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I wanted to touch on a topic that has been weighing heavy on my mind recently, and I'd like to hear peoples thoughts. It's ironic that I discovered both these posts today. First, I read a somewhat encouraging article from Houston Public Media about a 5% decline in the homeless population from 2018 to 2019. You can read more in the article here: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/city-of-houston/2019/05/15/333384/homelessness-down-5-in-houston/ . Obviously the stat on mental health spending was a little depressing, but to hear that Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties experienced a 54% decline in homelessness since 2011 was surprisingly positive news. But shortly after that I ventured over to the Houston Reddit to find a post entitled "Walked down Main St. from McGowen to Congress yesterday afternoon", which can be read here: Simply put, the post did not give me the warm fuzzies, especially since the area in question stretches all the way down Main Street. Sadly, I have seen the sights described in this thread, maybe not so much the smells, but definitely the sights. I've experienced the yelling, the drunkenness, and the tents/garbage lined up under the freeways. Downtown and Midtown are experiencing decent growth and development right now, yet the presence of the homeless continues to linger and in some cases grow. Certainly new development is helping clean some of these areas, but it seems as though these people simply relocate to other areas close by. For example, when I first moved to Houston in 2017, the entrance to 59 South from Richmond looked like any normal feeder. But for the past 6 months it has become overrun with garbage and filth, and this is right across from the Post 510 apartment complex. You can check the Yelp reviews for the place and see the problem is creating negative reviews from the tenants. This isn't the only complex experiencing the issue in the area, and I feel as though it will continue to keep people away from potentially relocating to Midtown and Downtown. But again, I want you guys to tell me your thoughts on the matter. What is the best course of action the city can take to curve this issue? Does anyone living in Midtown/Downtown echo these sentiments and have their own experiences to share? How will this impact the growth of Houston going forward?

According to the Chronicle, several tenants are already clearing out of the building even though Skanska has not confirmed anything. Latest renderings & info: http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2015/06/developer-to-pour-foundation-for-downtown-office-tower/#23198101=0

Hearst Selects HFF to Market Houston Chronicle Downtown Property http://realtynewsreport.com/2014/11/21/hearst-selects-hff-to-market-houston-chronicle-downtown-property/ Thanks to desertpunk at SSC.

I don't have the specifics for the height, floors, architect, etc. but here's what she's going to look like... I believe this is the view of the north side of the building that will face Market Square. This is based on the other renderings of the Chronicle site building. Block 42:

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

Oct. 29, 2004, 11:27PM Next incarnation for aging eyesore Condominiums may take place of hotel rooms By NANCY SARNOFF Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle A longtime downtown Houston eyesore, which was once the high-rise home to a transcendental meditation society, has been sold to an investment group that wants to turn it into condominiums. A partnership led by Don Nicholas of LandCo Properties purchased the 30-story Days Inn building on St. Joseph Parkway between Milam and Travis on the southern end of downtown. "An ugly duckling downtown will become a swan," said Nicholas, whose group is still studying what to do with the building. The property was built in the 1970s as a Holiday Inn and later converted to a Days Inn before it was taken over by a group led by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who gained worldwide fame in the 1960s when he became the spiritual adviser for the Beatles. Located on the south side of downtown, the property was never successful as a hotel because it sat too far away from downtown corporations, hotel analysts have said. Nicholas and his partners have experience redeveloping old buildings. The group converted a structure in Colorado Springs to CityWalk Downtown, a residential building. Units were priced from the low $100,000s to more than $300,000. Nicholas said the Days Inn property reminded him of a larger version of the Colorado project. "It doesn't have a beautiful view of the Rockies, but it still has beautiful views of the city side and park side," he said. Tepid sales of downtown condominiums haven't stopped developers that see Houston as an up-and-coming residential market. Last month, Silvestri Investments purchased an old brick warehouse just blocks from Minute Maid Park, where it is building out at least 50 condominiums. And Randall Davis is planning to convert his St. Germain apartments on Main Street into for-sale units. He's selling the apartments for $180,000 on average and offering 100 percent financing. "I think people would like the opportunity to buy a condo in downtown Houston," he said. "Especially if it's priced right." The Maharishi, the founder of transcendental meditation, bought the Days Inn property in the early 1990s for a reported $2 million. It was renamed Heaven on Earth Inn, and the Maharishi's brand of meditation was taught there. But the hotel fell into disrepair and became a dingy blemish on downtown's skyline. It has sat vacant since the late 1990s. Adam Brackman and Jeff Kaplan of Wulfe & Co. brokered the sale.

Subdivision plat filed for the U-Haul Moving & Storage site at 1617 San Jacinto. The project will also take out half of the surface lot along Leeland. SubdivisionPlatPDF_1617-1741_U-Haul at San Jacinto No 745062_plat.pdf

I know there's been some discussion in the past of the site that the Scamrock was planned for, and that Hines had been involved with the site as of late. After stumbling across this page & the rendering included, I was wondering if anyone had additional info on it. Webcam: http://oxblue.com/open/hines/609main Latest Renderings and Info as of 10/2013 : http://hines.com/press/releases/10-24-13.aspx

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.

I've only lived in Houston and downtown for two years and I am amazed by the amount of change that has occurred on the restaurant / bar scene. When I moved here, OKRA was not even open / even hinted at. Since then there has been a number of successful openings and it's hard to keep up with the pace of change. I've also been very pleased with the quality of each opening - these establishments are nothing like the typical Midtown / Wash Ave bars where the bartenders do not even know what Campari is. Here are recent openings in no particular order: Prohibition (1008 Prairie). A burlesque event space in back (A beautifully restored theater. You would have no idea that it is in this building. Drop in and ask to take a look) but the front restaurant serves excellent lunch and dinner. Pricey with some entrees > $50. Absolutely worth checking out for the smoked fried chicken alone. Chef Ben McPherson.http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2014/06/27/foodie-friday-whos-cooking-up-restaurant-news-in.html?page=allMain Kitchen (806 Main). In the new JW Marriott. It's been discussed in the JW thread a lot so won't rehash it here. Chef Erin Smith.https://www.facebook.com/MainKitchen806Bombay Indian Grill (806 Main). Indian lunch buffet.http://bombaygrillhouston.com/Honeymoon Cafe (300 Main). Serves upscale sandwiches for lunch. Downtown's only good independent coffee shop. Always packed for lunch and surprisingly packed for Sunday brunch.http://thehoneymoonhtx.com/Springbok (711 Main). South African restaurant and sports bar serving lunch and dinner.http://www.springbokhouston.com/Nightingale Room (308 Main). Bar and live music space. I visited and the cocktails are high quality. Part of the Anvil mafia.https://www.facebook.com/NightingaleRoomPublic Services Wine and Whiskey (202 Travis). Run by the former Oxheart sommelier with interesting wines and whiskeys. It's in the restored / renovated Cotton Exchange building.http://publicservicesbar.com/New Hearsay Location (1516 Dallas) Also, looks like a formerly empty location on Main Street is taped over with the business named "Beef and Barley" and District 7 Grill is taking over an empty space that spans half a block at Main and Texas. There is some sports bar opening on Main as well. As MAB noted in another thread, a new BBQ restaurant set to open by Brian Caswell (Reef), Bill Floyd and Greg Gatlin (Gatlin's BBQ) is set to open in Q1 2015 on Jackson and Congress near Minute Maid Park. There is now a liquor store downtown called Posh Liquors (http://poshliquors.com/). Based on the name, I'm assuming they are trying for an upscale clientele base. All these join the first wave of restaurants (El Big Bad, Batanga, Fusion Taco) and first wave of bars (Captain Foxheart's Bad News Bar and Spirit Lounge, OKRA, Pastry War, Clutch City Squire, Little Dipper, Dean's Credit Clothing re-opening). Yes it would be nice to get a full service grocery, a Target and some retail downtown but I am so grateful for everything that has happened to downtown recently, that I have no absolutely no complaints. I also have nothing but optimism for further development as more residential opens.

There's an "energy" downtown (especially along Main) that feels unique to our diverse, minimally zoned city. With the rail, Downtown Living Initiative, and popular eateries daring to set-up shop and stay open past business hours, the city's core is starting to feel less "business park" and more of an authentic place to experience urban life.

Plenty of red meat here both in the article and in the comments. I think the downtown roundabout idea is pretty intriguing, although the years of construction to make it a reality makes me shudder. Could suffocate downtown the way LRT construction suffocated those corridors. http://www.chron.com/news/article/Here-s-a-roundabout-way-to-ease-traffic-congestion-3836900.php

Etro Lounge is leaving Montrose for Downtown in August. With the success of Anvil coupled with the parking situation on California St, will be interesting to see what happens to the old space. https://www.facebook.com/168343289321/posts/10156405183734322/

Noticed this today on my bike ride.... anyone happen to know what they are replacing this with? Another parking garage or something else?

Strolled through there today and there is absolutely zero signs of any work,. Renderings and latest info: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/Design-for-planned-downtown-hotel-gets-a-revision-6048121.php#/0

InternationalTowerintheCBDisbeingdevelopedbyStreamRealty and Essex Commercial Properties. This 925,000-square-foot, 37 story, Class A building in the CBD is being marketed as Houston’s first 50-story office tower in 30 years. http://www.us.am.joneslanglasalle.com/ResearchLevel1/Houston%20Highlights_Q1_2013.pdf Hbj mentioned this in one of their articles yesterday Per the article it is bounded by Preston, Prarie, Milam, Travis and is 750,000 sqf which contradicts jll When I look at the location it is the same location as the supposed linbeck location. Can someone explain?

Near Minute Maid Park and adjacent to the 28-story Marquette building: 6-story, 267-unit residential building Developer: Trammell Crow Residential Est. construction start 3Q 2014 Est. completion 1Q 2017 http://www.downtownhouston.org/site_media/uploads/attachments/2014-05-08/140505_Downtown_Houston_Development_Map_11x17.pdf

Santa brought me a new ride and he requested some pics in its new environment. Santa has been working lots of hours so he could afford it.

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.

SA and Elmore Sports Group in discussions for a new ballpark in Downtown SA for a relocated AAA team, likely the Colorado Springs SkySox, also owned by ESG. Team would likely be a AAA affiliate of the Rangers, with Round Rock switching back to the Astros and Fresno going to the Brewers to replace the SkySox. Ballpark sites discussed include the northwest corner of Hemisfair, at South Alamo and Market streets; the Institute of Texan Cultures; Fox Tech High School football fields; parking lot south of the Alamodome; and sites near Lone Star south of downtown, and the Pearl. IMO, the sites on either side of I-37 maybe be the best spots in terms of visibility and the potential for a view of the Tower of the Americas in the outfield. http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/report-colorado-springs-moving-to-san-antonio/?utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_content=56ff51d204d3014a9536e911&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebook

Block in between YMCA & 800 Bell. Noticed this lot was fenced off this afternoon, along Travis, Bell, and Peace. No parking here either. Anyone know what’s up?

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2018/09/11/houston-crime-lab-aims-to-move-to-new-downtown.html?s=print

Downtown residential highrise's being planned by Marquette Cos. Totaling more the 350 units. But they don't stop there... http://www.bisnow.com/commercial-real-estate/houston/what-do-downtown-and-galveston-have-in-common/ Renderings and info as of 4/2014: http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/morning_call/2014/04/future-office-construction-inspiration-for-new.html

I really like this building. Believe the parking garage was just recently remodeled/fixed due to Harvey.

http://leoncapitalgroup.com/casestudy/block-365-downtown-houston-multifamily-development/ Block 365 is bounded by Jefferson/Pease/Austin & Caroline. http://www.downtownhouston.org/site_media/uploads/attachments/2014-01-06/Block_Map_2014_1.pdf