[Shopping]

I heard they are going to demo that 'landmark' building to pave way for mixed-use development. Anyone has any info on that development?

[kjb434]

What mixed-used was that? Thought is was just some adminstration offices?

[Shopping]

HISD alreay sold that piece of land to some developers. I am interested in finding out what's going to happen there next.

[kjb434]

Cool,

The existing building was really awesome. I hope the new developers make good use of the sight.

[citykid09]

I heard about that awhile back. Has anything happened yet?

[houston-development]

it is currently under contract to morgan, tcr, and pru (its a jv). they have up a sizeable letter of credit which is considered hard and have already completed their feasibility. hisd will vacate in approximately 1 to 1 1/2 years and relocate to their new building at 290 and 610.

the entire site will be demoed and be replaced with apartments, retail, some office components, and possibily a hotel.

[LTAWACS]

It would have been nice of they moved to downtown.

[jpcampbell]

houston-development, on Tuesday, May 10th, 2005 @ 8:01am, said:

it is currently under contract to morgan, tcr, and pru (its a jv).  they have up a sizeable letter of credit which is considered hard and have already completed their feasibility.  hisd will vacate in approximately 1 to 1 1/2 years and relocate to their new building at 290 and 610.

the entire site will be demoed and be replaced with apartments, retail, some office components, and possibily a hotel.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Makes me kind of nostalgic. My dad worked for HISD for 30+ years and was in that building for a good portion of it as deputy superintindent. I remember as a really little kid thinking the "Taj Mahal" was a pretty cool place.

[Shopping]

Well, that's the thing: it is a shame they cannot reuse this unique building for the new mixed-use development. Just imagine, if they turn this "Taj Mahal" into an office, a hotel, or maybe an open-air market, then Houston's going to have its own Quincy Market that we can be proud of. The nature of urbanism is about its richness and diversity developed through time, you will never be able to reach that level of authenticity if we keep repeating this demo-rebuilt approach, no matter how funcy those new 'town centers' or 'urban villages' are designed.

[MidtownCoog]

From what I read, this building was a train wreck.

They said employees would still get lost inside there.+

[Subdude]

No way, I've been inside, and the interior is great. There is a huge interior atrium with natural lighting from skylights. Generally I'm not a big fan of brutalist architecture, but the HISD building (and the Alley Theater) are about as good as it gets for the style. It would be nice if all the mid-century office buildings along thata strip of Richmond could be preserved.

[houston-development]

fyi - the site totals 24 acres. it includes the following:

hattie mae white admin building
weslayan building
hr building
will rogers
central plant

the site goes from richmond up weslayan to the sbc building, then runs along the parking lot up to the carlton (the stucco apartments), and then down cummings to richmond. it looks like a rectangle with a slight protrusion.

the frontage is as follows (+/-):

richmond 900'
weslayan 1037'
cummins 1328'

additional information can still be found at hisd for sale website

edited to add the deal has not closed. if it were to, then you would lose hisd's tax exempt status and that tax bill would be a doozy

[houston-development]

[Shopping]

Thanks, houston-development, there is quite some information on their website.

[UrbaNerd]

Hmm..that's really close to Highland Village. Maybe a nice, upscale, mixed use development could kickstart some nice development in this area, and if tied in properly with HV, this could be the start of another nice retail district.

[TxDave]

Any news on this subject?

The HISD headquarters site is really a prime location, but given the building's unique architectural design, I think it is a shame to see it go. Oh well, I guess that is progress...

[houston-development]

TxDave, on Monday, June 27th, 2005 @ 7:43am, said:

Any news on this subject?

The HISD headquarters site is really a prime location, but given the building's unique architectural design, I think it is a shame to see it go.  Oh well, I guess that is progress...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

still no changes from what i posted earlier:

houston-development, on Tuesday, May 10th, 2005 @ 9:01am, said:

it is currently under contract to morgan, tcr, and pru (its a jv).  they have up a sizeable letter of credit which is considered hard and have already completed their feasibility.  hisd will vacate in approximately 1 to 1 1/2 years and relocate to their new building at 290 and 610.

the entire site will be demoed and be replaced with apartments, retail, some office components, and possibily a hotel.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[kjb434]

if the east-west light rail uses this part of Richmond through Greenway Plaza, I can see this acreage really develop.

Although no definite path for the east-west line has been set, many feel it will leave the existing old rail path and head over to Richmond from Greenway to Uptown. Some people seem to think i'll be all along Richmond.

The existing HISD building would have been better used as a Museum instead of an adminstrative building.

[LTAWACS]

Shopping, on Monday, May 9th, 2005 @ 12:31pm, said:

HISD alreay sold that piece of land to some developers. I am interested in finding out what's going to happen there next.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The new owners already said they were looking to build some residences there. I think a tower. I think.

[slfunk]

Dallas Business Journal - 5:23 PM CDT Monday
Link: http://www.bizjourna...tml?jst=b_ln_hl

"Trammell Crow, The Morgan Group planning Houston development
Trammell Crow Co. and multifamily developer The Morgan Group Inc. are teaming up to build Houston's first "New Urbanism Lifestyle Center" that will allow residents of the development to live, shop and dine in a walkable urban environment.....The estimated $180 million mixed-use development will consist of 600 residential units and 400,000 square feet of retail space......"

"....The proposed site of the development houses the Houston Independent School District headquarters, which is selling the property to Trammell Crow and is using proceeds from the sale to build a new headquarters. The development site is within walking distance of Greenway Plaza. There will be a number of specialty stores, restaurants and a health club. The area also has access to Southwest Freeway, Loop 610 and the Westpark Toll Road -- all major arteries in Houston....."

"...."We're introducing a grand-scale retail/residential concept to Houston at a time when people are rethinking their commuter-driven lifestyles and how they can optimize their time and resources," said Matt Khourie, Trammell Crow's president of Development and Investments, Central U.S.

Construction is scheduled to begin in mid-2006.

International architectural firm M. Arthur Gensler Jr. & Associates Inc., based in San Francisco, has been selected as the project's master planning and design architect........."

[Kirzania]

From the article:

Quote

The proposed site of the development houses the Houston Independent School District headquarters, which is selling the property to Trammell Crow and is using proceeds from the sale to build a new headquarters. The development site is within walking distance of Greenway Plaza.

So, why not use this money to make HISD a better educator? Or to get rid of mold? Huh? Huh?

[houston-development]

i saw that a duplicate thread was started, so just in case it gets closed:

Municipal Site Morphing Into $180M Urban Center

Quote

HOUSTON-The Morgan Group and Trammell Crow Co. have combined forces to acquire a 24-acre infill property that will be built out as an urban lifestyle center with up to 600 residential units and 400,000 sf of retail space. The estimated $180-million project is expected to deliver in 2008...

...The property, which is under contract following a competitive bidding, takes up the corner of Richmond Avenue and Weslayan Street, now home to the Houston Independent School District's headquarters building and an elementary school. The Morgan Group-TCC JV is backed by a behind-the-scenes institutional investor that's part of a deal valued at "north of $35 million," according to Carleton Riser, vice president of development with the locally based Morgan Group.

...Riser says the JV plans to gain access to the site in the summer 2006. "We'll then begin demolishing existing structures and start construction from the ground up," he says.

[The Great Hizzy!]

I've been wondering why it's taken so long for Greenway Plaza to see some newer mixed-use development on the northern side of the SW Freeway.

[slfunk]

Sorry my fault on the duplicate thread. Did not know this was related until just now.

[Subdude]

The two topics have been merged.

[kjb434]

go to trammell and crow's website and click on retail under market research (should be on the left side of the page). They have there reports for retail office and industrial real estate markets. The retail one reports on many of the large scale mixed use lifestyle centers proposed like in Pearland and Memorial City.

The add one that i didn't know about. It supposed to be by SH 249 and Louetta and its by Interfin (uptown park area developer).

[The Great Hizzy!]

Yeah, HBJ had an article on the 249 @ Louetta development some weeks ago.

[houston-development]

trammell crow's website

Quote

The Morgan Group, Inc. and Trammell Crow Company are collaborating in a “new urbanism” lifestyle center at Richmond Avenue and Weslayan. The
center will feature 600 residential units, as well as 400,000 sq. ft. of specialty
stores, restaurant venues and a premierhealth club facility. Construction is set to
begin in mid-2006.

just as an fyi - the founder's name is trammell crow. you can sometimes find him at hotels they previously developed and asking customers for opinions.

[Lectro]

http://www.hermesarc...m/homepage.html

Please see Planning/Master Planning

PASEO

[Houstonian in Iraq]

I just noticed this thread. I gave my sister a ride to this building yesterday. She's a teacher and had something to take care of there. If I would of known it was a topic of a thread I would of gone inside instead of wait in the car.

[texas911]

They want to get rid of the Taj Mahal because that atrium uses too much electricity to keep cool. Good idea, but too extravagant for a school district. Whatever happens there I hope they keep a hard edge by the street instead of having parking lots in front. I hate that.

[Houston19514]

Plastic, on Thursday, October 27th, 2005 @ 3:34pm, said:

Man, why does this server let threads get so long? I mean we got 30 replies on the same page.

And on the HISD building, all I know is that htose big humps ontop of the building were originally for canons.

ROFLMAO

[kjb434]

The drawings of the proposed development looks great. It would really fill in the area and make is a real urban place. All the apartments along Cummins could easily supply a steady pedestrian source.

The area already pulls in a crowd for the Edwards cinema. This will give them more of a reason to stay in the area.

[jmancuso]

YAY! more cheesy over-priced apartments, another strip center and surface lots. woohoo!

love it or hate, i bet it will be still better (architecturally) than what will be replacing it.

[WesternGulf]

This is not a strip center taking its place.

This post has been edited by WesternGulf: Thursday, October 27, 2005 at 6:21 PM

[YakuzaIce]

Plastic, on Thursday, October 27th, 2005 @ 3:34pm, said:

Man, why does this server let threads get so long? I mean we got 30 replies on the same page.

And on the HISD building, all I know is that htose big humps ontop of the building were originally for canons.

You crack me up plastic.
Also if you hate having fifty posts per page then just change it, it is that simple.

[nmainguy]

Plastic, on Thursday, October 27th, 2005 @ 3:34pm, said:

Man, why does this server let threads get so long? I mean we got 30 replies on the same page.

And on the HISD building, all I know is that htose big humps ontop of the building were originally for canons.

Yeah...the cannons...the ones to pick off the aliens on Timmons...those cannons...I happen to know it because that's what the plate in my head just told me...
What? What's that you say? A comet? From the planet Zyclap? Headed for HISD HQ?
ALL HANDS ON DECK, PLASTIC!!! MAN THE CANNONS!!!!!

[VicMan]

As for Will Rogers, its zoning area will be covered by:
* St. George Place Elementary School (serving Afton Oaks, Larchmont, St. George Place)
* Poe Elementary School
* Memorial Elementary School

[NewMND]

Paseo looks nice, along with Pavillions, Boulevard Place, and City Centre. I'm sure out of those 4, at least one will actually get built, but hopefully all.

[TJones]

I don't know how many of you know, but this building was originally, the HATCU building, or Houston Area Teachers Credit Union building, until about 1978, when they sold it to HISD and moved out on 290 where they had built a much larger 12 story building, at the corner of 290 & w.43rd. i used to go into the HISD building fairly often as a child in the 70's, my mother worked there for HATCU. I remember as a child it being very caverness. With lots of earthtones inside. It was the 70's, and the inside of that building's decor screamed it.

This post has been edited by TJones: Thursday, March 6, 2008 at 12:05 PM

[Houston19514]

TJones, on Sunday, October 30th, 2005 @ 12:23am, said:

I don't know how many of you know, but this building was originally, the HATCU building, or Houston Area Teachers Credit Union building, until about 1978, when they sold it to HISD and moved out on 290 where they had built a much larger 12 story building, at the corner of 290 & w.43rd. i used to go into the HISD building fairly often as a chilc in the 70's, my mother worked there for HATCU. I remember as a child it being very caverness. With lots of earthtones inside. It was the 70's, and the inside of that building's decor screamed it.

I'm pretty sure you have your history confused. Perhaps the credit union at one time had an office in the HISD Building, but the building was built by the school district and has always been the HISD Administration headquarters.

[TJones]

Houston19514, on Sunday, October 30th, 2005 @ 9:12am, said:

I'm pretty sure you have your history confused. Perhaps the credit union at one time had an office in the HISD Building, but the building was built by the school district and has always been the HISD Administration headquarters.

I apologize, HATCU, was actually in a twin building behind the HISD building, they looked very similar, but I just found out the HATCU building was torn down, by HISD. I knew I wasn't going crazy. Just a little off on my bearings. I apologize.

This post has been edited by TJones: Sunday, October 30, 2005 at 10:31 AM

[citykid09]

So when will this get built?










SORRY
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

This post has been edited by citykid09: Sunday, October 30, 2005 at 1:29 PM

[YakuzaIce]

Could you find a smaller picture???

[nmainguy]

citykid09, on Sunday, October 30th, 2005 @ 12:02pm, said:

So when will this get built?

When will what get built?
Are you talking about the new HISD Hq. in the parking lot of Delmar Stadium?
It's almost finished.

[kjb434]

The land sale has already been agreed upon. Now it just the wait time for all the other pieces to fall in to place.

I haven't seen any timetable. I'll guess we'll know something when construction fences and demolition crews show up.

[houston-development]

kjb434, on Tuesday, November 1st, 2005 @ 10:12am, said:

Now it just the wait time for all the other pieces to fall in to place.

what are you talking about? crow and morgan are doing the deal and the only thing they are waiting on is for hisd to complete construction over by delmar.

they have up a HUGE letter of credit that they will not back out of, regardless of market conditions. actually, the only way they would hypothetically back out is if there was a nuclear winter and everyone was FUBARed

timetable for demolition is within a year. see posts above to refresh your memory.

[kjb434]

Within a year for some posters on this board is eternity. They'll start posting that it's never going to happen unless something happens the day after the developer acquires the land.

The pieces I'm talking about:

demolition, site cleanup, and getting all permits.

I'm wondering if the city will require detention since the site is fairly large, maybe they'll claim the are not putting any increased imperviouse cover and not need it.

I'm all happy for this project. It will make the Greenway Plaza area like it's own mini-uptown.

[houston-development]

kjb434, on Tuesday, November 1st, 2005 @ 11:57am, said:

Within a year for some posters on this board is eternity. They'll start posting that it's never going to happen unless something happens the day after the developer acquires the land.

so "some" posters will whine about it since they don't think its ever going to be built. who cares?? let them complain here until their fingers cramp, if they so desire. demoed within a year and then it will be built in phases. this could take up to 2 or 3 years after demo is complete.

Quote

The pieces I'm talking about:

demolition, site cleanup, and getting all permits.

Quote

The land sale has already been agreed upon. Now it just the wait time for all the other pieces to fall in to place.

I haven't seen any timetable. I'll guess we'll know something when construction fences and demolition crews show up.

eh, nevermind....