HomeDiagramsDatabaseMapsForum About
     

Go Back   SkyscraperPage Forum > Global Projects & Construction > City Compilations


Reply

 
Thread Tools Display Modes
     
     
  #141  
Old Posted Oct 18, 2006, 3:40 AM
texasboy's Avatar
texasboy texasboy is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 1,261
vjhe, clear out some of your pm's, I cannot even send you a message.

By the way, I need to stay updated some more. I had no idea that park actually started.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #142  
Old Posted Oct 18, 2006, 6:05 PM
vjhe's Avatar
vjhe vjhe is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,302
Quote:
Originally Posted by texasboy
vjhe, clear out some of your pm's, I cannot even send you a message.

By the way, I need to stay updated some more. I had no idea that park actually started.
Whoops, sorry about that texasboy. I have just taken care of it. Try to send it now.

Hey Traeslab713, I can't wait until we get our first W-Hotel either. Then we will be just like Dallas and Atlanta.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #143  
Old Posted Oct 19, 2006, 2:20 AM
Xeelee's Avatar
Xeelee Xeelee is offline
Baryonic Lord
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Houston
Posts: 2,080
It was a pleasure - whilst sippping my rum and coke - to read this thread. cool pics. I'll try to take a few pics of my own.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #144  
Old Posted Oct 19, 2006, 3:00 AM
JManc's Avatar
JManc JManc is offline
Dryer lint inspector
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Houston/ SF Bay Area
Posts: 37,783
i bought my truck at the dealership.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #145  
Old Posted Oct 19, 2006, 6:28 AM
Shasta Shasta is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Boston and Houston
Posts: 1,514
The word is out about Galveston.

Drake Development of South Carolina is proposing a 38 story, 366 condo unit tower for Galveston's East Beach. Drake has a stellar reputation for getting projects up on the coast with numerous projects in Myrtle Beach. The prices for this one start at $700,000. That seems to be a reach but we'll see...

East Beach Resort and Spa


Reply With Quote
     
     
  #146  
Old Posted Oct 19, 2006, 7:05 AM
JManc's Avatar
JManc JManc is offline
Dryer lint inspector
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Houston/ SF Bay Area
Posts: 37,783
what is this "need not be built" thing?
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #147  
Old Posted Oct 19, 2006, 2:23 PM
Great_Hizzy Great_Hizzy is offline
H-town Baller
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,441
Meaning it's not an essential piece to the project's initial success. The profit margins aren't predicated on what happens with Phase II.
__________________
Disciple of the written word. Antagonist of the uninitiated.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #148  
Old Posted Oct 19, 2006, 7:09 PM
Cory Cory is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Houston
Posts: 3,350
Oct. 18, 2006, 6:19PM



Developer of Bolsover site gets approval from Houston council


By JENNIFER FRIEDBERG
Chronicle Correspondent

Houston City Council voted Wednesday to move forward with sale and abandonment of the 2400 block of Bolsover Street in Rice Village to make way for a condominium and retail development.

Developer Lamesa Village Ltd. intends to create a project with an open pedestrian plaza. The next step is to get an appraisal of the street, after which the final contract would go back to council for final approval.

A group of nine residents and Rice Village business tenants attended council's Tuesday public comment meeting to oppose the abandonment.

The project on Bolsover between Kelvin and Morningside streets would have retail stores facing into the plaza. Above the shops would be 230 to 250 condo units costing about $500,000 each.

Julie Tysor, vice president of developer The Appelt Co. and of the general partner of Lamesa Properties, described the plan as, "a true mixed use development similar to East Coast and West Coast developments you've seen in dense urban areas."

Parking would be hidden behind the stores and underground with 500 spaces for residents and 400 spaces for retail visitors. There also would be some street parking.

As the plan stands, Lamesa is creating 160 more parking spots than what is required by city ordinance.

"We are long-time owners and landlords in the village," Tysor said. "It is a unique community in Houston that isn't replicated anyplace else. It is ripe for redevelopment to benefit the surrounding residents as well as the University and Medical Center. The current trends in Houston all call for a development like this."

At the Tuesday meeting, residents said parking and traffic were among their primary concerns.

Ronald Stein, a 30-year tenant of the village with a real estate office in the 2400 block of Times Boulevard, told council the development was a detriment to traffic and safety of the village.

"It's a very, very unique and very, very small parcel of Houston. It's two blocks by five blocks," he said. "This large project proposed on Bolsover will do nothing but harm.

"I don't think an adequate study has been done regarding traffic, safety and parking," he said before the meeting.

Resident Sallie Hightower of the 2200 block of Robinhood Street said she has lived in the Rice Village area for 40 years and would like to see the developer do the right thing for the community.

"I understand that individual rights are important and the developer does have the right to develop that property," she said. "Just because you have the right to do something, doesn't mean it's the right thing to do."

Southampton resident Robert Glaser of the 2100 block of Tangley said, "I understand there is urbanization going on but there is no way the infrastructure in place can handle the increased density in this area."

Judith Snively, a lawyer whose practice is located in the 2400 block of Times, said she also doesn't trust the traffic study Lamesa had done.

"I'm on that street almost every day myself right now," she said. "I don't think we're against a building being put in, but closing a street that is so precious to us ... how is that going to benefit the city? That is just going to make traffic worse."

Lamesa hired Traffic Engineers Inc., a 35-year-old Houston company, to perform a study as part of the abandonment request. The Department of Public Works and Engineering asked for a supplemental study, which was done.

After reviewing both studies, the department recommended abandonment, given several conditions.

The conditions include:

•Installing left-turn lanes on Kelvin and Morningside at the Rice Boulevard intersection;
•Adding right of way space to the east side of Kelvin Street and west side of Morningside Street, where angled parking spaces would be added; and,
•Constructing a four-foot wide sidewalk on Kelvin and Morningside between Bolsover and Dunstan streets to comply with American with Disabilities Act standards.
District C council member Anne Clutterbuck said not closing Bolsover Street would make for a very different development without green space.

Of the study she said, "I'm satisfied the counts were accurate. Traffic is always going to be a problem in the village and it will continue to be whether we approve the abandonment or not."

Bolsover would not be the first street in Rice Village the city has abandoned to a developer. Part of Amherst Street was ceded to Weingarten Realty for parking.

Clutterbuck cited the Amherst Street abandonment Tuesday in promoting her amendment to the motion for abandonment, which allows council to specify the approved use of Bolsover. The amendment passed.

"We have been burned in the past," Clutterbuck said of Amherst Street.

She said Weingarten originally told council the parking garage would be free to the public, but it is now paid parking.

Clutterbuck said there also would be provisions in the contract for the sale and abandonment, saying if Bolsover Street were not used as specified, the city would get to keep the money from the sale and get its street back.

"This amendment amplifies that," she said.

Tysor said the amendment is fine with her.

"We intend to build what we've proposed to the community so this doesn't present a problem to me," Tysor said.

Before the vote Wednesday, at-large council member Peter Brown said he supports the project because it "provides some civic public space that we need so desperately in our city."

Clutterbuck said the issue was of particular interest to her not only because Rice Village is in her district, but also because she lives five blocks from the proposed development.

"I have put more time into this particular issue than probably any other since I've been on City Council," she said. "When I look at this project, I look at what is in the best interest of not only Rice Village, but also adjoining communities and the city as a whole."

She explained why she supports the project saying City Council cannot regulate the height or density of developments, but it can regulate parking, green space and setbacks.

Given those limitations, Clutterbuck said this proposal exceeds the city's requirements for parking, meets the setback and "I like that it's going to turn a large portion back into green space."

Clutterbuck said density is coming to the inner core.

"(The development) will satisfy an increasing need for density and may forestall additional development," she said.

Tysor said tenants of the current building on Bolsover are being relocated and some might come back to occupy the new space.

Current tenants include Nit Noi Thai Restaurant, Café Rabelais, Creations From the Heart Flowers and Gifts, and the Eastern Carpet House.

Tysor said Lamesa would not have commitments from new retailers until the plans are finalized, but the space would include approximately 100,000 square feet of retail space, which could hold about eight to 10 businesses.

She said she expects, "a few restaurants, hopefully a boutique, a grocer and some high-end soft goods retailers" such as shoe or clothing stores.

Once the appraisal is done, the proposal goes back to Houston council for final approval.

Tysor said construction would likely begin in spring 2007 and it would take 18 months to complete.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...s/4269484.html
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #149  
Old Posted Oct 19, 2006, 9:04 PM
texasboy's Avatar
texasboy texasboy is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 1,261
This makes me wish even more that light rail was more closer to say Morningside than on the eastern edge of Rice. I know that would have been impossible or complicated because it is a must to connect the TMC but that area is starving for better service when dealing with public transportation. I use to rent a duplex near Bayard Lane in the Museum District and almost any sort of retail or groceries were in the vicinity of the Village and Kirby. If I did not want to drive to the Village and I had some time on my hands, sometimes I would have to take the rail to the TMC Transit Center and catch the 73. Which was slow but fast for Houston standards I guess. Walking down Bissonet to University was a pain and the walk from the Dryden/TMC station down University was not a walk in the park either. After a while of testing METRO, I just started to drive. This development would be a nice additon to the area though but I say traffic is a mess in that area for a reason.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #150  
Old Posted Oct 19, 2006, 9:14 PM
Great_Hizzy Great_Hizzy is offline
H-town Baller
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,441
Is it me or does it appear that they've changed the color scheme? Seems more ivory than beige now.
__________________
Disciple of the written word. Antagonist of the uninitiated.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #151  
Old Posted Oct 19, 2006, 9:22 PM
Cory Cory is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Houston
Posts: 3,350
Quote:
Originally Posted by Great_Hizzy
Is it me or does it appear that they've changed the color scheme? Seems more ivory than beige now.
Maybe it is just this rendering.

I agree with texasboy somewhat, but the people that will take the bus to the Village are a strict minority in Houston and I think traffic would still be just as bad if bus service was better and I think even the residents in the neighborhoods surrounding the Village will even continue to drive. (sorry for the run-on.) Bus service down Kirby sucks so I don't blame them. That does not mean the P.T. should stay the same especially when you have developments like this adding about 500 new residents to the block. Maybe 73 will speed up its service one day.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #152  
Old Posted Oct 19, 2006, 11:15 PM
Houston Proud Houston Proud is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 88
I read on Chron.com about the new park. They mention that it also going to have a ice skating rink. Is this true?

Furthermore, did anyone hear about the $1.4 billion dollar devepolment Texas Children Hospital is planning? That info and graphic designs is also on Chron.com
__________________
Houston is the best city in Texas!
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #153  
Old Posted Oct 20, 2006, 1:28 AM
Boris Boris is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,730
Here are the designs/renderings of the new Childrens' hospitals:




Texas Children's West Houston campus will be located at a 55-acre tract at I-10 and Barker-Cypress and start with 96 beds.




The Neurological Research Institute will consist of research labs and a vivarium encompassing 15 floors and 400,000 square feet of space.




The $575 million maternity center is the most expensive piece of the Texas Children's Hospital initiative.



Here's the Houston.chron article:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4270485.html
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #154  
Old Posted Oct 20, 2006, 3:56 AM
Shasta Shasta is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Boston and Houston
Posts: 1,514
It looks like the shuttered hotel (Holiday Inn?...the one on top of the garage) may give way to the new Maternity Center. The skywalk would attach it to the West Tower and Clinical Care Center that already exist across Fannin.

Seems as if the Neurological Center will be on Baylor's campus?

I like the looks of the med center buildings.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #155  
Old Posted Oct 20, 2006, 3:09 PM
Trae's Avatar
Trae Trae is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Los Angeles and Houston
Posts: 4,510


That, along with the St. Christus Catherine hospital exapansion on Fry Road, plus the new Med Center on IH-10 and 99, then the 500 foot Medical Tower near Memorial City Mall will give this area its need for hospitals.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #156  
Old Posted Oct 20, 2006, 4:03 PM
Great_Hizzy Great_Hizzy is offline
H-town Baller
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,441
I really like the graphic of that last Texas Children's project. Has a bit of flare to it.
__________________
Disciple of the written word. Antagonist of the uninitiated.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #157  
Old Posted Oct 20, 2006, 9:02 PM
Trae's Avatar
Trae Trae is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Los Angeles and Houston
Posts: 4,510
Quote:
Originally Posted by Houston Proud
I read on Chron.com about the new park. They mention that it also going to have a ice skating rink. Is this true?

Furthermore, did anyone hear about the $1.4 billion dollar devepolment Texas Children Hospital is planning? That info and graphic designs is also on Chron.com
A skating rink? Wouldn't it melt most of the year. I mean its not indoors.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #158  
Old Posted Oct 20, 2006, 9:05 PM
Trae's Avatar
Trae Trae is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Los Angeles and Houston
Posts: 4,510
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shasta
The word is out about Galveston.

Drake Development of South Carolina is proposing a 38 story, 366 condo unit tower for Galveston's East Beach. Drake has a stellar reputation for getting projects up on the coast with numerous projects in Myrtle Beach. The prices for this one start at $700,000. That seems to be a reach but we'll see...

East Beach Resort and Spa



So, is Phase II not going to be built, or is it depending on sales.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #159  
Old Posted Oct 20, 2006, 9:27 PM
Great_Hizzy Great_Hizzy is offline
H-town Baller
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,441
Probably depends on sales.
__________________
Disciple of the written word. Antagonist of the uninitiated.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #160  
Old Posted Oct 21, 2006, 5:52 PM
guess guess is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 87
Reply With Quote
     
     
This discussion thread continues

Use the page links to the lower-right to go to the next page for additional posts
 
 
Reply

Go Back   SkyscraperPage Forum > Global Projects & Construction > City Compilations
Forum Jump


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 11:29 AM.

     
SkyscraperPage.com - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.