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

On a just-barely-related note: Many people know that Service Corporation International, the world's largest funeral home company, is headquartered in Houston. What most people don't know is that there is a cafeteria in the basement of their building. Even fewer people know its nickname is "The Coffin Cafe."

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

Hey, I've been a guest to this site for a year or two now so i decided i'd finally join. Anyway, I browsed through the topics but i didn't see this topic discussed. But what is the huge building being built on the Allen Pkwy just west of downtown? Where the "new" jefferson davis hospital stood? I heard it was going to be a US Mint, but thought that may just be a rumor? anyone know?

http://m.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/breaking-ground/2015/08/why-one-developer-has-turned-his-sights-to-medical.html The company's also planning a 72,000-square-foot, 11-story medical office in River Oaks that will also have an ambulatory surgery center and medical offices. That project will break ground next year and is expected to be complete in late 2017. It's currently 50 percent preleased.

141209_DRA_BOD_Meeting_Minutes.pdf

I'm not sure where to put this, but I heard from a friend that the apartments at 2017 Buffalo Terrace are going to be torn down later this year. Does anyone know what for?

Saw this posted on SSP, didn't find it here. http://www.gid.com/d...nt/horizon.aspx

Hi...recently when I was mulling around the Pierce Elevated on Google Earth seeing what exits should be moved around and relocated for a better (and less congested) Pierce, I discovered this little "crossover" road near Crosby Street. (link) I recognized for what it was immediately, as I had seen it on suburban collector roads when the road goes from four lanes to two (or vice versa) and one of the lanes shift over so that they can complete the full lanes later. These are often removed after the widening. But what's the deal with this on Allen Parkway? From the looks of it, that strange closed off road segment has been there since at least '95 and it's been multiple-laned for decades. Historic imagery gets pretty muddy prior to 2000, and it's a small thing to pick out. Has this been here for decades, or is there something I'm missing?

Looks like activity is starting at this location. Anyone have any news on what is going up?

Don't know what the chopper was doing, but I think it did a touch and go. We were on the Allen side where the parking lot with the swingset and volleyball court is, and it looked like it touched down in that area where the trail goes on the other side of Memorial and there's a big, open, grassy area. In the 3rd and 4th pics it's right above the bridge, I wish our camera had more zoom.

These are a couple of HDR pictures I took. The one with the full moon was a full moon night but I digitally added in the moon because it was in the wrong location.

I have read 2 or 3 messages about this Bldg. that goes on to state it is a group of Bldg's. As time permits would someone be able to say just how many Bldg's are in the group and if each have its own name or address?

My friend just took a job with AIG (American General) on Allen Parkway near Studemont. He and his family are looking for a good commute time with good schools. He has been told about Humble (Summerwood, Eagle Springs, Park Lakes, and Kingwood). Also Spring Trails off Hardy toll road. Anyone have info on commute times for these neighborhoods. Specifically Spring Trails (He was told commute from Hardy Toll Road would be 36 minutes at 7:30 a.m). As a side note they have no good info on older neighborhoods that might be good to look in. Open for any and all information on any parts of town with good commute (40 min or lower) and good schools to American General on Allen Parkway and Studemont.

There used to be a small commercial building on Tirrell Street @ Allen Pkwy (between Shepherd and Dunlavy). The building was torn down this week. Any ideas how I can find out what's going to be built? Sincerely, Lovett19

I remember that ZOM was going to build a complex on Allen parkway. Any info on this?

I got a real kick out of this pic and caption taken in 1929 of Buffalo Drive, now known as Allen Parkway. Lots of other interesting things found at http://www.texasfreeway.com/Houston/houston.shtml

Maybe it's just me, but I haven't heard that family name and Houston real estate in the same sentence in a long time. Industrial sites sold to developers of apartments Odds are two lots to turn into homes Industrial sites sold to developers of apartments By NANCY SARNOFF Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle A pair of industrial tracts of land near downtown Houston have been sold to developers that will likely build residential projects on the sites. CenterPoint Energy sold the land, which amounts to nearly 14 acres along West Dallas and just south of Allen Parkway, to two builders for separate developments. Jonathan Farb of Farb Apartment Homes purchased 5.7 acres on the south side of West Dallas, just east of Montrose Boulevard. Farb, the grandson of veteran apartment developer Harold Farb, started a development company of his own several years ago and has been building townhomes in the inner city. Across West Dallas from Farb's site, Ameriton Properties bought 8.2 acres from CenterPoint at the northeast corner of West Dallas and Montrose. Ameriton, a subsidiary of Archstone-Smith, is also planning to acquire the old Robinson Public Warehouse, which sits on about three acres at 2323 Allen Parkway. The structure was built in 1929 as a Sears, Roebuck & Co. department store. The sale of the building has not yet closed, said Heather Campbell, an Archstone-Smith spokeswoman. And in a related deal, Ameriton has purchased the 2.75-acre Sacks Paper Co. site, just across Allen Parkway and Memorial Drive on Studemont. While specific plans for its sites are still unclear, Ameriton primarily develops apartments. Campbell said the company may develop parts of the land and sell what's left. The seller of the two West Dallas properties is CenterPoint. The company is moving its operations, which handle meter reading and other services, because it needs room for expansion, said David George, director of corporate real estate and facilities management. To that end, CenterPoint bought 17 acres of land just east of downtown at 3000 Harrisburg. D.E. Harvey Builders and the Kirksey architecture firm will construct and design a new operations center on the land for CenterPoint. Until that building is completed at the end of 2005, the energy firm will lease back its West Dallas properties from their new owners. Stewart Robinson of Binswanger/Conine & Robinson and Bill McDade of McDade, Smith, Gould, Johnston, Mason + Co. represented CenterPoint in the transactions. nancy.sarnoff@chron.com

Is 3333 still up on the block? Any information most appreciated.