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Added another floor.

Exterior almost complete.

Steady progress on Catalyst and Alexan.

From the past few days

From the past few days...

From the past few days...

Website up for Midtown Park: https://midtownhouston.com/midtown-park/

https://houston-texas-us.blogspot.com/2017/01/retarded-destruction-end-of-mental.html

The painted plywood surrounds this site on three sides (the west side is open), maybe related to the Super Bowl effort to put some lipstick on an empty lot. Just a guess.... Regarding a hotel for this area, the owners of the majority of the block bounded by Kirby/Rice Blvd/Bolsover/Kelvin in Rice Village should tear down the antiquated and under performing one-story strip center and the CVS and partner with a hotel in the 3-4* range. Build a 5-story parking structure with the hotel tower on top and ground floor commercial space. You would be hard-pressed to find a shopping district anywhere in the world with the shopping and restaurants found in Rice Village without a hotel. This is the most walkable outdoor area in the Houston metropolitan area and visitors to the Med Center/Galleria/Greenway/Upper Kirby would flock to a decent hotel where they can walk to eat/drink/shop. Not to mention that this would alleviate the parking problem for Rice Village. I spoke with someone in the hotel industry two years ago and asked why they have not considered a hotel for Rice Village. They claimed the area wouldn't support a 4-5* hotel, which seems utterly ridiculous. You might be able to tell that I LOVE spending other people's money!

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/Tree-of-Life-mural-helps-dress-up-center-of-city-10870724.php#photo-12223695

From the past few days...

Glass fully installed.

Holman updates include wayfinder signage.

Hotel flag announced for $500M Buffalo Bayou mixed-use

Victory Parkside, via Walsh Group: Project Location

Terraces at Douglas Center, taken by me, 1/17/17: Project Location

They found oil under DG? Sweet!

^^^ it's happening......

Actually, I walked by today. There is furniture inside and the bar looks about finished. There is still much to do but I'll bet that they will be open in a couple of weeks.

Tunnel options were studied as alternatives early in the process, around 5 to 6 years ago. You can find details of the tunnel alignments in the meeting documents on the official project web site. The tunnels would not have replaced existing freeways, but provided additional capacity, presumably toll/HOV.. These documents provide a good overview http://www.ih45northandmore.com/docs/Universe_of_Alts_Seg_3.pdf http://www.ih45northandmore.com/docs/IH45_Universe_of_Alts_Summary.pdf The cost figure they reported was $700 million per mile for a four-lane bored tunnel with two lanes on each of two levels (i.e. a double-deck tunnel). Costs have surely risen since then, so $800 million per mile would probably be a rough estimate.

^^^ although, i am really appreciative of the fact that they decided to add a bit of art to this particular corner. however, i just wish that they had gone with a SUPERBOWL motif instead of this ugly/strange halloweenish black tree. i am trying in earnest to present this art piece the benefit of the doubt. however, i just cannot comprehend just what it is trying to convey to the public. "STRANGE THINGS" indeed....

Geez, Hess Tower is getting a banner too? They were putting one up on the Hilton when I was walking around there on Wednesday..

Potential landscape enhancements for Four Leaf: http://www.mohledesign.com/projects/master-planning/four-leaf-towers

They re-paved and re-striped the parking lot that was under the MM's construction office trailers. I'd guess that nothing is imminent, but that repair may have been a condition of them setting up shop on the lot in the first place.

They hung on for a while, a few years at least. Had they been able to stay open until Marlowe had opened, I think they could have made it. If the Camden two block project ever goes, it would be a great spot.

Here's a better look at GRB for SB38 Speaking of ESPN, found this article from last year on the best Super Bowl event ever (from SB38). http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/14621857/inside-best-super-bowl-event-ever-houston-playboy-party

It's hard to believe the GRB was ever that ugly... and it looked that way just two years ago. Looks like a 1980's retail mall in the Balkans somewhere. Yeah, we're probably too hard on Ric Campo around here. I am as guilty as anyone, mostly because of the traveshamockery that is the Superblock layout.

I'm not sold on this re-routing plan, but depressed highways flooding are actually a good thing. Otherwise, that water would be going into neighborhoods. I'd rather see our freeways used as spillways than our neighborhoods. They can put sensors and gates at the onramps to keep people from entering the freeways while they're flooded. I live along Brays Bayou so it's better to see 288 underwater than Riverside Terrace, and I'm sure the folks in Meyerland would agree about their neighborhoods, too. I doubt pumps add that much extra cost to depressed freeways, and if streets can flood, freeways at ground level can flood, too. You say the Pierce Elevated would be good since it's elevated, but what good would 2 miles of elevated highway do when the depressed and ground level sections at I-10 are flooded by Buffalo and White Oak Bayous?

Midtown needs more highrise projects tall structures creates a sense of place.This is good news for midtown,I hope its built.

Houston Marathon January 15, 2017 by George Zimzores, on Flickr

5 new buildings in this view. Love the changing skyline!

We actually got six new residential towers during this cycle if you count the two sky house, the Marlowe, and the Catalyst. I know you emphasized "gems", but in terms of downtown living I count all six as a plus. The court's still out on The Marlowe, but I'm sure the Catalyst will be as nice in its neighborhood as the Ari's is for Market Square. The two Sky House towers are great infill and create a density along with the other apartments either finished or still under construction in that neighborhood, built around the rail. I know its way overused, but I do think this cycle downtown was a major tipping point.

Changes is part of the design process. I've been in projects where entire portions are either added or subtracted right up until the last minute final construction documents are submitted. A project that is not adjusting or changing in someway throughout the process is not a very good project in my eyes. This project is very active and with a lot of moving parts. I'm sure this whole thing is a logistics nightmare. If I remember correctly this isn't just one firm doing all these projects, but several all at once. Some of the biggest projects in the world take years to develop. Its all part of the industry. EDIT: If what Tolarwan saying is true then the project is currently in the bidding phase. If that is the case then this project should be underway by this spring.

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They will change color.

im bidding on lighting next week......

I'd challenge anyone to swing a sledge hammer full strength at one of those concrete columns. I would even throw in the Excedrin.

Snow-covered Park District (left) and 1900 Pearl (right):

Yep. The floorplates jog right around this building. And, that is the reason, I think, that they put the pool on the northside of the building.... no room on the south side for a decent sized pool.

Park District, via Facebook:

Best image I could find. The townhomes in Kirby Collection will face Lake St.

http://swamplot.com/the-mixed-use-towers-that-may-rise-from-the-ashes-of-allen-parkways-former-waste-incinerator-site/2016-08-26/ http://tqgroup.net/tianqingloupan/xiusidunshi/dekesasi/2016-07-19/8.html