road.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/realestate/5960922.html
http://www.chron.com/photos/2008/08/22/12640860/260xStory.jpg
(From the chronicle)
11050 Capital Park Drive
73,400-square-foot, five-story office building

It went up really quick, and I'm pretty sure it's topped out. Looked kinda small from the piece of land it occupied and it was kinda hard to believe that they wanted to put a garage on the site as well... I guess they have the space though.

Hizzy's right. In the same development, a 10 story building for GE's Oil & Gas division is almost topped out and across Clay a new Sheraton is getting closer to opening. Don't really think about that area too often, but it definitely merits watching.

[TexasPlaya]

All along the western and northwestern portion of the BW8 there are small to medium office buildings being built.

[CALMSP]

yeah, i would love to see it continue to blossom, but a little taller buildings would look better!!! I would love to have it look like the highway in DXB where the sides are lined with skyscrapers creating a "trench" feeling!!

[Complex01]

Here are some Down Town updates. Enjoy...

Main Place...

Foundation with lots of rebar. Is there a crane in the future, I think so...

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp200/complex2501/MP0827a.jpg

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp200/complex2501/MP0827b.jpg

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp200/complex2501/MP0827c.jpg


Discovery Tower...

Working on the level two. Almost above ground...

:banana:

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp200/complex2501/DT0827c.jpg

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp200/complex2501/DT0827a.jpg

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp200/complex2501/DT0827b.jpg


One Park Place...

They started working on the roof. Looks kewl...

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp200/complex2501/OPP0827b.jpg

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp200/complex2501/OPP0827a.jpg

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp200/complex2501/OPP0827.jpg

Thanks Houston. Getting better and bigger every day...

[TexasPlaya]

Nice pics Complex01, good to see some updates. The crane came down today at 2727 Kirby
http://swamplot.com/2727-kirby-enough-with-the-crane/2008-08-27/

[rdavis4559]

Nice pics Complex01, good to see some updates. The crane came down today at 2727 Kirby
http://swamplot.com/2727-kirby-enough-with-the-crane/2008-08-27/

Likewise, they've reached the top of OPP (but have yet to remove the crane, still a little bit of work left).

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/IMAG0026.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/IMAG0025.jpg

[Wattleigh]

Some photos for everyone that doesn't have time to check all the threads :P

Looking at the quick construction of the roof framework at OPP.

9/2
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01049.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01067.jpg

Today, 9/4
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01085.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01091.jpg

Legacy at Memorial
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01112.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01117.jpg

Methodist Outpatient Expansion
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01135.jpg

M.D. Anderson Expansion (Boosting a 12 story building to 21 floors when completed)
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01143.jpg

Lake McGovern & TMC
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01127.jpg

Pioneer Monument
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01147.jpg

Sam Houston Monument across the Reflecting Pond
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01151.jpg

Mosaic (II near topping out)
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01155.jpg

[Complex01]

I like the glass on the Mosiac. It looks nice. That whole area is just so different. Very Kewl...

:yes:

[KevinFromTexas]

Great pics. That roof is making quite an impact on One Park Place.

[rdavis4559]

a

[rdavis4559]

a

[rdavis4559]

Someone on HAIF posted this:

"Lasco/Hicks works up plans for new Galleria-area office tower

Specifics about a proposed office tower in the Galleria area are slowing leaking out while the developer strives to keep all of the particulars under wraps.

Lasco/Hicks Ventures Ltd. is working on a 400,000-square-foot office building to be constructed on three acres on Post Oak near Richmond, according to a source familiar with the deal.

Information about the project was also included on a general direct-mail piece from Houston-based Michael Berry Properties, which is not involved in the project. The mailing advertises a 26-story office building to be constructed at 3100 Post Oak that will have a ground-floor restaurant overlooking the waters of the Lakes on Post Oak office complex.

Executives with Lasco/Hicks could not be reached for comment."

http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2008/09/08/story11.html

[photoLith]

Wow would you look at all of those cranes in the medical district. Wow! I had no idea there was that much construction down there. How tall or some of those new towers going to be down there?

[rdavis4559]

Some shots of OPP's roof:

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/IMAG0030.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/IMAG0031.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/IMAG0032.jpg

[rdavis4559]

YMCA to relocate downtown facility

The YMCA of Greater Houston will replace the existing downtown YMCA with a new facility to be constructed at 808 Pease that will be named after the Tellepsen family of Houston.

The YMCA recently purchased the block bounded by Pease, Jefferson, Travis and Milam for a new 107,000-square-foot club that will feature group exercise rooms, community meeting space, a chapel and space dedicated to teenagers and children. The site is currently being used as a surface parking lot.

The Tellepsen Family YMCA will replace the aging Downtown YMCA, which is located a couple of blocks away at 1600 Louisiana.

The new facility is being named after the Tellepsens because the construction family is the lead donor for the project. And the Tellepsens have been involved with the YMCA since 1910, with four generations serving on the board.

Tellepsen Builders LP was selected as the general contractor for the new building, which is being designed by Houston-based Kirksey architectural firm.

Of the 38 YMCA facilities in Houston, this will be the first that’s designed in accordance with LEED criteria for sustainable, green buildings.

Construction will begin on the new building in January 2009 and be finished by Fall 2010.

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2008/09/08/daily26.html?ana=from_rss

[Complex01]

How is my Houston doing? Still alive and she will be back and better then ever...

:tup:

[Aiphanes]

How did all the cranes do and the current construction in the Houston Area during the storm?

[photoLith]

I dont think anyone from Houston is responding to our questions because they are still without power and will be for 2 or 3 more weeks in a lot of areas so the people down there probably cant use teh internets.

[JManc]

the cranes didn't collapse and the city isn't that bad of shape. it was a bad day if you were a tree though.

[TexasPlaya]

or a power line.

[pm91]

i just got my power back today and im so glad! i live in west houston between highway 6 and fry rd., and i thought our damage was bad until i saw on the internet and tv how bad it is everywhere else.. i am however truly proud to be a houstonian. hearing the stories and seeing people help others that are in need is absolutley wonderful. i really do want everything to get back to normal though; news stations, restaurants, businesses, parks, streets, neighborhoods.. and poor Bolivar Penninsula.. they're are getting overlooked by FEMA because of galveston and houston. people there have nothing left but themselves and FEMA isnt helping them at all. that just sickens me..
-- back on topic, i really hope that future plans for other projects dont get cancelled.

[AstrosFreak]

.. and poor Bolivar Penninsula.. they're are getting overlooked by FEMA because of galveston and houston. people there have nothing left but themselves and FEMA isnt helping them at all. that just sickens me..

Wait, how do you know FEMA isn't helping Bolivar? It was underwater for a decent while so no one could get there, and FEMA has to deal with 5.6 million people in the region, not including East Texas or Southwestern Louisiana. Let's try not to jump to conclusions. FEMA isn't the greatest run organization (mainly because of its use as a political punching bag) but its not worthless.

[AstrosFreak]

Good to hear that everyone is okay though.

[urbanactivist]

Wait, how do you know FEMA isn't helping Bolivar? It was underwater for a decent while so no one could get there, and FEMA has to deal with 5.6 million people in the region, not including East Texas or Southwestern Louisiana. Let's try not to jump to conclusions. FEMA isn't the greatest run organization (mainly because of its use as a political punching bag) but its not worthless.

The Galveston County judge is seeking to declare martial law for the Bolivar peninsula in an effort to force every last remaining citizen off of the area. Translation: FEMA isn't helping Bolivar.

[AstrosFreak]

The Galveston County judge is seeking to declare martial law for the Bolivar peninsula in an effort to force every last remaining citizen off of the area. Translation: FEMA isn't helping Bolivar.

What does the Galveston County judge have to do with FEMA? I'm not a FEMA supporter or anything (whatever that means); I would just like to hear evidence that FEMA willingly isn't helping the people on the Bolivar peninsula before everyone jumps to conclusions about any of the recovery effort. A county judge is very far removed from a Federal organization.

[Complex01]

I am very curious to see the city. I will be back on Sunday to check it out. I really do miss home. The pictures are something else...

[rdavis4559]

Blvd Place rental rates highest in Galleria area

Quoted rental rates for office space in the Blvd Place mixed-use project that’s under development in the Galleria area are higher than for any other office building in the submarket and comparable with rates being quoted for new office construction in the Central Business District.

Chip Colvill of Colvill Office Properties, who has been hired to find office tenants for Blvd Place, says rates are being quoted in the low to high $30-per-square-foot range. The net rental rate does not include operating costs, such as taxes and insurance.

In comparison, premier Galleria area office buildings are quoting rental rates in the $25 net range, Colvill says.

And the downtown office tower under development by Houston-based Hines is quoting rates starting at $33 net, says Stewart Robinson of Hines.

Blvd Place is charging top dollar because office space on the third and fourth floors above high-end retail space will be very dramatic, says Colvill.

“It’s not like we’re pre-leasing a building and garage,” he says. “We’re pre-leasing a lifestyle.”

Blvd Place, which is being developed by Houston-based Wulfe & Co., plans to have a total of 350,000 square feet of office space in six buildings designed by DMJM Design of Los Angeles.

Office space will sit on top of stores and restaurants in all of the buildings. One larger office building, with nine levels, is designed to have 180,000 square feet of office.

Blvd Place’s first building, which is already under construction, will have 35,000 square feet of office space. Colvill says the project’s remaining office space will break ground in 2009 for delivery in 2010.

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2008/09/15/daily49.html?ana=from_rss

[rdavis4559]

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/IMAG0033.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/downtown-004.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/downtown-003.jpg

[shakman]

Thank God this was nothing like Alicia during '83.

[rdavis4559]

I work downtown and from what I have heard and seen, many buildings sustained leakage and cracked windows but nothing like Chase Tower and its garage with the numerous blown out windows. I don't know much about the intricacies of building design. Do these windows have a flaw?