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For some reason got curious about the construction start date for this one. While googling I found this article. https://www.enr.com/articles/47283-texas-louisiana-city-scoop-construction-starts-in-houston From the website: This was from a couple weeks ago. Looks like procurement for consultant services has already begun in earnest. The project is so huge that its actually going to force some who take on the project to turn some projects away. That should tell you the scale we are looking at here. If there are manpower issues as well I wouldn't be surprised we if start pulling more workers from other cities to help fill the gap which just means more people coming to Houston overall. Now we wait till beginning of 2020.

Fencing is now also going up a block north of the Art Square. Almost two full blocks (not including the empty Greensheet building) now will have construction fencing. Though this picture isn't the best, you can see the fenceposts being drilled into the sidewalk.

Correct! I knew it was in part of some type of "office" or business! Thanks for the clarification!!! Interestingly enough the below article makes it sound like it could have extended hours at night during special events? not sure if that is the case, but that is how i read it. http://ldforrest.com/avenida-eats OVERVIEW Avenida Eats is a grab-and-go casual dining concept that is part of the Houston Welcome Center which opened in Summer 2019. The three-part Houston Welcome Center which includes Avenida Eats, Launch and the Houston Information Center is located inside the George R. Brown Convention Center. Avenida Eats’ name is derived from Avenida Houston, the entertainment district that envelopes the convention center and nearby park, restaurants, hotels and surrounding area. The audience for Avenida Eats is meeting/convention attendees and nearby office employees looking for a quick, affordable, bite to eat. Avenida Eats also is open to support weekend and evening special events on Avenida Houston by also offering a selection of beer and wine options. Food offerings include barbecue, tacos, sandwiches, salads and desserts.

I believe this is a restaurant/entertainment concept:

Would be nice if Tilman snatched up a lot or 2 around Toyota Center, but I’m not holding my breath on that one.

I was excited to hear all that talk as well, but I like the Crane approach of minimal talking and mass action. It’s still early in his tenure so we’ll see I suppose.

As long as it's not townhomes ... we have enough of those in EaDo.

Really looking forward to them breaking ground on TMC3. This whole area is going to explode once that happens. So much open land or underused areas out here.

Why not? I mean he's clearly shown he wants to make a big impact. He already talked about upgrades to Toyota Center.

No reason we can't make both places pedestrian-oriented. Uptown is not going to go away as Houston's second downtown so we need to keep improving it longterm. And it is shifting to pedestrian-oriented buildings with the new 40-story tower with GFR under construction and the planned mixed-use, zero-setback Zadok Jewelry building. (Both more pedestrian-oriented than Camden McGowen, at any rate.) Alexander Garvin, FWIW, said Post Oak would be "the greatest urban boulevard in America" a couple months ago, although I think there was some hyperbole.

My dream has been for a meteor to crash into it at 3:00 am when no one is around and it all tumbles down into a very neat pile. No gets hurt. No traffic blocked. Don't really expect that to happen, but heck, one can dream.

13 is actually fine with Chinese culture, however, anything ending with 4 is not. So during early stage planning, we have argument that if 13 has to be avoided, then 4 and 14 have to be avoided as well, which will create too many holes in a tiny piece of cheese. Therefore we stayed with 13 but claimed this is a 16 story building (which technically, partially correct).

Not to mention all the older buildings that are getting revamps. The Boulevard project is already looking like its going to have a positive effect on the surrounding environment, so while its not pedestrian friendly, yet, this definitely will start the process.

I think there's too much focus on making a few places slightly less shitty for the rare pedestrians who might find themselves there despite a complete lack of pedestrian-oriented buildings. I'd rather see us build a handful of truly great pedestrian-focused (even pedestian-only) places in areas that have the bones for it, like the Main St corridor.

I have driven past this site every morning going north on Bertner from O.S.T., for the past three years. The building has significantly changed the feel and the scale of this side of the bayou. It also gives the existing boat shaped M.D. Anderson building some company and something to play off of. "One is the loneliest number"

but...8am? That's awfully late to open for breakfast, no?

Bulldozers on site today. I think the last 5,000 sq ft lot was purchased by the developer. Waiting to hear back from the broker.

This is starting to look really good:

I don't think it's in the Partnership Building. Pretty sure it's in the GRB; a little south of the center of the building. It's the cafe located within the Welcome Center.

If they demo Home Plate, they need to do a though rough cleaning of the area before building something else in that area. That place smells like urine and sad dreams. We go to eado to pre-game instead.

Easy. Downtown Balcony views. Its the tallest point on the building and those units are going to fetch a hefty price tag. Easier to advertise balcony views of downtown rather than balcony views looking south.

It's close to being in my sightline when I'm sitting at my desk.

Sorry, got confused with the City exclusively buying the land for BBVA. In my recollection (but living away at the time) I thought it was driven by the City and that impression must have never left me. But, rest assured, Houston19, make yourself known at the next Astros game and I will buy you an overpriced beer to complement that feather in your cap.

This is much taller than I was expecting. Anybody?

I'm the same about the Lower Westheimer Corridor, however, I do like how we are approaching it at various levels. We need focus on the kind you are bringing up, but also the large Boulevards as well. If there was a moment to showcase what could be done with complete streets it was at Post Oak. Hopefully they learn from it and build off it.

The replat signs are posted all over the Westgrove Court business area.

I mean it's a steakhouse. Those used to be the only restaurants downtown open for dinner. Edit: oh those are the hours for the other cafe disregard all of it

Damn this is impressive!

Drove by the market on Saturday. It was a cluster to say the least. A large portion of the market is fenced off, and the parking lot is being taken up. Many of the vendors in the back were placed under temporary tents. Only 1 way in and out around Junior's (old Canino's). One entrance on the North side for the large trucks for the wholesale trade. Will be interesting to see how this shapes up. Also, it will be interesting to see how many of the wholesalers stay.

I like walking directly into trees.

I would definitely put my money on it happening. The TAMU System has been aggressively working over the past few years to expand its reach and has been very good at achieving that (winning the contract to manage Los Alamos National Lab, bringing the Army Futures Command central testing hub to campus, getting the Legislature to give it control of the Texas Division of Emergency Management). The “new” A&M System loves big, bold projects. What’s more is that this is a public-private partnership which will generate revenue for the A&M System. One of the most notable PPPs A&M has done is Park West, a 3400 bed student housing complex, it was built for about $245 million and annually generates $20 million for TAMU (projected total return to TAMU of $600 million over the 32 year agreement). In all likelihood, the Holcombe project should be very similar to this and A&M’s other PPPs, opening up ridiculously vast resources for TAMU to further invest in the Health Science Center and TMC. If you simply scale the ROI for Park West up to this project’s initial value (which is a terrible way of projecting the ROI for this project because it doesn’t account for differing agreements, higher value of land in the TMC than College Station, etc), you get a return of $1.53 billion which would very easily fund some health projects TAMU wants to pursue although even this project alone would be a game changer for the TMC.

Work has started.

Welcome committees on every single entrance for the students. Students and parents helping to move this years students into their dorms. The roads around the new music hall are being revamped.

Rebar is still poking out so I was wrong about it being topped out.

Untitled by Houston Midtown, on Flickr

Did the 2nd tower start? Activity here today.

Thats what I like about Hanover. When they say they're going to do something they don't waste any time.

The golf course at Hermann Park has been there since the 1920's, as long as the Zoo has existed. It isn't crowding out anyone, and is popular, especially with folks who can't afford the higher end courses.

You can blame Aramark and their overpriced and crappy food for the ridiculous beer prices at Houston sports events. It amazes me how they basically have a monopoly on all the sporting venues. UH wisely just gave Aramark the boot from its sports facilities. I know many UH fans are happy about it.

Aren't we all glad the Stros put their stadium Downtown? I mean we have the best ballpark in TX. Regardless of what the rangers are building in the middle of nowhere, nothing beats having your ballpark in the middle of the city.

Talked with a couple of Vaughn workers at the Holcombe & Main St remodel. Said this would be starting up soon. Went to find a new vantage point for the build.

🤞Olympic-size outdoor swimming pool🤞

biggest difference is you don't get sweaty taking a scooter 1-2 miles. source: we own both bikes and scooters and our decision on which to take is based almost completely on if we can be sweaty where we're ending up.

Scooters are cheaper and lighter, so more can be deployed in a dockless rental type scenario. Additionally, I think the scooters have a lower barrier to entry - you can just step on one and go, while a bike you mount/dismount.