hindesky Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 (edited) I'm more interested in what that huge structure is going to be in the background of their InstaGram pic. Space X future headquarters maybe? Edited October 29, 2020 by hindesky 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeerNut Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 10 hours ago, hindesky said: I'm more interested in what that huge structure is going to be in the background of their InstaGram pic going to be. Space X future headquarters maybe? Houston's newest supertall.... 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highrise Tower Posted October 31, 2020 Share Posted October 31, 2020 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Highrise Tower Posted October 31, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted October 31, 2020 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilcal Posted November 2, 2020 Share Posted November 2, 2020 Drove by yesterday, and there was a weird twoish story metal skeleton structure with a bunch of plants hanging on it in the NE corner of the parking lot along San Jacinto. Wish I could have grabbed a pic. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HNathoo Posted November 2, 2020 Share Posted November 2, 2020 3 hours ago, wilcal said: Drove by yesterday, and there was a weird twoish story metal skeleton structure with a bunch of plants hanging on it in the NE corner of the parking lot along San Jacinto. Wish I could have grabbed a pic. I believe that’s a mock up of the garage facade. There are some pics within this thread a few pages back. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post hindesky Posted November 3, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted November 3, 2020 8 hours ago, wilcal said: Drove by yesterday, and there was a weird twoish story metal skeleton structure with a bunch of plants hanging on it in the NE corner of the parking lot along San Jacinto. Wish I could have grabbed a pic. I took these pics on 7/12/20, I was able to talk with the 2 workers, they confirmed this was a mock up of the parking garage. 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post hindesky Posted November 7, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted November 7, 2020 They installed a fence on the north side delivery area a couple of weeks ago. Homeless people were sleeping there. 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Highrise Tower Posted November 10, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted November 10, 2020 Chevron at ION. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post wilcal Posted November 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted November 17, 2020 Midtown Houston has several videos on their FB story where they were taking a tour of the ION. I think that these only stay up for 24 hours? So it's going to disappear by like 6pmish today. I'll download them and post them here with the stills. They did say that the north face of the building would be restaurants. Their post: https://www.facebook.com/stories/2112030015480802/UzpfSVNDOjEwMTYwNTUyNzU3ODEyMjI4/ Here are the same vids that I downloaded and then reuploaded to imgur The stills: 20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeerNut Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 Can't tell if RMC plans to go forward with the CBA or just going through the motions. https://linktr.ee/hcedd 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Highrise Tower Posted November 21, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted November 21, 2020 Ion garage building permit and info about Greentown Labs. 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fortune Posted November 21, 2020 Share Posted November 21, 2020 $33,517,144.00 seems like a nice price tag for a renovation. Maybe the renovation of the old Fiesta will be nicer than I was expecting. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post hindesky Posted November 21, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted November 21, 2020 (edited) Opened on Nov. 16th 1939 Edited November 21, 2020 by hindesky 16 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post hindesky Posted November 22, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted November 22, 2020 15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cspwal Posted November 23, 2020 Share Posted November 23, 2020 You can see the old facade starting to emerge in the new pictures 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted November 23, 2020 Share Posted November 23, 2020 On 11/21/2020 at 1:27 PM, Fortune said: $33,517,144.00 seems like a nice price tag for a renovation. Maybe the renovation of the old Fiesta will be nicer than I was expecting. Yes, at $670/SF, that is pretty substantial. They could build a Fiesta from scratch for maybe a third of that. If they were just filling it with offices and some exterior cosmetics, that would cost maybe $100/SF. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CREguy13 Posted November 23, 2020 Share Posted November 23, 2020 4 hours ago, H-Town Man said: Yes, at $670/SF, that is pretty substantial. They could build a Fiesta from scratch for maybe a third of that. If they were just filling it with offices and some exterior cosmetics, that would cost maybe $100/SF. It's listed as 50,000 SF above, but the existing structure is 40,000 SF, so I wonder if they're adding on to this building? $670/SF is extraordinarily high and far exceeds Greentown's original budget they mentioned publicly so I'm thinking something has changed... hopefully demand has been so strong it's made them rethink their original expansion plans. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post HNathoo Posted November 24, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted November 24, 2020 We’ve got lighting! 16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennyc05 Posted November 24, 2020 Share Posted November 24, 2020 Yep saw that the other night! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post hindesky Posted November 26, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted November 26, 2020 17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post midtowndweller Posted December 1, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted December 1, 2020 Drove by and there are these lights on the northeastern side of the building. Not sure if they’ll be covered or if they’re part of the final aesthetic of the building. If they will continually go around the building this will look beautiful at night. 19 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
X.R. Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 On 11/21/2020 at 1:27 PM, Fortune said: $33,517,144.00 seems like a nice price tag for a renovation. Maybe the renovation of the old Fiesta will be nicer than I was expecting. Are we sure this isn't a clerical error? They maybe meant to say $335,171.44? Some smaller apartment building are cheaper than 33 million, aren't they? If its 33 million, they have to be adding a substantial amount of space somehow to the Fiesta. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 2 hours ago, X.R. said: Are we sure this isn't a clerical error? They maybe meant to say $335,171.44? Some smaller apartment building are cheaper than 33 million, aren't they? If its 33 million, they have to be adding a substantial amount of space somehow to the Fiesta. I doubt they would have been given a price tag that had cents, these things are rounded to the nearest dollar. I imagine they will be renovating this the way Radom renovated those warehouse buildings off Shepherd in the Heights. You won't even know it was ever a grocery store. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarathonMan Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 $33 million on a project for which construction hasn’t started and with a completion date five months away. That’s a tight timeline! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post clutchcity94 Posted December 13, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted December 13, 2020 How amazing would it be if Elon buys out all of the existing pre-leases at the Ion and turns the entire building into Tesla’s new headquarters! Smack dab in the middle of the energy capital of the world. Would take some major balls, but I can see Elon doing something like that now that he has moved to Texas officially. 9 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Ewert Posted December 17, 2020 Share Posted December 17, 2020 On 12/13/2020 at 1:10 PM, clutchcity94 said: How amazing would it be if Elon buys out all of the existing pre-leases at the Ion and turns the entire building into Tesla’s new headquarters! Smack dab in the middle of the energy capital of the world. Would take some major balls, but I can see Elon doing something like that now that he has moved to Texas officially. no thanks... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post wilcal Posted December 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted December 17, 2020 Microsoft signed as "major tenant" https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/Microsoft-signs-on-as-major-tenant-at-the-15811801.php 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted December 17, 2020 Share Posted December 17, 2020 36 minutes ago, wilcal said: Microsoft signed as "major tenant" https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/Microsoft-signs-on-as-major-tenant-at-the-15811801.php Huge! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted December 17, 2020 Share Posted December 17, 2020 1 hour ago, wilcal said: Microsoft signed as "major tenant" https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/Microsoft-signs-on-as-major-tenant-at-the-15811801.php Can someone fill in us non-subscribers? How much space are they leasing? What type/purpose of office? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Yoda Posted December 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted December 17, 2020 9 minutes ago, H-Town Man said: Can someone fill in us non-subscribers? How much space are they leasing? What type/purpose of office? If you're using Google Chrome, right click the link and the click "Open Link in Incognito Window". Microsoft signs on as ‘major tenant’ at the Ion In another win for Houston’s technology sector, Microsoft has leased space in The Ion, the former Sears building in Midtown that Rice University is redeveloping into a collaborative hub for innovation. “Having Microsoft as a major tenant is a huge step forward in realizing the vision for The Ion as a dynamic hub bringing together key elements of innovation in Houston,” Rice President David Leebron said in a press release. Microsoft will occupy space on the building’s fifth floor, said Rice Management Co. announced Thursday afternoon. In addition to becoming a tenant, Microsoft will play a role in professional and workforce development through community and start-up initiatives to be housed at the Ion. Microsoft will host executive forums and virtual symposiums, said Rice Management, which manages Rice University’s $6.5 billion endowment fund. City leaders have long touted the importance of growing Houston’s technology sector. “Over the last several years, Microsoft has made it clear it is committed to Houston,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said in a press release. “With the work Microsoft is already doing with the City and The Ion to support entrepreneurs, workforce development and energy transition, it is only fitting its new home should be in our City's hub for innovation. This news is an exciting next step in our partnership with Microsoft as we continue to grow Houston's innovation ecosystem and become a leader in the global energy transition.” Over the summer, Rice announced its first tenant for the building: Chevron Technology Ventures, an arm of the oil and gas giant that scouts and funds energy-related tech startups. The company will occupy space on the third floor. The Ion is designed to anchor a 16-acre “innovation district” in the Midtown area that focuses on bringing together entrepreneurs, incubators, accelerators, corporations and academics, and the community at large when it opens next year. The 288,000 square-foot building at 4201 Main will include shared workspace, prototyping and maker resources, event space, classrooms and communal areas with shared amenities. 9 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Moore713 Posted December 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted December 17, 2020 28 minutes ago, Yoda said: If you're using Google Chrome, right click the link and the click "Open Link in Incognito Window". Microsoft signs on as ‘major tenant’ at the Ion In another win for Houston’s technology sector, Microsoft has leased space in The Ion, the former Sears building in Midtown that Rice University is redeveloping into a collaborative hub for innovation. “Having Microsoft as a major tenant is a huge step forward in realizing the vision for The Ion as a dynamic hub bringing together key elements of innovation in Houston,” Rice President David Leebron said in a press release. Microsoft will occupy space on the building’s fifth floor, said Rice Management Co. announced Thursday afternoon. In addition to becoming a tenant, Microsoft will play a role in professional and workforce development through community and start-up initiatives to be housed at the Ion. Microsoft will host executive forums and virtual symposiums, said Rice Management, which manages Rice University’s $6.5 billion endowment fund. City leaders have long touted the importance of growing Houston’s technology sector. “Over the last several years, Microsoft has made it clear it is committed to Houston,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said in a press release. “With the work Microsoft is already doing with the City and The Ion to support entrepreneurs, workforce development and energy transition, it is only fitting its new home should be in our City's hub for innovation. This news is an exciting next step in our partnership with Microsoft as we continue to grow Houston's innovation ecosystem and become a leader in the global energy transition.” Over the summer, Rice announced its first tenant for the building: Chevron Technology Ventures, an arm of the oil and gas giant that scouts and funds energy-related tech startups. The company will occupy space on the third floor. The Ion is designed to anchor a 16-acre “innovation district” in the Midtown area that focuses on bringing together entrepreneurs, incubators, accelerators, corporations and academics, and the community at large when it opens next year. The 288,000 square-foot building at 4201 Main will include shared workspace, prototyping and maker resources, event space, classrooms and communal areas with shared amenities. Here hoping how well this place is filling up encourage them to immediately move to the next phase. . In 5 years that entire area going to look completely different.. where there is business ,services follow , were there services , residential follows( even more so ). Given we know that the areas around it are already marked for development.. the only logical course is to continue development along main pass the bridge. Was driving past that old wendys yesterday and thought " just buy out that shop next to it and you have enough sq for mid size highrise... access to the highway, access to the rail line. 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post TheSirDingle Posted December 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted December 17, 2020 Found the HBJ report on this, it has square footage and a lot of extra data. Link: https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2020/12/17/microsoft-inks-lease-in-the-ion.html Square Footage: Quote Microsoft will occupy about 25,000 square feet, but the company does not disclose headcount by location, a Microsoft spokesperson confirmed. Considering this building is 288k Square Foot, this is pretty significant. Outlines the type of employees to work here: Quote The Microsoft employees working at The Ion will be "Azure engineers with deep expertise in cloud computing, data/AI, product development, and subject matter experts from the energy industry," Ravi Krishnaswamy, corporate vice president of Azure Global Industry at Microsoft, wrote in a LinkedIn post about the announcement. Purpose for Lease: Quote "Their primary purpose is to work with customers, partners and startups to support and accelerate the energy industry’s transformation and Microsoft’s commitment to sustainability," Krishnaswamy continued. "We will do this by helping them optimize how they use Azure and its many services, partnering with them to develop new data and AI models and listening to their unique problems and challenges to inform new, industry specific platforms and services." Ion's Smart and Resilient Cities Accelerator Quote Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft also is an established partner of The Ion and a founding sponsor of The Ion's Smart and Resilient Cities Accelerator. The tech giant "will play a role in professional and workforce development through support of The Ion's various community and startup initiatives," including hosting advancement opportunities and supporting future accelerators for advanced manufacturing, digital skilling and smart and resilient city innovation, Rice Management Co. said. Other Information and Tenants: Quote Rice Management Co. confirmed that more than half of The Ion's space is now committed to end users. A leasing brochure from commercial real estate firm Savills shows the fourth and fifth floors each feature roughly 50,000 square feet dedicated to premium office spaces. Dallas-based Common Desk will operate 58,000 square feet of flexible coworking space on The Ion's second floor. California-based energy giant Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX), which was the first tenant to sign a lease this summer, will have an office on The Ion's third floor, which is for enterprise tenants seeking office space of around 5,000 square feet and up. Both Chevron and Microsoft are among the most elite companies on the Fortune 500 list. Chevron is No. 15 this year, and Microsoft is No. 21. Shop Architects was the design architect for The Ion, while Gensler serves as architect of record and interior architect. Gilbane is the general contractor for the project. Lot of exciting and interesting things happening here. 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted December 18, 2020 Share Posted December 18, 2020 https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/Microsoft-signs-on-as-major-tenant-at-the-15811801.php In another win for Houston’s technology sector, Microsoft has leased space in the Ion, the former Sears building in Midtown that Rice University is redeveloping into a collaborative hub for innovation. “Having Microsoft as a major tenant is a huge step forward in realizing the vision for the Ion as a dynamic hub bringing together key elements of innovation in Houston,” Rice President David Leebron said in a press release. The amount of space Microsoft will on the building’s fifth floor was not disclosed. In addition to becoming a tenant, it will play a role in professional and workforce development through community and start-up initiatives to be housed at the Ion. The Redmond, Wash.-based company will host executive forums and virtual symposiums, according to Rice Management, which manages Rice University’s $6.5 billion endowment fund and is overseeing the development. Rice Management would not disclose how much space is being leased, but said that more than 50 percent of The Ion’s space is committed to by tenants such as Microsoft and Chevron Technology Ventures. Once completed, the facility will host engineers that work with Microsoft’s Azure cloud computing platform, on data and artificial intelligence and product development, Ravi Krishnaswamy, corporate vice president of Azure Commercial Industry said in a statement. The team will focus on working with customers, partners and startups to help the energy industry’s transition to more sustainable strategies. In August, Microsoft announced a $1 million investment into social entrepreneurship programs in partnership with the Ion. It will focus support on startups in Houston with a diversity of founders. The company is also supporting initiatives to address health disparity by informing civic and government leaders on air quality. City leaders have long touted the importance of growing Houston’s technology sector. “Over the last several years, Microsoft has made it clear it is committed to Houston,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said in a press release. “This news is an exciting next step in our partnership with Microsoft as we continue to grow Houston's innovation ecosystem and become a leader in the global energy transition.” Rice announced Chevron Technology Ventures, an arm of the oil and gas giant that scouts and funds energy-related tech startups, as its first tenant for the building over the summer. The company will occupy space on the third floor. The Ion is designed to anchor a 16-acre “innovation district” in the Midtown area that focuses on bringing together entrepreneurs, incubators, accelerators, corporations and academics, and the community at large when it opens next year. The 288,000 square-foot building at 4201 Main will include shared workspace, prototyping and maker resources, event space, classrooms and communal areas with shared amenities. Houston once had a thriving technology scene with Compaq Computer Corp., BMC Software and smaller companies in related industries. Microsoft’s move is only one example of a recent win for Houston’s tech scene. Earlier this month, Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s announced it planned to move it’s headquarters to Houston, which may not result in a lot of new jobs, but it could be a catalyst to bring more companies to the region. There are no current plans to change Microsoft’s existing space in Houston at Town and Country as a result of this expansion. nancy.sarnoff@chron.com 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corbs315 Posted December 18, 2020 Share Posted December 18, 2020 15 hours ago, hindesky said: The amount of space Microsoft will on the building’s fifth floor was not disclosed. proofreaders...😒 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highrise Tower Posted December 20, 2020 Share Posted December 20, 2020 On 12/17/2020 at 4:06 PM, H-Town Man said: Can someone fill in us non-subscribers? How much space are they leasing? What type/purpose of office? 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted December 20, 2020 Share Posted December 20, 2020 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post hindesky Posted December 22, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted December 22, 2020 Lots of interior work on the old Fiesta. 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post hindesky Posted December 28, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted December 28, 2020 I saw a few workers at the parking garage block, asked one of them when they are going to start working on it, he said "Enero". I just wonder if it will be a precast or built in place? 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Urbannizer Posted January 2, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 2, 2021 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toxtethogrady Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 On 12/13/2020 at 2:10 PM, clutchcity94 said: How amazing would it be if Elon buys out all of the existing pre-leases at the Ion and turns the entire building into Tesla’s new headquarters! Smack dab in the middle of the energy capital of the world. Would take some major balls, but I can see Elon doing something like that now that he has moved to Texas officially. Musk seems to be much more interested in Austin. I guess the return of Compaq (now known as HP Enterprise) is the most Houston can expect, at least until some serious VC money starts being made available for industries outside of oil and gas... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post hindesky Posted January 2, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 2, 2021 They have cut out the walls for windows at the old Fiesta. Adding new siding to the entrance. Running conduit for the parking garage build. Porch floor is going in. 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 I drive by this east side on Caroline St. every day I go to work in order to get to the San Jacinto on ramp. I don't recall these glass blocks. I think they uncovered them. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillip_white Posted January 4, 2021 Share Posted January 4, 2021 22 hours ago, hindesky said: I drive by this east side on Caroline St. every day I go to work in order to get to the San Jacinto on ramp. I don't recall these glass blocks. I think they uncovered them. The glass block windows have been there the whole time. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted January 4, 2021 Share Posted January 4, 2021 The Lighting is cool around the rim of the "crown". Hopefully it circle the whole building and not just the 3/4ths that is lit now. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 The goal of Rice U. and the architects seems to be to create an active lively urban scene with amenities to attract people and promote interactions. Half-Price Books would fit in admirably with this scheme. Its inclusion would be mutually beneficial. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 17 hours ago, dbigtex56 said: The goal of Rice U. and the architects seems to be to create an active lively urban scene with amenities to attract people and promote interactions. Half-Price Books would fit in admirably with this scheme. Its inclusion would be mutually beneficial. Couple of problems. 1. Techies hate used books. They think they're silly. They think Steve and Jeff ended the need for books for intelligent people. 2. Used book stores generally cannot afford rent in newly constructed/renovated buildings. They like older shopping centers. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 1 hour ago, H-Town Man said: Couple of problems. 1. Techies hate used books. They think they're silly. They think Steve and Jeff ended the need for books for intelligent people. 2. Used book stores generally cannot afford rent in newly constructed/renovated buildings. They like older shopping centers. I see what you're saying, and you make valid points. My impression is that one of the goals of this facility is to integrate it into the surrounding community, so that the developers and techies could draw inspiration from other sources. There's a tendency for people who surround themselves with others much like themselves to become stale. A couple of well-worn cliches seem applicable ("Echo chamber" and "thinking inside the box"). A bookstore would provide a break from their routine, and allow for socializing and the exchange of ideas that could provide different perspectives and lead to unexpected insights. This is not a typical investor and developer driven project. The techies are being subsidized. Many tech companies were started literally in someone's garage, because that's all they could afford. It's not as if they're going to be paying market rates here. This is a large project. I don't have the square footage available, but it's sizable. I'm suggesting that setting some aside for Half-Price Books is an idea worth examining. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texasota Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 I think Rice (or anyone really) should buy 1700 N Main, restore it, and make it a Half Price Books. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 I think Rice (or anyone really) should buy 1700 N Main, restore it, and make it a Half Price Books. Not sure there is much salvageable in that building, unfortunately. Have you seen it from above? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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