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As someone born and raised in Third Ward , I naturally champion preserving the area History and Culture. That being said the area that the ION is proposing has largely been abandoned for almost 20 years now. I dont see how this project effects Third ward as a whole if anything it should be seen as boom for the Black own business that reside on Almeda as it would see a rather dead area( Sears area) become more vibrant. That would lead to spill over for the cafes and other black towns business on Almeda as people till to patron business that are within 2 miles of a place of employment according to some studies.

Got this shot of the Sun peaking through the top floors:

Three welders welding.

From Midtown meeting: Outdoor area will have programming to bring in local community Fiesta is already paying below market rate for current lease and Fiesta still intend to close Rice representative said they're not going into space to solve homelessness but will work with partners Main building complete Jan 2021 along with Ion Plaza, entire project 2030 based on current timeline Jack in box currently has favorable lease Representative said in reference to affordable housing in surrounding area they can't control properties they don't hold

Two Crane's a cranin

Looks like we're going to have a mat pour next weekend or over Thanksgiving week sometime. I think I spy the tower crane base lying on it's side up there on the MST side, and perhaps its foundation just outside the tub at the Prairie corner. ETA: Which two of you were up on the top level of the garage with a camera smoking a doobie?

I think a Trader Joe’s could fit the space nicely

Miraculously the Rice Management Company isn't run by academics, but is actually run by actual business people. That bodes well for the project, and future endeavors. I'm glad they placed people on this job who are actually serious about the work and aren't chasing fantasies, or those who will be susceptible to the whims of the activists mentioned prior. Now we wait to see what the city will do. Then again, due to the cities past track record, I think the city isn't compromised and will do what is necessary. I was very worried that the Rice Management Company was merely an entity in name only, and not a serious development entity, but glad I was wrong.

This and along with the burying of 59. We could be talking about a revolution for Almeda. That street has always had a lot of potential.

Perfect place for a grocery store. HEB shoud be all over that vacant Forever 21 space.

Source: https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2019/11/14/downtown-houston-mixed-use-development-secures.html

Ten brokers leasing...

A bunch of content, posts, renderings posted in this thread from me over the years were removed in the mass deletion of over five years worth of content from me. I wasn't able to save much from this thread, but did save this post I made back in March. The post speculated a restaurant from Paul Qui is likely opening at Post HTX or Post Houston ( or maybe it's Post). This is the site of the former Barbara Jordan U.S. Post Office at 401 Franklin St in downtown Houston. I later posted in May about a Qui & Kirby Lui (developer with Lovett Commerical) out together and it could be a sign Qui is signing on for a spot at Post HTX (a post Eater Houston picked up and reported): Well, I was right. Qui announced on Instagram yesterday of plans to open a new restaurant at Post. Here's more from Eater Houston this morning: After months of rumors that Paul Qui’s had a comeback in the works, the embattled chef has officially announced that he’ll open a new eatery at the forthcoming Post HTX food hall. Qui made the announcement on Instagram on Thursday, but didn’t provide a whole lot of insight into what the restaurant will look like. At this point, all that’s known is that he’s working on a concept for the forthcoming 550,000 square foot Post HTX food hall project that’s currently under development inside the Barbara Jordan Post Office building in the Theatre District. That said, when Qui closed his Montrose restaurant Aqui in December 2018, the chef promised that he’d be back, and announced plans for a forthcoming restaurant that will serve “Filipino bites to be shared among friends.” Back in May, Qui was spotted dining around Houston with superstar chef Alex Atala and developer Kirby Liu, whose company Lovett Commercial is helming the Post HTX project. When Post HTX was announced in June, Lovett Commercial didn’t share any details on which chefs would be involved, but rumors that Qui was involved with the project persisted. ...Beyond “coming soon,” Qui hasn’t announced a timeline for the new restaurant’s arrival. https://houston.eater.com/2019/11/15/20966040/paul-qui-opening-houston-restaurant-post-htx-food-hall

I was told months ago by a Harvey worker that this will have 2 tower cranes, a luffer tower crane initially due space configurations and another tower crane later.

Maybe something like this? gray is the new road light yellow would be the abandonment of these streets and turning them into pedestrian roads. most of la branch at this portion is already a pedestrian walk, so wouldn't be out of the question to do the same with the rest. This new connection from la branch to almeda would also help give the campus a defined edge. That parking lot is probably the best bet for reconfiguration as you proposed. Would actually be pretty easy to do. Maybe someone should pitch this idea to the city. It definitely would make traffic flow better here.

I wouldn't say never, but the last new heavy rail subway in the US was made in San Juan in 2004, but it only has 2 subterranean stations. The Seattle light rail tunnels, which are closer to what I was thinking of, has a mile long tunnel downtown that was made in 1990, as well as another tunnel built in 2005 and the one that is currently being finished up. So it is possible for new subways to be built, especially one based on "light rail" but the biggest issue is getting funding

A grocery store and LifeTime Fitness would be a great 1-2 punch.

Just sayin'

I'm trying to think if that could work given the space, but absolutely a grocery store on Main Street would be incredible for the area.

It is good the HEB is going in. Poorer areas have always been left behind for groceries and it is bad for the community health. I get that its not this projects job to solve that problem so I do like the insight on the Fiesta. The HEB will help with the grocery desert for the Third Ward.

A house on this site caught fire—apparently squatters may have set a fire to try to keep warm: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/House-burns-in-Houston-s-Museum-District-14834573.php

All of this is correct, which illustrates what this is really about, power politics. Does this development check the boxes: Economically = Yes Socially = Yes Technologically = Yes Politically = No This project, in the minds of these activists, doesn't check the box politically, which is the only box that matters for those who play the game of power politics. "Community" is just a wedge for those who wish to enter into the game and have influence. No community? Doesn't matter just say that there is a community here because people are sympathetic to that word, as ambiguous as it is. Not 3rd Ward? Doesn't matter just mention that 3rd Ward is close by which is dominated disproportionately with those the nation deems as "minorities" even though they make up the "majority" of that actual community. And there is the word of the day, "inclusive". Should the development pay mind to is surroundings, yes. Should it improvement the environment around, yes. All that is shown to be the purpose of this development. With that being said, I find it pointless to stall a development for the sake of shoehorning elements of, what some are calling, the DIE religion (diversity, inclusivity, and equity) or what I have come to call "The New Catholic". Its not necessary. Especially when an organization such as Rice is already hyper-sensitive to this elements already, but it seems that is exactly why these people are putting up such a stink. Their insertion into something that doesn't deal with them at all is ridiculous.

Quentin Mease under construction for its transition to an outpatient facility https://www.tmc.edu/news/2019/10/quentin-mease-under-construction-for-its-transition-to-an-outpatient-facility/

More on the McGowen Building, 1500 McGowen. This comes from the More Coming to Midtown thread: https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/22649-more-coming-to-midtown/?do=findComment&comment=601924

Forever 65 perhaps?

Updated design for Shepnett Square on Shepherd Dr between Center St and Nett St in Houston. This is in the Washington Corridor area. It is NOT in the Heights or part of the Heights area at all. This building is designed by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture. More on the building from the materials linked in above posts: The retail center will feature a modern, engaging respite from the day.

New marketing materials and updated plans for Shepnett Square on Shepherd Dr between Center St and Nett St in Houston. This is in the Washington Corridor area. It is NOT in the Heights or part of the Heights area at all. Site plan for Shepnett Square from marketing materials linked in above post. Building D 7,178 SF 1,200 SF + 635 SF Patio Building B 3,940 SF Building C - FM Kitchen & Bar 4,300 SF + 4,326 SF Patio (direct link to non-compressed, full sized image to zoom in)

Harris County Flood Control district buys former Meyerland apartment site for detention https://communityimpact.com/houston/bellaire-meyerland-west-university/government/2019/11/14/harris-county-flood-control-district-buys-former-meyerland-apartment-site-for-detention/

So entrepreneurialism-by-committee hasn't worked anywhere else, but it will work in Houston because we have some special, "local" brand of activism that's different from the usual kind? By the way, this sort of thing is pretty new to Houston. Our past development has not been a combination of "activism, progress AND development in a carefully thought out environment." About 99.9% of it was pure self-interest on the developer's part, which has been good for everyone, since it's in a developer's interest to build something that people want.

Based on the brochure link Urb posted, not much.

The definition of "First World Problems"

I understand the issues brought up in the article, but this project is a major boost for the area. In my mind the positives far outweigh the negatives. It would just be a shame if the project was delayed or the overall vision was stunted because of this.

Anyone knows what the future of this lot is? The old Drew’s BBQ spot has been vacant for over a year and a half.

It's quite beautiful. What did this building first house?

or H&M. Then again I'm a walking H&M billboard/sellout haha

That area of Midtown is starting to get some sorely needed love. I love cycling in that area because of the general lack of fast cars and residentialness of it (makes for easy riding) but damn does it have a lot of empty building/lots. I think its a good sign for Midtown that small, seemingly forgotten buildings are getting in line for quick-ish refurbs, instead of getting torn down completely and thus taking a years to fill that space, to get the space back on the market.

May have a waterfront in about 10 years lol jk

that parcel is pretty small, so it makes re-development challenging, plus it's not contiguous - which makes it a no-go for most. plus the amateurish approach by a residential broker isn't helping anything. killer google earth work here: https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/portfolio/13704092/