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Good thing for all of us here is that OMA is the architect, not Gensler. And while the designs are preliminary, they are incredible. Like nothing currently in Houston, extremely ambitious. I'm hopeful they get put out in the next few months.

Gensler's model for the site.

Handsome building.

This is a pretty fine example of neo-classical architecture, which seems to have been the favored style for the Christian Science movement, given its associations with the rationalist tradition of New England religion. I am surprised we haven't heard anything from the preservation community, especially considering their impassioned defense of the old Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral downtown. Examples of this style may become victims of their own success... there were so many neo-classical churches built in the U.S. that they tend to be seen as "just another church," although this example is certainly more graceful than most, especially with the large oak trees.

An efficient bus system cannot come to everyone's front door. A 3 block walk to Polk on a protected hike/bike trail does not seem unreasonable. But, for what it's worth, East End Management District is looking into either adding an additional light rail stop or adding bus service down McKinney. And the closest light rail stops are currently Leeland on the Purple Line and Coffee Plant on the Green Line. But at half a mile away, I would say those are unrealistic commuting options without a bicycle and lots of courage to deal with cars/trains.

But to be fair, nothing will ever be good enough for that intersection by the internet.

Saw some workers painting the outside and there's a front window that is out. A bunch of boxes stacked up. The 4X optical plus 5X digital zoom on my new Pixel juuuuust not enough to discern what was in the boxes from the TJ's parking lot.

kind of like... Chase Tower Chase Center Chase Building thankfully, they're all on the same corner, but it can be confusing.

Link please For a model I think it’s just fine. Need more details to form a better opinion.

@ToryGattis with the explanation now that the construction has been unpaused. It seems like things are picking up, and that the project may be approved in pieces. For now work is greenlit for the 59 portion by midtown/museum, the part of 59 leading into 45, and the part of 45 that feeds into i-10. The Eado part is still on pause: https://twitter.com/torygattis/status/1465769685849415688?s=20

Sometimes the 29 bus goes down McKinney when there is a train stopped across Lockwood does that count?

Would be a shame to lose it. It definitely is a prime example of Neo-Classical, and sits on that site very nicely. Hope it stays, but understand if it goes. That whole area is just too valuable in regard to real estate. You are correct that Neo-classical churches are a victim of their own successes because there are so many, but also even the use case and low density of Houston in general is the same. I think we have had discussions about this in other threads, but single story low density is just hard to keep and reuse if you want to up the density. So this too is also a victim in that regard. If we had built more mid-rise buildings in the early days like I've seen in other American cities (this includes where I live now in Salt Lake City) then it would be a lot more difficult to tear down. Walked this area a lot when I lived in Montrose, and always liked passing by this church.

There is no public transportation on McKinney. The closest bus stop is on Polk. The closest light rail station is at the soccer stadium.

Yep, working at Common Desk! Drop me a DM if you ever want to grab coffee 👍

GREAT NEWS! I can't wait for them to get this started! Not sure I understand the last sentence of the quote. How has any part of the project (and it's not clear if he's talking of Sections 3 or Sections 1 &* 2) been delayed two years by the FHWA pause, which so far is measured in months?

Modern farm finish sounds like the marketing for the new John Deere

Demolition and rebuilding the Hometown Bank in Galveston. HUGE upgrade based on how the current bank looks! For perspective, this is what it currently looks like 🤐

300 years🤣 of driving past that, and never noticed the "Little"

FWIW, there was a survey team on site today. Surveying. Well, two guys were surveying, and one guy was sitting in the truck.

This is wild -- the listing price has DOUBLED in 2021.

Oh jeez. Yeah, it's pretty terrible. Not sure I can remember a FAR like this. 4600 sq ft on a 1,788 sq ft lot!

https://www.oma.com Is this the OMA that's going to be the architect? If so, I think we have a really good chance that this is going to be significant! They even did the architecture for POST! Side note, does anyone know roughly when we can see this moving forward?

It's distinctive, I'll give it that...

Anyone familiar with this? Midtown Entertainment Zone

They know that, they're just taking the opportunity to take a dig at trans people regardless of how off-topic it is.

Here is another article referencing the reactivation of the project: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/transportation/2021/11/30/414398/txdot-gets-the-ok-to-continue-limited-work-on-a-controversial-i-45-expansion/

It's not the Texas A&M Innovation Plaza? (Actually it appears the Tower is in an Access Restricted area)

My mom is currently in Turkey and texted me some photos of the local tower cranes. How cool!

At Neartown meeting- COH gave report on community stakeholders input from Midtown residents concerning Entertainment Corridor designation. Montrose will get one of these soon The questions concerning sound levels seem to be “lively”, as apparently decibel levels of businesses are increased to 75dB and the distance from sound source and the recipient has increased also. Plus the fines will be increased apparently but the two person HPD team assigned to noise abatement will stay the same. There is also a proposal to allow Houston Constables to deal with and enforce COH noise abatement ordinances.

I have mixed feelings about this. Ideally, this designation should have been in effect at least 20 or 30 years ago, when places such as Avant Garden were being harassed for having acoustic music acts. COH's Rip Van Winkle approach will be met with resistance from people who have little interest and no memory of when live music actually existed in Montrose. There's a schism between those who would like Montrose to become River Oaks East, and those who would like it to retain some semblance of its days as a lively bohemian neighborhood. My current home is near a nightclub, and it does get loud sometimes. However, I knew the nightclub was there when I moved in. Asking them to close down because a neighbor chose to live close by seems unreasonable, so resign myself to a few hours of noise a week.

They started on the retaining walls over the tunnel ends. This was the far east end of the eastbound lane. They were pouring concrete on the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving.

Prepping the face for lipstick

https://fb.watch/9qtI9YBRrL/ METRO has a new video about it. They look good! I believe the section by Downtown TC is the only part that is painted right now. More to come tho :)

Oooh, Rengenct Square. I like the name change.

From u/Metaljoetx on Reddit. 713 Music Hall

I'll be honest. I've never seen a stairs configured in this way. Definitely going to walk this next time I'm in town. Have any of you seen Inception? Its like that moment when Joseph Gorden-Levitt's character was showing Ellen Page...Elliot Page...ugh...whatever anyway, the Penrose Steps or infinite staircase, but then the illusion was broken to show that its all a trick and the stairs then separate. Pretty neat.

two words that should never describe farm finishes are modern and designer.

Nothing says "downtown" like "farm finishes."

This is one of the best posts in HAIF history 😆

That's the most beautiful chain link fence I ever saw in my entire life.

I just drove by, and it looks like they could start demolishing this in the next few days. The whole block is already fenced off and Signature care is out with their sign taken down and a banner stating they've relocated across the street.

Perhaps Rice University can get together with the Mayor's Office to find a solution to the lack of used book stores in central Houston. They could buy a large building and convert it to an incubator for used book stores, where fledgling used book dealers could find low rent space to ply their trade. The ultimate goal could be an Antiquarian Corridor, where one would find clusters of used books, architectural salvage, vintage clothing, antiques, and old hi-fi equipment all in an unbroken stretch, with street vendors and outdoor rummage shelves. I know I would be there.

Not to dismiss Crystal City, but Caydon's development is based off of the laneways in Melbourne, Australia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lanes_and_arcades_of_Melbourne

Houston may get it's own version of Wriglyville

I get your point but gross