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Thanks Downtownian!

I agree, I seem to remember people saying a few years ago that oil would never go back under $100 again.

Really?

I wonder why Finger would not go for the incentives. Are there strings attached?

I would call this a transformational project for Houston. I love the vision, and the execution. It might even make me become a member of the museum again.

That's what she said

This is one of my favorites projects going on right now, especially bc of what they're doing to ADLA and making the ground level of the GRB so people friendly.

This will be a great addition to the area

This will be a great addition to the area

It's possible to have a solid wall but it would be rare. Single-loaded corridors significantly drive down the efficiency of the building and make per-unit costs too expensive.

There will likely be units facing the gargae. On-site employees will live there, and the rest will be used to advertise lower entry prices.

Good points. I guess it depends what recently and renovated actually mean. If the buildings got new paint and carpet 4 years ago, they are toast!

All black people are cool. Just like all white people and Asian and Hispanic and all races are cool.

Except Kim Jong Un.

Oh, great. Now HAIF is going to get hacked!

I would love to see one in Midtown

Yes, I agree taller buildings have stronger bones and take longer to build. That does not mean all office towers take longer to build than residential. The added time caused by the higher live loads is offset by the added amount in interior build out.

Another obvious point to consider is floor plates. These days, a 25,000 sf plate is typical for office, whereas residential can get away with smaller floor plates.

My point was that a blanket statement about use is not possible, there are too many variables.

The article says the apartments were recently renovated. That would tell me the sales price is not conducive to immediate redevelopment, and that Midway can get a nice revenue stream from the property. I would bet this is a long-term play for Midway.

There's no reason a residential tower, which has every unit fully finished out, should be faster to build than an office tower which is often delivered as shell space. Take a look at 2929 Wesayan and Sovereign as extreme examples. Skyhouses are an exemption, their developers have figured out a way to crank out McTowers very quickly. While they may not win Architectural awards, they are great for business given their speed to market - and I would bet most potential residents don't mind the exterior look at all.

Maybe not the best photo of the actual project, but the photo looked cool this morning when I took it. I figured I'd share it here.

Great picture, thanks for sharing. Houston is so damn flat!

In other words, typical for Midtown.

5 years ago we could only wish this type of development was typical for Midtown.

I heard from a higher-up at Gensler that there's a possibility this wouldn't be built. He wouldn't give me any details, so I don't know how strong that possibility is. I hope not very strong.

Looks massive for that site

Wonderful. I like the continued effort to mimic the colors of Minute Maid. We truly could have a "ballpark district" as others on the forum have suggested.

We used to have it. It was called the Enron Field District. It was an official district with fancy signs over the street name signs.

That didn't work out very well.

This project will have lots of Houston-style GFR.

Like others have said, not every current proposal will suffer, but office projects in the energy corridor are probably more vulnerable.

Love this development, but would be surprised if it moves forward in current oil environment.

So going down means they're going up.

That's what she said...

Developers sometimes get a long-term approach that you don't see for corporate built-to-suit. Remember when BG Group tower was built? Right in the thick of the big recession, and Hines did not delay the project. Many people thought that tower would sit empty for a long time. Similar thing for the Hess tower.

Huh?

The new buildings are all pushed up against the street with retail on the sidewalk.

Not to say that this looks perfect, but it does look relatively pedestrian-oriented, to the extent that is even possible in this context.

The retail buildings are fronting a new street with what looks like a pitiful sidewalk, the open spaces look like suburban-type ponds instead of activity areas, and the center of the development has a new wide street..

I know this is not the best "context" but the property fronts a park with lots of activity - and BTW the plan doesn't engage the park; but this is much better location than what City Center started out with (the intersection of two major freeways)