Ion District In Midtown

[clutchcity94]

Is there a plan to build a hotel on any of this Rice-owned land? My vote says build Texas’ first Park Hyatt!

[j_cuevas713]

6 hours 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.

It’s an enormous jump. I don’t think it’s fully sunk in for me. Similar to Google opening offices here. 

[samagon]

15 hours ago, zaphod said:

 

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.

 

I am a huge fan of WFH. it makes so much sense for so many jobs. 

 

when you are working a job that involves innovation though, it comes so much faster through collaboration. in person collaboration. it doesn't mean you have to sit in the office 5 days a week though. 1 or 2 days a week in the office, lunch as a team kind of thing. you can get so much done by way of bouncing ideas off your peers in a person to person environment. you then take those ideas back to your home office and work on them, then a week later you do the collaboration thing all over again.

 

even for jobs like a MOP, getting in front of other people face to face counts for so much, but to suggest that there's no other solution than to do it 5 days a week, or never, that's silly. I know you weren't suggesting this at all.

[Sanjorade]

https://greentownlabs.com/greentown-labs-announces-location-of-new-incubator-in-houstons-innovation-district/

[BeerNut]

Link to latest meeting for proposed Ion CBA

[phillip_white]

Found some recent photos of inside with the floors cut out and skylight/tarp installed.

  

 

 

[Howard Huge]

A little off topic, and I couldn't find a thread for this but, does anyone know whats going on at the lot that used to hold a Goodyear tire shop, next to Fiesta, on the block just south of the Ventana apartments? I only got a quick glance driving by but it looked like a huge pit was being excavated, maybe for a building foundation??

 

Edit: Nevermind, looks like this will be the parking garage

Edited September 26, 2020 by Howard Huge

[Highrise Tower]

[j_cuevas713]

3 hours ago, Howard Huge said:

A little off topic, and I couldn't find a thread for this but, does anyone know whats going on at the lot that used to hold a Goodyear tire shop, next to Fiesta, on the block just south of the Ventana apartments? I only got a quick glance driving by but it looked like a huge pit was being excavated, maybe for a building foundation??

 

Edit: Nevermind, looks like this will be the parking garage

Parking garage with GFR

[hindesky]

[Highrise Tower]

Ion Go, Management, & Engineering Suites

https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/TABS/Search/Project/TABS2021001640

 

[Urbannizer]

 

[Highrise Tower]

[astrohip]

Small world... I was talking to my nephew in NYC yesterday, and it turns out he was highly involved in this project. I should preface with I never really knew who he worked for, or the details of what he does, I just knew he was in urban planning (Masters from NYU). I also knew he was working with Rice on long-term development ideas for the Village, as he had flown back to Houston (he grew up here) a few times for meetings (pre-Covid). So we're talking yesterday, and I mentioned that Rice had another project going--the Ion--and he says "Yes, that was my project also".

 

What?!?

 

Turns out he's a principal with HR&A. Rice uses them as lead consultant on long-term development---The Village, Ion, and any other urban planning projects Rice has. He was one of the leads on this project. I say "was", because he said he was promoted, and now oversees a different area.

 

 

[hindesky]

@astrohip I checked out the HR & A website and they are also involved in the Buffalo Bayou East Sector project 

 

https://www.hraadvisors.com/portfolio/buffalo-bayou-east-sector-investment-framework-and-master-plan/

[HouTXRanger]

Anyone attend the affordable housing talk the Ion put on tonight? There just quite wasn't enough time for me to say all I wanted . . . but, there were some great ideas and thoughts passed around.

[BeerNut]

 

24 minutes ago, HouTXRanger said:

Anyone attend the affordable housing talk the Ion put on tonight? There just quite wasn't enough time for me to say all I wanted . . . but, there were some great ideas and thoughts passed around.

I did..

[CREguy13]

$1.4m in federal funds to launch aerospace tech accelerator?  In partnership with NASA's Johnson Space Center?  SIGN ME UP.

 

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/techburger/article/The-Ion-gets-1-4M-in-federal-funds-for-space-15630626.php

[j_cuevas713]

17 hours ago, CREguy13 said:

$1.4m in federal funds to launch aerospace tech accelerator?  In partnership with NASA's Johnson Space Center?  SIGN ME UP.

 

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/techburger/article/The-Ion-gets-1-4M-in-federal-funds-for-space-15630626.php

Wow this is HUGE! I wonder if Musk will hear about this and open some Space X offices at the ION.

[Highrise Tower]

[hindesky]

Loving those huge cheese graters but I hope they do something with those ugly awnings.

Edited October 10, 2020 by hindesky

[Highrise Tower]

[BeerNut]

So I made a map of 1, 2, 3 mile circles around The Ion(former Sears building).  There is a coalition trying to form a CBA with Rice for this development.  I'm indifferent if they're able to make this happen based on the distance from Third Ward.  At what distance do you think The Ion will have an affect on property values?  I'm within the 1 mile circle for Third Ward and new construction in my area is already $350k+...

 

Edited October 17, 2020 by BeerNut

[H-Town Man]

8 hours ago, BeerNut said:

So I made a map of 1, 2, 3 mile circles around The Ion(former Sears building).  There is a coalition trying to form a CBA with Rice for this development.  I'm indifferent if they're able to make this happen based on the distance from Third Ward.  At what distance do you think The Ion will have an affect on property values?  I'm within the 1 mile circle for Third Ward and new construction in my area is already $350k+...

 

 

1 mile radius - significant effect, apparent in the short term. 2 mile radius - mild affect, apparent in the long term. 3 mile radius - little to no effect (unless Ion becomes very big, like a Tech Center rivaling the Medical Center).

 

Effect will be stronger west of the north/south freeway spine (288, 59, 45) since freeway acts as a buffer.

 

[hindesky]

[cityliving]

Edited October 18, 2020 by cityliving

[HouTXRanger]

I think the effect is going to be very severe in the 3rd ward once construction on the BRT starts. It'll be 5-10 minutes away on the line, and by far the cheapest area along the entire length. It's going to be targeted heavily for new apartment/condo construction for sure.

[CREguy13]

Can anyone speak to the hold up on the Ion garage?  Is it still moving forward as planned and is just delayed, or has something happened that's made Rice re-assess the full use of this block?  Greentown Labs has a massive parking lot to utilize, but can this garage be finished by early spring of 2021 when both Greentown and Ion open their doors?

 

[Luminare]

On 10/17/2020 at 2:31 AM, BeerNut said:

So I made a map of 1, 2, 3 mile circles around The Ion(former Sears building).  There is a coalition trying to form a CBA with Rice for this development.  I'm indifferent if they're able to make this happen based on the distance from Third Ward.  At what distance do you think The Ion will have an affect on property values?  I'm within the 1 mile circle for Third Ward and new construction in my area is already $350k+...

 

 

The CBA in my opinion has always been DOA. The only people willing to entertain this idea was Rice (only because they have a guilty conscious), but with all the pull this thing is already getting, they don't need anything from this coalition because they don't need them for anything. In fact, just looking at it from a pure negotiation/political stand point. Its the coalition that needs The Ion, not the other way around, yet at the same time its the coalition trying to make all the demands. Not exactly a wise business strategy. The dynamics of the surrounding neighborhoods have been changing for awhile now, and will continue to change. If one focuses on the actual dynamics it just looks like a last ditch bid for the power brokers, and those who hold a political stranglehold on the 3rd Ward, are gradually going to lose their influence and authority because the demographics are going to shift, and they want to find a way to keep that going. I just don't see it happening.

If they approached them in a way that was an assist or offer, rather than a demand or a sense of entitlement then they probably would have gotten something a long time ago. Its not a great look to be pushy especially when this development doesn't exactly need the existing political authority to get any influence for itself, or bring in business. In fact The Ion is doing that naturally on its own.

[BeerNut]

The biggest issue I have is that some of the most vocal supporters of the CBA won't hold MRA accountable.  If you aren't confronting an organization that's supposed to build affordable housing and already owns 100+ acres of unkept property in Third Ward why should I support the CBA you want...

[wilcal]

On 10/17/2020 at 6:01 PM, HouTXRanger said:

I think the effect is going to be very severe in the 3rd ward once construction on the BRT starts. It'll be 5-10 minutes away on the line, and by far the cheapest area along the entire length. It's going to be targeted heavily for new apartment/condo construction for sure.

 

Have you seen the home prices in the 3rd between TSU and the highway? Renovated homes are already $300+.

 

I wonder how long it'll take to get a building over 5 stories in the 3rd! I would imagine BRT is planned for Alabama, so maybe corner of Alabama @ Emancipation?

 

3 minutes ago, BeerNut said:

The biggest issue I have is that some of the most vocal supporters of the CBA won't hold MRA accountable.  If you aren't confronting an organization that's supposed to build affordable housing and already owns 100+ acres of unkept property in Third Ward why should I support the CBA you want...

 

I'm very much not an expert at the situation, but the buy and hold strategy is coming from above (and it's dumb). 

 

Can't believe they haven't instituted a community land trust and/or done some multi-family. 

[HouTXRanger]

7 hours ago, Luminare said:

 

The CBA in my opinion has always been DOA. The only people willing to entertain this idea was Rice (only because they have a guilty conscious), but with all the pull this thing is already getting, they don't need anything from this coalition because they don't need them for anything. In fact, just looking at it from a pure negotiation/political stand point. Its the coalition that needs The Ion, not the other way around, yet at the same time its the coalition trying to make all the demands. Not exactly a wise business strategy. The dynamics of the surrounding neighborhoods have been changing for awhile now, and will continue to change. If one focuses on the actual dynamics it just looks like a last ditch bid for the power brokers, and those who hold a political stranglehold on the 3rd Ward, are gradually going to lose their influence and authority because the demographics are going to shift, and they want to find a way to keep that going. I just don't see it happening.

If they approached them in a way that was an assist or offer, rather than a demand or a sense of entitlement then they probably would have gotten something a long time ago. Its not a great look to be pushy especially when this development doesn't exactly need the existing political authority to get any influence for itself, or bring in business. In fact The Ion is doing that naturally on its own.

In their meetings, they very much felt like they were approaching things from a "demand" point of view, and when people talked about how really they wanted to work with Ion not against them, it felt like a second thought. You're right in that the CBA has exactly zero leverage over the Ion, so I'm really not sure why they feel like they have such ground to stand on.

Most of the motivation from the CBA group is that they see what happens to other cities when big tech gets in to a neighborhood (incredibly high gentrification), and they genuinely fear for what's going to happen to the 3rd ward if the Ion outgrows Rice's land . . . which it will.

 

 

10 minutes ago, wilcal said:

Can't believe they haven't instituted a community land trust and/or done some multi-family. 

From what I heard at the Ion meeting, a land trust is already trying to get off the ground. I'm sure they need more money and buy-in though, and they're rapidly running out of time before land prices get out of their reach.

 

12 minutes ago, wilcal said:

 

Have you seen the home prices in the 3rd between TSU and the highway? Renovated homes are already $300+.

 

I wonder how long it'll take to get a building over 5 stories in the 3rd! I would imagine BRT is planned for Alabama, so maybe corner of Alabama @ Emancipation?

All that's kept the place from exploding with townhomes is the "reputation" 3rd ward has. They're already encroaching in the northern corner . . .

The only reason prices are that high is because of proximity to downtown, the med center, and the universities, right? Well . . . imagine how quickly the place is going to explode when there's also a rapid bus to TSU/UH, 10-20 minute rapid transit connection to Wheeler (and the red line), Greenway Plaza, the Galleria (and all the other connections at the Uptown transit center). I honestly think it's going to be one of the best connected neighborhoods in the city, and I think it'll make east downtown look like nothing.

[clutchcity94]

30 minutes ago, HouTXRanger said:

In their meetings, they very much felt like they were approaching things from a "demand" point of view, and when people talked about how really they wanted to work with Ion not against them, it felt like a second thought. You're right in that the CBA has exactly zero leverage over the Ion, so I'm really not sure why they feel like they have such ground to stand on.

Most of the motivation from the CBA group is that they see what happens to other cities when big tech gets in to a neighborhood (incredibly high gentrification), and they genuinely fear for what's going to happen to the 3rd ward if the Ion outgrows Rice's land . . . which it will.

 

 

From what I heard at the Ion meeting, a land trust is already trying to get off the ground. I'm sure they need more money and buy-in though, and they're rapidly running out of time before land prices get out of their reach.

 

All that's kept the place from exploding with townhomes is the "reputation" 3rd ward has. They're already encroaching in the northern corner . . .

The only reason prices are that high is because of proximity to downtown, the med center, and the universities, right? Well . . . imagine how quickly the place is going to explode when there's also a rapid bus to TSU/UH, 10-20 minute rapid transit connection to Wheeler (and the red line), Greenway Plaza, the Galleria (and all the other connections at the Uptown transit center). I honestly think it's going to be one of the best connected neighborhoods in the city, and I think it'll make east downtown look like nothing.

Is the BRT going to be on Wheeler or Alabama?

[wilcal]

2 minutes ago, clutchcity94 said:

Is the BRT going to be on Wheeler or Alabama?

 

They haven't said. Wheeler was actually going to be cut off from NHHIP but community rallied to have it kept and revised.

 

With Alabama's larger ROW it'll have to be there I'm thinking.

[HouTXRanger]

6 minutes ago, clutchcity94 said:

Is the BRT going to be on Wheeler or Alabama?

It'll be on Wheeler to connect with the Wheeler transit center, but I expect that it'll turn north to use Alabama at some point before it crosses 288. There simply isn't enough ROW on Wheeler that far over, and even if there was, TSU pedestrianized over half of Wheeler street so they'd have to go north to Alabama at that point anyway.

edit: just realized, that would make the BRT go right in front of Yates High School. How cool would it be to go to school on a BRT?

Edited October 21, 2020 by HouTXRanger

[BeerNut]

26 minutes ago, wilcal said:

I wonder how long it'll take to get a building over 5 stories in the 3rd! I would imagine BRT is planned for Alabama, so maybe corner of Alabama @ Emancipation?

I'm sure the BRT will follow a similar route to the old university LRT map. 

28 minutes ago, wilcal said:

I'm very much not an expert at the situation, but the buy and hold strategy is coming from above (and it's dumb). 

 

Can't believe they haven't instituted a community land trust and/or done some multi-family. 

 

It's a vanity project for Coleman and source of questionable spending.  $3 million for annual landscaping with no accountability, $300,000 for a mural, $23 million for a "think tank", land purchases from a single family, no bid contracts, etc

 

25 minutes ago, HouTXRanger said:

All that's kept the place from exploding with townhomes is the "reputation" 3rd ward has. They're already encroaching in the northern corner . . .

 

The reputation is still somewhat deserved...  On the positive the amount of gunfire heard at night has been decreasing and it's been a while since calling police for hood shit(people getting jumped, people walking around with guns, etc).  

[clutchcity94]

So where should I narrow my search to in HAR? Lol!

[Luminare]

1 hour ago, HouTXRanger said:

In their meetings, they very much felt like they were approaching things from a "demand" point of view, and when people talked about how really they wanted to work with Ion not against them, it felt like a second thought. You're right in that the CBA has exactly zero leverage over the Ion, so I'm really not sure why they feel like they have such ground to stand on.

Most of the motivation from the CBA group is that they see what happens to other cities when big tech gets in to a neighborhood (incredibly high gentrification), and they genuinely fear for what's going to happen to the 3rd ward if the Ion outgrows Rice's land . . . which it will.

 

Because like all these "coalitions" they depend on other institutions which they feel they either already control, or should control. They over estimated their influence with Rice University, but Rice seems to have hired people that aren't crazy, and are checks on them. They over estimated their influence with publications like the Houston Chronicle, who they thought would simply get out the word for them for free because they thought the Chron would be sympathetic to their cause. Turns out, the Chron is like others in this city, money talks and bs walks. So this means they aren't crazy as well. They over estimated their influence with those in City government, who are normally sympathetic to these sorts of things, but it turns out Mayor Turner is pretty based. Again money talks and bs walks with him. They assumed way to much. Thats why they thought they could make demands. They really thought they had the "social" capital to swing negotiations.

 

You are right, "gentrification" is going to happen, but again this is a battle for political futures in these areas. Just look at the maps. It goes way for both establishments. When you see demographics change in an area who normally elect particular candidates or build particular machines and power bases, thats when you see people on one side say, "gentrification", and on the other side you hear "not in my back yard".

[hindesky]

[Avossos]

16 hours ago, hindesky said:

so.... the “original part” has brown granite, and the “new” part has rough gray granite?

 

I think that feels a little too forced... I’d of preferred the brown all the way around. Just an opinion.

[cspwal]

At least on this side, the new part is the glass, and the grey and brown was the art deco that was hiding under the 70s cladding

[HouTXRanger]

2 hours ago, Avossos said:

so.... the “original part” has brown granite, and the “new” part has rough gray granite?

 

I think that feels a little too forced... I’d of preferred the brown all the way around. Just an opinion.

I'm not sure honestly . . . the white goes fantastically with the art deco decorations on the northeast side, it would look way worse with brown. Was it really brown originally?

[cspwal]

Here's a photo showing the northern facade with most of the cladding taken off.  You can see the upper part is a brigh grey, and the lower part is brown/pink granite.

On 5/24/2019 at 7:01 PM, Highrise Tower said:

Don't think I've posted in this thread before?

 

 

 

For reference, here's a photo of it before

https://www.chron.com/business/retail/article/Sears-to-close-iconic-Midtown-location-12266913.php#photo-12760016

[Houston19514]

I think the brown is probably going away.

[BuildingCrazy]

The brown would have been removed by now with an early 2021 turnover. Building is looking great! Can't wait to see the rest of the glass fins when they extend them up to the fifth floor. 

[Houston19514]

27 minutes ago, BuildingCrazy said:

The brown would have been removed by now with an early 2021 turnover.

 

Yeah, you may be right.  I was thinking that too, but the brown looks incongruous to me, so I was kinda hoping. . .  But the renderings do seem to show it staying.

[Avossos]

1 hour ago, Houston19514 said:

 

Yeah, you may be right.  I was thinking that too, but the brown looks incongruous to me, so I was kinda hoping. . .  But the renderings do seem to show it staying.

 

4 hours ago, HouTXRanger said:

I'm not sure honestly . . . the white goes fantastically with the art deco decorations on the northeast side, it would look way worse with brown. Was it really brown originally?

 

I think this is my point. Kind of surprised they are highlighting this difference even more. Maybe it will be better in person, but it feels a little overwhelming to have both stone materials in this building. While I think i prefer the gray, i would have chosen 1 stone, over 2 - for the whole building, whichever stone that was.

[hindesky]

Looks like a combination of the 2 colors of granite will be used according to this from the IG.

[HouTXRanger]

It looks much better when it's broken up with that line of gray in between.

[Houston19514]

That is making more sense.