X.R.

John's giving me major mid-90s/early 00's Houston mayor vibes. 

If you view Houston from the typical older Memorial resident's lense, I feel like alot of his decisions make sense. I met him through the years at the burger place in the memorial's golf club. He's probably going to look to "build partnerships" with the corporations to sponsor stuff, which will be fine, but their upper management is going to be like "hey we really hate xyz about X part of Houston" and it will leave alot of Houstonians miffed as to why things are changing that weren't explicitly part of his platform.

22 hours ago, hindesky said:

12 U.S. markets where entertainment districts are under consideration or construction.

https://www.bdcnetwork.com/12-us-markets-where-entertainment-districts-are-under-consideration-or-construction

Am I missing something or is Houston not on there? Or is the point that the Astros are still so far away that they aren't even considered to be under consideration yet?

3 hours ago, Sanjorade said:

This is definitely more in line w what Rice wants than what the startup ecosystem needs. 

IMO this will just lead to same status quo/laggard mentality that is synonymous with Houston in general.

The Rice and UH students won’t get a real taste of the startup ecosystem and thus will never be on the same level as those from, let’s say, Stanford. 

For a real startup ecosystem to emerge and get into orbit, bootstrapped big vision companies will have to want start and stay here. It likely won’t happen. 

The Ion District is going to turn into a shinier, more expensive version of what’s come before. 

It really is a pity. There’s so much potential here.

Agreed. From a real estate play standpoint, it makes sense however. As any development with heavy upfront capital costs they want to people who can sign 5+ year leases with great credit. They got those leases signed at a very respectable clip, and the lease rate is good. Real startups unfortunately do not have great credit and sometimes do not finish their lease.

But I think the potential is still there. They've gotten good leases, still attracting bigger name restaurants (a good barometer for the underlying economics being provided by the brokers), and their strategy guys probably have told them the land's value is going to jump with 59 buried, so there is comfort there. Money is probably stable. Now is the time to really see where it goes. Who knows, they could offer exactly what real startups would want in phase 2.

The problem @bobruss, is if it doesn't fit in the direction Rice wants to go, you can't just sit on your hands and you certainly can't sell for a while since TxDot is about to goose their property's value via the 59 work. If you stall out the project, or mismanage it, the midtown malaise will hit the development and then it REALLY wouldn't fit Rice's vision. If they don't want to set fire to their money, they will continue to develop and maintain and curate, just in a slower fashion. Edit: By far the saddest outcome would be if they sold it to some Rice alum private equity people, but the funniest is they sell it to UoH who only can buy it with partial funding/support from Tilman. The Ion, brought to you by Landry's.

3 hours ago, McD.land said:

2121 Main st, currently the Greyhound Bus Station/Midtown, will be closing its doors later this week, services will move to their location on Harrisburg.

2121 Main is currently under contract. 

The owners are having a fence put up once they have vacated, and Midtown SEAL Security as well as HPD have been contacted and will be patrolling the block, and will be removing trespassers with the Owner's consent.  Midtown District has been extremely helpful and cooperative with the current Owners.  This should be very good for Midtown.

In addition, the Harrisburg location - Greyhound has renewed their lease for 10 years.  The property is under contract and should close by the end of the year to a reputable local Buyer.

 

 

 

Wait so someone has already put 2121 Main St location under contract? And I'm assuming such entity will be leasing at least part of the space out to Metro via @Brooklyn173's post? If so, Metro has their own police so that corner will be much different going forward, in addition to what @McD.land said. If not, still a huge deal that its already under contract, did not expect that. 

I've been thinking about this development for a while, basically every time I went to the stadium this year and walked through those parking lots, and listened to all the interviews, and want to get my thoughts out.

I think y'all are right about them looking at all those other development, the Astros are very diligent both on the field and off. Plus, Astros management and Crane are extremely great at making money (breaking MLB retail records and then using a bit of that money to improve the stadium every year to put in the ticket emails) so I think we are in good hands regarding the development getting done sooner than later. There's just too much money on the table and they know it.

But its because he's so good at making money that he will default to the best way to make money while doing it in the most-cost efficient manner. None of this sounds like an overly urban development: "The development would include a high-end, four-star hotel. It would also include restaurants and an indoor tailgating area to be open year-round. In addition, it would include a walkway above the street, which would take people directly to the club level of the ballpark. "

He mentioned the indoor tailgating area in two different interviews, and to me that sounds like leasable, rentable stalls ala Texas Live. Crane loves money, I don't blame him for that, and making one of the lots the "indoor tailgate" way maximizes the return on capital the fastest while providing the average sports bro with what they love: food, alcohol, and giant TVs in a place that doesn't make them sweat. Cheaper initial investment for the Astros, they just build a few different shells in the interior, provide the TVs, get a couple anchor bars/food places, bing bang boom. Reserve an area for fans tailgates, maybe (probably not).  I think at the end of the day its going to be much better than what was there ala Home Plate Bar and tha other place, but I'm imagining more Biggio's/Texas Live/Golen Nugget (in Lake Charles) Sports Book and less a cool walkable experience. Tbh, I hope I'm wrong, because I love the areas around Wrigley, Fenway, Yankee Stadium, and Camden Yards. Yall are making me think theres hope for a cool experience.

I don't think the Astros are looking at the Cardinals and others more established baseball "villages" when it comes to the buildings. I'm sure, 100% would bet money, that they are looking at Texas Live and how that is structured. Texas Live is like 150k (maybe a bit less) retail space that basically looks like a casino sports book but with individual spaces within that are leased out to various food/drink vendors. Texas Live is heavily tied to the hotels they've built there along with stand alone restuarants to service people who don't want the party/drink vibes that comes with the Texas Live building. I say party/drink vibe because that place is, at times, the biggest producer of DUI's in the state. 

If you watched this MLB postseason, Texas Live was that indoor, 2 floor space with the wall of TVs. So, think less urban and organic looking growth (the stuff people have been citing as potential influences), and more Hotel/Conference with a lot of parking Jerry Jones-style type development.

Edit: I personally enjoyed my two trips to Texas Live this year, but Camden Yards it is not.

What are those buildings right now? I always wondered. Are they for-lease residential spaces? If so, I can't imagine those are long for this world given the money flowing into the village, indicated by the remodeling and newer concepts coming in now versus 5 years ago. I'm assuming the parcel is non-Rice, privately owned? 

Golfstrommen is genuinely a good concept and I am glad they are doing well enough that they are doing improvements. Given how expensive some of their items can be I had my doubts, but this is a testament to Post if they are able to support a restaurant like that. 

I don't really understand how people who live on or near the affected streets think those streets in their current form are condusive to a neighborhood. As of now, they are car-centric thoroughfares. If Skanksa attended a meeting to make the street more human friendly, keeping in mind that developers in Houston are typically supportive of better car infrastructure, and said yes they like it these people need to understand how rare that is in Houston (ahem, Midtown Whole Foods). 

Feels very much like the stuff that went on in the Heights over the bike lanes, with a few hundred grasping for straws to prevent change...for the sake of preventing change. 

They are really flying on the dog park construction. I rode by on Monday and they were working on the water feature already and completing the large outer fence. I know I dogged (😉) Hermann Conservacy for not meeting initial (admittedly ambitious) deadlines for the kids section and dog park, but man the park has been putting in work. People are typically out there working and significant change ever couple of weeks. So impressive. 

Maybe a little more than a decade ago you'd read World News and Report rankings about Rice and in the interview section Rice students would say they love the campus, but don't go too far beyond the hedges because it gets rough. Obvious exageration, but Its so cool to see how much has changed since then. Like an almost completely different park. 

On 9/1/2023 at 7:12 AM, 004n063 said:

It could be a lot worse. There's no surface parking, there's street-level engagement, the footprint is less than a full block, it's walking distance from a red line stop, and it adds density and helps mitigate the inflation of older housing stock.

That said, the building sits on a truly horrifying behemoth of a parking podium, and personally I am grossed out by such monuments to car culture. I also think it's a bit of an eyesore aesthetically, but I care less about that part. A good mural could go a long way.

But yeah, it's tough for me to muster much enthusiasm for this. I know it's a net good to build more homes for rich people, but personally, I'm more excited by, like, the new sidewalks on Hawthorne.

I would say that first paragraph of your outweights the second to me. Add in some semblance of retail and the podium isn't too bothersome. But I do generally agree with the second paragraph, podiums suck and I'm hoping they cover the other side (after talking to some people at the project while walking by, I think they are?).

Boone Manor's landscaping and dog friendliness changed the neighborhood, at least in my eyes. Lots of people dog walking, kids playing, and people stopping and talking to each other. That did not happen when old lady boone's hostel/bike shop/etc was there. Boone is a magnet for people interactions. If the landscaping is even just passable at the X, again, its better than what was there before, and if there is retail then we add another potential magnet for people interractions. Layering different walkable experiences on top of each other to make a neighborhood. Hoping the X does that. Just finish that podium 🫠

Is there retail on this one? I thought there was? I only ask because the glass kind of has that storefront type look to it.

Based on the latest drawings by @Paco Jones I believe they have already deviated from designs with the way they have done the garage, I am sure there other changes they have made to the building. That's a lot of masonry/bricks to add to the product. Also, I wonder if they will cover the other side of the garage or leave it open.

Kind of looking forward to seeing what else they have changed as they build this thing up.

Were all those more mature trees already there in the parks or did they bring them in? I'm assuming its more expensive which is why you don't see it that often? I didn't know you could grab older trees like that for newer developments.

The corner does needs some retail and if its combined with a gas station, so be it. And tbh, if you get a combo specialized grocer/restaurant/gas station like the ones you see on Almeda st or the larger ones you see in Sugarland/Pearland, thats a win for me. I'm assuming some restaurant component because that is just the nature of the convenience store/gas station beast these days. If Spark Hospitality is the same as Spark Hou, then their major restaurant holdings are BWW and Wendy's. There is a combo gas station/liquor store/halal mini grocer/Wendys in Sugarland already 👀

Plus, this is good for all those people in the apartments/townhomes behind them. No one uses the gas station across from the greyhound cuz that place is the wild west (I use it on occasion). I can't think of many gas/liquor store/grocer/restaurant combos in the surrounding area either. Wouldn't you rather show this is a potential retail juggernaut of a site through this type of development or keep it as a parking lot. Plus, who know, maybe there is no gas station and you just get straight retail, which is a big, big win (although it will have a large parking lot, most assuredly). 

I reallllly hope that concrete on the launch pad is covered by something spongey and soft because yikes, that is going to suck otherwise.

Its nice that they are already replanting trees, that's a good sign. I just can't shake how much the length of time is bothering me when compared to all the improvements they recently made at Memorial Park. Early 2024 doesn't even look possible based on those pics. That area has been closed a long time already. 

On 6/3/2023 at 11:37 AM, pablog said:

 

Goal Park Foundation unveiled the Master Plan last night and is now live on the website! www.goalpark.org

 

If they can get the Civic Park done, its a massive, massive win for the residents over there, the dynamo/dash (think off all the game day stuff!), soccer shots (who is always looking for an outdoor place to do events with kids), and cyclists. The bike path itself is more Bagby than a traditional bike path, which I love and I think will encourage all modality of uses. I know this group has been around for a while, but it seems like they are finally beginning to get plugged in to the right people given the public workshop I went to earlier this year.

To be honest, they could carry this concept all along the TAP trail, there's so much land around the trail that is just empty. Unfortunate that the section between 45 and TSU could really hamper usage of Goal Park even if they execute some of the vision. Hoping COH develops a long term vision for 45-TSU TAP that promotes safety, illumination, and maybe improved land usage along the trail. I see people just sitting along side the trail, if city dropped some trees and even some cheap kids playground items, it would be a huge change. Much like the Goal Park changes things for the east side residents, basically anything COH does to the 45-TSU TAP is a huge win for the 3rd ward residents (although that may encourage some amounts of gentrification, which I know Shabazz and co are sensitive to).

Wanted to discuss something bike related and I feel like this thread is the best place for it. We have wonderful lanes on Austin and Caroline and I use them all the time. In the same vein, Gray is a great resource. I don't really get why I see people on bikes on Fannin and San Jacinto. San Jacinto especially because the protected bike lanes, once you pass a few after the underpass, are one street to the right. I saw some riders taking San Jacinto into downtown and then turning towards discovery green. Then ran into the same riders going back up on Fannin later in the day. Genuinely miffed, I don't get it. The riders were all kitted out too, so you'd think they would know about the paths. What am I missing? 

I want all riders to be safe, and the safest bet is away from high traffic areas and on the lanes.  

Interesting that they immediately had another lease lined up for location, while other places on the street are a little slower to fill up.

Good for them.

It looks like they are done with the garage portion of it? 

The garage looks different than the drawings, does it not? It seems like they took it upon themselves to make that change. Wonder if they looked at Boone Manor and just decided to copy the look to an extent, because they both use that grey brick to cover portions of the garage. If they did something similar to Boone, I'm not excusing the podium, but it wouldn't be the worst. Also, it a bit funny if they decided to deviate for the better because its almost like they got shamed into doing it because of the quality of the other residential buildings in the area. 

22 hours ago, CREguy13 said:

Totally agree. If the Daphne hotel at 20th and Ashland breaks ground as they plan, it's going to be great for Houston having excellent boutique hotels in our best Inner Loop neighborhoods. Hotel SA should crush it, and would love to see Bunkhouse doubles down on Montrose + look at the Heights.

Tourism would grow for our food scene and cultural institutions, and given the option, many business travelers will way more prefer to stay in Montrose/Heights than our core Business districts.

The "problem" with nice boutique hotels in areas like the Heights, Montrose, Rice Village and even the Museum district is that it will 100% take away from the big boy hotels in the Galleria and Downtown, Downtown especially. I'd imagine they would be unhappy. Edit: I love all the potential sites and this hotel, I'm just pointing out something I thought about.

The boutiques definitely will take away regular tourists, and probably some business people too. If you've ever been to the Patio/Pit Room during the week, you'll see quite a few business people who were told its the best place to get bbq near their hotels in Downtown. Then when you talk to them its alot of "we love this area" etc. This hotel will do well.

On 4/24/2023 at 2:58 PM, Houston19514 said:

Are you just now noticing the general incompetence of Houston's media and their disinterest in reporting positive news?  ;-)

Hahah, no I am not. The Chronicle and Houston Bizjourno do an OK job in my opinion, although the Chron is late to the party typically. I agree with yall, @Twinsanity02 @Luminare

My only thing is that if this were most other cities, a potential influx of this much business and job would be monitored in a much closer fashion. Maybe Houston businesses appreciate the ability to fly under the radar, but there's always a certain element of "we're open for business" to these kinds of projects and that's just not being capitalized on from a city/media perspective. The local media's success is in part derived from the success of the city, so I group them together in this respect.