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There is a rumor about a new project in uptown, thought I heard some rumblings but thought I would test the waters here to see if I am just hearing things.

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

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

Surprised I'm the first to post this revelation (at least I think I am), but the Allen House is slated to be re-developed. Notices were on the doors of 3535 and 3505 Dallas and 3601 Allen Pkwy. June 1 closing. Mixed used development planned...kind of explains all of the recent structure torn down in the area. Surely the Chronicle will be on this news. As for me, well its been home for a bunch of years...

This thread was originally created November 2017. Because this posts and other content from me are no longer available in the forum, I'm reposting this. I wasn't able to web archive the first page to reference for past comments, only the second page. (page 1 of original thread archive (screenshot) ) (page 2 of original thread archive link) The 36+ acre site where Grocers Supply Co. currently conducts business is on the market. Real estate service HFF Houston is marketing the site 3131 Holcombe Blvd, along with properties bordering Grand Blvd, Dixie Dr, and Ardmore St for a total of 51+ acres. Loopnet listing (archive link) Photos from Google Map Street View Holcombe Blvd @ Ardmore St

A lot of rumors about the Montrose HPD (900 block Westheimer) storefront closing, not surprising since HPD Chief Acevedo wasn’t a fan of store front idea. But a neighbor mentioned a developer had bought the entire strip ( Guess Theo’s Will be moving also.)center and a few adjacent lots north on Grant and on Crockett street including a beautifully restored 1920’s home. All for multi use multi-storied building ——included will be the Freed library’s move from Montrose Blvd. Apparently the developer did something charming around 6 th street and Yale in the Heights. Now I wonder if this developer will underwrite the HPD storefront in that development or if someone else will offer rent free space inside Montrose for the storefront to move into. Montrose Collective: https://www.888westheimer.com/

http://www.houstonisd.org/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&ModuleInstanceID=117408&ViewID=7B97F7ED-8E5E-4120-848F-A8B4987D588F&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=181919&PageID=81504

Drewery Place, Phase I: Phase II (now known as Laneways Midtown) : https://skyrisecities.com/database/projects/district

Museo Plaza http://www.pjararchitects.com/#!museo-plaza/cem1

I was walking around Rice Village recently (pushing a stroller) and noted how poor some of the streets/curbs and infrastructure appeared. There are numerous areas where the curbs have no ramps and you are literally forced to walk in the street or through parking lots. This is really surprising to me given the number of young families with children in the immediate area, and the proximity to the medical center (and thus likely use by people in wheelchairs.) The village is really one of the major 'public faces' of Houston to the outside world, likely to be visited by out of town families of Rice university students, and out of town medical center patients and families (I see the shuttle buses from the medical center hotels dropping them off frequently.) As such, I really can't understand the lack of investment in the roads and curbs in the village area and I'm really surprised someone hasn't brought an ADA lawsuit. Are sidewalks and curbs in commercial areas the responsibility of the city or the property owner to maintain?

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2012/07/inner-loop-tract-slated-for-huge-mixed-use-project/ Gensler is the architect.

ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company Technical Training Center Project: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company Technical Training Center, Houston Client ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company Architect: PageSoutherlandPage Contractor: D.E. Harvey Consultants: Shen Milsom Wilke (av/acoustics); ASA Consulting Engineers (structrual); ARCADIS (civil); The Office of James Burnett (landscape); Sunland Engineering (traffic); HBC/Terracon (soils); Bridges International (roofing); Moisture Technology Corp. (curtain wall) Photographer: Tim Griffiths Floor Plan The design of the ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company Technical Training Center, completed in May 2004, blends the old with the new. The two-story 98,000-sf facility responds to the materials and horizontality of the existing Buffalo Speedway campus, but applies a new combination of forms and material relationships. The new building's design becomes more creative as it moves away from its junction with the 1950s-era McKie and Kamrath building, notable for its strips of brick, glass and shading devices. The new facility's facade steps toward the street in a series of layers composed of Central Texas limestone, glass, and brick. Another material - a canted curved metal panel - is introduced to represent ExxonMobil's innovative technology. The facility houses a grand lobby and gallery, classrooms of various sizes, two large areas for breakout sessions, as well as support and office spaces for training staff. The terrazzo floor in the lobby is an abstract pattern representing fluvial systems studied within the training center. Classrooms are equipped for the latest media, and a visualization classroom takes advantage of a large projection screen that can be configured in several ways, including as four sides of a cube. Parking for approximately 458 cars is provided adjacent to the training facility. The project distinguishes itself by covering a wide range of subject matter, from the tactile nature of oil field hardware and geologic material to the virtual world of computer models and simulations. All elements combine to create a training tool which will serve thousands of students annually from around the world who are involved in ExxonMobil's exploration, development, production, and research enterprises. --Courtney Mahaffey Link

OkieEric has come across a mixed-use development proposed near the Menninger Clinic at 12301 South Main: https://www.facebook.com/saintnicholasschools

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: From the TGI Friday's lot perpendicular to the Tollway. Same angle. Dillard's goin' bye-bye. The backside of the mall--JC Penney is gone already.

Plat filed for the eastern half of lot that currently has the office building containing the Maritime museum and Andes Cafe on 2311 Canal St., so only the portion currently empty is covered. This entire property along with the one across the street bounded by Canal, Navigation, Runnels and the RR are owned by Midway (listed as KBRN on HCAD, same as East River). Both are highlighted in the attached picture. Judging by the shape I am thinking mid rise apartments, hopefully with some mixed use fronting Navigation. Anyone have additional info? Could this be the start of a larger "Gateway to the East End" project comprising both properties.

7-Acre site in on West Fuqua is about to change. Formerly the shopping center with the Kroger as the anchor tenant. https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/19273515/7100-7213-West-Fuqua-Missouri-City-TX/ Project includes a 126-unit affordable workforce housing community, 400-seat Larry V. Green Main Stage Theatre, 33,000 Sq. Ft. of retail development space, and a pre-kindergarten program. More information about Edison Lofts can be found on this agenda packet https://www.houstontx.gov/council/committees/housing/20190917/agendapacket.pdf Renderings and more info forthcoming.

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

Just ran across this by way of a search on HAR: Da Vinci Court They are townhouses in the 1500 block of North Main and apparently is the first project in the Hardy Railyard development. They look very nice. Has anyone been by there lately? Are these already under construction? Well, I just did the virtual tour on the website and it appears that some of them have already been built. Is that correct?

forgive my ignorance but it seems like i recall people talking in the past about a potential redevelopment of the Post Office site? is there a thread on this? i tried searching but couldnt find anything on it. are there plans for the post office site to be redeveloped? if so what are the plans? i came across this site somehow and thought it was kind of interesting. i never knew the Post Office site sits on top of what used to be Central Station and Hotel for the rail road and the city of Houston back in the day. it makes me wonder if the site could be redeveloped into an Intermodal Terminal type site with mixed use Transit Oriended Development. http://www.epperts.com/lfa/BB67.html

Spec's is coming to Montrose!! Montrose and Westheimer next to Half Price Books in the shopping center on the corner to be exact. The space has stood empty for a while. Recently I walked past the unoccupied location and noticed a wall of coolers had been installed, my first thought was grocery store, but today on my way home, a sign company had plastered a paper layout on the wall so that they could install the electrical part of a new sign, I drove by slowly and barely made out the name of the infamous Rabbit's home!! Spec's Liquor Warehouse. Let's get our drinks on Montrose!

A recent community impact article mentions some possible developments for the old TI land...let's just say I know something about this and an verify some things going on over there... I was never here[ninja]

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http://www.chron.com/business/real-estate/article/Moody-National-buys-prime-Memorial-tract-for-7506279.php

Proposed 21-story high-rise development at Bunker Hill Rd & I-10. There's also an office building shown but it's unlikely to be built anytime soon. Site is currently being used as a staging area for Hotel Zaza.

I noticed a few public notice signs at the apartments at Washington and Waugh announcing an application to redevelop. Anyone have any idea what's up with that?