HOUSTON | Development Thread II

[JoninATX]

http://www.chron.com/business/article/20-story-tower-planned-for-Energy-Corridor-3476117.php

20-story tower planned for Energy Corridor
By Nancy Sarnoff
Published 10:38 p.m., Wednesday, April 11, 2012

A high-end office development is being planned in the Energy Corridor, potentially adding 1.5 million square feet of space to this part of west Houston, where oil and gas companies dominate the corporate landscape.

http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/12/55/10/2806327/6/628x471.jpg

[Trae]

I-10 West is starting to have an impressive skyline now, that's spilling over into Katy.

[photoLith]

On the top left you can see the new bridge being constructed for the north line extension. Look at all that vacant land though, so much room for awesome developments of Houston does it right.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/64a2d882.jpg

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/5aa3afec.jpg
Then a bonus shot of all the crap lots that still have to be covered up. Think of how great dowtown will be once all those lots are covered up by developments. That will be decades and decades though I'm afraid.

[lockmat]

Well forget your iPods and iPads; if no one suggested to Steve Jobs that he should make a touch screen computer you can hold in your hands then it shouldn't be done.

I think there is a difference between a salesman telling you to buy his product because you need it and it will benefit you and an objective party advising you.

In this case, it's the former. Granted sometimes the salesman might be correct.

[Wattleigh]

Noticed this blurb from today's Bisnow update (http://www.bisnow.com/real-estate-hou/2012/04/16/multifamily-monday-marvy/) regarding Marvy Finger's projects. Sounds like something may be in store for the old Ben Milam Hotel downtown. Not sure if it would be a renovation or an entirely new project on that site...

Marvy has an incredible pipeline now: His development at Waugh has broken ground, and he’s planning projects at the old Milam Hotel site (an eight-story midrise), Wilcrest and I-10 (360 units launching this month), the site of the Fiesta on Dunlavy (a 399-unit project is on the drawing board), and 1900 Yorktown. And that’s not including projects outside of Houston, such as a 350-unit project in Los Angeles and one in Chicago.

[mfastx]

:previous: The wording "old Milam site" leads me to believe that it's an entirely new project.

[Shasta]

[QUOTE=photoLith;5665134]On the top left you can see the new bridge being constructed for the north line extension. Look at all that vacant land though, so much room for awesome developments of Houston does it right.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/64a2d882.jpg

A lot of the "vacant" land in this photo is flood plain and will likely never be developed. It's where Buffalo and White Oak Bayous meet and it is notorious for flooding.

Best case scenario is for the Buffalo Bayou Partnership's dream to come to fruition and turn that into useable park space rather than just dead space.

[JManc]

some of that area is taken up by UH-Downtown's parking; slab of concrete just behind UHD on the other side of the freeway.

[toxteth o'grady]

I found this intriguing article in Construction Weekly - a lot of speculative proposals for high-rise buildings exceeding 828 meters (the height of the Burj). Included are not one, but two, building proposals for Houston that top out in excess of a mile in height. I think one of them goes all the way back to 1981, but I'm not sure about the other. Judging by the list, if built, they would have been the tallest buildings in the US for quite some time.:banana:

http://http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-16476-36-skyscraper-designs-that-beat-the-burj-khalifa/1/

:shrug:

[Wattleigh]

Architects have been chosen for the Midtown Arts Center

Per Bisnow (http://www.bisnow.com/real-estate-hou/2012/04/17/moody-resigns-the-deal-sheet/)...

The Independent Arts Collaborative selected Lake|Flato and Studio RED Architects to design the organization’s new art complex planned at Main and Holman in Midtown, steps from the HCC/Ensemble light rail stop. The multi-tenant performance and exhibition space will be designed with the input of nearly 40 Houston arts groups. The 67k SF complex will feature a 300-seat theater, exhibition space, two rehearsal halls, three black box performance spaces, classrooms, and office space.

[photoLith]

Well, it seems Fingers is going to tear down the historic Ben Milam Motel across from Minute Maid Park and replace it with an 8 story apartment building, typical Houston; destroy an historic building when theres only 20 vacant lots surrounding it instead of restoring it.

[photoLith]

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/c6044942.jpg

Rice village.

[Wattleigh]

Well, it seems Fingers is going to tear down the historic Ben Milam Motel across from Minute Maid Park and replace it with an 8 story apartment building, typical Houston; destroy an historic building when theres only 20 vacant lots surrounding it instead of restoring it.

The piece didn't say if it is or isn't entirely new construction.

At any rate, it's worth noting that the 'tower' section above the base of the building is 8 stories. It's entirely possible that it's referring to a rehab of the former hotel space into apartments and retail.

[photoLith]

^
I went and talked to the Houston preservation commission today and it seems that fingers hasnt yet bought the building. The article is very vague but the building isn't an historic landmark nor protected in any way shape or form. The commission told me that they've talked to the building owners in the past and that they really don't give a shit about the building and are basically just in it for the highest bidder. They said the outlook for the buildings future, even if fingers doesn't purchase it is very grim due to its long term vacancy/abandonment and the costs of restoration and it seems that Houston developed aren't too interested in restoring things. Plus the floor heights are pretty short, maybe 8ft at best, when most apartment/lofts have ceiling heights of 11ft or more so a potential developer would view the 8ft ceiling heights quite negatively ubfortubately.

[TexasPlaya]

^
I went and talked to the Houston preservation commission today and it seems that fingers hasnt yet bought the building. The article is very vague but the building isn't an historic landmark nor protected in any way shape or form. The commission told me that they've talked to the building owners in the past and that they really don't give a shit about the building and are basically just in it for the highest bidder. They said the outlook for the buildings future, even if fingers doesn't purchase it is very grim due to its long term vacancy/abandonment and the costs of restoration and it seems that Houston developed aren't too interested in restoring things. Plus the floor heights are pretty short, maybe 8ft at best, when most apartment/lofts have ceiling heights of 11ft or more so a potential developer would view the 8ft ceiling heights quite negatively ubfortubately.

Geeze, 8 ft floor heights... there's your reason to not restore.

[rdavis4559]

Any admins out there?

It would be awesome to have this forum push out an rss feed rather than me having to check daily for updates. Vbulletin says this can be easily accomplished:

https://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php/272226-How-to-create-an-RSS-feed-from-a-specific-forum

Hopefully you will take this up for consideration. Thank you!

[JManc]

Any admins out there?

It would be awesome to have this forum push out an rss feed rather than me having to check daily for updates. Vbulletin says this can be easily accomplished:

https://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php/272226-How-to-create-an-RSS-feed-from-a-specific-forum

Hopefully you will take this up for consideration. Thank you!

sounds cool but probably not in the cards anytime soon. i make it a habit of making rounds every other day or so on this thread as well as some of the other houston sites; HAIF, Swamplot, etc. You can get an RSS feed from them

[Michi]

On the top left you can see the new bridge being constructed for the north line extension. Look at all that vacant land though, so much room for awesome developments of Houston does it right.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/64a2d882.jpg
No, as far as I know, that is the land that is intended to be the Burnett Multi-modal Transportation Center. I don't know what has become of the proposal, but I remember LRT plans, brought before the Planning Commission, included Burnett configurations.

I know the plan was ambitious and may be on hold, or dropped entirely. Maybe it's local common knowledge that Burnett is no longer in the making, and if so I apologize for my ignorance. :cheers:

http://www.eekarchitects.com/portfolio/9-transportation-infrastructure/57-houston-northern-intermodal-facility

[photoLith]

^
Yeah, Im fairly certain that died a long time ago.

[Michi]

I wouldn't doubt the magnitude of the proposed facility, but I'd wonder about the use of the land? Is it still planned to be transit-related

By the way, thanks for posting that photo! I use to run the Heights Trail regularly (concrete line shown long the bayou). It was my favorite trail, particularly running toward the city with the beautiful view of the skyline and the pulse of the traffic on the freeway! :)

[JManc]

the intermodal facility is DOA.

[GrimReaper]

I don't understand what's the big fuss about this Ashby High Rise? http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/04-25-12-09-30-stop-ashby-high-rise-group-lays-out-plans-to-stop-construction-tells-developers-weve-only-begun-to-fight/

I thought Houston has no zoning laws.

[TexasPlaya]

I don't understand what's the big fuss about this Ashby High Rise? http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/04-25-12-09-30-stop-ashby-high-rise-group-lays-out-plans-to-stop-construction-tells-developers-weve-only-begun-to-fight/

I thought Houston has no zoning laws.

It doesn't have zoning but the rich folks are upset regardless.

[photoLith]

I seriously dont understand why they are so up in arms over that like 20 story building. Every time I see some uppity douche with one of those stop Ashby highrise bumper stickers I just want to punch them in the throat because it seriously makes no sense why they are so against it. I mean, theres tons of mid rise residential towers all over the city and they live in the city, so get over it. And their little cartoon of the highrise makes it seem like its a 600ft tall building or something. What are they so against? The possible shadows it will cast? Why do they care, most of that neighborhood is covered in trees and the ground is usually shadowed by them anyways.

From the article above...

# If you nevertheless succeed in constructing this project, we will not stop our opposition, and we will take every lawful action available to us. It is important that you, your investors, and your construction and permanent lenders understand this.
# We will picket your leasing office. Not once or twice, but at all times it is open.
# We will identify your tenants and send regular communications to them at their units and their places of business to let them know that they are not welcome in our neighborhood.
# When your tenants walk in or through our neighborhood, we will let them know that they are not welcome.
# We will challenge the permits for your restaurant tenant.
# We will boycott your restaurant and encourage our friends and neighbors to do the same. We will appear at your tenant’s restaurant and demonstrate our opposition to their presence in our neighborhood.
# If your restaurant tenant has other locations, we will boycott and appear at those locations as well.
# We will appear at the homes of the owners, investors, and chef of your restaurant tenant and demonstrate our opposition to their presence in our neighborhood.
# We will post unfavorable reviews of your restaurant tenant on dining websites.

How about we form an pro Ashby highrise group and picket these assholes houses and tell them they arent welcome in a changing city and can piss off to Tulsa or something. Some of the above stuff is like borderline stalking and harassment.

Some other things they might as well add to that list would be... we will show up at your houses and places of business and key your cars and spray paint your windows to show our opposition; we will also be forced to break your gas lines leading to your houses or condos and be forced to light molotov cocktails to show our opposition to this highrise.

[GrimReaper]

Hell yeah! we need to outnumbered them.

[TexasBoi]

# We will picket your leasing office. Not once or twice, but at all times it is open.
# We will identify your tenants and send regular communications to them at their units and their places of business to let them know that they are not welcome in our neighborhood.#
When your tenants walk in or through our neighborhood, we will let them know that they are not welcome.
# We will challenge the permits for your restaurant tenant.
# We will boycott your restaurant and encourage our friends and neighbors to do the same. We will appear at your tenant’s restaurant and demonstrate our opposition to their presence in our neighborhood.
# If your restaurant tenant has other locations, we will boycott and appear at those locations as well.
# We will appear at the homes of the owners, investors, and chef of your restaurant tenant and demonstrate our opposition to their presence in our neighborhood.
# We will post unfavorable reviews of your restaurant tenant on dining websites.

.

What a childish and absolute freaking joke.

[photoLith]

If I were ever a tenant there and they did that I would for sure find out where they lived and do the same thing to them on a daily basis late at night and bang on their door to tell them I don't like them and that if they ever harassed me again I'd call the cops on them.

I really want to fuck with these anti ashby high rise people now though somehow.

[Double L]

This guys got a blog where he talks about Houston Politics. He posted this two months ago on the Ashby Highrise.

Zk8S434sxAw

[JManc]

i think the ashby developers should redesign the building to be twice as tall with the menacing grin and arms.

http://swamplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/ashby-cartoon.jpg

[N90]

Alright enough talk of this Ashby Highrise issue, we have an eternity to discuss that BUT I want to bring to your attention Generation Park.

Generation Park:
http://assets.bizjournals.com/houston/print-edition/GP-2.jpg?v=1
McCord Development Inc. is set to launch Generation Park — a 3,635-acre corporate park near George Bush Intercontinental Airport that, when completely developed, would have a total value of more than $5 billion.
McCord has been acquiring land northeast of Houston for two decades for what it touts as the largest new U.S. commercial development. Generation Park is designed to have 30 million square feet of office, industrial, medical, retail, hospitality and multifamily space.
Source: http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/print-edition/2012/04/27/mccord-development-sets-huge.html

Sweet infill ;)

[photoLith]

Yay a huge suburban office park, how exquisitely exciting. It's so great that houstons suburbs are still pushing out even further into forested land and farmland, such a great step forward in the right direction. Next lets talk about suburban housing tract infill in kingwood and the woodlands.

[AviationGuy]

Yay a huge suburban office park, how exquisitely exciting. It's so great that houstons suburbs are still pushing out even further into forested land and farmland, such a great step forward in the right direction. Next lets talk about suburban housing tract infill in kingwood and the woodlands.

I'm with you. But at least it's better than that other junk around the airport. When the airport was built, flying into it provided some beautiful forested scenery. Now, it's mostly warehouses, junk yards, and other unsightly stuff. The only airport area that looks worse is PHX as you land from the west.

[Shasta]

Have you seen where the Ashby Tower is supposed to be?

Bissonnet has two lanes and is lined with nothing taller than 3 stories (the Rice U Graduate Housting units). The few businesses along that street are 90% located in old houses with one strip mall-ish building closer to Shepherd Drive that houses Picnic and Raven Grill.

Ashby Street doesn't even have lanes. It's a purely residential street that straddles two of Houston's most historic residential enclaves; Boulevard Oaks and Southampton. Both Blvd Oaks and Southampton have STRICT deed restrictions.

I love towers, but I'd prefer them to be integrated properly into the city. This building will do nothing to ease congestion or promote "urban" living. Additionally, it will be replacing a much more affordable two story apartment complex so it's not like the "rich" folks are trying to keep people out of their neighborhood.

If you've ever ventured to North or South Blvds and appreciated the live oak parks down the center, then you'd realize what's at stake. The Ashby Tower will literally rise over South Blvd.'s most historic homes. There's so little left to preserve in Houston, but to me, potentially ripping the fabric of one of the city's healthiest street car suburban neighborhoods, isn't worth the risk.

[Bailey]

Have you seen where the Ashby Tower is supposed to be?

Bissonnet has two lanes and is lined with nothing taller than 3 stories (the Rice U Graduate Housting units). The few businesses along that street are 90% located in old houses with one strip mall-ish building closer to Shepherd Drive that houses Picnic and Raven Grill.

Ashby Street doesn't even have lanes. It's a purely residential street that straddles two of Houston's most historic residential enclaves; Boulevard Oaks and Southampton. Both Blvd Oaks and Southampton have STRICT deed restrictions.

I love towers, but I'd prefer them to be integrated properly into the city. This building will do nothing to ease congestion or promote "urban" living. Additionally, it will be replacing a much more affordable two story apartment complex so it's not like the "rich" folks are trying to keep people out of their neighborhood.

If you've ever ventured to North or South Blvds and appreciated the live oak parks down the center, then you'd realize what's at stake. The Ashby Tower will literally rise over South Blvd.'s most historic homes. There's so little left to preserve in Houston, but to me, potentially ripping the fabric of one of the city's healthiest street car suburban neighborhoods, isn't worth the risk.

Shasta, I agree 100000000% with what you are saying but the people of Houston have overwhelmingly decided that they do not want to operate that way. We've had a city plan and zoning ordinances on the ballot multiple times and they all got voted down.

Two elections ago we had a pro-urban planning/city plan mayorial candidate run for mayor and he lost.

You can't decide to have zoning ONLY when it benefits your particular situation. If anything, hopefully the city will legally install something to protect the character and charm of these neighborhoods and implement some zoning requirements. Let's hope it leads to a better Houston.

For my job, I get the chance to work on projects all over the country, and I do a lot of zoning research during the due diligence process. Zoning isn't as scary as everyone thinks, most of it is to ensure that the building adds to the character and charm of the neighborhood and not detract from it via facade/roof/glazing/exterior material requirements

I really would like to see Houston heading in that direction.

[photoLith]

That will never happen. Money rules Houston and the developers have it all. I am personally in Favor of the high rise but would love to see Houston have zoning because nothing in this city is really protected from tear downs and poorly integrated infill like all the crap tin sided gated buildings going up in Montrose, freedmans town, and the east side.

[JManc]

Have you seen where the Ashby Tower is supposed to be?

Bissonnet has two lanes and is lined with nothing taller than 3 stories (the Rice U Graduate Housting units). The few businesses along that street are 90% located in old houses with one strip mall-ish building closer to Shepherd Drive that houses Picnic and Raven Grill.

Ashby Street doesn't even have lanes. It's a purely residential street that straddles two of Houston's most historic residential enclaves; Boulevard Oaks and Southampton. Both Blvd Oaks and Southampton have STRICT deed restrictions.

I love towers, but I'd prefer them to be integrated properly into the city. This building will do nothing to ease congestion or promote "urban" living. Additionally, it will be replacing a much more affordable two story apartment complex so it's not like the "rich" folks are trying to keep people out of their neighborhood.

If you've ever ventured to North or South Blvds and appreciated the live oak parks down the center, then you'd realize what's at stake. The Ashby Tower will literally rise over South Blvd.'s most historic homes. There's so little left to preserve in Houston, but to me, potentially ripping the fabric of one of the city's healthiest street car suburban neighborhoods, isn't worth the risk.

welcome to houston. there is a tallish residential building going up in the galleria (bigger than ashby) that is in a very cramped spot next door to a walgreens whose only access is a small side street linking westheimer to yorktown. now, the traffic there will be a total nightmare but since we live in a city with no zoning, this is what happens. why should the people near ashby get special treatment? because they're wealthy?

[AviationGuy]

In Austin we have zoning and we still have horrible planning, in some cases due to variances. In other cases, due to lack of public notice and comment. People here stay pissed all the time about this sort of stuff. Having zoning doesn't solve the problem. Having zoning and leadership and a majority of residents who actually care about these things is what solves the problem.

[TexasPlaya]

Houston just needs to end minimum parking requirements and establish an urban setback requirement(which is currently being done).

[TexasPlaya]

Have you seen where the Ashby Tower is supposed to be?

Bissonnet has two lanes and is lined with nothing taller than 3 stories (the Rice U Graduate Housting units). The few businesses along that street are 90% located in old houses with one strip mall-ish building closer to Shepherd Drive that houses Picnic and Raven Grill.

Ashby Street doesn't even have lanes. It's a purely residential street that straddles two of Houston's most historic residential enclaves; Boulevard Oaks and Southampton. Both Blvd Oaks and Southampton have STRICT deed restrictions.

I love towers, but I'd prefer them to be integrated properly into the city. This building will do nothing to ease congestion or promote "urban" living. Additionally, it will be replacing a much more affordable two story apartment complex so it's not like the "rich" folks are trying to keep people out of their neighborhood.

If you've ever ventured to North or South Blvds and appreciated the live oak parks down the center, then you'd realize what's at stake. The Ashby Tower will literally rise over South Blvd.'s most historic homes. There's so little left to preserve in Houston, but to me, potentially ripping the fabric of one of the city's healthiest street car suburban neighborhoods, isn't worth the risk.

I live just north of these neighborhoods, right across the freeway, and use Bissonnet daily to commute to work. I generally disagree with most of what you are saying.

The footprint of this building is the same as the old apartments it's replacing, but it's height and scale is where the controversy is. However, Bissonnet is a very tree lined, in fact, I would argue that this building won't be too noticeable from the street. Furthermore, Bissonnet has been becoming more crowded due to increase in popultion and the growing Medical Center, that this with just be a drop in the bucket. As far as deed restrictions go, obviously this building doesn't fall under its control.

Yes, I wish this was on Bissonnet in the Museum District or north on Richmond along the future light rail. However, I don't view this building as ripping any sort of fabric. In fact, I welcome a little bit of more retail (if that is in fact still being included).

[TexasPlaya]

welcome to houston. there is a tallish residential building going up in the galleria (bigger than ashby) that is in a very cramped spot next door to a walgreens whose only access is a small side street linking westheimer to yorktown. now, the traffic there will be a total nightmare but since we live in a city with no zoning, this is what happens. why should the people near ashby get special treatment? because they're wealthy?

That building isn't going to make much of dent in the traffic at Westheimer @ Sage... Plus why isn't this a good location? It's does face a small side street, but it also faces Sage St. (a relatively large thoroughfare) and is literally next to Westheimer. I wish the building was bigger and could have taken up the Walgreen's space as well.

[photoLith]

I rode my bike over to the ashby area today and that crappy apartment complex there has lots of tenants. I can't imagine the high rise having that many more people living on that spot than do now. And even if there are, the whole traffic argument is bull because I live in houston house apartments downtown, which is three times the size of the ashby high rise and maybe about once every ten minutes a car enters or leaves the parking garage. Hardly enough traffic to cause congestion. Even if Houston house were located in a residential neighborhood this wouldn't even cause traffic let alone a 21 story tower.

[JManc]

That building isn't going to make much of dent in the traffic at Westheimer @ Sage... Plus why isn't this a good location? It's does face a small side street, but it also faces Sage St. (a relatively large thoroughfare) and is literally next to Westheimer. I wish the building was bigger and could have taken up the Walgreen's space as well.

but the building is not being built on westheimer and sage, it's being built on a landlocked chunk of land on brownway where you have to cut through walgreen's parking lot to get to sage and it's access to westhiemer is limited to westbound only. you have to get on to yorktown to go east bound.

[photoLith]

This doesn't really have anything to do with anything but I was up in one of halliburtons offices today down in the energy corridor and had this view.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/012f6f79.jpg

[Reverberation]

i think the ashby developers should redesign the building to be twice as tall with the menacing grin and arms.

http://swamplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/ashby-cartoon.jpg

Maybe i'm just immature but I hate those yellow signs. I remember I was riding my bike around there one day and I saw one that someone had vandalized to make it look like the menacing building was yanking it. Whoever did that, it was brilliant.

[Reverberation]

but the building is not being built on westheimer and sage, it's being built on a landlocked chunk of land on brownway where you have to cut through walgreen's parking lot to get to sage and it's access to westhiemer is limited to westbound only. you have to get on to yorktown to go east bound.

True. But you can walk to the Galleria, the grocery store, etc.

[Reverberation]

Alright enough talk of this Ashby Highrise issue, we have an eternity to discuss that BUT I want to bring to your attention Generation Park.

Generation Park:
http://assets.bizjournals.com/houston/print-edition/GP-2.jpg?v=1

Source: http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/print-edition/2012/04/27/mccord-development-sets-huge.html

Sweet infill ;)

This is going to be really big...

http://parceltool.generationpark.com/assets/Main_Map_Cropped.jpg
http://parceltool.generationpark.com/

[photoLith]

^
Yuck, I love that area, I used to go down to Sheldon Lake S.P. all the time growing up. This will no doubt damage the ecology of the park and the flow of the creek into Sheldon Reservoir. The state park offers some of the most important egret, spoonbill, and night heron nesting areas in the Houston area; its also home to lots of Alligators and the threated Le-Contes Sparrow and large cypress swamps. I guess that land was destined to be destroyed by suburban sprawl at some point or other, oh well.

[chrisherber]

This doesn't really have anything to do with anything but I was up in one of halliburtons offices today down in the energy corridor and had this view.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/012f6f79.jpg

As a teen, I remember taking a trip to an office and saw this view. For the first time in my life at that moment, I realized how amazing the Houston skyline(s) really is. THANK YOU for taking this shot, I've been trying to find this view for almost a decade now! lol no joke! :banana:

[photoLith]

I want to go back up there and bring my real camera with me and take some photos up there at night or just better photos with my D700. Its a pretty kick ass view, makes it look like NYC from that far away.

[Shasta]

I rode my bike over to the ashby area today and that crappy apartment complex there has lots of tenants. I can't imagine the high rise having that many more people living on that spot than do now. And even if there are, the whole traffic argument is bull because I live in houston house apartments downtown, which is three times the size of the ashby high rise and maybe about once every ten minutes a car enters or leaves the parking garage. Hardly enough traffic to cause congestion. Even if Houston house were located in a residential neighborhood this wouldn't even cause traffic let alone a 21 story tower.

The Maryland Manor is hardly crappy. Sure, it's not a class A new stucco apartment complex with faux rock exterior, but the units are clean and relatively affordable for the area. Lots of Rice U. graduate students are going to be looking for places soon. Oh, and by the way, there are 67 units at the Maryland Manor complex today. The new tower is projected to have 220+ units, so yeah, there will be a slight increase in traffic, especially because many of the Maryland Manor's current residents actually walk/ride bikes to get to Rice. You can see them every morning heading South down Ashby St. to the campus. Most of these people wont be able to afford the new tower.

[pm91]

As a teen, I remember taking a trip to an office and saw this view. For the first time in my life at that moment, I realized how amazing the Houston skyline(s) really is. THANK YOU for taking this shot, I've been trying to find this view for almost a decade now! lol no joke! :banana:

I've lived off of Barker-Cypress and I-10 for 21 years now and I have always wanted to know what the skyline looks like from the "Towers on Eldridge" (what me and my friends always called them). I too wish to thank you for now I finally know what it looks like!
Edit: Geared towards photoLith with agreement to chrisherber

[Reverberation]

I've lived off of Barker-Cypress and I-10 for 21 years now and I have always wanted to know what the skyline looks like from the "Towers on Eldridge" (what me and my friends always called them). I too wish to thank you for now I finally know what it looks like!
Edit: Geared towards photoLith with agreement to chrisherber

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/101/255727575_9313e06461_o.jpg

Source:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/101/255727575_9313e06461_o.jpg

It's outdated though, but it is from near those towers from the MacHaik building at I-10 and Kirkwood.

Here is one I took from their rooftop fitness center last year.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5150/5695638970_4e9b532955_b.jpg

[photoLith]

That photo must be really old, isnt City Center now on the bottom left side of the photo? If so that photo is about 10 years old or so. I might have my location wrong though.

[JManc]

more importantly, the memorial herman tower off gessner/ I-10 hasnt been built yet. not too mention the other buildings right around there; cemex, hotel, etc..

[BevoLJ]

Any photo that doesn't have the Memorial Herman tower is fine by me. I can't stand that tower. In fact when driving from Austin to Houston the only thing I look forward to less than the I-10 traffic is having to pass by that horrible building. There are some great towers in Houston. I just don't understand why the ugliest one has to be so on its own, and then have to silly top to make it stand out even more.

Like at least the Transco tower being all on its own, it is a beautiful building.

[TexasPlaya]

Swamplot: Highrise Replacing Allen House Remnant? The Latest Rumblings Around Regent Square (Highrise Replacing Allen House Remnant? The Latest Rumblings Around Regent Square)

The North Montrose Civic Association announced in a recent newsletter that a “big announcement” about Regent Square is due in May: “Rumors are that a high rise residential [tower is] being planned as [the] first building.” Separately, Regent Square developer GID Development has promised additional details in May or June about this 21-story highrise apartment building, called the Sovereign, which happens to feature a large number of dog-friendly amenities, including canine wash/dry facilities, a pet grooming room, and a private doggie park:


Images from Swamplot (http://swamplot.com/highrise-replacing-allen-house-remnant-the-latest-rumblings-around-regent-square/2012-04-30/)
http://swamplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/sovereign-tower.jpg

http://swamplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/sovereign-street-view.jpg

I like it. It's not too flashy and it'll be interesting to see how the rest of the project unfolds.

[photoLith]

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/fea18407.jpg

Took this today.

[weatherguru18]

Holy cow! There are cranes going up ALL OVER Houston. Here's some pics that another member took of the Anadarko site in The Woodlands...

http://www.goingupcity.blogspot.com/

[weatherguru18]

From HAIF (Lockmat):

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LpyKxZECiwg/T6kgiarieuI/AAAAAAAAD_k/qTOKCa8DT2k/s640/IMG_7756.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ii-z3aWe2Sw/T6kguzBqeJI/AAAAAAAAD_4/hCFNA_cF1Zk/s640/IMG_7759.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qCWvPbWLA3w/T6kgxJGYLMI/AAAAAAAAEAE/qO2r4tpIhHI/s640/IMG_7760.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xsWwIIlIzEI/T6kg4qdDA4I/AAAAAAAAEAU/h6FE9paHimE/s640/IMG_7765.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qBDoBHyVu3E/T6kg9L3kl-I/AAAAAAAAEAc/dRHeTbcjdoo/s640/IMG_7766.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ca2djH8bttw/T6khBCtJECI/AAAAAAAAEAk/2Gizldpua70/s640/IMG_7767.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uPPa-RzXNZg/T6khWaV2FsI/AAAAAAAAEBc/wdnfHLBBdNo/s640/IMG_7782.jpg

[Complex01]

Love those skyline photos. Its easy to forget how many buildings there really are in Houston. But it looks just as good as always.

:yes:

[nickdv]

Does anyone know why Downtown isn't lit up at night like other cities?

[lockmat]

West Ave phase II has broken ground. Here are two renderings and the description

http://www.zieglercooper.com/images/proj1876.jpg

http://www.zieglercooper.com/images/proj1877.jpg

The second phase of the West Ave development in River Oaks is a 288,389 s.f. mid-rise apartment project with 305 housing units. The eight-story, concrete structure with attached garage will have 640 parking spaces, 157 of which will be for retail use from Phase 1.The project finish will consist of mostly brick with accents of Arriscraft and terra-cotta. The design will feature an interior courtyard with swimming pool, outdoor kitchen and living room, lounge, theater, fitness center, dining/wine room and is estimated to complete June 2013.

http://www.zieglercooper.com/projects.asp?indid=41&projid=174

[Rail Claimore]

This is going to be really big...

http://parceltool.generationpark.com/assets/Main_Map_Cropped.jpg
http://parceltool.generationpark.com/

Wow! That's pretty big. I was wondering when that corner of Houston would be developed. This would definitely throw the metro area's center of gravity back east a bit.

[Reverberation]

Wow! That's pretty big. I was wondering when that corner of Houston would be developed. This would definitely throw the metro area's center of gravity back east a bit.

I'm glad that the center is bringing some action to the east side of Houston. Downtown Houston hasn't been the center of Houston for decades (they might as well call it East Houston) and I always like to think that the pace of development in downtown will pick up if it becomes more centrally located.

[photoLith]

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/d1dda501.jpg

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/34de0f37.jpg

Anadarkos new tower in the woodlands from this morning. And there's a new mid rise going up across from it too which will add some really nice density to that corner.

[toxteth o'grady]

Going back a couple of weeks, there was an article in the HBJ that left the impression that no new towers were going up Downtown, despite a developing space shortage. Why is the supply lagging behind the demand?:shrug:

[N90]

University of St. Thomas’s New Performing Arts Center Moving in Next to Menil Campus:
http://swamplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/st-thomas-performing-arts-center.jpg
The university is touting the venue as “a big boost to other performing arts groups in the city” as well as its own programs. The design by Houston’s Studio Red Architects includes an 800-seat proscenium theater, a “black box” flex theater that can seat 250, a conference hall, classrooms, large rehearsal spaces, and extensive lobbies and terraces for university events
Source: http://swamplot.com/university-of-st-thomass-new-performing-arts-center-moving-in-next-to-menil-campus/2012-05-10/

[N90]

List of Developers for new Convention Center Hotel:
http://assets.bizjournals.com/houston/print-edition/hotelteams-1.jpg?v=1
Source: http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/print-edition/2012/05/04/high-profile-companies-compete-for.html

Why are they even holding a design competition? We all know its going to be some box fugly building. Hopefully it wont be some box fugly short design. I get tired of Houston's mass creation (and obsession) with boxes. This city is moving way to fast to be so plain in its design. Sorry for the rant.

[N90]

Skyspace:
http://ww2.hdnux.com/photos/13/03/31/2897477/10/628x471.jpg
The Chronicle has a cool article about a soon-to-be-open public art installation entitled “Skyspace”. Opening in mid June, Skyspace will have light shows at sunrise and sunset that will nearly change your perception of what’s around you…

The installation will be open to the general public, and they even plan to hold concerts at the place.
Source: http://innerlooped.com/1786/new-public-art-at-rice-skyspace/

[N90]

Midtown Houston Proposes Arts + Entertainment District:
Tonight at 6pm in Central Bank’s large conference room, Midtown will be holding their quarterly night community meeting where they present what each committee is working on. The cool part about tonight is they will be having a presentation on Midtown’s next endeavor, becoming a state recognized “Arts and Entertainment District”. The presentation will occur later in the meeting, but it will probably be a good talk and reason for residents of Midtown to come out and learn more about the next cool thing Midtown is shooting for. You can download the agenda for tonight’s meeting
Source: http://innerlooped.com/1795/midtown-meeting-tonight-about-ae-district/

Full information here: http://www.houstonmidtown.com/cmsFiles/Files/MMD%20BOD%20Agenda_5-10-12.pdf

[N90]

By the way, you guys wont ever believe this because I'm still in denial this actually happened but my cousin & I found blue water (sky blue Cancun like water) beaches in the Houston Metropolitan Area. Except it cost us $550 to find it and the island has a population of 0 with no developments or anything except plants and animals on it. Its not that big either, walking across will take like 3 minutes but its big enough to enjoy with your entire extended family if you want that.

The water color and the island looks VERY close to this (except its like 5 times larger but not all that large at all):
http://www.beach-backgrounds.com/island-images/caribbean-islands-wallpaper-1920x1200.jpg

[lockmat]

Going back a couple of weeks, there was an article in the HBJ that left the impression that no new towers were going up Downtown, despite a developing space shortage. Why is the supply lagging behind the demand?:shrug:

From what I've heard online (and possibly read) is that lenders are scared of oil boom/bust aspect of Houston. They are requiring a higher percentage of preleasing.

[N90]

From what I've heard online (and possibly read) is that lenders are scared of oil boom/bust aspect of Houston. They are requiring a higher percentage of preleasing.
50% is the minimum. Personally I like it better this way, its safer for the local economy otherwise it'll be overbuilt and overspeculated like Las Vegas.

[photoLith]

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/2d0516b9.jpg

Crappy iPhone photo of that new apartment building going up across from the CVS in the galleria area, the name of it escapes me right now.

[weatherguru18]

Why are they even holding a design competition? We all know its going to be some box fugly building. Hopefully it wont be some box fugly short design. I get tired of Houston's mass creation (and obsession) with boxes. This city is moving way to fast to be so plain in its design. Sorry for the rant.

It was my impression that it would be a mirror image of the Hilton Americas. Anybody?

[weatherguru18]

Going back a couple of weeks, there was an article in the HBJ that left the impression that no new towers were going up Downtown, despite a developing space shortage. Why is the supply lagging behind the demand?:shrug:

This is the way The Woodlands goes about it's development. It's good to keep the lid on potential development and let it (the potential) build. The Woodlands could put up multiple highrises right now if they wanted to AND FILL THEM. But by stifling development ensures near 100% capacity of the buildings built. There probably isn't much of a rush to build anything downtown being that a few new highrises were just completed and many more projects are on the drawing board.

[photoLith]

Please please go to this link and sign the letter to send to our representatives to help Houston public transit. It's on the bottom left of the page, the link is.

http://www.houstontomorrow.org/

[N90]

Please please go to this link and sign the letter to send to our representatives to help Houston public transit. It's on the bottom left of the page, the link is.

http://www.houstontomorrow.org/
I went to the last workshop meeting they had and when they asked "are there any questions?", I raised my hand (I know very elementary school of me to do) and asked them if they think people take them seriously. They asked what I meant by that and I just straight up told them that for the 7th largest UA, 7th largest CSA, 5th largest MSA, and 4th largest city in the nation how they feel about only having 8 miles of "rail transit" compared to thousands (both HRT & CRT) and hundreds in every place of comparable size (including Dallas) and they were awestruck that someone can even ask such a thing.

I later told them that the transit infrastructure in Houston is laughable and that METRO absolutely needs to get its act together and straighten things out. George Grenias has time to watch a porno flick at work but doesn't have time to sit down and go to Wikipedia and see the numbers behind why Houston is so far behind? Yeahhhh we need to restructure METRO from scratch.

[lockmat]

50% is the minimum. Personally I like it better this way, its safer for the local economy otherwise it'll be overbuilt and overspeculated like Las Vegas.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but when was the last time we over built office space?

[Reverberation]

correct me if i'm wrong, but when was the last time we over built office space?

1982-1983.

[lockmat]

1982-1983.

That's what I was thinking. Developers have been very responsible since then. Houston went into the recession in a very healthy state relative to the rest of the country. We didn't have empty buildings like other cities.

[Bailey]

It was my impression that it would be a mirror image of the Hilton Americas. Anybody?

The location will mirror itself so that Discovery Green will have a large hotel on both sides. I am thinking the design will be different.

[photoLith]

The design is different. It was on this thread a while ago and it's going to be more moderny art looking than the Hilton hotel.

[photoLith]

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/c187d02f.jpg

This is going to be a huge development that from the looks of it will be fairly urban, unlike a lot of the gated off suburban styled apartment complexes in the area.

[YakuzaIce]

Looks like the site is about 240k sqft. At 6 stories this could have quite a huge number of units in it. Did the fenced in area take up the whole site between Peveto and Eberhard?

The website has a higher resolution rendering. Seems like it might be 4 separate buildings with fenced courtyards between them. Though they may connect along the back. Certainly a step in a positive direction compared to their mostly gated Jackson Hill building on the other side of Memorial. Looks like it will be 431 units. http://www.smartapartmentdata.com/share/Reports/Houston_Construction.pdf

[TexasPlaya]

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/c187d02f.jpg

This is going to be a huge development that from the looks of it will be fairly urban, unlike a lot of the gated off suburban styled apartment complexes in the area.

Thanks for the find.

Looks like the site is about 240k sqft. At 6 stories this could have quite a huge number of units in it. Did the fenced in area take up the whole site between Peveto and Eberhard?

The website has a higher resolution rendering. Seems like it might be 4 separate buildings with fenced courtyards between them. Though they may connect along the back. Certainly a step in a positive direction compared to their mostly gated Jackson Hill building on the other side of Memorial.

This is certainly going to be a big project. It will be next door to the new whole foods and is about 5 blocks east of the Reagent Square development.

[photoLith]

Yes it's at least that much, it may extend past eberhard but I'm not completely sure. They've just torn up the ground right now and put in plumbing and what not.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/86613660.jpg

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/033761e0.jpg
2900westdallas.com

[toxteth o'grady]

Why are they even holding a design competition? We all know its going to be some box fugly building.[/QUOTE]

Hmm, more fugly ducklings?

Houston at one time had a reputation for some incredibly forward-looking designs. Cesar Pelli, Philip Johnson, IM Pei - they're all represented on the skyline. These days, starchitecture is just too expensive - unless you're doing a museum.

Meanwhile, it's possible to pick out the contenders from the pretenders on the list. The only hotel chain I see represented is Omni Hotels, so they have to be considered a strong candidate. I'd also give the nod to the Midway Cos. team, though I'm not sure if Portman is the powerhouse we all recall from Atlanta. But it looks like there's plenty of interest.

[toxteth o'grady]

From what I've heard online (and possibly read) is that lenders are scared of oil boom/bust aspect of Houston. They are requiring a higher percentage of preleasing.

Amusing. New York's economy has been hobbled for the better part of three years, yet they seem to be enjoying a building boom (or at least plenty of speculation). Eve Dallas, which is overbuilt, seems to be experiencing something of an upturn.

Anyone know anything about the two buildings Shell has on the drawing board?

[photoLith]

Does anyone know whatever happened to regents square? Is it dead completely or just waiting for better economic conditions?

[toxteth o'grady]

Anyone know anything about the two buildings Shell has on the drawing board?

I guess I answered my own question...

http://http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/print-edition/2012/05/04/shell-close-to-construction-on-two-new.html

:banana:

[lockmat]

Amusing. New York's economy has been hobbled for the better part of three years, yet they seem to be enjoying a building boom (or at least plenty of speculation). Eve Dallas, which is overbuilt, seems to be experiencing something of an upturn.

Anyone know anything about the two buildings Shell has on the drawing board?

Did NYC ever stop building high-rises even through the recession? For some reason I don't think they did, but I could be wrong.

[vjhe]

Why are they even holding a design competition? We all know its going to be some box fugly building.
These days, starchitecture is just too expensive - unless you're doing a museum.
[/QUOTE]

But that reason has been used in Houston for the last 15-20 years. As a whole, Houston's recent history of architectural designs have been mediocre AT BEST. It seems minimalist, boxy, "as cheap as we can get it", "anything that even RESEMBLES ANY form of flash is the equivalent to drowning puppies ", has slowly but surely become part of Houston's culture; and this started before the current economic downturn, and before 9/11.

[JManc]

These days, starchitecture is just too expensive - unless you're doing a museum.


But that reason has been used in Houston for the last 15-20 years. As a whole, Houston's recent history of architectural designs have been mediocre AT BEST. It seems minimalist, boxy, "as cheap as we can get it", "anything that even RESEMBLES ANY form of flash is the equivalent to drowning puppies ", has slowly but surely become part of Houston's culture; and this started before the current economic downturn, and before 9/11.[/QUOTE]

i look at it as much needed, decent infill. i'm sure there will be some trophy projects at some point but we need boxes to fill in all the empty spaces in between.

[migol24]

I seriously dont understand why they are so up in arms over that like 20 story building. Every time I see some uppity douche with one of those stop Ashby highrise bumper stickers I just want to punch them in the throat because it seriously makes no sense why they are so against it. I mean, theres tons of mid rise residential towers all over the city and they live in the city, so get over it. And their little cartoon of the highrise makes it seem like its a 600ft tall building or something. What are they so against? The possible shadows it will cast? Why do they care, most of that neighborhood is covered in trees and the ground is usually shadowed by them anyways.

From the article above...

# If you nevertheless succeed in constructing this project, we will not stop our opposition, and we will take every lawful action available to us. It is important that you, your investors, and your construction and permanent lenders understand this.
# We will picket your leasing office. Not once or twice, but at all times it is open.
# We will identify your tenants and send regular communications to them at their units and their places of business to let them know that they are not welcome in our neighborhood.
# When your tenants walk in or through our neighborhood, we will let them know that they are not welcome.
# We will challenge the permits for your restaurant tenant.
# We will boycott your restaurant and encourage our friends and neighbors to do the same. We will appear at your tenant’s restaurant and demonstrate our opposition to their presence in our neighborhood.
# If your restaurant tenant has other locations, we will boycott and appear at those locations as well.
# We will appear at the homes of the owners, investors, and chef of your restaurant tenant and demonstrate our opposition to their presence in our neighborhood.
# We will post unfavorable reviews of your restaurant tenant on dining websites.

How about we form an pro Ashby highrise group and picket these assholes houses and tell them they arent welcome in a changing city and can piss off to Tulsa or something. Some of the above stuff is like borderline stalking and harassment.

Some other things they might as well add to that list would be... we will show up at your houses and places of business and key your cars and spray paint your windows to show our opposition; we will also be forced to break your gas lines leading to your houses or condos and be forced to light molotov cocktails to show our opposition to this highrise.

well at least they know how mexicans and blacks feel when condos start getting built in their neighborhoods and they can't do a damn thing about it. yay houston!

[weatherguru18]

The link doesn't work. What is Shell planning on building?

[rdavis4559]

The link doesn't work. What is Shell planning on building?

http//www.bizjournals.com/houston/print-edition/2012/05/04/shell-close-to-construction-on-two-new.html

two new 12-story buildings at the Woodcreek location.

[Bailey]

These days, starchitecture is just too expensive - unless you're doing a museum.


But that reason has been used in Houston for the last 15-20 years. As a whole, Houston's recent history of architectural designs have been mediocre AT BEST. It seems minimalist, boxy, "as cheap as we can get it", "anything that even RESEMBLES ANY form of flash is the equivalent to drowning puppies ", has slowly but surely become part of Houston's culture; and this started before the current economic downturn, and before 9/11.[/QUOTE]


Houston prides itself on being the "Walmart" of cities....very efficient, but lacking aesthetically, and short sided.

[vjhe]

But that reason has been used in Houston for the last 15-20 years. As a whole, Houston's recent history of architectural designs have been mediocre AT BEST. It seems minimalist, boxy, "as cheap as we can get it", "anything that even RESEMBLES ANY form of flash is the equivalent to drowning puppies ", has slowly but surely become part of Houston's culture; and this started before the current economic downturn, and before 9/11.

i look at it as much needed, decent infill. i'm sure there will be some trophy projects at some point but we need boxes to fill in all the empty spaces in between.[/QUOTE]

Agreed, I love the infill. The upper Kirby district blows my mind and I want more of it. I would like to see a bit more effort in terms of imagination.

[TexasPlaya]

Houston Pavillions
Swamplot: City Centre Owner Buying Houston Pavilions (http://swamplot.com/citycentre-owner-buying-houston-pavilions/2012-05-11/)

Houston’s Midway Companies, along with an unnamed New York Partner, is set to acquire Houston Pavilions...the bankruptcy court indicate that the development’s retail space is now 66 percent leased, and the property has a positive cash flow — before debt service.

The thing that kills this development is its inward design. Hopefully, Midway has something up its sleeve to either do some remodeling or a good mix of retail.

Upper Kirby Area
Swamplot: 7-Story Southwest Freeway Audi Dealership Gets Go Ahead, Will Split Momentum (http://swamplot.com/7-story-southwest-freeway-audi-dealership-gets-go-ahead-will-split-momentum/2012-05-14/)

http://swamplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/audi-2120-rendering.jpg

http://swamplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/audi-2120-greenbriar.jpg

EXPECT TO see workers moving dirt on the 1.5-acre site at the northeast corner of Greenbriar and 59 within the next few weeks; the city’s planning commission last week voted to approve a variance granting permission for a 7-story auto dealership building at 2120 Southwest Fwy. to poke a few feet further toward Greenbriar (at left in the above rendering) than regulations allow. The result: the country’s largest — and tallest — flagship Audi dealership, featuring a 2-story car display case on the corner of the third and fourth levels that’ll bring the latest models up to eye level for drivers on the raised freeway who aren’t looking where they’re going.

West Ave Phase 2

Images from Lockmat on HAIF (http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/4312-west-ave-kirby-westheimer-retail-and-residential-complex/page__st__480)
http://www.zieglercooper.com/images/proj1876.jpg

http://www.zieglercooper.com/images/proj1877.jpg

Per Lockmat on HAIF (http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/4312-west-ave-kirby-westheimer-retail-and-residential-complex/page__st__480)
The second phase of the West Ave development in River Oaks is a 288,389 s.f. mid-rise apartment project with 305 housing units. The eight-story, concrete structure with attached garage will have 640 parking spaces, 157 of which will be for retail use from Phase 1.The project finish will consist of mostly brick with accents of Arriscraft and terra-cotta. The design will feature an interior courtyard with swimming pool, outdoor kitchen and living room, lounge, theater, fitness center, dining/wine room and is estimated to complete June 2013.

Uptown

Chron: BBVA update (http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2012/05/post-oak-update-more-offices-and-eateries/)

From Chron
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5KmyTANuj5w/T7Fwr3JMpbI/AAAAAAAAFcc/DuOd6LOPZ88/s587/1337028775566.png

The first floor will house two restaurants. Local restaurateurs will operate new concepts there, but they won’t be announced until the end of this year...When the project broke ground last year, the developers said the 6.5-acre site was also being designed to house a luxury hotel and possibly a residential tower. Those plans have been altered and now call for another office building along with the hotel.