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CURRENT VERSION: v0.5 - Beta by: Luminare Hello Everyone, I'm proud to reintroduce the HAIF Development Map and Spreadsheet, as PROJECT ASTROPOLIS. This thread will be the new home for updates, improvements, announcements, and discussions about both the Project Astropolis Map and Spreadsheet. Previously due to COVID, and other circumstances pertaining to my work, I had to take an extended hiatus from both the forum, and this project. After a nice break from putting the original map and spreadsheet together, I decided to give the project a reboot, and start off fresh with a new thread, new name, new image, touched up sheets, and several additional sheets with more to come! (NEW) Link to Map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/drive?state={"ids"%3A["1uy6qAEQioisw7lKYbZoJNDrl2k6Ef8ck"]%2C"action"%3A"open"%2C"userId"%3A"100367964234737055652"}&usp=sharing (NEW) Link to Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1787Aeyg1wyVCuV5pVMzP4ButKIU7UMTvtdS-fvUQPIw/edit?usp=sharing MISSION STATEMENT: The primary aim of Project Astropolis is to track every project in and around the greater Houston Area. The secondary aim of Project Astropolis is to bring greater awareness to laymen about new or upcoming development, architecture, and construction around them, so they can be better informed about their built environments, and how they might affect their communities or properties. Houston is growing, and is progressing forward, why not feel like you are a part of it? The third aim of Project Astropolis is to someday be, potentially, a valuable resource for those who work at architecture firms, development firms, and marketing firms to assist in future planning, and for a city with no zoning, possibly create synergies between projects to create better communities and a better city. Knowledge is power, and with that knowledge, better future development can come forth. STAFF: Founder Luminare Editor-in-chief Purdueenginerd Admin (TBD) Agents Source Agents (TBD) Neighborhood Agents (TBD) Field Agents (TBD) Industry Agents (TBD) Media Agents (TBD) Source Agent - Contributor who typically works with sources to gather information on a project. Might be specific, or might be general info. Neighborhood Agent - Contributor who typically operates in a particular neighborhood, and understands whats happening in a more local context. Field Agent - Contributor who typically travels to job sites to take photographs to chronicle progress of projects, or talk with those on site to gather further information. Industry Agent - Contributor who typically knows the in's and out's within a particular industry which provides valuable info on upcoming projects, etc... Media Agents - Contributor who typically knows the right publications, or news outlets (and has access to articles), or various social media to get new info on projects. ***Currently looking for candidates for positions listed as (TBD), some have already been reached out too. If you haven't, but would like to contribute please contact either myself (Luminare), or Purdueenginerd via private message on the forum, or you can email the project at: projectastropolis@gmail.com *** FAQ: (TBD) Will fill out once I get questions. CHANGE LOG: (TBD) DISCLAIMER! Project Astropolis should not, under any circumstances, be viewed as an official and/or definitive source of development news and information. Project Astropolis has been put together by development/architecture/construction enthusiasts, therefore it should not be seen as a replacement for actual official and/or legal documentation. All info for Project Astropolis was pulled from readily available public sources or was donated to us via industry sources who were given permission to provide us with such info. While we try our best to keep our info and sources up-to-date as much as possible, due to the fact some sources are pulled from the HAIF forum (among other things) from enthusiasts who are not industry professionals, some info might be speculative, and if this is the case, it will be clearly identified as such. About Projects: In order to not intrude on the privacy of individuals, Project Astropolis will not plot: - individual single family homes - individual single family townhomes As an industry professional myself (Luminare) I understand the private and personal nature of these types of projects, and value the privacy of these project types which individuals undertake. While we will eventually aim to plot large scale townhome and single family tract housing developments, single instances of these home types are special, and should not be the subject to public knowledge. For Property Owners: If you are a property owner of a speculative development, or someone who owns property next to a speculative/potential/proposed development, please do not contact myself (Luminare), or anyone on my staff, for further information regarding such speculative information. These questions should be directed to actual authority figures whether they be in the public sector or private sector. We here only deal in info and tracking of projects. We do not have the authority to change nor halt a potential project, nor will we take down speculative or potential developments as doing so will only harm discussion of future projects within our enthusiast community. For Architecture Firms, Design Firms, Artists, and Developers: If you are an architecture firm, design firm, artist, or developer (among many other industry professionals not listed), please do not contact myself (Luminare), or anyone on my staff, for further information regarding such speculative information. These questions should be directed to actual authority figures whether they be in the public sector or private sector. We here only deal in info and tracking of projects. We do not have the authority to change nor halt a potential project, nor will we take down speculative or potential developments as doing so will only harm discussion of future projects within our enthusiast community. With that being said, if you are an architecture firm, design firm, artist, or developer (among many other industry professionals not listed), please feel free to contact myself or an admin if you see a project on Project Astropolis which was added on here without permission or consent, and you would like to see removed. Unless its one plotted due to the speculative nature of discussions on an internet forum, actual potential or proposed projects, which are not ready to be viewed by the public or have not been published either by yourselves (on your own websites), or via 3rd party publications, should not be on here, for as an industry professional, I (Luminare), understand fully the ramifications a half-baked, incomplete, or a project which has yet to be fully realized, could potentially be damaged, tarnished, or even dropped if subject to the public eye too early, or when your client isn't expressly ready to present it to the public at large. These will be taken down immediately upon request. @Urbannizer @Triton or any other mod. Could I please get this thread made into a sticky thread? I also need someone to take away the old links to the previous map and spreadsheet from the Development List Thread. Thanks.

Interesting new article: http://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-ceo/2014/september/why-investors-are-flocking-to-downtown-dallas Huge corporate campuses are being built in the northern suburbs, and Uptown office buildings are securing record-breaking rental rates. But the biggest commercial real estate story in Dallas may be the revitalization of the city’s urban core, where a staggering number of redevelopment projects are setting the stage for a major transformation. Activity is focused on the city’s center, the area between Pacific Avenue and Main, Commerce, and Elm streets. Sales volume in the core is “off the charts,” says Jon Altschuler, partner at Altschuler and Co. Even more noticeable, he says, are the capital improvements new property owners are making. “When I step out of Thanksgiving Tower and head in either direction, it feels like I should be wearing a hard hat,” he says. “There is so much construction activity. Welding, banging, building—you can tell it’s going to be a different streetscape in 18 months.

A very interesting article by Bloomberg Business week about the national trend toward the 4+1 podium midrise model that has been exploding across the national, and of course, Houston. Thought this was a very fair article as well. This a great fact based straight forward article that's light on opinion. Both sides are taken into account from the business aspect, to code regulators, to concerned citizens over recent fires. I don't think this is going to slow down. With IBC updating again in 2021 to include timber skyscrapers and better regulations on the use of stick framing that will actually quicken its proliferation it will be interesting how much the city can densify with this continued model of development. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2019-02-13/why-america-s-new-apartment-buildings-all-look-the-same EDIT: This was posted here by accident. Please place this in the appropriate forum.

I noticed theres been more and more development going on and major renovations from my tiny country Here are a few pictures of the city. \ Just outside the city:

So happy for our sister/bro to the west! (I havent determined if Ft. Worth is masculine or feminine yet) Its time they get their own thread. Jetta/Frost Tower Officially under construction! http://www.fortworthbusiness.com/news/groundbreaking-skyscraper-to-revitalize-eastern-downtown/article_8c8215f8-786a-11e5-82dc-53ad597f2688.html

Saw this on my bike ride today -- it may be old news....

Hey guys, I was referred to this website by some friends who said it was the go-to destination for Houston Real Estate information. After perusing through, I know I've found the right place and I'm actually overloaded with information. Long story short - I am trying to get information on development happening in the fourth ward. Here is a rough outline of the area I am interested in: https://imgur.com/a/oBzAu . More specifically I'm interested in the areas bounded roughly by Dallas to the north, Taft to the west, Gray to the south, and Buckner to the east. Can anyone provide any information as to what developments have happened in the area in the past couple years? Are there any developments planned? Anything to look out for? I'm familiar with a few apartment buildings having gone up along Dallas, but is there anything other than that? In general, how would you describe this area? Is it a dead zone? Is it up-and-coming? If you owned real estate here would you be enthusiastic about the future or looking to sell? I know there is a lot of vacant land and there have been some old shotgun homes that appear to be in disrepair. It also seems highly residential and not much in the way of recreation or retail or grocery stores. The reason I'm interested in this area is on behalf of my significant other. She owns a home here and has been renting it out. Due to moving for her job, she is also a long-distance landlord. Her rental really took a hit in the past year when it became vacant at the bottom of the oil and gas cycle. Her rent decreased by a ton and she is going to great expense to carry the property. We're trying to figure out what the long term potential for the area is. Almost everywhere I look in Houston it seems like real estate is developing and things are looking good, but this area seems to lag a bit. Plus the oil market seems to be stabilizing a bit and I know how huge that is for Texas in general, but Houston specifically. As an outsider, I would think being close to the best parts of midtown and having proximity to downtown would be great assets, but I understand real estate markets can be very local. What would you guys say is the 5-10 year potential for this neighborhood? Any other info you have to help me out? Any links to developments that have taken place or are in the works would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks for reading and take care.

If a mid-rise apartment is right next to a major freeway (35 ft to the freeway on ramp, and 70 ft to the freeway lanes from the property line), and most units will be facing the freeway. Is noise from the freeway going to be an issue that negatively impacts leasing/rent/property value?

Another huge mixed-use development is on the drawing boards in Richardson Steve BrownSeptember 25, 2014 Full Article From GFF: More about the development, including construction dates here. Additionally, The Spring Creek nature area has recently been doubled in size. Read about it here. The parking garage for the 351-unit Alexan Cityline has been completed. First units are planned to be ready by May.

Hi, The builder developing the community I live in sucks. I wish I knew before I bought my house but too late for that now. There are still several homes being built in there but quite a few homes are occupied at this point. The builder has been littering and polluting the ravine with a lot of construction debris and hasn't cleaned it up in 6 months. Several homeowners have complained and nothing has been done. I was informed that they can be fined for this. Where would I report it to have them fined so they will stop? I already called 311 and they put in a request but I think that is a request to have the ravine cleaned. I'm not looking for anyone to clean it. I want the builder to be fined so THEY will clean it and won't do this anymore. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance!

Check Daily (four added daily) No, the list isn't completed, I am going to be adding 4 a day since it takes me an hour to make 4. Was starting to give up ha, but I can manage 4 a day.

Any knowledgeable feedback greatly appreciated, I tried to research this and can't find anything, it is upsetting me a lot so I just want some resolution. I live in a corner lot in a deed restricted neighborhood. So my back yard faced my neighbor's side of his house. He moved, and a guy tore the house down and to everyone's surprise, this lot is somehow not in any deed restrictions (it's probably the only lot in a 16-square block neighborhood). So they subdivided into two 2600 square foot lots and built massive, like 60-foot tall townhomes. They put windows all along the side and no trees or landscaping, which looks right down on my pool and yard. So this has been really upsetting. But my questions are: 1. Height. Can you seriously build a 60-foot tower in the middle of a neighborhood (mostly 1 and 1.5 story houses)? There are NO height requirements? 2. Notice. When they subdivided, I don't get any notice? Especially since it's below the alleged 5000 foot minimum lot size in Houston (the prevailing lot size in the neighborhood is 7500). I can't believe there's no notice even/ 3. Open space. The new THs are 3 or 4 feet from the lot line. I read that one way to allow a subdivision below the 5000 lot size is to have common open space. Each of these homes has a small patio and then there appears to be a front and rear setback (maybe 15-20 feet). DO the front and rear and sides, really count against the open space requirement? Do the non-common patios? I am actually not a NIMBY and support density (even though this is literally in my back yard and basically ruined my house), I am more curious than anything. It really shocked me that there would be no height restriction. I wouldn't even care if it was next to me but unfortunately I am on (what I thought was a great) corner lot so by bad luck what would normally not be visible looms over my only private space.

With all this residential development going on downtown, it leaves me wondering if the retail will follow shortly after? Particularly grocery stores. To my knowledge, the closest thing to a full sized grocery store in downtown is Phoenicia. Randalls midtown is more or less close as well. When do you think a major grocer will consider moving into downtown? Who do you think will be the first one to make a move? Will it be as part of a mixed use development? Ground level of some tower? or stand alone? Right in downtown? or immediate vicinity, such as a 2nd midtown store, Eado or the near East End?

I was watching tonight's KBTX 6 PM news and they reported that the closed Albertson's shopping center at south College and University Drive will be mostly demolished for an infill type student apartment building. I can't find any online articles about it yet, but I will post as soon as KBTX puts this evening's stories online and I can find any site plans or announcements from the developer. Apparently It will be called the "The Stack", appears to be 4 or 5 stories, will have ground floor retail and 2 levels of underground parking, and have about 400? units. Apparently it won't actually cover the whole center, but rather end at Hurricane Harry's which will remain.

Heres an awesome PDF Urbannizer found highlighting many of the projects going on and proposed in the downtown area, ranging from tunneling i45 and 59, and building grand boulevards above them to building new parks in the Southern portion of downtown and adding Green Ways connecting parks and popular areas. lots of new signage will be added for pedestrians and they are working on better connecting downtown with the surrounding areas. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/54482015/CHI%20Breakfast%20Presentation%20for%20publication.pdf

When you've lived in Texas 50+ years and have traveled the state far and wide, you notice favorite areas blighted by development. To me the San Antonio-Austin corridor is one of the worst. It's become two long strip malls on both sides of Interstate 35. New Braunfels and San Marcos have lost a lot of their identity and charm.