HOUSTON | Development Thread II [Archive] - Page 42

photoLith

Oct 11, 2012, 3:20 PM

29-STORY TOWER TO RISE NEAR GALLERIA

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/385x218_zps1bb4139c.jpg
A luxury apartment tower is set to break ground early next year just off Post Oak Boulevard, developers said Wednesday.

The project represents the continued progression of BLVD Place, the redevelopment of 21 acres at the southwest corner of Post Oak and San Felipe into an urban-style complex.

Construction started back up at the Galleria-area site last month, three years after the first building opened. BLVD Place was among numerous projects that were delayed or dropped altogether as a result of the economic slowdown.

At completion, the development is expected to include high-end shops and restaurants as well as office space, a boutique hotel and 1,000 high-rise residential units.

http://www.chron.com/business/real-estate/article/29-story-tower-will-rise-near-the-Galleria-3937132.php

AviationGuy

Oct 11, 2012, 7:13 PM

Definitely looking forward to this new tower. I like the curved design.

Shasta

Oct 12, 2012, 1:31 AM

The architect's website looks promising. Some really nice, modern towers in places like Chicago and San Fran. Hope we see a break from the trend of Houston condo towers (beige tunnel form)

vjhe

Oct 12, 2012, 1:42 AM

The architect's website looks promising. Some really nice, modern towers in places like Chicago and San Fran. Hope we see a break from the trend of Houston condo towers (beige tunnel form)

Couldn't agree more.

AviationGuy

Oct 12, 2012, 1:49 AM

photoLith

Oct 15, 2012, 11:36 PM

Monday, October 15, 2012
New Metro Trains Getting Bike Racks
Metro is showing off the first of 19 new California-made Siemens H2 S70 trains it’ll be adding to its light-rail fleet. The first new cars in 9 years are updated versions of the line’s original 18-member fleet, with one notable difference: Metro will be outfitting them with 2 bicycle racks each, at the front and rear doorways.
http://swamplot.com/new-metro-trains-getting-bike-racks/2012-10-15/

photoLith

Oct 16, 2012, 4:32 AM

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-37_zpsc5abd429.jpg

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-38_zps7bf80236.jpg

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-39_zps0b8d8179.jpg

Lots going on in the Woodlands these days. All of these cranes are for the 400 some odd foot new tower going up next to the 439' Anadarko Tower and a 14 some odd story tower going up next door.

photoLith

Oct 17, 2012, 1:48 AM

Big update from this evening.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-44_zpse10883ad.jpg
New development right down the street from me in the heights at studewood and east 11th street.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-46_zps784d5a29.jpg
Site of new highrise (Soverign) at part of the finally getting developed Regents Square.

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/sovereign-1.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/sovereign-2.jpg

The Sovereign is near the new Whole Foods in Montrose.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-47_zpsb93e10b6.jpg
New school and 1950s building being restored in mid town on West Grey St.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-48_zpsc192f8d3.jpg
New section of Post Mid Town lofts on West Grey with bottom floor retail.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-50_zps3e668d4d.jpg
Another section of post mid town lofts that are almost complete.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-51_zpsc800e539.jpg
The old burnt down church in Freedmans town is now being partially restored and turned into a new park.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-52_zpsb6157e5d.jpg
The federal building downtown is finally getting new cladding, replacing that crappy brown 1980s granite.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-54_zps45e5454a.jpg
Newly completed light rail tracks. It even looks like it wont be grade separated. It looks like car and trains will be sharing the same lane. Pretty awesome.

Illithid Dude

Oct 17, 2012, 2:03 AM

Newly completed light rail tracks. It even looks like it wont be grade separated. It looks like car and trains will be sharing the same lane. Pretty awesome.

Just curious, why do you consider this to be a good thing? Normally, I would think this is a bad thing .

photoLith

Oct 17, 2012, 2:08 AM

Illithid Dude

Oct 17, 2012, 2:13 AM

^
Why would that be bad? They should never grade separate the tracks. They dont in Europe and in other large American cities. It allows traffic to flow easier and to have more lanes. Buses dont have separated lanes, why should light rail? Light rail is just a bus on a track.

But if light rail is just a bus on a track, then why shell out hundreds of millions of dollars for light rail is the bus does everything light rail can do for much less? Grade separation allows for Light Rail to move quicker, becoming a much more viable alternative to cars. Also, Houston has some really interesting ways of differentiating light rail ROW from the street, which makes the lack of any differentiation a little disappointing.

photoLith

Oct 17, 2012, 2:17 AM

Im too tired to respond so just read this.

http://lightrailextension.metrotransport.com.au/36-reasons-streetcars-are-better-than-buses/

Illithid Dude

Oct 17, 2012, 2:49 AM

Im too tired to respond so just read this.

http://lightrailextension.metrotransport.com.au/36-reasons-streetcars-are-better-than-buses/

Alright. I still would prefer grade separation, but I can see the argument being made on the other side. Whatever. It's nice for Houston to be getting rail either way.

oscarinhouston

Oct 17, 2012, 6:27 PM

I would love to live closer to Downton but is too expensive, so me and my bf decided to go to the suburbs :(

Dale

Oct 17, 2012, 7:05 PM

I would love to live closer to Downton but is too expensive, so me and my bf decided to go to the suburbs :(

That's one reason why I find it annoying when more-urban-than-thou types sneer at suburbanites.

photoLith

Oct 17, 2012, 7:19 PM

Living in the city is cheap, you just have to do some searching. I pay 620 a month for an 800 square foot apartment in the Heights in an old house, and a nice part of the Heights too. But 620 a month is pretty much unheard of in this part of Houston. I was paying nearly a grand a month for a 420 square foot apartment downtown a couple months ago.

AviationGuy

Oct 17, 2012, 11:20 PM

I would love to live closer to Downton but is too expensive, so me and my bf decided to go to the suburbs :(

Where did you end up?

I've sort of been interested in Westbury, which is close in although suburban in character, since it was the edge of the city when built 50 or more years ago. But at least the prices are reasonable (for now).

TexasPlaya

Oct 18, 2012, 12:47 AM

Where did you end up?

I've sort of been interested in Westbury, which is close in although suburban in character, since it was the edge of the city when built 50 or more years ago. But at least the prices are reasonable (for now).

What makes you interested in Westbury, if you don't mind me asking?

AviationGuy

Oct 18, 2012, 4:29 AM

What makes you interested in Westbury, if you don't mind me asking?

My family had a home close to Westbury, on the east side of Post Oak, and I had friends in Westbury so knew the area somewhat (when I was a kid). These days I hear a lot about Westbury being an up and coming popular neighborhood, and supposedly there are quite a few mid century moderns, which I'm interested in.

photoLith

Oct 19, 2012, 9:59 PM

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/18F376E8-460A-4385-A823-3B21BE8CB13F-1053-000000AC005D32F4.jpg
6565 md Anderson boulevard.

photoLith

Oct 22, 2012, 5:40 AM

Updates from this weekend.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1_zpsee21c902.jpg
3009 Post Oak

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-19_zpsc1b84af1.jpg
New mid-rise on 11th st and dunlavy.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-2_zps17351159.jpg
New condos going up near 19th street in The Heights.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-3_zps87213900.jpg
New houses on 17th st. in the heights.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-4_zpsaeaa90f2.jpg
Lots of new semi historic looking bungalows going up in the heights right now. This one was on 12th st, near my new apartment.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-5_zpsc136110c.jpg
Historic reconstructions in the heights.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-6_zpsc4a8f839.jpg
New apartment complex on Douchington Ave near the old 6th ward.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-7_zps13e1b82d.jpg
A fairly recently restored historic firehouse on Washington.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-8_zps3d51c49e.jpg
Recladding of the federal building downtown.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-9_zpsf651d9cd.jpg
The new daycare center on Main and Fannin, super exciting usage of land downtown, ugh.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-10_zps8fcea5dc.jpg
Restoration on the historic Carter Building is now fully underway it seems, it will house a Marriott Hotel in the future. They are ripping that shit 1960s cladding off and restoring it to the way it looked in the 1910s.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-11_zps70706bb2.jpg
They just finished the restoration on this 1930s loft building.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-12_zps74dbcd7e.jpg
The soon to be demolished Ben milam Hotel across from the baseball stadium, just one more part of Houstons history needlessly lost.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-13_zps052a9736.jpg
East End line progress across from the soccer stadium.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-14_zps6c3c9d55.jpg
Further down the East End Line heading towards the coffee plant.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-15_zps34ee1242.jpg
More progress.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-16_zps041c69b0.jpg

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-18_zps2c2e9f41.jpg
Looks like they are finally restoring the long abandoned Robert E Lee school in the greater Heights. I think its supposed to become like a family/community centre.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-20_zpsdeadffc9.jpg
The newish soccer stadium, I know it was completed a while back but whatever.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-21_zpsf12c9f10.jpg
The recladding of the federal building on the right, and in the background if you look closely you can see the cranes on the couple buildings rising in the Galleria Area.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-22_zps7ebc9d6d.jpg
A couple cranes in the medical center for the new pancreatic cancer/generic cancer research tower.

JoninATX

Oct 22, 2012, 6:05 AM

Great update PhotoLith, I hope the federal courthouse ends up looking like this.

http://www.rdlr.com/images/proj943.jpg
http://www.rdlr.com/projects.asp?indid=5&projid=109

photoLith

Oct 22, 2012, 6:09 AM

^
No, its just going to be pure glass.

JoninATX

Oct 22, 2012, 6:17 AM

^
No, its just going to be pure glass.

Cool... also I feel ya about that daycare center right in the middle of downtown. I'm glad there taking part of a surface parking but at the same time I felt that they could have put a daycare center somewhere else.

Nexis4Jersey

Oct 22, 2012, 10:53 AM

I love when they put more detail into those new homes , better then the white tacky crap they usually build...

mfastx

Oct 22, 2012, 8:47 PM

Great updates, thanks so much for posting! Judging by that last pic, it is amazing how much Midtown has filled in over the last decade or so.

photoLith

Oct 22, 2012, 10:58 PM

AviationGuy

Oct 23, 2012, 2:19 AM

^
Yes, mid-town has changed a ton in the past decade but most of the infill has been rather shitastic and anti urban with gates and development that doesnt go up to the sidewalk. The southern part of mid town is the worst offender, the section of mid-town that leads into Montrose has had a lot off good urban infill although recently.

I, too, like that part of midtown closer to Montrose. Some really classy looking stuff. The parts I've seen near 288, I don't like.

So how are you liking living in the Heights? Can you get a decent place (buy/rent) for a reasonable price? My impression has been that it's horrendously expensive, but you live there so you can tell me.

AviationGuy

Oct 23, 2012, 2:23 AM

Can someone tell me what the building under construction is on the left hand side of this web cam view, in the background? You'll need to look at a daytime capture.

The BBVA building is looking sharp.

http://www.earthcam.com/client/bbva/

photoLith

Oct 23, 2012, 3:08 AM

I dont know the name of that building, but it TO'd about 2 months ago. Its an apartment or condo tower on Westheimer right next to the CVS.

And living in the Heights is kick ass. The people are so cool and it feels like a real urban neighborhood. Downtown was cool with my view, but the Heights is a real community. I drove through the Heights my first day looking for a new apartment and right away I found the place Im staying at on 12th st and Beverly in a 1928 house thats 800 square ft for believe it or not, 620 bucks a month. I was paying nearly a grand and would be paying now 1300 bucks a month for my 420 square ft apartment in Houston House downtown.

Here are some more random things from the heights and such.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-25_zpsa10517c9.jpg
Heights new construction, much better than the shit new 3 story ugly condos going up in Montrose. Theres an ordinance now that says that any new development going on in the heights has to be done in period styles that were historically indicative to the heights.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-24_zps34ee5ade.jpg
A new trend is to instead of tearing down the historic homes, build additions to the backsides while preserving the fronts. I would much rather have the houses just stay as is, but I guess its better then them getting torn down.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-23_zps8bb4562f.jpg
More new houses.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-26_zps880420af.jpg
Newish development on I-10 at the southern most reach of the heights.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-27_zpse4cd0581.jpg
Heights new faux historic house.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-28_zps3f94d979.jpg
The end as for now of the north line at UHD.

And two bonus shots for the hell of it from tonight.
http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-29_zpsf32d20f8.jpg

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-30_zps877d5bb0.jpg
Looking out towards the Ship Channel from the downtown Hilton.

AviationGuy

Oct 23, 2012, 3:50 AM

Those faux historic houses are actually very well done. I especially like those two where one is purple and the other green.

photoLith

Oct 23, 2012, 4:17 AM

Yes, there is a lot of good construction going on now in the heights when it comes to historic styles, but theres also a lot of shit that has gone up in the past 10 years, some of the faux victorian houses are very ill proportioned and kinda cheap looking. But luckily, since Parker has become mayor, there have been a lot of new historic districts established in the heights which are now fully protected from tear downs and new construction, unless they adhere to strict historic architectural guidelines, and thats only on lots that have no houses on them. It used to be that the historic districts in Houston were not really protected. A developer could just wait 90 days if the tear down wasnt approved by the city council. Now, structures, even new ones that were built 3 years ago are protected. The only way a house can now be torn down in historic districts in Houston is if they are completely beyond repair. To my knowledge, only one house out of all of the cities historic districts has been approved to be torn down. The house had been abandoned for 10 years and the roof completely caved in and then caught on fire.

Reverberation

Oct 23, 2012, 2:37 PM

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-26_zps880420af.jpg

I wish they built more office buildings this way. I get that it has to do with demising space and leasing it but still. Some of the coolest looking office buildings are the brick and stucco ones that are at Montrose and Colquitt. And thank God Mayor Parker is working to preserve the character of the Heights. Rice Military was starting to look like Tel Aviv with all of the modern Bahaus and whatever "hill country modern abstract semi colonial mediterranean" stuff they were putting up everywhere.

photoLith

Oct 23, 2012, 2:50 PM

Rail Claimore

Oct 23, 2012, 10:23 PM

Rice Military looks terrible these days. There are no historic districts in that hood. The new stuff going up is horrid looking, the same kind of crap is going up all over Montrose too. They tear down the beautiful old bungalows and replace them with offensive un urban 3 story stucco condos for all the rich yuppie douchebags BMW owners moving in from Kingwood and Katy to occupy.

And then they also are building suburban shit like this all over Montrose and Rice Military too.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/63097674_1_zps554e388a.jpg
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=rice+military&view=detail&id=5CD3C6C9E728B8F77B481F06AF8AD6105D497E47

These suburbanites moving into the city once their kids go off to college want the party atmosphere of the city while turning it into an offensive suburb at the same time. Shit like the above house doesnt belong in the city, it belongs in Porter.

I have the opposite view on the architecture itself: I love this gaudy stuff they build, and it's one of the reasons I like Houston. This is more the kind of stuff you find in Los Angeles or Tokyo, not some eastern US city where every house is brick. Perhaps my imprint is different from yours since my first taste of urbanism as a young kid was in Asia, where variations of this are common for single-family homes in Tokyo's 10-20K ppsm-density suburbs, but I like seeing a bit of this stateside. Houston has plenty of neighborhoods that look like they could be in Atlanta, Chicago, or New Jersey. I don't care about those.

photoLith

Oct 23, 2012, 11:18 PM

AviationGuy

Oct 24, 2012, 2:21 AM

That's a generic southern suburban home that only deserves to be caught on fire an then torn down with a bulldozer. It doesn't belong in a once historic bungalow neighborhood. And Tokyo is one of the ugliest cities in the world at street level and that house is nothing like architecture in old parts of la, nor did they build shit like that in Tokyo, again it's a generic crap suburban home and is a disgrace.

Seems like the bottom line is there's something for everyone in Houston home styles. I happen to dislike the style in the photo above, but love the style that is so common that looks like northeastern suburbs (e.g., a lot of the 1960s 2-story homes in the Memorial Villages and the FM 1960 piney woods areas). Above all, I like the mid-century moderns of many southwest Houston neighborhoods like Westbury, Meyerland, etc.. I also like the original and faux Victorians of the Heights. If a person doesn't like one style, they just need to drive a short distance to find something they might like.

What's disturbing to me is what I've seen on Google Streetview, where dozens upon dozens of new developments in the far suburbs (e.g., Katy) contain homes so similar that you can't tell one neighborhood apart from another. They're actually nice homes, especially the interiors, but just too generic. I guess that's why so many of us appreciate the city proper. It's not perfect but at least there's a lot of variation.

Rail Claimore

Oct 24, 2012, 2:34 AM

That's a generic southern suburban home that only deserves to be caught on fire an then torn down with a bulldozer. It doesn't belong in a once historic bungalow neighborhood. And Tokyo is one of the ugliest cities in the world at street level and that house is nothing like architecture in old parts of la, nor did they build shit like that in Tokyo, again it's a generic crap suburban home and is a disgrace.

I'll take Blade Runner over some pretentious faux *insert "high-class" 19th/early 20th Century architecture style here* crap any day, so to each their own.

That's not generic "Southern" suburban architecture, whatever that means: Have you actually been to other large southern cities like Atlanta or Charlotte? I got news for you: most of the houses there are either 90%+ brick veneer (like you find in say, Cinco Ranch) or wood siding.

A huge chunk of new development in Southern California looks like that or has similar siding and massing with small lot sizes. Practically all of Irvine and much of southern Orange County is like that only with Spanish roof tile being more common.

And they most certainly build that kind of "shit" in Tokyo, similar to what you see in OC, only with a lot of Japanese/Asian style roofing. You can see plenty of it riding the train in from Narita Airport. Next time you're there, take any train line north out of the city to Saitama: that whole swath of Tokyo's northern suburbs is full of subdivisions that look like that only with smaller lot sizes and fewer garages.

Syndic

Oct 24, 2012, 8:41 AM

Hey, instead of calling them "faux historic", why don't you call them neotraditional, which is what they're supposed to be called? It's also more respectful and tolerant.

photoLith

Oct 24, 2012, 12:28 PM

^
Uh oh, pc police.

AviationGuy

Oct 24, 2012, 3:01 PM

Hey, instead of calling them "faux historic", why don't you call them neotraditional, which is what they're supposed to be called? It's also more respectful and tolerant.

Hadn't heard that phrase but it makes sense. I really do like a lot of them. Once they age a little, they'll actually look better IMO. I've been inside some of them here in Austin (Hyde Park) and the interiors can be incredible. They look traditional for the most part but the kitchens and bathrooms are typically extremely modern.

TexasPlaya

Oct 24, 2012, 4:42 PM

Different styles for different people. That's what makes Houston so great, especially in the inner loop. So many different types of neighborhoods for different people.

BrandonJXN

Oct 24, 2012, 4:53 PM

I have the opposite view on the architecture itself: I love this gaudy stuff they build, and it's one of the reasons I like Houston. This is more the kind of stuff you find in Los Angeles or Tokyo, not some eastern US city where every house is brick. Perhaps my imprint is different from yours since my first taste of urbanism as a young kid was in Asia, where variations of this are common for single-family homes in Tokyo's 10-20K ppsm-density suburbs, but I like seeing a bit of this stateside. Houston has plenty of neighborhoods that look like they could be in Atlanta, Chicago, or New Jersey. I don't care about those.

You don't find many homes like this in Los Angeles. You find homes like this in The OC or Inland Empire. And even then this isn't a terrible home at all.

drecey

Oct 24, 2012, 10:01 PM

Different styles for different people. That's what makes Houston so great, especially in the inner loop. So many different types of neighborhoods for different people.
That's so true because most of yall don't like the Urban Living homes in Rice Military, but I LOVE them and if I was to move back home to Houston I would definitely want to live there. To me, that says successful, more than a traditional home. I'm in my early 20s and some of those traditional homes look like something my mom would purchase.
And this makes sense, seeing that most people who reside in that area are young professionals.
Rice Military:
http://www.modernhoustonhomes.com/images/area2/gibson.JPG

photoLith

Oct 24, 2012, 10:09 PM

Those homes to me scream douche but thats just me.

rdavis4559

Oct 24, 2012, 11:06 PM

Those homes to me scream douche but thats just me.

Isn't that like saying some painting styles or painting media scream douche? I mean its all subjective but unless a painting is purposefully atempting to be inflammatory and hurtful, I am not going to say a certain artist's work screams douche. Homes and painting both have aesthetic elements, lets not try to say that only art from a certain period or set of periods should be produced or consumed, while the rest is trash.

AviationGuy

Oct 25, 2012, 3:20 AM

That's so true because most of yall don't like the Urban Living homes in Rice Military, but I LOVE them and if I was to move back home to Houston I would definitely want to live there. To me, that says successful, more than a traditional home. I'm in my early 20s and some of those traditional homes look like something my mom would purchase.
And this makes sense, seeing that most people who reside in that area are young professionals.
Rice Military:
http://www.modernhoustonhomes.com/images/area2/gibson.JPG

I find the home in the pic to be very appealing.

This is a good series of posts showing various home styles. I'll see what I can find on street view.

AviationGuy

Oct 25, 2012, 4:42 AM

OK...here we go. I know this isn't a series of posts on new commercial buildings, but discussions seem to be slow right now in that department.

First, a couple of mid century moderns. This one is in the Braeburn area of SW Houston.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8473/8121136276_bb0449a08e_b.jpg
Source: Google Streetview, hosted on Flikr.

This one is in the Memorial Villages area of west Houston. Edit: I'm not certain that this one would be classified as mid century modern, but it might be. What do you all think?

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8466/8121121295_0b448aa7df_b.jpg
Source: Google Streetview, hosted on Flikr

This is an Eastern style home. There are tons of these, mostly built in the 1960s. This one is in the Memorial Villages area.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8192/8121136460_669ea7bc54_b.jpg
Source: Google Streetview, hosted on Flikr

Here are a couple of 1930s cottages in the Southside Place area, near West University. There aren't many of these left. This particular street is almost all new construction.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8055/8121132774_fbd515ca7d_b.jpg
Source: Google Streetview, hosted on Flikr

In Bellaire, which was once almost all post WWII cottages, very large McMansions are being constructed throughout the area. The Spanish style is getting more popular. It's easy to find them on Google Earth due to the red tile roofs.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8050/8121117771_37619c3106_b.jpg
Source: Google Streetview, hosted on Flikr

This is a new "modern" in a new area adjacent to Rice Military's condo mania. I find this style extremely appealing. What do you all think?

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8333/8121117657_cde4bc57f3_b.jpg
Source: Google Streetview, hosted on Flikr

Finally, here is a very generic suburban style you can find in most suburbs. Sometimes it's hard to tell once street from another. This street is in the Cypress area in the northwest metro. I've been in some of these suburban generic homes, and they're actually very nice. But it's still the generic suburbs and not very interesting compared with the closer in areas shown in the other photos.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8192/8121132924_1a1de0aebd_b.jpg
Source: Google Streetview, hosted on Flikr

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Hopefully others will post photos as well. A series of condo/townhome photos would be interesting.

photoLith

Oct 25, 2012, 11:45 AM

Isn't that like saying some painting styles or painting media scream douche? I mean its all subjective but unless a painting is purposefully atempting to be inflammatory and hurtful, I am not going to say a certain artist's work screams douche. Homes and painting both have aesthetic elements, lets not try to say that only art from a certain period or set of periods should be produced or consumed, while the rest is trash.

Im sorry, but suburban styled homes don't belong in the city, not now, not ever.

NYC2ATX

Oct 25, 2012, 4:47 PM

Im sorry, but suburban styled homes don't belong in the city, not now, not ever.

I'm inclined to agree, but I feel there are some very big gray areas here. For example, I wouldn't, and I don't think any of you would either, want them to level New Orleans' Garden District to put up higher-density housing, townhomes and condos. Trust, I have been thoroughly enthralled by the taller denser apartment blocks going up in Midtown, Old 4th Ward, Montrose, etc., and photolith, your photo posts of the nouveau-historic townhomes in the Heights truly floored me. I was impressed that they still build homes of that style and quality anywhere in the US.

However, I liked a lot of the homes in Aviation Guy's post as well, and several of them, while not in far-flung exurbs, were not in the most innerly ring of Houston neighborhoods either. And those outer neighborhoods within the city look beautiful to me. Houston is not New York or Chicago, and I mean that in a good way. I've lived in both cities (I'm in NY currently), and I find New York in particular to be as cumbersome as it is wonderful. Houston should be densifying in it's core, but it shouldn't lose the lush, open environment that makes it a southern city, especially in outer ring neighborhoods that really don't need to be built up.

Though, without a doubt, I loathe the suburban stucco shlock that they throw up in those gross exurban subdivisions (such as in Aviation Guy's final photo) as much as the next guy. Staten Island has the same odd situation. The North Shore, which is basically equivalent to Houston's outer ring neighborhoods, has many older, tree-lined streets with gorgeous pre-war and Mid-Century homes that garner much respect. On the South Shore, and across the bridges in Jersey, it's all uglier-than-thou McMansions.

Basically, I don't think lush, green blocks of single-family homes are a city's enemy. When suitably far away from an inner core that is properly dense, they are exactly what gives the city its character.

AviationGuy

Oct 25, 2012, 7:35 PM

So what do you all think of the new modern in the next to the last photo? How I would love to see the interior of that place.

rdavis4559

Oct 25, 2012, 9:14 PM

So what do you all think of the new modern in the next to the last photo? How I would love to see the interior of that place.

I love but it is probabl forever out of reach. I am guessing at least $600k?

Rail Claimore

Oct 25, 2012, 10:18 PM

So what do you all think of the new modern in the next to the last photo? How I would love to see the interior of that place.

That's the kind of design I love. In fact, it could do with more glass and I'd be even happier... but I do think the lot could be smaller and more conducive to an urban lifestyle. That doesn't mean do away with the garage, but it does mean bring the front door up closer to the sidewalk with integrative landscape work.

Urbannizer

Oct 25, 2012, 11:04 PM

5 Allen Center Brochure:
http://www.jacobwandersee.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/5ACcover_FW-506x675.jpg

http://www.jacobwandersee.com/2011/01/5-allen-center-brochure/

photoLith

Oct 25, 2012, 11:12 PM

AviationGuy

Oct 26, 2012, 1:37 AM

I love but it is probabl forever out of reach. I am guessing at least $600k?

If I have the right home when I look at tax records, that one is appraised at about $2.8M. The size is about 6600 sq ft. On that street, the size of the homes ranges up to 8400 sq ft and appraised values are as high as $2.9 M. Even the few remaining original homes are appraised at high values due to land value and not so much the building value. You really pay through the nose for inner city. Those who bought inner city properties not too long ago have made a fortune.

Edit: I originally posted the value and size for the wrong house. I've made an update above.

photoLith

Oct 26, 2012, 1:41 AM

Michi

Oct 26, 2012, 1:44 AM

^
I really really hope that thing gets built. If built it will be mostly hidden from lots of views of downtown since its kinda behind a lot of the skyscrapers. But it will still be an awesome addition and cover up one more surface parking lot! So thats awesome.
I thought this location is at the forefront of the skyline, as viewed from the west? Isn't that the Gulf Fwy in the rendering? The view of the skyline passing that stretch of freeway is already very impressive. Would this project consist of demolition of the Allen Center Garage (w/ the athletic club on top of it)?...it's really an ugly focal point to an otherwise fresh-looking display of downtown buildings!

AviationGuy

Oct 26, 2012, 2:03 AM

^
It's the same everywhere. Last time I was in new Orleans, I was talkin to a lady who bought a house in the northeastern part of the French quarter back in the mid 90s for 50k, today it's worth well over a million. The heights in Houston has seen kind of the same thing. A house back in the 80s that was worth 40k, today can be sold for 500k-1 mil or more; I've seen some of the old bungalows go for as much as 2.5 million when they weren't worth shit 20 years ago. If that doesnt show how much our inner cities have recovered then I dont know what would. I wish I had a fucking time machine.

Me too. And look at my update on the value of that house! My cousin bought about 20 cheap rental properties in the 70s and 80s in Montrose. He grew up in Montrose, too (on Windsor). He has sold the properties and you can imagine the money he has made. I really kick myself and wonder why I didn't have the foresight to do the same thing. I could have, but spend the money on other stuff, of course.

Metro Matt

Oct 26, 2012, 5:02 AM

Big update from this evening.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ar71of1-52_zpsb6157e5d.jpg
The federal building downtown is finally getting new cladding, replacing that crappy brown 1980s granite.

Newly completed light rail tracks. It even looks like it wont be grade separated. It looks like car and trains will be sharing the same lane. Pretty awesome.

What is up with those neon stoplights? Never seen those downtown before.

Shasta

Oct 26, 2012, 6:59 AM

Those lights are along Main Street and the first light rail line. Extra warning for the idiot drivers to NOT run red lights or else they run the risk of getting plowed by a train.

Notice too that the building in the forefront of that photo is METRO's relatively newish Administration Tower and Transit Center (you can see the bus bays behind the tower)

photoLith

Oct 27, 2012, 4:47 PM

I thought this location is at the forefront of the skyline, as viewed from the west? Isn't that the Gulf Fwy in the rendering? The view of the skyline passing that stretch of freeway is already very impressive. Would this project consist of demolition of the Allen Center Garage (w/ the athletic club on top of it)?...it's really an ugly focal point to an otherwise fresh-looking display of downtown buildings!

Yes, it would be visible from a lot of angles but when viewed from the south towards downtown this tower would be completely obscured by other buildings.

And no, if it rises, it will go up on a vacant parking lot, next to those garages.

photoLith

Oct 27, 2012, 6:45 PM

To anyone that cares, the new krogers ie brogers off douchington ave just opened up, as did a new Walmart just like half a mile away. Good news for us heights residents and good news for the city. This part of town was majorly lacking in the grocery store department.

N90

Oct 28, 2012, 7:21 AM

Kipling Apartments
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-08068300-1351406741_thumb.jpg
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-08068300-1351406741_thumb.jpg
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-53534900-1351406751_thumb.jpg
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-53534900-1351406751_thumb.jpg

N90

Oct 28, 2012, 7:23 AM

Research Forest Lakeside:
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-80989800-1351407355_thumb.jpg
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-80989800-1351407355_thumb.jpg
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-16762900-1351407366_thumb.jpg
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-16762900-1351407366_thumb.jpg
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-55268200-1351407372_thumb.jpg
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-55268200-1351407372_thumb.jpg
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-96475300-1351407380_thumb.jpg
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-96475300-1351407380_thumb.jpg
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-26192800-1351407395_thumb.jpg
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-26192800-1351407395_thumb.jpg

N90

Oct 28, 2012, 7:24 AM

Eldridge Oaks II:
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-25213900-1351406072_thumb.jpg
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-25213900-1351406072_thumb.jpg
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-67059600-1351406082_thumb.jpg
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-67059600-1351406082_thumb.jpg
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-76325900-1351406088_thumb.jpg
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-76325900-1351406088_thumb.jpg

N90

Oct 28, 2012, 7:26 AM

Energy Center III:
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-73527100-1351406420_thumb.jpg
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-73527100-1351406420_thumb.jpg
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-16113400-1351406431_thumb.jpg
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-16113400-1351406431_thumb.jpg
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-44049600-1351406439_thumb.jpg
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-44049600-1351406439_thumb.jpg

N90

Oct 28, 2012, 7:27 AM

Five Chasewood:
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-14177600-1351407901_thumb.jpg
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-14177600-1351407901_thumb.jpg
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-24966100-1351407910_thumb.jpg
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-24966100-1351407910_thumb.jpg
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-95614100-1351407919_thumb.jpg
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-95614100-1351407919_thumb.jpg
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-90388600-1351407928_thumb.jpg
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-90388600-1351407928_thumb.jpg
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-07614800-1351407934_thumb.jpg
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-07614800-1351407934_thumb.jpg
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-58851000-1351407944_thumb.jpg
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-58851000-1351407944_thumb.jpg

N90

Oct 28, 2012, 7:36 AM

1401 Binz in the Museum District (Museum Point):
http://www.bisnow.com/archives/houstonre/2012/Q4/museumpoint-rendering.jpeg
http://www.bisnow.com/archives/houstonre/2012/Q4/museumpoint-rendering.jpeg

Here’s a developer taking a chance on mixed-use: Dermedica Property Group is developing a 24k SF MOB/retail center at 1401 Binz in the Museum District. We wandered on the site of Museum Point Professional Building to snap GC Arch-Con’s Mike Murphy, Bailey Architects’ Lane Wolf, Arch-Con’s Jason Cooper, Dermedica’s Nishil Patel, and Arch-Con’s Michael Scheurich. Nishil tells us the property will go primarily to medical users that don’t want to deal with the traffic and parking issues of the Med Center but want to be in the vicinity. The Dermatological Association of Texas and The Center for Clinical Studies have preleased, leaving only 2,500 SF of office space available.

Dermedica is including a 5,000 SF retail component because the use is underserved in the Museum District; Nishil says he’s been speaking to restaurants and optical shops and expects to fill the space with high-end users quickly once the building is up. Michael tells us the tight urban infill site with lots of pedestrians was a challenge. It took multiple designs to maximize SF on site and get the high ratio of parking required for these users. Plus, Nishil wanted to fit in with the high-quality museum architecture in the area. Construction began in July with the demolition of an existing building. Delivery is slated for February.
Source: http://www.bisnow.com/real-estate-hou/2012/10/25/is-mixed-use-worth-it/

N90

Oct 28, 2012, 7:43 AM

Allusion West University:
http://www.bisnow.com/archives/houstonre/2012/Q4/images/allusionwesturendering.jpg
http://www.bisnow.com/archives/houstonre/2012/Q4/images/allusionwesturendering.jpg

The 231-unit luxury multifamily community is under construction now on 2.5 acres in West University. Mark believes the site is one of the best in inner Houston with its great demographics and proximity to employment centers and great retail. (Retail seems especially crucial with the holiday season bearing down and its demand for presents to appease it.) Behringer Harvard Residential is partnering with Trammell Crow Residential: Behringer is general partner and will lease/manage the community, and TCR is GC/developer. EDI International is handling design.

Mark says the only real complication so far is an existing property on the site: It has to raze a ‘70s vintage community at 3810 Law Street. (You never know what you'll find in those '70s vintage communities: maybe Elvis is hiding there.) The new site will feature four stories of residential over two stories of garage. The first units will deliver in December ’13, with a May ’14 completion. Mark tells us Houston may be Behringer’s best market in the last five years, and the firm is looking at other sites here. It has already closed on one near Montrose and Richmond.
Source: http://www.bisnow.com/real-estate-hou/2012/10/15/multifamily-monday-42/

N90

Oct 28, 2012, 8:10 AM

A little late to the party with this one but I haven't seen it posted yet at least.

Two Briar Lake Plaza:
http://www.bisnow.com/archives/houstonre/2012/Q4/images/twobriarlakeplaza.jpg
http://www.bisnow.com/archives/houstonre/2012/Q4/images/twobriarlakeplaza.jpg
http://www.bisnow.com/archives/houstonre/2012/Q4/images/twobriarlakelobby.jpg
http://www.bisnow.com/archives/houstonre/2012/Q4/images/twobriarlakelobby.jpg

Two BriarLake Plaza is slated to break ground around the first of the year and deliver in 2014. The pedestal-style building will feature 12 stories of office space above seven levels of parking. It’s a sort of reunion tour for One Briarlake.

Here’s the rendering of Two BriarLake. Tishman Speyer, which built One BriarLake a decade ago, planned a 250k SF office tower on this site, but Two BriarLake will be 332k RSF. Greg says One was so ahead of its time that he’s hard pressed to find things he’d change. The lobby design and floorplates (eight corner offices and 26.5k SF for max efficiency) are being replicated. But Clint tells us Two will provide some new amenities, including a fitness center, deli, conference room, and pocket park between the two buildings.
Source: http://www.bisnow.com/real-estate-hou/2012/10/08/westchases-new-class-aa/

N90

Oct 28, 2012, 8:15 AM

Again, my dearest apologies for being late to the party with these two as well.

Westgate:
http://www.bisnow.com/archives/houstonre/2012/Q4/images/westgate_rendering.jpg
http://www.bisnow.com/archives/houstonre/2012/Q4/images/westgate_rendering.jpg

Transwestern broke ground two weeks ago on Westgate, a three-building Class-A office project along I-10 near Barker Cypress. It acquired the 21-acre tract on Sept. 13 from Hearst Co (Cushman & Wakefield’s Jeff Peden and Dave Cook repped the seller), almost immediately launching construction. (Probably because ceremonial groundbreakings in the winter are the number two cause of wrist injuries in commercial real estate.) Transwestern’s Carleton Riser, who's leading development with Sean Suffel and Mark Miller, tells us Transwestern had the building prototype and design in mind before it found a site, which helped the speedy turnaround.

The project size made financing trickier, and Transwestern has a deadline to complete construction, which Carleton says has made the last two or three months hectic. Building I will be 249k SF in four stories; Building II will be 186k SF in four stories; and Building III will be 226k SF in five stories. Each will have its own parking structure. The campus layout is tailored to large corporate users. Clearly large users like what they see: Westgate is 67% preleased to Mustang (340k SF in Buildings II and III) and Subsea 7 (100k SF in Building I with the option to take more). One significant feature: flexible floor plates that range from 47k SF to 62k SF.
City Centre IV:
http://www.bisnow.com/archives/houstonre/2012/Q4/images/citycentrethree.jpg
http://www.bisnow.com/archives/houstonre/2012/Q4/images/citycentrethree.jpg

CityCentre Three is up and running, and CityCentre Four and a new 400-space garage are under construction. We stopped by the project Tuesday and snapped Midway’s Dana Harms and Eric Mayfield (behind them is CityCentre Four’s construction and completed Three), who tell us the garage is 20% done and will be finished by Thanksgiving to hit the holiday shopping rush. CityCentre Three was delivered in September but is still getting finishing touches.

Here’s CityCentre Three. Eric tells us Midway was very involved in the design and construction of Texas A&M’s Mays School of Business’ space there (which holds a special place in his heart as an alumnus of the program). Hotel Sorella is partnering with A&M to use its meeting and event space; Montco Offshore and LLOG Exploration Co are also tenants of the 120k SF building. There is still office space available in both Three and Four, and Colvill Office Properties is handling leasing.
Source: http://www.bisnow.com/real-estate-hou/2012/10/04/construction-diaries-the-sequel/

N90

Oct 28, 2012, 8:22 AM

Do you like the rendering to Energy Center III?

Well that's good because it's going to get a twin once it starts construction & finishes construction.

Steve says the firm will begin Energy Tower IV (a twin to III) as soon as it fills Tower III. (Twins built at different times was also the plot of the Patty Duke Show.) Mac Haik already owns the land: It currently houses its car dealership, as seen in the background of this pic. Energy Tower III was designed by Morris Architects and is being built by EE Reed. Rounding out the team are Kudela & Weinheimer, E3 Electric, Walter P Moore, and DBR Engineers

Source: http://www.bisnow.com/real-estate-hou/2012/09/06/spec-energy-building-breaks-ground/

I think I just shot my total post count up by 12% tonight, hahaha.

ATL_sKyHigh

Oct 31, 2012, 3:24 AM

Do you like the rendering to Energy Center III?

Well that's good because it's going to get a twin once it starts construction & finishes construction.

Source: http://www.bisnow.com/real-estate-hou/2012/09/06/spec-energy-building-breaks-ground/

I think I just shot my total post count up by 12% tonight, hahaha.

Looks like lots of stuff going on down there! Are all those current projects?

lockmat

Nov 5, 2012, 10:00 PM

Yes, they are all current projects, but the Lakeside one is going up in phases. I think only one or two buildings is currently under construction.

weatherguru18

Nov 8, 2012, 6:58 PM

New 40-STORY tower on Weslayan has broken ground! That's 5 stories taller than originally planned. AWESOME NEWS!!!

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2012/11/apartment-tower-to-soar-40-stories/

JoninATX

Nov 8, 2012, 7:47 PM

New 40-STORY tower on Weslayan has broken ground! That's 5 stories taller than originally planned. AWESOME NEWS!!!

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2012/11/apartment-tower-to-soar-40-stories/

:banana: Go Houston!!!

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/wp-content/blogs.dir/1876/files/2929-weslayan/highrise-ext.jpg

weatherguru18

Nov 9, 2012, 3:37 PM

JoninATX

Nov 9, 2012, 4:21 PM

Looks like it's going to be a Skyhouse.

N90

Nov 9, 2012, 8:08 PM

Wow, another big announcement!

An Atlanta based company wants to construct a 24-story residential highrise on block 350 downtown!

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/print-edition/2012/11/09/atlanta-developers-novare-group-inc.html
Possible rendering, if anyone is interested.
http://assets.bizjournals.com/houston/print-edition/SkyHouse%20web%20edit.jpg?v=1
http://assets.bizjournals.com/houston/print-edition/SkyHouse%20web%20edit.jpg?v=1

KevinFromTexas

Nov 9, 2012, 8:34 PM

^That's it. Novare has a cookie cutter design for those. That's actually the rendering they use for all of the Skyhouse Towers. The one in Atlanta and Austin are identical. By the way, the one in Austin will be 264 feet tall with 23 floors. So if this one really does have one more floor, it'll probably be around 275 feet.

Arch City

Nov 9, 2012, 11:02 PM

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/wp-content/blogs.dir/1876/files/2929-weslayan/highrise-ext.jpg

Nice looking tower for the area - plus it is going to be a great infill - but this area is already tight with traffic during the week. It'll be interesting to see how they address traffic flow during the week. The streets are quite tight over there (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=W+Alabama+St+%26+Weslayan+St,+Houston,+Harris,+Texas+77027&hl=en&ll=29.737654,-95.440915&spn=0.000019,0.009602&sll=29.738214,-95.441561&layer=c&cbp=13,162.63,,0,4.58&cbll=29.738214,-95.441561&hnear=W+Alabama+St+%26+Weslayan+St,+Houston,+Harris,+Texas+77027&t=m&z=17&panoid=BA9atNAHZn--MHLuBBhg-w).

These are major arterial connector roads to either Upper Kirby, Highland Village and Greenway Plaza - and to a lesser extent The Galleria.

TexasPlaya

Nov 10, 2012, 1:51 AM

^Not to mention there are several apartments being constructed or upgraded in the area.

photoLith

Nov 11, 2012, 5:55 AM

The traffic arguments for new apartments and highrises is so dumb, sorry. But how many people live in these kinds of buildings? Maybe 500 people. 500 extra people a day is not going to effect the traffic in a city where there are probably 80,000 people a day drive past that location.

Reverberation

Nov 12, 2012, 3:55 PM

The land they are talking about is a huge site. This could be big for the world of infill near downtown;

KBR-owned land near downtown Houston has buyer
Houston Business Journal by Bayan Raji, Reporter
Date: Tuesday, November 6, 2012, 8:07am CST

A KBR-owned property of 136 acres east of downtown Houston has a buyer.

The land, on the market since June, is under contract and should close by year-end, Davis Adams of HFF, the commercial real estate firm listing the property, told the Houston Chronicle. He told the Chronicle he did not want to identify the buyer.

Land in the area was selling for $8 to $25 per square foot, Adams told HBJ in June. Using that wide price range, the KBR site could fetch $47.3 million to $147.78 million.

Houston-based KBR Inc. (NYSE: KBR) owns the tract at 4100 Clinton, east of Jensen Drive, which once was home to the former headquarters of the global engineering and construction firm.

An infill site this large has not been available in Houston for at least 20 years, Adams told HBJ in June. The site still contains five office buildings constructed in the early 1970s that have approximately 720,000 square feet. A 36,000-square-foot employee center also remains on the site, but the rest of the industrial buildings have been demolished in preparation for the sale.

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/morning_call/2012/11/kbr-owned-land-near-downtown-has-buyer.html

Dale

Nov 12, 2012, 7:10 PM

Sounds like a game-changer!

citykid09

Nov 13, 2012, 11:58 PM

A look at what is replacing the Ben Milam Hotel:
http://htmlimg1.scribdassets.com/3y0ofvryio1xhc1k/images/1-8a401c81cf.jpg

A look what Hines plans to put at the recently purchased Cafe Adobe Site:
http://www.imageurlhost.com/images/6vcnpk2ufpzhse3ir9zf.jpg
I was hoping they were putting a highrise at this spot but its still nice and its still an improvement for the inner city.

photoLith

Nov 15, 2012, 2:31 PM

Well, that Ben Milam infill is about as exciting as watching grass grow but at least its taking up some parking lots. Wish they didnt have to tear down the old hotel.

BrodeRayEwing

Nov 15, 2012, 5:45 PM

......

Urbannizer

Nov 18, 2012, 7:52 PM

https://static.culturemap.com/site_media/uploads/photos/2012-11-13/Screen_Shot_2012-11-13_at_4.08.26_PM.525w_700h.jpg

New luxury high-rise upped from 35 to 40 floors: A sneak peek at Houston's tallest apartment tower

PPM Realty Group broke ground on 2929 Weslayan last week, marking yet another multifamily residential development to go up within easy walking distance of Highland Village.

The developer first unveiled the project last September after purchasing the 2.6-acre parcel on the northeast corner of Weslayan Street and West Alabama, an inner-Loop spot that Bryant Nail, the executive vice president of multifamily development for PMRG, tells CultureMap is the "best in town."

Initially marketed as a 35-story, 250-unit luxury high-rise, the apartment has since been upped to 40 floors. Nail says that the upper three of those additional floors are slated for penthouses, two on each floor, that span 4,000 square feet each, boasting 2,000 square feet in patio space and unparalleled views of both the Galleria and downtown Houston — especially if it is the tallest rental tower in the city, as Prime Property estimated.

High-end features in all units include hardwood floors, granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances and gas cook tops, a great benefit to those who like to cook in a gourmet kitchen, says PMRG chief financial officer Roger Gregory.

The building — which is currently scheduled to be LEED Silver-certified — will offer direct elevator access to the top 11 floors, 24-hour valet and concierge services. A .75-acre common area will include a state-of-the-art fitness center, a resort-inspired pool and areas for outdoor cooking. Nail describes it as a "well-equipped backyard."

If that is a resident's backyard, then the signature restaurant that will occupy part of the 12,500 square feet of retail space on the bottom floor will be his or her kitchen. Nail wants it to be upscale enough for special occasions, but casual enough that residents can eat there every day. Catering will be available for room service and pool deck delivery.

The remaining retail space will be occupied by amenities that will benefit the residents, like a day spa and a dry cleaner, set off by a 20-foot high wall fountain in the lobby.

"It's one step removed from hotel living," says Gregory, who tells CultureMap that the development's target audience is "a renter by choice."

Designed by RTKL Associates, the distinctive facade was "inspired by a flowing evening gown," with balconies informing the flow of the building. CF Jordan was selected as the general contractor, Faulkner Design Group as the interior designer and Studio Outside as the landscape architect. The project — PMRG's first multifamily development in Houston — is slated for a 2014 completion.

https://static.culturemap.com/site_media/uploads/photos/2012-11-13/Screen_Shot_2012-11-13_at_4.08.11_PM.800w_600h.jpg

https://static.culturemap.com/site_media/uploads/photos/2012-11-13/Screen_Shot_2012-11-13_at_4.08.06_PM.800w_600h.jpg

https://static.culturemap.com/site_media/uploads/photos/2012-11-13/C01_mod.800w_600h.jpg

Link (http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/11-14-12-new-luxury-high-rise-upped-from-35-to-40-floors-a-sneak-peek-at-houstons-tallest-apartment-tower/)

BrandonJXN

Nov 18, 2012, 8:13 PM

Very nice.

photoLith

Nov 18, 2012, 11:34 PM

Fucking sweet, cant wait to see it rise! That part of town needs a tall tower. I don't expect much from Houston architecture but this blows any other recent development in Houston out of the water. I mean, this is like something you would see in Chicago with refreshing modern architecture. Im very pleased.

Wattleigh

Nov 19, 2012, 6:21 PM

Found this in Nancy's Sunday real estate column.

http://www.chron.com/business/real-estate/article/A-downtown-implosion-is-a-real-estate-rarity-4045726.php

Student housing at Texas Southern University is about to get an upgrade.

A $41.5 million dormitory, the first new dorm to be built there in decades, is set to break ground next May. The seven-story, 215,000-square-foot structure will have 800 beds on the eastern edge of campus. It will have street-level retail and a rooftop terrace.

HarrisonKornberg Architects, is designing the complex in collaboration with Lord, Aeck & Sargent.

Over the last two years, the university has been working on a pilot program in which freshmen live on campus and participate in community, cultural and educational events.

"We're seeing the difference this concept makes in our retention rates and student successes in class," TSU President John M. Rudley said in a statement. "On-campus housing can result in an increase in our graduation rates and keep students focused on graduating on time."

The facility will allow the university to house nearly all of its incoming freshmen on campus. Today, 1,300 students live in six campus housing complexes.

TSU has 9,500 students and is celebrating its 85th anniversary this year. The 150-acre campus is in the Third Ward at Cleburne and Ennis.

Rendering Included in the piece...

http://ww3.hdnux.com/photos/16/23/56/3750806/0/385x218.jpg

OfCourse

Nov 20, 2012, 12:29 AM

Wow. The 2929 Weslayan looks awesome!

weatherguru18

Nov 20, 2012, 9:03 PM

To echo the comment above, "Fucking Sweet!" Here is a new rendering of the convention center hotel downtown!

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/ConventionHotelSWView.png

Dale

Nov 20, 2012, 9:18 PM

The podium almost looks like a sort of cloaking device. Can they do that now ?

Urbannizer

Nov 22, 2012, 5:55 PM

http://swamplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/3333-richmond-aerial.jpg

Tall Hotel and Company Will Park by Greenway Plaza

A 20-story hotel with apartments perched on the top few floors is planned for the southeast corner of Richmond and Buffalo Speedway, just east of Greenway Plaza, Real Estate Bisnow‘s Catie Dixon reports. Engineering firm Bury + Partners is about to start work on construction drawings for the mixed-use project, a redevelopment of the block at 3333 Richmond. The plans also include 400,000 sq. ft. of new office space. The 22-year-old 8-story Solvay America office building sits at the southern end of the site.

Link (http://swamplot.com/tall-hotel-and-company-will-park-by-greenway-plaza/2012-11-21/)