HoustonIsHome

22 hours ago, j_cuevas713 said:

Houston is literally Sim City in real life with how quickly it's changing and slowly becoming more walkable and dense

I don't care too much about walkability, but I do love the increasing density. Appreciate shorter commutes and generally just bringing everything closer. 

On 6/29/2023 at 11:20 AM, cityliving said:

Love the height perspective you captured in this photo. I love the skyline shot and the other buildings captured from this height. Great job focusing on the overall picture while still giving us awesome shots of the building. You have a good eye for balance.

On 3/26/2022 at 8:33 PM, wilcal said:

Status as tallest building in Texas looks to be challenged in Austin.

Looks like they went through all sorts of gymnastics to get up to that height. Looks like two separate towers, on stilts, on top of a massive podium, which itself is on stilts.

Chase tower rises from street level all the way to its tippy top. Chase should just add a crown after that Austin tower is completed and say nice try, but sorry.

But then again, Chase was originally planned to be taller, but FAA restrictions resulted in a shorter building.  I wonder if the FAA would block a 25 ft crown. 

That plot looks huge. Is it perspective?

I like it 👍

1 hour ago, thatguysly said:

Good to see a strip mall go but too bad its one that kept its retro look and not one that is a bigger eyesore.

True, but from the pics it looks like the building barely occupied 50% of the land. Much better street presence 

I used to walk through that building and the insides look pretty much the same (apart from the furnishings,  flooring and paneling). 

Looks like it's a very light renovation on the public areas.  

I would imagine most of the work is on floors being converted to units. 

I engender there was a fire about a decade ago that burnt out an entire floor. It was an electric fire that started while workers were at work.  Someone's desk just started smoking, .. I'm sure the wiring in the entire building would have to be updated in addition to water upgrades to services each unit.

3 hours ago, 004n063 said:

Yeah, I pretty much agree with all of this. I just think that a full-sized grocer would probably need to view putting the Midtown Randall's out of business as a necessity (an outcome that would not bother me, personally). I don't think even a robustly realized future catchment can realistically sustain both.

I also think it's unlikely that a lot of people further south than, say, McGowan would choose a downtown grocery store over the Midtown Whole Foods.

If Randall’s doesn't make it then oh well it didn't make it.  I wouldn't care either. And I think the residents in the McGowan area would still use a supermarket near 800 Bell.

The closest rail stations to Whole Foods is Ensemble station or McGowan Station. Both are about 9 blocks away from Whole Foods. 

If they build a Store on the ground level on one of the two empty blocks next to 800 Bell you know how many blocks away it would be? ZERO!!! There is 2 blocks right @ the rail stop and a 3rd one block away. 

Idk about you but I would rather going two stops to Bell and have zero walk than to go one stop to ensemble and then walk 9 freaking blocks or tabs no rail at all and walk 9 freaking blocks.

Don't under-estimate how convenient those blocks around 800 mail are to a pedestrian life.

But knowing us we will build a parking garage right on the rail, and the other 2 lots will be a drive up CVS and McDonalds drive thru 

I get what you are saying, but you are looking at your baby and saying she is the right size for these onesies and the 1T dress is just too big. Are you planning on your baby being onesie sized for ever? 

But With:

1. 1801 Smith,

2. 800 Bell,

3. the new 1801 Main apartments 

 4&5. the 2 Skyhouses,

6. Houston House,

7. 2016 Main

8. Eighteen25 Downtown 

9. Hamilton Downtown 

10. 2111 Austin Apartments 

11. 1711 Caroline Apartments 

12. Camden Downtown Apartments 

13. Block 334 Apartments 

14. Camden City Center

15. Skyline @ Midtown 

16. The Edge Condominiums 

17. Post Midtown 

18. 2222 Smith

19. Camden Midtown 

20. Camden Travis

21. Camden McGowan Station

22. Drewery Place

23. The Travis 

24. Mid Main Lofts

25. Midtown on the rail

26. Temenos Apartments ro

27. New Temenos Apartments....

There's probably a dozen others that I'm forgetting but the point is the baby isn't going to be onesie sized for ever don't you think a forward thinking plan for that area shouldn't include a grocery store? 

People can work, play and go out to eat Downtown, but the live part is verrrry difficult without a car because Phoenicias is too specialized and Randall’s is OK but doesn't fit the bill. I mean I can live on what's there but I don't want to and I think with all the options further west most people wouldn't want to either unless they have a car and that brings us back to the monster parking podiums or standalone garages. 

New Orleans downtown and it's CBD doesn't have any more people than Houston's downtown and midtown and yet they have close to a dozen to our 3. And out midtown and down town is about 4 miles compared to theirs at under 2 miles.

I think if we keep the it wouldn't work mentality we won't ever develop anything vibrant. 

800 bell at 45 floors can host a ton of people, 1801 Smith are going to host hundreds more, there's 3 empty blocks next to 800 bell that can host thousands. If they get rid of Pierce that would free up a dozen more blocks that could potentially hold thousands more. 

The Greyhound and McDonalds site is ripe for development, so it's that fenced field across from Greyhound,  then there's those 3 Cadillac blocks, there's sooooo much potential in that area but if Randall’s is the only option then forget about it. There would have to be at least an HEB AND at least a target for it to be worth it.  Otherwise give me the Heights, Montrose,  Rice Millitary any day. If i have to drive over there to shop why not just live there?

It is the missing piece in the puzzle. Heck even the CVSs in New Orleans stock more options than the ones in downtown/midtown Houston.  Corner stores like Brothers sell everything from booze to cooked food. 

Downtown and midtown (eado and 3rd ward too) has the bones for a real walkable environment but if you can't walk to get every day items then what's the point on it being walkable. Your grocery allotment would definitely have to be bumped up if you are relying on Phoenicia or Randall’s for your everyday needs.

Ha ha, when the rail was first built it didn't take much to improve that area. No one got off at Bell. That stop was just... potential .. Spilling a can of paint would have been an improvement. 

It has slooooowly changed in the last few years.

I agree this can develop into a nice urban village,  but why don't you think a full sized grocer would not work? It's the Randall’s considered a full sized grocer? 

I don't mean something like a Super Walmart.  I was thinking more along the lines of Rouses in the CBD in Orleans (there's also a smaller version in their downtown but the CBD version is the one I'm thinking of). 900 Girod St
https://maps.app.goo.gl/HvcsHDaJdt3H7N528

That area used to be dead dead. Day or night. But since the grocery came in, there's been tons of activity day and night and a supporting cast of additional retail and restaurants have been popping up. 

Phoenicias is great and all but it's just one store. New Orleans downtown and it's CBD has probably 8 of the little grocers in addition to Rouses, the little corner stores like Brothers and the regular Walgreens and CVSs.

Sorry for going on and on, but why do you think another Randall’s-like supermarket won't work in that area? An urban Kroger or even better, an Aldi would probably work.  Heck even a Phoenicia2.0

There used to be another grocery store on the north end of Downtown. It started with a 'G' was it Georginas? It was cool but waaaay too pricey to do any regular shopping. Wasn't surprised that it didn't last long.

I passed by this a few weeks ago and the ground level of this area is starting to look different but still feels rather cold. That new apartment building on Main makes the area look unrecognizable but none of these buildings look welcoming. 

I welcome all these conversations, they make these areas feel new, but man, they sure do make for a boring walk. 

800 Bell really needs some neighbors. They don't have to be ballers. A few 20-25 floor (Skyhouse height) residential would be great. 

No parking podiums though. We need to loosen our hold on those, and that area has a couple monster ones already. To the North, on Clay the view is just a wall of parking. Does anyone know how full this get during peak use? 

The last hotel I stayed at in New Orleans was next to a giant parking garage and I didn't realize it until I was about to leave. There was retail in 3 sides that created so much ground level activity that I never bothered to look up. And even after looking up the only hint that this buildings were parking was the lack of windows. 

Here is an example in the French Quarter: 900 Iberville St
https://maps.app.goo.gl/AMrgN528ZfzCnCoR8

Compared to the ones near 800 Bell: 872 Clay St
https://maps.app.goo.gl/1q7Ny28EPDAChLT56

What do yall think of putting in stiffer regulations on downtown garage facades (especially fronting major thoroughfares).

Also, I know Randall’s is close, but I think this would be a great area for an alternative. 

Those drone shots show Midtowns potential.  The infill apartments may not be architectural gems, but they house a ton more people than parking lots and derelict buildings. 

I do love a majestic live oak, but they take so long to mature that I hope they rely on a wide variety of trees, including other Oaks. 

Sends like they plant these Oaks that are already 4, 5 years old and you come back in 5 years and the are not much bigger. In my back yard,  squirrels bury Red Oak and Water Oak and the ones I leave alone are 15 to 20 feet tall in about 4-5 years.  Sycamores, Ash and Elm turn into sizable trees in just a few years too.

A native tree that I just love that should be used more is the Yaupon holly. 

Again, I don't think they should skip live Oaks altogether, someday they will be majestic, but there are tons of other trees that will give you quick shade and once the live Oaks get bigger these other trees can be thinned out. 

Native Persimmon, Sweet Gum and Pistache usually have brilliant fall colors. 

Houston needs more of this type of destinations. Yeah it's a Biomedical complex but it has a sense of place.

Too often we focus on the building itself and not with the interaction with the area. 

We have beautiful buildings but then we have to be artful in the way we snap it because it is next to a delapidated strip mall, an old apartment complex or a dated drive through. 

Even in downtown or Uptown you don't get that sense of continuity because a lot of buildings have blank walls or are car garages so the interaction doesn't give off the sense of being a cohesive place.

TMC is sort of different in that the landscaping does sort of unify the area. But TMC Helix park is all cohesive. I do hope it all ends up as shown and future improvements pay homage to the original plan. 

I can't wait to see what sort of amenities this project attracts.  Would be nice if the World Cup hosting would resurrect the university line and we get a grander station at Wheeler. Who owns that Greenspace next to the Station? 

I love it.  Perfect size building for Midtown. We need 50 more this size. Keep the taller ones on main

I thought residency requirements were set by the state,  and not individual schools.

Also, I established residency in Texas for a year and paid instate tuition the following year. 

If Foreign students go home for summers they will pay out of state tuition the entire time.  

If they own property for the first year of school, the remaining years they will pay instate tuition. 

It is only relevant to be claimed as a dependent if and only if they are claiming residency through their parents. 

In schools with huge differences between instate and out of state tuition it is well worth it to buy as the money that would have gone to tuition would be generating equity instead.

The embassy suites is already looking better

That thing is a roller coaster of emotions. 

A monster of a thing compared to the aerial shots higher up I get the Ashby hirise monster feeling.

But I know how cheap builders go here when it comes to parking and I convince myself that it could be worse 🙃 

The old Houston way would be:

Knock down all the surrounding homes for parking 

Or

Knock down less homes and build a fully exposed garage.

I make myself content by the thought of more height along Richmond.

On 3/1/2022 at 12:38 PM, cityliving said:

Omg. The change in that area over the last 20 years is amazing.  Can't wait to see what goes on those empty blocks

Darn that's a lot of concrete along the highway. Wish it was more natural looking

On 4/9/2021 at 8:29 AM, ljchou said:

Why does every affordable housing complex look the exact same?

I'm just happy for the infill.

Houston has so much ground to cover in just happy for the density.

I am more disappointed when crap goes in more prime areas. 

Like when I'm expecting a trophy tower to go up next to Market Square and I get a parking garage.

But those rubber stamped affordable housing that are popping up all over the place??? Bring them on.  We don't have enough of them 

I mean, for Houston its nice compared to what we usually get, but there are lots left to be desired.

Happy for it I am. Love it... I wouldn't go that far.