HOUSTON | Downtown Development Updates

[TexasBoi]

I love it. Brings order to the forum. You will get use to it.

[TXLove]

^^^yeah give it some time and I think we all will love it!

[Wattleigh]

The Downtown District has posted a survey on it's website to gauge the interest of people in what they'd like in a potential grocery store.

Check it out: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?s...sdKq6FPw_3d_3d

Also, count me in the group that dislikes the new format. Oh well, guess I'll get used to it in time.

[Urbannizer]

This was found today, by a HAIF member...

GBI INTERNATIONAL (Central Park) Houston













Old rendering..

Mix-use project
7 20-Story towers
812 Multi-family Units
20 Acre Site
491,000 SF of Retail
824,000 SF of Residential
1,120,000 SF of Parking
Location: Asaintown in Bellaire

http://www.ediarchitecture.com/Galle...Central%20Park

[llamaorama]

unreal...

where is that supposed to be? Is it that plot next to 59 by minute made and the new dynamo stadium?

[Urbannizer]

Originally Posted by llamaorama

unreal...

where is that supposed to be? Is it that plot next to 59 by minute made and the new dynamo stadium?

Asaintown in Bellaire

[Wattleigh]

Not to be snarky or whatever but, it's not downtown, nor is it happening.

Also, they could hire someone to at least proofread their pitch. The area is ON Bellaire, not IN it.

On topic of something that actually is occurring downtown...

I was surprised to see even a small crane on site for the expansion that's about to occur at the Ideson Library. I mean, it's only three stories. Guess it will help speed things up in terms of delivery. Similar cranes have been used for The Belle Meade on Westheimer near Kirby and at the Camden Travis project in Midtown.

Also worth mentioning, construction will not begin immediately on the Hilton Garden Inn adjacent to the WEDGE tower. Financing isn't the issue, but rather, Hilton would like to wait until September to ensure that demand is indeed there for the property.

See Swamplot's entry on this.

Have to say though, still a fan of the original twin tower plan from the 80s.

[llamaorama]

So similiar to the Park 8 development then?

[raskacielos-houston]

Hess tower
April 20, 2009

[Wattleigh]

Originally Posted by llamaorama

So similiar to the Park 8 development then?

Nope.

Regardless of the issues in the past, Park 8 managed to actually open an office, offered floorplans for condo units, and managed to make some headway on starting a portion of the condo tower before putting it on hold. It's still closer to happening than the GBI project.

Also, Park8 also seems a bit more auto-oriented. Shouldn't be a surprise though since it has frontage on the Beltway.

[Urbannizer]

More info has been found regarding the secret Hines north tower (block 69).




Here's the rendering that was posted on an achitect's website but was later taken off, fortunaetly Wattleigh saved a copy of the rendering.

[Von]

humm where is this coming from? so is this tower still proposed or has it been cancelled??

[Urbannizer]

Originally Posted by Von

humm where is this coming from? so is this tower still proposed or has it been cancelled??

Its proposed, it was'nt much of a proposal before.

[Double L]

Hmmm.... To be honest, I don't like that Hines Tower very much.

[KevinFromTexas]

It's not a bad looking tower, but there are so many buildings that look like that. Even in Houston, 1000 Main and the Anadarko Tower in The Woodlands are similar. There's a building in Sacramento and Miami too that resemble it. I'd rather see a building with a more interesting design. Even at that height, something more interesting would really stand out since there aren't very many tall buildings in that immediate area of downtown. It'll be really visible from the north and east.

[Wattleigh]

http://houston.bizjournals.com/houst...8/daily34.html
Thursday, May 21, 2009, 8:00am CDT

Downtown Embassy Suites hotel starts construction

Houston Business Journal - by Jennifer Dawson Reporter

American Liberty Hospitality has begun construction on the first privately-developed, full-service hotel to be built in downtown Houston in 27 years.

The Embassy Suites hotel, with 262 two-room suites, will be located at 1515 Dallas, near the George R. Brown Convention Center and Discovery Green Park.

Construction is expected to be completed in spring 2011 on Embassy Suites, which is part of the Hilton family of brands. The hotel will have about 6,000 square feet of meeting space, a rooftop swimming pool, spa and fitness center, restaurant and a street-level café and wine bar.

Nick Massad, president of American Liberty Hospitality, says the project will help attract more convention business to town which, in turn, will be a boost for all downtown hotels.

Mayor Bill White and officials from the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau are scheduled to attend a ceremonial ground-breaking event May 26 at the site.

[TXLove]

^^^ great news!

[Wattleigh]

They finished up fencing off the lot around the Embassy Suites site today. Kinda ironic that as they were finishing up, other nearby lots were charging a premium price for the Graduation Ceremonies happening at Toyota Center.

[Wattleigh]

h/t to lockmat on HAIF, regarding afforable housing DT.

Proposal Submittal Deadline: 3:00 p.m., July 29, 2009

"The Downtown Redevelopment Authority seeks information and expressions of interest from developers with the capacity and desire to plan for and undertake the land acquisition, development, and financing of one or more affordable workforce housing developments. Over the remaining 15-year life of the DRA, the DRA plans to commit up to $20 million in funds toward the Proejct, subject to annual budgeting availability and authority. The DRA seeks a developer that will most efficiently leverage the DRA funding contribution with other private and public funds to create the most possible units of workforce housing at the most affordable prices in the CBD of the city.

The project may be part of a larger mixed-use project or a stand-alone workforce housing project. The Project may also include the purchase of blocks of existing market rate condominium or rental units for conversion to workforce housing units."

http://www.mainstreettirz.com/images...le_Housing.pdf

[salaverryo]

Originally Posted by raskacielos-houston

Hess tower
April 20, 2009

Why "Hess" Tower? The official name is "Discovery" Tower (That's what the sign out front says).