[Ross]

I noticed a few public notice signs at the apartments at Washington and Waugh announcing an application to redevelop. Anyone have any idea what's up with that?

[Htowngirl]

Ross, on Monday, January 7th, 2008 @ 11:35pm, said:

I noticed a few public notice signs at the apartments at Washington and Waugh announcing an application to redevelop. Anyone have any idea what's up with that?

I think you are referring to the Archstone Memorial Heights Apartments. My friend is a landscape architect and he told me that Archstone is planning to tear the current apartments down and build some higher-rent apartments on that site to get more for their money. His firm bid on the landscaping for the new apartments. Seems a little strange to me, since those apartments are not that old and look nice. Apparently, Archstone hasn't told it's residents anything about it.

[KinkaidAlum]

I'll be glad to see those Archstone Apartments come down if they are the ones I am thinking of. They are completely wrong for that neighborhood. Way too suburban garden styled and way too many ugly gates. That thing looks like it belongs in Pearland, not Central Houston!

[htxred]

i actually live at archstone and was googling trying to find information about those signs. we saw the same signs around allen house apartments on w. dallas and dunlavy and now half the complex is gone.

These apartments are not that bad, ugly fences should be the least of worries for the inner loop. Plus the are the only affordable ones we can find that is south of i10 other then Memorial Club, which IS a horrible place to live.

It would be a shame if they did tear down the complex, that means i will have to relocate, again.

and no, management has not told us anything about it, i read the sign and the hearing was on 12/11/07.

This post has been edited by htxred: Wednesday, January 9, 2008 at 5:07 PM

[tanith27]

I don't think they look all that bad, but yes the design and propensity for ground level parking lots seems to suggest this is more likely a complex found outside the Belt. If they are truly knocking these down somebody must have deep pockets and a positive outlook on the area with all the other complexes being built or planned. I would think it would be cheaper to re-do what is already there in a manner that would attract a certain type of income (redo the flooring, cabinets, create self contained park spaces, etc). My fiancee had this done to her old complex, Camden Vanderbilt on Buffalo Speedway. They told each resident they were redoing the units and (in her case) the new rent would've been several hundred more per month. Pay more or leave was the ultimatum. I think they were trying to cash in on the Med Center buildup, but thats what they did to increase dollars at a relatively small cost.
I'm also not opposed to owner occupied structures either. With all the apartment buildings going up I can't help but be a bit concerned how the area will look in 20 years. Last thing I want is this area to become a downtown Sharpstown. Theres certainly a need for apartments in the area, but so many seem to be sprouting up....

[neal0411]

does anyone know or have any information about the high rise they just broke ground on right at Studemont and Allen Parkway (Memorial Court, actually). I noticed a lot of work around there and now an "office trailer" has been delivered. i'm talking about where the old Sacks Paper Recycling place was.

[HtownWxBoy]

There's also a crane up just northwest of the intersection of Memorial and Waugh... I drove by today and wasn't sure what they are building. I drove by this morning after picking up tickets to see Margaret Cho at the Laff Stop next weekend... I AM SO EXCITED!!!!! > But anywayz, anyone know what they are building?

[ChannelTwoNews]

neal0411, on Thursday, January 10th, 2008 @ 5:30pm, said:

does anyone know or have any information about the high rise they just broke ground on right at Studemont and Allen Parkway (Memorial Court, actually). I noticed a lot of work around there and now an "office trailer" has been delivered. i'm talking about where the old Sacks Paper Recycling place was.

Cool, looks like they're moving forward on the Legacy at Memorial highrise, which is supposed to be a 25 story apartment tower.

The one around Memorial & Waugh, I think is a project by Gables Residential called Memorial Hills. I drove by it on New Year's day and I saw the crane in a relatively decent sized excavation area. 4200 block of Scotland St or so?

This post has been edited by ChannelTwoNews: Thursday, January 10, 2008 at 9:21 PM

[cottonmather0]

Those apartments are really out of place there and I expect something bigger and higher priced to be built eventually on that site.

But I do have a lot of personal memories of that complex: old friends, ex-girlfriends, pool parties, crashing after a late night at the Fab Sat (itself a loss)... it will be sad to see it go when it finally does.

[nativehou]

Wasn't the Archstone Apt complex one of the first new structures on Washington when it was built in the 90s? Could it be said that it helped start the renaissance of the area?

One funny story related to Archstone -- when I was going thru a divorce I looked at those apartments to move into. My child wasn't with me when I was there to tour. I asked the saleslady if there were many children in the complex and she said no, it was nice and quiet. Then I mentioned that I have a kid and would like a place with some other kids, and she suddenly changed her mind and said "Oh yes, we've got lots of kids here."

[Htowngirl]

My funny story about those apartments.... when my best friend moved to Houston in 2001, she was going to work downtown, and we looked at the Archstone and decided that it was a bad area of town for a single girl to be coming & going late at night/early AM. She ended up renting by the Galleria. 2003 - I moved (from Clear Lake) into the (AMLI) apartments across the street. 2005 - she moved into the (Siena) apartments across the street. 2007 - I bought a house less than a mile away.... I love how fast a "bad area" becomes up and coming in Houston!

[runner736]

HtownWxBoy, on Thursday, January 10th, 2008 @ 6:41pm, said:

There's also a crane up just northwest of the intersection of Memorial and Waugh... I drove by today and wasn't sure what they are building. I drove by this morning after picking up tickets to see Margaret Cho at the Laff Stop next weekend... I AM SO EXCITED!!!!! > But anywayz, anyone know what they are building?

There are 2 housing devlelopments being built: 1) the tower which was described several posts above on Studemeont/Montrose and 2) off of Jackson Hill St and Memorial behind the new Council on Alcohol & Drugs Houston (under contrsuction). According to the sign posted at the construction site entry (off of Jackson Hill St, directly in front of the Jackson Hill Apartments) its a Gables development called Memorial Hills. Foundations are being poured and cranes have been erected. Judging by the size of the foundation walls, it's going to be pretty big --- perhaps pretty tall given the size of the lot which is very small in comparison to other Gables developments around town.