elecpharm

at least 3 years if not longer and the clock keeps ticking. i wonder if it is a monetary issue. are they trying to raise the needed funds to complete the project? do they own the property? i began to doubt the project when cvs set up shop on a corner of the lot. i'd like to see this project come to fruition.

notice that i posted my article before the new thread was created. no big deal. just thought i'd point that out.

I'm not sure if this is part of phase two, but i will say this: our transit needs have been answered. at least park-wise. New plans for Hermann Park train

the Texas minor emergency center and wellness clinic has also signed on as a tenant. groundbreaking for the project is slated for this summer, with completion set for the fourth quarter of 2007. source: houston business journal

central houston houston downtown downtown district

small reference to the orion: texas wall systems: orion will it be completed? maybe these guys know.

^^^ agreed. i see almeda becoming the next kirby - a vibrant and active corridor between hcc/midtown and the tmc.

walgreens stores in texas do not sell liquor. period.

Houston Business Journal 01/2005 City documents show plans for a hotel called the Granduca Hotel at 1080 Uptown Park Blvd., to be constructed between the Montebello and Villa d'Este high-rise condominiums.

fire up the grill! things are looking mighty fine here in the lone star state. Texas' Growth Continues By Connie Gore Last updated: March 21, 2005 DALLAS-Retail developers and the shops that support them are circling wagons all across Texas, where economic growth and population projections have created a dense and intense marketplace. "We are seeing activity the strongest that we've ever seen," Herbert D. Weitzman, president and CEO of the locally based Weitzman Group and Cencor Realty Services, confirms to GSR. "The Texas economy and the growth is so exciting that many companies are coming in. The guys coming to Texas are looking at the growth. Many other states are stagnant." Texas' Big Four--Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Austin and San Antonio--are seeing new names and familiar ones unroll formats to cash in on a fashion-conscious consumer market that helped lead the way for making shopping a national pastime. Several restaurant chains, both fast food and high end, have staked claims in Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston. Cabela's Inc., building its first store in Dallas/Fort Worth, also has staked out a spot in Austin in a no-fear move to take a corner at an Interstate 35 intersection that will pit it against a Wal-Mart Supercenter. Meanwhile, Sears Grand, a freestanding format ready to due battle with Kohl's and J.C. Penney, has roped off an I-35 spot in another part of the state capital while Ikea, with one store in Houston and one rising in Dallas/Fort Worth, is shopping sites in Austin. And San Antonio, long considered the red-haired stepchild of Texas metros, has gotten its blessing as a high-end destination with the planned arrivals of Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Bass Pro Shops. "Texas is cruising," Weitzman says. "Consumers are spending...It's a young market because so many people come here for the corporate growth. And, it's fashion oriented." For the first time in years, DFW's occupancy has crossed the 90% threshold, hitting 90.5% in a 153.1-million-sf inventory, of which 4.4 million delivered last year. There isn't a week that goes by without another retail groundbreaking, mostly unanchored specialty venues instead of the grocery-anchored mainstays that once dominated the news. Meanwhile, mall and lifestyle center proposals are cropping up all across North Texas, with three alone seeking municipal abatements for the Interstate 35W and US Highway 287 intersection in Tarrant County. But, Weitzman says, don't put too much stock in all the mall planning because Texas history shows they all aren't likely to make it out of the ground. And if they do, it's not likely that deliveries will come anytime soon or the plan will stay the same. The one-million-sf Firewheel Town Center in Garland, was conceived 12 years ago as an enclosed mall and is delivering in the fall as an open-air product of the Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group. Weitzman says the only sure bet on Tarrant County's dance card is the Shops at Circle T, a 1.6-million-sf lifestyle resort planned by the locally based Hillwood and the Chicago-headquartered General Growth Properties Inc. The groundbreaking has been pushed a couple times, but planners say it will happen this year. Houston's 130-million-sf inventory might be second in size, but it's dead last in occupancy, according to Weitzman's research group. The 86.9% occupancy, though, certainly isn't a deterrent for construction. Last year, 3.4 million sf delivered, including the first phase of the 493,000-sf Market Street in the Woodlands, with the balance coming this spring. The city and its suburban spokes are building grounds for a plethora of projects like the 350,000-sf first phase for the 625,000-sf Crossing at 518; 1.3-million-sf Katy Town Center, a mix of office, retail and entertainment space; and a number of power center projects pushing the size of yesteryear's malls. The state's third largest market, San Antonio, has a 89.9% occupancy. The 32-million-sf inventory picked up 900,000 sf last year and will get far more than that just with the opening of the Shops at La Cantera, a 1.2-million-sf Simon project that took a decade to bring to fruition, according to Weitzman. The project, with its high-end retail concept and names, is San Antonio's mark of maturity as a retail marketplace. The San Antonio project docket has several large developments on the horizon: the 400,000-sf Legacy, set to open by year's end; 500,000-sf North Rim Market, now in the design stages; 327,000-sf Dellview Marketplace, a big-box play; and scores of others, including freestanding stores from a trio of furniture stars. Ashley Furniture Store, opening its first store in the city last year, has bought two more tracts while Haverty's has grabbed a location for a second store at the Forum at Olympia Parkway, and Basset Furniture Direct has marked its first spot at the Village at Forum Parkway. In Austin, its 95.5% occupancy and 28.5-million-sf inventory are magnets for development. The 750,000-sf Wolf Ranch, another Simon project, delivers this year as will the 500,000-sf Shops at the Galleria and the Triangle, a mixed-use, "New Urbanism: project with 700 apartments and 125,000 sf of specialty retail in the city's central core. The pipeline holds the 780,000-sf Domain, which has local firm, Endeavor Real Estate Group, teaming with Simon for a late 2005 groundbreaking, and the 1.5-million-sf Hill Country Galleria in the preleasing stage. "The envelope is always being pushed in Texas," Weitzman says. "I've never seen it that it's not being pushed." But the amount of development isn't cause for alarm because the bulk of the rising space is preleased. And, he adds, the occupancies of each metro are clear signals that there's no reason for a red flag to rise. Whether it's Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Austin or San Antonio, Weitzman says "the new blood of the market" is keeping all markets dynamic. "When you see really good restaurants from New York come here, you've got to take notice," he stresses. "They are nice touches. It says you're arriving."

you mirror my thoughts. this is poor use of prime property

more developement a little further west Arizona Developer Acquires Galleria Tract By Jennifer D. Duell Last updated: March 17, 2005 HOUSTON-Great Western Land and Recreation Inc. has claimed a half an acre in the Galleria submarket, where it plans to develop nine three-story condos. The tract has brought $600,000 to $700,000 for the seller, a group of foreign investors. The Scottsdale, AZ-based developer's first project in Houston fronts Dolores Street near its junction with Chimney Rock Road. "There is not a lot of land left in the Galleria," says David Weber, Great Western's president and COO, "and there is a lot of demand for this type of housing." He tells GlobeSt.com that similar land sells for roughly $30 per sf, but can reach as high as $35 per sf. Great Western will break ground nine townhouses in May. The three-story units, each 2,800 sf, will have three bedrooms, two-car garages, third-floor balconies and high-end finish-outs. Weber says the units, priced at $300,000 to $400,000, will deliver before the year ends. "There are a lot of people who want to live in the Inner Loop with all the amenities, but don't want to live in an apartment or have a big yard," Weber says. He says he's looking for other Houston-area sites primed for 10- to 15-unit designs. The developer has a 43-unit development under way in College Station and 48-unit project rising in Glendale, AZ. Great Western's in-house teams designed the development and will build it. First Bank & Trust of Houston provided construction financing.

Developer Advances 68-Unit Condo Plan By Jennifer D. Duell Last updated: March 9, 2005 HOUSTON-Local development company, Pelican Builders Inc., plans to break ground within 30 days on its first mid-rise residential condominium project. The 68-unit Briarglen, set to deliver in late 2006, is the first of three buildings for the first phase of a redevelopment plan for the Mid Lane neighborhood. The condos, tagged at $240 per sf, will rise at 2215 Briarglen Dr. between Westheimer Road and San Felipe Boulevard. Derek Darnell, president of Pelican Builders, tells GlobeSt.com that 27 units have been pre-sold since Pelican began marketing the project in summer 2004. "We feel like we have find a nice little niche for the middle market," Darnell says, adding other condo projects in the immediate area are either lower-end apartment quality condos or million-dollar-plus condos. The six-year-old company, which specializes in townhouse development, purchased the one-acre tract in the Mid Lane area inside Loop 610 from a local partnership in December after having it under contract nearly 12 months, Darnell says. "We have been actively developing townhomes in the area for the past five years so we're familiar with the area," he adds. "We knew this type of mid-rise condo project would be well received." Briarglen, designed by urban residential team of Ziegler Cooper Architects, will feature a contemporary exterior with more traditional interiors--six floors of condos and two parking levels. Each condo will have a high-end finish-out with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, double crown molding and marble bathrooms. There are six floor plans in a mix of one-bedroom with study units and two- and three-bedroom units plus one penthouse. More than 50% of the condos will be two-bedroom designs. Units will range from 1,100 sf to 1,800 sf. Pelican Builders is working with a lender to finalize construction financing for the project. GT Leech of Houston has been chosen as the general contractor.

Dallas' movers and shakers plan to bridge the gap between Uptown and Downtown, using the Arts District as the median, by building a 5.3-acre park over Woodall Rodgers Freeway. The ambitious undertaking will open the door for a potential 6.1 million sf of development. The project officially got off the ground yesterday at a press conference announcing the launch of a public-private partnership spearheaded by Texas Capital Bank. - Connie Gore (globest.com) this type of partnership could possibly spearhead projects in houston like the buffalo bayou revitilization.

It's official. Tarragon JV Breaks Ground on $425M Residential Towers By Jennifer D. Duell Last updated: December 9, 2004 07:18pm HOUSTON-New York City-based Orion Towers Tarragon LLC, a partnership between Asbury Place Development and Tarragon Corp., has broken ground on Orion, a $425-million residential project in the River Oaks neighborhood. Situated on 10 acres along the Buffalo Bayou at Asbury Place, Orion will consist of two 37-story towers. The first tower will have 180 residences while the second one will be designed with 150 to 180 condos, says Robert Day, co-owner of Asbury Place. Day tells GlobeSt.com that 106 units already have been pre-sold for a total of $100 million, including the $5.3-million penthouse. The first tower is slated for completion in the late spring 2007. The second tower will break ground in winter 2005. Orion is Tarragon and Asbury Place's first condominium project in Houston although they've worked together on a condo project in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Days says he pursued a relationship with Tarragon to built Orion because "a financial powerhouse" was needed for the development. Day says Asbury Place purchased the acreage from Fred Welling and Ede Nemeti earlier this year. "With such a phenomenal piece of land, we knew we had to build the most spectacular high-rise towers that Houston had ever seen," he says. Tarragon and Asbury Place have contributed $30 million in equity to Orion. Although several lenders have lined up to provide the partnership with construction financing, the partnership has not yet selected one. Orion was designed by world-renowned architect, Ede I. Nemeti, president and COO of Houston-based Architectural Services International Inc. The building's facade will feature a Pegasus between art deco spheres. The project team includes the Tulsa-headquartered Manhattan Construction Co., locally based CBM Engineers and Houston landscaper, Keiji Asakura. The towers will have six floor plans with two- to five-bedrooms, ranging from 1,687 sf to 8,200 sf. Each condo will have a balcony, European-style loggia, French doors, travertine marble-clad baths, private and semiprivate elevator foyers, Delacassa cabinetry, Viking appliances, custom-cut granite counters and an outdoor summer kitchen with a Viking gas grill. Orion's amenities will include a around-the-clock manned front desk, concierge services, 24-hour valet parking, hotel-style property management services, residents-only clubhouse, business center, library, Olympic-size pool, fitness center and aerobics studio.

University Breaks Ground on $3M Arts Center By Jennifer D. Duell HOUSTON-Cultural art lovers today will celebrate the groundbreaking of the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts, a $3-million undertaking tied into the $4.5-million expansion and renovation of the Wortham Theater Complex. An official groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. today in the Fine Arts Quadrangle at entrance 16 off Cullen Boulevard. The center, which will be housed in the Wortham Theater Complex, will include exterior and interior work to enhance the lobby space of the existing facility, provide office area for the Mitchell Center and add new rehearsal space. "It will be a nice addition to the campus," says John Dennis, project manager for Dallas-based Cadence McShane Corp., which is in charge of the expansion and renovation. San Antonio, TX-based Lake/Flato Architects Inc. is providing architectural services for the center's demolition, renovation and construction. Dennis tells GlobeSt.com that the project will take about nine months to finish and will require 35 to 50 construction professionals to complete. Cadence McShane will initially demolish the interior of the existing performing arts center and reconstruct 15,000 sf on two floors. The area will house classrooms plus ballet practice and rehearsal rooms. "There's a lot of wood paneling, acoustical plasters, stainless steel window frames, metal panels and cut stone," Dennis describes. "[The renovations] really complement the existing building." While the theater itself will retain the name Lyndall Finley Wortham Theatre, the building as a whole will be renamed to the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts. The project was funded primarily by a $20-million gift from George and Cynthia Mitchell, along with a grant from the Wortham Foundation and Allen Becker. The center will create a collaborative alliance of the university's premier academic and arts departments in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. The alliance weds the art department, Blaffer Gallery, creative writing program, Moores School of Music and the theater school.

From the USA Today travel section Autumn leaves imprint in America's museums By Maria Puente, USA TODAY Fall is usually the busy season at American museums. Here are some notable exhibits from across the USA. Cartier Design Viewed by Ettore Sottsass Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Oct. 31-March 27, 2005 Another jewelry extravaganza, this one a collection of Cartier objects selected by Cartier art director and Italian design maestro Ettore Sottsass. Diadems, brooches, necklaces, rings and bracelets, as well as luscious accessories such as cigarette cases and clocks, are included among the 200 objects. See a maharaja's Elephant Mystery Clock, the Duchess of Windsor's tiger lorgnette and Daisy Fellowes' Tutti Frutti necklace. Information: 713-639-7300 or mfah.org. Nice seeing our museum highlighted along with these others: Guggenheim Museum, New York American Folk Art Museum, New York National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Los Angeles County Museum of Art I've been to a few of these, and they are fantastic museums. notable exhibits from across the USA

The park design is scheduled to begin in 2005. Construction will being in 2006. City officials are hoping the park will be a downtown amenity to attract convention-goers and visitors as well as a magnet for high-quality, mixed-use urban development with residential, retail and uses to complement the convention center and sports facilities. Fort Worth-based Crescent is the largest property owner in downtown Houston with 11.2 million sf of office space. The REIT is in the middle of selling off non-core assets, and to that end, placed 11 acres of downtown land in Houston up for sale earlier this year. Crescent acquired the land about six years ago in conjunction with Houston office acquisitions. In August, the REIT sold 2.5 acres of developable green space in the 3.3-million-sf Houston Center to an un-named European buyer. By Jennifer D. Duell

what happened to the superpark that was suppose to arise across from the Toyota Center?

how's the site going?

The photos above are not of the reflection pool. Those are photos of the pond located by the train station attraction. The reflection pool does not have boat rides. It is rectangular in shape and as Talbot stated, similiar to the one in Washington D.C. Reflection pool A website highlighting Herman Park and the museum District. Texas Explorer

I agree with KinkaidAlum, Just because the property sits along the interstate does not mean it can't be more aesthetically appealing. Why not model it after the one in Seattle or like the Randall's in midown with undergound parking?

A fantastic grocery store offering goods not typically found in other grocery stores. That is, lots of imported foods. a link to their website: Central Market