dbigtex56 Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 32 minutes ago, H-Town Man said: I wonder why they didn't keep the historic facade all the way around. Makes the building more interesting. I agree. IIRC the original renderings placed more emphasis on the relationship between the existing building and the additions. Granted, some features of the existing building were more appealing than others (the south facade with its loading docks was pretty Plain-Jane). But these views make it appear that someone stuck a little piece of an historic facade onto what is essentially a new building. Where's the rest of it? 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mls1202 Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 On 8/26/2020 at 4:04 PM, dbigtex56 said: I agree. IIRC the original renderings placed more emphasis on the relationship between the existing building and the additions. Granted, some features of the existing building were more appealing than others (the south facade with its loading docks was pretty Plain-Jane). But these views make it appear that someone stuck a little piece of an historic facade onto what is essentially a new building. Where's the rest of it? At least the historic side that they have kept faces the planned pedestrian plaza on the north side of the project. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mls1202 Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 On 8/25/2020 at 10:57 AM, Montrose1100 said: How much are you investing? Zero. I'm not evaluating the value of this contribution based on it's absolute value. I'm basing it on what a company the size of Microsoft donates to other causes. Per their website, Microsoft has donated last year alone 1.4B towards non-profit causes such as this focused on providing access to technologies and services. My point is that this seems more like the minimum, obligatory investment MS is making rather than a full-throated endorsement of the innovation district Houston is trying to build. As a comparison, MS donated $1M to Puget Sound's COVID-19 relieve fund. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeerNut Posted August 29, 2020 Share Posted August 29, 2020 6 hours ago, mls1202 said: My point is that this seems more like the minimum, obligatory investment MS is making rather than a full-throated endorsement of the innovation district Houston is trying to build. Just enough to get mentioned in press releases and say they're attached to the project. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Highrise Tower Posted August 29, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted August 29, 2020 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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mls1202 Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 On 8/30/2020 at 1:37 PM, clutchcity94 said: I can't find a rendering showing how this side of the building is supposed to look, but are those vertical bars supports for an additional facade, or is it the final design? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post KirbyDriveKid Posted September 1, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 1, 2020 There is an image of this side at the 0:57 mark in the video on this website: https://ionhouston.com/. Seems to be the final look for the exterior of those floors. I like them. Breaks up the general wall of glass look, and ties in some of the verticality from the old Sears windows. Tried to attach a screen grab from the video but not sure if it worked. 14 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clutchcity94 Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 They have really started to clean this area up. No homeless congregating around the PPS agency. I know the tents are gone from the 59 south ramp on Montrose side, but how about from the 59 north offramp just west of the Shipley Donuts? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big E Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 59 minutes ago, clutchcity94 said: They have really started to clean this area up. No homeless congregating around the PPS agency. I know the tents are gone from the 59 south ramp on Montrose side, but how about from the 59 north offramp just west of the Shipley Donuts? When the money flows in, the homeless must flow out. Wonder where they will migrate to next? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mls1202 Posted September 1, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 1, 2020 1 hour ago, KirbyDriveKid said: There is an image of this side at the 0:57 mark in the video on this website: https://ionhouston.com/. Seems to be the final look for the exterior of those floors. I like them. Breaks up the general wall of glass look, and ties in some of the verticality from the old Sears windows. Tried to attach a screen grab from the video but not sure if it worked. oh wow! I definitely like the finished look over what I thought would just be a curtain wall of glass. Thanks for going the extra mile to get it out of the video! 15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tumbleweed_Tx Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 Currently they are downtown. Again. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBTX Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 3 minutes ago, Tumbleweed_Tx said: Currently they are downtown. Again. After which they will likely move back over towards EaDo/East End. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post BuildingCrazy Posted September 3, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 3, 2020 On 8/26/2020 at 3:27 PM, H-Town Man said: I wonder why they didn't keep the historic facade all the way around. Makes the building more interesting. Looks like they saved as much as they could. The building extends further than the original building. Also looks like they are preserving the original red stone throughout the first floor exterior. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Highrise Tower Posted September 5, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 5, 2020 16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post hindesky Posted September 5, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 5, 2020 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted September 6, 2020 Share Posted September 6, 2020 On 9/3/2020 at 9:39 AM, BuildingCrazy said: The building extends further than the original building. Really? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rechlin Posted September 7, 2020 Share Posted September 7, 2020 On 9/6/2020 at 9:54 AM, dbigtex56 said: Really? Yes. The side facing Wheeler used to be set back a bit with a loading dock, and during this project they extended the building to the property line like on the other sides. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted September 7, 2020 Share Posted September 7, 2020 3 hours ago, rechlin said: Yes. The side facing Wheeler used to be set back a bit with a loading dock, and during this project they extended the building to the property line like on the other sides. True That leave three other sides, and a significant amount of the original facade has been covered on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted September 7, 2020 Share Posted September 7, 2020 (edited) https://www.flickr.com/gp/190082073@N05/cfaJQT https://www.flickr.com/gp/190082073@N05/cy6121 Edited September 8, 2020 by Houston19514 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted September 7, 2020 Share Posted September 7, 2020 22 minutes ago, Houston19514 said: https://www.flickr.com/photos/190082073@N05/50317965532/in/datetaken/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/190082073@N05/50317965532/in/datetaken/ 403 This is not the page you're looking for. 2 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted September 8, 2020 Share Posted September 8, 2020 15 hours ago, hindesky said: 403 This is not the page you're looking for. Try again. I think I fixed the links... 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mls1202 Posted September 8, 2020 Share Posted September 8, 2020 Ironic plot twist fantasy...Amazon funds a startup out of Ion or pays for naming rights...all so I can see a former Sears building rebranded as Amazon. 1 1 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Brooklyn173 Posted September 8, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 8, 2020 22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mls1202 Posted September 8, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 8, 2020 The shots from this angle remind me that this project was, in fact, built off an historic building whose art-deco facade was concealed for decades under an ugly cladding. Who could have imagined that this is what it would grow in to! 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtNsf Posted September 9, 2020 Share Posted September 9, 2020 On 9/7/2020 at 5:15 PM, hindesky said: 403 This is not the page you're looking for. and, these are not the two DROIDS you are looking for either LOL! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted September 9, 2020 Share Posted September 9, 2020 20 hours ago, mls1202 said: The shots from this angle remind me that this project was, in fact, built off an historic building whose art-deco facade was concealed for decades under an ugly cladding. Who could have imagined that this is what it would grow in to! I'm hoping more art deco that had their original facades hidden in the 60s, 70s, and 80s get this type of restoration again. Art deco is truly one of my favorite periods of architecture. So clean and "futuristic" looking. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gene Posted September 9, 2020 Share Posted September 9, 2020 wow i have never checked out this thread haha! great photos and yeah the building looks awesome! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Highrise Tower Posted September 12, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 12, 2020 20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted September 12, 2020 Share Posted September 12, 2020 Looks like my first building in Minecraft. It's a beast. 1 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post hindesky Posted September 13, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 13, 2020 20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mls1202 Posted September 14, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 14, 2020 Take a look at Hindesky's incredible photo. Now look at this one below. Just a friendly reminder of where we came from. 20 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HtownWxBoy Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 BIG improvement. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clutchcity94 Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 How has this development affected property values nearby? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HouTXRanger Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 (edited) Most of the adjacent property is actually owned by Rice, the guys developing this, so I don't think we've seen any values fluctuate just yet. Especially with how unstable the housing/renting market is right now, I think it'll be a little while before we can accurately say what the effects on property value will be, but it's a safe bet that it'll increase someone's rent . . . Edited September 15, 2020 by HouTXRanger 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mls1202 Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 15 hours ago, clutchcity94 said: How has this development affected property values nearby? Well, it looks like the rent to park a shopping cart and set up a sleeping bag have gone up well above market value now... 1 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Highrise Tower Posted September 19, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 19, 2020 17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post wilcal Posted September 22, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 22, 2020 Fiesta to become "Greentown Labs" a green energy incubator. Quote Greentown Labs of Somerville, Mass., the nation’s largest clean-energy incubator, expects to open the new 40,000-square-foot incubator next spring that will include space for about 50 startup companies. Construction will begin next month to retrofit the old grocery store that closed in July. 24 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mls1202 Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 Retrofit vs. tear down and build new... Unlike Sears, I don't see the Fiesta as an historically or architecturally significant structure. I hope it is more than just a paint job and build-out of the interior. Also, that parking lot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HNathoo Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 6 minutes ago, mls1202 said: Retrofit vs. tear down and build new... Unlike Sears, I don't see the Fiesta as an historically or architecturally significant structure. I hope it is more than just a paint job and build-out of the interior. Also, that parking lot? With a $10M budget (including 3 years opex), I wouldn't bet on much more than just interior build out. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thatguysly Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 I really hope it is like when school ISDs move into old grocery stores and it looks really bad. Hopefully, they do a full face lift. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nate4l1f3 Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 Was this the long term plan for this site? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post BeerNut Posted September 22, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 22, 2020 2 hours ago, HNathoo said: With a $10M budget (including 3 years opex), I wouldn't bet on much more than just interior build out. How Greentown Labs became the epicenter of clean tech This is what their other location interior looks like. I wouldn't be surprised if the Houston location is more like a industrial workshop than a computer lab. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clutchcity94 Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 5 minutes ago, BeerNut said: How Greentown Labs became the epicenter of clean tech This is what their other location interior looks like. I wouldn't be surprised if the Houston location is more like a industrial workshop than a computer lab. So in other words, Boston gets fancy and hip. We get industrial and boring. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeerNut Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 4 minutes ago, clutchcity94 said: So in other words, Boston gets fancy and hip. We get industrial and boring. haha. I don't think keeping current fiesta building is part of the long term plans. Also with all this "innovation" happening they're going to need a place to build prototypes and run small scale test. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 2 hours ago, clutchcity94 said: So in other words, Boston gets fancy and hip. We get industrial and boring. High land values and an established talent base and reputation for tech will do that. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post X.R. Posted September 22, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 22, 2020 2 hours ago, BeerNut said: haha. I don't think keeping current fiesta building is part of the long term plans. Also with all this "innovation" happening they're going to need a place to build prototypes and run small scale test. Yeah, agree with second point. They need the space to actually do testing. 40k sq feet of green energy startups is a coup to me cause its so far out of my expectations for startups in Houston, I almost can't believe it. We went from thought and opinion pieces in local papers and publications asking "can this even work, it should have been more organic/what about Post Oak?!?" to "we have THE established green incubator opening up a space next to the Ion." Thats an impressive jump. 18 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 17 minutes ago, X.R. said: Yeah, agree with second point. They need the space to actually do testing. 40k sq feet of green energy startups is a coup to me cause its so far out of my expectations for startups in Houston, I almost can't believe it. We went from thought and opinion pieces in local papers and publications asking "can this even work, it should have been more organic/what about Post Oak?!?" to "we have THE established green incubator opening up a space next to the Ion." Thats an impressive jump. They probably saw the work being done on Sears and those renderings for future phases and said, "Ok." Having Rice behind this and located down the road is huge. Tells them this is serious. Universities care about what's around them. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zaphod Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 (edited) 3 hours ago, clutchcity94 said: So in other words, Boston gets fancy and hip. We get industrial and boring. To be fair, what function does the Boston office, as a physical brick-and-mortar place, actually have given the present trend towards remote work nowadays? A lot of the administrative stuff this organization does is probably not anchored to a specific city. After all, if you wanted access to the best experts you'd by necessity have a team scattered around the country and perhaps worldwide. And the floor space dedicated to startup work that needs physical presence is probably pretty plain. The room or building in that picture looks like a glorified event venue for startups to pitch things to investors. It probably remains empty most of the time. A legit science lab full of prototypes and instruments and test benches would probably employ far more people who might be inclined to live nearby in the city. And it would be an opportunity for creative new startups to take off, some of which may remain in the city and create networks that benefit Houston as a whole for decades to come. Edited September 22, 2020 by zaphod 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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