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Figured I'd go ahead and start a new official thread on this. Coming Spring 2014 Midtown Superblock Park http://innerlooped.com/1653/midtown-superblock-first-look/ It's going to have underground parking too! There is a link to the full document on InnerLooped. • Includes a balance of program items that support the overall goals of the Midtown District • Includes over 140 underground parking spaces that support park activities, nearby retail destination and the Main Street rail line • Includes over 7,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space Renderings and info as of 5/2015:

The greatest, most well-thought out plans to improve a big city will always be stained somehow by the lesser members of the population. Littering is a behavior that is hard to police and the damage seems temporary; give it a little time and it will be blown or washed away so no one feels its damage, and so it persists. The picture below is ironic because the litter ended up in a pond designed to purify runoff. All the pointy-heads who designed this project surely had to have accounted for this scenario? The good thing is that this won't go unnoticed and will likely be dealt with. When I went to the park this weekend to take some shots of the Project Brays freshwater tidal basin work at Mason Park, I intended to post the progress here to show the non-East Enders something positive that is taking place in town. This project is a combination of flood control, habitat restoration, water purification and recreation. Really a textbook, inner-city, all around winner. However, here is what one of the water purification ponds looked like after the minor rain we had. This was disturbing to me. Prior to this rain, this pond in particular had started to have large water birds in them just about every time I've went. Now, I'm guessing they'll stay away. Here are some other shots of the project; Looking from the Forest Hill bridge, which will be replaced as the bayou is widened, northwest towards Downtown (skyline visible in the background) The only way I can imagine this can be solved is by, perhaps, to tether a giant net off of the storm drainpipe upstream and empty it after each rain. If nothing is done, this wetland habitat will become the beginnings of a landfill in a matter of months. I think the mayor should see this and get HPD to crack down on litterers and, if they ever catch one, assign them to that pond with waders, gloves and a bag. Then, get one of the local channels to do a piece on it to help teach people to behave.

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/2014/11/tmc-outlines-potential-plans-for-new-research.html?ana=twt

The one along Holly Hall crosses freight tracks owned by UP or Houston Belt & Terminal, but the frequency of trains is very low and almost never during the daytime. At night, small trains drop off and pick up cars at the Grocers Supply Co. distribution center on Holcombe, which is where the line currently ends, but that is the only user of the tracks of which I'm aware.

We've seen reports that highlight the lack of green-space in Southern DT, but plans are being set in place for a park in this area. In the very early stages, 1/2 - 1 Block will be acquired for the park. This will be a joint effort by the Downtown Management District, COH Parks Dept. and TIRZ 3.

Does anyone know exactly how long the memorial park track is?

Has anyone heard anything about this?

Yay! Mayor's office unveils plan for new bayou bridge at Montrose. Didn't reallize there was a Memorial Heights TIRZ. New high-rise, new bridge, cool! http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6145342.html

Here's the best info from the article: The project has broken ground: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/columnists/sarnoff/article/High-end-office-building-underway-west-of-downtown-5920360.php#/3

Hey guys, I'm hoping someone can provide a link or pics of the just released plans for the new downtown park/GRB. I searched other threads for info and I've found nothing. Thanks- Tejo

Hi all, I'm moving in to Post Oak Manor next month and I had been very concerned about whats going on just behind the neighborhood...then I ran across this: This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 960x768 and weights 88KB. I think this is great, and I really hope it creates a natural barrier between Main and the new tollroads to the south. Does anyone know what the current project status is? Also, any useful info about Post Oak Manor and Willowbrook / WillowBend would be great. Does Post Oak Manor have an active Civic club? Thanks

Ran across this. Those running through this dusty corner of the board probably know it, but in case you don't, Spence Park is directly across the street from the East side of Kyle field. It hosts lots of organized tailgate parties on game weekends, but generally suffers from neglect most of the rest of the time. It's kind of blighty looking when it's not covered with tents. The plan in the link below is ambitious to say the least. It would be the A&M campus' equivalent of Discovery Green, taking a half-assed strip of grass next to a big venue and turning it in to a centerpiece. Not sure if anyone has actually identified how to pay for it at this point, but Scotch might if he stops by... http://cbe.tamu.edu/Data/Sites/1/allouruploads/presidentialactions/2017actions/071917aggiepark.pdf

Is the new midtown park fully open? The chain link fence is gone, people are using it, but one of the gates to the dog run is padlocked. (There's two gates but only one is padlocked)

John Teas died recently and now the family is selling off the centenarian property for single home developments. Bah. From Nancy Sarnoff via Swamplot: http://blogs.chron.com/primeproperty/2009/11/teas_nursery_to_be_redeveloped.html http://swamplot.com/first-theyll-need-to-clear-out-all-that-vegetation-thats-in-the-way

Looked everywhere for this one. There was one mention in the Camp Strake thread. Its massive enough to have its own mega thread, but way to far out to be in "Going Up". Since we don't have a dedicated Woodlands, Spring, and Anything Further Out subforum, I'll be posting this here. Originally conceived in 2015 this one has taken awhile to get going (possibly due to Harvey), but have already started on phase 1 which is mostly low-rise residential and big box stores, which is something we don't touch on this forum. Its the "Urban Living", "Town Center" and "Business Center" that would get our attention. For info on phase 1 developments there is an article in HBJ: https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/breaking-ground/2014/08/camp-strake-property-to-include-750k-square-feet.html Now for the real meat of the project. Developer: Johnson Development Corp Architect: Johnson Development Corp (Johnson Development Corp originally did The Woodlands, and currently are working on Bridgeland near Cypress) Estimated Completion: (Unknown) This is originally land that belong to Camp Strake. From JDC: https://www.johnsondevelopment.com/mpc_grand_central_park From Grand Central Park website: https://www.grandcentralparktx.com/ --From 2015-- From HBJ: https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/morning_call/2015/07/full-plan-revealed-for-former-camp-strake-property.html Original Video: Stills From Video: Images of A Proposed Lake House Amenity On Grand Lake and Overall Site Plan: --From 2018-- In 2018 Sam Houston State University announced it would open a Medical Campus at Grand Central Park. This broke ground in November 16, 2018. The first for the campus is a College of Osteopathic Medicine. Developer: Sam Houston State University Architect: Page + Slam Collaborativ Budget: $65,000,000 Estimated Completion: December 2019 From HBJ: https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2018/10/24/sam-houston-state-sets-groundbreaking-date-for.html Images from Article: --From 2019 Till Now-- Aaaaand finally to most recent news. The City of Conroe is working on plans for a hotel/conference center for Grand Central Park. Developer: City of Conroe + Garfield Public/Private LLC Architect: Garfield Public/Private LLC (maybe not sure) Budget: $86,000,000 Estimated Completion: April 2021 From Community Impact: https://communityimpact.com/houston/conroe-montgomery/development-construction/2019/01/23/final-report-released-for-conroe-hotel-and-convention-center-project-in-grand-central-park/ Another From "The Courier of Montgomery County": https://www.yourconroenews.com/neighborhood/moco/news/article/Conroe-considers-partnership-to-build-86M-hotel-13558668.php#photo-16819863 Images From Article: ...that should catch us up. @Urbannizer @Triton Do we want this in Going up? I'll let y'all decide. I'm fine leaving it here for the above reasons.

Saw this in Cohen's enewsletter- $25,000. Doesn't seem like much to begin developing a park.The "future Park" is one city lot, covered in black top and surrounded by wrought Iron fence, Cyprus trees in the ROW on Whitney street side.COH/parks is beginning to hold community meetings to gather residents input. Hopefully a name will be chosen. Seems most residents would like simple, minimalist park because of size--something that might pay tribute to Avondale development in 1907. I took that to mean that everyone is hoping it won't be a grass lot with many 20 gallon ubiquitous live oaks trees. Some of the residents were concerned about the "current" trend in developing green spaces after watching the "beautification" MMD is putting in on west side median at Lovett and Montrose? Yep, a n updated green space of concrete and live oaks. The developers of Avondale pooled their money in 1911 to have a box card load of palm trees delivered brought to Houston.many were planted down the middle of MEDIAN down Montrose Blvd south towards museum district( all were removed last time MONTROSE Blvd got redone--MONTROSE Blvd conservancy would like to put back the median but won't consider replanting palm trees due to COH restrictions.) and a few can still be seen within Avondale.So everyone is hoping Live Oaks won't be the tree of choice. Not sure if there will be access to water at this park, so probably xerescaping should be considered plus keeping the wrought iron fencing might not be a bad idea either. Would using recyclable materials keep costs down? no idea. Still everyone seems to love the idea of recycling so guess that should be considered also. That seems a lot to keep in mind when developing a park, the next open meeting is Aug. 16 upstairs at The Women's Home 6:30pm.I was hoping the Civic association would offer a money prize to university architecture students to submit a plan for this park, keeping all those restrictions in mind. It would be great to see what the young talent of Houston could come up with. Maybe I'm being overly optimistic but it seems an opportunity is presenting itself why not take advantage of it. _________________________ PARK UPGRADES - $355,000This funding provided for new park design costs, playground equipment replacement, sidewalk repair, and other improvements to parks throughout District C.$240,000 - TC Jester Park: Playground equipment replacement $60,000 - Meyerland Park: Playground equipment repair $25,000 - Future Park at 424 Westheimer: Design costs $20,000 - Oak Forest Park: Tennis court repair $10,000 - Peggy Shiffick Park: Sidewalk repair

What was once a gas station, then a bus stop/transit station, will now, hopefully, become a park! https://www.chron.com/news/politics/houston/article/Houston-to-buy-Heights-Transit-Center-convert-it-12833013.php

FYI, I took the family to Hermann Park Saturday morning. What a gem this park is!! The renovations to the reflection pool and McGovern Lake are fantastic. There have also been a lot of reforestation projects undertaken that will pay dividends in a few years. We should be proud of Hermann. . . it's a great urban park. Do yourself a favor and spend a couple of hours there soon. It is a good stress reliever. . .

does anyone think Houston will ever get a legit botanical gardens? the ones in San Antonio are very nice and it would be a great addition to things to do/see around town. i know there are some smaller gardens, but why dont we have a full fledged botanical garden like many major cities?

Although I do not live in the East End I have worked in the area for many years. I work very close to the Golf Course and it is something I look forward to seeing each day. The history of Gus Wortham G.C. in itself should declare it a landmark. It is, imo a treasure of the city. Unfortuately, the city has not kept it up very well and a movement in the East End has begun to save it. Below is a wonderful editorial by attorney Walter Boyd. A committee is being formed called Friends of Gus Wortham that will do whatever it needs to to raise funds, clean it and hopefully perserve the entire course for future generations. If you know of anyone in the East End who would like to help please pm me and please read the outstanding editorial Walter wrote. I know he has gotten much feedback on it. ( a friend of mine whose dad is a WWll veteran was a caddie at that golf course when he was a teenager, lots of wonderful memories there) http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editor...ok/4561944.html

Today, on my quick drive home from downtown, I noticed that Baldwin Park has bright orange temporary fencing all over it - specifically around the outline of the trail and around each of the trees...likely a protective measure. Looks like they're finally gonna start on this thing...

i went by the menil and rothko chapel yesterday and the broken obelisk in the reflecting pool in front of rothko is gone. anybody know what's up?

this seems like a really interesting project! https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/energy-environment/2020/08/11/379574/this-proposal-would-help-protect-the-houston-area-from-hurricanes-and-create-a-10000-acre-public-park/

Noticed a demolition permit this week. Maybe something brewing here? I know it's a large park.