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nate

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  1. nate
    Will Oakdale Street be opened up to allow vehicular access to San Jacinto? That would be a big help to this project and the site plan does not show the existing barrier. Perhaps an agreement was reached with METRO that in exchange for opening up Oakdale, they would limit that corner lot to park use. Also, not developing the lot may have enabled them to avoid a re-plat since I have not seen any signs about one.
  2. nate
    Beginning this week, the entire site, save for the existing parking lot, has been fenced and clearing work has begun. I assume they will not close the existing parking lot until the new lot is built? Unfortunately, have cleared a lot of old trees.
  3. nate
    It is just a bit of snark. Who gives a shit? Good designs are copied all the time. Just because 2929 Weslayan was inspired by a taller or "better" building, doesn't mean that it won't be a nice building and a good addition to the city.
  4. nate
    Unlike the market square tower, I don't believe that this building requires any discretionary governmental approvals. The land is already platted, so it doesn't need to go to the Planning Commission. It isn't in a historic protection district, so it doesn't need to go to the Archaeological and Historical Commission.
  5. nate
    Interesting discussion. Anyone know where the Montrose tower will be?
  6. nate
    http://downtownhouston.org/site_media/uploads/attachments/2012-04-09/Downtown_block_numbering.pdf Block 35 is bounded by Louisiana, Preston, Milam, and Congress. Half the block is surface parking, the other half is a 5-ish story parking garage.
  7. nate
    He forgot tennis courts. The Parklane has 2 of them.
  8. nate
    Correct. It is going to be a Chevron. I forget the operator, but there is a sign on the fence on the Hermann side with the operator's name and the Chevron logo.
  9. nate
    The site has been cleared, but the lawsuit by the neighbors against the developer is still pending. I don't have any insider information, but my assumption is that there won't be any further construction until the lawsuit is resolved. It is highly unlikely that a lender will extend any funds until then. As of writing, the trial is set for Nov. 18th. It looks like both parties have already gone to the mattresses on this, so expect an appeal no matter who wins. Therefore, I wouldn't expect anything until mid 2014 at the earliest.
  10. nate
    Not directly on point to the residential tower, but I did notice yesterday that the Houston Garden Center across the street from it has now been closed. At every entrance (at least on Hermann Dr.), a sign was posted about the upcoming Centennial Gardens: http://www.hermannpark.org/centennial_gardens.php So, it looks like that project is going to start soon as well.
  11. nate
    When The Parklane was originally built, the plan was for three towers. However, the 80s oil glut happened and only one building was built. No idea whether or not a third tower is planned at this point, but there is room for one.
  12. nate
    Great shots of the Med Center.
  13. nate
    It is definitely The Parklane. The lowrise building on the left is The Plaza Museum District. In the background, the brick building is Museum Tower on Montrose with the corner of the Diagnostic Clinic on Binz visible on the edge of the rendering. This rendering is from the pocket of Hermann Park behind the 17th tee box on the golf course.
  14. nate
    That's a beautiful building. I like how well it compliments The Parklane, including some design similarities. Also, placing it at the corner of Hermann and Jackon makes it right across from the Centennial Gardens parking lot, preserves most of the TEMA lot for future development including the possibility of a third tower as was originally contemplated, doesn't block any significant views from The Parklane (see attached), and shouldn't arouse any NIMBY protests. Job well done.
  15. nate
    1. See my post above. The leverage is primarily the money. The right to develop a tall building is a valuable right, but land owners will give up that right in exchange for money or other rights. As I said before, it would be wise for Mr. Davis to demand as a part of the bargain that McDonald's right to develop a tall building be forfeited. That kind of exchange is done all the time. 2. The document is filed for public record and is available to anyone who wants to read it. In fact, the document was filed specifically because they want people to read it. All you have to do is go down to the Harris County Clerk's office or hire an abstractor to pull it.
  16. nate
    1. I never claimed that I know whether height restrictions were imposed or not. What I did say is that it would have been wise for the developer to obtain them. Do you know what was done? If so, could you please share with the group what restrictions were imposed on the McDondald's lot? It took me all of two minutes to find that a 12 page agreement likely concerning restrictions was imposed pursuant to Harris County Clerk's File No. 20120583367. Since you claim that I don't know what I'm talking about, I presume that you have this document and don't mind posting it so that we can settle this silly argument. 2. My original post intended to refer to the adverse effects of height. I apologize if that wasn't clear. Since your reply discussed adverse effects generally, I pointed out that generally, adverse effects are dealt with through restrictions and covenants all the time.
  17. nate
    This is nonsense. The leverage in a voluntary business transaction is primarily money. Whoever owned the McDonald's land felt like it was wise to redevelop the restaurant and monetize a portion of the lot. In this case, it is perfectly reasonable that the seller agree to a height restriction on its remaining land as part of the benefit of the bargain to purchaser, who would probably pay a little more for its lot because it has the benefit of the height restriction on seller's remaining land. You cannot immunize yourself completely from adverse effects of adjacent development, but restrictions and covenants can mitigate a lot of adverse effects and are imposed all the time. In fact, since most McDonald's locations in the Houston area are located on shopping center pad sites, I presume that most McDonald's locations in the Houston area have height restrictions since shopping center owners typically won't sell a pad site without imposting a 20-30ft height restriction.
  18. nate
    There may not be a law against it, but if I were the developer here, I would not have purchased the land from McDonald's unless McDonald's agreed to a height restriction on their remaining land to prevent any development that would adversely affect Astoria. You would have to check the real property records to be sure, but it would be a major oversight if Randall Davis didn't secure such a restriction.
  19. nate
    The crane is up.
  20. nate
    From the new HBJ: http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/breaking-ground/2013/02/regent-square-to-roll-out-phase-two.html
  21. nate
    Looks like this one is happening. The site has been cleared and prepped.
  22. nate
    You probably wouldn't choose to announce an apartment building at a meeting of industrial and office brokers....
  23. nate
    That is great news! I hope they put some good restaurants on the 1st floor.
  24. nate
    It has long been rumored there will be a new building dedicated to their collection of contemporary art, however, to my knowledge there have been no official announcements about a new MFAH building.
  25. nate
    The crane is going up. From this morning:
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