Ion District In Midtown

[JBTX]

Getting some snacks here too.

https://houston.eater.com/2021/2/11/22278424/ion-midtown-sears-building-late-august-stuffd-wings-common-bond-opening

[thatguysly]

Wait, they are just putting a new paint job on the Fiesta and that is it? It is like when BP had their offices in the old grocery store in Texas City outside of the refinery.

[monarch]

• stuffed wings
• common bond
• late august

^^^ this is waaaaaay too cool.  THE ION is going to ROCK!

[wilcal]

3 hours ago, JBTX said:

Getting some snacks here too.

https://houston.eater.com/2021/2/11/22278424/ion-midtown-sears-building-late-august-stuffd-wings-common-bond-opening

Choices look good!

1 hour ago, thatguysly said:

Wait, they are just putting a new paint job on the Fiesta and that is it? It is like when BP had their offices in the old grocery store in Texas City outside of the refinery.

Pretty sure it is more than that. I think we saw a permit construction amount around $17 million.

[hindesky]

The Ion announces three restaurants for its Midtown innovation hub

Black-owned Late August and Stuff'd Wings will be among the culinary offerings at The Ion and its innovation district campus

 

Greg Morago February 11, 2021Updated: February 11, 2021, 5:13 pm

Black chefs and operators will figure prominently in culinary offerings planned for The Ion and the innovation district redevelopment of the former Sears in Midtown.

The Ion announced three restaurant projects Thursday, including Late August, a new concept from chefs Chris Williams of Lucille’s and his James Beard Award semifinalist partner chef Dawn Burrell, and a brick-and-mortar location for Third Ward food truck Stuff’d Wings. Both are Black-owned businesses.

Late August, one of the culinary and lifestyle projects under the recently launched Lucille’s Hospitality Group, will feature an Afro-Asian menu from Burrell, serving lunch, dinner and brunch. The restaurant’s name is inspired by Sears whose catalog was traditionally released in late August prior to the holiday shopping season.

Stuff’d Wings, which will be located adjacent to Ion, is the first stand-alone restaurant from food truck operators Jarrod and Prisoria Rector whose food truck at 6402 Tierwester has developed a loyal following. Their restaurant will feature their signature wings, chicken and pork boudin, seafood boudin, macaroni and chese, dirty rice, loaded fries, and milkshakes. The 2,400-square-foot restaurant will include an outdoor patio.

The Ion’s third culinary partner announced Thursday will be a Common Bond Café project, the bakery and bistro brand that already enjoys a strong footprint in Houston. The Common Bond On-the-Go Ion will feature a grab-and-go menu of baked goods, breakfast, cold sandwiches, salads, and coffee drinks. The restaurant will offer both indoor and outdoor seating.

All three projects are expected to open early summer as part of the transformation of the former Sears at 4201 Main and the surrounding Innovation District, part of Rice University’s Ion innovation hub.

“The new restaurants coming to The Ion and District showcase Houston’s deep culinary culture and local flare that Houstonians identify and connect with. We’re excited for The Ion and District to be a place that celebrates and supports Houston’s diverse entrepreneurial community,” said Sam Dike, manager of strategic initiatives at Rice Management Company, which is leading the development of The Ion and surrounding District.

https://preview.houstonchronicle.com/dining/the-ion-announces-three-restaurants-for-its-15943377

[hindesky]

[urbanize713]

Fence is down. Project is looking good!

[Highrise Tower]

Greentown Labs building permit.

[bobruss]

I really like how phase one is looking. I think they did about as good a job as could be expected saving the most Iconic elements of the SEARS building while adding more space and value to the surrounding area.  So in a matter of maybe five years we will go from having relatively few if any serious start up facilities to having three major projects surrounding the med center. Ion, Levit Green, and TMC3. Quite an accomplishment. 

[hindesky]

[BuildingCrazy]

I like how the sidewalks match the Rice campus. Building looks awesome. 

[monarch]

^^^ this particular development is not even completed.  yet, the "WOW" is constantly climbing up the charts.  what a remarkable addition/achievement for MIDTOWN HOUSTON!

[Highrise Tower]

Common Bond On The Go.

[wilcal]

Rice didn't renew the Shipley's lease. Closes April 11

Owner told Craig that she thought it was being demo'd this year. 
 

 

[clutchcity94]

2 hours ago, wilcal said:

Rice didn't renew the Shipley's lease. Closes April 11

Owner told Craig that she thought it was being demo'd this year. 
 

 

Have they announced what will be in its place after it’s demo’d?

[CREguy13]

On 2/6/2021 at 4:29 PM, hindesky said:

Parking garage. I talked with some laborers and they said January start but all they've done so far was run some electrical conduit so far.

Any idea as to why the garage has not started? Where are all the employees of Microsoft, Chevron, Common desk, new retail tenants, etc. going to park in the next several months?  Has something changed beyond a garage for this site?  

I scratch my head every time I drive by here.  There's been no movement, yet we they keep announcing more and more tenants.

[clutchcity94]

41 minutes ago, CREguy13 said:

Any idea as to why the garage has not started? Where are all the employees of Microsoft, Chevron, Common desk, new retail tenants, etc. going to park in the next several months?  Has something changed beyond a garage for this site?  

I scratch my head every time I drive by here.  There's been no movement, yet we they keep announcing more and more tenants.

There’s plenty of movement...the homeless, for one.

[HNathoo]

3 hours ago, clutchcity94 said:

Have they announced what will be in its place after it’s demo’d?

I heard Common Bond was offered the space since it had a drive thru, but this was a few months back. All the recent announcements seem to indicate that they'll be going inside the Ion building, but who knows.

1 hour ago, CREguy13 said:

Any idea as to why the garage has not started? Where are all the employees of Microsoft, Chevron, Common desk, new retail tenants, etc. going to park in the next several months?  Has something changed beyond a garage for this site?  

I scratch my head every time I drive by here.  There's been no movement, yet we they keep announcing more and more tenants.

They re-sealed the large parking lot across the street. I imagine they have enough parking in that super block to buy them some more time until they sign a more substantial lease.

[Texasota]

also, like, the red line? I'm not saying lots of people won't drive, but part of the appeal of this location is that you don't necessarily have to. So they don't need to provide parking for every employee day 1, and in fact *not* providing that parking might help people make other commuting (or housing location!) choices from the start.

[wilcal]

14 hours ago, HNathoo said:

I heard Common Bond was offered the space since it had a drive thru, but this was a few months back. All the recent announcements seem to indicate that they'll be going inside the Ion building, but who knows.

Someone posted the construction permit above and the address is listed as being inside the Ion. A drive thru common bond would have definitely made sense at this lot, but I would imagine that it needs a demo because of the derelict gas station. 

[X.R.]

3 hours ago, Texasota said:

also, like, the red line? I'm not saying lots of people won't drive, but part of the appeal of this location is that you don't necessarily have to. So they don't need to provide parking for every employee day 1, and in fact *not* providing that parking might help people make other commuting (or housing location!) choices from the start.

@HNathoo is right, they paved over the lot next to them and it makes sense since they have slowly migrated the construction equipment over to the garage lot and they don't seem to be in a huge hurry to star that.

I feel like you're already seeing quite a few apartments pop up within half a mile of the redline sort of anticipating demand like this, which I think is purposeful because it helps them market and raises their walkability/transit scores. And I'm not sure the type of people basing their operations out of the Ion are really looking to buy or rent on 1-10 by 99. 

[H-Town Man]

4 hours ago, Texasota said:

also, like, the red line? I'm not saying lots of people won't drive, but part of the appeal of this location is that you don't necessarily have to. So they don't need to provide parking for every employee day 1, and in fact *not* providing that parking might help people make other commuting (or housing location!) choices from the start.

They will still have to meet the city's minimum parking requirements unless those were changed for this area of Midtown, can't remember.

[phillip_white]

10 minutes ago, H-Town Man said:

They will still have to meet the city's minimum parking requirements unless those were changed for this area of Midtown, can't remember.

With as many parking lots as Rice owns in the area, they could easily provide parking minimums for themselves as well as a dozen or more other businesses.

[Texasota]

This area of midtown has no minimum parking requirements. 

1 hour ago, X.R. said:

@HNathoo is right, they paved over the lot next to them and it makes sense since they have slowly migrated the construction equipment over to the garage lot and they don't seem to be in a huge hurry to star that.

I feel like you're already seeing quite a few apartments pop up within half a mile of the redline sort of anticipating demand like this, which I think is purposeful because it helps them market and raises their walkability/transit scores. And I'm not sure the type of people basing their operations out of the Ion are really looking to buy or rent on 1-10 by 99. 

...99 Ranch? because that would be convenient.

[clutchcity94]

Looks like all the homeless folks have been pushed adjacent to the 59 NB exit ramp, next to Shipley. 10+ tents there now. I wonder where they’ll move to next. Doubt Rice will let them stay once Ion opens.

Edited March 25, 2021 by clutchcity94

[H-Town Man]

4 hours ago, phillip_white said:

With as many parking lots as Rice owns in the area, they could easily provide parking minimums for themselves as well as a dozen or more other businesses.

But then they can't develop those lots in future phases.

 

[phillip_white]

56 minutes ago, H-Town Man said:

But then they can't develop those lots in future phases.

I was being facetious so as to exaggerate the ample amount of parking available in the area. In reality, the parking ordinance removed the parking minimum requirements all the way to 59 on the South/East and Bagby (I think) on the West. Honestly though, they could have everyone at The Ion and the Fiesta incubator park on the street for the next 2-3 years and still have extra spots.

[clutchcity94]

I feel like the intersection of Main and Wheeler needs some Post Oak & San Felipe-esque chrome arches or something.

[Highrise Tower]

Common Desk buildout permit.

[hindesky]

[zaphod]

I'm sure the interior build out is very nice, but if I didn't know what was going on I'd say from its external appearance that the old Fiesta was becoming some kind of non-denominational church with a name like "Praise Connection" or something. Or maybe it's a new "Junior Striver's Academy Charter School". Or a Mega Self Storage. Just looks the part, lol.

Edited March 31, 2021 by zaphod

[j_cuevas713]

I'm always amazed by what a fresh coat of paint does to a building. 

[Specwriter]

12 hours ago, zaphod said:

I'm sure the interior build out is very nice, but if I didn't know what was going on I'd say from its external appearance that the old Fiesta was becoming some kind of non-denominational church with a name like "Praise Connection" or something. Or maybe it's a new "Junior Striver's Academy Charter School". Or a Mega Self Storage. Just looks the part, lol.

I say put the money on the inside. This structure's days (years really) may be numbered. There is no point in gilding a lily that is intended to be demo'd for something else in the future. As we have seen with some churches and charter schools, former big box stores can make useful, if temporary, homes for such uses.

[samagon]

13 hours ago, zaphod said:

I'm sure the interior build out is very nice, but if I didn't know what was going on I'd say from its external appearance that the old Fiesta was becoming some kind of non-denominational church with a name like "Praise Connection" or something. Or maybe it's a new "Junior Striver's Academy Charter School". Or a Mega Self Storage. Just looks the part, lol.

wait, I thought Fiesta was just trying out the new trendier exterior color scheme of "paint everything grey"?

seriously, I am guessing they had limited options for the exterior (owing to the budget constraints specwriter suggests), but it is pretty uninspired. I guess everything can't be amazing.

[MidCenturyMoldy]

On 3/29/2021 at 3:23 PM, hindesky said:

 

 

 

 

Why does the area above the green stripe look like a really bad Photoshop cloning job?

[BeerNut]

Why all the concern over how the old Fiesta looks?  This will building will have dedicated shop and lab space.  Most of the shop/labs for O&G that I've been to were just warehouses that could be easily reconfigured depending on the project.

[H-Town Man]

4 hours ago, BeerNut said:

Why all the concern over how the old Fiesta looks?  This will building will have dedicated shop and lab space.  Most of the shop/labs for O&G that I've been to were just warehouses that could be easily reconfigured depending on the project.

Same reason as there's concern over how the old Sears looks. This is the face of the new innovative Houston.

 

[hindesky]

[BeerNut]

On 2/4/2021 at 7:17 PM, j_cuevas713 said:

I was going to say the same. Very possible.

Maybe he's going all in on Austin.  

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2021/04/02/sources-spacex-facility-planned-near-tesla-plant.html

[Urbannizer]

If anyone has access- a webcast presentation on the Innovation District will be held April 15th.

https://utcle.org/conferences/LD21/download-schedule

https://utcle.org/conferences/LD21

[hindesky]

I asked the guy with the wheel barrow when they were going to start the parking garage, he said he hopped they start building it this month and it was going to be a precast garage. He had a pump and another guy was bringing some hoses to pump the water out. More fencing has been removed from the patio area.

 

 

[hindesky]

[corbs315]

Uh, what? Greentown is opening...today?

 

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/Greentown-Labs-opening-marks-clean-energy-16119227.php?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=referral

[hindesky]

I rode by around 9am and they were setting up the tents and bringing in sound equipment. I'm guessing an afternoon grand opening.

[hindesky]

https://abc13.com/science/greentown-labs-houston-looks-to-usher-in-new-era-of-energy/10538457/

[Sunstar]

1 hour ago, hindesky said:

https://abc13.com/science/greentown-labs-houston-looks-to-usher-in-new-era-of-energy/10538457/

Wow, they really went all out on that sign. 

[Highrise Tower]

Lymbar Restaurant at 4201 Main Street, Suite 100.

[hindesky]

David Cordúa to open new restaurant in The Ion innovation hub

The Lymbar, opening in the fall, represents the return of David and Michael Cordúa to the Houston dining scene

Greg Morago May 3, 2021

 

Chef David Cordúa announced Monday he is opening The Lymbar, a new neighborhood restaurant and craft cocktail bar, scheduled for the fall in The Ion, Rice University’s innovation hub that includes the transformation of the former Sears building at 4201 Main. Partnering with his father, chef Michael Cordúa who invigorated the Houston dining scene with his groundbreaking Américas, David Cordúa’s new project will be driven by Latin and Mediterranean flavors.

Lymbar, named for Lymbar Drive in the Southwest Houston neighborhood where Cordúa grew up, represents the first Cordúa restaurant since the father-and-son team’s departure from their namesake Cordúa Restaurants group. In 2018 the Cordúas left the company that included their Churrascos, Américas and Amazon Grill brands to form their own hospitality group. 

The Lymbar will occupy a corner suite in The Ion, which already announced three restaurants for the project set to open this summer. Designed by Gin Design Group, the bar-forward concept will have 120 seats spread over 4,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor dining space. The restaurant’s focal point will be a bar with an emphasis on barrel-aged spirits. While the menu is still being developed, it will offer globally inspired fare with an emphasis on Latin, South American and Mediterranean dishes with a theatrical vertical rotisserie in the open kitchen. 

“If Churrascos and Américas were our family story in Central America, The Lymbar is our first opportunity to tell our family story in Houston,” David Cordúa said. “We’re really excited to be a place where people meet, think, eat and drink in The Ion, and we look forward to being a part of the heartbeat of Houston’s new innovation district.”

Braverman, the Droubi family (owners of Droubi’s Bakery & Delicatessen), and the Garcia-Prats family (owners of Finca Tres Robles urban farm) were among the Cordúa’s neighbors on Lymbar Drive. Their influences will be reflected at The Lymbar, according to a release Monday.

Michael Cordúa, a native of Nicaragua, founded Churrascos in 1988. David Cordúa was born in Houston, earning a culinary diploma from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. He spent more than a decade with his family’s restaurant group from 2007 to 2018. 

https://preview.houstonchronicle.com/dining/david-cord-a-to-open-new-restaurant-in-the-ion

[Urbannizer]

Related? Corner of San Jacinto and Richmond

https://fisherarchitects.com/our-work/underway/

[Houston19514]

One problem with that . . . there is no such intersection.