[ChannelTwoNews]

lockmat, on Thursday, April 9th, 2009 @ 12:22pm, said:

I don't see any of the towers in these shots. There should be a mid sized one at the bottom right side of this picture.

I was able to pop into the leasing center briefly recently and can fill you all in on a few things.

The leasing center will formally open within 3-4 weeks. They're still finishing up a few things, but from what I've seen thus far, it's quite nice. Not jammed with clutter nor is it closed in. Nice and open, with renderings and the model. Now for a bit of extra info on that model...

Each of the residential towers is in the model, though since no specific design has been picked, they're represented by opaque plastic forms which are in the general shape of what I'm guessing the developers intend the towers to look like. There are a few renderings of a glassy, curvy highrise of about 25-30 floors which are partially visible on some printed material on display and in a video that plays in the center.

I was a bit pressed for time, but I intend on picking up some of the printed materials when the place formally opens.

[Subdude]

ChannelTwoNews, on Wednesday, April 15th, 2009 @ 1:24pm, said:

I was able to pop into the leasing center briefly recently and can fill you all in on a few things.

The leasing center will formally open within 3-4 weeks. They're still finishing up a few things, but from what I've seen thus far, it's quite nice. Not jammed with clutter nor is it closed in. Nice and open, with renderings and the model. Now for a bit of extra info on that model...

Each of the residential towers is in the model, though since no specific design has been picked, they're represented by opaque plastic forms which are in the general shape of what I'm guessing the developers intend the towers to look like. There are a few renderings of a glassy, curvy highrise of about 25-30 floors which are partially visible on some printed material on display and in a video that plays in the center.

I was a bit pressed for time, but I intend on picking up some of the printed materials when the place formally opens.

Thanks for the on-site research!

I'm glad this project is still relatively on track.

[Urbannizer]

New detailed renderings of the 28-story residential tower.

West View


Southwest View


Northwest View


http://www.handelarc...are_Houston.pdf

Quote

New York City-based Handel Architects LLP has revealed its design for a new 28-story residential tower in Houston, Texas. The Regent Square tower will include 150 condominiums, a 15,000-square-foot (1,400-square-meter) amenity deck, and 10,000 square feet (930 square meters) of indoor amenity areas. LEED certification is expected.

The design combines two distinctly different halves. The eastern half features floor-to-ceiling curtain wall with views of downtown Houston. The western half introduces double-height outdoor space to each unit with expansive views towards Memorial Park. Gary Handel, AIA, is serving as partner-in-charge. The building is part of a 15-acre (six-hectare) master plan for a pedestrian-oriented neighborhood. The developer is GID Urban Development Group.

http://www.architect...4/news_1-1.html

This post has been edited by UpuPUp!: Sunday, May 3, 2009 at 9:16 PM

[Trae]

Nice tower! I was wondering how many people they would expect to be living in Regent Square at build-out. Anyone know?

[sidegate]

So is the original plan off the table entirely, to be replaced by this tower?

This post has been edited by sidegate: Sunday, May 3, 2009 at 8:29 PM

[uhlaw09]

Awesome, I read about these renderings a month ago, but couldn't find them anywhere.

Man, that is one of the most interesting towers I've seen in a while. Will be interesting to see how it looks compared to the rest of the development. Those renderings give you some idea, but it's a bit hard to tell.

[lockmat]

uhlaw09, on Sunday, May 3rd, 2009 @ 8:55pm, said:

Awesome, I read about these renderings a month ago, but couldn't find them anywhere.

This is HAIF. We're a team...spill the info here when you get it!

[uhlaw09]

For reference, the renderings are for the tower that is shadowed on the right side of this image:

[uhlaw09]

lockmat, on Sunday, May 3rd, 2009 @ 9:00pm, said:

This is HAIF. We're a team...spill the info here when you get it!

I try Check out post #400 above.

PS: I'm obsessed about this development in case you can't tell. I own property down the street in part because of it. I blame HAIF for building up my expectations.

[lockmat]

uhlaw09, on Sunday, May 3rd, 2009 @ 9:06pm, said:

I try Check out post #400 above.

PS: I'm obsessed about this development in case you can't tell. I own property down the street in part because of it. I blame HAIF for building up my expectations.

I missed it! oops

Yep, this will be pretty awesome and sure to spur tons more projects...i'm guessing

[uhlaw09]

[Deleted]

Upupupuppup put up the same image.

This post has been edited by uhlaw09: Sunday, May 3, 2009 at 9:20 PM

[photolitherland]

I really really really really really hope this project gets completed like this! It would be like a little slice of NYC plopped down in Houston sort of. We dont have any nice dense neighborhoods like this anywhere in Houston, its about time we get one!

[lockmat]

hay mas fotos:











There are many more at the websites:
http://www.luisponsd-lab.com/ (two places here)
http://www.jedunn.co...ails/E/12/69322

[UrbaNerd]

NICE. Now BUILD IT ALREADY!

[citykid09]

lockmat, what is that in front of that building? A subway station? (wishful thinking, lol)

[lockmat]

citykid09, on Monday, May 4th, 2009 @ 10:41am, said:

lockmat, what is that in front of that building? A subway station? (wishful thinking, lol)

No idea, I've been wondering what it is myself. The earliest renderings, including Regent Square's website has this structure shown clearly. Maybe it's a bus stop or something but I don't really know.

[Highway6]

citykid09, on Monday, May 4th, 2009 @ 10:41am, said:

lockmat, what is that in front of that building? A subway station? (wishful thinking, lol)

yes.

[20thStDad]

citykid09, on Monday, May 4th, 2009 @ 10:41am, said:

lockmat, what is that in front of that building? A subway station? (wishful thinking, lol)

Knowing Houston it's a super fancy valet stand.

[wxman]

That regent tower is very Miami ish I think.

[KinkaidAlum]

Wow. I really LIKE that tower.

PLEASE BUILD THIS.

[capnmcbarnacle]

KinkaidAlum, on Monday, May 4th, 2009 @ 3:08pm, said:

Wow. I really LIKE that tower.

PLEASE BUILD THIS.

I approve of this tower and greenlight the financing and necessary permits.


On another note though, this development is going to throw traffic up and down Dunlavy and Dallas into chaos. This plan calls for a lot more residents than were there before and, more importantly, lots of retail traffic. Keep in mind that Dunlavy between Dallas and Allen Pkwy is two lanes (the only expansion can come from...???...). Forget the dire predictions of Wilshire Village and Tower of Traffic -- this baby is going to have every bit the impact on the area. And I'm not necessarily one of those (even though I live right off Dunlavy) who thinks that's such a bad thing. It comes with living in a densifying city. I just hope that they do it right and from what I've seen of this group, I suspect they have their act together.

[LTAWACS]

That tower is very uninspiring. Ugh.

[Pumapayam]

capnmcbarnacle, on Monday, May 4th, 2009 @ 3:40pm, said:

I approve of this tower and greenlight the financing and necessary permits.


On another note though, this development is going to throw traffic up and down Dunlavy and Dallas into chaos. This plan calls for a lot more residents than were there before and, more importantly, lots of retail traffic. Keep in mind that Dunlavy between Dallas and Allen Pkwy is two lanes (the only expansion can come from...???...). Forget the dire predictions of Wilshire Village and Tower of Traffic -- this baby is going to have every bit the impact on the area. And I'm not necessarily one of those (even though I live right off Dunlavy) who thinks that's such a bad thing. It comes with living in a densifying city. I just hope that they do it right and from what I've seen of this group, I suspect they have their act together.

Maybe it will allow for another rail line to be built around there.

[photolitherland]

What exactly is happening at this site right now? Is there anything at all going on? I would love to see some photos of the area where this is going in. Do they have a sales office somewhere by any chance? Id love to visit it when Im down in Houston in a couple weeks.

[LTAWACS]

Don't worry. It'll probably be put on hold by the time you make it down here...

[Urbannizer]

[photolitherland]

Cant read it mate.

[Urbannizer]

photolitherland, on Tuesday, May 5th, 2009 @ 8:24pm, said:

Cant read it mate.

http://www.cbre.com/...0/TheFacts1.pdf

[crunchtastic]

The last bullet under 'Houston Economy' says :

'All real estate sectors experiencing very strong fundamentals. '

If that is a FACT, according to the poster, why has the project been delayed? Problems with non-fundamentals? Their financing fundamentally fell through?

I went by the sales office today but it was closed. Hoping to go see some models on my lunch hour this week. The tower looks pretty cool.

This post has been edited by crunchtastic: Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at 8:42 PM

[sidegate]

Hmm, Sir Robert Armstrong might have called this being economical with the truth:

"....Strong economic growth underway with exploding (sic) energy, medical and port industries...."

Two of the biggest employers in the Medical Center are on an extended hiring freeze, and those are just the ones I know of. I guess there wasn't room on the flyer for that.

Edit: Crunch you beat me to it, I'm a slow typer!

This post has been edited by sidegate: Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at 8:45 PM

[Urbannizer]

crunchtastic, on Tuesday, May 5th, 2009 @ 8:42pm, said:

The last bullet under 'Houston Economy' says :

'All real estate sectors experiencing very strong fundamentals. '

If that is a FACT, according to the poster, why has the project been delayed? Problems with non-fundamentals? Their financing fundamentally fell through?

I went by the sales office today but it was closed. Hoping to go see some models on my lunch hour this week. The tower looks pretty cool.

I posted that info to show the Phasing plans for the development, not for the 'Houston Economy' section. The info is about 6-12months old, but has not been mentioned here on HAIF, nor anywhere else.

This post has been edited by UpuPUp!: Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at 8:59 PM

[lockmat]

so i guess the towers wont come until the second phase

[H-Town Man]

UpuPUp!, on Sunday, May 3rd, 2009 @ 8:03pm, said:

West View

Works for me.

[LTAWACS]

I'm not so sure about the design...

[capnmcbarnacle]

LTAWACS, on Wednesday, May 6th, 2009 @ 9:37am, said:

I'm not so sure about the design...

What aren't you sure about? I'm not an actual architect (don't tell anyone on the board) so my assessments are usually governed by my initial reaction of whether or not it looks neat. Then I sort of figure if it is functional, and if it is then I probably put it in my acceptable category. I like the way one side of the building fans out at those angles, kind of giveing a sense of motion to contrast with something staid and blocky like the Royalton. It seems like the designer is fully aware of the advantage of being between downtown and uptown and the views, at both sunruse and sunset, that residents will have. I suppose some residents can pick their view and some will be fortunate and wealthy enough to have both. And I just think it looks neat. Maybe not totally original or groundbreaking but something that, as a nearby resident, I'll enjoy looking at each day.

I'm curious to hear from others, pros or not, what you like dislike about the rendering of the tower.

[photolitherland]

I like the tower but the base is just blah. I understand its a parking garage but still, it just kinda kills the tower. It just doesnt fit in with the rest of the project, with the base like that it kinda looks like a dead end street thats not very inviting.

[roadrunner]

photolitherland, on Wednesday, May 6th, 2009 @ 11:50am, said:

I like the tower but the base is just blah. I understand its a parking garage but still, it just kinda kills the tower. It just doesnt fit in with the rest of the project, with the base like that it kinda looks like a dead end street thats not very inviting.

There's really no point in getting worked up over the design. We probably won't see this for at least 5 years.

[LTAWACS]

roadrunner, on Wednesday, May 6th, 2009 @ 10:58am, said:

There's really no point in getting worked up over the design. We probably won't see this for at least 5 years.

I agree. This will likely be put on hold by the time they start doing any kind of soil analysis.

[Urbannizer]

photolitherland, on Wednesday, May 6th, 2009 @ 10:50am, said:

I like the tower but the base is just blah. I understand its a parking garage but still, it just kinda kills the tower. It just doesnt fit in with the rest of the project, with the base like that it kinda looks like a dead end street thats not very inviting.

I like the Base, somethng you don't see often in Houston, espically with the 'green' area on the side, but I don't like the extra parking near the pool.

roadrunner, on Wednesday, May 6th, 2009 @ 10:58am, said:

There's really no point in getting worked up over the design. We probably won't see this for at least 5 years.

I don't expect this to be on hold (never really was actually). 5yrs? Come on, this development just received a 18(?) million by TIRZ and the economic crisis is thawing out slowly. I also think the Houston city council will make sure this thing gets built. In about 5yrs I expect this to be completed or u/c at least.

This post has been edited by UpuPUp!: Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at 5:32 PM

[citykid09]

I just saw a video of a segment that KHOU did about Houston's economy. An economics professor predicts that Houston's economy will get worst than the rest of the nation. It said something like Houston would lose like 60,000 plus jobs this year. I hope that professor is wrong.

[sidegate]

Is there any reason not to believe him? I can only speak for the Medical Center but it's in the doldrums right now. I have friends in the energy industry who I will shortly be saying goodbye to as they are moved elsewhere by their corporate offices. Anecdotal evidence yes, but evidence.

Here's the link Citykid referred to by the way

This post has been edited by sidegate: Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at 7:00 PM

[Urbannizer]

citykid09, on Wednesday, May 6th, 2009 @ 6:50pm, said:

I just saw a video of a segment that KHOU did about Houston's economy. An economics professor predicts that Houston's economy will get worst than the rest of the nation. It said something like Houston would lose like 60,000 plus jobs this year. I hope that professor is wrong.

He may but a professor, but I don't think Houston will lose that many jobs imo. I say the professor is wrong.

[sidegate]

I dare say as an academic speaking in a public forum that he's basing his opinion on some pretty sound research. Heck I'd like him to be wrong as well, but I can't see any evidence at the minute that he's far off the mark.

[Houston19514]

citykid09, on Wednesday, May 6th, 2009 @ 6:50pm, said:

I just saw a video of a segment that KHOU did about Houston's economy. An economics professor predicts that Houston's economy will get worst than the rest of the nation. It said something like Houston would lose like 60,000 plus jobs this year. I hope that professor is wrong.

As usual, CityKid got it wrong. He did NOT say that Houston's economy will get [worse] than the rest of the nation. He said it will get worse, following the rest of the nation's decline. He also did not say we would lose 60,000 jobs this year... he said we would lose 60,000 jobs over two years.

[moni]

H-Town Man, on Wednesday, May 6th, 2009 @ 10:11am, said:

Works for me.

This is so cool!

[TheNiche]

citykid09, on Wednesday, May 6th, 2009 @ 6:50pm, said:

I just saw a video of a segment that KHOU did about Houston's economy. An economics professor predicts that Houston's economy will get worst than the rest of the nation. It said something like Houston would lose like 60,000 plus jobs this year. I hope that professor is wrong.

That's Barton Smith, one of the very best UH professors I ever had.

And it was 60,000 over the next couple of years. His forecasts from last year seemed unrealistically optimistic, but I think that this is closer to reality.

[TheNiche]

lockmat, on Tuesday, May 5th, 2009 @ 9:18pm, said:

so i guess the towers wont come until the second phase

Translation:

GID will be the master developer and will develop the greater part of the first phase themselves. By developing a compelling urban environment in the first phase, the market price per square foot of remaining land will dramatically increase from what it was when they bought it. The projected increase in land value of these parcels acts as collateral on the project, which is the only reason that this is at all appealing to capital markets. GID then sells off parcels to other developers or land speculators for "future phases", which could only possibly be highrises because the land is so expensive. However, the future developers will hire their own architects and will (eventually) build structures that look completely different from what is being shown to us in the renderings. The renderings exist primarily to drum up interest in Phase One from consumers, investors, and local politicians.

How do I know this without any pretense of insider information? It's formulaic.

[TheNiche]

UpuPUp!, on Wednesday, May 6th, 2009 @ 5:17pm, said:

I don't expect this to be on hold (never really was actually). 5yrs? Come on, this development just received a 18(?) million by TIRZ and the economic crisis is thawing out slowly. I also think the Houston city council will make sure this thing gets built. In about 5yrs I expect this to be completed or u/c at least.

It'll be on hold until they get financing in place, and I don't think anybody knows when that might be. They've got a sound strategy, a terrific site, and a solid story to sell to Wall Street. Even still, it's going to be tough going. And the Houston city council has no jurisdiction in the capital markets.

This won't be completed in five years; frankly, from the moment they start moving dirt to the moment that the very last building is completed, I'll bet that it'll have been at least 7-10 years. Possibly longer.

[TheNiche]

LTAWACS, on Wednesday, May 6th, 2009 @ 3:24pm, said:

I agree. This will likely be put on hold by the time they start doing any kind of soil analysis.

LTAWACS, I can identify with your general pessimism. I think that that's a realistic attitude right now. ...but for the record, your comments constitute the least well-informed viewpoint on this thread and are among the least valid on the whole forum IMO.

Nothing personal against you, only against the content of your posts.

[Urbannizer]

More on the Regent Square tower and a new planned Groundbreaking.


Houston Regent Square Set For 2010 Coronation

http://www.skyscrape...ws.php?ref=2125

Published on 21-05-2009 by Skyscrapernews.com

Quote

Regent Square is more the sort of name you'd associate to London but the Texan city of Houston seems to be getting in on the imperialist branding now with a proposed 28 storey residential tower.

The tower will stand on a site wedged firmly between the Galleria Allen Parkway area and Houston's downtown as the first part of an $850 million dollar redevelopment of the area which will see developer, GID Urban Development Group, cash in on the proximity of the site to the plush River Oaks residential area.

Designed by Handel Architects, the scheme features low-rise buildings aping traditional terraces ringing much of the outer area of the site and enclosing a central courtyard. These will have ground floor retail outlets, apartments, and parking as well as a roof top pool.

The landmark element of the project is the tower which is designed by the architect to have a radically different look depending on which direction you are viewing it from.

Overlooking the courtyard on the western side is four vertical strips of acutely angled floor to ceiling glass facades with balconies on their corners as if they have has been concertinaed, a shape that's followed all the way to the façade overrun.

The back of the tower, the eastern face, is more regularly designed like a Miami apartment block, with heavy framing of strips of glazing, external balconies sticking strongly outwards and the upper floors which step back giving their occupants generous roof terraces.

The project has already been approved and groundbreaking on Regent Square is scheduled to begin in 2010.