Wow. 3 million square feet. 15-17k employees. That must be the largest construction job in the country.

I clicked the links; No renderings have been released though, right?

^
No, at least, Im not aware of any yet. I really hope it is more than just a giant suburban office complex, but we'll have to wait and see I guess.

Not sure if there is any hope. Exxon's digs will probably be just a huge suburban office complex. Just a really nice one. Springwoods Village next door will have some cool thing, tho.

Im really bored right now so Id thought Id trace all the empty lots downtown Houston still has left. We have a long ways to go folks.

http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/...boy1/dowtn.png

To be fair, some of those are parking lots for buildings that are on the same block, so they don't really count. And you also highlighted a least a few empty lots that aren't parking lots.

Empty lots are even worse than parking lots IMO. Hopefully Houston will develop its downtown more in the future.

1111 Studewood in the Memorial Heights/Washington St corridor

6 floors clad in red brick to resemble older bldg

2 underground parking levels for residents
ground floor retail (9,000 square feet)
floors 2 and 3 customer parking
floors 4-6 contain 20 condos
rooftop pool and summer kitchen

Image courtesy of the Houston Chronicle

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/.../Studewood.jpg

Nancy's blog claims construction has started. Nice infill for this area.

Construction has for sure started on that and its right in the middle of the historic Houston Heights neighborhood. Thats a hell of a lot better than most of the tin sided schlock that has gone in on that side of Houston.

Here's more information on it.
http://swamplot.com/a-rooftop-party-...6-03/#comments

Exxon-Mobil
 

Curious to see if they move their world headquarters from Irving to this new campus.

Well if you've been by the location, the numerous cranes are the confirmation of this project going forward. Exxon has been incredibly hush on such a huge, new and flashy corporate campus. Don't you think that is strange? It wouldn't surprise me if this is indeed the new world headquarters.

Exxon Mobil staying quiet on this may also be a wise PR move as well. What with the economy, record gas prices, and not to mention record oil company profits, I think the last thing most Americans want to hear is Exxon is building a "God knows how many multi million dollar " campus/headquarters.

With regard to the actual headquarters moving, I will believe that when I see it. I'm not holding my breath on that however.

Didnt know this started til I drove past it yesterday. Destroying yet another downtown gem, like Houston hasnt lost freakin enough already. I was able to find a way into the building and walk around. Its the old YMCA building, the Franzheim Building.

http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/...boy1/franz.jpg

http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/...oy1/franz1.jpg

http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/...oy1/franz3.jpg

http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/...oy1/franz4.jpg

http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/...oy1/franz6.jpg

http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/...oy1/franz7.jpg

:( What a shame. And the new YMCA is about the ugliest damn thing Ive ever seen. No doubt, this will just become a parking garage or parking lot YAY progress!

Pretty sad to lose a historic gem like that. What are they replacing it with? That might provide some clues as to why they are demolishing it. Better not be another empty lot!

^
Its going to be parking probably for now for the surrounding towers and Chevron is taking over the land. So thats pretty sweet, ugh. It would have cost the YMCA 25 million to totally restore and repair the building. But they decided that was too costly, and instead went the cheaper rout and built an entirely new building for 50 fucking million dollars, makes complete total sense to me.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5865081.html

That article is from 2008, so its pretty outdated.

I read a rumor that Chevron eventually plans on building a mid rise at the site, although, thats probably pretty far off into the future. Im sure it will just be a glass box, which is a fart in the wind compared to this soon to be nothing but dust once beautiful building.

That would have been an awesome building for lofts or boutique hotel. You could've had a number of terraces. These old YMCA buildings are beautiful and its a shame they are being torn down.

Just found out that the Exxon headquarters are not moving to that new suburban campus from Irving.

Why would a downtown building need surface parking at all?

It all makes me want to cry. :whatthefuck::mad::irked::duh:gaah::tantrum:

Exxon Mobil’s Real Estate Shake Up

By Nancy Sarnoff
Houston Chronicle
Published 06-07-11, 3:47pm CDT

Quotes:

"About 8,000 Houston-area employees will relocate to the new campus just south of The Woodlands.

The long-expected announcement was made to employees early this morning in a memo and later to the public."
...

"Exxon Mobil’s Irving headquarters will not move, nor will the Fort Worth offices of recently acquired XTO Energy. The company’s Fairfax, Va. offices, however, are part of the study. Some 2,500 employees work in that location."
...

"For Houston, the long-expected consolidation will shake up the real estate market."

"Exxon Mobil will vacate several area buildings, including a 44-story tower downtown and several buildings in the Greenspoint area. Employees who work in two additional buildings — one on Buffalo Speedway and another along the Katy Freeway — will also move to the new campus."
....

"Houston economist Barton Smith said the move out of downtown wasn’t likely to be “disastrous,” but there could be repercussions later.

“Are we going to see a mass exodus of energy employment in general from downtown? I think it’s worth keeping an eye on,” he said."



Full article can be found here:

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/...tate-shake-up/
.

Why they feel the need to abandon downtown is beyond me. Not good news for downtown. Screw exxon.

Haha exxon doesn't operate just to fulfill your downtown Houston desires. Downtown has certainly seen way worst departures.

yeah but it does make them justifying the use of the word sustainability because of this campus development more of an annoying buzzword with this move into the near exurbs.

Most definitely, it sucks they are leaving downtown which means there probably won't be any more new office for a little bit (hopefully).

most def probably not. Exxon and Continental heading out there will be plenty of office space available to lease.

Man, this is GREAT news for my area (Woodlands)! I just happen to think that their new campus is pretty baller. Too bad it can't be seen from the Freeway.

http://swamplot.com/welcome-to-the-l...us/2011-06-07/

The Gateway into the campus looks amazing.:tup:

http://swamplot.com/wp-content/uploa...rgy-center.jpg

http://swamplot.com/wp-content/uploa...ntral-quad.jpg

http://swamplot.com/wp-content/uploa...fice-bldgs.jpg

http://swamplot.com/welcome-to-the-l...07/#more-29569

Wow that does look pretty cool. Too bad it couldn't be built in a more central location, I might never see this in person lol.

I also wish this was much closer to downtown but oh well. That building in the first post is kick ass though.

More Uptown Residential Development
 

Too bad the Turnberry project couldn't be revived. But this will have almost twice as many residential units (Turnberry was 184 units at 34 floors vs 300 units on 6-8 floors). This should fill out the block and encourage pedestrian activity. Hines says that this is just the first of many residential buildings of this sort he is looking to develop in Houston over the next few years.

Does Hines have any plans for a residential tower in downtown? I've heard rumors that developers are sniffing around dafter seeing the success of One Park Place.

If you could afford a highrise condo- would you prefer to live in an isolated tower in uptown with freeway like-wide lanes at Wetsheimer and Post Oak....or downtown within walking distance of Discovery Green, Theater District, CBD, Minute Maid, Toyota Center, Dynamo Stadium, and mass transit that in a couple of years can get you around the urban core, including Hermann Park, Museum District and Reliant Park?

^
Theres two abandoned 1920s buildings downtown being converted into condos/apartments, plus a new 17 story or so residential tower to be built next to them in a vacant lot. I dont think thats a Hines development though.

what is this 17 story residential tower you speak of?

Refer to page 154

The new maternal care unit or whatever its called (building on right) of the Texas Children Hospital, they are almost done with the sky walk.

http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/...dboy1/fsdf.jpg
photo by me

Earth Quest Update
 

Revised groundbreaking schedule

source

Not holding my breath for this one.

It would be best for that to never get built. Montgomery county doesn't need more sprawl.

I'm not sure why "it would be best" if it didn't go through. It doesn't have to be inside 610 to be beneficial development.

But it's a theme park... for DINOSAURZ!!

Sorry to break it to you, but Montgomery County is already a lost cause. If this were to be in Liberty County, I could see your point. If anything, this would boost the Northeastern sector of the metro area, which sorely needs it.

Whiteco Residential is moving forward with plans for a 22 story apartment tower in the Galleria area. A late summer groundbreaking is planned for the site near the corner of Westheimer @ Sage.

Unfortunately, this thing has been scaled back big time. Original plans called for twin towers. They were to be 35 stories tall and sleek and contemporary. The new plans call for just a single tower that is being described as classical and traditional (which in Houston means beige tunnel form).

Features include;

22 floors
300 luxury rental units
6th floor pool deck and fitness center
parking on levels 2 thru 5

Info. gathered from the Houston Biz Journal print edition

That will be on that vacant lot next to the Walgreen's, I think.

A tad bit off-topic, but I saw Terrence Malick's "Tree of Life" last night, and it has some pretty amazing shots of downtown Houston. The movie itself is a bit long and drawn out, but for true Houston skyscraper fans, it's worth seeing for those shots. And to catch when they cut to shots in filmed in downtown Dallas, trying to make it seamless.

Swamplot: Midtown Arts Center

"Planned for the Midtown block surrounded by Main, Travis, Francis, and Holman streets: a new 90,000-sq.-ft. multi-tenant performing arts center that might look something like this. And after a city-hall vote this week, it seems more likely to be built: Council approved the sale of the property at 3400 Main St., currently a surface parking lot for the soon-to-be-former city permit office one block to the north, for $2.5 million.."

"The buyer and developer of the new building is the Independent Arts Collaborative, a consortium of local arts organizations — including Fotofest, Diverseworks, the Houston Arts Alliance, Musiqa, Suchu Dance, Opera Vista, Catastrophic Theater, Nameless Sound, the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, and Main St. Theater..."

All pics from Swamplot:

http://swamplot.com/wp-content/uploa...rner-close.jpg

This will be replacing a surface parking lot next to the rail

http://swamplot.com/wp-content/uploa...6/iac-site.jpg

http://swamplot.com/wp-content/uploa...tion-persp.jpg

Great news for Midtown. Innerlooped further expands on how this could attract further development:

"Bob Schultz, who developed some of 3600 Main and the site of four businesses on 3700 Main, plans to build office space, retail and some residential units on 3500 Main and the rest of the 3600 block of Main.
Schultz said he plans to expand on the concept of his nearby developments by bringing more independently owned boutiques and restaurants that are unique to Houston, such as the Tacos A-Go Go and Sig’s Lagoon. He envisions the developing blocks along Main becoming an arts district akin to South Congress in Austin or Magazine Street in New Orleans."

^
Thats awesome, its about time something new got build in Midtown along Main and the light rail. The area around HCC and midtown in general is pretty desolate and ghetto. This will for sure bring some much needed life to the area.

By the way, I found out that the speciality grocery store at the bottom of One Park Place, Phoenicia, is going to open in July 15th. So that will be awesome.

Desolate and ghetto?

Sure, there are vacant lots around, but that area is FAR from ghetto. Try going to the Farmer's Market or Breakflast Klub on a weekend around noon. You'll find a line wrapped around the block. Within just a few blocks of this proposal, you'll find HCC's Central Campus, the Calais Apartments, the Ventanna Apts, the Isabella Court Apts, the Ensemble Theatre, the Continental Club, Sig's Lagoon, My Flaming Heart, the Big Top Bar, Breakfast Klub, Mai's, Monica Pope's T'Afia, Natachees Supper and Punch, Tacos a-Go-Go, Crave Sushi, 24 Hour Fitness, Pizzolia, the Maple Leaf Bar, Julia's Bistro, etc...

From the Houston Chronicle;

Gables new development in Post Oak Park area (just inside the West Loop). This is already under construction. Set to open in 2012. 8 floors. 316 apartments.

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/...espost-Oak.jpg
Nancy Sarnoff's Property Blog at www.chron.com

Dude come on, the area around HCC and the main street light rail line in downtown is pretty ghetto. If you dont believe me, lets take a drive down there. Ive had to walk from downtown to the Museum District at 1 am because I didnt get to the light rail line on time. It was pretty sketchy, theres not been too many times Ive worried for my safety, but that night walking the light rail from downtown to the Museum District was pretty scary.

Yay! More overpriced luxury apartments for the Galleria area! :banana:

/sarcasm

Don't get me wrong, it's nice to see construction picking up again, but I really wish that every freaking apartment complex built wasn't planned as one of those luxury "apartment homes" places, whatever the hell that means. Usually winds up being so expensive that the rents are as much or more than a mortgage!

Aaron (Glowrock)

^
It is The Galleria area afterall, so thats what should be expected. But, at least its getting more dense in that area, which is always a good thing, even if you cant afford to live there unless you are the CFO of a company.