Houston19514 Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 New Hyatt Place Hotel planned for downtown Houston on Rusk (same block as the Hampton Inn/Homewood Suites posted in another thread) 11 stories, 261 rooms. Ground to be broken by January 2014. Open by Summer 2015. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Cool, I'm a fan of multiple-building blocks - gives a more urban feel IMO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asubrt Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Wow, this brings the total to at least 7 new hotels opening downtown: -Hyatt Place (261 rooms)-Hampton Inn (168 rooms)-Homewood Suites (132 rooms)-Marriott Marquis (~1000 rooms)-JW Marriott (323 rooms)-Springhill Suites (Humble Oil Building) (166 rooms)-Holiday Inn Flagship (Savoy) (~200 rooms?) That's at least 2200 new hotel rooms added in the next 3 years. Plus potentially even more, although some of these are pretty unlikely: -Days Inn building hotel-La Quinta-GreenStreet possible hotel component 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moore713 Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 (edited) I hope ground floor retail is part of the plan.. you could really create a active zone .. even if its not I am for anything that removes one more parking lot and this will remove two ..if I am looking at my google map correctly Edited June 21, 2013 by Moore713 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livincinco Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 I've never seen a Hyatt Place with ground floor retail. Not saying they don't exist, I'm just not aware of one. Didn't they just open one in downtown Austin as well? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chi-Char-Hou-Dal Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 I know this is going to sound naive - what is with so many people's obsession with GFR - yes I coined the abbreviation. Everytime I see it I laugh - I want everyone who yearns for ground floor retail go to a little convenience store in one of the hotels downtown and buy a $10 tooth brush then holler back at me. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jax Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Rusk and which block? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 I know this is going to sound naive - what is with so many people's obsession with GFR - yes I coined the abbreviation. Everytime I see it I laugh - I want everyone who yearns for ground floor retail go to a little convenience store in one of the hotels downtown and buy a $10 tooth brush then holler back at me. If you fancy yourself a new urbanist, you must clamor for GFR in EVERY building. You must also demand rail everywhere, and condemn freeways and suburbs. It is the mantra. Unfortunately, most new urbanists...or wannabes...cannot actually tell when ground floor retail is useful and when it is not, so they demand it in every building, even when the building is not in a walkable area. The naivete is not yours, but theirs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted June 21, 2013 Author Share Posted June 21, 2013 Rusk and which block? I think it's the block between Crawford and LaBranch. (Rusk, Capitol, Crawford, LaBranch) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 If you fancy yourself a new urbanist, you must clamor for GFR in EVERY building. You must also demand rail everywhere, and condemn freeways and suburbs. It is the mantra. Unfortunately, most new urbanists...or wannabes...cannot actually tell when ground floor retail is useful and when it is not, so they demand it in every building, even when the building is not in a walkable area. The naivete is not yours, but theirs. All new construction should have sidewalks along the public right-of-way, Q.E.D. all new construction should be in a walkable area, especially inside the Loop. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrLan34 Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Haha I prefer rob, retail on bottom 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moore713 Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 (edited) If you fancy yourself a new urbanist, you must clamor for GFR in EVERY building. You must also demand rail everywhere, and condemn freeways and suburbs. It is the mantra. Unfortunately, most new urbanists...or wannabes...cannot actually tell when ground floor retail is useful and when it is not, so they demand it in every building, even when the building is not in a walkable area. The naivete is not yours, but theirs. It not about being a new urbainist anything it about creating a econoimc zone in a CBD that has been attacked for lacking a unified retail or Entertainment district. So if you are going to find a place to squat a number of hotels all within walking distance of each other you actually create a rare chance to develop a strong commerical district..with DS green actting as your ancor.. since a number of polls show that most people do not like to venture more than a mile from there their hotel when walking. A strong retail in the area is a plus not a minus when going for tourist dollars Second no one said jack about freeways and understand they have their place and purpose(most new urbanist as you call it) only beef with it is that instead of being a balanced transit system it is a sevely lopped sided one where far to much tax payer dollars are paid toward it with far to little return(we have been expanding highways for the last 30 yrs and still traffic is getting worse not better) Third funny you went after rail notice all the major construction is happening along the rail lines, main st, rusk Edited June 21, 2013 by Moore713 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shasta Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 If you fancy yourself a new urbanist, you must clamor for GFR in EVERY building. You must also demand rail everywhere, and condemn freeways and suburbs. It is the mantra. Unfortunately, most new urbanists...or wannabes...cannot actually tell when ground floor retail is useful and when it is not, so they demand it in every building, even when the building is not in a walkable area. The naivete is not yours, but theirs. People like this just have no clue.......it's not even worth our time responding to their sarcastic remarks. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 I rest my case. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfastx Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Red is being sarcastic, and I'm sure he's referencing Slik Vik's arguments over in the transportation forums. Fortunately, many people who favor urban development and better public transportation do not agree with Slick's views. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naviguessor Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Great. Yet another forum turning to be about the people in them rather than about the topic. Almost hate to open up this sight anymore. We could all work on our social skills. Don't y'all think?These hotels are Great news for downtown. Won't be spectacular in design. And...a hotel lobby IS GFR, of a sort. Pumps people in and out, all day, everyday. Perfect for the area. Exciting stuff. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Great. Yet another forum turning to be about the people in them rather than about the topic. Almost hate to open up this sight anymore. We could all work on our social skills. Don't y'all think?These hotels are Great news for downtown. Won't be spectacular in design. And...a hotel lobby IS GFR, of a sort. Pumps people in and out, all day, everyday. Perfect for the area. Exciting stuff.I'm not a big traveler but I did have the opportunity to stay at a very nice hotel in NYC and it didn't even have GFR except for the hotel restaurant/bar that seemed only to be visited by the guests. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WesternGulf Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 I know this is going to sound naive - what is with so many people's obsession with GFR - yes I coined the abbreviation. Everytime I see it I laugh - I want everyone who yearns for ground floor retail go to a little convenience store in one of the hotels downtown and buy a $10 tooth brush then holler back at me. I do not think GFR is appropriate everywhere but it should be advocated for most buildings downtown. Traditional built cities commercial avenues or main corridors usually meet downtown. One would not advocate for every high density project in Houston to have "GFR" but it is imperative for commercial corridors and centers of activity in certain neighborhoods so there are no dead zones and transit can serve these routes of mixed activity. What makes a downtown a downtown is the concentration of businesses on almost every street and not on a few corridors like you may find in a more residential neighborhood. There are tens of thousands of workers that work on Louisiana and Smith Streets downtown but the activity of the street would not tell you that because of the single use office towers on those corridors. Almost every one of those landmark towers have some type of private plaza on the ground level that makes the whole street have an office park effect. If you do not work at these places there is no reason to be on those "private" streets. If that trend is carbon copied all over downtown, we will continue to have the dead zones that intermingle with other dead zones. Doesn't make for the safest downtown after hours anyway. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moore713 Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 Again it is not about creating GFR at every building , but these alinments of building do create a rare chance in Houston to develeop a strong retail core even how close they are to each other 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 Again it is not about creating GFR at every building , but these alinments of building do create a rare chance in Houston to develeop a strong retail core even how close they are to each other I'm curious, who would shop in this "retail core"? Less than 6,000 of the Houston metro's 6 million residents live downtown. That is 1/10th of 1%. There are precious few people downtown who would shop in these stores. If there were, retailers would be rushing to open stores there without the government forcing developers to put in ground floor retail. The fact remains, no one is shopping in downtown, therefore, retailers are not opening downtown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 I do not think GFR is appropriate everywhere but it should be advocated for most buildings downtown. Traditional built cities commercial avenues or main corridors usually meet downtown. One would not advocate for every high density project in Houston to have "GFR" but it is imperative for commercial corridors and centers of activity in certain neighborhoods so there are no dead zones and transit can serve these routes of mixed activity. What makes a downtown a downtown is the concentration of businesses on almost every street and not on a few corridors like you may find in a more residential neighborhood. There are tens of thousands of workers that work on Louisiana and Smith Streets downtown but the activity of the street would not tell you that because of the single use office towers on those corridors. Almost every one of those landmark towers have some type of private plaza on the ground level that makes the whole street have an office park effect. If you do not work at these places there is no reason to be on those "private" streets. If that trend is carbon copied all over downtown, we will continue to have the dead zones that intermingle with other dead zones. Doesn't make for the safest downtown after hours anyway. Is it safe to assume that "traditional built city" is another term for cities that developed before the automobile? If so, and understanding that the automobile is not going anywhere, why should a post WWII city like Houston attempt to force its design into a form that no longer exists? Also, downtown is one of Houston's safest neighborhoods. That seems to conflict with the statement that highrises are unsafe. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt16 Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 There's also vacant retail in one park place. I like GFR too, but only if it makes sense. A ton of empty store fronts would be way worse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arternative Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 My only real gripe about most new construction in Houston is the lack of flair. I want to see less function and more form. Where is the drive in these architects? Houston's "style" of architecture is for profit and cheap. You guys know what I mean? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WesternGulf Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 (edited) Is it safe to assume that "traditional built city" is another term for cities that developed before the automobile? If so, and understanding that the automobile is not going anywhere, why should a post WWII city like Houston attempt to force its design into a form that no longer exists? Also, downtown is one of Houston's safest neighborhoods. That seems to conflict with the statement that highrises are unsafe. You're right; that is another term for cities developed in a certain era, but those cities also have timeless qualities that are effective in restoring or preserving a city's urban fabric. Is it silly for Houston to adapt such qualities in an agenda to make Downtown Houston more active and more of a self-sufficient neighborhood and not a desert for so many everyday amenities in an urban context? I'm not saying Downtown Houston is not safe, I am simply saying having more eyes on the street with having mixed activity happening downtown is more safe than being a sole pedestrian walking in a "dead zone" of non-activity. That's the case for a highrise district or a commercial street lined with single story storefronts. Whose statement in this thread are you referring to that highrises are unsafe? Edited June 24, 2013 by WesternGulf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livincinco Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 You're right; that is another term for cities developed in a certain era, but those cities also have timeless qualities that are effective in restoring or preserving a city's urban fabric. Is it silly for Houston to adapt such qualities in an agenda to make Downtown Houston more active and more of a self-sufficient neighborhood and not a desert for so many everyday amenities in an urban context? I'm not saying Downtown Houston is not safe, I am simply saying having more eyes on the street with having mixed activity happening downtown is more safe than being a sole pedestrian walking in a "dead zone" of non-activity. That's the case for a highrise district or a commercial street lined with single story storefronts. Whose statement in this thread are you referring to that highrises are unsafe?I don't think that's the point that Red is trying to make. I think that his point is that compelling developers to include GFR isn't a good idea. If the developer doesn't think that they can lease that GFR, then the whole equation changes. They may question the economics of the development and not move forward with it, or they may build the GFR and have it sit vacant which is of no value to anyone. I think that everyone agrees that GFR is nice if the market will support it. The question is whether it is makes sense to require it when the developer doesn't think that there is sufficient demand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Urbannizer Posted July 2, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted July 2, 2013 (edited) http://downtownhouston.org/site_media/uploads/attachments/2013-06-27/2013-07-08_Downtown_Update-sm.pdf Edited July 2, 2013 by Urbannizer 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfastx Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 Looks pretty spiffy! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fortune Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 Looks nice, hopefully it will be built like the rendering. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purdueenginerd Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 Reminds me of the Westin Hotel in Downtown Memphis, TN 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 This map says both projects will be on the same plot. I didn't realize thatdowntownhouston.org/site_media/uploads/attachments/2013-06-26/dt_current_projects_130626_FOR_PRINT.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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