HOUSTON | Development Thread II

[JoninATX]

what did it look like before?

The building looked like it was in disrepair, all of the windows & doors were all seal up with bricks, it was horrible. Now it looks real nice and can't wait to get back to my hometown :-).

[photoLith]

Heres a picture I took of the Wilson building from about a year ago.

http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k591/birdboy1/f5.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8167/7409672952_68727e55b8_b.jpg
And now

[TexasPlaya]

^Thanks for the then and now shots. This was an awesome renovation.

[AviationGuy]

I love that shade of green and how it contrasts with the building next door.

[AviationGuy]

The first photo above was a rather eye-opening one for me..I had NO idea that, of all the new urban infill going up in Houston, ANY of it was this nice. After I saw this, I went on a Google Streetview rampage and realized that several other close-in Houston neighborhoods have similar projects. Only in America do we still build homes and full neighborhoods that are this lovely. The variety of the architectural styles in Houston is one-of-a-kind too. Well done! :tup:

This loft conversion is awesome too, I can't wait to visit this city one day.

Nice to hear from a forumer who is so upbeat. There's definitely a lot to be excited about in the Houston area.

[NYC2ATX]

Nice to hear from a forumer who is so upbeat. There's definitely a lot to be excited about in the Houston area.

Absolutely, that's just me! I'm sure I'll get to Houston soon though because I'm hoping to move to Texas later this year, probably to Austin. Looks like you already are from there Aviation...we should have an Austin forumer party when I get down there! :cheers:

[AviationGuy]

Absolutely, that's just me! I'm sure I'll get to Houston soon though because I'm hoping to move to Texas later this year, probably to Austin. Looks like you already are from there Aviation...we should have an Austin forumer party when I get down there! :cheers:

I've lived in Austin most of my life. Never have met any of the other forumers, but would like to (Houston and Austin). Would also like to find the time to do some photo threads. Just haven't had the time during the day to do that.

[photoLith]

StatenIslander, I just posted a photo thread on Houston, you should check it out.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=200034

[NYC2ATX]

Awesome, I definitely will!

[photoLith]

Light rail update

http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k591/birdboy1/DSC_0003-1.jpg

http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k591/birdboy1/DSC_9999.jpg

http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k591/birdboy1/DSC_9974.jpg
Dynamo Stadium area

http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k591/birdboy1/DSC_9963.jpg

http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k591/birdboy1/DSC_9966.jpg
Dynamo station

http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k591/birdboy1/DSC_9992.jpg
Southeast Line bending towards Grigg St.

http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k591/birdboy1/DSC_9998.jpg
Southeast line south of UH

http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k591/birdboy1/DSC_9988.jpg
Southeast Line

http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k591/birdboy1/DSC_9989.jpg
southeast Line going through MacGregor Park

http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k591/birdboy1/DSC_9980.jpg
East End Line by the coffee plant.

http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k591/birdboy1/DSC_9979.jpg
East End Line

http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k591/birdboy1/DSC_9996.jpg
Southeast/Purple Line down Scott St.

http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k591/birdboy1/DSC_9985.jpg
Southeast/Purple Line going under 45 S.

http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k591/birdboy1/DSC_9983.jpg
End of the East End Line, or at least the greatest extent of construction thus far on it.

[JoninATX]

Thamks for the update photolith, I was just wondering how the rail progress was going down there.

[Complex01]

Ooo great pics. I like it very much.

:tup:

[Chicago3rd]

The progress is amazing!

[photoLith]

Heres the expansions going on right now for those who dont know

http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k591/birdboy1/North_Red_Line_Expansion.jpg
The red line extension

http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k591/birdboy1/456055copy.jpg
Southeast Line

http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k591/birdboy1/East_End_Green_Line_Map.jpg
East End Line

http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k591/birdboy1/456071.jpg
All these images from http://www.gometrorail.org/go/doc/2491/1323787/
The University Lines and Uptown Lines on this map may be built or they may not, who knows.

[toxteth o'grady]

It would be nice if the Metro went past one of the airports. The line to UH is so close to Hobby.

[photoLith]

^
Theres plans in the future to expand the red line to George Bush Intercontinental, and then the Southeast line to Hobby.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/DSC_0040-1.jpg
Gables on Kirby and Westheimer

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/DSC_0042.jpg

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/DSC_0049-2.jpg
Westheimer, across from the Marriot

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/DSC_0051.jpg
Avenue R development on Richmond and Barrington

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/timthumb.jpg
Avenue R render
http://www.multihousingnews.com/news/construction-underway-on-avenue-r-development-in-houston/1004050134.html

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/DSC_0052.jpg
New apartments and retail in Rice Village

[Urbannizer]

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/files/2012/06/PMRG-Tower.jpg

Developer PM Realty Group says it hopes to break ground on the 39-story tower in the third quarter, but it first needs to hire a contractor and secure a construction loan. The RTKL-designed building is planned for the northeast corner of West Alabama and Weslayan. It will have 254 rental units.

Link (http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2012/06/unique-design-on-proposed-inner-loop-tower/)

[Edg23]

It looks like this project is finally happening. There's been a huge trailer in the McDonald's parking lot as of 2 weeks ago (The McDonald's on Post Oak in the Galleria area)

Article from 2007
http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2007/09/24/story6.html


Houston-based Randall Davis Co. signed a contract last week with McDonald's Corp. to buy a portion of a Galleria-area site that currently holds the only two-story McDonald's in Texas.

Davis is paying more than $2.5 million for 25,000 square feet of land on the hard corner of Post Oak and Garrettson, where he plans to build the Titan -- a 26-story condo tower with 80 homes ranging in price from the high $400,000s to $3 million.

[Edg23]

Newer article with picture.

http://assets.bizjournals.com/houston/print-edition/Astoria-Exterior.jpg?v=1

The development, a condo tower known as Astoria, will have 23 stories and 55 condos for sale. Much of the art deco modern building will consist of 2,700-square-foot units; four per floor, Davis said.

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/print-edition/2012/01/27/randall-davis-galleria-tower-rising-on.html?page=all

[JManc]

Too bad, that's actually a cool McDonalds and the existing Randall Davis building across the street is hideous.

[photoLith]

^
That seems like kind of a dumb place to put a high priced condo tower, Im all in favor of it. But right across the street from it is another 25 some odd story condo tower, which means one side of the building will have blocked views. Theres plenty of other lots like the McDonalds lot all around the Galleria area that wouldnt have a single blocked view.

[Edg23]

Yeah, I agree it's dumb. In the 2007 article, they talk about tearing down the McDonald's and building a smaller one.

That would be easy dumber...The McDonald's would be sandwiched between the tower and the Uptown Post Oak apartments.

[Dale]

Seems like a condo tower named "Titan" ought to be bigger.

[econik]

New downtown lights added:
http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p629/daniel_love1/newlights2222.jpg

Sorry my phone takes bad night pics.

[lockmat]

Seems like a condo tower named "Titan" ought to be bigger.

Must be a "titan" of a lifestyle, not necessarily a "titan" in terms of height.

[photoLith]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8151/7510061444_7db5329be6_b.jpg
This is the old Borders across from Whole Foods on Kirby, its been vacant forever, not sure what they are going to put in it but its good to see they are doing something with the building

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8157/7510063562_01974a398e_b.jpg
BBVA Compass Bank in the Galleria area

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7256/7510065880_53af933995_b.jpg
The Skanska Building, not sure what its called, but its right across the street from the Transco Tower.

[photoLith]

Some other photos from yesterday, the huge Rice Village development.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8157/7515025518_9868955436_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7272/7515023458_38bd9a6bf6_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7120/7515021274_3472cdecfd_b.jpg

[MarcusAllen]

Hey all, out of comission for a bit but am back. So excited about the Light Rail development. i didn't realize it was coming along so nicely. Excellent. Also, anyone know of any updates regarding what to do with 290 from the 610 interchange through Barker Cypress area? Also, regarding the LR, how feasible would a line be to and from Bush AP if there are like 30 stops? Or would it be more of a direct line to say Bush, Greenspoint, Northline, DT? Any thoughts?

[photoLith]

^
All Ive read about the extension to Bush is that it would just be an extension up there. I dont know how many stops it would have. But I cant imagine anyone would take the light rail all the down to downtown from the airport if there were a ton of stops, it would take hours.

[JoninATX]

The Skanska Building, not sure what its called, but its right across the street from the Transco Tower.

It's called 3009 Post Oak.

[photoLith]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8283/7523461880_12661e85b1_b.jpg
5 story urban development on West Grey and Gillette St.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7269/7523460164_02138d563d_b.jpg
You can see the 3009 Post Oak crane to the left of the Williams Tower.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8001/7523464324_84ffbd442a_b.jpg
This is the huge urban themed Fingers development next to the Whole Foods in Montrose. It will be massive and about 5 stories tall once completed.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8167/7523472258_d4d28acfcc_b.jpg
This is at the corner of Webster and W. Gray, it was a former vacant grass lot.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7140/7523467818_3f2ee0fcdf_b.jpg
New midtown development in old Freedmans Town on Cleveland St.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8430/7523470762_2c8f30098e_b.jpg
Same development, different block in Old Freedmans Town.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7278/7523466190_70d7f5d17d_b.jpg
Then another mid rise on the corner of W Gray and Waugh Dr. It was one The Tavern and crap tons of parking.

[Urbannizer]

M.D. Anderson’s New Little Corner Building

http://swamplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/md-anderson-pavilion.jpg

UT’S M.D. ANDERSON Cancer Center plans to build this 8-ish story pavilion, called The Pavilion, in front of the Alkek hospital at the corner of Bertner and Bates streets in the Med Center — replacing the pavilion-like rotunda that stands there now. The new building will house the center’s interventional radiology department (on its third floor) as well as 11 new operating rooms. The 185,000-sq.-ft. structure, designed by Dallas’s HKS, includes 2 partial-height floors for maintenance above the operating rooms plus a mechanical floor at the top. Construction is expected to cost $102 million, and be complete by the end of 2015. An accompanying $96 million renovation of the adjacent Alkek hospital will extend into 2019.

Link (http://swamplot.com/m-d-andersons-new-little-corner-building/2012-07-06/)

[AviationGuy]

The amount of mid-rise infill is amazing. I didn't realize there was so much.

Looks like I'll be moving down there in 2016 now. When I sell here, I'm thinking of renting an apartment in Houston for a year or so while looking for a home or condo. Looks like there will be plenty of new ones to choose from.

[simms3_redux]

Looks like a ton of infill...good for Houston!

[photoLith]

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/36608919.jpg
Brownway st and westheimer.

[Reverberation]

This came across my desk this morning;

A lowdown of West Houston office projects:
http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2012/07/the-lowdown-on-the-projects-in-the-energy-corridor/




Mason Creek Office Center
Developer: Myers Crow & Saviers
Location: Northeast corner of I-10 and Mason Road
Size: 2 stories, 135,000 square feet
Architect: Powers Brown Architects
Status: Proposed

Greenhouse Office Park
Developer: Stream Realty Partners/Wile Interests
Location: Southeast corner of I-10 and Greenhouse Road
Size: 5½ stories, 220,000 square feet
Architect: Powers Brown Architecture
Status: Proposed

Energy Crossing II
Developer: Lincoln Property Co.
Location: Southwest corner of I-10 and Texas 6
Size: 6 stories, 240,000 square feet
Status: Groundbreaking scheduled for August; 80,000 square feet pre-leased to Atwood Oceanics

Future building site, not named
Developer: Skanska USA
Location: 15375 Memorial Drive
Status: Proposed

Eldridge Oaks II
Developer: Transwestern
Location: 1080 Eldridge Parkway at Enclave Parkway
Size: 14 stories, 350,000 square feet
Architect: Kirksey
Status: Proposed

Energy Center Three
Developer: Trammell Crow Co./Principal Real Estate Investors
Address: 935 N. Eldridge Parkway
Size: 20 stories, 546,000 square feet
Project cost: More than $150 million
Architect: Kirksey
Status: Proposed


Woodbranch Development
Developer: PM Realty Group for Stena Realty
Location: North of I-10 between Dairy Ashford and Kirkwood on Wickchester
Size: Planned for two buildings; each between 175,000 and 200,000 square feet
Architect: Kirksey
Project cost: $45 million for first building
Status: Proposed

Energy Tower III
Developer: Mac Haik Realty
Location: Northwest corner of Interstate 10 and Kirkwood in Energy Plaza
Size: 17 stories, 450,532 square feet
Architect: Morris Architects
Status: Proposed

CityCentre Three and Four*
Developer: Midway Cos.
Address: Southeast corner of the West Belt and the Sam Houston Parkway
Size: About 120,000 square feet each
Status: CityCentre Three is under construction; Four is proposed


Murphy building
Developer: MetroNational
Address: 9805 Interstate 10
Size: 14 stories, 320,000 square feet
Status: Groundbreaking scheduled for this month; Murphy Exploration & Production Co. has pre-leased 173,000 square feet

Beltway 8 Corporate Centre
Developer: Panattoni Development Co.
Address: Westway Park Boulevard at Corporate Centre Drive
Size: 2 stories, 100,000 square feet
Architect: TBD
Status: Proposed



Clay Beltway Office Complex
Developer: Transwestern
Location: Northwest corner of W. Sam Houston Parkway and Clay Road
Size: Two buildings: 14 stories with 350,000 square feet and 12 stories with 300,000 square feet
Architect: Odell
Status: Proposed

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/wp-content/blogs.dir/1876/files/renderings-of-energy-corridor-projects/8westcentre.jpg

8 West Centre
Developer: Core Real Estate
Address: 3505 W. Sam Houston Parkway North
Size: 4 stories, 228,000 square feet
Architect: Powers Brown Architecture
Status: Proposed


CityWestPlace 5 through 8
Developer: Thomas Properties Group
Size: Four buildings from 307,000 square feet to 640,000 square feet
Location: Near the northwest corner of Westheimer and the Sam Houston Parkway
Status: Proposed


Granite Briarpark Green
Developer: Granite Properties
Location: 3141 Briarpark Drive
Size: 12 stories, 300,000 square feet
Architect: PGAL
Project cost: $75 million
Status: Under construction; no tenants yet

Westchase Park* Developer: Simmons Vedder
Address: 3600 W. Sam Houston Parkway South
Size: 270,000 square feet
Status: Proposed


Two Oak Park
Developer: Means Knaus Partners
Location: 6006 Rogerdale Road
Size: 6 stories, 150,000 square feet
Architect: Gensler
Project cost: About $35 million
Status: Proposed; will not start without pre-leasing




Renderings not in article:

Energy Tower III
http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/13/20/21/2950227/7/628x471.jpg
http://www.chron.com/business/article/New-tower-to-energize-west-Houston-3567219.php

[lockmat]

Photolith, do you have a flickr account?

[GrimReaper]

I'm expecting more than 50 stories building.....

[JManc]

From art institute to apartments: Marvy Finger strikes again, gobbling up a building to convert

http://static.culturemap.com/site_media/uploads/photos/2012-07-09/Art_Institute_of_Houston.800w_600h.jpg

HHouston apartment magnate Marvy Finger has purchased the old Art Institute of Houston office building in the Galleria area for a new apartment project...

http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/07-09-12-from-art-institute-to-apartments-marvy-finger-strikes-again-gobbling-up-a-building-to-convert/?utm_source=sf_facebook

[lockmat]

Lot's of good news today:

Marvy Finger will build apartments on two blocks just west of Minute Maid Park
http://www.chron.com/business/article/Apartments-by-ballpark-could-be-grand-slam-3703726.php

A big mixed use development for Westheimer & Mid Lane (next to Highstreet project) was also announced
http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2012/07/inner-loop-tract-slated-for-huge-mixed-use-project/

[photoLith]

Its great that new residential will be going up around the ballpark but do they really have to destroy yet another historic building when they could easily restore it? So short sighted, ugh.

Photolith, do you have a flickr account?

Yeah, why?

[Reverberation]

Its great that new residential will be going up around the ballpark but do they really have to destroy yet another historic building when they could easily restore it? So short sighted, ugh.

I read somewhere that the floor to ceiling height in the hotel made it difficult if not financially unfeasable to convert it to anything else.

[JManc]

Make it apartments for little people and midgets then. Problem solved.

[N90]

Office development revs up in West Houston:
http://assets.bizjournals.com/houston/print-edition/Screen-shot-2012-07-11-at-3.10.50-PM.jpg?v=1
Extremely tight availability for office space in west Houston has opened the doors for several traditional Class A projects to begin construction in 2012, with the first space coming online this year.
http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/print-edition/2012/07/13/office-development-revs-up-in-west.html

Industrial development in North Houston area:
http://assets.bizjournals.com/houston/print-edition/Industrial.jpg?v=1
The market is looking up for industrial real estate development in Houston, both literally and figuratively. Not only do local developers say they see continuous investment in new space, but the hottest submarkets also appear to be in north and northwest Houston.
http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/print-edition/2012/07/13/north-houston-markets-remain-strong.html

[lockmat]

Its great that new residential will be going up around the ballpark but do they really have to destroy yet another historic building when they could easily restore it? So short sighted, ugh.



Yeah, why?

Care to share your handle? I really enjoy your pics.

[photoLith]

^
Yeah, its photolitherland, some of the stuff on there isnt mine since I upload other random things on there to post on here but the stuff thats not mine is pretty obvious and thanks.

On another note, its super depressing that all of those towers are going up in the burbs.

[lockmat]

^
Yeah, its photolitherland, some of the stuff on there isnt mine since I upload other random things on there to post on here but the stuff thats not mine is pretty obvious and thanks.

On another note, its super depressing that all of those towers are going up in the burbs.

At least most are visible from the freeway. :slob:

You mean you didn't take this one? Dangit

http://www.flickr.com/photos/photolitherland/7559983522/

[TexasPlaya]

On another note, its super depressing that all of those towers are going up in the burbs.

Why? It means more people, which means more infill. Innerloop and West Houston in general is blowing with infill.

[photoLith]

Oil industry people generally aren't the most urban of people and usually quite conservative unfortunately and most of those towers are related to the energy industry. At the office I work at with halliburton, out of all the people I know there, im the only one who lives within the loop. Everyone else i know lives in Katy or some other generic suburb.

[rdavis4559]

Oil industry people generally aren't the most urban of people and usually quite conservative unfortunately and most of those towers are related to the energy industry. At the office I work at with halliburton, out of all the people I know there, im the only one who lives within the loop. Everyone else i know lives in Katy or some other generic suburb.

Very true. I work for Shell Trading downtown. I live 3.5 miles from downtown and I know maybe two or three other people who live inside the loop. The rest are spread all over the suburbs (but again particularly Katy). I actually know of someone who works a 6AM-3PM shift and commutes from College Station.

[TexasPlaya]

Oil industry people generally aren't the most urban of people and usually quite conservative unfortunately and most of those towers are related to the energy industry. At the office I work at with halliburton, out of all the people I know there, im the only one who lives within the loop. Everyone else i know lives in Katy or some other generic suburb.

Very true. I work for Shell Trading downtown. I live 3.5 miles from downtown and I know maybe two or three other people who live inside the loop. The rest are spread all over the suburbs (but again particularly Katy). I actually know of someone who works a 6AM-3PM shift and commutes from College Station.

You aren't looking at the big picture, you need to look further than just the O&G workers. How do you think we even get infill when the majority of jobs aren't inside of the loop?

And since we are bringing up anecdotal evidence I know 3 O&G workers that live inside the loop. Two live in apartments (Greenway Plaza and North Montrose) and one got married not too long ago and closed on a house in the Heights.

Not trying to be argumentative, but it's great news that the Energy Corridor is booming. Vacancy rates in Houston are getting very low, even in places like Downtown.

[TexasPlaya]

Swamplot: The Museum District’s New 4-Story Skin Building (http://swamplot.com/the-museum-districts-new-4-story-skin-building/2012-07-16/)

http://swamplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/dermedica-rendering.jpg

...at 1401 Binz St., catty-corner from the Children’s Museum, is for a 4-story structure combining ground-floor shops, 2 floors of medical office space, and a top-floor residence — all in less than 30,000 sq. ft. A small courtyard will separate the building from a linked multilevel 160-car parking garage....Bailey Architects notes on its website that the building “will reflect the architectural fabric of Houston’s premier museum district buildings.” Sarnoff’s translation: It’ll look Modern.

[rdavis4559]

You aren't looking at the big picture, you need to look further than just the O&G workers. How do you think we even get infill when the majority of jobs aren't inside of the loop?

And since we are bringing up anecdotal evidence I know 3 O&G workers that live inside the loop. Two live in apartments (Greenway Plaza and North Montrose) and one got married not too long ago and closed on a house in the Heights.

Not trying to be argumentative, but it's great news that the Energy Corridor is booming. Vacancy rates in Houston are getting very low, even in places like Downtown.

I was only speaking about the people I know in O&G at Shell, Exxon, El Paso, and even BP seeming to all live far away. I was not making any comment about the energy corridor.

[TexasPlaya]

I was only speaking about the people I know in O&G at Shell, Exxon, El Paso, and even BP seeming to all live far away. I was not making any comment about the energy corridor.

I know. It was just easier how I responded to both of you. Most definitely the O&G crowd is spread over much of Houston.

[rdavis4559]

I know. It was just easier how I responded to both of you. Most definitely the O&G crowd is spread over much of Houston.

For the inner loop, what can you expect? If you want kids you are stuck with suburbs unless you are wealthy enough because
1) HISD sucks (starting at middle school and getting worse in high school)
2) It is hard to get into a magnet (and you have to start your kid out a normal/non-magnet school
3) private school is anywhere from $7 to $15k a year per kid.

If you want a house in a low crime area within the loop, its definitely going to be at least somewhat smaller than a house of the same price in the suburbs (and again, HISD).

FYI - this is the position I am in right now. My wife and I expect to have a child in about 3 years and we do not see any viable options except for moving to the suburbs. It pains me to think about it... when I used to live in northwest houston near willowbrook, my commute was 52 miles a day. Now it is 7, so I commute less in a week than I was doing in one day, and then you have to consider that I am also close to everything I want to go see/do outside of work as well.

[Reverberation]

For the inner loop, what can you expect? If you want kids you are stuck with suburbs unless you are wealthy enough because
1) HISD sucks (starting at middle school and getting worse in high school)
2) It is hard to get into a magnet (and you have to start your kid out a normal/non-magnet school
3) private school is anywhere from $7 to $15k a year per kid.

If you want a house in a low crime area within the loop, its definitely going to be at least somewhat smaller than a house of the same price in the suburbs (and again, HISD).

I would attribute it ALL to HISD. The East side is relatively affordable but wait, the schools.... There are some great bungalows and old homes in the MacGregor area - oh yeah the schools are terrible. Lamar always seemed like a halfway decent school but the prices for homes are crazy in that area. If HISD decided (and had the backing from parents) to put some heat on some of the bad kids that constantly disrupt the classroom, and pressed the sh*t out of those schools to take extra measures to make the kids hit and exceed high standards - infill in Houston would be nuclear. There would no longer be a need to move to The Woodlands and people could live close to work. I would go so far to say that someone with the city needs to make HISD aware that they are driving potential taxpayers and families out of the city.

I'm thinking of buying my first house soon and I'm in the same boat. I desperately want to live in the loop but I also want to have kids eventually and don't want to have to sell and move to the suburbs when that happens. Private school is too expensive for me and there are stories of kids getting stabbed with screwdrivers and gangs fighting at the local public schools. So I will probably just rent until that day comes and try to live in Sugar Land or someplace close enough to town that I don't have to commute 70 miles a day to get to work and back.

[AviationGuy]

Oil industry people generally aren't the most urban of people and usually quite conservative unfortunately and most of those towers are related to the energy industry. At the office I work at with halliburton, out of all the people I know there, im the only one who lives within the loop. Everyone else i know lives in Katy or some other generic suburb.

Every now and then we need to realize that not everyone likes the same kind of living environment. The people I know who live in suburbs love it, and those who live in the inner city love it (yes, there are exceptions). We don't all need to be the same.

I sort of like seeing tall buildings in the burbs. I'd like to see more downtown, though.

[photoLith]

You can see the new Pancreatic Cancer Research tower crane in this photo I took this evening is just to the right of the new Methodist Hospital Building if you look closely.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7116/7594922458_25483dbe6c_b.jpg

Heres a more close up photo.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7268/7595018348_2b370f489e_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7112/7594939192_1eb9d75e27_b.jpg
Gables new addition.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8151/7594952700_16954c265e_b.jpg
Rice Village development

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7263/7594975840_2e5462feb2_b.jpg
Crane on the right is for BBVA Compass Bank, on the left is 3009 Post Oak.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8285/7595074418_8dec65b812_b.jpg
Then a bonus shot for the heck of it.

On a side note, does anyone know how to have the photos appear larger on this page from flickr?

[TexasPlaya]

For the inner loop, what can you expect? If you want kids you are stuck with suburbs unless you are wealthy enough because
1) HISD sucks (starting at middle school and getting worse in high school)
2) It is hard to get into a magnet (and you have to start your kid out a normal/non-magnet school
3) private school is anywhere from $7 to $15k a year per kid.

If you want a house in a low crime area within the loop, its definitely going to be at least somewhat smaller than a house of the same price in the suburbs (and again, HISD).

FYI - this is the position I am in right now. My wife and I expect to have a child in about 3 years and we do not see any viable options except for moving to the suburbs. It pains me to think about it... when I used to live in northwest houston near willowbrook, my commute was 52 miles a day. Now it is 7, so I commute less in a week than I was doing in one day, and then you have to consider that I am also close to everything I want to go see/do outside of work as well.

I would attribute it ALL to HISD. The East side is relatively affordable but wait, the schools.... There are some great bungalows and old homes in the MacGregor area - oh yeah the schools are terrible. Lamar always seemed like a halfway decent school but the prices for homes are crazy in that area. If HISD decided (and had the backing from parents) to put some heat on some of the bad kids that constantly disrupt the classroom, and pressed the sh*t out of those schools to take extra measures to make the kids hit and exceed high standards - infill in Houston would be nuclear. There would no longer be a need to move to The Woodlands and people could live close to work. I would go so far to say that someone with the city needs to make HISD aware that they are driving potential taxpayers and families out of the city.

I'm thinking of buying my first house soon and I'm in the same boat. I desperately want to live in the loop but I also want to have kids eventually and don't want to have to sell and move to the suburbs when that happens. Private school is too expensive for me and there are stories of kids getting stabbed with screwdrivers and gangs fighting at the local public schools. So I will probably just rent until that day comes and try to live in Sugar Land or someplace close enough to town that I don't have to commute 70 miles a day to get to work and back.

That's fine. Sounds like y'all would be better off than suburbs if you are dead set on a single family residence. However, I would actually take a look into to public schools inside the loop, it's not nearly as bad as you make it out to be in my opinion. Plus bad schools = lower house prices for private schools. Oh and btw, not all private schools are stereotypically outrageous in price. Not to mention charter schools. You have plenty of options on education if you just take the time to look.

[TexasPlaya]

You can see the new Pancreatic Cancer Research tower crane in this photo I took this evening is just to the right of the new Methodist Hospital Building if you look closely.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7116/7594922458_25483dbe6c_b.jpg

Heres a more close up photo.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7268/7595018348_2b370f489e_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7112/7594939192_1eb9d75e27_b.jpg
Gables new addition.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8151/7594952700_16954c265e_b.jpg
Rice Village development

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7263/7594975840_2e5462feb2_b.jpg
Crane on the right is for BBVA Compass Bank, on the left is 3009 Post Oak.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8285/7595074418_8dec65b812_b.jpg
Then a bonus shot for the heck of it.

On a side note, does anyone know how to have the photos appear larger on this page from flickr?

Awesome updates. Especially the bonus material. :tup:

[GrimReaper]

We have an expansion for Hobby Airport if anyone cares

http://ronenews92fm.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/photo-1-3.jpg

[citykid09]

When will Hobby change its name to Hobby International?

[MarcusAllen]

^
All Ive read about the extension to Bush is that it would just be an extension up there. I dont know how many stops it would have. But I cant imagine anyone would take the light rail all the down to downtown from the airport if there were a ton of stops, it would take hours.

My thoughts exactly.

[photoLith]

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/88919476.jpg

New audi dealership on greenbrier and Lexington

[photoLith]

The Woodlands updates.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8282/7613254580_6e1eb96d55_b.jpg
Tower on the left is a mid rise, about 12 stories tall and the one in the background is the new highrise which will be about as tall if not taller than the Anadarko Tower.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7111/7613252868_1d300c5775_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7251/7613251118_93783a1f2f_b.jpg
Who would ever think you would see this much crane porn in an exurb of Houston?

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8002/7613248962_e24dcd6cb1_b.jpg
Lots of cool dense new hoods going up in the Woodlands too, this is how sprawl should be done.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7261/7613246554_59803b8746_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8424/7613245018_4257ae1b9a_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7276/7613242810_de17054c6b_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8150/7613240140_58295a1fd2_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8425/7613237814_f0fed2271f_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8434/7613235372_5ef35efcd6_b.jpg
My parents almost bought one of these houses a couple months ago but then decided to move to some new sprawl development north of Porter on a golf course :yuck:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8024/7613231744_097fc52600_b.jpg

[llamaorama]

The Woodlands gets more and more upscale every time I go there.

[weatherguru18]

Great updates! The Woodlands is by far the nicest of Houston suburbs IMO. Sugar Land, Katy, Clear Lake---sure, they're nice. But The Woodlands puts an exclamation point on how suburban living is done with style. The problem is now it's getting so nice, it's getting to where I can't afford to live there. lol.

The best thing that ever happened to them is the fact that they were not annexed by Houston. What a total S@#t show that would have been.

[Kippis]

^ Actually, I'm thinking more along the lines of complete fail.

I'm not feeling the "woods" part of Woodlands in any of these recent developments. I thought the premise of any new construction within this community was grounded in the requirement to maintain at least some part of that original rural forestation. That's what made this community so unique -- it kept that dense treeline that you just don't see in very many suburban developments, regardless of the developer or the locale.

This is just a visual reminder of how blind and greedy Howard Hughes is. I mean honestly, do you see anything even remotely close to "sustainable development" in anything Hughes has done since they took over in 2011? I sure as hell don't. If I was George Mitchell, I'd be throwing a shit fit right about now.

My fiance's family has lived in the Woodlands for almost 10 years, and my mother-in-law was just telling me last week how "it's nothing like it used to be". It's a shame, really.

[photoLith]

^
Come on now, they actually have dense faux historic developments there, you have to admit thats pretty damn cool compared to crap like Katy or Kingwood where I grew up. The Woodlands still has "woods" surrounding most of their developments. With the photos I posted above thats along Lake Woodlands and they cut down all of those trees like a decade ago in preparation for development. I would much rather see sustainable dense development like this then regular suburban development that keeps some trees. The denser a development is, the less forested land they will have to cut down elsewhere. Random patches of trees dont really help wildlife, other then cardinals, Blue Jays, etc. You need dense contiguous forest to maintain a diversity of wildlife.

[Kippis]

^
Come on now, they actually have dense faux historic developments there, you have to admit thats pretty damn cool compared to crap like Katy or Kingwood where I grew up. The Woodlands still has "woods" surrounding most of their developments. With the photos I posted above thats along Lake Woodlands and they cut down all of those trees like a decade ago in preparation for development. I would much rather see sustainable dense development like this then regular suburban development that keeps some trees.

Isn't Kingwood in the same arena as the Woodlands, though? I was under the impression that it was a master-planned community built around the same time as the Woodlands was (the only obvious difference being that Kingwood was annexed by Houston proper). What makes the two different? Unless I answered my own question by way of it being annexed...

[photoLith]

Kingwood has nothing in it at all, except HEB, Randalls, and some places to eat. Theres only 2 bars that I know of in Kingwood, and one of ems all the way at the front of Kingwood. Kingwood has nice bike trails and forests but The Woodlands is like Kingwood times 10. Everyone thinks that everyone in Kingwood is super rich, when this isnt the case. Id say about 10% of Kingwood is really rich. All the richies have moved to the Woodlands or River Oaks/Rice Village in the city. The Woodlands has much much more to do and is more easily accessible to downtown then Kingwood is. The Woodlands has its own dense downtown now basically with tons of bars, places to shop, hotels, and cafes. Kingwood has a crappy nail salon/dry cleaner infested town center. The Woodlands is now also home to the headquarters of Anadarko and many other smaller oil/gas companies. The Woodlands is home to botoxed BMW 3 Series driving soccer moms and spoiled Mustang driving high school students. Kingwood has some of that, but the per capita income of Kingwood is 32,000 bucks, while the Woodlands its 38,000 bucks. Median income for a family in the Woodlands is 113,500 bucks, while in Kingwood its 84,000.

[AviationGuy]

Those homes with porches on both levels are incredibly appealing to me. There's nothing I would love more than to sit on a porch like that and watch a thunderstorm approaching (like the ones approaching the Woodlands tonight, if they hold together).

I've seen a lot of that historic style going up in the inner loop of Houston, too, mainly in areas undergoing gentrification. I'm afraid they would be out of my price range, though. If I ever move back to that area, I'll probably end up in a 50s or 60s house in Westbury.

[llamaorama]

I'll probably end up in a 50s or 60s house in Westbury.

Hah weird. Is that area now gentrifying? It's where my mother grew up. Maybe my grandmother shouldn't have sold her house near Fondren to the "we buy ugly houses" people 10 years ago. The middle class residential subdivisions are full of some cool mid-century homes, and I guess most of the apartments are gone now?\

Sorry if I dragged this too of topic. Oh well, maybe one day we'll have development news from that part of town. I believe they are slowly putting new things in the old meyerland shopping center, like a health clinic in the old borders.

[AviationGuy]

Hah weird. Is that area now gentrifying? It's where my mother grew up. Maybe my grandmother shouldn't have sold her house near Fondren to the "we buy ugly houses" people 10 years ago. The middle class residential subdivisions are full of some cool mid-century homes, and I guess most of the apartments are gone now?\

Sorry if I dragged this too of topic. Oh well, maybe one day we'll have development news from that part of town. I believe they are slowly putting new things in the old meyerland shopping center, like a health clinic in the old borders.

Yes, there are some great mid-century modern homes in Westbury, Meyerland, and Willow Meadows. I've been in some of them, and they are amazing. I think there are some over by Hobby Airport, too.

[TexasPlaya]

Interesting idea being thrown out by Tory Gattis at HoustonStrategies Blog (http://houstonstrategies.blogspot.com/)

"Inside the Loop" is a very common phrase you'll hear in Houston. I'd like to think "The Walled Garden" could be a similar such phrase describing a narrower zone where young singles want to live (as evidenced by the explosion in apartment construction within it) vs. more family-oriented areas like West U, Bellaire, The Heights, or the various neighborhoods of the east side. It could also be used for branding and attracting young talent to Houston...

Boundaries (https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=214936188971787772976.0004c595179433eed22e2&msa=0&ll=29.7137,-95.320816&spn=0.512271,0.891953) of proposed area per a commentator on the blog.

Th origin of the name:
There are now enough tall buildings to almost outline a new zone. If you go from the Medical Center up to Downtown, west along Allen Parkway/Memorial, south along 610/Post Oak, back east to Greenway Plaza, and then southeast to return to the Medical Center...there is an almost continuous - well not continuous - but a substantial line of skyscrapers. And it's pretty green within that zone, as least from an elevated viewpoint. And we named it "The Walled Garden".

I'm not digging the name too much, but I like the concept. What do y'all think?

[llamaorama]

I REALLY dislike it. The term "Walled Garden" is taken to be negative, in every other context in which it's used. I'd say its a pejorative.

For Houston, it could be construed to mean that the inner loop is lacking in diversity and has become gentrified to the exclusion of minorities, small businesses, etc. Actually if you were a columnist or blogger it sounds like the perfect phrase to use for making a critical statement on the matter.

Houston needs to cultivate the opposite image, that the urban part of the city is a vibrant, colorful free for all and anything with "walls" in it is no bueno.

[weatherguru18]

Looks like The Woodlands may be getting a long awaited Nordstroms!

http://blog.chron.com/shopgirl/2012/07/nordstrom-possibly-eyeing-woodlands-mall-location/

[TexasPlaya]

I REALLY dislike it. The term "Walled Garden" is taken to be negative, in every other context in which it's used. I'd say its a pejorative.

For Houston, it could be construed to mean that the inner loop is lacking in diversity and has become gentrified to the exclusion of minorities, small businesses, etc. Actually if you were a columnist or blogger it sounds like the perfect phrase to use for making a critical statement on the matter.

Houston needs to cultivate the opposite image, that the urban part of the city is a vibrant, colorful free for all and anything with "walls" in it is no bueno.

Yea "walled" conjures up negative images. I do like the "garden" themed as it is green and lush in the core, not to mention the parks.

[TexasPlaya]

Downtown Renovations:

Wilson Building (built 1931) @ 500 Fannin

Prior to renovation
From Houstonian in Iraq on HAIF (http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/24755-renovation-of-the-wilson-building-500-fannin-street-in-downtown-houston/)
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a272/ig281978/P2110484.jpg

Rendering (http://zieglercooperarchitects.blogspot.com/2012/05/ziegler-cooper-architects-and-fretz.html) and info (http://www.bisnow.com/houston_commercial_real_estate_news_story.php?p=24377)
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fbxPbGyQKio/T7qOvV0LamI/AAAAAAAAArE/1wvvsiSE-TY/s1600/500+Fannin.jpg

Downtown, the team is restoring 27k SF 500 Fannin, which was built in 1931 and stood vacant since the ‘80s. Ziegler Cooper is usingWilliam Ward Watkin’s original drawings and will restructure the two-story first level, including restoring a mezzanine level that had been filled in. Paul is excited about the canopy, which he says is unique to this building’s character. Maintaining the interior is challenging, though, because it needs major changes to get up to code. At the end of June, Fretz will begin to office in the top two floors, which feature skylights most modern buildings lack. It's also going for LEED Gold.

Almost finished project :)
From Jax on HAIF (http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/24755-renovation-of-the-wilson-building-500-fannin-street-in-downtown-houston/page__st__30)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8167/7409672952_68727e55b8_b.jpg

Looking very sharp.

Carter Building (built 1910) @ 806 Main across from BG Main Place

From Chron
http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/files/2012/07/806-Main-207x300.jpg

Per Nancy Sarnoff @ Chron (http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2012/07/city-may-give-financial-help-to-redevelop-historic-building/)
The city of Houston is considering loaning the owner of a downtown building $7.35 million to help redevelop the property into a luxury hotel.

The building at 806 Main is known as the Carter Building and some call it Houston’s first skyscraper. The 16-story building was developed in 1910 by Samuel Fain Carter...

[Urbannizer]

New Rendering of Astoria, up from 24 floors to 25.

http://www.astoriahouston.com/img/side/photogallery/001_big.jpg

Website (http://www.astoriahouston.com/index.html)

[llamaorama]

I remember from like 2004 or 2005 forum threads here and on HAIF where people were speculating about the future of that building on Main. I bet a lot of people are relieved to see it restored now. Now for the Carter Building, I wonder if there's anything left under that midcentury facade? You guys think it will come off? Oh well, Houston may seem like the most anti-preservation city in the country sometimes but at least downtown and in a few other neighborhoods things are different.

Astoria is cool. I remember an earlier rendering of a more square version? Also is it still proposed in the same location?

[YakuzaIce]

Astoria is cool. I remember an earlier rendering of a more square version? Also is it still proposed in the same location?

The old rendering had it in the parking lot of the former Pavilion a rectangular plot a little more south on Post Oak. I don't think they ever owned that land though. The new rendering is at the corner of Post Oak and Garrettson. Though they still seem to be taking some liberties with the dimensions of the parking lot and that arch on Garrettson.

Hopefully the base of this tower turns out alright. Looks pretty good in the rendering, but anything is good compared to the blank six floor wall of concrete on all sides of the Cosmopolitan.

[lockmat]

We noticed at HAIF that Astoria is now triangular, too, not square as before. It was confirmed that the McDonalds will come down and it will be built in it's place. This is a sweet building.

[photoLith]

Downtown Renovations:


Almost finished project :)
From Jax on HAIF (http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/24755-renovation-of-the-wilson-building-500-fannin-street-in-downtown-houston/page__st__30)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8167/7409672952_68727e55b8_b.jpg

Looking very sharp.



Uhm, that photo is most definitely mine, Im tired of people stealing my photos, this is like the third time in a month someone has downloaded one of my photos calling it their own. And I just posted that back on page 195.

[TexasPlaya]

Uhm, that photo is most definitely mine, Im tired of people stealing my photos, this is like the third time in a month someone has downloaded one of my photos calling it their own. And I just posted that back on page 195.

Sorry man. I'm just passing along what I saw on HAIF.

[llamaorama]

First, Jax sees the photo here and hotlinks the image for the HAIF thread without adequately crediting you. Jax being a well known and prolific Houston urban photographer and forumer himself, TexasPlaya assumes he was posting one of his own images and credits him when posting back where it came from...

Detective Llama solves the case :D

The solution is for anyone crediting images to find and link to the image's primary source(a flickr photostream for instance) and not cite a forum post to make credit.

[photoLith]

^
Fair enough

Anyways, Im glad they are turning that POS Carter building into a hotel. I hope they restore the original facade and rip off that dog ugly 1970s facade. Who would have seriously looked at the beautiful original facade and thought, hey guys you know what would look better than a decorated beaux arts facade? Some white and black stripes.

[JoninATX]

^
Fair enough

Anyways, Im glad they are turning that POS Carter building into a hotel. I hope they restore the original facade and rip off that dog ugly 1970s facade. Who would have seriously looked at the beautiful original facade and thought, hey guys you know what would look better than a decorated beaux arts facade? Some white and black stripes.

Lol... yeah the exterior is not eye pleasing at all.

[JoninATX]

Midway Cos. breaks ground on new CityCentre building

http://assets.bizjournals.com/houston/print-edition/CityCentre-Four-Rendering.jpg?v=1

by Shaina Zucker, Reporter
Date: Friday, July 27, 2012, 5:00am

Houston-based real estate and development firm Midway Cos. has just broken ground on a new six-story, mixed-use building in the CityCentre complex.

CityCentre Four, at Beltway 8 and Interstate 10, will be nestled next to CityCentre Three, also under construction. The first floor of the 132,500-square-foot building will be reserved for retail, and the upper stories will accommodate Class A offices.

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/print-edition/2012/07/27/midway-cos-breaks-ground-on-new.html

[N90]

The Astoria just like the Titan before it is a beautiful building that Houston deserves. Lets hope someone with an imagination like that can conjure up a 800/900/1,000 foot building with strikingly beautiful design like that.

It's Houston though, so I already know that's not ever going to happen but hey a guy can dream right?

[YakuzaIce]

While we are sort of on the subject, what is the story with the building next to the Wilson building. 1014 Prairie. It seems to be in pretty good shape, but the first floor is all boarded up.

Doing some more research, it seems in 2009 they tried to auction the building, but didn't manage to sell it. The facade was recently restored, but the interior is a shell.

[drecey]

Does anyone know why Houston hasn't been using a lot of those LED Billboards. They're the new thing. I was just curious as to why we havent started using them as much as other cities. That would make freeways look so good at night.

[Double L]

Houston passed a law in the 1980s that said no new billboards could be built.

[AviationGuy]

Houston passed a aw in the 1980s that said no new billboards could be built.

Can billboards be replaced with better looking ones? Or if an old one falls down, no replacement?

[photoLith]

Wow thats weird, so no new billboards since 1980? So hopefully they all fall apart and never get replaced, that would be nice. I sure wish Houston had more neon lights though all over town, like the El Real and the old Alabama Theatre signage. Houston needs like a neon lights district or something like Piccadilly Circus used to be.

[Double L]

Apparently the law was retracted in 2007 as part of a court ruling that it violated free speech. The original law did not allow defunct billboards to be replaced.

Judge shoots down city law that curbs billboards
She boosts billboard owners' case, claims code hurts free speech
MATT STILES, Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
Published 05:30 a.m., Thursday, September 27, 2007

A federal judge on Wednesday blocked the city from enforcing its 27-year-old sign code, ruling the regulations could violate free speech protections in the First Amendment.

The city code, which covers most signs, prohibits new billboards in Houston or the outer ring. But it allows those with political, religious or other noncommercial messages.

The court took issue with that distinction, citing a 14-year-old Ohio case involving the regulation of news racks, stating that the city cannot treat billboards differently based on their content.

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Judge-shoots-down-city-law-that-curbs-billboards-1626932.php

[J-a-x]

First, Jax sees the photo here and hotlinks the image for the HAIF thread without adequately crediting you. Jax being a well known and prolific Houston urban photographer and forumer himself, TexasPlaya assumes he was posting one of his own images and credits him when posting back where it came from...

Detective Llama solves the case :D

The solution is for anyone crediting images to find and link to the image's primary source(a flickr photostream for instance) and not cite a forum post to make credit.

I saw the image here and I just pasted the image URL into HAIF without really thinking about it. I saw that it was a URL from Flickr but I didn't have the address of the original Flickr page so I couldn't have linked to it or given the photographer credit even if I wanted to. figured that the original photographer probably posted the direct image URL here and so they wouldn't really care if it was on HAIF. I certainly didn't take credit for it and I am sorry if the original photographer didn't get credit. :( I don't post direct image links to other people's work unless it's the only option. I don't like it when people do that to my photos but I generally tolerate it as long as they aren't profiting off of my photos (which really pisses me off). Once the Druge Report (I kid you not) stole one of my Flickr photos and would not respond to my emails asking for them to remove it. That really pissed me off!

Anyways, I want the photographer to know that I'm sorry that their image got thrown around without credit. It was just so good, I had to share with HAIF how good that building looks now.

[photoLith]

UH, Metro come to terms on rail line route


Construction of a light-rail line that would cross University of Houston property can continue now that UH and Metro officials settled differences that threatened to delay the project.

UH announced in a statement Tuesday that university officials have agreed to allow the Metropolitan Transit Authority to start the next phase of construction of the southeast line along Wheeler Avenue. In exchange, Metro will address concerns involving access to UH's facilities.

The Metro board has agreed to pay $1.5 million to take the steps included in the agreement, according to spokesman Jerome Gray.

"We have worked diligently together to reach an agreement," UH President Renu Khator said in a statement. "We have come to a resolution that both the university and Metro are happy with and that is in the best interests of the community."

...


http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/UH-Metro-come-to-terms-on-rail-line-route-3751395.php

[GrimReaper]

Good, we need trains throughout Houston. Building bigger road does not help.

[photoLith]

Galleria area developments, I missed a few, actually a lot but these are a lot of the major ones from today.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8424/7708448428_7347d9779d_b.jpg
High St.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8422/7708450220_e1428220a1_b.jpg
Gables at Post Oak

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7121/7708451322_56cd47d839_b.jpg
Astoria, setting up their leasing office on the lot where they are tearing down that two story McDonalds.

I thought this project was dead but they are building something at the Turnbury Towers site and their leasing office was accidentally unlocked but stripped of everything but the model.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7276/7708452580_a1884d3c70_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7133/7708453756_9b3855d146_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8003/7708454832_0532210c50_b.jpg
3009 Post Oak across from the Turnbury Tower site.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8165/7708457890_be44c5443f_b.jpg
BBVA Compass Bank

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8006/7708455996_0dfb65a13b_b.jpg
BBVA Compass Bank Building

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7121/7708456992_7caa4ab628_b.jpg
The Mellinium Apartments/Condos with the BBVA building in the background.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7272/7708458902_5b0af60383_b.jpg
Gables Tanglewood

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7249/7708459752_a92117ceff_b.jpg
I never remember what this ones called as theres no signs out front but its across from the Marriott off of Westheimer. Looks like its finally TO too.