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Good morning! http://www.costar.com/News/Article/Exclusive-Long-Awaited-30-Story-Midtown-Tower-Breaks-Ground/201230

Office component for phase II has been given the axe, hotel begins this Fall http://www.olivermcmillan.com/places/projects/49/river_oaks_district_phase_ii

I gotta say, putting an urban Target in the old Sakowitz building sounds like a great idea. I'm not sure whether the investment community is ready to fund something like that yet, but I think that ultimately it would quite successful as more residential buildings open nearby.

544’ and 621’ for District 1 and 2, respectively! Unprecedented for Houston residential development... I LIKE IT!

That's good! From today

Just give us one at 1165' and call it a day.

I don't know if this project is under appreciated, but these are a set of great looking buildings. Definitely living up to the renderings.

N27958-United-787-9-IAH-2018-04-14b by GFB Aviation Photography, on Flickr

I agree, and the impact on the southwest and southern views of the med center are heavily impacted.

Yes, there was/is a hotel proposed for the corner lot next to the Wilshire. The Equinox hotel, is the proposed hotel going in adjacent to ROD Phase II.

I think it's a (largely) unaltered photo. A long zoom lens (say, 500mm) flattens the perspective like that, so making downtown appear that big is completely possible with the right lens.

There had been talk of a luxury boutique hotel on the empty lot north of ROD, across Bettis. If the hotel mentioned above is in the property to the west, formerly occupied by Sullivan's and Le Peep, I suppose it might preempt the other one. I also agree that it will be great to see the old convenience store and nail salon building go away.

I agree, the updated facade is a big improvement. As to the lack of pedestrian amenities in the area, I'm guessing the the demographic that would buy here is one that is less interested in such things.

The tower currently under construction is 27 stories: http://www.hoar.com/market/2850-fannin-street/ I filled out the "contact us" form at Caydon's website to ask about the second tower, with a reference to the article to see if I can get clarification.

I thought this snippet from the article on 3300 Main was interesting: "Developers have taken notice of Midtown's appeal. Australia-based Caydon Property Group broke ground on its own residential high-rise in Midtown just a few months ago, and the developer already has another 26-story high-rise in the planning stages close by." http://www.costar.com/News/Article/Exclusive-Long-Awaited-30-Story-Midtown-Tower-Breaks-Ground/201230 26 stories suggests a high rise substantially shorter than what the FAA filings would otherwise suggest.

So those are the renderings of the condos / apartment homes, right? Do we have an updated rendering of the hotel? The latest rendering for the hotel I could find:

Small aperture.

No altered photos here. Just a high powered telephoto lens. Same effect when you see a huge moon in front of a skyline. Can't do it with Digital zoom. Only works with optical zoom or telephoto lenses.

I'm pretty sure it's a composite photo. For reference, here is a photo I took on short final to IAH, coming in from the east (This was taken with a 720 mm equivilant lens for those who are curious) Anyway you can tell that downtown is way further away than it would be for that photo to have a plane in focus, much less in the frame. The most likely angle is from around where the I-10 HOV lane is with a longish lens, or possibly closer https://www.google.com/maps/@29.7781189,-95.3722061,3a,75y,168.62h,87.49t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sGBf-QlOn_ioXA4SScwDrWA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DGBf-QlOn_ioXA4SScwDrWA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D358.594%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656 I drew a line in Google earth from downtown to the WM taxiway, where the plane photo was taken, and it does match the downtown angle just about, so it is possible the photo was taken from IAH with a much longer lens and composited with the plane photo

expanding your wheelhouse? haha

Yep, I saw them this morning and thought the same. The marketing was going for a vintage 40's feel and the stripes kinda remind me a pin stripes on a suit...pretty clever touch. Glad you got a pic.

From www.airliners.net At a recent event in Houston, Scott Kirby told attendees in the coming years UA could add new nonstop service to 20 new cities from IAH including international destinations. He also stated UA is growing IAH and expects to hit 700 flights a day up from 540 although no time frame was given for when we should expect IAH to hit the 700 mark.

Maybe it will be 26 stories with a really tall spire

I think maybe the writer might have been confused. Isn't the Caydon building that is under construction going to be 26 stories? And I'm pretty sure it is slated to be the shortest of the three planned Caydon towers. It seems they may have confused the current building with the next one that is under development (unless, of course, Caydon's plans have changed). For convenience, I'm reposting the FAA filing links: https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external/searchAction.jsp?action=displayOECase&oeCaseID=335960229&row=2 https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external/searchAction.jsp?action=displayOECase&oeCaseID=335958451&row=1

What are you trying to show us @urbanize713?

I can confirm this is not a composite. This is just a combination of a clear day, good lighting and a strong telephoto lens. I'm guessing 600mm or so. I have shot images from this garage before (I just don't have that long of a telephoto lens) and the view to downtown can be quite nice with the right gear.

The most exciting news about all of this is possibly the fact that the run down convenience store will finally be torn down haha! I wonder how soon that will happen!?

I would be happy with anything over 10 stories. The area is building momentum.

There will still be a freeway-like presence between downtown and Buffalo Bayou Park. Latest maps from last week still show several elevated connectors starting south of W Dallas originating at Bagby, Jefferson, etc. to connect to I-10 west and I-45 north. The Bayou will still have multiple, multi-lane bridges crossing it at the same point I-45 does now. I agree with your concern about “creat[ing] unfortunate physical . . . barriers.” Unfortunately, the same plan that will (eventually) bring down part of the Pierce requires a rerouting of I-45 to the southeast of downtown that will actually create a physical barrier . . . for EaDo and the East End. More than a dozen vibrant city blocks eliminated, several streets that currently provide access to downtown cut off—a sizable physical barrier that will unequivocally have a detrimental impact to the neighborhood, more harm than the Pierce could ever be credited with. I wish we could follow Vancouver’s example, but we passed the point of no return to do away with freeways near the CBD long ago.

I never said there was a NEED for Downtown and Midtown to integrate by removing the Pierce Elevated. Both districts will be fine if the Pierce stays. And I’m not naive enough to think that the Pierce is going anywhere anytime soon. I didn’t write anything to that effect. My point, to be clear, was that I think freeways in general create unfortunate physical, visual and psychological barriers between neighborhoods. When those barriers can be eliminated a city is better off. Vancouver, B.C., for instance, doesn’t do freeways near its core For this reason. Another example, Klyde Warren Park in Dallas (over the Woodall Rogers Fwy). That park is a great way to connect Uptown and Downtown Dallas. I may be wrong, but I bet you’d be hard pressed to find someone who thinks otherwise. So, yes, I would love to see Midtown and downtown Houston more connected someday. And I’d love to see I-45 gone between downtown and Buffalo Bayou Park. That would be transformational for the city!

I don’t understand the need for downtown and Midtown to “integrate.” The presence of the Pierce Elevated has hardly stunted development in Midtown. Further, light rail passes through uninhibited, and all streets maintain a clean connection despite the half-block wide Pierce Elevated. There is still room for development on the southwest side of downtown and the northeast side of Midtown, with new projects announced in these areas recently. The only “barrier” that the Pierce Elevated seems to constitute is a visual barrier between the two districts. As I’m sure you’re aware, the Pierce Elevated coming down would be the last step in the I-45 reroute project. Best case scenario, and assuming no delays with this ambitious project, you’re probably looking at least 10 years before that happens. Hope you don’t develop a cramp keeping your fingers crossed for that long.

As somebody who flies out of IAH often I can tell you there are days where the skyline is very clear and looks about that close.

Its subliminal advertising from United, trying to make passengers feel like its not so far from downtown.

Also can just go there because its a cool bar.

My inner six year old sees this and wants to grab the bulldozer and slide it back and forth while making roaring noises

I drive past this almost daily...and this place looks amazing and almost move in ready! (?)

I'm surprised the downtown skyline is that dominant from the Intercontinental airport. It looks just a few blocks away. This image makes it look closer than Hobby.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/XTO-to-begin-move-from-Fort-Worth-to-Houston-12926462.php

Stripes are slimming

Goat Yard looks really cool. I'm going to try it soon. I love offbeat type places, so this really appeals to me.

Scaffolding is completely down on Main St.

The white and black stripes are making this look so much better.

I parked in River Oaks! The "3 tips" of the modern home I parked in front of.