Ion District In Midtown

[CaptainJilliams]

1 hour ago, Timoric said:

On the other hand if you and few buddies chip in and buy a run down property as a pioneer and restore it, now is the best time to buy. 

 

If I had the money and the skills I would love too. I'm all for restoring older buildings as well.

[H-Town Man]

11 hours ago, houstontexasjack said:

This link from the Caydon thread suggests a high rise is going up at 4510 Main:

 

https://www.berkadia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Q2-2018-New-Development-Maps_Houston-FINAL.pdf

 

 

Would be an incredible development in that location. No clue who Horizon Real Estate Group is.

 

[Naviguessor]

Swamplot is listening. 

 

http://swamplot.com/rice-picks-up-1-75-more-acres-near-wheeler-transit-center-stripped-down-sears/2018-08-10/

 

 

[H-Town Man]

13 hours ago, houstontexasjack said:

I mentioned this in the Midtown forum, but thought I’d also share here. It looks like Rice picked up more land in this area at 411 Richmond and 4510 S. Main St. HCAD indicates two different LLC’s acquired these plots in mid-June. Both LLC’s have a mailing address of 6100 S. Main St, Houston, TX 77005–the same address Rice uses for mail for the Fiesta.

 

Edit:  The account information for 4510 S Main LLC is account no. 0250210000001.  The account information for 401 Richmond LLC is 

0250230000009.  The Warranty Deeds are respectively recorded as  RP-2018-268638 and RP-2018-273779, and each indicate "c/o William Marsh Rice University."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you know if these parcels include the hard corner? Or is it basically two lots on either side of the corner lot?

 

[houstontexasjack]

10 minutes ago, H-Town Man said:

 

Do you know if these parcels include the hard corner? Or is it basically two lots on either side of the corner lot?

 

Which corner are you referring to?

[H-Town Man]

Just now, houstontexasjack said:

Which corner are you referring to?

 

Southwest corner of Main and Richmond. It appears that the two land parcels they bought are immediately south and west of the corner parcel, unless it is included in the 4510 Main sale.

 

[MarathonMan]

14 hours ago, houstontexasjack said:

This link from the Caydon thread suggests a high rise is going up at 4510 Main:

 

https://www.berkadia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Q2-2018-New-Development-Maps_Houston-FINAL.pdf

 

This link also lists a 600 unit high rise by PM Realty at 2601 Main.  What’s THAT all about?  That address is The Greensheet building at Main and McGowan

[houstontexasjack]

25 minutes ago, H-Town Man said:

 

Southwest corner of Main and Richmond. It appears that the two land parcels they bought are immediately south and west of the corner parcel, unless it is included in the 4510 Main sale.

 

Gotcha.  Looks like the Main and Richmond corner is owned by an entity called "Tivoli Realty, Inc." 

[Houston?]

The old buildings across from MidMain next to the Ensemble Theater need to become bars. 

[kdog08]

1) Thanks for the awesome link that shows Houston multifamily in the pipeline.

 

2) Would be awesome if this were some affordable housing for graduate students and/or those who work at the Innovation District. 

[dbigtex56]

23 hours ago, houstontexasjack said:

411 Richmond was acquired by an entity called “401 Richmond LLC” (yes, it’s 401 not 411)

Those who've seen the third season of "Better Call Saul" might wonder if Chuck McGill filed the paperwork....

 

 

[drecey]

I'm sooo glad to hear that they've picked up those additional parcels! Now if we can get rid of that Pacesetter and that Jack In The Box we'll be in business! Glad to see this area changing a bit.

[nate4l1f3]

23 hours ago, Houston? said:

The old buildings across from MidMain next to the Ensemble Theater need to become bars. 

I want it to be known I like this comment. 

[cspwal]

Just drove through there today.  It seems oddly like a large construction zone

[rechlin]

On 8/10/2018 at 0:10 AM, houstontexasjack said:

Indeed, I think they are. HCAD discloses 411 Richmond was acquired by an entity called “401 Richmond LLC” (yes, it’s 401 not 411) about June 19, 2018. 4510 Main was acquired by an entity called “4510 S Main LLC” about June 15, 2018. Both LLC’s share the same mailing address at 6100 Main St., Houston, TX 77005—which is at Rice University (it’s the same mailing address Rice uses for the Fiesta). Looks like Rice may have picked up a couple more parcels.

 

 

It appears that it's called "401 Richmond LLC" rather than "411" because it's the same entity that owns the 401 property next door, which currently has a Shipley Donuts store on it.  So Rice owns both properties.

[houstontexasjack]

2 hours ago, rechlin said:

 

It appears that it's called "401 Richmond LLC" rather than "411" because it's the same entity that owns the 401 property next door, which currently has a Shipley Donuts store on it.  So Rice owns both properties.

Makes sense. 

[CaptainJilliams]

I was driving through the area Saturday morning and there were several small groups of surveyors using equipment and marking points around the Sears building and several surrounding properties. 

 

Also noticed (not sure how recent this was) that the Gulf Gas Station on Richmond and the highway had been torn down, equipment still on site.

[Triton]

2 hours ago, CaptainJilliams said:

and the highway had been torn down

 

Oh man, my commute is going to be terrible with 59 gone tomorrow.

[CaptainJilliams]

6 hours ago, Triton said:

 

Oh man, my commute is going to be terrible with 59 gone tomorrow.

Words are hard for me.

[houstontexasjack]

I have a photo of a rendering of how the remodel of the Sears is supposed to look. I can’t upload it because the system is saying I’m restricted to a paltry 20kb. Anybody more techno savvy who can give a simple caveman lawyer a hand?

[felt38]

Open in ms paint, reduce the size, save as a different file type, maybe png.  20kb seems really small, though - something's not quite right.

[wilcal]

9 hours ago, houstontexasjack said:

I have a photo of a rendering of how the remodel of the Sears is supposed to look. I can’t upload it because the system is saying I’m restricted to a paltry 20kb. Anybody more techno savvy who can give a simple caveman lawyer a hand?

I just upload to imgur.com and then copy and paste the photo URL. Sometimes it works to put the image itself in  the post, sometimes it is just the link.

[houstontexasjack]

https://i.imgur.com/TiZPqXK.jpg

 

https://i.imgur.com/WEYSaQl.jpg

 

By Jove, I think that worked. Many thanks, @wilcal.

[EllenOlenska]

Oh boy look at these

[Highrise Tower]

Looks neat!

[CaptainJilliams]

Wow, nice!

[j_cuevas713]

This is going to make the neighborhood

[Brooklyn173]

I'd like to see what the other blocks are going to be filled with. While the renderings are encouraging, it will take the whole development to 'make the neighborhood'. But, like those on this board, I am very optimistic.

[corbs315]

Wow!

[thatguysly]

For how popular Midtown has been for those graduating college and being part of Greek life, the whole area hasn't grown much. But with all the new projects, Midtown is finally starting to look like what I would have expected years ago.

[H-Town Man]

On ‎9‎/‎22‎/‎2018 at 11:37 PM, houstontexasjack said:

I have a photo of a rendering of how the remodel of the Sears is supposed to look. I can’t upload it because the system is saying I’m restricted to a paltry 20kb. Anybody more techno savvy who can give a simple caveman lawyer a hand?

 

You mean, a simple unfrozen caveman lawyer?

 

[houstontexasjack]

1 hour ago, H-Town Man said:

 

You mean, a simple unfrozen caveman lawyer?

 

Look, I don't know what happened to me.  I'm just a simple caveman.  One day I was out hunting woolly mammoths.  The next, I woke up in what you call a "laboratory."  Your advanced technology confuses and frightens me.  Are there little fairies inside of the iPhone?  I don't know.  But I do know my client is entitled to $1 million in compensatory damages and should be awarded an additional $2 million in punitive damages. 

[H-Town Man]

1 hour ago, houstontexasjack said:

Look, I don't know what happened to me.  I'm just a simple caveman.  One day I was out hunting woolly mammoths.  The next, I woke up in what you call a "laboratory."  Your advanced technology confuses and frightens me.  Are there little fairies inside of the iPhone?  I don't know.  But I do know my client is entitled to $1 million in compensatory damages and should be awarded an additional $2 million in punitive damages. 

 

Those damages estimates sound good. Why don't we just have Toonces our driver take you back to court...

 

[JLWM8609]

I passed by the other day and it looks like they've started powerwashing the exterior. 

[Alec]

I'm not sure how much of this is new information, but here's an email about the project from Rice President David Leebron to Rice faculty and staff:

 

Dear Rice Faculty and Staff,

Last spring we announced that Rice would develop the midtown property it had acquired surrounding the Sears building into a new Houston innovation district. I write to provide a brief update on the Midtown Innovation District project, which will ultimately redevelop approximately 14 acres of Rice-owned property, anchored by the fully renovated Sears building at the intersection of Main and Wheeler streets. 

The Sears building will be renovated to form an innovation hub that will bring together the full spectrum of educational, business, financial and civic resources to support early stage companies and stimulate the Houston economy. This will be the heart of the new innovation district being planned in close collaboration with a wide range of partners, including government officials and area academic institutions, corporations and civic organizations, to ensure that the benefits of this project are shared broadly across the city.

The project is being financed and managed by the Rice Management Company as an investment by Rice’s endowment that will produce both an adequate return and great benefits for the region.  It has no impact on the university’s budget or budget planning, but it will create new opportunities for members of the Rice community.  And it will impact Houston in a powerful and direct way.

We are working with nine other Houston academic institutions to formulate plans for the engagement of academic communities with the innovation district.  I have asked Tom Killian, professor of physics and astronomy and associate dean of the Wiess School of Natural Sciences, to serve as liaison to the project for Rice faculty, students and staff, as well as to represent Rice in discussions with the other academic institutions.

On our campus, Tom has already begun to lead a process this fall that provides the entire Rice community with information about the project and an opportunity for input on the undertaking. We anticipate that through this process we will identify major themes around which we can build a coherent vision for Rice engagement with the innovation district.  The project is still in its early stages, so input from these discussions will have significant impact on the design of the physical spaces and programming for the renovated Sears building.

In keeping with the priorities expressed in the V2C2, I also encourage you to use this opportunity to think broadly about new opportunities to support entrepreneurship, leadership and engagement with the greater Houston community.

In late October and early November, Tom will host a series of discussions for faculty and staff. Any member of the faculty or staff who is interested in the Midtown innovation district may sign up for one of these sessions before Oct. 20 at [redacted]. A separate process for students is being coordinated through the undergraduate and graduate student associations.  If anyone would like to schedule a focused meeting for a particular campus group, please contact Tom at Killian@rice.edu.

This is an exciting opportunity for Rice and Houston, and I know we will benefit from the engagement of the Rice community in this vital project.  My thanks to Tom Killian for his willingness to lead this important effort.

Warm Regards,

David W. Leebron

[H-Town Man]

14 acres is significant. The three blocks north of Wheeler, east of Main total about 10 acres. The remaining four acres must include some of the land purchases we heard about in the southwest quadrant of Main and Wheeler, and maybe a bit more?

 

[houstontexasjack]

1 hour ago, H-Town Man said:

14 acres is significant. The three blocks north of Wheeler, east of Main total about 10 acres. The remaining four acres must include some of the land purchases we heard about in the southwest quadrant of Main and Wheeler, and maybe a bit more?

 

An entity called 4403 Fannin LLC picked up the half acre across from Fiesta where the Jack in the Box now sits in August.  As is the case with the plots to the west of main, this LLC has a Rice University mailing address.

[MarathonMan]

Sounds like it’ll be quite some time before we start to see the innovation district construction begin.  They haven’t even begun scope development for the project.

[houstontexasjack]

7 hours ago, MarathonMan said:

Sounds like it’ll be quite some time before we start to see the innovation district construction begin.  They haven’t even begun scope development for the project.

I think the Sears is due to be remodeled by 2020. However, the rest sounds like a blank slate.

[Alec]

Swamplot made a great map of the current extent of this project. Sears is the orange lot:

 

https://imgur.com/a/Y07Tbg2

 

Article and explanation of other parcels here: http://swamplot.com/mapping-the-midtown-innovation-district-that-doesnt-exist-yet-but-keeps-getting-bigger/2018-10-19/

[houstontexasjack]

43 minutes ago, Alec said:

Swamplot made a great map of the current extent of this project. Sears is the orange lot:

 

https://imgur.com/a/Y07Tbg2

 

Article and explanation of other parcels here: http://swamplot.com/mapping-the-midtown-innovation-district-that-doesnt-exist-yet-but-keeps-getting-bigger/2018-10-19/

The uncolored parking lot to the east of Sears and the uncolored lot south of Fiesta are also owned by Rice.

[Nate99]

This reminds me of the Ag Extension Service that Texas A&M puts out. An academic outreach to the public at large. Interested to see what comes of it, but it sure seems to lack much definition. 

[HoustonIsHome]

Rice done took over the neighborhood.

But look at the size of that surface parking that that church has right on Main. This is soon to be one of the most primestest (it's a word, look it up on the urban dictionary) intersection in Texas. There should be stipulations to Tax exempt statuses. 

[Angostura]

13 hours ago, HoustonIsHome said:

Rice done took over the neighborhood.

But look at the size of that surface parking that that church has right on Main. This is soon to be one of the most primestest (it's a word, look it up on the urban dictionary) intersection in Texas. There should be stipulations to Tax exempt statuses. 

 

Or just levy a per-sf tax on surface parking, separate and apart from property tax so everyone has to pay it.

[Texasota]

I'm not sure making enemies of churches is a good idea. Maybe the Midtown Management District (and the City) could work with them to create some sort of shared parking structure.

[Luminare]

58 minutes ago, Texasota said:

I'm not sure making enemies of churches is a good idea. Maybe the Midtown Management District (and the City) could work with them to create some sort of shared parking structure.

 

History certainly agrees with you as well. You make an enemy of the church and you make an enemy of a lot of people.

 

I would propose this. The city/midtown comes to the church and says "hey, why don't we pay you money for all of this parking, and in exchange we build you guys a beautiful new cathedral." Then they sell the parking lot space to developers for more residential / retail. That might be an interesting compromise.

[corbs315]

27 minutes ago, Luminare said:

 

History certainly agrees with you as well. You make an enemy of the church and you make an enemy of a lot of people.

 

I would propose this. The city/midtown comes to the church and says "hey, why don't we pay you money for all of this parking, and in exchange we build you guys a beautiful new cathedral." Then they sell the parking lot space to developers for more residential / retail. That might be an interesting compromise.

 

Yeah, but the church presumably likes the parking lot, has owned it forever, and just had a huge sanctuary renovation project. So no one's going to bite at a new "cathedral."

I'm also sure the church isn't interested in allowing their parking lot to be used for unrestricted development.

I'm sure if it actually got to be an issue (and it hopefully will) there will be negotiations about putting up a parking structure in the lot or at least allowing outsiders to park in the lot. 

Edited October 26, 2018 by corbs315
a word

[houstontexasjack]

8 minutes ago, corbs315 said:

 

Yeah, but the church presumably likes the parking lot, has owned it forever, and just had a huge sanctuary renovation project. So no one's going to bite at a new "cathedral."

I'm also sure the church isn't interested in allowing their parking lot to be used for unrestricted development.

I'm sure if it actually got to be an issue (and it hopefully will) there will be negotiations about putting up a parking structure in the lot or at least allowing outsiders to park in the lot. 

Curiously, Caydon is working with a church on their Seattle development. I believe the agreement involves constructing some amenities in the development for the congregation.

 

I think we are still a ways off from seeing redevelopment of the church’s parking lot—there are plenty of vacant lots in the Rice project to be developed. Additionally, I suspect Rice will want to see the trenching of the freeway completed before setting out on a good portion of its redevelopment.

[j_cuevas713]

40 minutes ago, houstontexasjack said:

Curiously, Caydon is working with a church on their Seattle development. I believe the agreement involves constructing some amenities in the development for the congregation.

 

I think we are still a ways off from seeing redevelopment of the church’s parking lot—there are plenty of vacant lots in the Rice project to be developed. Additionally, I suspect Rice will want to see the trenching of the freeway completed before setting out on a good portion of its redevelopment.

I mean based off Mayor Turners plan of establishing the district within a 5 year span I doubt the Rice will wait that long before we start to see something develop. 

[Texasota]

They have a very nice sanctuary already, and there aren't too many examples out there of beautiful *new* cathedrals.