609 Main At Texas

[travelguy_73]

This is not the right time to be starting another large project downtown, that's for sure.

[kylejack]

That's going to be a hot corner, the intersection of the Red Line and the East End line. (Capitol @ Main)

[GovernorAggie]

Maybe it's nothing, but I did see a surveyor at Main and Texas with the equipment pointed at this lot. My hope is that it had something to do with this project! Otherwise it may just have to do with the East End/Main Street LRT connection (which seems more likely).

[livincinco]

This is not the right time to be starting another large project downtown, that's for sure.

Why not? By the time a large project is completed, the economy will potentially be in a completely different place. If you can obtain the financing, this could be a great time to start a project.

Edited March 16, 2010 by livincinco

[travelguy_73]

Why not? By the time a large project is completed, the economy will potentially be in a completely different place. If you can obtain the financing, this could be a great time to start a project.

If you can obtain financing, which is the problem these days. Developers have lists of projects down to the floor, but insurance companies, sovereign funds, pensions, etc., aren't forking much of anything over to pay for them, and developers rarely pay cash.

[nate]

Why not? By the time a large project is completed, the economy will potentially be in a completely different place. If you can obtain the financing, this could be a great time to start a project.

Something will get built there eventually, but this project is dead.

[lockmat]

Something will get built there eventually, but this project is dead.

is that an "educated" guess or do you have actual knowledge of this from stakeholder sources?

[nate]

is that an "educated" guess or do you have actual knowledge of this from stakeholder sources?

With respect to something eventually, it is an educated guess. The remainder I have been told from an authoritative source.

[kdog08]

Culture Map:Skyscrapers buck the recession: Hines plans another new office tower for downtown Houston

"The Hines real estate organization, which has built 23 skyscrapers in downtown Houston, is planning another one. The project, if it comes together as planned, would result in a major office building on Main Street, catty-cornered from the historic Rice Hotel building.

Hines would not proceed unless a major office tenant has been signed, but the developer has been in serious discussions with significant corporations looking for downtown space. Some people in the real estate community say this could be the real deal — a big tenant ready to make a commitment and kick off another Hines downtown project — and soon."

Hopefully there is much truth behind this story. Anyone heard these sort of rumblings?

[DrLan34]

wow, would be pretty badass, never thought something like this would pop us so quick... i know it is not for sure at all, but the momentum seems to be solid

[kdog08]

wow, would be pretty badass, never thought something like this would pop us so quick... i know it is not for sure at all, but the momentum seems to be solid

I know huh? After looking at a map this is the parking lot a block north of Flying Saucer. Bad ass.

[citizen4rmptown]

if its of any significant height, it wont make that much of an impact considering its seperated only by a block from the state's tallest tower, but its a good thing the Chase Tower is relatively skinny, but when viewed from the skyline district, it looks like BoA will block it anyways; oh well, looks like it will make an impact from every other angle.

[DrLan34]

if its of any significant height, it wont make that much of an impact considering its seperated only by a block from the state's tallest tower, but its a good thing the Chase Tower is relatively skinny, but when viewed from the skyline district, it looks like BoA will block it anyways; oh well, looks like it will make an impact from every other angle.

I hear what you are saying but it's about density too man... and adding some more street life to main street.

[wxman]

Doesn't look much taller than about 35 stories. The design is pretty cool but I have yet to see a building turn out exactly like the rendering....especially the first rendering that came out about 3 years ago.

Edited March 16, 2011 by wxman

[kdog08]

I hear what you are saying but it's about density too man... and adding some more street life to main street.

Word

[Subdude]

That block is crying out for a first class office tower.

Remember the Shamrock proposal?

[kylejack]

I remember coming to the McDonald's that was on this block.

[LTAWACS]

That block is crying out for a first class office tower.

Remember the Shamrock proposal?

Yeah I still have rendering somewhere.

[lockmat]

Doesn't look much taller than about 35 stories. The design is pretty cool but I have yet to see a building turn out exactly like the rendering....especially the first rendering that came out about 3 years ago.

Did someone post a new rendering? Once again, I can't see images at work. If I give someone my email address will you send it to me?

[LTAWACS]

I'll email them to you...

[Mister X]

I'll email them to you...

Ugh!

[DrLan34]

slightly dated, but an interesting read on the suburban vs downtown office market

http://www.coydavidson.com/2010/12/16/are-houston-office-tenants-leaving-the-burbs/

[lockmat]

Why do brand new class-a skyscrapers buck the trend? My thought is that if Class B and C towers sit empty, it doesn't really matter b/c some companies are interested in class-a. Whether B's and C's sit empty is irrelevant. Just b/c there are old cars in the junk yard does not keep GM from making new cars and people buying them.

[citizen4rmptown]

I hear what you are saying but it's about density too man... and adding some more street life to main street.

Of course I would prefer (Philly) Center City's street life as opposed to getting a Comcast Center( their new tallest tower that really did wonders for its skyline).

But right now, Houston's DT skyline hasnt changed in a real long time( even with some notable additions), and in the short term,I think an immediate impact to Houston's skyline would be more beneficial than adding more office workers. If this were a resedential project, I'd understand.

But to an outsider, adding a 700 ft+ tower to the skyline will stay in that persons mind more than adding 700 office workers that that person will more than likely not even see first hand. I mean on average, what, an office worker spends less than 30 minutes actually on the streets of DT? If were lucky, a new office tower will bring along a retail storefront, and a restaurant or two. A visitor will recognize a change to the skyline more than the addition of a few hundred people, and a new office tower doesn't neccesarily equal more people/street life to DT, it may end up being just a transfer of office workers from an older building to a newer building.

But, yeah, in the long term, I do think adding density to DT is better than just a few tall towers.

[LTAWACS]

It sounds like we need something on the order of 900+ ft resi tower.

[livincinco]

It sounds like we need something on the order of 900+ ft resi tower.

Absolutely, screw inconvenient economic realitites. Let's build something really big that we don't have any tenants for! Oh...wait....didn't they do that in Dubai...

[epiphany base]

Could be a while...

[Houstonian4Life]

Seems like this will happen relatively quickly. There is a lot of momentum for this project. It would be great if we could get another residential tower or two in the next few years.

[lockmat]

Seems like this will happen relatively quickly. There is a lot of momentum for this project. It would be great if we could get another residential tower or two in the next few years.

Why are some talking resi towers? They're planning an office tower. Just wishful thinking they would tag along?

[lockmat]

Could be a while...

The title of the blog entry is somewhat misleading. The finished product would be at least two years from now, not ground breaking.