HOUSTON | Development Thread II

[photoLith]

I am hardcore pro preservation and dont want to see anything torn down but that building is truly a blight on downtown and a haven for homeless people at nights to sleep under the awnings. I would actually welcome that buildings demolition if replaced by a residential tower with street level retail but the chances of that happening are laughable.

[Double L]

Horrible news about Macys, it lasted almost 60 years!

[Dale]

WTF ? I thought Macy's had just revealed snazzy plans to renovate the downtown store ?

[photoLith]

I'm amazed it lasted this long, I thought it was going to go the way of Woolworths; well and I guess it is.

[IMBY]

at HAIF there is http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/15624-35-story-tower-by-interfin-to-replace-state-grille/

http://swamplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/2800-weslayan.jpg

This type of architecture is right up my alley! Love it! I'm a curve freak!:tup:

From a trip I took to Houston 12/09, first time, I was so impressed with such an array of curved buildings, there some awesome ones downtown that just tickled my heart to see!

When the two curved Wynn towers were built here in Las Vegas, a noted acclaimed architect was in town to critique Las Vegas' architecture, and he slammed the design work on the Wynn towers and referred to it as merely 70's Houston style architecture! Well, well, well! How do you think I responded to that critique, jumping up and down with joy that we have an exciting slice of Houston here!!! More, more more!!!

[weatherguru18]

Downtown Macy's to be torn down and replaced by commerical office tower...

http://www.chron.com/business/real-estate/article/Macy-s-will-soon-make-final-sale-in-downtown-4166141.php

[photoLith]

More like torn down and remain a vacant lot for 30 years but who knows. Mayor Parker and the city actually quite serious this time in rebuilding downtown. Downtown needs like 25,000 residents or more to actually have retail work. Houston Pavilions is largely vacant and Books A Million just closed last week too. The only real retail that will be left for now in downtown that's open past 5 is Forever 21.

[Dale]

I suppose this could wind up a net win for the city if: they really do build an office tower and if Macy's really does relocate to a smaller facility downtown and the new owners of the Pavilions really do turn it around.

[Reverberation]

More like torn down and remain a vacant lot for 30 years but who knows. Mayor Parker and the city actually quite serious this time in rebuilding downtown. Downtown needs like 25,000 residents or more to actually have retail work. Houston Pavilions is largely vacant and Books A Million just closed last week too. The only real retail that will be left for now in downtown that's open past 5 is Forever 21.

^ Spot on. You can talk all you want about retail in downtown Houston but until there is a residential population (non-prison) to support it, it's not feasible for businesses. Thanks for the photo updates!

In other news, the apartment building at 502 S. Post Oak (near Woodway) is being torn down at the end of the month to be replaced by a mid-rise. Windsor bought the property and will redevelop the site.

[AviationGuy]

^ Spot on. You can talk all you want about retail in downtown Houston but until there is a residential population (non-prison) to support it, it's not feasible for businesses. Thanks for the photo updates!

In other news, the apartment building at 502 S. Post Oak (near Woodway) is being torn down at the end of the month to be replaced by a mid-rise. Windsor bought the property and will redevelop the site.

I think this is the apartment building to be replaced. Really outdated but sort of cool looking. But a midrise would be better for this location. From what I'm seeing on Google Earth, that stretch of Post Oak is ripe for redevelopment. It has several very outdated apartment complexes.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8093/8347671361_10f2e0ab40_b.jpg
(From Google Earth)

[atlantaguy]

More like torn down and remain a vacant lot for 30 years but who knows. Mayor Parker and the city actually quite serious this time in rebuilding downtown. Downtown needs like 25,000 residents or more to actually have retail work. Houston Pavilions is largely vacant and Books A Million just closed last week too. The only real retail that will be left for now in downtown that's open past 5 is Forever 21.

This is sad, but hardly unique for large Downtown Dept. stores in but a very small handful of U.S. cities. We went through the same thing a few years back when we lost our old, grand Macy's.

The building still stands however, and is beautiful. It's evolved into an event space, a collection of a couple of bars and restaurants off of the main Peachtree Street entrance and a data center on the upper floors. It's now known as 200 Peachtree.

http://www.200peachtree.com/

We were lucky in that when they built Atlantic Station two miles north in Midtown (replacing an old steel mill), Dillard's took a bet and built their SE flagship as an anchor there. It was dicey for the first few years with constant rumors they wouldn't make it, but they are now doing very well. I see the same thing happening in Houston.

You guys are a larger market than Atlanta, with a very healthy economy and a booming intown residential scene. I predict that if not Downtown, there will be a Downtown adjacent large Dept. store eventually. I would frankly be surprised if this isn't the case sooner rather than later.

[photoLith]

Heres a render for the new UH stadium... yawn.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8190/8351459094_dd911aed98_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/photolitherland/8351459094/)
screenshot20121107at541 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/photolitherland/8351459094/) by photolitherland (http://www.flickr.com/people/photolitherland/), on Flickr
http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/8819-new-developments-on-the-university-of-houston-campus/page__st__660__gopid__414373#entry414373

I liked the old art deco one much better personally. This one is just so generic, kinda like the BBVA futbol stadium.

[lzppjb]

It looks like an erector set stadium.

[IMBY]

I think this is the apartment building to be replaced. Really outdated but sort of cool looking. But a midrise would be better for this location. From what I'm seeing on Google Earth, that stretch of Post Oak is ripe for redevelopment. It has several very outdated apartment complexes.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8093/8347671361_10f2e0ab40_b.jpg
(From Google Earth)

I don't even want to know if this classic has been replaced some day, as I'll cry me a river! This building should be on the historic register!

[photoLith]

No loss there in my opinion. As long as what replaces it is urban and not a gated off apartment complex.

[Double L]

I'm going to have to strongly, strongly disagree with you on those stadiums photoLith, I think they're awesome!

[photoLith]

^
W8qcccZy03s

[AviationGuy]

I don't even want to know if this classic has been replaced some day, as I'll cry me a river! This building should be on the historic register!

I don't know how this design would be classified...mid century modern? Maybe someone more knowledgeable about architectural nomenclature can comment.

This is one of the few complexes I've seen from decades ago that appeal to me. Most of them I will be glad to see replaced.

[photoLith]

Yeah, that most likely would be considered mid century modern. Its probably from the early 60s, just a guess.

[Shasta]

UH's stadium will not be an erector set like the University of Central Florida's. It's going to be a solid concrete/steel structure.

Also, while I will miss the old Robertson Stadium, that place was a dump. There was no kitchen facility, no real press box, no bathrooms in the "suite" area, and would have cost an arm and a leg to upgrade to ADA specifications.

More importantly, the stadium will have 3 locker rooms and will allow UH to host high school games (valuable $$ and exposure to high school kids who may have never seen the campus). It will also house a nearly 40,000 square foot facility for the Moores School of Music.

[TexasPlaya]

UH's stadium will not be an erector set like the University of Central Florida's. It's going to be a solid concrete/steel structure.

Also, while I will miss the old Robertson Stadium, that place was a dump. There was no kitchen facility, no real press box, no bathrooms in the "suite" area, and would have cost an arm and a leg to upgrade to ADA specifications.

More importantly, the stadium will have 3 locker rooms and will allow UH to host high school games (valuable $$ and exposure to high school kids who may have never seen the campus). It will also house a nearly 40,000 square foot facility for the Moores School of Music.

Are they going to upgrade the basketball arena or knock it down and replace it as well?

[Bailey]

Are they going to upgrade the basketball arena or knock it down and replace it as well?

It is going to get a complete renovation. They will start on that once they finish the football stadium.

[photoLith]

Good news for Galveston hopefully. I miss those trolleys so much.

City leaders to consider reviving island's trolleys

GALVESTON — More than four years after Hurricane Ike, city leaders still haven’t decided whether it’s worth reviving the iconic trolleys, which officials said were more quaint relics than reliable sources of transportation.

Either later this month or early in February, representatives from consulting firm The Goodman Corp. are expected to provide to the city council a comprehensive plan of repair needs and costs for the trolley tracks and vehicles. That plan, which won’t be available to the public until the city council reviews it, also includes maintenance expenses, officials said. Armed with information from The Goodman Corp., the city council is expected to make a decision sometime in the first quarter about whether to move forward with necessary repairs and replacing the chassis on the damaged trolley cars.
http://www.galvestondailynews.com/news/local_news/article_0f74af30-57c5-11e2-8c00-001a4bcf6878.html

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8053/8357737429_d7d8889a2e_b.jpg
http://www.railwaypreservation.com/vintagetrolley/galveston.htm

[N90]

Pearl Midtown Multifamily Dwellings:
http://assets.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/breaking-ground/Pearl%20Midtown%20Rendering*900.jpg?v=1
http://assets.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/breaking-ground/Pearl%20Midtown%20Rendering*900.jpg?v=1
The Morgan Group, a Houston-based real estate company, started construction on its latest Midtown project — an urban, 154-unit, Class A apartment community.
Located on 1.14 acres, the Pear Midtown is five stories and is bounded by Elgin, Smith, Louisiana and Rosalie. It will be a mix of one- and two-bedroom units that average about 850 square feet. The community’s target market is echo boomers and professionals.
Morgan, which has nine other properties inside the loop, will construct, own and manage the property. The designer for the community is Houston-based Wallace Garcia Wilson Architects.
“We expect the same success with Pearl Midtown because of its proximity to several of Houston’s largest employment areas of downtown, the Medical Center and Greenway Plaza,” CEO Mike Morgan said in a statement.
The project, which includes a swimming pool, fitness center and Internet lounge, is walking distance to existing and new shopping, dining and entertainment, as well as the recently announced three-acre park on the northern portion of the Midtown Superblock.
Source: http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/breaking-ground/2013/01/morgan-group-constructs-multifamily-in.html

[TexasPlaya]

Great downtown "convention district" updates from BisNow:Houston (http://www.bisnow.com/commercial-real-estate/houston/convention-district-makeover/)

http://www.bisnow.com/archives/houstonre/2013/Q1/images/downtownhoustonfirsttracts.jpg

Now, consult your paint by number chart and let's color this in. Peter broke down activity in the convention center district for us in this helpful map. 1 is the Marriott Marquis. 2 is owned by HISD and will be a high school for visual and performing arts, and the western half of block 3 may become a limited-service hotel. 4 is Houston First’s tract (1.5 blocks) and 5 is the site of the new garage. 6 will house the Nau Center for Texas Cultural Heritage, and 7 (two blocks) will be the Finger Cos’ eight-story tower. The light rail expansion running along Capitol and Rusk will complete in August 2014, and Houston First recently expanded the sidewalks and added trees along Crawford.

In conclusion 5 out of 7 blocks have "definite" construction coming up, which ends up being 5 surface lots if all blocks are developed. All this plus light rail finishing up, a "Downtown Living Initiative Chapter 380 Program, which incents construction of multifamily housing east of Fannin", and the hope for future superbowls, final four, all star games, award shows (hosted latin grammys I believe), more international soccer, and hopefully the biggest events.

I would highly recommend clicking on the link and reading the details.

[TexasPlaya]

A few old renderings of the Hanover project at BLVD Place:

From swamplot:
http://swamplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/hanover-blvd-place.jpg

A rendering from another design team (http://www.slideshare.net/whyarc/2012-jy-hanover)

I like the bottom rendering the most.

Here are few aerial shots of BLVD Place that are quite revealing taken by SweetJames at HAIF: (http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/6106-latest-blvd-place-news-and-pictures/page__st__1140)

http://i708.photobucket.com/albums/ww86/k_mac127/photo3_zps417b0646.jpg

http://i708.photobucket.com/albums/ww86/k_mac127/photo21_zps4ba56cd3.jpg

http://i708.photobucket.com/albums/ww86/k_mac127/photo1_zps1afad16f.jpg

http://www.blvdplace.com/Images/Gallery/RetailPlans/Large/1.jpg

The two areas being cleared and marked off in the aerials correspond to the two towers in the upper portion of the map, the L shape building and building to the left. One is possibly the Hanover (renderings at the top) and the other is this:

http://swamplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/hanover-blvd-place-revised-skylark.jpg

Nothing has been confirmed.

[photoLith]

Wait what? They are building a high school downtown for the visual arts? What does that mean? I've never heard of a high school for the performing and visual arts. And that they are building that downtown, that's pretty kick ass. I hope it's not just some 2 story building though.

[Von]

I am so excited hearing about the plans that await for Houston!

Anyways, here are some crappy Instagram pictures I took last night on my way home.

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b604/jessekat96/photo_zps06317b37.jpg

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b604/jessekat96/734180_10200308355851781_470245091_n_zps1a8baa9f.jpg

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b604/jessekat96/photo0_zps6c84e307.jpg

[JoninATX]

Looks like Hanover has started site prep. Also more infill going on in midtown. :)

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/breaking-ground/2013/01/morgan-group-constructs-multifamily-in.html

[TexasPlaya]

Wait what? They are building a high school downtown for the visual arts? What does that mean? I've never heard of a high school for the performing and visual arts. And that they are building that downtown, that's pretty kick ass. I hope it's not just some 2 story building though.

It's called HSPVA and the campus is currently located in Montrose near W. Alabama and Montrose. It's pretty old and I'd imagine they'll sell the land, knock it down, and put some apartments on the site. I'd imagine the new campus would be 2-3 stories high on top of a parking garage since they only own one block.

[TexasPlaya]

Looks like Hanover has started site prep. Also more infill going on in midtown. :)

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/breaking-ground/2013/01/morgan-group-constructs-multifamily-in.html

Yup the southern portion of Midtown is starting to pick up. They are also upgrading a lot of the streets and sidewalks in the area, especially Bagby St and around the HCC Campus.

[photoLith]

This may sound mean but they need to get rid of all the homeless shelters around downtown and mid town and put them elsewhere. Im thinking Kingwood or Katy would be good sites for homeless shelters, they also need to put section 8 housing in Kingwood, relocate the downtown prisons to Kingwood, and put a Greyhound bus station right in the town center. Anyways, mid town and downtown will never thrive unless the homeless shelters are moved. Part of downtown is always screwed with the prisons and bail bond places all over the north part of downtown but those cant really be relocated unfortunately.

Mid-town, especially the parts around HCC and the light rail are as seedy as ever. Sorry to say, but people dont want to be living around people who are constantly begging them for money and bugging them at every street corner and gas station. Thats part of the reason I moved out of downtown, I was tired of the constant pan handling and shady fuckers hanging around Houston House. Mid town is just the same, every time I walk down Fannin St around HCC I get approached by no less than 5 people asking for money, some even threatening for money.

[Brijonmang]

A few old renderings of the Hanover project at BLVD Place:

From swamplot:
http://swamplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/hanover-blvd-place.jpg

A rendering from another design team (http://www.slideshare.net/whyarc/2012-jy-hanover)

I like the bottom rendering the most.

Here are few aerial shots of BLVD Place that are quite revealing taken by SweetJames at HAIF: (http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/6106-latest-blvd-place-news-and-pictures/page__st__1140)

http://www.blvdplace.com/Images/Gallery/RetailPlans/Large/1.jpg

The two areas being cleared and marked off in the aerials correspond to the two towers in the upper portion of the map, the L shape building and building to the left. One is possibly the Hanover (renderings at the top) and the other is this:

http://swamplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/hanover-blvd-place-revised-skylark.jpg

Nothing has been confirmed.

The old Hanover rendering leads me to think it was designed for the residential building that sits between Skylark and Post Oak. The building you can barely see in the background looks like the 5151 San Felipe building. I'm putting way too much speculation into an old rendering but that's how it looks drawn to me.

[Reverberation]

This may sound mean but they need to get rid of all the homeless shelters around downtown and mid town and put them elsewhere. Im thinking Kingwood or Katy would be good sites for homeless shelters, they also need to put section 8 housing in Kingwood, relocate the downtown prisons to Kingwood, and put a Greyhound bus station right in the town center. Anyways, mid town and downtown will never thrive unless the homeless shelters are moved. Part of downtown is always screwed with the prisons and bail bond places all over the north part of downtown but those cant really be relocated unfortunately.

Mid-town, especially the parts around HCC and the light rail are as seedy as ever. Sorry to say, but people dont want to be living around people who are constantly begging them for money and bugging them at every street corner and gas station. Thats part of the reason I moved out of downtown, I was tired of the constant pan handling and shady fuckers hanging around Houston House. Mid town is just the same, every time I walk down Fannin St around HCC I get approached by no less than 5 people asking for money, some even threatening for money.

Agreed. It really doesn't help that the Light Rail "stations" are nothing more than platforms in the middle of the street where every wary drifter can watch you pull cash out of your wallet to buy your pointless rail ticket. I walked from Art Bar to the McGowen Street station one night and was on edge the whole time. The new "antique" style streetlights were of course above the tree canopy so it was dark as f*** with people making drug deals openly in parking lots. Not my idea of pedestrian friendly. You would think in 2013 in the United States of America if it was going to take 30 years to lay train tracks down a few streets, they could at least have the sense to elevate them to limit access to paying riders only.

[toxteth o'grady]

Wait what? They are building a high school downtown for the visual arts? What does that mean? I've never heard of a high school for the performing and visual arts

I went to that high school; I was in the first graduating class in 1974. They've been waiting for that building for years. They outgrew the previous building on Stanford street. The last bond issue was supposed to build that new school, but it never got built; the funds were diverted. Hopefully not this time.:hell:

[toxteth o'grady]

This may sound mean but they need to get rid of all the homeless shelters around downtown and mid town and put them elsewhere. Im thinking Kingwood or Katy would be good sites for homeless shelters, they also need to put section 8 housing in Kingwood, relocate the downtown prisons to Kingwood, and put a Greyhound bus station right in the town center.

DC dispersed its Section 8's, but somehow they all ended up on US 1 down towards Mount Vernon. Dispersal makes sense if there are transit options that allow the Section 8 tenants to get to employment centers. As for the homeless, you can remove their hangouts, but they aren't going anywhere if they've got nowhere to go.

But LED's would help. Much brighter than other types of bulbs.

[TexasPlaya]

This may sound mean but they need to get rid of all the homeless shelters around downtown and mid town and put them elsewhere. Im thinking Kingwood or Katy would be good sites for homeless shelters, they also need to put section 8 housing in Kingwood, relocate the downtown prisons to Kingwood, and put a Greyhound bus station right in the town center. Anyways, mid town and downtown will never thrive unless the homeless shelters are moved. Part of downtown is always screwed with the prisons and bail bond places all over the north part of downtown but those cant really be relocated unfortunately.

Sounds like something done out of spite rather than reasoning. Plus there is section 8 housing all over the Houston metro, Sugar land, Katy, Kingwood, etc.

Mid-town, especially the parts around HCC and the light rail are as seedy as ever. Sorry to say, but people dont want to be living around people who are constantly begging them for money and bugging them at every street corner and gas station. Thats part of the reason I moved out of downtown, I was tired of the constant pan handling and shady fuckers hanging around Houston House. Mid town is just the same, every time I walk down Fannin St around HCC I get approached by no less than 5 people asking for money, some even threatening for money.

Coincidentally, most of the midtown growth has been on the edges. However, HCC is undergoing an expansion of buildings and sidewalks around the campus and soon most of the developable land will be around the light rail.

Agreed. It really doesn't help that the Light Rail "stations" are nothing more than platforms in the middle of the street where every wary drifter can watch you pull cash out of your wallet to buy your pointless rail ticket. I walked from Art Bar to the McGowen Street station one night and was on edge the whole time. The new "antique" style streetlights were of course above the tree canopy so it was dark as f*** with people making drug deals openly in parking lots. Not my idea of pedestrian friendly. You would think in 2013 in the United States of America if it was going to take 30 years to lay train tracks down a few streets, they could at least have the sense to elevate them to limit access to paying riders only.

Bottomline, downtown and midtown are ideal for the homeless because of the mass transit and infrastructure. This isn't some Houston phenomenon, try going to downtown Austin and see how many times you get asked for money or how many seedy individuals are around. Perhaps it is worst in Houston but it's not a solely Houston problem.

I personally don't have the problem or view that y'all do about the issue. I live off W. Alabama, west of the spur on the Montrose side, and call Midtown my drinking hole. I generally drink off Bagby or W. Gray St in Midtown and just don't have that problem. It certainly seems worse near the light rail, but duh....

Midtown and Downtown Districts needs to better enforce loitering and find a solution to centralizing the bus transfers (i.e. do away with the greyhound station).

[AviationGuy]

Bottomline, downtown and midtown are ideal for the homeless because of the mass transit and infrastructure. This isn't some Houston phenomenon, try going to downtown Austin and see how many times you get asked for money or how many seedy individuals are around. Perhaps it is worst in Houston but it's not a solely Houston problem.


Edit: I started to post something on beggars but Texasplaya is right. We shouldn't be using this thread for complaining (whining would be a better word). This is a great thread because of the construction information it provides.

[photoLith]

Morgan Group constructs multifamily in Midtown
The Morgan Group, a Houston-based real estate company, started construction on its latest Midtown project — an urban, 154-unit, Class A apartment community.
Located on 1.14 acres, the Pear Midtown is five stories and is bounded by Elgin, Smith, Louisiana and Rosalie. It will be a mix of one- and two-bedroom units that average about 850 square feet. The community’s target market is echo boomers and professionals.

The project, which includes a swimming pool, fitness center and Internet lounge, is walking distance to existing and new shopping, dining and entertainment, as well as the recently announced three-acre park on the northern portion of the Midtown Superblock.

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/breaking-ground/2013/01/morgan-group-constructs-multifamily-in.html

Exxon Mobil tower in downtown Houston changes hands
Shorenstein Properties recently bought the 45-story Exxon Mobil building in downtown Houston.
San Francisco-based Shorenstein bought the 1.2 million-square-foot tower at 800 Bell St. from Irving-based Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM) for an undisclosed sum “markedly below current replacement cost,” the company said in a Jan. 4 statement. The purchase also includes a seven-story parking garage. Previous estimates had expected the property to sell for around $50 million.
Shorenstein purchased the property for Shorenstein Realty Investors Ten LP, a fund formed in 2010 with $1.23 billion in committed capital, the company said in its statement.
As was previously expected, Exxon has leased back the entire building into 2015.
http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2013/01/07/shorenstein-closes-on-exxon-mobil.html

[TexasPlaya]

A more complete map of completed, planned, under construction, and potential:

From Central Houston group (http://www.downtownhouston.org/site_media/uploads/attachments/2012-12-19/dt_current_projects_121219.pdf)
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-liq-3HAFmUU/UOTUinqAUTI/AAAAAAAAJy8/nXxHwSse9GQ/s912/map.jpg

Click link for full view.

[photoLith]

A few of those things are off. 13 has already started, and 12. It was my understanding from a few months back that a new office tower will not be built on that site, instead the Houston club building will be preserved and restored. But it won't surprise me one but if a developer destroys yet another piece of Houston's history instead of developing a vacant lot.

[photoLith]

Bike-sharing program kicks into high gear
Houston's small bicycle- sharing system will expand from three stations downtown to two dozen in several neighborhoods under a partnership announced Wednesday by Mayor Annise Parker.
Parker said the $750,000 collaboration with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas will encourage a healthful transportation option and confirm Houston as a bike-friendly city.

"Providing more transit and transportation options has been a priority for me, but bikes have a special significance," Parker said. "Bikes are freedom, bikes are movement, bikes are transportation, bikes get you to and from a job."
http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Bike-sharing-program-kicks-into-high-gear-4181173.php

[TexasPlaya]

Camden, Midtown piece together plans for long-awaited Superblock downtown development (http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/print-edition/2012/10/19/camden-midtown-piece-together-plans.html)

Camden Property Trust (NYSE: CPT) and Midtown Development Authority are finally working out plans to break ground on the Midtown Superblock property in the third quarter of 2013.
The property, which is divided almost evenly between the developers — 3.14 acres for Camden and 2.98 for Midtown — will eventually include a seven-story multifamily development with close to 300 units overlooking a park. The Midtown Superblock is bound by Main, Anita, McGowen and Travis streets.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=29.744227,-95.375614&num=1&t=h&z=18&iwloc=A

Boom! Now this is a major step for Midtown having the largest vacant block developed, that is right next to a light rail station at the northern end. The Midtown Management District will likely build the park with underground parking, think a smaller Discovery Green. Per the article:

Initial plans for the park include 8,500 square feet of retail, with 250 underground parking spaces to support those businesses. Thibodeaux said groundbreaking plans will likely begin to roll out in March.

Finally the land around the light rail is starting to be developed in a meaningful way. Thousands of apartments have been developed in the western portion of Midtown along Bagby and W Gray, hopefully with this and the Pearl apartment going up we've turned the corner.

[photoLith]

I think they will tear down that ugly suburban strip mall too on that superblock, at least I hope they will. With the addition of that park it will really help out the area along the light rail line.

[lockmat]

Can someone make a list of what's happening in Houston (under construction, approved, proposed)? The first page hasn't been updated in years.

I made a google map with the locations/links etc. I still have some on the west side I need to add.

link: http://goo.gl/R2K8g

[TexasPlaya]

I think they will tear down that ugly suburban strip mall too on that superblock, at least I hope they will. With the addition of that park it will really help out the area along the light rail line.

Yes that land is either owned by Midtown or Camden.

[Shasta]

My niece is moving from downtown Denver to Houston for a new job. We went downtown today at lunch time to explore the streets and tunnels and look for apartments.

There were ZERO available units at the Humble Tower or Hogg Palace and only studios at the Rice Lofts. One Park Place had a few units available, but they were large two bedrooms.

Will someone PLEASE finally convert the 3 building Texas Company block into apartments already!!?!?!?!

[TexasPlaya]

I made a google map with the locations/links etc. I still have some on the west side I need to add.

link: http://goo.gl/R2K8g

Great work! Seems it's concentrated in Uptown, Greenway Plaza, and north Montrose.

[photoLith]

Shasta, look at Houston House, I'm sure they have units available.

[JoninATX]

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/Energy-s-momentum-drives-real-estate-projects-4160260.php

[DanielG425]

New Air China flights to Beijing! :cheers:

[JManc]

new air china flights to beijing! :cheers:

nice!!

[diskojoe]

My niece is moving from downtown Denver to Houston for a new job. We went downtown today at lunch time to explore the streets and tunnels and look for apartments.

There were ZERO available units at the Humble Tower or Hogg Palace and only studios at the Rice Lofts. One Park Place had a few units available, but they were large two bedrooms.

Will someone PLEASE finally convert the 3 building Texas Company block into apartments already!!?!?!?!

Did you look in EaDo? I have a friend that has a warehouse that rents out condos if yall are interested. Its right across the street from last concert cafe.

[Shasta]

The new(ish) Hines tower on Main St, BG Group Place, just secured another lease bringing occupancy to 92%. Not bad for a building built speculatively.

[TexasPlaya]

Uptown Not Waiting for Light Rail, Planning Bus System Along Post Oak Instead (http://swamplot.com/uptowns-not-waiting-for-light-rail-planning-bus-system-along-post-oak-instead/2013-01-17/)

...METRO’s Uptown/Gold Line nowhere in sight, the District has developed a $177-million project featuring light rail-like BRT to update Post Oak — a street “that has long outlived its original use,” says John Breeding, the District’s president...

http://swamplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/uptown-map.jpg

...The district includes 23 million sq. ft. of commercial office space, 5 million sq. ft. of retail, and more than 7,000 hotel rooms. In the next 2 years, almost 3,000 residential units will be added, says Breeding...

http://swamplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/map-uptown-transit-current.jpg

...The BRT system, though, is just one part of the proposed project; the District’s also working with TxDOT to build HOV access lanes to Loop 610 and U.S. 59., which the buses would take to get to and from two proposed transit centers...

[TexasPlaya]

I think this is a very practical solution to the lack of funding for the near future construction of light rail. It will show us if the congestion of the Galleria area will overcome the bus stigma. I think it can if it does in fact connect to the park&ride lots as shown in the above picture. Downtown does pretty decent with its bus usage among commuters so I think connecting those two proposed transit centers to the HOV system so buses can go to and from the core to the 'burbs.

[Trae]

So sad that this city can't get a competent rail system, but I guess this is better than nothing. Traffic here is worse than I remembered.

[tawfiqmp]

So sad that this city can't get a competent rail system, but I guess this is better than nothing. Traffic here is worse than I remembered.

This is where Houston lags behind other major cities. I know how much this city relies on the oil & gas industry, but damn, our public transportation needs to get better. I always envisioned a rail system that would go into some of the suburbs of our city in the future, but I can't see it getting done when they can't even agree upon things within city limits.

[AviationGuy]

So sad that this city can't get a competent rail system, but I guess this is better than nothing. Traffic here is worse than I remembered.

I do think the line from downtown to Reliant is competent, and the new lines being built will be fine. But as an outsider, I'm totally perplexed that the city doesn't already have lines to both airports, to the suburbs, and to areas like Uptown. I feel the same way about Austin, which is way behind. Somehow Dallas got way ahead.

[TexasPlaya]

I do think the line from downtown to Reliant is competent, and the new lines being built will be fine. But as an outsider, I'm totally perplexed that the city doesn't already have lines to both airports, to the suburbs, and to areas like Uptown. I feel the same way about Austin, which is way behind. Somehow Dallas got way ahead.

The issue is you and many others perceive having a lot of rail or more rail as automatically being advantageous. Quality of the line is just as important because there are quite a few lines that under-perform.

With that said, all Texas cities are pathetically behind in terms of the % of people using transit. Houston in particular has had incompetence and corruption ruin its plan.

[feufoma]

I do think the line from downtown to Reliant is competent, and the new lines being built will be fine. But as an outsider, I'm totally perplexed that the city doesn't already have lines to both airports, to the suburbs, and to areas like Uptown. I feel the same way about Austin, which is way behind. Somehow Dallas got way ahead.

Agreed. I would love for this to develop in Houston and Austin. If it did I would also hope that the ridership would generally justify the huge expense of building rail. It will be interesting to note if the very low DARTrail ridership figures improve. At this point I think a strong argument could be made that the current DART ridership doesn't justify the cost of development.

[greywallsareboring]

Agreed. I would love for this to develop in Houston and Austin. If it did I would also hope that the ridership would generally justify the huge expense of building rail. It will be interesting to note if the very low DARTrail ridership figures improve. At this point I think a strong argument could be made that the current DART ridership doesn't justify the cost of development.

I spent the holidays showing some Australian friends around DFW and they loved DART and were perplexed when I told them about the low ridership. I think and hope it will increase, I know five people who have moved into apartments along the Green Line in the last 6 months and are already using DART, some daily for work, others just for the weekend.

I've met a ton of foreigners in Oil and Gas companies in Houston who love it, but constantly ask me questions like why in the %#@* is there no train to the Woodlands or Sugarland?

[N90]

The Alexan in the Heights:
http://media.culturemap.com/cache/4a/c7/4ac7727ef2718afe9384b9be953fad8d.jpg
http://media.culturemap.com/cache/4a/c7/4ac7727ef2718afe9384b9be953fad8d.jpg
Dubbed the Alexan Heights by its noted Dallas-based developer Trammell Crow, the new complex is expected to house a total of 270 units, according to the official paperwork. A parking garage on the ground and basement floors will feature nearly 400 parking spaces.

The project marks Trammel's ninth Houston-area Alexan, a brand with a website that promises "picturesque settings" and "stately architecture" for potential residents. Judging from the other Alexans on the website, the new Heights condos are likely to be rental only.
Source: http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/01-19-13-new-luxury-condo-complex-is-moving-into-the-heights-ready-or-not-big-plans-revealed/

All I care for is infill, more infill, infill, infill. Less surface parking lots. The Houston METRORail is a tragedy indeed.

[N90]

Creekside Park Village Center in the Woodlands:
http://swamplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/rendering-creekside-village-woodlands.jpg
http://swamplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/rendering-creekside-village-woodlands.jpg
ONE MORE of each, thank you: Creekside Park Village Center, rendered above, will be the Woodlands’ 7th and will be anchored by its 4th H-E-B, the master-planned community says. The shopping center will serve Creekside Park, a 100-acre community planned to go in up there west of Lake Paloma. It appears that the center will herd its shoppers inward toward a 4,300-sq.-ft. glass-walled restaurant, which you can see in the rendering. And there’s gonna be a fire pit in that park-like median-thing. (And a water feature on the other end. You know. Just in case.) In all, 80,000 sq. ft. of retail and office space are proposed for the site on Kuykendahl.
Source: http://swamplot.com/the-woodlands-to-get-7th-village-center-4th-h-e-b/2013-01-18/

[N90]

Update on Generation Park:
http://www.bisnow.com/archives/houstonre/2013/Q1/images/hospitalonbeltway8.jpg
http://www.bisnow.com/archives/houstonre/2013/Q1/images/hospitalonbeltway8.jpg
McCord Development’s 4,000-acre master-planned behemoth has its first buyer. And we learned exclusively that Generation Park has grown: McCord added 238 acres in November. FMC Technologies snapped up 173 acres along Beltway 8 bounded by Lockwood Road and West Lake Houston Parkway; McCord Development prez Ryan McCord pointed out the site for us. He says the sale took almost a year, including extremely thorough due diligence that used multiple engineering firms and took over four months. McCord will deliver infrastructure to FMC in 18 months, but FMC hasn’t announced its plans or timeline for the site.FMC’s project will be in the northern part of Generation Park’s Corridor District, which also houses the park’s newest acreage, the 238-acre parcel just south of FMC’s site. (Above, renderings of a potential medical district.) Ryan already has a lot of demand for it, thanks to its Beltway frontage, in-place utilities, and proximity to FMC. Generation Park is benefiting from its size: Groups that want large tracts don’t have many other options. (Seriously, where else can you find 173 acres along the Beltway?) There are a number of corporate consolidation plays in the market, and Ryan suspects many will land at Generation Park.
Source: http://www.bisnow.com/commercial-real-estate/houston/bisnow-exclusive-generation-parks-first-buyer/

[Michi]

What's the latest at West Gray & Waugh...the old Tavern site?

[TexasPlaya]

What's the latest at West Gray & Waugh...the old Tavern site?

Apartments have replaced the site and are pretty close to completion.

[N90]

Update pictures are all courtesy of lockmat on HAIF!

Élan Med Center by Greystar - 6-story residential: http://www.meekspartners.com/elan-med-center
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bIr4Z5XEPiE/UPtf_IgzH2I/AAAAAAAAJ4A/bzEm5OJI_pU/s720/IMG_0528.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-S3tdM0cTDoo/UPtgEMpZKEI/AAAAAAAAJ4I/DN7VbT2iHxw/s720/IMG_0529.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-S3tdM0cTDoo/UPtgEMpZKEI/AAAAAAAAJ4I/DN7VbT2iHxw/s720/IMG_0529.JPG

3001 Post Oak (21 stories) & that multi-family building as well (5 stories): http://www.hicksventures.com/properties.html http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2012/04/more-luxury-apartments-headed-for-galleria-area/
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1vedohL6kes/UPtd1PDAOkI/AAAAAAAAJ1A/OZVYeFutA5I/s720/IMG_0502.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1vedohL6kes/UPtd1PDAOkI/AAAAAAAAJ1A/OZVYeFutA5I/s720/IMG_0502.JPG

High Street:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Yq1hb5cX97s/UPteWBLKEcI/AAAAAAAAJ1w/N4_XBwPzttk/s720/IMG_0509.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Yq1hb5cX97s/UPteWBLKEcI/AAAAAAAAJ1w/N4_XBwPzttk/s720/IMG_0509.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-6WeLzRMijCY/UPteeECohgI/AAAAAAAAJ14/kQ1KDPURv_E/s720/IMG_0510.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-6WeLzRMijCY/UPteeECohgI/AAAAAAAAJ14/kQ1KDPURv_E/s720/IMG_0510.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-N9xU7Tu2hRI/UPtejRMH6aI/AAAAAAAAJ2A/tl5HQvBo_d4/s720/IMG_0511.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-N9xU7Tu2hRI/UPtejRMH6aI/AAAAAAAAJ2A/tl5HQvBo_d4/s720/IMG_0511.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-CUGwDoPfRVk/UPteoif2tgI/AAAAAAAAJ2I/2EJarcQmw80/s720/IMG_0512.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-CUGwDoPfRVk/UPteoif2tgI/AAAAAAAAJ2I/2EJarcQmw80/s720/IMG_0512.JPG

Hanover West Grey: http://swamplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/hanover-w-gray-nw-view.jpg
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Nasoep9PKfs/UPtgHFW2jnI/AAAAAAAAJ4Q/Hx9CDhpuTfI/s720/IMG_0530.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Nasoep9PKfs/UPtgHFW2jnI/AAAAAAAAJ4Q/Hx9CDhpuTfI/s720/IMG_0530.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CIszK3FH45k/UPtgN06aT2I/AAAAAAAAJ4Y/yrEH3Un0h5U/s720/IMG_0531.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CIszK3FH45k/UPtgN06aT2I/AAAAAAAAJ4Y/yrEH3Un0h5U/s720/IMG_0531.JPG

Kipling Apartments: http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-11442-0-08068300-1351406741_thumb.jpg
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2Udnvfw4BC4/UPtflWs_JBI/AAAAAAAAJ3Y/yNL2dckrI3c/s720/IMG_0523.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2Udnvfw4BC4/UPtflWs_JBI/AAAAAAAAJ3Y/yNL2dckrI3c/s720/IMG_0523.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-QLZpyE03ofs/UPtfq_BeF8I/AAAAAAAAJ3g/XapSSQQaJ4A/s720/IMG_0524.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-QLZpyE03ofs/UPtfq_BeF8I/AAAAAAAAJ3g/XapSSQQaJ4A/s720/IMG_0524.JPG

MD Anderson Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Building for Personalized Cancer Care: http://i.imgur.com/f332s.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v_bTU9oKRbI/UPtf2aZCQGI/AAAAAAAAJ3w/sLOs7eLVs3c/s512/IMG_0526.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v_bTU9oKRbI/UPtf2aZCQGI/AAAAAAAAJ3w/sLOs7eLVs3c/s512/IMG_0526.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dcgYck5slJA/UPtf7uq1PeI/AAAAAAAAJ34/VZUMJ-c5BK8/s720/IMG_0527.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dcgYck5slJA/UPtf7uq1PeI/AAAAAAAAJ34/VZUMJ-c5BK8/s720/IMG_0527.JPG

San Felipe & Bering/Gables Apartment: http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/gallery/1287546407/gallery_723_64_33414.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YVaM6TpnDmM/UPtdkcem3fI/AAAAAAAAJ0o/LG0MvBceJKQ/s720/IMG_0498.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YVaM6TpnDmM/UPtdkcem3fI/AAAAAAAAJ0o/LG0MvBceJKQ/s720/IMG_0498.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-rISAOC1v7ic/UPtdrmbn_uI/AAAAAAAAJ0w/Z_CQ3p4x4LA/s720/IMG_0499.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-rISAOC1v7ic/UPtdrmbn_uI/AAAAAAAAJ0w/Z_CQ3p4x4LA/s720/IMG_0499.JPG

Whiteco Tower- 22 stories: http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_10_2011/post-10093-0-25862700-1317839850_thumb.jpg
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-uc5g8QLVY4I/UPteRH18AkI/AAAAAAAAJ1o/gO1t1s61VD8/s720/IMG_0508.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-uc5g8QLVY4I/UPteRH18AkI/AAAAAAAAJ1o/gO1t1s61VD8/s720/IMG_0508.JPG

Interfin 40 story tower: http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/uploads/monthly_12_2011/post-107-0-82364900-1325090547_thumb.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Tv-0QQkTToY/UPtewrCtfgI/AAAAAAAAJ2Q/_uBBm9oPi8o/s720/IMG_0514.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Tv-0QQkTToY/UPtewrCtfgI/AAAAAAAAJ2Q/_uBBm9oPi8o/s720/IMG_0514.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-1Qb28pe6Prc/UPte3M657fI/AAAAAAAAJ2Y/8DiC0TK-xFg/s720/IMG_0515.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-1Qb28pe6Prc/UPte3M657fI/AAAAAAAAJ2Y/8DiC0TK-xFg/s720/IMG_0515.JPG

Willowwick Place at River Oaks: http://htmlimg3.scribdassets.com/16wstrigu81xqudy/images/1-5f90a96645.jpg
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zEcWsWl-MAA/UPtfG4wKxOI/AAAAAAAAJ2w/MCOxvASnYCs/s720/IMG_0518.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zEcWsWl-MAA/UPtfG4wKxOI/AAAAAAAAJ2w/MCOxvASnYCs/s720/IMG_0518.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tBj45GcKPPo/UPtfSHoOzlI/AAAAAAAAJ3A/jhyT-AcZa1Y/s720/IMG_0520.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tBj45GcKPPo/UPtfSHoOzlI/AAAAAAAAJ3A/jhyT-AcZa1Y/s720/IMG_0520.JPG

Waterwall Place: http://assets.bizjournals.com/houston/print-edition/WaterWall-Place.jpg?v=1
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zCDiZsEExo0/UPteHA3eY0I/AAAAAAAAJ1Y/Ed_SOjHSL6k/s720/IMG_0506.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zCDiZsEExo0/UPteHA3eY0I/AAAAAAAAJ1Y/Ed_SOjHSL6k/s720/IMG_0506.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-joJlhRFFOCw/UPteMfIXhuI/AAAAAAAAJ1g/GoU989g38bw/s720/IMG_0507.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-joJlhRFFOCw/UPteMfIXhuI/AAAAAAAAJ1g/GoU989g38bw/s720/IMG_0507.JPG

3009 Post Oak (22 stories): http://www.bisnow.com/archives/houstonre/2010/Q4/images/3009postoakrendering.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3azc4UeaEDc/UPtd6lFVERI/AAAAAAAAJ1I/O7u5-anGf90/s512/IMG_0503.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3azc4UeaEDc/UPtd6lFVERI/AAAAAAAAJ1I/O7u5-anGf90/s512/IMG_0503.JPG

[weatherguru18]

Awesome updates! Any body have anything on Anadarko?

[Dale]

FWIW, there's chatter on HAIF about Chevron building a "signature skyscraper" downtown.

[N90]

FWIW, there's chatter on HAIF about Chevron building a "signature skyscraper" downtown.
That tower will be a good addition to Houston but it wont be anything significant in the way of a supertall (either 1,000 feet or higher or 300 meters or higher).

My guess is something in the 700 or 800 feet range which is still a nice addition but hardly a skyline changer, especially given it's location in the midst of other really tall scrapers.

I created a thread on HAIF called "when will Houston get another supertall?" and a poster that has information about Houston's real estate (he's often very accurate) said "depends on what you see as a supertall" which leads me to believe and since it's been uncovered that it's 50 stories, that this thing will be 700-800 feet at most.

I'm also hoping 5 Allen Center gets off the ground soon, Houston's skyscraper building has been boring since the crash in the 80's (including BG Group Place).

[Dale]

Remember that Devon Tower is 844' at 50 stories.

[N90]

Remember that Devon Tower is 844' at 50 stories.
Anything in the 800 feet range would be spectacular for Houston because we don't have anything in that range yet (800's).

Although still no supertall, I'll take it!

[Dale]

Anything in the 800 feet range would be spectacular for Houston because we don't have anything in that range yet (800's).

Although still no supertall, I'll take it!

I would think that an 800-footer would make an impact even in the middle of the CBD, at least from certain perspectives, no ?

[weatherguru18]

Well considering that an 800+ ft. building would make it the fourth tallest building in the city, I'd assume it would have an impact---especially from the south. To get any distinct skyline changes from the north or west, you'd have to have a scraper clear the 1,000 ft. marker. Even Chase gets lost in the views from the west.

Chase: 1,002 ft.
Wells Fargo: 972 ft.
Williams: 901 ft.
Chevron: 800+???
BOA: 780 ft.
Heritage Plaza: 762 ft.

[Shasta]

According to the Houston Business Journal, Hanover officially broke ground on the 29 story apartment tower in the Galleria area as part of the Blvd Place development. 350+ units, mostly one bedrooms.

[Rail Claimore]

That tower will be a good addition to Houston but it wont be anything significant in the way of a supertall (either 1,000 feet or higher or 300 meters or higher).

My guess is something in the 700 or 800 feet range which is still a nice addition but hardly a skyline changer, especially given it's location in the midst of other really tall scrapers.

I created a thread on HAIF called "when will Houston get another supertall?" and a poster that has information about Houston's real estate (he's often very accurate) said "depends on what you see as a supertall" which leads me to believe and since it's been uncovered that it's 50 stories, that this thing will be 700-800 feet at most.

I'm also hoping 5 Allen Center gets off the ground soon, Houston's skyscraper building has been boring since the crash in the 80's (including BG Group Place).

I'm of a similar opinion. Outside of NY or Chicago, supertall skyscraper construction is usually the work of banks or other financial institutions. Houston's two supertalls are a perfect example.

[TexasPlaya]

I'm of a similar opinion. Outside of NY or Chicago, supertall skyscraper construction is usually the work of banks or other financial institutions. Houston's two supertalls are a perfect example.

I think it could take a major O&G company to build +1000 footer. I would certainly love a supertall but mostly I want the surface lots to disappear and a larger residential base to take root.

[N90]

I think it could take a major O&G company to build +1000 footer. I would certainly love a supertall but mostly I want the surface lots to disappear and a larger residential base to take root.
I want both.

I want Houston to be a dynamic city that gets it's desires, the city doesn't have any natural beauty so to speak. It's not a very "unique" place, so to showcase the aesthetics of the city it's got to get on with the infill and the scrapers. It's how flat as a pancake Chicago built it's image.

Take away the Chicago skyline and make it a city like DC where every building is the same height, and there goes every aesthetic appeal of the city. See what I mean?

By the way, BLVD Place has 6 skyscrapers in the works. 3 residential, 2 office, and 1 hotel. The first has already started.

[AviationGuy]

I want both.

I want Houston to be a dynamic city that gets it's desires, the city doesn't have any natural beauty so to speak. It's not a very "unique" place, so to showcase the aesthetics of the city it's got to get on with the infill and the scrapers. It's how flat as a pancake Chicago built it's image.

Take away the Chicago skyline and make it a city like DC where every building is the same height, and there goes every aesthetic appeal of the city. See what I mean?

By the way, BLVD Place has 6 skyscrapers in the works. 3 residential, 2 office, and 1 hotel. The first has already started.

I do think the vegetation in the Houston area constitutes natural beauty of a sort (especially the piney woods areas). Other than that, I agree with all of the above.

[Shasta]

No natural beauty?

Here's what I find beautiful about Houston;

1) Variety. Head up North and you get pine forests. Head down South and you get the Coastal Prairie. Head East and you'll hit swamplands rather quickly. The only part of town I don't love is the Katy Prairie to the West and that's because it's pretty much gone other than Bear Creek/Bush Parks.

2) Evergreen. The live oaks canopies still look beautiful this time of year. Compare that to Boston where the trees lost their cover around Halloween and wont get them back until late April. The Season of "Death" is what I began to call it.

3) The bayous. I truly love Buffalo Bayou. Sure, it's not a beautiful waterway that you swim in, but it's filled with wildlife; gators, bats, hundreds of bird species, coyotes, rabbits, and so much more.

[TexasPlaya]

I want both.

I want Houston to be a dynamic city that gets it's desires, the city doesn't have any natural beauty so to speak. It's not a very "unique" place, so to showcase the aesthetics of the city it's got to get on with the infill and the scrapers. It's how flat as a pancake Chicago built it's image.

Take away the Chicago skyline and make it a city like DC where every building is the same height, and there goes every aesthetic appeal of the city. See what I mean?

I would like both as well, but realistically Houston will add skyscrapers at a slow rate. Downtown Houston has the financial incentive for the first ~2400 residential units. Hopefully that along with all the new infrastructure (rail, buffalo bayou park renovation, bike trails, etc) in the downtown area will create a critical mass that can break free from the 9-5 commuter life.

By the way, BLVD Place has 6 skyscrapers in the works. 3 residential, 2 office, and 1 hotel. The first has already started.

It's pretty sweet. Hopefully they all get built pretty soon.

[N90]

Houston will come along one day, guys.

[N90]

Noble Energy 20 story office tower:
http://assets.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/breaking-ground/c*900.jpg?v=1
http://assets.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/breaking-ground/c*900.jpg?v=1
Developers are planning a 20-story office tower for Noble Energy Inc., a project that will create a corporate campus spanning nearly 1 million square feet for the Houston-based independent energy firm.

The 456,000-square-foot building, which will have an eight-story parking garage and a “town hall” for large employee gatherings, will be developed at the southwest corner of Texas 249 and Louetta.

The building will go up next to twin 10-story buildings Noble leased last year and plans to move into in May.

With the new project, Noble joins other large energy firms that have committed to major campus developments across the Houston area.

Millions of square feet of new buildings are planned or under way for firms such as Exxon Mobil Corp., Anadarko Petroleum Corp., Southwestern Energy and Phillips 66. The new projects are largely concentrated in and around The Woodlands and west Houston.
Source: http://fuelfix.com/blog/2013/01/25/noble-energy-planning-20-story-office-tower/#9545-1

[KevinFromTexas]

Well considering that an 800+ ft. building would make it the fourth tallest building in the city, I'd assume it would have an impact---especially from the south. To get any distinct skyline changes from the north or west, you'd have to have a scraper clear the 1,000 ft. marker. Even Chase gets lost in the views from the west.

Chase: 1,002 ft.
Wells Fargo: 972 ft.
Williams: 901 ft.
Chevron: 800+???
BOA: 780 ft.
Heritage Plaza: 762 ft.

Wells Fargo Plaza is 992 feet tall, not 972 feet.

[weatherguru18]

Wells Fargo Plaza is 992 feet tall, not 972 feet.

Typo. Thanks for the catch.

[BrandonJXN]

Wells Fargo Plaza is 992 feet tall, not 972 feet.

Why is Wells Fargo Plaza not 1,000 feet tall? They couldn't afford 8 feet?

[KevinFromTexas]

I don't know. The old height that we had always seen was actually 972 feet, but what I've seen listed now is 992 feet, and knowing the person who had the height, he probably got it from the blueprints.

The building does always look to be just as tall as the Chase Tower on the skyline. And since Houston is one of the flattest cities in America, I doubt elevation change has anything to do with it.

[TexasPlaya]

The weather and lighting was somewhat bad, here are some random updates by me:

Hanover @ Rice Village is one of my favorite projects and it's getting close to completion. Phase 2 will start this year which will consist of a ~12 story 200 unit residential which will replace a small apartment complex and some minor retail. So we are looking at ~500 units total.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8366/8420506071_9df52177d5_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33793029@N03/8420506071/)
IMAG0493 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33793029@N03/8420506071/) by dv1033 (http://www.flickr.com/people/33793029@N03/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8475/8421601902_e9bbbbf3e6_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33793029@N03/8421601902/)
IMAG0494 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33793029@N03/8421601902/) by dv1033 (http://www.flickr.com/people/33793029@N03/), on Flickr

Some mixed use
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8325/8421600068_52e3d5c02d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33793029@N03/8421600068/)
IMAG0499 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33793029@N03/8421600068/) by dv1033 (http://www.flickr.com/people/33793029@N03/), on Flickr

New sidewalks
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8372/8421599646_80c3d37672_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33793029@N03/8421599646/)
IMAG0500 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33793029@N03/8421599646/) by dv1033 (http://www.flickr.com/people/33793029@N03/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8514/8420503025_45f1375961_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33793029@N03/8420503025/)
IMAG0501 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33793029@N03/8420503025/) by dv1033 (http://www.flickr.com/people/33793029@N03/), on Flickr

Phase 2 would be at the far end on the left
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8331/8420502529_1f0d56eb90_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33793029@N03/8420502529/)
IMAG0502 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33793029@N03/8420502529/) by dv1033 (http://www.flickr.com/people/33793029@N03/), on Flickr

Children Assessment Center (CAC) is where sexually abused children and their families go for haven and help is undergoing an expansion. It will consist of a parking garage (well underway) and about double the space.

Construction site rendering
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8331/8420505161_1ca8b4b9d5_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33793029@N03/8420505161/)
IMAG0495 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33793029@N03/8420505161/) by dv1033 (http://www.flickr.com/people/33793029@N03/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8045/8420504919_978b35c5ae_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33793029@N03/8420504919/)
IMAG0496 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33793029@N03/8420504919/) by dv1033 (http://www.flickr.com/people/33793029@N03/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8055/8420504271_21cec72928_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33793029@N03/8420504271/)
IMAG0498 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33793029@N03/8420504271/) by dv1033 (http://www.flickr.com/people/33793029@N03/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8376/8420501837_39df09888e_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33793029@N03/8420501837/)
IMAG0504 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33793029@N03/8420501837/) by dv1033 (http://www.flickr.com/people/33793029@N03/), on Flickr

Now in Montrose at my old apartment complex at 1301 Richmond near Montrose Blvd that was demolished and will be replace soon
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8051/8420511417_b8efd48e48_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33793029@N03/8420511417/)
IMAG0505 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33793029@N03/8420511417/) by dv1033 (http://www.flickr.com/people/33793029@N03/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8516/8421607556_6a79d5e9ce_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33793029@N03/8421607556/)
IMAG0506 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33793029@N03/8421607556/) by dv1033 (http://www.flickr.com/people/33793029@N03/), on Flickr

Another old apartment complex demoed along Richmond... too bad rail won't be serving the apartments sprouting alongside the planned route.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8045/8421605966_fc930d6500_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33793029@N03/8421605966/)
IMAG0510 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33793029@N03/8421605966/) by dv1033 (http://www.flickr.com/people/33793029@N03/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8375/8420512029_6495abe3ac_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33793029@N03/8420512029/)
IMAG0511 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33793029@N03/8420512029/) by dv1033 (http://www.flickr.com/people/33793029@N03/), on Flickr

Some new townhomes going up near these apartments
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8331/8420510313_201302e0d1_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33793029@N03/8420510313/)
IMAG0508 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33793029@N03/8420510313/) by dv1033 (http://www.flickr.com/people/33793029@N03/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8324/8420510747_327f694bee_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33793029@N03/8420510747/)
IMAG0507 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33793029@N03/8420510747/) by dv1033 (http://www.flickr.com/people/33793029@N03/), on Flickr

[N90]

Looks like this is happening after all: http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/ParcBinzOne.jpg

[AviationGuy]

I love the design of these new condos.


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8324/8420510747_327f694bee_b.jpg

IMAG0507 by dv1033 on Flikr

[Rail Claimore]

I love the design of these new condos.


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8324/8420510747_327f694bee_b.jpg

IMAG0507 by dv1033 on Flikr

Seconded: this is the kind of stuff I love about Houston.

[photoLith]

^
Thats the kind of crap I hate about Houston, destroying old Victorian or bungalow homes for that modernist bullshit.

[KevinFromTexas]

Yeah, I doubt that 100 years from now people will view those the same way they do Victorian homes. I have a feeling they'll be as popular as Brutalist or some forms of International style. I think it's the cold banal look that will make it old before it actually is old. Of course, I'm not just picking on Houston, Austin is afflicted with it, too.

[Illithid Dude]

Modernism gets no love. ): Though, I have to say, if I were to pick an architectual style I feel endemic of Houston, it would be post-modernism, not modernism.

[BrandonJXN]

Modernism gets no love. ): Though, I have to say, if I were to pick an architectual style I feel endemic of Houston, it would be post-modernism, not modernism.

I agree. Whenever I think of post-modern architecture, I think of Houston.

[TexasPlaya]

FYI, those townhomes didn't replace some old bungalow(s).

Personally, I love Montrose because it has so many different types of architectures and forms.

[N90]

FYI, those townhomes didn't replace some old bungalow(s).
What did they replace?

I hope nothing, I like infill of vacant lots rather than seeing something go.

[N90]

4 new multifamily properties across Houston area:
http://www.bisnow.com/testzz/writer/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Broadstone-3800.jpg
http://www.bisnow.com/testzz/writer/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Broadstone-3800.jpg
One:
the 203-unit Broadstone 3800, Midtown
Two:
370-unit Broadstone Greenhouse, Katy
Three:
380-unit Alexan Creekside Pines, The Woodlands
Four:
and 354-unit Alexan Enclave, Energy Corridor
Explanation:
ARA VP Adam Allen recently closed four equity deals for multifamily construction here, and three were in the 'burbs. He says our fundamentals are coaxing cash from institutional and private investors. Strong sponsors help—these projects are with Alliance Residential and Trammell Crow Residential.

Investors find the latter two submarkets particularly compelling, viewing them almost as infill sites. Adam has two more equity deals closing here (and one in Austin) this quarter.

But Midtown is the hot spot for young pros, and this project is being built in the path of growth (the southern edge). Lots of streetscape improvements are under way (including $8M on West Alabama), and the submarket's rent growth is strong. Plus, deals are trading above replacement, making development lucrative. Adam tells us this investor was new to development, a trend that will continue as traditional equity players are either gone or smaller than last cycle

CRE's darling multifamily will continue to dominate in 2013, says JLL's new Texas multifamily managing director Jeff Price. Why? First, Jeff says, it's the most popular investment vehicle for many investors. Second: the reliable and attractive debt with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and life companies. Third: the fair amount of new construction still hasn't met demand. Fourth: transaction volume—in virtually every city from '05 to '07—was huge. Assuming seven-year holds, '12 through '14 will be big transaction years. Finally, Texas markets are experiencing solid growth. Even with a lot of competition, there are still outstanding investment opportunities.
Source: http://www.bisnow.com/commercial-real-estate/houston/loch-ness-of-financing-2/

[TexasPlaya]

What did they replace?

I hope nothing, I like infill of vacant lots rather than seeing something go.

I don't have all 3 of the houses but here's one of them from my thread (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=198067&highlight=houston) of the area around my old apartment complex:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7184/6957293359_dd4ffb477d_b.jpg

So 9 townhomes will replace this house and 2 other....