Triton Posted May 10, 2015 Share Posted May 10, 2015 Has anyone heard any rumblings about the Americana being demolished with mixed-used going in its place? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFootsSocks Posted May 10, 2015 Share Posted May 10, 2015 Where's that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonIsHome Posted May 10, 2015 Share Posted May 10, 2015 Where's that?Across the street from the former Macy's site. Right across travis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avossos Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 Why demolish and not convert? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 Pretty mediocre building. I used to walk past it every day when I worked Downtown, and it always looked dead. no action, no people, nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate99 Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 Has anyone heard any rumblings about the Americana being demolished with mixed-used going in its place? It looked like they had a plan at one point. I think they ran everyone out of there other than Subway and the Downtown District guys. They shut down Popeye's for Pete's sake. I foggily recall something about Hillcorp owning that block too, but don't quote me on that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigereye Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 It looked like they had a plan at one point. I think they ran everyone out of there other than Subway and the Downtown District guys. They shut down Popeye's for Pete's sake.I foggily recall something about Hillcorp owning that block too, but don't quote me on that.Correct. 1110 Main Partners LP owns both the Americana & Hilcorp Tower blocks. Last I heard, the building was to be renovated, that's why all of the existing businesses were forced out. But that was a while back ...surprised Subway is still open. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonIsHome Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 I wonder how much space does Hilcorp occupy in that building on Dallas. Might create a sizeable vacancy if they vacate for their new residence on Travis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andre154 Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 Not sure if this deserves a new thread, but I spoke to a construction worker at the Americana Building site (Block 257), and they are going to be demolishing the tower from the top down. There's barricades out on Dallas Street, so it seems like things will be progressing quickly.  Also, the Downtown District operations is moving its office from 1119 Milam to 1102 Travis, which is the SW corner of Travis and Lamar.     Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbanize713 Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 I was going to post something about this as well. Subway closed at the end of 2016. There has been what appears to be an active construction dumpster at on of the entrances on Dallas. Additionally today you can see where some of the windows at the top of the tower are being taken out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avossos Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 so who is paying for this demolition.... Â I might be stupid here... but the cost of demolishing this is high, I'm sure. What kind of firm would demo without plans to build something? We don't need another office tower... we don't need more apartments (wish we did), so is this Kinder? Anyone know what the long term plan is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbanize713 Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 Unless something has changed Jeffrey Hildebrand owns this property. In fact Hilcorp had offices in this building while it was still functional. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avossos Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 20 minutes ago, urbanize713 said: Unless something has changed Jeffrey Hildebrand owns this property. In fact Hilcorp had offices in this building while it was still functional. Â Did we hear a rumor that they were going to build a second tower? Or Parking garage? Â Second question - why is that weird brick garage not being torn down too!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andre154 Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 I was told by a construction worker that even the Downtown District operations offices (which are moving around the block to the other side of the building) are temporary, so I anticipate that everything will be coming down eventually. Perhaps they'll just continue to have the parking garages operate until something is decided to place on the site. This way they're paying less in taxes by not having a big vacant building, but still making money on the old Macy's garage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nole23 Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 On 5/9/2015 at 11:22 PM, Triton said: Has anyone heard any rumblings about the Americana being demolished with mixed-used going in its place? Â This quote is from 2 years ago. Maybe these are the plans? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted February 8, 2017 Author Share Posted February 8, 2017 1 hour ago, Nole23 said: Â This quote is from 2 years ago. Maybe these are the plans? Â I am not quite sure. I heard some rumors of a demolition but nothing much after that. Who knows, maybe this is a renovation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CREguy13 Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 1 hour ago, urbanize713 said: Unless something has changed Jeffrey Hildebrand owns this property. In fact Hilcorp had offices in this building while it was still functional. This is correct. J. Hildebrand owns the entire block Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HNathoo Posted February 10, 2017 Share Posted February 10, 2017 The cost to upkeep an office building is pretty high. If you have no future plans for the building, it's generally cheaper to demolish it, in lieu of sitting on a building with low occupancy and/or rents. Fortunately, they can collect some high margin income as a parking lot/garage while they plan out the future development. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted February 10, 2017 Share Posted February 10, 2017 I was just looking at the building the other night and thinking this would make a great mod-themed hotel. Not often you find such a well-preserved period piece. But maybe the Meridien has already filled that niche? If this building were in downtown Austin or somewhere on the West Coast, it would get restored in a heartbeat.   Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanjorade Posted February 10, 2017 Share Posted February 10, 2017 I officed in that building for awhile. It was in bad condition 6-8 years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeerNut Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 On 2/9/2017 at 10:47 PM, HNathoo said: The cost to upkeep an office building is pretty high. If you have no future plans for the building, it's generally cheaper to demolish it, in lieu of sitting on a building with low occupancy and/or rents. Fortunately, they can collect some high margin income as a parking lot/garage while they plan out the future development. So why does the old Holiday Inn continue to stand? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 So we get either a surface lot or a parking garage? Â Is it strange Hilcorp is holding on to this block? Are they anticipating expansion so soon when they just put up a new tower? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted February 22, 2017 Author Share Posted February 22, 2017 Downtown Americana building to be demolished Quote Hilcorp Ventures, the real estate and investment company owned by Houston's Hildebrand family, is demolishing one of its downtown properties, a worn-out office tower across from the Hilcorp headquarters. Demolition work has started on the 10-story Americana Building at 811 Dallas. The tower will be removed floor-by-floor, but the garage beneath it will stay, the company said Tuesday. There are no immediate plans to redevelop the site. The property is across Travis from the Hilcorp tower, which was built on the site of the former Foley's department store. The building is the headquarters for Hilcorp Energy, a private exploration and production company founded by Jeffery D. Hildebrand. http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/Downtown-Americana-building-to-be-demolished-10949019.php?t=d2940d48af438d9cbb&cmpid=twitter-premium Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 I guess this building along with the Chronicle building means we are setting up for the next big push in development. I feel this next phase, once the market rebounds, is really going to change Houston big time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobruss Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 I don't think its going to happen for a while. Theres just too much unleased and sub leasable space available. A lot of that space has to be absorbed before there will be another tower coming out of either one of those two lots. Skanska might go ahead with their tower due to a possible deal with Wells Fargo but I wouldn't hold my breath on that one either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoninATX Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 I'm hoping Hilcorp Ventures will sell later on, that area is a prime location for a tall mixed use tower. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cspwal Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 On 2/20/2017 at 6:15 PM, BeerNut said: So why does the old Holiday Inn continue to stand? because they're not keeping it up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EspersonBuildings Posted February 24, 2017 Share Posted February 24, 2017 "The 550-car garage spans both sides of the block, but the office building sits atop just the southern half. The north half of the garage will remain open during construction. " -- This has me a little confused.  Does this mean their garage is a part of (and connected to) the old Foley's garage?  I know the Foley's garage is on the northern half (or maybe the northern third) of the block.  I remember using the Foley's garage but it seemed to be just that top part of the block. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted February 24, 2017 Share Posted February 24, 2017 Spanning from east to west (Milam to Travis)Â is what they meant. The garage does not sit under the office building. There's retail on the first floor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanjorade Posted February 24, 2017 Share Posted February 24, 2017 One of the entrances to the garage sits under the building. Perhaps that entrance will be demolished along with the building. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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