I do regret the tone of the post, and wished I'd expressed my feelings on it more constructively. It's just that I like what's going in in much of Houston, and this just stuck out like such a sore thumb that I found myself unable not to comment on how over-the-top, nouveau riche, Beverly Hillbillies the thing looks. It's trying way too hard.

You guys forgive me? :)

ACTUALLY LMich, as Aviationguy mentioned it may not be so out of place as one would imagine. It is on on edge of the "Beverly Hills" of Houston so it actually may fit in better than you may think. Cheap knock-off or not, it just may work.

And yes we forgive you :-). By the way, you should make a visit down to Houston.

I'm sensing a familiar theme with the Phillips 66 complex - the four lower floors are taller and the upper floors are shorter. They must be planning conference rooms or a data center on the lower floors and need the additional floor-to-ceiling height.

There's another residence not far away from that in the Montrose that's just as over-the-top. You'd spot it immediately; it is eight stories tall and ringed with 15-foot tall statues on pedestals around the building exterior. The whole place screams La Cage aux Folles.

^That thing is truly awful. . .

. . .

I have a question and didn't know where to ask so I decided here is a good place. Is the State National Building downtown abandoned, and if not, what's in it? Thank you

I don't know the answer to that but according to HCAD, the property taxes are not delinquint so if it is abandoned, SNB PLC (State National Bank Company) is still paying ~%18500 per year in taxes with no revenue coming in.

http://www.hcad.org/records/details....5E&bld=1&tab=2

http://www.hctax.net/Property/TaxSta...=0010440000019

Crane is up for SWN HQ, by bachanon on HAIF:

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...74508950_n.jpg

Thanks for the research! Look at the price jump from $750k to $3M (that's if I understood and read it correctly, I might be wrong)!

The Sovereign

http://swamplot.com/wp-content/uploa...nstruction.jpg


http://swamplot.com/the-sovereign-ap...wn/2013-07-24/

All the downtown tax valuations have taken a healthy jump. A lot of landlords are screaming about that.

Saw this one hiding on the pages of Swamplot. Another highrise with statues.

The Mixed-Use Tower Uptown Park Has Been Waiting For?


http://swamplot.com/wp-content/uploa...ptown-park.jpg

I like that! The towers look like they came from Spanish missions.

^ It's not a serious proposal, just a rendering from a marketing video to show what can be built on a site in Uptown Park that will be available to developers next year.

2929 Weslayan, today by Tumbleweed_Tx

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7390/9...ba7ee0b2_c.jpg

A mixed-use tower is planned for Houston, one thinks it's the rumored 102-story tower.

but the office portion may be a seperate tower, according to Lockmat on HAIF

http://www.bisnow.com/commercial-rea...why-build-now/

http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/h...ega-mixed-use/

thanks, Urbanizer! I was just about to post that here, too.

I really like the way the curvy lines are turning out on 2929 Weslayan. It's going to be cooool when its done!

After a long wait, a rendering of the Stream/Essex building in downtown near Market Square park has been made available to the public.

http://swamplot.com/is-this-the-41-s...wn/2013-07-30/

http://i.imgur.com/H8dO0nB.jpg

Nice looking tower. :tup:

Love it!!!

Wow...that is sharp.

Oh now THAT is a BEAUT! For this design to be in Houston is REALLY REALLY exciting. Maybe the rank has finally been broken for this city.

That is super freaking sexy, wow. Ive always despised that surface lot right across from one of the nicest parks in Houston. It will be great to see the area becoming more New York City esque.

Please review this thread before some of you get too excited...
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...=206523&page=2

nice!

That looks very similar to the supertall LA is getting, who is the architect?

Gensler

Hines is doing a Q&A for their office building, trying to beat back the neighborhood complaints.

Hines posts Q&A website for new River Oaks tower

THat rendering looks a lot taller than what has been speculated, if the comparative height against the Chase Tower is correct. If nothing else, the parking levels have been well disguised.

Two more low-rises:

Exclusive: New luxury condos underway in the Heights

Sneak peek: New mixed-use development comes to Museum District

Hanover Post Oak (left) BLVD Whole Foods (right) by Golyadkin

http://i538.photobucket.com/albums/f...psac294e7b.jpg

http://i538.photobucket.com/albums/f...ps1962824a.jpg

http://i538.photobucket.com/albums/f...ps4e96efaa.jpg

Richmon and Yoakum, by Triton Rendering: http://jhib.savageproject.com/wp-con...6_Yoakum_1.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/bDPrygl.jpg?1

:previous:

Will Whole Foods occupy the glass facade structure or the portion on the opposite end of the parking garage?

I think parking is in the back and underground, the main portion is also where the Whole Foods will be. I'm not sure who will occupy the glass structure.

http://www.blvdplace.com/Images/Gall...gs/Large/1.jpg

Houston's skyline in..2017? Five Allen Center, 1600 Louisiana, International Tower, 38-story residential tower and Marriot Marquis are in these photos. By brijonmang on HAIF.

The ones that are not included:
- Hines Residential Tower
- Capitol Tower
- Cresent Office Tower
- 23-story Macy's replacement
- Hampton Inn / Homewood Suites
- Hyatt Place


http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...ps33e272e2.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...ps30b547b0.jpg

And here's how 102-story tower near Minute Paid would change the skyline (old photo used). By TowerSpotter on HAIF
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2822/9...233a901a_c.jpg

Rendering of the proposed Kingwood Town Center (from the Chron):

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3825/9...c51a1c9a_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3760/9...c404c353_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3686/9...1a182fb6_b.jpg

Minus the parking lots, this project looks great. Where is Kingwood?

The amount of activity going on in Houston is just absolutely mind boggling. I'm really happy for y'all that it is finally showing Houston is progressing into a dense urban metropolis as the years fly by.

Kingwood is 30 miles northeast of Houston, east of I-69.

Here's another look at BLVD Place, by Skylineview
http://i1241.photobucket.com/albums/...ps00380024.jpg

Apartments being demolished for River Oaks District, again by SkylineView
http://i1241.photobucket.com/albums/...ps74f3dde5.jpg

http://i1241.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0e836c9c.jpg

Skyhouse:
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3772/9...fae58572_b.jpg

UH Football Stadium
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2891/9...2c807b12_b.jpg

I'm late on this, but where did this 102 story building come from? Link? or just rumor

102 story tower is a rumor that started on a blog post and has grown from there.

Here's what are real proposals downtown

Skyhouse (24 floors under construction)
Fingers' Ballpark Apartments (7 floors under construction)
Chevron Tower (done deal, 50-58 floors)
609 Main (pretty much a done deal, 48 floors)
International Tower (rumors of being a done deal, 41 floors)
Skanska Tower (33-34 floors, demolition of old bldg underway)
Hines Residential (22 floors of apartments, proposed)
Old Texas Company Hdqts (rehab and addition of 38 story apt. tower, proposed)
Marriott Marquis Hotel (34 floors, 1,000 room, done deal)
Hampton Inn/Homewood Suites (14 floors each, shared base, ground breaking soon)
Hyatt Place (11 floors, ground breaking soon)
HSPVA (new high school for the arts moving from Montrose District)
Savoy Hotel (turning vacant hotel into Holiday Inn- underway)
5 story apartments across from Skyhouse (proposed)
6 Houston Center (revived proposal- office, 29 floors)

That area around the skyhouse looks ripe for development. Are those lots long for this world?

Got another one.

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/b...new-river.html

This has been previously posted. There are too many proposal in metro Houston to keep count.

We are hoping that is what happens, especially if there is more demand for residential and then retail.

Thank you for posting this GREAT List! Is there any new news on 5 Allen Center? I understand that, although it has been proposed for a couple of years, it is still a very real proposal that will eventually see the light of day??? Thank you again for posting this list!

Uh what? I grew up in the suburban hell hole of Kingwood, is this going to be in place of the crappy 90s town center on Kingwood Drive? If so, this would be huge for Kingwood.

Five Allen Center is currently in its marketing phase.

That means we watch, we wait...

It's a done deal, as far as the City goes...

Houston City Council passes downtown tax abatement for Chevron

Ongoing improvements along the Buffalo Bayou park belt have led to an extensive revamp that is coming to Eleanor Tinsley Park.

From KUHF...

http://app1.kuhf.org/userfiles/Elean...-SWA-Group.jpg
-from the same article

Downtown is finally becoming a destination!