InnerLoopOnly Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 It's probably a smart idea for a new garage to go up. The new Chevron building does not have parking. Parking will probably get tight in that area of downtown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YakuzaIce Posted July 22, 2005 Share Posted July 22, 2005 Come to think of it, Heritage Plaza could make for some great residential space. There is an on site garage and there are great views of Buffalo Bayou. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> So does anyone know the feasability of this? I was thinking the same thing that those would be some great views. Or perhaps the bottom half left office with the upper residential. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InnerLoopOnly Posted July 22, 2005 Share Posted July 22, 2005 I have no idea what a retrofit would cost, but I guess it would be costly. There would be new floorplans, new water, electrical, and sewage hook ups, and residential soundproofing. But hey, John Hancock in Chicago was built as the ultimate mixed use, so why not Heritage Plaza? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjb434 Posted July 22, 2005 Share Posted July 22, 2005 New condo units would require special fire proofing and soundwalls be installed between them. This would be some the costs that are incured.A lot of utility work for plumbing too. To me, I think leaving it as office space would be good. Besides, we have lots of older historical office buildings that can become residential without using the more modern office buildings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted July 22, 2005 Share Posted July 22, 2005 The critical mass of downtown housing should be along Fannin and Main.We need something we can grow around. Downtown is close, we just need to stay focused. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasdago Posted July 22, 2005 Share Posted July 22, 2005 How can someone be in the energy industry and not know about ChevronTexaco's move from their old bldg to Enron II? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted July 22, 2005 Share Posted July 22, 2005 It's probably a smart idea for a new garage to go up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirzania Posted July 22, 2005 Share Posted July 22, 2005 How can someone be in the energy industry and not know about ChevronTexaco's move from their old bldg to Enron II? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I don't work for ChevronTexaco, for one, and there isn't an inter-energy-company network (I think we get in trouble for that ... something about Enron. ) that sends out such notices. The only way we hear about stuff like that is from "Friends who work there" and articles in the newspaper. I haven't been in too many companies, so ... Then again, the memo could be floating around on my desk somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted July 22, 2005 Share Posted July 22, 2005 FERC is watching you! Me, too!FYI - The new Chevron building has a dedicated private parking garage.I parked there until they moved in. Nice big spaces for $6.00. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted July 22, 2005 Share Posted July 22, 2005 Does anyone know what's going to happen to the Chevron building downtown, their main location downtown before they bought 1500? Do they intend to hold on to that building or sell it off?<{POST_SNAPBACK}>Chevron sold the "old" Chevron Building to Crescent, the owner of Houston Center. They have renamed it Fulbright Tower, in recognition of the primary tenant, the law firm of Fulbright and Jaworski. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InnerLoopOnly Posted July 22, 2005 Share Posted July 22, 2005 FERC is watching you! Me, too!FYI - The new Chevron building has a dedicated private parking garage.I parked there until they moved in. Nice big spaces for $6.00.<{POST_SNAPBACK}>I didn't know it was dedicated for the new building. It won't be bad at all then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted July 22, 2005 Share Posted July 22, 2005 It is now. They have a sign "ChevronTexxaco - Private Parking"Kinda across from Bouray's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor Posted July 22, 2005 Share Posted July 22, 2005 Here's the press release we got yesterday about this:---------Goddard Investment Group Buys Houston LandmarkAddition of Heritage Plaza positions Atlanta firm as major owner in Texas cityATLANTA, July 21, 2005 - Goddard Investment Group of Atlanta has acquired Heritage Plaza, a landmark office complex in downtown Houston.Goddard Investment Group purchased the 53-story, 1.15 million-square-foot office complex in Houston\'s \"Skyline District\" from an institutional investor advised by ING Clarion. The sellers were represented by Richard H. Rudd of CB Richard Ellis\' Houston office. The Heritage Plaza complex comprises a tower constructed in 1986 and the Federal Land Bank Building, which was built in 1935.Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, although Goddard Investment Group acquired the office property below replacement cost.The firm, headed by Atlanta real estate veteran Robert C. Goddard III, was selected as the buyer because of its ability to close on the acquisition quickly. \"Because we have excellent access to capital we were able to close on this trophy asset in a very competitive environment in 30 days - on an all-cash basis,\" said Goddard, chairman of Goddard Investment Group.The addition of Heritage Plaza to Goddard Investment Group\'s portfolio instantly raises the company\'s Houston profile and positions it as a major owner in the Houston real estate market. This is the ninth transaction Goddard Investment Group has completed in Houston.Goddard Investment Group has been active in the Houston market for five years and currently owns five buildings, including Heritage Plaza, totaling 1.7 million square feet.Heritage Plaza offers a tremendous opportunity, said William T. Deyo Jr., a principal at Goddard Investment Group. When ChevronTexaco vacates its space later this year to relocate to a building it purchased at 1500 Louisiana, Heritage Plaza will offer the largest contiguous block of Class-A office space in downtown Houston. \"We plan to reposition Heritage Plaza and make major renovations to the property,\" Deyo said. The acquisition of Heritage Plaza, which sits on a 1.44-acre site bounded by Brazos Street, Dallas Street, Bagby Street and Lamar Avenue, meshes with Goddard Investment Group\'s business plan.Goddard Investment Group is an entrepreneurial firm that opportunistically acquires properties in markets it knows well. Once it acquires a property, Goddard Investment Group often works with local partners to improve the properties and works with the local brokerage community to lease up the buildings.In addition to Heritage Plaza, Goddard Investment Group will buy approximately 2 acres adjacent to the complex, where the firm plans to develop a new parking garage that will increase the parking ratio to more than 2 spaces per 1,000 square feet of rentable space.\"We\'re going to offer suburban parking ratios in downtown Houston,\" said Russell F. Read, a principal at Goddard Investment Group. \"That will be hard to beat.\"Leasing and management services are currently being provided by ING Clarion and Lincoln Property Co. Goddard Investment Group will interview the current leasing and management team as well as others for the ongoing leasing and management assignment.Goddard said his firm understands and appreciates the importance of Heritage Plaza to Houston.\"Heritage Plaza is a landmark in Houston,\" Goddard said. \"It\'s a building that businesses and residents of Houston know well and are proud to have in their city, and we\'re proud to add it to our portfolio.\"About Goddard Investment GroupGoddard Investment Group is a privately held real estate investment firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The company was formed in 2000 for the purpose of investing private capital in quality real estate assets in larger metropolitan Sunbelt markets. In addition to the direct acquisition of properties, Goddard Investment Group also provides financing for real estate related re-capitalizations, mezzanine debt and traditional first mortgage loans. Goddard Investment Group\'s current portfolio consists of approximately 4.5 million square feet located in Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Miami and Denver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce_oneal Posted July 27, 2005 Share Posted July 27, 2005 So does anyone know the feasability of this? I was thinking the same thing that those would be some great views. Or perhaps the bottom half left office with the upper residential.<{POST_SNAPBACK}>what's up there in the top? the part that looks like an aztec pyramid? or in the lower half that has the same design? i heard there was an indoor parking garage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InnerLoopOnly Posted July 27, 2005 Share Posted July 27, 2005 The first 12 floors are parking. At the top, where the building begins to taper, the square footage of the floors reduces, but I don't think anything is in the pyramid part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce_oneal Posted July 27, 2005 Share Posted July 27, 2005 seems like a big wastge of space if all that pyramid is empty. i think that part would make some GREAT apartments/condos? think of the views! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InnerLoopOnly Posted July 27, 2005 Share Posted July 27, 2005 The very top that doesn't have windows is not rentable space. Below that is rentable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce_oneal Posted July 27, 2005 Share Posted July 27, 2005 so it's just bricked up? it LOOKS like windows from below, but i have to admit i have never been up in allied (now wells fargo) to see it at eye level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InnerLoopOnly Posted July 27, 2005 Share Posted July 27, 2005 The very top that has the stepped pyramid does not have windows. The part below that has darker glass and a brown stone facade. That part is rentable. That is the part of the building that is tapered. The floorplans for that part are smaller than the floors below. The floors below are just the plain blue glass facade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce_oneal Posted July 27, 2005 Share Posted July 27, 2005 gotcha. thanks. is there any sort of observation deck in heritage? i would think the views of the bayou and towards west houston (especially at sunset) would be awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InnerLoopOnly Posted July 27, 2005 Share Posted July 27, 2005 No observation deck. There is a sky lobby at the 13th floor. That's the lowest level of floor space. Most of the building is either tightly controled or vacant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce_oneal Posted July 27, 2005 Share Posted July 27, 2005 that's barely high enough to see over the trees... just kidding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
torvald Posted May 24, 2006 Share Posted May 24, 2006 a few years ago i was at a new year's eve party at the petroleum club. i have never been there and was AMAZED by the view. as i was looking out the window, an older gentleman pointed at a few of the buildings and said some things about a few of them. i was amused that when pointing at the heritage plaza building: additional ha-info page he said, "did you know that someone lives in the top section of that building?" i said that i did not and he said that it was "a very wealthy arab family". i didn't believe it and said, "why that's interesting". well, yesterday a client at work casually mentioned the same thing. the fella is quite intelligent and i would assume he would know what he was talking about. does anyone know the basis for this rumor? or somehow, is it not a rumor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted May 24, 2006 Share Posted May 24, 2006 I can see the top of this building from my office across the street in 1100 Louisana.Not sure if anyone lives there, but I do see a burka out on the clothes line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted May 24, 2006 Share Posted May 24, 2006 Well, maybe they just adore a penthouse view. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groovehouse Posted May 24, 2006 Share Posted May 24, 2006 the building is owned/was built by Texaco... I mean there could be some truth to that rumour... would love to know for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groovehouse Posted May 24, 2006 Share Posted May 24, 2006 upon further research:"Texaco Heritage Plaza's granite, stepped pyramid cap was inspired by architect Mohammed Nasr's vacation in the Yucat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted May 24, 2006 Share Posted May 24, 2006 the building is owned/was built by Texaco... I mean there could be some truth to that rumour... would love to know for sure.The building was not built by and is not, and has never been, owned by Texaco. Texaco was just a tenant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groovehouse Posted May 24, 2006 Share Posted May 24, 2006 The building was not built by and is not, and has never been, owned by Texaco. Texaco was just a tenant. Since you know all that, do you know if someone lives up there or not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jm1fd Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 Check hcad.org.....they may have some of the square footage itemized as residential. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 This entire structure is proposed residental, correct? And the proposed parking garage.I used to office at 500 Dallas (Allen Center) on the 11th floor. We all got to watch the granite Big T being removed from the entrance after the merger. It took a week to move it.I wonder where it ended up?It would look great in my garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 This entire structure is proposed residental, correct? And the proposed parking garage.I used to office at 500 Dallas (Allen Center) on the 11th floor. We all got to watch the granite Big T being removed from the entrance after the merger. It took a week to move it.I wonder where it ended up?It would look great in my garden.No. This building will remain office.The one you are thinking of is on a site that is catty corner to Heritage Plaza and would've been developed by ING Clarion. It'll probably never happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 I used to office at 500 Dallas (Allen Center) on the 11th floor. We all got to watch the granite Big T being removed from the entrance after the merger. It took a week to move it.I wonder where it ended up? It would look great in my garden. I think it went on tour with Judge Roy Moore and his granite Commandments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 We need a new museum.The Houston Museum of old neon, un-pc and post-merger granite structures. The entrance could be the old Crooked E sign. Put it in the Warehouse District near the great columns.Speaking of granite. Wells Fargo tower has been sans granite sign since Rita. How long does it take to get another? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 Since you know all that, do you know if someone lives up there or not? Nope. I don't know. ;-) But I have never heard that before and would very much doubt it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 Nope. I don't know. ;-) But I have never heard that before and would very much doubt it .Ok. Yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
torvald Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 We need a new museum.The Houston Museum of old neon, un-pc and post-merger granite structures. The entrance could be the old Crooked E sign. Put it in the Warehouse District near the great columns.that would be a neat museum! i am glad you folks didn't totally ostrasize me for the "arabs living in the crown of a houston skyscraper" topic. i wanted to post it before because every time i see that building i think of that old fella in a tux mentioning the wealthy oil family. after the second fella said it --- i thought ok, this is weird, this rumor needs to go through the HAIF filter...Nope. I don't know. ;-) But I have never heard that before and would very much doubt it .i am not trying to say that someone actually lives there but i am wondering where such a rumor or misunderstanding originated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bachanon Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 i, too, heard that the man/family who owned the building lived in the upper floors. the rumor was that he had declared his "homestead" in the building so that he could not lose the property.i've never heard any reliable source to back it up. funny that similar stories are still around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 I always dreamed that when I made it big, I would buy out the entire "eagle" structure at the top of the building and make it my giant penthouse... seems someone already has my dream. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trophy Property Posted June 2, 2006 Share Posted June 2, 2006 I always dreamed that when I made it big, I would buy out the entire "eagle" structure at the top of the building and make it my giant penthouse... seems someone already has my dream. My dreams are smaller than yours. I always wanted to buy one of those old 2-3 story buildings that look like they are built on stilts. Underneath is parking and then there is 10-20k SF of rental space. These are usually class C buildings. My goal was to gut it and turn it into a party house. Plenty of parking for the guest and plenty of open space for Disco dancing, hot tubbing, and break dancing. It would have rocked. Too bad I grew up and never made it rich. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmainguy Posted June 2, 2006 Share Posted June 2, 2006 (edited) My dreams are smaller than yours. I always wanted to buy one of those old 2-3 story buildings that look like they are built on stilts. Underneath is parking and then there is 10-20k SF of rental space. These are usually class C buildings. My goal was to gut it and turn it into a party house. Plenty of parking for the guest and plenty of open space for Disco dancing, hot tubbing, and break dancing. It would have rocked. Too bad I grew up and never made it rich. I want the Venture Inn building on Main, gut it and make it my home! Edited June 2, 2006 by nmainguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bachanon Posted June 2, 2006 Share Posted June 2, 2006 My dreams are smaller than yours. I always wanted to buy one of those old 2-3 story buildings that look like they are built on stilts. Underneath is parking and then there is 10-20k SF of rental space. These are usually class C buildings. My goal was to gut it and turn it into a party house. Plenty of parking for the guest and plenty of open space for Disco dancing, hot tubbing, and break dancing. It would have rocked. Too bad I grew up and never made it rich. me too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trophy Property Posted June 2, 2006 Share Posted June 2, 2006 me too!I knew there were other freaks (with dreams) out there. A few random houses along Westhiemer would be better than the grubby Class C- buildings already there. Land of no Zones has its privledges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmm Posted June 11, 2006 Share Posted June 11, 2006 SaudiAramco has its North American HQs in Houston, Texas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
torvald Posted June 11, 2006 Share Posted June 11, 2006 (edited) over on the agoraphoria website someone was joking that the crown of the building looks like those things in tron. image it really does! i think it also appears more looming because there are no other tall buildings in front of it, just the park. especially when you're in the park. Edited June 11, 2006 by torvald Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groovehouse Posted June 11, 2006 Share Posted June 11, 2006 I think it looks more like a Mayan or Aztec temple Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted July 15, 2006 Share Posted July 15, 2006 The Houston Business Journal mentioned that Ken Lay had his office on the 50th floor, which I think is the top. His desk was positioned to face the old Enron building, probably to remind him of his glory days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted July 16, 2006 Share Posted July 16, 2006 It is listed to have 53 floors, not 50 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennyc05 Posted October 9, 2006 Share Posted October 9, 2006 one of ugliest buidings in houston Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
troyboy Posted October 9, 2006 Share Posted October 9, 2006 (edited) I can never decide how I feel about this building. I think the concept is interesting. I think it might look better if the glass were a different color. Edited October 9, 2006 by troyboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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