largeTEXAS

Those renderings I posted earlier were LaGuarda Low and HOK. They are under current revisions based on the county's input. I'll keep you guys informed.

H&M is going to do the Galleria first (still many months away, but at least they're coming).

Look for a major announcement in two weeks.

Check out Laguarda Low's website. They have old renderings of the Pavilions, but you can get a taste of their style. http://www.laguardalow.com/#

Look, to be successful downtown is going to have to have it all. We can't start limiting what nationals want to open there (even if they are pseudo strip clubs). We need a mix of nationals and locals to make the place a truly urban, mixed-use center. The more critical mass will mean more cool mom-and-pop stores will be able to open. Personally, I think it's inevitable that Main Street will turn into the national chain corridor. That's fine - it will allow other streets to define themselves as hip and "off-Main."

This project is going to be great. Toured today and it's looking pretty spectacular...if they pull everything off.

I think you're talking about the house that's being built. It's beautiful in my opinion - one of the best pieces of architecture in town.

Here are some images of Houston Pavilions:

Colorado Group Plans $80M Mixed-Use, Infill Project By Jennifer D. Duell Last updated: July 19, 2005 08:23am HOUSTON-Within three years, a mixed-use project is expected to rise on Block 98, a piece of vacant land adjacent to the new city park and the George R. Brown Convention Center. Two companies from Colorado Springs, LandCo Properties LLC and Equity Edge LLC, have formed a partnership to transform the 1.5-acre tract into two residential high-rises with ground-floor retail space. Block 98 is bordered by Rusk, Crawford, Walker and LaBranch streets near Toyota Center. Each tower will contain 150 units that will be priced "for the young, single professional," says Michael Raider, LandCo's COO. He tells GlobeSt.com that construction will begin in about three years. "That's when the market will be ready," he says, explaining one tower will have rental housing and the other will be condos. "I am not sure that we'll break ground on both towers at the same time." Raider, a Houston native, was eyeing Block 98 about a year before he closed the deal with Crescent Real Estate Equities Co. for $6.5 million. "We see Houston as Denver about seven years ago with the new light rail, entertainment and park creation. Denver is just a huge residential market right now," he says, "and we think Houston is following right behind it." Raider's not yet selected the project architect, but says he's hoping to use a local firm. The partnership, Block 98 Partners Ltd., obtained a $4.9-million loan from Southern National Bank of Texas to acquire the land. Tucker Knight, a director with Holliday Fenoglio Fowler LP's local office, arranged a three-year bridge loan with an adjustable interest rate. The Block 98 development will be the second project that LandCo has tackled in Houston's CBD. The company recently acquired the former Days Inn Hotel at 801 St. Joseph Parkway for redevelopment into 251 luxury apartments and retail space. Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2006, with units delivering in early 2007.

I'm glad there's a proposal for a new tower overlooking the park, but I just don't like the design. Not to mention, this architect designed the Calais and the Ventana - not necessarily beautiful buildings in my opinion. Who knows, if this gets built, maybe it'll look better than some of their other work...

Frank Gehry was second to Michael Graves in the design contest for the building. They chose Graves because he usually designs and builds things quickly.

I'm telling you, if the Strip in Las Vegas can become a hot spot for residential growth then that tells you what people are after. I really don't think there's so much of a chicken/egg scenario - I think retail attracts residential. The reason developers and brokers are working so hard to get downtown on track with retail is to boost its chances of becomming an all around neighborhood (and to make a lot of money). In my opinion, the only way downtown will succeed as a neighborhood is if it first becomes a retail destination. All else will then fall into place.

Nice photos. Yeah, I hope the Pavilions can spur the type of retail growth downtown that Seattle has witnessed. With the Sakowitz, Foley's, and then Pavilions, that sectiion of DT is looking like a retail powerhouse.

There are a few problems with the Houston Pavilions project. From what I've been told there are many retailers including Virgin that have LOI's for the project. The list is pretty amazing, but none of it will happen unless the developer gets his financing. He's apparently gotten the most difficult loan from a bank overseas and will use that to secure the rest of the loans, but so far he has shown nothing to the city or anyone associated with downtown. The developer is a difficult one to read. The other problem is the design. Much of the Pavilions is inward facing, meaning the loading docks and utilities are all along the outside facing Dallas. This cuts the pedestrian out of the project unless he/she is walking through the center. In that sense, it is designed like an outdoor mall, paying little attention to the surrounding streets. It negates the urban fabric of downtown any tries to become its own little complex. Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled this development could possibly happen. There are a number of exciting tenants waiting to hear the good news about the financing. The fact is, the developer needs to tweak the design or else we'll see another potential Park Shops.

It's bothersome to see the cheap windows they seem to be trying out on the first floor of the building. To redo that building with cheap, suburban windows would be a disgrace.

I'm nobody, just interested in the project. If I do find out anything else concrete I'll let you guys know. Just curious, is anyone on this board a city planner?

The project is going to happen. I am very excited but weary about certain design flaws. Look for a press release in about a week and a ground breaking late this year or early '06.

Corner Bakery is a Brinker concept (yes, corporate) and will be done June 27th. Wulfgang Puck will be an Express.

The pedestrian will be very well considered. The project is will make Riva Place look like child's play. Seriously, Wulfe's project will be unlike anything we've ever seen in Houston.

I don't understand how you can find American Apparel stores boring. They've got porn all over the walls, the workers are usually ultra-attractive, and the clothes are bright and fun. I've been to their stores in Montreal, New York, and LA and the last way I would describe them is boring. They might be the next mainstream retailer that eventually gets played out, but for now they are very well entrenched in hipster culture. Downtown needs these guys more than these guys need downtown. I'm personally wetting my pants at the prospect.

P.U.S.H. is an organization set up to bring a skatepark to central Houston. Barry Blumenthal is heading up fundraising right now. It sounds like they need a few hunderd thousand more to start the dirt moving. http://www.hpbinc.org/downtown_skatepark.htm

I'm not that smart, but I do think that ANY building should have integrity. These townhomes, though somewhat nice in the renderings, do little for the neighborhood and are very disappointing in person.

Those townhomes are hideous! More suburban crap for the inner city.

I totally agree! The best architects in the Chron article are probably the lesser-known ones such as Alberto Kalach, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, or Office dA. Gehry and Calatrava are gimmicky and overdone. I would love to see an emerging architect treat this at their life's work, rather than a major architect toss it to one of his assistants.

Thanks. I just made the change. Now you step up and get this thing out!