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North side glass.

I wonder what drives a builder to use steel instead of concrete when they build something like this? Looks like the elevator shafts are concrete but the rest is steel.

A second tower is going up.

Latest overview: https://www.downtownhouston.org/site_media/uploads/attachments/2017-10-12/171011_Development_Map__Renders_11X17.pdf Another interesting click, if you haven't browsed through this Development Map just yet...: https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/houston-developments_57981#13/29.7541/-95.3417

A little better but still ugly compared to Lyric's and Rice's parking garages.

They moved the statue on Saturday.

I have no inside information, but feel good about this building not changing its facade. They are really targeting Chinese capital, and the fact that ICBC just moved into a full-floor at Williams Tower tells me Houston is continuing to be a big gateway market for Asian investment. I wouldn't be surprised if the equity partner came from China and then ICBC provided the construction loan. Failed to reference, but HBJ article states: 'The Houston office is expected to offer corporate lending, real estate lending, cash management and credit card financial services'

More because it really isn't very big relative to the Houston skyline (it's about the 31st tallest building downtown, for now). 34 story buildings are just not likely to stand out in a skyline as big as Houston's.

The glass are going up.

You also get a very good sense of the growth coming in on 59 north or north on 288 and heading west on I-10 east. Although the view from the west is an impressive grouping of tall buildings it comes off looking flat with no depth or breadth of the whole downtown. Plus you get those very tall buildings on the west as a backdrop on the three route just mentioned.

Of course that depends on the view. Someone looking in at the skyline from the west (which, honestly, is quite a tired, unattractive shot to me) would not see much change. On the other-hand, looking in from the north across the bayou, one sees quite a change to the skyline, both from that building, and the 609 Main.

Perhaps the price of concrete has gone up just enough to make steel more economical?

So, is this building really going up now and this isn't just the parking garage placeholder ? Really wish it were going to be a supertall - I know I know...

It depends. Prior to Harvey many of these mid and high rises were giving discounts of up to 3 months free rent because of competitive market.

TNT on site again, probably upgrading the cell towers.

Because beige. It's pretty stone up close, but very... subtle at a distance.

The view north and south next to I-10

A bit late, but I think I have an idea of how that ramp can be improved to prevent backups onto Southwest Freeway. It's easy. They close off Newcastle Road north of the eastbound frontage road. It's already not a highly-used intersection anyway (no ramps to the west of the road anymore, and a wall was installed at Newcastle and 59 north of the freeway some years ago). They add one lane to the south of the existing westbound US-59 frontage road, putting plastic bollards between the frontage road and the exit. Then that ramp elevates back up to the current level of the exit ramp, and connects to it. Done. It prevents traffic from backing up on Southwest Freeway by having them exit earlier, and it eliminates an extra exit. Traffic would be informed to access Newcastle via Westpark Drive.

As JLWM8609 noted, the 59/69 SB to 610 NB ramp is staying as-is at one lane. All other ramps are being rebuilt, some with major realignments. I don't know the reason for leaving the 59/69 SB to 610 NB ramp as-is, but I think lane balance is a factor. The west Loop northbound cannot absorb another lane of traffic, so the ramp is maintained as 1 lane and traffic will continue to back up onto the Southwest Freeway.

I thought every ramp was being rebuilt?

I mean, most of the new midrises and high rises are quite a bit cheaper than that, but that square footage number seems pretty arbitrary to me as well. I *do* think number of bedrooms is potentially an issue for anyone trying to raise a family, and I'm not sure there are there are that many 3 bedroom units being built.

I read elsewhere that it was because they couldn't acquire the ROW for the extra lane. Seems like it would be useful enough to justify whatever the expense would be, though.

Haha fair. Leave me be with my pessimism.

Here's the latest information about the project http://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/projects/studies/houston/59-610.html The 59/69 SB to 610 NB ramp will still be 1 lane wide. I wonder why they didn't take this opportunity to expand that ramp to 2 lanes wide? Every other ramp that's currently 1 lane wide will become 2 lanes wide.

Depends on what your definitions of rich and middle class are, along with what sort of development (if any) comes out post-Harvey.

Maybe for rich people. None of these are accessible to anyone in the middle class.

I love all the redevelopment going on in the 3rd Ward area with TSU and UofH leading the way along with Emancipation Park!

Due to that recent Harvey flooding event, I suspect high rise living will be more desirable in Houston and more mid and high rise residential towers will pop up everywhere, lol.

Checked out the park last night, security was out in force doing a great job, keeping people with dogs off the hill and no bums to be found. Park is very well done , you can't help think about the Aussie Tower across the street and how different it will feel once completed. I remember when it was just that field that free press was in for a few years, big change!

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One thing is that Calpine Center is pretty big. For some reason, it's just forgettable.

Improvements include: New exterior signage with improved lighting to increase building visibility New first-floor lounge and enclosed patio on south end Remodeled atrium and entrance corridor New glass entrance vestibule with upgraded front desk Advanced swipe-card security system at entrance Liberty Bell relocated to atrium for student celebrations Larger digital information monitors for up-to-date announcements and information Before: https://www.google.com/maps/@29.753117,-95.3654,3a,75y,99.71h,81.23t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sHu6ALxOzWNg-TT7wiWTXew!2e0!6m1!1e1 Proposed: More renderings/info: http://www.stcl.edu/construction/index.html

lol that's right)

I count roughly 40 stories from this rendering so its the same height that it was back on page 4 when the first rendering was released.

It might be shorter, but it still looks just as sexy

Drive past this all the time. TIght location, but it's pretty far back from the road... I guess they had to fit in the carport area. Too bad they didn't loft it over the drive like they did on the Hyatt's up the street.

The park is open! The park is open!! There were already people in the dog park and a camp gladiator set up! Not sure about this last pic though, lol. It just keeps posting by itself.

The crane is coming down for this one

The hotel tower crane came down this weekend. This gives a good view on the height difference of the two buildings.

If it didn't flood in Harvey (did it?) it's a moot point. As it turns out, it did not flood during Harvey. All the naysayers on Swamplot will be disappointed, I'm afraid.

Saw this in the Hou Chron Real Estate section on Sunday. Where is this new HEB going to be located?

Lots of water to pump out.