Ion District In Midtown

[Montrose1100]

32 minutes ago, Urbannizer said:

Related? Corner of San Jacinto and Richmond

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

"Phase 1 includes 2 of 3 city blocks under development, with phase 2 residential tower coming shortly"

[texan]

The logical intersection it would be referring to would be San Jacinto and Wheeler, I guess I'll forgive a Florida company for that mistake. If my thinking is correct it could fit in front of Greentown Labs and between the Ion and Greentown Labs. If this is actually what is happening it appears Rice wants to get in on the long term ground lease golden goose. The Texas A&M System makes tens of millions every year off of similar arrangements in College Station. I can only imagine what Rice would make off of these blocks.

[X.R.]

6 hours ago, Montrose1100 said:

"Phase 1 includes 2 of 3 city blocks under development, with phase 2 residential tower coming shortly"

A residential tower? There?? Lol, if all the people who regularly experienced san jac and wheeler a decade ago could see this now.

I also literally laughed out loud at seeing Party City, Forever 21, and Dicks as the placeholders in that design. I think it was the party city that set me off. 🤣

[houstontexasjack]

44 minutes ago, X.R. said:

A residential tower? There?? Lol, if all the people who regularly experienced san jac and wheeler a decade ago could see this now.

I also literally laughed out loud at seeing Party City, Forever 21, and Dicks as the placeholders in that design. I think it was the party city that set me off. 🤣

It was missing “Zone D’Erotica” to let folks know this was a real Houston mixed-use.

[cspwal]

7 hours ago, houstontexasjack said:

It was missing “Zone D’Erotica” to let folks know this was a real Houston mixed-use.

and a mattress store

[phillip_white]

17 hours ago, Urbannizer said:

Related? Corner of San Jacinto and Richmond

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

On 11/11/2019 at 4:38 PM, rechlin said:

The Chronicle's link to the agenda is broken, because the username and password were dropped from the URL, but the full link is ftp://PlatViewer:Viewer4DRC@edrc.houstontx.gov//2019/2019-23_DraftAgenda.pdf

Note that the username is PlatViewer and the password is Viewer4DRC, in case HAIF breaks the URL too.  The information about the Ion is on pages 140 through 160, and there are a bunch of images not in the article.  Here is the full set of images:

 

 

I don't see a "central laneway" in the renderings (unless the sky bridge counts), but other than that everything else seems to match up with the initial vision. That block would also appear to be next up for construction after the parking garage is completed.

[rechlin]

Looking good at night from Wheeler Station, all lit up:

[hindesky]

The planter boxes are new. They finally took the rest of the plastic wrap off the Ion signage.

Edited May 8, 2021 by hindesky

[dbigtex56]

On 5/4/2021 at 11:22 PM, X.R. said:

A residential tower? There?? Lol, if all the people who regularly experienced san jac and wheeler a decade ago could see this now.

I also literally laughed out loud at seeing Party City, Forever 21, and Dicks as the placeholders in that design. I think it was the party city that set me off. 🤣

I wonder how much space will be allocated to the grocery store mentioned as part of the mix.
It probably won't rival Fiesta or Disco Kroger, but even a small one (such as the one in Target at Shepherd Square) would be a welcome addition to that part of town, especially with easy access to the Wheeler Transit Center and the Red Line. 

[Texasota]

I'm hoping for a CityTarget. Would be incredibly useful. 

[Texasota]

Wait, 410,000 sf of retail? This could easily include a full size grocery store then. Or even a full size Target. Something like DC USA in Columbia Heights in DC. 

[clutchcity94]

Central Market !!

[nate4l1f3]

 

[houstontexasjack]

From the article:

“Later this year, Rice Management Co., which owns three blocks in the area, plans to begin construction on a 10-story garage with 1,585 parking spots in the block between the Ion and Greentown Labs. The garage will have 10,000 square feet of retail, a 1,500-square-foot art gallery and 2,000 square feet of space for large projects. If, for example, an Ion tenant is working on automobile-related technology, the ground floor space could accommodate it. The company also plans to break ground on three more buildings, with retail on the ground floor and apartments and office space above, just north and east of the Ion in 2022.”

 

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/The-Ion-makes-debut-at-former-Midtown-Sears-16174915.php

[slcowart416]

On 5/5/2021 at 9:23 AM, rechlin said:

Looking good at night from Wheeler Station, all lit up:

Nice.  However, I've heard complaints from friends living in the high-rise at Montrose & Hawthorne that the light around the roofline is extremely bright and glaring.

[Highrise Tower]

Corridor Remodel.

[clutchcity94]

Anyone else notice the drastic increase in homeless population near and underneath the Spur recently?

[j_cuevas713]

52 minutes ago, clutchcity94 said:

Anyone else notice the drastic increase in homeless population near and underneath the Spur recently?

Yep I noticed that the other day. It had been clear of homeless for a while. 

[thedistrict84]

The Rice Endowment is considering funding for affordable housing in the vicinity of the Ion/Innovation Corridor, and elsewhere in Third Ward.

[clutchcity94]

3 hours ago, thedistrict84 said:

The Rice Endowment is considering funding for affordable housing in the vicinity of the Ion/Innovation Corridor, and elsewhere in Third Ward.

On the east side of 288?

[thedistrict84]

10 minutes ago, clutchcity94 said:

On the east side of 288?

The article doesn't really specify, but there does seem to be concern of rising rents and property values displacing long term, minority residents in the general vicinity. 

Of course, where the Ion is currently was technically Third Ward under the historic definition (everything east of Main and south of Texas). I know the Midtown Management District is active with some projects east of 288 as well. I think the borders between Midtown and Third Ward which are commonly recognized are beginning to blur a bit. 

[samagon]

2 hours ago, thedistrict84 said:

The article doesn't really specify, but there does seem to be concern of rising rents and property values displacing long term, minority residents in the general vicinity. 

Of course, where the Ion is currently was technically Third Ward under the historic definition (everything east of Main and south of Texas). I know the Midtown Management District is active with some projects east of 288 as well. I think the borders between Midtown and Third Ward which are commonly recognized are beginning to blur a bit. 

that's being a bit kind, my understanding is that the Midtown TIRZ has purchased a lot of land East of 288.

 

[iah77]

10 minutes ago, samagon said:

that's being a bit kind, my understanding is that the Midtown TIRZ has purchased a lot of land East of 288.

 

They don't take care of the lots they own at all and leave all the houses abandoned. I feel they are responsible for half the blight of the 3rd ward. Literally make the area look like crap and then say they are needed to "fix" it.

[samagon]

3 minutes ago, iah77 said:

They don't take care of the lots they own at all and leave all the houses abandoned. I feel they are responsible for half the blight of the 3rd ward. Literally make the area look like crap and then say they are needed to "fix" it.

a topic for another thread, but allowing a TIRZ (and whatever associated redevelopment authority they set up) to buy land that is outside of its official boundary should be against the rules of the TIRZ system.

[thedistrict84]

24 minutes ago, samagon said:

that's being a bit kind, my understanding is that the Midtown TIRZ has purchased a lot of land East of 288.

I guess the way I framed that was a bit too diplomatic. I had that other thread you identified and prior articles on the subject in mind when I made that comment. 

[Ross]

7 hours ago, samagon said:

a topic for another thread, but allowing a TIRZ (and whatever associated redevelopment authority they set up) to buy land that is outside of its official boundary should be against the rules of the TIRZ system.

You can thank the combination of Garnet "Not in my Neighborhood" Coleman and the Midtown RDA for piling up lots of land East of 288. Coleman is vehemently against gentrification, and thinks that he is the only thing standing between the Third Ward and a bunch of new people buying townhouses there. Personally, I want Coleman to just go away. I am annoyed that tax dollars have been used to accumulate several million square feet of land that is sitting there doing nothing and not contributing to the tax base. A quick search on HCAD shows 474 properties owned by the Midtown RDA. That's ridiculous. Maybe Coleman will work with Rice to use some of that land.

https://kinder.rice.edu/2016/05/25/third-ward-looks-to-shift-the-gentrification-conversation

https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112888084

[urbanize713]

2 hours ago, Ross said:

You can thank the combination of Garnet "Not in my Neighborhood" Coleman and the Midtown RDA for piling up lots of land East of 288. Coleman is vehemently against gentrification, and thinks that he is the only thing standing between the Third Ward and a bunch of new people buying townhouses there. Personally, I want Coleman to just go away. I am annoyed that tax dollars have been used to accumulate several million square feet of land that is sitting there doing nothing and not contributing to the tax base. A quick search on HCAD shows 474 properties owned by the Midtown RDA. That's ridiculous. Maybe Coleman will work with Rice to use some of that land.

https://kinder.rice.edu/2016/05/25/third-ward-looks-to-shift-the-gentrification-conversation

https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112888084

How does that even fit the description of a TIRZ? Isn't it suppose to promote improvements within the district? 

[Big E]

17 hours ago, urbanize713 said:

How does that even fit the description of a TIRZ? Isn't it suppose to promote improvements within the district? 

Apparently, by law, all TIRZ are required to allot a certain amount of their funds to developing "affordable housing" and they're free to spend that money and develop that housing anywhere within the county, even outside of their TIRZ. George Coleman has used this as a loop hole to buy up large amounts of land in the Third Ward, ostensibly to set it aside to develop affordable housing. However, truthfully, he's used it in his own personal crusade to fight gentrification by holding land in perpetuity, then deed restricting it when it does get redeveloped so that only low-income housing ever gets built there.  If you wanna know why Third Ward isn't seeing large scale redevelopment, like Montrose, the Fourth Ward, and other such Inner Loop neighborhoods, that's why.

Edited May 20, 2021 by Big E

[BeerNut]

MRA is currently claiming they don't have the funds develop all the land they hold and aren't willing to work other affordable housing organizations.   Maybe they would have the money if they hadn't spent several million dollars on an affordable housing think tank...

[quietstorm]

20 hours ago, Ross said:

You can thank the combination of Garnet "Not in my Neighborhood" Coleman and the Midtown RDA for piling up lots of land East of 288. Coleman is vehemently against gentrification, and thinks that he is the only thing standing between the Third Ward and a bunch of new people buying townhouses there. Personally, I want Coleman to just go away. I am annoyed that tax dollars have been used to accumulate several million square feet of land that is sitting there doing nothing and not contributing to the tax base. A quick search on HCAD shows 474 properties owned by the Midtown RDA. That's ridiculous. Maybe Coleman will work with Rice to use some of that land.

https://kinder.rice.edu/2016/05/25/third-ward-looks-to-shift-the-gentrification-conversation

https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112888084

I am a long-time resident of Third Ward and disagree with your characterization of Garnet Coleman who I know and who is my state Rep. Vacant lots aren’t unique to TIRZ zones and holding them for extended periods of time until suitable development is reached isn’t either. Your definition of suitable development (e.g. gentrification) doesn’t override the development wishes of current Third Ward residents who also have agency and some power in the area, which seems to vex some non/recent residents.
 

Additionally, wanting Coleman to just “go” doesn’t rest with you, but with the majority of voters who overwhelmingly support him. 

[iah77]

22 minutes ago, quietstorm said:

I am a long-time resident of Third Ward and disagree with your characterization of Garnet Coleman who I know and who is my state Rep. Vacant lots aren’t unique to TIRZ zones and holding them for extended periods of time until suitable development is reached isn’t either. Your definition of suitable development (e.g. gentrification) doesn’t override the development wishes of current Third Ward residents who also have agency and some power in the area, which seems to vex some non/recent residents.
 

Additionally, wanting Coleman to just “go” doesn’t rest with you, but with the majority of voters who overwhelmingly support him. 

We are all Houstonians and no group should have power to exclude anyone from "their" neighborhood. For some reason diversity doesn't seem positive with your connotations. Under Coleman the area has only gotten worse and can say that also as a long-term resident lmao...

[Ross]

3 hours ago, quietstorm said:

I am a long-time resident of Third Ward and disagree with your characterization of Garnet Coleman who I know and who is my state Rep. Vacant lots aren’t unique to TIRZ zones and holding them for extended periods of time until suitable development is reached isn’t either. Your definition of suitable development (e.g. gentrification) doesn’t override the development wishes of current Third Ward residents who also have agency and some power in the area, which seems to vex some non/recent residents.
 

Additionally, wanting Coleman to just “go” doesn’t rest with you, but with the majority of voters who overwhelmingly support him. 

Coleman was my State rep during the 5 years we lived in Midtown. He was worthless then too. I could never get a rational explanation for anything from his office.

Banking 80 acres of land using tax dollars is reprehensible, especially when there is no plan on developing the land. None of that land is paying taxes, it's not serving a useful purpose, and it's annoying. At a minimum, the derelict buildings should be demolished, and the grass and weeds cut regularly.

 

[houstontexasjack]

Getting back to topic, I’m curious what the longer term plan for the Jack in the Box will be. When the current lease ends, I’d think Rice could repurpose the site similar to the former Shipley’s site (which will now be Stuff’d wings).

[BeerNut]

22 minutes ago, Ross said:

Banking 80 acres of land using tax dollars is reprehensible, especially when there is no plan on developing the land. None of that land is paying taxes, it's not serving a useful purpose, and it's annoying. At a minimum, the derelict buildings should be demolished, and the grass and weeds cut regularly.

 

There is/was so much corruption surrounding MRA I'm surprised charges haven't been filed.  They were paying 2 million a year to maintain lots(mow and pickup trash) and $45k+/month demo housing(most lots they own are empty) to contractors with no accountability.  MRA couldn't purchase housing lots at tax sale but a single family managed to have almost every property they acquired bought by MRA for above market rates.

I'm sure Coleman still mad he didn't get the globe building with his name plastered on it.

[j_cuevas713]

3 hours ago, houstontexasjack said:

Getting back to topic, I’m curious what the longer term plan for the Jack in the Box will be. When the current lease ends, I’d think Rice could repurpose the site similar to the former Shipley’s site (which will now be Stuff’d wings).

Stuff’d Wings is moving in to that Shipleys spot? 

[houstontexasjack]

2 minutes ago, j_cuevas713 said:

Stuff’d Wings is moving in to that Shipleys spot? 

Yes:

 

https://www.chron.com/entertainment/dining/slideshow/ionrestaurants-216840.php

 

[j_cuevas713]

2 minutes ago, houstontexasjack said:

Yes:

 

https://www.chron.com/entertainment/dining/slideshow/ionrestaurants-216840.php

 

Oh wow! I was expecting something cheesy af. Very nice! 

[X.R.]

uuhhhh wut. I'm already missing that Shipley's but that is nice compared to what the old location looked like.

If ION and the other developments on Rice's acreage can make that viable and provide steady business to the other restaurants/food place just down Richmond across 59, that's a massive boon. Wheeler station goes from just another station on the way to downtown or Med Center/Texans games to somewhere you can purposefully stop at to get a bite to eat/hang out. To me, thats a huge shift.

And before anyone gets on me, no, I did not love the Churches chicken in the Fiesta cuz it was either way too fried or under-fried and soft. I'd rather get the fried chicken at 8pm at Krogers that they made at like 11am. 

Edited May 21, 2021 by X.R.

[tangledwoods]

Quote

I did not love the Churches chicken in the Fiesta cuz it was either way too fried or under-fried and soft. I'd rather get the fried chicken at 8pm at Krogers that they made at like 11am. 

This is the kind of extreme detail that i come to HAIF for!  

Sometimes the tangents on here annoy me but for some reason this is just mint!!

[MidCenturyMoldy]

40 minutes ago, X.R. said:

uuhhhh wut. I'm already missing that Shipley's but that is nice compared to what the old location looked like.

I still miss the Del Taco.

[clutchcity94]

11 hours ago, houstontexasjack said:

Yes:

 

https://www.chron.com/entertainment/dining/slideshow/ionrestaurants-216840.php

 

Where are all the homeless people in the rendering?

[Andrew Ewert]

53 minutes ago, clutchcity94 said:

Where are all the homeless people in the rendering?

I'm just sitting here wondering where in that area you're supposed to get a clear view to the horizon

[Ross]

7 hours ago, Andrew Ewert said:

I'm just sitting here wondering where in that area you're supposed to get a clear view to the horizon

The rendering doesn't show that the structure is actually on top of a 900 foot spire, with a spiral roadway going up the middle. At that height, you can see the horizon.

[BeerNut]

Third Ward group slams Rice's plan for new Ion tech hub amid gentrification concerns

Quote

Sam Dike, manager of strategic initiatives for Rice Management Co., said members of the coalition were offered four spots on the working group that drafted the CBA recommendations. The coalition responded by asking for eight positions on the group and for an exclusive agreement with Rice in place of the city.

 

[H-Town Man]

Quote

Sam Dike, manager of strategic initiatives for Rice Management Co., said members of the coalition were offered four spots on the working group that drafted the CBA recommendations. The coalition responded by asking for eight positions on the group and for an exclusive agreement with Rice in place of the city.

 

If they would have offered two, they would have demanded four. Gotta know how to deal with this stuff.

 

Edited May 24, 2021 by H-Town Man

[Big E]

18 hours ago, BeerNut said:

Third Ward group slams Rice's plan for new Ion tech hub amid gentrification concerns

 

Why do these guys even care? The Ion isn't even located in the Third Ward, but Midtown. I know that areas was historically considered the Third Ward, but that area hasn't been part of the "Third Ward" in over half a century at this point.

Edited May 24, 2021 by Big E

[aachor]

19 hours ago, BeerNut said:

Third Ward group slams Rice's plan for new Ion tech hub amid gentrification concerns

 

Sorry, I just read this as:

"Third Ward group slams private institution for spending money on building nice things, instead of on Third Ward group."

[JLWM8609]

5 hours ago, Big E said:

Why do these guys even care? The Ion isn't even located in the Third Ward, but Midtown. I know that areas was historically considered the Third Ward, but that area hasn't been part of the "Third Ward" in over half a century at this point.

I take it you don't live in the area. That area isn't wholly Midtown or Third Ward. It's a transition area that encompasses both communities. 

Edited May 24, 2021 by JLWM8609

[j_cuevas713]

1 hour ago, aachor said:

Sorry, I just read this as:

"Third Ward group slams private institution for spending money on building nice things, instead of on Third Ward group."

That's exactly how I read it. This area has been a hell hole for a long time, so it's very ridiculous that any group would now complain that they aren't getting a cut. The opportunity has been there. 

Edited May 24, 2021 by j_cuevas713

[iah77]

11 minutes ago, JLWM8609 said:

I take it you don't live in the area. That area isn't wholly Midtown or Third Ward. It's a transition area that encompasses both communities. 

Once they submerge the freeway it will feel like more of an extension of museum area than 3rd ward. Caroline St. is full of very historic mansions and the freeway sliced it in half. Third ward really stops at Almeda for most people living in the area.

 

This is clearly just a shake down bc this group didn't seem to care at all about what happened there when it was a Sears and open air homeless center. This area clearly needs mental health assistance and not affordable housing as no one has been priced out of parking lots.