fernz

It would be awesome if they can activate the street like that. I think it will depend on the type of retail establishments they bring in.

How loud are those trains?

They're toy trains.

I wonder what percentage of metro Houstonians will ever visit this place... if it ever gets off the ground.

If one were to draw a circle of radius 5 - 10 - 15 - 20 - 25+ miles with this thing in the center... how would the visitor's numbers plot against their home addresses... What would the distribution curve look like?

I was expecting you to say they should build this in Midtown!

Ahh... I don't comment on swamplot much. Thanks

I don't either. But I did comment last week, and I made it into a Chronicle article!

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/gray-matters/article/Muttering-about-a-micro-park-5631404.php?cmpid=twitter-premium&t=fb5829de14d90d0955

Katyville is booming!

Is that on weekdays?

Can the comments about the academic programs be moved to another thread?

Crane was going up today for City Center 5.

Do you have a source? Sanford Criner with CBRE said today all the major office deals have happened...

You beat me to it.

Y'all can besmirch the architecture of the tower all you want (it's good, not great) but this tower (and the Hines a block over) is going to add a lot of downtown residents (good ones) and is really going to give downtown that much coveted legitimate walkable neighborhood that people have been craving for Houston since this website started.

 

GAME CHANGER. 

 

O how those businesses already in that area must be salivating over this project.

 

Personally, I like how this tower is going to extend the skyline to the north and make it look noticeably bigger from the west and east. Regardless of architecture style or materials, upon completion, downtown silhouettes just got more impressive.

I agree with your comments, but this is an architecture forum; we can criticize the architecture all we like, even if we do love the fact that the tower is being built and will do great things for the area.

On another note, these two projects are not really going to "give downtown that much coveted legitimate walkable neighborhood " feel, but rather they will make only the area around the square a walkable neighborhood.. Similar to how Post midtown 12 years ago only transformed a small portion of Midtwon, and how OPP and DG only transformed a small portion of DT. The sad truth is that even if all the currently planned projects are built, Downtown as a whole will not become walkable. Yes, it will be better overall, and yes, there will be many more great urban pockets, but it will take a lot more to really transform DT.

Market square tower has an amenity list like no other MF building in Houston, or Texas for that matter. 2 pools and full floors of amenities, including a basketball court and a golf simulator. I'm afraid than in order to include these amenities (and stay competitive), they will need to go cheap on the exterior. I'd venture to say that people are more likely to make a leasing decision based on the amenity package than on the exterior materials and architectural detailing.

The golden rule for mixed use, is that each use has to be able to stand on its own. The retail needs to be successful without counting on the residents or office workers in the same building.

Unfortunately it reminds me of this cheap-looking stucco building, more than it does of one park place

I agree, I am also reserving judgment until it's built.

Based on the rendering's lack of detail, it could be a very nice or a very bland building.

It could be a very nice brick building, with interesting masonry detailing and relief. Or it could be a cheap-looking, flat-detailed stucco building.

Has the fence with black tarp always been up around the apache site? I saw someone messing with something to secure part of it as I drove by a minute ago..

It's been there for a long time

I don't think Hines has ever self financed a project; what makes you think they would do that now? Doing so would add risk, reduce the rate of return, and tie up equity that could be used for other projects. I really don't see this as a possibility.

Could Hines simply move forward witha Condominium version if this thing slows down their plans? Also, the rental prices mentioned for this tower are..... REALLY, REALLY expensive!

That would REALLY slow things down, as condo would require about 40% pre-sales in order to secure financing.

I wonder where this will be b/c as of now they're offices are on Post Oak between I-10 and 610. Not a bad area but not a place begging for mixed-use.

And it's definitely not the area I would choose for a Zaha Hadid building. Design doesn't fit, and market wouldn't support the cost.

I'm impressed these developers are working with Zaha Hadid; take a look at their current properties! I am really excited though about the possibility of having one of her buildings in Houston. Possibility being the key word though.

Why are Houston builders so incredibly afraid of mixed-use?!?!

Maybe for good reason. There's an article this morning of yet another business closing in west ave. Gables is probably wishing they had built more apartments instead of all that retail space.

I did three days ago. No progress.

Can anyone who has a background in construction, engineering, or building, explain something to me?

Why has the excavation not included that street level section where they are parking equipment? Is that area to remain un-excavated or is it is sequencing issue?

Sequencing. They, have to leave a dirt ramp for the dump trucks and equipment to come in and out of the hole.

Awesome mollusk!

You can still get all the amenities you want with all the parking you need, it just doesn't need to be with such a suburban mindset and design, that's all. It could be something like this:

or this:

Perhaps if it's one of the only ones left in the city. No one really likes the Buffalo Speedway/59 area, do they?

Besides, that was developed over 10 years ago, Houston was very different then.

I feel like I just came out if a college lecture, in a good way. Thanks purdueenginerd.