HOUSTON | Development Thread II

[natenate]

Indeed! Here's a better look at what's coming for Uptown.

Uptown - u/c
1. BHP Billiton - 30-floors
2. Hanover Post Oak - 29-floors
3. Astoria - 28-floors
4. Hyatt Regency - 14-floors

Uptown - approved/proposed
1. Landmark Tower - 37-floors - Start Date n/a
2. Gables Post Oak - 36-floors - Summer 2014 Start
3. Post Oak Office Tower (behind Gables Post Oak) - ?? floors - Summer 2014 Start
4. Apache Tower - 34-floors - 2014 Start Date
5. Belfiore - 26-floors - Feb 28th. Start Date
6. 7 Hotels, 3 Starting this year
7. 20+ Multifamily high-rises
8. 2 million square feet of office space

For Downtown:

Downtown - u/c
1. SkyHouse Houston - 24-floors
2. 1111 Travis - 23-floors
3. 806 Main / JW Marriott - 23-floors - Reno
4. Mickey Leland Federal Building - 22-floors - Reno
5. Texaco Building Reno - 18-floors - Reno
6. Flagship Holiday Inn - 17-floors - Reno
7. Central Square Building - 14-floors - Reno

Downtown - proposed
1. 1600 Louisiana - 50+ floors - 2015 Start
2. 609 Main at Texas - 49-floors - Demo/Site Prep
3. 800 Bell Redevelopment 44-floors - 2015 Start
4. International Tower - 42-floors - Start date n/a
5. Block 35 - 40-floors - Late 2014/Early 2015 Start
6. Texaco Residential Tower - 38-floors - Start Date n/a
7. Capitol Tower - 35-floors - Demo
8. Five Allen Center - 35-floors - Start Date n/a
9. Block 98 - 34-floors - Start Date n/a
10. Hines Market Square - 33-floors - Sept. 2014 Start
11. One Allen Center - 31-floors -Renovation - Start Date n/a
12. 6 Houston Center - 30-floors - 1Q 2014 Start
13. Marriott Marquis - 29-floors - April 11th, 2014 Start
14. 1400 Texas/Block 52 - 28-floors - May 2014 Start
15. Hotel Alessandra - 25-floors - Start Date n/a
16. Convention Center Hotel #3 -14-20-floors - Start Date n/a
17. State National Bank Building - 14-floors - Renovation - Start Date n/a
18. Hampton Inn/Homewood Suites - 14-floors - Site prep
19. 1521 Austin St. & 1404 Leeland St. - 12-floors x 2 - Spring 2015 (Phase 1), Spring 2017 (Phase 2) Start Date
20. 1800 San Jacinto - 10-floors - 3Q 2014 Start Date

Downtown Rumored
1. 102-Story (or 80+ story) Mixed-Use Supertall
2. Ritz Carlton - 40+ floors

Where did these come from? Are there and renderings/status? and are they significant in height (20+ ft.)?

[M. Incandenza]

Studio/Efficiency: 1.25 spaces
1 bedroom: 1.333 spaces
2 bedroom: 1.666 spaces
3+ bedroom: 2.0 spaces

These parking requirements do not apply to the Central Business District.

Single-family lots require 2 parking spaces (a 3rd if there is a secondary dwelling unit on the property).

Oh, ok - thanks for the clarification. (My source was this article (http://nextcity.org/daily/entry/five-extreme-models-to-combat-high-rents).) Anyways, still way too high. Why have parking minimums at all?

[TowerSpotter]

Where did these come from? Are there and renderings/status? and are they significant in height (20+ ft.)?

It came from the Bisnow Galleria Summit.

[toxteth o'grady]

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7431/12462930134_163c2fe019_z.jpg

That's the one that's 8 floors atop an 8-level garage. Looks familiar.

[toxteth o'grady]

I saw something from Houstonia magazine regarding the shuttered "Hotel 31" across from the Galleria. Are there any plans to repurpose that building?

[citykid09]

I saw something from Houstonia magazine regarding the shuttered "Hotel 31" across from the Galleria. Are there any plans to repurpose that building?

That is being replaced with this:

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3761/12348939253_d57689d0be_b.jpg

[Urbannizer]

Updates by Nate99 - 2/12

1111 Travis


http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3788/12486811893_6fdd19600b_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7354/12487152904_ceb8944f61_b.jpg

Capitol Tower

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7423/12486814023_4363a0a034_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3672/12486696255_5590ccf93d_b.jpg

Jennie Sealy Replacment Hospital, Galveston: Today by me.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7330/12486425734_9473aaebc7_b.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2889/12486082553_722f980b7b_b.jpg

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http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5549/12486421354_33b62a6a27_b.jpg

[Urbannizer]

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3806/12488946744_c1124d4d6e_b.jpg

New Luxury Hotel Coming to The Woodlands

A new luxury hotel will soon break ground in the Woodlands, providing much-needed rooms and meeting space for business travelers visiting the area. The Howard Hughes Corp. (NYSE: HHC) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, The Woodlands Development Co., will soon break ground on a 303-room, luxury hotel at Waterway Square overlooking The Woodlands Waterway. The cost of the project was not disclosed.

The hotel, unofficially known as "Waterway Square Hotel," will also include 24,000 square feet of meeting and special event space, a fine dining restaurant and second level pool deck and bar. The Howard Hughes Corp. is in the process of finalizing negotiations with the brand name for the hotel.

The entire project is expected to be completed in mid-2015. The design architect is Elkus Manfredi Architects of Boston. Architect of record is Houston-based Gensler. A contractor has not been named.


http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/morning_call/2014/02/new-luxury-hotel-coming-to-the-woodlands.html

[weatherguru18]

Looks pretty nice. Also appears as though the much advertised condo tower is still on the boards. I believe that's the condo tower behind the rendering of the hotel.

[toxteth o'grady]

How soon is "soon"?

[natenate]

It came from the Bisnow Galleria Summit.

Thanks, were there any detail besides the listing of how many buildings planned? I mean, wouldn't these have potential to be pretty big of there are no exact details?

[TowerSpotter]

Thanks, were there any detail besides the listing of how many buildings planned? I mean, wouldn't these have potential to be pretty big of there are no exact details?

As far as what Urbanizer put down, thats really it. Thats all the info they gave but don't be surprised to hear more about new developments, especially this year. Although besides the info we got, there are other sites around the galleria area being marketed for development.

I think one of the residential towers that we haven't heard about yet could be by Randall Davis. One of the insiders on haif kinda hinted out they bought more property near Astoria.

[Urbannizer]

Looks pretty nice. Also appears as though the much advertised condo tower is still on the boards. I believe that's the condo tower behind the rendering of the hotel.

It's about time they move forward on the hotel. I wouldn't be surprised if the condo tower also receives a new design.

[toxteth o'grady]

Does anyone know anything about the demolition occurring at Westbury Square? Seems like the first activity at that dilapidated shopping area in two decades.

[AviationGuy]

I was at Westbury Square many times in the 60s (and possibly part of the 70s). It was a wonderful, crowded, fun place full of restaurants and shops. I was incredibly sad to see it go downhill.

[photoLith]

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3806/12488946744_c1124d4d6e_b.jpg



The original render of this showed it being nearly 20 stories or more tall, oh well, at least something is going in there, or maybe thats that condo tower behind it.

[Wattleigh]

The original render of this showed it being nearly 20 stories or more tall, oh well, at least something is going in there, or maybe thats that condo tower behind it.

You may be thinking of the condo tower which, more or less, is the same height and design.

The original version of the hotel site was 15 stories (10 floors of hotel/5 floors of residential), so this has three fewer floors than the preliminary rendering.

[toxteth o'grady]

This morning's HBJ lists the building permit for Kirby Grove, so that one is underway. I think this is the 8-floor apartment, but it could be the 16-floor office tower.

[toxteth o'grady]

Oxy comes to town...

Occidental Petroleum to split, move to Houston (http://fuelfix.com/blog/2014/02/14/occidental-petroleum-to-split-move-to-houston/)

[JoninATX]

This morning's HBJ lists the building permit for Kirby Grove, so that one is underway. I think this is the 8-floor apartment, but it could be the 16-floor office tower.

I'm thinking it's the 16 story office tower, since the 8 story apartment building has been U/C for about montn or 2.

[JoninATX]

Crane base has been installed for 1111 Travis. Also Energy Center lV now has there crane up.

[glowrock]

Crane base has been installed for 1111 Travis. Also Energy Center lV now has there crane up.

Nice. Glad that the time from demolition of the old Foley's/Macy's to construction of the new tower has been minimal to nonexistent! Should be a big positive for the Main St. Corridor, no doubt!

Aaron (Glowrock)

[Urbannizer]

There's two crane bases for 1111 Travis. Had some time to take pics. Will post later.

[Nucleareaction]

Oxy comes to town...

Occidental Petroleum to split, move to Houston (http://fuelfix.com/blog/2014/02/14/occidental-petroleum-to-split-move-to-houston/)

Does anyone know if Oxy owns the whole building they currently occupy in Greenway Plaza? Or will they be expanding/building a new office for their move?

[N90]

More on the Westcreek Centre:

The first office tower to be built on the inside of West Loop 610 in the Galleria-Post Oak market in 34 years will start construction at the end of the year. Dallas-based Peloton Commercial Real Estate has announced plans to build a 21-story, 368,000-square-foot tower called Westcreek Centre, located between San Felipe and Westheimer near Target. It will begin construction by the fourth quarter of 2014 with a completion date set for mid-2016.

The building will include 14 office floors and seven floors for parking on 3.6 acres adjacent to the River Oaks District, a mixed-use project currently underway. Griff Jaggard and Derek Beck of Houston-based Moody Rambin are leasing the property. The architect is Austin-based BOKA Powell. Peloton will provide property management. The price of the project was not disclosed.

“New, large-tenant Class A office space is in demand in the Galleria market,” Murl Richardson, a partner for Peloton Commercial Real Estate, said in a release. “In the last two years, the new buildings in this market have been absorbed upon completion, with 675,000 square feet absorbed in 2013 and a current Class A vacancy rate of 12 percent. The fundamental strength of this market is driving our decision to build Westcreek Centre.”

http://m.bizjournals.com/houston/morning_call/2014/02/new-tower-to-begin-construction-in-westcreek-this.html

Multifamily development pushes retail to all-time high:

Pushed by booming multifamily construction, Houston’s retail sector will achieve an all-time high this year, according to a top retail real estate brokerage, development and property management firm.

With Houston leading the state in job growth and significant residential development underway, the Bayou City’s retail sector is predicted to achieve 93 percent occupancy — an all time high, reports Houston-based Wulfe & Co.

Due to the combination of the quick absorption of vacant space with minimal new construction over the past few years, rental rates are steadily increasing in all types and sizes of retail projects, moving retail into a landlord’s market, according to Wulfe & Co.

Retail rents are expected to continue going up, while vacancies continue going down. Since 2008, retail vacancy rates have steadily gone down each year, reports Colliers International Houston. In the fourth quarter of 2013, vacancy rates were 7 percent, compared with 7.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012.

http://m.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/breaking-ground/2014/02/multifamily-development-pushes-retail-to-all-time.html

[N90]

Also here's how the housing market is going to be in Houston this year:

Houston is not at risk of a housing bubble, but a housing shortage, according to industry watchers.

That's the view of Tim Welbes, president of the Woodlands Development Co., who spoke Friday at the Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce Economic Outlook Conference. Welbes said that based upon projected population increases, Houston will need 77,000 new single-family homes in 2014. Homebuilders are expected to build about 28,000 new homes this year, resulting in a shortage of about 50,000 single-family homes.

The housing shortage is being driven by an expected 150,000 new residents this year, he said. But the Houston housing shortage actually started in 2009. That year, Welbes said, there was demand for about 31,500 homes, while there were just 23,000 built, resulting in a shortage of about 8,800 homes. It has been that way every year since.

"There is not enough labor to build all the homes and apartments needed," he said. "There's a labor shortage in the construction industry." He also said that not as many Houstonians lost their homes in the sub-prime lending crisis as elsewhere. "So is there a housing bubble in Houston?" Welbes asked rhetorically. "No. I see a good housing run for the next three years."

http://bizjournals.com/houston/news/2014/02/14/woodlands-developer-sees-houston-housing-shortage.html

[Urbannizer]

All pics by me, taken on Valentines Day.

1111 Travis

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7339/12549135494_26a6f8cd41_b.jpg

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2828/12548776353_4885816fb0_b.jpg

Skyhouse

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7425/12549122014_248f51b3d6_b.jpg

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3791/12548579605_5f02161b79_b.jpg

Mickey Leland Federal Building

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7392/12549119224_228cf85c4a_b.jpg

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3812/12549119894_8c00c14666_b.jpg

Texaco Building Reno

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2891/12549123314_db72c8cd75_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7306/12549124144_02762044af_b.jpg

609 Main at Texas

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7414/12549127654_c21844eb75_b.jpg

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2839/12548769053_a7bc275829_b.jpg

[natenate]

I passed by Skyhouse today and it looks a lot shorter in person. Whats going on further down main by tacos a go-go? I know its a low rise apartments building but can't remember the renderings.

[toxteth o'grady]

"That's the view of Tim Welbes, president of the Woodlands Development Co., who spoke Friday at the Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce Economic Outlook Conference. Welbes said that based upon projected population increases, Houston will need 77,000 new single-family homes in 2014. Homebuilders are expected to build about 28,000 new homes this year, resulting in a shortage of about 50,000 single-family homes."

Given there are fewer than 50,000 homes on the market at the moment, the implication is the supply is going to go to a zero month supply this year, leaving a lot of buyers looking. As it is, the pace of multifamily development (12,000 a year) won't be enough to cover the shortfall.

Now, why are there so few lots available for development? That would seem to me to be the easiest thing for a developer to create.

[N90]

Now, why are there so few lots available for development? That would seem to me to be the easiest thing for a developer to create.
Most empty lots and properties in Houston are owned by private investors , individuals, or developers like GID that have sat on their property for 30 years only to develop it.

There isn't available properties left in the Beltway. Some individuals and investors just want to leave the property for property flipping.

[M. Incandenza]

Most empty lots and properties in Houston are owned by private investors , individuals, or developers like GID that have sat on their property for 30 years only to develop it.

There isn't available properties left in the Beltway. Some individuals and investors just want to leave the property for property flipping.

Is this the case, for instance, in the Second Ward, and elsewhere east of downtown? That area has been stagnant, population-wise (at least it was last decade; I don't know what's going on there now). But I keep thinking that with proximity to downtown and the light rail going through that that area might be poised for a takeoff.

[Nucleareaction]

Is this the case, for instance, in the Second Ward, and elsewhere east of downtown? That area has been stagnant, population-wise (at least it was last decade; I don't know what's going on there now). But I keep thinking that with proximity to downtown and the light rail going through that that area might be poised for a takeoff.

At the moment property value is rising in those areas, but apparently it still isn't to the level that the owners/developers would like to see. That, and other areas inside the loop had a head start in terms of area safety, transportation amenities, and other factors that affect demand.

Long story short, the areas mentioned are probably in for a boom, but there will be many cries of foul play as prices rise and current residents are forced out. Gentrification, in other words.

[Sulley]

I've been out of the SSP loop, so I just learned about the renovation of 800 Bell St (the Exxon Building).

Is anyone else upset that they're taking a mid-century gem and turning it into another Houston OilCube?

It seems that every new tower in this city is a non-descript glass cube built for an energy company. It's sad to lose such a nice, distinctive design.

[Reverberation]

I've been out of the SSP loop, so I just learned about the renovation of 800 Bell St (the Exxon Building).

Is anyone else upset that they're taking a mid-century gem and turning it into another Houston OilCube?

It seems that every new tower in this city is a non-descript glass cube built for an energy company. It's sad to lose such a nice, distinctive design.

I share your sentiments. It was one of my favorite buildings in the city as it was. I was hoping they would just stick with renovating the inside to match the outside. Either way, if things go the way they usually do, there will be a very expensive renovation in 30 years or so once they decide to renovate it to it's original retro splendor.

[Urbannizer]

2/16 by BaderJF

2929 Weslayan

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5511/12600739703_4130bc55e8_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7320/12600637675_c5da01321f_b.jpg

Kirby Grove at Levy Park

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2814/12600640134_77acbba136_b.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5546/12600322343_8c06abb38f_b.jpg

2/15 by Skylineview on HAIF

Willowick Park

http://i1241.photobucket.com/albums/gg515/SkylineView/2014%2002%2015/IMG_2072_zpsabf496b8.jpg

Astoria

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5519/12600711485_8527cd18c0_b.jpg

BHP Billiton

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7318/12601137464_ec402a9893_b.jpg

[toxteth o'grady]

Willowick Park
http://i1241.photobucket.com/albums/gg515/SkylineView/2014%2002%2015/IMG_2072_zpsabf496b8.jpg


So what is that crane off in the distance?

[Wattleigh]

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2014/02/amreit-plans-1-billion-redevelopment-of-uptown-park/


AmREIT plans $1 billion redevelopment of Uptown Park

Posted on February 19, 2014 | By Nancy Sarnoff

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/wp-content/blogs.dir/1876/files/2014/02/uptown-park-600x399.jpg
The Uptown Park shopping center along the West Loop at Post Oak Boulevard (AmREIT)


The owner of the Uptown Park shopping center at the corner of the West Loop and Post Oak Blvd. is planning a more than $1 billion redevelopment of the retail project that will include multiple new towers, bringing the low-rise retail project into the modern era.

The changes will come over the next seven to 10 years and include luxury residential, office, hospitality and additional retail space, according to property owner AmREIT, a Houston-based real estate investment trust that has owned the 17-acre complex for about a decade.

In a Wednesday morning earnings call, the developer said it is negotiations with a national developer to build the first tower at the site — a luxury residential building — that would sit atop 20,000 square feet of retail space. It will be developed where the stores Baker, Pelucha Decor and Bella Rinova are now.

The deal would be structured as a 99-year ground lease to the developer.

AmREIT said it has identified seven potential development sites in Uptown Park.

This video (http://www.amreit.com/page/9/Recent-News#section172) outlines the company’s plans.

From the presentation page & video...

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/UptownParkPlan_zps714a6157.png

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http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/UptownPark3_zps776eb9ed.jpg

[Wattleigh]

A slot has been added to the Skyhouse webcams for the River Oaks project. Doesn't appear to be active just yet though.

http://oxblue.com/open/SkyHouseApartments

[Urbannizer]

http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/26/41/54/5905155/11/1024x1024.jpg

A modest stunner: Montrose museum's long-anticipated new $40 million building to fit in with the trees

Dominique de Menil's dreams of an expanded arts campus in Houston have taken a giant step closer to reality with the unveiling of the design for the Menil Drawing Institute. Menil officials and the Los Angeles architecture firm of Johnston Marklee presented the plans for the distinctive $40 million, 30,150 square-foot building to the media in New York Wednesday.

The MDI, the first freestanding facility in the United States created especially for the exhibition, study, storage, and conservation of modern and contemporary drawings, will be built between the Cy Twombly Gallery, which houses the collected work of the distinctive modern artist, and Richmond Hall, the 1930s building with a large Dan Flavin light installation. It will front West Main street, on part of the Richmont Square apartment complex that is being demolished to make room for the the new building.

Drawings of the new building closely follow a plan that architects Sharon Johnston and Mark Lee presented to Menil officials when they were chosen for the project in 2012. It will be a single-story structure built around a trio of open courtyards, two of which will serve as entry points at either end of the building. A dedicated research area, dubbed a "scholars' cloister," wraps around the third courtyard.

A "living room" space will be situated at the center of the MDI to provide a casual and intimate zone of interaction for staff, scholars and the public. On one side, the space opens into the exhibition galleries. On the other, it provides access to administrative offices, study rooms and the conservation laboratory.

Just off this central common area, the drawing institute's exhibition gallery — like the Renzo Piano buildings that house the Menil's main collection, which opened in 1987, and Cy Twombly holdings, which opened in 1995— will be lit from above by a highly-controlled system of reflected natural daylight.

A thin, flat roof made of painted steel plate will unify the indoor and outdoor spaces. When the one-story building is viewed from the side, the roof will appear to float in the landscape, pierced here and there by treetops, the architects explained in a press release. The new, one-story building will rise only 16 feet tall, as not to overshadow adjoining 1920s bungalows and the main art buildings.

Construction is slated to being in early 2015. A $110 million capital and endowment campaign is underway.

Full Article: http://houston.culturemap.com/news/arts/02-19-14-a-modest-stunner-montrose-museums-long-anticipated-new-building-to-fit-in-with-the-trees/

http://ww2.hdnux.com/photos/26/41/54/5905153/11/1024x1024.jpg

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[toxteth o'grady]

More details on 3737 Buffalo Speedway.

City praises Houston developer for saving oak trees (http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2014/02/city-praises-houston-developer-for-saving-oak-trees/#20799101=0)

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/wp-content/blogs.dir/1876/files/developer-saves-trees/pic1.jpg

[Urbannizer]

http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/26/43/27/5912019/5/1024x1024.jpg

Uptown Park to Alter area's Skyline

The changes are expected to come over the next decade and could begin late this year with the first building tentatively scheduled to break ground.

AmREIT is in negotiations with a national developer to build a luxury residential tower at the site of perhaps 30 stories with 20,000 square feet of retail space at ground level. It would be developed where the stores Baker, Pelucha Decor and Bella Rinova are now.

The deal would be structured as a 99-year ground lease to the residential developer, but AmREIT would own the retail space and underground parking.

Altogether, the company has identified seven potential development sites in Uptown Park and plans to add significantly to the existing 169,000 square feet of retail space.

Uptown Park expansion When it's completed, Uptown Park could include luxury residential, office space, retail and a hotel. Here are the developer's projections:

Residential: more than 1,000 units in at least three buildings
Hotel: more than 300 rooms
Retail: an additional 100,000 to 150,000 square feet
Office: 850,000 square feet
Cost: $1.2 Billion

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Uptown-Park-to-alter-area-s-skyline-5250104.php#/5

[TowerSpotter]

WOW!!! Much Better than all the other designs IMO!!! Now that is a beast!

[N90]

Houston has a winner in shopping district.

Should be the template for everything in Uptown IMO.

[Houstono]

Wow, this looks amazing!

I hope this doesn't turn out as just a visionary project

[toxteth o'grady]

WOW!!! Much Better than all the other designs IMO!!! Now that is a beast!

I got the impression from the different renders that we don't quite know what the first building is going to look like, just that it's at the crook of the Post Oak bend. And it may not begin construction until the end of the year.

[toxteth o'grady]

More hotels for the ExxonMobil neighborhood. Little known yet, except for the new hotel in the Woodlands...

New hotels on tap to accommodate Exxon effect (http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/breaking-ground/2014/02/new-hotels-on-tap-to-accomodate-exxon-effect.html)

[TowerSpotter]

I got the impression from the different renders that we don't quite know what the first building is going to look like, just that it's at the crook of the Post Oak bend. And it may not begin construction until the end of the year.

Those other renders are 6 month old, this one is the newest.

[Urbannizer]

Yes the article (Nancy) says it's a rendering of the project.

I wonder if that's the ~30 story luxury apartment tower in the background? I really hope so. I can also see Uptown Park being a great place for new condo towers too.

[TowerSpotter]

Yes the article (Nancy) says it's a rendering of the project.

I wonder if that's the ~30 story luxury apartment tower in the background? I really hope so. I can also see Uptown Park being a great place for new condo towers too.

It looks to me like its a view looking into the north, strong guess it is the 30 story residential. Kinda like River Oaks rendering except with towers hehehe. :D

[toxteth o'grady]

Here we go again...

Sound familiar? Lawsuit claims San Felipe high-rise would be ‘abnormal and out of place’ (http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2014/02/sound-familiar-lawsuit-claims-san-felipe-high-rise-would-be-abnormal-and-out-of-place/)

Well, it would be in a town that had zoning...

[toxteth o'grady]

Another office building that's longer rather than taller is going up; this time off Beltway 8.

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/wp-content/blogs.dir/1876/files/2014/02/Legacy-at-Fallbrook-Building-1-600x336.jpg

Liberty Property Trust to start office project in northwest Houston (http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2014/02/liberty-property-trust-to-start-office-project-in-northwest-houston/)

[TowerSpotter]

Kingwood Parc West Office Tower - A more finalized rendering. 10-floors, 199'ft. Munoz Albin is the Architect.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3745/12681950464_013270b20a_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3674/12681622083_ef3672f23c_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3724/12681478305_32b74d61f2_b.jpg

http://kingwoodparc.com/pdf/West-Office-201114SM.pdf

[toxteth o'grady]

More details on Uptown Park's first tower. It's supposed to break ground at the end of the year.

More details emerge on $1B Uptown Park project (http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/breaking-ground/2014/02/more-details-emerge-on-1b-uptown-park-project.html)

[Urbannizer]

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3783/12682306224_56b31e2d23_b.jpg

EarthQuest Developers: 'We are still alive'

Contour Entertainment, the developers of the themed adventure park, EarthQuest Adventures; continue to assure community they are still alive, thriving and planning to move into the East Montgomery County community.

Since the timeline ran out on the lease for the plat of land in New Caney that was owned by Friendswood Development, Contour Entertainment has already selected a new section of land in East Montgomery County.

They plan to close on that particular parcel of land by May 2014. Because they are still working out all of the contract details and plans, the exact location Contour Entertainment has selected has not been made public yet.

Full Article:http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/humble/news/earthquest-developers-we-are-still-alive/article_cf5fcbd6-0e4e-567e-a4cd-023916fa143d.html?mode=story

[DanielG425]

Is that Kingwood Parc Tower going up in Houston? I'm confused on location.

[TowerSpotter]

Is that Kingwood Parc Tower going up in Houston? I'm confused on location.

Its 25 miles north of Houston on highway 59.

[Double L]

It's in a town called Kingwood.

[weatherguru18]

http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/26/43/27/5912019/5/1024x1024.jpg



http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Uptown-Park-to-alter-area-s-skyline-5250104.php#/5

This is really something. The amount of highrises going up along the west loop is like something out of Dubai (dramatization). While I'm cautious about expecting the entire 1 billion dollar plan to be developed, I am encouraged that already they are breaking ground on the first of 7 towers.

So along with the this condo tower, we have:

Astoria 28-stories
Hanover Tower at Blvd Place 29-stories
BHP Tower 30-stories
Apache Tower 33-stories-ish
The Gables 37-stories
Skyhouse 28 stories
Belfore 24-stories

That's just off the top of my head. I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting. This doesn't include the countless other towers that are U/C as we speak including the 40 story 2929 Weslayan Tower, 49-story 609 Main, 50-story Chevron, 37-story Capitol Tower, and many others in the 20-30 story range. Amazing times in Houston.

[Urbannizer]

http://swamplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/2229-san-felipe.jpg

Lawsuit's goal is to halt tower in River Oaks area

A lawsuit seeking to stop a 17-story office tower under development in a River Oaks-area neighborhood blasts the project as "abnormal and out of place" in a grass-roots effort that observers suggest was emboldened by the recent success of the high-profile fight against the Ashby high-rise.

Cranes are already at work at 2229 San Felipe, despite the abundance of "Stop the San Felipe Skyscraper" yard signs in the neighborhood between Shepherd and Kirby. Opposition to the project, under development by Houston-based Hines, has included an online petition with more than 1,000 signatures, a website to fight the development and personal pleas to City Council.

Full Article: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/Lawsuit-s-goal-is-to-halt-tower-in-River-Oaks-area-5257653.php

[Urbannizer]

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3697/12700887505_7975094b72_o.jpg

MetroNational Announces Hotel ZaZa at Memorial City

HOUSTON (January XX, 2014) – Houston-based real estate investment, development and management company, MetroNational, announces Hotel ZaZa at Memorial City. Hotel ZaZa will serve as the luxury hotel of a new upscale mixed-use development planned by MetroNational for Memorial City to include a rich blend of residential and sophisticated retail, chef-inspired restaurants and office space. This mixed-use development is located at I-10 and Bunker Hill Road. The 151-room luxury boutique property will be operated and managed by Z Resorts, the management company responsible for Hotel ZaZa Houston Museum District, Hotel ZaZa Uptown Dallas, and Hotel ZaZa Austin Downtown, which is scheduled to begin construction in early 2014.

Hotel ZaZa at Memorial City will break ground mid-2014, and will feature elegant accommodations and thought-provoking art, over 13,000 square feet of meeting space and a ZaZa restaurant and lounge. The hotel will include a destination spa by the brand’s signature ZaSpa as well as a vibrant pool scene with an adjoining green space. Gensler has been selected as the architecture firm of record for the hotel project.

Hotel ZaZa at Memorial City is scheduled to open its doors in 2016.

Press Release: https://www.memorialcity.com/pdf/MN_Press_Release_Zaza.pdf

[Urbannizer]

Downtown Updates by Nate99, 2/21

1400 Texas

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7460/12700570325_da1ce92746_b.jpg

500 Crawford

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2846/12700750663_dcf426c40e_b.jpg

Texaco Building Reno

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7408/12701720343_7291191563_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3808/12702025514_744b3ecd49_b.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2871/12702023454_a715e52a30_b.jpg

Other Updates

Broadstone Midtown:2/18

https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1/1958322_255551451292025_1524768064_n.jpg

https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1/1655980_255268274653676_1668670679_n.jpg

The Suzanne:2/17 by Jax

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/18/y8upe4av.jpg

Hanover South Hampton: 2/21 by Bobruss

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7399/12684426785_cd9e72f5a1_b.jpg

Birdsall Memorial: 2/14

http://www.sunriseluxuryliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Birdsall_2.14.14-940x350.jpg

[Double L]

Thanks everybody for keeping this thread updated for us.

[Urbannizer]

1111 Travis: Today by HoustonMidtown

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7295/12701783545_74af1d6643_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7391/12701950293_212fc1f37c_b.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2812/12702257844_d1c48832ed_b.jpg

The Sovereign: Today by Tottitto on Flickr

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3833/12707061143_648331bf3c_b.jpg

Skyhouse River Oaks: Today by MikeRichardson

https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1/1509982_10201234096564339_18215727_n.jpg

BHP Billiton: Mat Pour going on, by SkylineView

http://i1241.photobucket.com/albums/gg515/SkylineView/2014%2002%2022/IMG_2092_zps9eb26a01.jpg

[Urbannizer]

Anyone think we could use a General Developments thread?

[N90]

Anyone think we could use a General Developments thread?
Yea

[Htowngrown]

Anyone think we could use a General Developments thread?

A General Developments as well as High Rise Developments threads? Would help distinguish all the mid rise apartments and other various city projects from all the skyscrapers going up. Maybe in a few months once things really get going.

[glowrock]

Anyone think we could use a General Developments thread?

Yes. It would definitely help to separate the highrises from all of the midrises and other things going on around here (ie: Buffalo Bayou, things like that)...

Aaron (Glowrock)

[weatherguru18]

I second that.

[Von]

I cannot wait to see construction cranes all over downtown Houston!

[Wattleigh]

At this point, definitely.

There's a pretty steady level of activity with the low & midrise apartments and office projects that are going up and are planned, as well as with the improvements along the Bayou, and the expansions at the Menil & MFAH on the horizon.

[Urbannizer]

Ok, thanks everyone! I'll start working on it this week. Only thing I worry about is that it will not receive much activity besides news articles and picture updates.

[Urbannizer]

609 Main: 2/19 & 2/21 by Rechlin on HAIF

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2859/12736545594_31eca6f7cc_b.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5475/12736242823_71daf346cd_b.jpg

806 Main: 2/21 by Rechlin

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5523/12736063945_370700c201_b.jpg

Hyatt Regency Hotel: 2/23 by Larry Dierker on HAIF

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7298/12727404785_f062f08788_b.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5549/12727859944_f29caa3a1b_b.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5483/12727391995_da7c3677b5_b.jpg

[toxteth o'grady]

"Contour Entertainment, the developers of the themed adventure park, EarthQuest Adventures; continue to assure community they are still alive, thriving and planning to move into the East Montgomery County community."

Okayyyy.............

[toxteth o'grady]

More on the Sunset Coffee Building restoration.

Historic coffee building renovation to wake up sleepy Allen’s Landing (http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2014/02/historic-coffee-building-renovation-to-wake-up-sleepy-allens-landing/?cmpid=hpfc#20909101=0)

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/wp-content/blogs.dir/1876/files/historic-coffee-building/20140210_sunsetcoffee_mdj_06.jpg

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/wp-content/blogs.dir/1876/files/historic-coffee-building/sunset-coffee-building1.jpg

[Urbannizer]

General Developments Thread (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?p=6466537#post6466537) - Still working on details for projects.

[Urbannizer]

Here's more on Azalea Court, including additional renderings.

https://www.hfflp.com/GetDocument.aspx?ID=89734&FN=Azalea+Court+Flyer+020714.pdf&DT=1

Phase 3 contains:


A hotel (front, center)
Office Building (front, right)
Additional Residential (two buildings in the back)


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7455/12770603434_18398b2388_b.jpg

[N90]

8 stories
9 stories
12 stories
15 stories
17 stories
18 stories

This Midlane project is a big density creator, if it is built in this state.

[Urbannizer]

Possible 10-12 story office tower for Amegy Bank

THE SELF-PROCLAIMED “industry insider” behind a new office-space rumor website tells Swamplot that it’s “well-known . . . amongst the tenant/landlord representative crowd” that Amegy Bank has purchased the 4.13-acre site at 1717 West Loop South just north of San Felipe that’s currently home to Houston’s only Micro Center store. The owner and would-be seller of the property, according to county tax records, is the Ohio-based parent company of the 47,800-sq.-ft. computer and electronics store, which has been operating in that location since 1994. There is only one other Micro Center location in Texas.

“The property, which is just down the street from [Amegy Bank's] current office at Five Post Oak Park,” reports the rumor site, “is the supposed site for Amegy to build their own 10-12 story office tower. Rumblings suggest that this move is the result of a lease renewal disagreement between Amegy and their current landlord Shorenstein.”


http://swamplot.com/did-micro-center-just-sell-its-houston-location-to-amegy-bank/2014-02-25/

[natenate]

Here's more on Azalea Court, including additional renderings.

https://www.hfflp.com/GetDocument.aspx?ID=89734&FN=Azalea+Court+Flyer+020714.pdf&DT=1

Phase 3 contains:


A hotel (front, center)
Office Building (front, right)
Additional Residential (two buildings in the back)


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7455/12770603434_18398b2388_b.jpg

I was under the impression Azalea Court was gonna be directly ON Westheimer, where you could see it from the street. That would have been a pretty site.

[Urbannizer]

SWN Energy HQ: By fastesdiatr

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j83/TscreamosoulT/475ECF5A-FF01-427E-BF57-6F45D820ABF9_zpsy8hzngwg.jpg

Phillips 66 HQ: By Cloud713

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o701/skyline_713/74C465A1-9765-4026-8473-0CC5CC7A2C3D_zpsirtvt3rs.jpg

[Urbannizer]

Block 98 - New info (now on the downtown development map - #33).


38-floors
26 residential levels; 12-floors of parking
299 residential units
Summer 2017 Completion
Developer: Trammell Crow
Architect: Ziegler Cooper


http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3788/11130278673_9eb09e5ac1_b.jpg

http://downtownhouston.org/site_media/uploads/attachments/2014-02-25/140126_Current_Projects_11x17.pdf

[Urbannizer]

http://ww3.hdnux.com/photos/26/51/74/5938954/5/1024x1024.jpg

Prime Post Oak Parcel up for Grabs

A prime Galleria-area corner set amid new office towers, luxury apartment buildings and upscale shops, has hit the market, giving a developer the chance to rebuild yet another piece of this booming Uptown neighborhood.

The property, a small shopping center at the northwest corner of Post Oak Boulevard and San Felipe, is likely to be torn down and the site redeveloped into perhaps a multistory apartment complex or hotel.

Houston-based AmREIT has owned the property for almost 10 years and recently negotiated a lease termination with the last tenant in the center, allowing it to start marketing the site for redevelopment in 2015.

"We believe this site will be well received by prospective hotel and/or multifamily partners," H. Kerr Taylor said in a recent conference call to discuss the company's quarterly earnings.

The only occupant in the shopping center, called the Courtyard at Post Oak, is a Verizon store. The rest of the property, which formerly housed a Mexican restaurant and dessert shop are vacant.

The single-story center at 1616 Post Oak Blvd. includes about 14,000 square feet of retail space and sits on 1.59 acres.

HFF is marketing the property, but an asking price was not disclosed. AmREIT said it would like to create a joint venture with another firm to develop the site.

Full Article: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/Prime-Post-Oak-parcel-up-for-grabs-5267366.php#/2

http://i.imgur.com/A6MC09X.jpg

[toxteth o'grady]

"Block 98 - New info (now on the downtown development map - #33)."

Hmm, right next door to the Marquis and a couple of blocks south of the 28-story Marquette development. That's going to fill in the east side of the downtown skyline nicely. Though it's going to surround the new HSPVA campus with highrises...

[toxteth o'grady]

http://i.imgur.com/A6MC09X.jpg

Who's this for, if not Apache?

The render's at least 45 floors. That's going to be one of the tallest structures in Uptown.

[N90]

106

[kingkirbythe....]

It would be great to see that building in Uptown.

[natenate]

http://i.imgur.com/A6MC09X.jpg[/QUOTE]


I would hate for the condo behind that lot to be blocked :(. It's perfectly facing the street as you drive down Post Oak.

[weatherguru18]

That is going to be a massive building. The Four Leaf Towers are 444 feet (40-stories). This building dwarfs those towers. I'm thinking this building is in the 600 or 700 foot range. Could be as dominating as Williams if built to scale.

[kingkirbythe....]

http://i.imgur.com/A6MC09X.jpg


I would hate for the condo behind that lot to be blocked :(. It's perfectly facing the street as you drive down Post Oak.[/QUOTE]

It is pretty, and does line up nicely. But so did the three buildings before the condo was built. If I had to pick which building I'd like to look at while gazing north up Post Oak hands down. :-)

[natenate]

I would hate for the condo behind that lot to be blocked :(. It's perfectly facing the street as you drive down Post Oak.

It is pretty, and does line up nicely. But so did the three buildings before the condo was built. If I had to pick which building I'd like to look at while gazing north up Post Oak hands down. :-)[/QUOTE]

Agree ! I know I'm being picky though :). At the same time, if the building is angled the way it pictured then it wouldn't be horrible. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that rendering just a made up hypothetical by the site owner just to show the possibilities or give ideas?

[Htowngrown]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that rendering just a made up hypothetical by the site owner just to show the possibilities or give ideas?

That is correct! They are just conceptual so it just shows what a ~60 story building would look like on the site. If I remember right this is owned by AmREIT, the same people redeveloping Uptown Park, and are looking to do a similar ground lease/co-development opportunity with a national multifamily and/or hotel developer so they may have a little say in the development process.

[toxteth o'grady]

I don't think anyone would be providing drawings of a building that tall if there were not the possibility that the developer is contemplating something on that order.

[toxteth o'grady]

Tesla is looking at sites for a $5 billion, 10 million sf battery factory. Sites in four states, including Texas, are being considered. Sounds like the sort of industrial facility that would fit in well somewhere in Houston.

Musk’s $5 Billion Tesla Gigafactory May Start Bidding War (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-26/tesla-plans-1-6-billion-note-offering-to-fund-gigafactory.html)

[Urbannizer]

Tesla is looking at sites for a $5 billion, 10 million sf battery factory. Sites in four states, including Texas, are being considered. Sounds like the sort of industrial facility that would fit in well somewhere in Houston.

Musk’s $5 Billion Tesla Gigafactory May Start Bidding War (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-26/tesla-plans-1-6-billion-note-offering-to-fund-gigafactory.html)


Please post this in the new general developments thread.

[Urbannizer]

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7444/12814738284_cf664c6166_b.jpg

Office Tower adds to Houston's Downtown Boom

A 30-story, $250 million office tower is planned for the east side of downtown, the latest project to be announced in the city center where developers are proposing more than 7 million square feet of new or renovated space to fill what they say is a void in the market.

"Today, with occupancies up dramatically, with the market really clamoring for new technology and the latest in new buildings ... it's a wonderful point in time to develop new product," said John Goff, chairman and CEO of Crescent Real Estate Holdings, which will develop the new tower, one of at least eight office projects proposed or underway downtown.

At 600,000 square feet, the Crescent building, designed by HKS Architects, is expected to break ground this summer and could be ready for tenants by the end of 2016.

Full Article: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/Office-tower-adds-to-Houston-s-downtown-boom-5272687.php#/0

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7335/12814738664_a54101c8df_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7342/12814325565_1e6558884e_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7322/12814322873_26802ab58e_b.jpg

[toxteth o'grady]

This is not the same as 6 Houston Center?

[Urbannizer]

This is not the same as 6 Houston Center?

It is 6 Houston Center, the new design faces Rusk St. now.

[toxteth o'grady]

Please post this in the new general developments thread.

I've got a thread for this, but the location is unspecified since Tesla has yet to make a decision. They are looking in Texas, though.

[shakman]

It is 6 Houston Center, the new design faces Rusk St. now.

I thought it was. The design is great with the recesses and cantilevers of various elements of the structure and facade.

[toxteth o'grady]

The recesses mimic Hines' Bic Lighter building. Right down to the trees.