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The Board of Directors of the American Institute of Architects, Houston passed the following Position Statement at its regular meeting on April 10, 2007. The statement will be presented to the Mayor and City Council tomorrow, April 17, by AIA Houston member Peter Boudreaux, AIA, of Curry Boudreaux Architects. AIA Houston POSITION STATEMENT April 10, 2007 RE: The Center Serving Persons with Mental Retardation Site Lease / Potential Sale The American Institute of Architects, Houston does not support the sale and demolition of the buildings of the Center Serving Persons with Mental Retardation located at 3550 West Dallas. The Center and the City of Houston are in disagreement over the validity of the site lease, where the Center's architecturally significant facilities are located. Invalidation of the lease may result not only in the destruction of the homes of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities but also the demolition of these historically important works of Houston architecture, which anchor a visible site in heart of the city. The current buildings and prominent site comprise first-class urban design and environmentally propitious use of open land, both concepts AIA Houston supports in general. The Center buildings are important examples of the architectural trend called the New Brutalism. They occupy a significant place in the history of Houston architecture, particularly in the wake of the recent demolition of the Houston Independent School District Headquarters on Richmond Avenue. The New Brutalism was a modernist architectural movement inspired by the work of Le Corbusier that flourished internationally from the 1950s to the 1970s. New Brutalist buildings usually are formed with striking repetitive angular geometries and are often constructed of rough, unadorned poured concrete. Howard Barnstone and Eugene Aubry designed the Center for the Retarded (1966), as it was originally called. The Cullen Residence Hall (1978) is the work of S.I. Morris & Associates. These architects are significant in Houston's history and these particular buildings are especially important because they represent a high standard of design in service to a community that has been traditionally under served. The buildings are in good condition and will serve their function for a significantly long future. Together Barnstone & Aubry designed several brilliant Houston buildings such as Rothko Chapel (1971); Guinan Hall, Univ. of St. Thomas (1971); Media Center, Rice University (1970); and 3811 Del Monte (1969). Both architects individually are also well-known for their work. S.I. Morris headed a string of firms (including Morris*Aubry), the successor of which is Morris Architects. The full body of Morris work touches almost all of segments of Houston architecture from the Astrodome (1965) to award-winning skyscrapers, to public buildings such as the Central Library (1975) to small houses. Transactional costs for the Center Serving Persons with Mental Retardation to build a new facility will take away from monies and services that this special needs population urgently requires. The Center for the Retarded, a non-profit organization, invested $7 million (1960's dollars) in the buildings, which probably cannot be recouped (in today's dollars). The $26 million estimated sale price of the land would fund only a portion of the needs for a new facility of comparable size and quality. The cost of comparable new facilities would mirror the inflation rate of the land and construction cost. Loss of this site and its buildings would entail a substantial net loss to the Center and adversely affect its ability to maintain its present level of service. Therefore, because of the outstanding architectural significance of this campus, the Board of Directors of AIA Houston recommends that the City of Houston renew its lease with the Center Serving Persons with Mental Retardation so that the Center may remain in its current location and continue to provide essential services to the citizens of Harris County. Hanover Square

Anybody know anything about this

Here are my photos so far. I have some more I have to take of this really cool wall they have left standing all by itself. I keep wondering how it stays up because there is nothing to brace it. I guess they are waiting for it to fall on its own. I will head over there this afternoon and add to these. I took these two weeks ago: http://www.tropicaltexans.com/images/Houston/tcfeb05.jpg From the TGI Friday's lot perpendicular to the Tollway. http://www.tropicaltexans.com/images/Houston/tcfeb05-2.jpg Same angle. http://www.tropicaltexans.com/images/Houston/tcfeb05-3.jpg Dillard's goin' bye-bye. http://www.tropicaltexans.com/images/Houston/tcfeb05-4.jpg The backside of the mall--JC Penney is gone already.

A few things I saw while driving through campus.

Anyone know what's going on next to the Federal Reserve on Allen Pkway?

Prime Land Up For Grabs By Nancy Sarnoff - 2004 A pair of prime parcels of inner-city real estate is about to change hands for the first time in decades. Apartment developers are in negotiations with the William Dickey estate for six acres of coveted land on Kirby Drive. Gables Residential and the Hanover Co. are lined up to take control of two tracts on the west side of Kirby just south of Westheimer, according to real estate sources. The proposed projects will replace the River Oaks Tennis Club and an adjacent retail center that currently occupy the land. The Dickeys, an old-line Houston family that has owned most of the land along Kirby between Westheimer and West Alabama for more than a century, put the property on the block earlier this year. The family, which has maintained control of much of its land through long-term ground leases, is expected to sell the two acres to Hanover and lease the four acres to Gables. The Dickeys are also looking to lease about two acres on the east side of Kirby, where the now-defunct Hard Rock Cafe and Anthony's restaurant buildings sit. About five years after real estate developer William Dickey died, his family decided to relinquish control of nearly eight acres of land on Kirby. Bids for the property were solicited in May by Wulfe & Co. Of the more than 20 offers that came in, just a few are left standing, said Kenneth Katz of Wulfe & Co. In addition to the land on Kirby, the Dickeys also control long-term ground leases with Whole Foods for its West Alabama supermarket and the Ainbinder Co., which owns the Borders bookstore shopping center across the street.

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/2014/11/tmc-outlines-potential-plans-for-new-research.html?ana=twt

The one along Holly Hall crosses freight tracks owned by UP or Houston Belt & Terminal, but the frequency of trains is very low and almost never during the daytime. At night, small trains drop off and pick up cars at the Grocers Supply Co. distribution center on Holcombe, which is where the line currently ends, but that is the only user of the tracks of which I'm aware. Also known as Levitt Green.

Nothing to report here but was walking by the building today and thought it would make an excellent loft conversion (image below). 500 Crawford (apartments at ballpark development) is two blocks to the east and the downtown development map shows a 28-story residential building by Marquette Land going up one block to the east. If this building converted to lofts, it would make for three consecutive blocks of residential. The ground floor of the building looks like its perfect for retail. However, there are major structural issues with the property and it was almost demolished in 2009: "It could cost $4.7 million to resolve the warehouse's structural issues, according to an August 2008 engineering report. "The problem with the [Hogan-Allnoch] building is that the brick is load-bearing brick," Ellwood says. "Unfortunately, with the settling of the earth, the building basically has been compromised. There are pretty substantial cracks going all the way from the bottom to the top." http://www.preservationnation.org/magazine/2009/todays-news/houston-spares-two-buildings.html The building is four stories and 50,000 square feet. Assuming that just the top three stories are converted to residential, the structural costs would be $125 / square foot before updating and interior improvements. My estimate of the all-in 1111 Rusk conversion is ~$230 / square foot. I'm not familiar with the costs of residential conversions but am wondering if this is a viable project if Harris County gave away the building for free and Houston provided Chapter 380 incentives. http://www.arch-ive.org/houston/texas1311/hoganallnoch.jpg

Anybody seen this project before? It is called "Westcreek," on Westheimer. I've found the pictures on Skyscraperpage.com http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread...8&page=55&pp=25

http://newregionalplanning.com/upload/property4/610_flyer_email.pdf It's two blocks west of river oaks district and a few north of Westheimer

Great shot. Looks like another crane base on site. BTW, that La Quinta is very out of place there. Hope they eventually tear it down and re-develop that parcel.

I finally stopped by this Class-B hotel off the West Loop. Photos I took today:

Driving along 610 North this morning, I noticed that the Drury Inn along the feeder road looked different. In fact, it looked noticeably better. It appears that they made some quiet renovations over the past few months: new exterior design that, while nothing amazing, is a welcome change from the previous, dated look, new signage near the road, and new exterior lighting. Not a huge story, but it's an indicator that businesses in the area are taking steps to update as Uptown grows.

Forgot to post this skyline view of the Westin Galleria Hotel located at 5060 West Alabama Street. Actually called The Westin Oaks. Photo I took the other day:

The Holiday Inn Hotel NRG Area-Med Center located at 8111 Kirby Drive had a weird conference room or chapel on the side of the hotel. Just a small building attached. Maybe an event space. Photos I took today:

Today I drove past the Extended Stay America Medical Center/NRG Hotel located at 1303 La Concha Lane. Some photos I took:

Multimillion dollar remodel. Glad to see this.

I noticed in the Houston Business Journal that the Intercontinental Hotel on the West Loop near Westheimer was going to change to a Royal Sonesta. I am not familiar with this brand. Is this an upgrade or a downgrade from the Intercontintal? http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/morning_call/2012/05/intercontinental-hotel-changes-brand.html Another hotel I have been meaning to ask about for a long time is the old Holiday Inn that was on the northbound West Loop between Richmond and Westheimer. It closed a while back and the branding went away to be replaced by small vinyl sign above the door reading Hotel 31. Is this hotel even open? And it seems like it's in a fairly decent location - literally minutes to the Galleria - why hasn't something better happened to this building considering all the other Galleria-area activity?

The Sheraton at 2400 West Loop South will be rebranded as The Chifley, Tapestry Collection by Hilton. It will host a new restaurant/ bar called "Rouse" that serves a fusion of barbecue, Mexican, and asian cuisine. New hotel website: https://thechifleyhouston.com https://houston.culturemap.com/news/city-life/07-25-22-the-chifley-houston-hotel-uptown-rouse-restaurant-bar-rooms-tapestry-collection-by-hilton/#slide=0 Set to open November, 2022. seems like most of the renovations are interior. Some before pictures 😅 I always thought Sheraton was considered semi luxurious, these pics kind of hurts hurts my eyes

I have a family member visiting Houston next month. They will be staying near the Galleria. I am looking for hotel recommendations. Uptown has a bunch, and I mean alot of hotels. Which one to choose from? I was looking at the Houston Marriott West Loop By The Galleria At 1750 West Loop South. Would this be an okay choice? Thanks for the input!

It my research of hotels, I came across the Derek. I think it is near the Galleria. Is it similar to the Hyatt Regency, size, amenities, etc? I noticed on Hotel.Com that the rates are about the same. I meant to say "in" my research of hotels. Just a typo.

By L.M. SIXEL Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Houston celebrated with fireworks when it kicked off the expansion of the George R. Brown Convention Center and construction of the attached 1,200-room Hilton Americas-Houston hotel four years ago. The 700,000-square-foot addition, which nearly doubled the center's exhibit space, would finally make Houston a player in the lucrative convention industry. That, in turn, would create jobs and generate other economic benefits, city leaders promised at the groundbreaking. But was the city's investment in the center really worth it

9-Story hotel going propsed at the corner of Lehall Street & Bertner Ave in the Texas Medical Center. There's a rendering on the current Planning Commission Agenda.

i think houston had a ritz for a long time, but it changed to the st. regis in the late nineties. it's over there next to the junior league off westheimer.