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Does anyone have anything on this apparently they bought a block of land in Downtown for 55 million Nevermind* found little more information Skanska has purchased four land parcels, including one full city block, totaling about 14,200 square meters in downtown Houston, USA. The seller is a private citizen. The total investment amounts to USD 55 M, about SEK 520 M.Located adjacent to Discovery Green, these four sites are in Houston’s Central Business District and Skanska plans to develop a mix of office, multi-family and retail for the local community.

Project: Bridgeland Timber Office Building Owner: Bridgeland Development & Management Co. Developer: The Howard Hughes Corp. Architect of Record: Kirksey Design Architect: Lake | Flato Architects Notice to Proceed with Construction: October 2022 Information: 3‐story mass timber commercial office building (54,850 SF) within a 2.80‐acre tract of land located at the southeast corner of Bridgeland Creek Parkway and Summit Point in Cypress, Texas. The office will be part of a dynamic walkable masterplan with multifamily, grocery-anchored retail and entertainment uses. The Project will be seeking LEED Gold and Fitwel certification. In addition to multi-tenant offices, this will also be the location of Howard Hughes Corp’s local office & the Bridgeland Welcome Center.

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

Apologies if this has been addressed elsewhere, but do we know what the Hay Merchant/Blacksmith folks have planned for that lot? I'm out of state now, but I seem to recall it being fenced up the last time I was in town. And perhaps a variance request? Thanks. Just hoping to see more good news along this stretch of Westheimer...

Williams Tower - formerly known as Transco Tower Height: 901 feet 64 stories Circa: 1983 Architects: Johnson Burgee and Morris Aubry Facts - Then Transco Tower became Williams Tower when Transco Energy was bought out by Williams Energy Corp. in 1999 - Tallest building outside of any CBD - Rotating beacon at night on roof every 15 seconds - Williams Tower functions as two 32-floor towers stacked on top of each other, complete with separate lobbies, elevators, and garages. - South of the building is a 3-acre park with a large fountain called the "Waterwall" (aka Transco Fountain), designed by the building's architects with Richard Fitzgerald & Partners. The fountain is a stunning work of hydraulic engineering. - The top of the building features a beacon that sweeps the night sky over the Galleria area. - Construction took only 16 months, a remarkably short time for a tower of such height. 2 Pics by Patrick Benders Next four Pics by Mancuso Former

For years I have been wondering if Sears will ever do something with this eyesore located in midtown. It has so much potential, I guess at one point it was actually considered a beautiful building. Sears really needs to think about bringing it back to its original form. Something needs to be done. I would prefer to preserve the building, instead of razing it . What do you all think? Article found in the Chronicle today. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/main/5924010.html ''It's hideous!" fumes my friend V., warming up to one of his favorite rants: the unbearable ugliness of the Sears on Main Street. "It's right there on the light-rail line! At the entrance to the Museum District! At one of the few places where Houston can look good to visitors!" V., I have to admit, has a point. Sears' tan metal siding, blotched with graffiti cover-up, gives the building's upper floors the beaten-down air of an aging ministorage unit. But even that beats the urban battle fortifications at ground level. Someone, it appears, worked hard to make the department store defensible, able to repel invading hordes of shoppers intoxicated by Vanessa Hudgens' back-to-school ads. At the Wheeler side of the building, two sets of glass double doors, blacked out and locked during business hours, present an ominous face to the street. Opaque gray film makes the official entrance's glass doors, facing Main, only a little less scary. Bricks fill almost all the former display windows; burglar bars and more of that gray film cover the plate glass that survived. Only the most intrepid seekers of Kenmore appliances would dare breach such a bulwark. What's the deal, V. wonders. Does Sears think that the urban shoppers that store serves deserve less than, say, the suburbanites at the Memorial City Mall? And for that matter, hasn't someone at Sears noticed that Midtown has gentrified around the store? Isn't there a retail audience yearning to be better served? "Don't just return," exhorts the Hudgens back-to-school ad for Sears. "Arrive." V. would like that Sears to do just that. ...

I found this proposal while skimming LoopNet a while ago. Supposedly, someone wants to build a small medical office building with retail & a garage at that location with the aim of opening by early 2013. The brochure hints at a Phase Two that would be an "event center, bar/lounge" that would have retail. http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/ParcBinzOne.jpg http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/ParcBinzOneA.jpg Links ----- LoopNet Listing Promotional Brochure

Covenant House Texas expanding services https://www.tmc.edu/news/2019/08/covenant-house-texas-expanding-services/ The organization has launched a capital campaign—Building for Life, Homelessness to Hope—that aims to raise about $25 million over the next three to five years, Executive Director Leslie Bourne said. In July, Covenant House Texas purchased an office building across the street, on Lovett Boulevard. The structure will be a key component of a campus reconstruction and expansion project. To bring attention to this daily crisis, Texas Medical Center President and CEO William “Bill” McKeon will oversee Covenant House Texas’ largest annual fundraiser on Nov. 21. As honorary chair of the 2019 Sleep Out: Executive Edition, McKeon hopes to raise $1 million by seeking the commitment of Houston business leaders—many of whom will spend the night outside to more closely connect with the reality of homelessness. “We’re here to draw awareness to some- thing we drive by every day and don’t see,” McKeon said during a spring luncheon with young adults on campus, noting that youth aren’t top-of-mind for many people who think about or encounter the homeless.

It looks like they're reintroducing retail at the corner of Rusk and Main: http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/Commissions/docs_pdfs/hahc/Application_Materials/April_MATERIALS/712_Main_Gulf_Building_App_Materials.pdf

I was just wondering, how far apart are these two developments and do you all thing these two sites could change the perception of Houston as a urban walkable city? Which development do you think has the greatest potential for development? Some say that the KBR site should become a park, but I believe that there could be a much better use for the site. KBR Site Regent Square

HOUSTON (GlobeSt.com)

I noticed that the parking lot across from Arabella is not being used, so I walked to the lot to investigate. It turns out this lot is for the Harris County offices at 2221-2223 West Loop South. The District Attorney is moving in due to Harvey damage at their normal location. (Other Harris County functions have already moved in, mostly filling the parking garage.) The land across from Skyhouse now has an aggregate base and is being readied for paving. I don't know how long the District Attorney will be here, I'm thinking 6-12 months. So there will be no development of the parking lot property as long as Harris County DA is here. There is no activity at the newly cleared lot on Westcreek across from the Wilshire (and directly east of Harris County), so new development on that property could begin at any time.

Stage Stores is the corporate name, and the headquarters are here in Houston at 2425 West Loop South.

This office building is never spoken about, but it's in a prime location at the corner of West Loop South at Westheimer Road. Stopped by the other day to snap some pictures.

Just a passing observation about the property across the street. 3535 Sage Road has a big for sale sign advertising 8.2 acre tract of land for sale. That’s pretty big chunk of land for this area. Also just south of 3525 Sage condos. Right now there is an abandoned two story commercial bldg along with a really big ugly parking lot. Looks like plenty of development opportunities around here… keeping my fingers crossed. Need lots more lovin in this part of town!

In 1909, George H. Hermann built a 3-story brick building. The Bering-Cortes Hardware Co. occupied part of the building. Later burned down and rebuilt exactly the same way with the same tenants and address. Here's the George Hermann building under construction in 1909. Advertisement specifying the new Hermann building and location on Preston. Advertisement specifying the exact address, 606-608 Preston Ave.

This office building in Uptown located at 777 Post Oak Boulevard is home to Old Republic Title. Here's a photo I took the other month.

Name of Development: The Mill Developer: Triten Real Estate Partners Location: 2219 Canal Street General Info: This includes a multi-family building, two freestanding restaurants, and approximately 13,000 SF office building (4 story with restaurant, coffee shop, retail on the ground floor). The multi-family is a 7-Story with 323 Units, equaling approximately 262,000 SF. It includes a restaurant, retail space, fitness area, club, event space, exterior amenity pool deck, fitness lawn, co-working space and parking garage. EDIT: Renderings are of the multi-family portion only. Site plan added for reference. Architects: EDI International Michael Hsu Still in design phase. This is all of the information I have at the moment.

Someone please tell me more about this project. This would be for the Texas Medical Center at the corner of Main & Holcombe, where the Bank of America building sits. http://www.slideshare.net/QingjingZuo/smilodon-rendering-collection-20154-47319504

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2017/11/03/70m-mixed-use-project-to-start-construction-near.html

Patrick Feller has added a photo to the pool: View the full article

Does anyone know the current status of the Halliburton property on the west Sam Houston at Bellaire? I read it was going to auction at the end of April, but nothing since?

https://www.trulia.com/p/tx/houston/3505-n-main-st-houston-tx-77009--2109748400 Recently came on the market. With this being so close to the new Holiday Inn hotel and White Oak Music Hall, seems like quite a bit of potential here.

The old Amegy parking lot across the street is now closed. The surface lot west of it is still being used by people working at MTA building. I wonder what the plans are for this?

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6280447.html The U.S. Postal Service is selling the downtown post office after 47 years of sorting and delivering mail from the 16-acre operation. Whoever buys the property at 401 Franklin must build a replacement processing facility for the postal service, as well as provide a retail location near the existing site where consumers can mail packages and buy stamps.