j_cuevas713 Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 I think the city designating this entire area as the Innovation Corridor is huge. Midtown is PRIME to become our tech district! That would define the neighborhood completely. We need to give our tech somewhere to live. Right now it's tied up in oil & gas, that's why our young talent is leaving Houston for other cities. There's no hiding now what the city has planned for this area. This will not only draw new tech to the city but real retail with it. Think about the housing that will develop as tech industries start to cluster together. That means a more interesting, urban Houston with a better streetscape. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angostura Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 If this is going to be an innovation corridor, I'd like to see if developed in a more fine-grained manner, rather than one company having 5M s.f. of space. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naviguessor Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 IAH77... Just how does Midway "Corrupt everything they touch"? Examples? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonIsHome Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 1 hour ago, Angostura said: If this is going to be an innovation corridor, I'd like to see if developed in a more fine-grained manner, rather than one company having 5M s.f. of space. The corridor is intended for many small start ups. I only threw out 5m SQ feet in relation to the Amazon bid. Was just highlighting that the bid need not have included the KBR site as this Wheeler site or the former Exxon site has adequate room. Saying this however, a tech corridor from Wheeler to Exxon anchored by a tenant the size of Amazon would be transformative architecturally but I don't know how the smaller start ups would survive the competition. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobruss Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 We have to remember that the med center is in the process of developing a major high tech corridor just south of the med center on Main at Brays bayou. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avossos Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 8 minutes ago, bobruss said: We have to remember that the med center is in the process of developing a major high tech corridor just south of the med center on Main at Brays bayou. I believe this is the biggest thing to happen to Houston economically in years... Any tech will help, but i think the distinction between bio-tech and tech start ups is important and distinguishable. TMC3 is perfect where it will go. Midtown is prime for industry. Eado can be a manufacturing and products focus (proximity to port). I want to diversify. Energy capital is great... but not enough. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobruss Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 I agree that midtown and EADO are perfect for this type of centralized tech zone especially with the rail that has already been developed and covers most of all this area. just wanted to point out that there is a tech area being developed by TMC, that could become a very important cog in the bio tech wheel. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
talltexan83 Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 I think its a plus that the lightrail moves efficiently through Midtown.....really from Rice U to the Downtown Transit Center. It'd be great to see further work done to improve transit times between Med Center and downtown through road abandonment, below grade crossing (I'm probably dreaming...) and a conversion of more blocks of Main St into linear parks with bike paths, etc. Even just converting Wheeler and McGowan to below grade would be a huge improvement. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 11 minutes ago, talltexan83 said: I think its a plus that the lightrail moves efficiently through Midtown.....really from Rice U to the Downtown Transit Center. It'd be great to see further work done to improve transit times between Med Center and downtown through road abandonment, below grade crossing (I'm probably dreaming...) and a conversion of more blocks of Main St into linear parks with bike paths, etc. Even just converting Wheeler and McGowan to below grade would be a huge improvement. I always question if it's reasonable to close off a large section of Main thru Fannin for strictly light rail. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 3 hours ago, bobruss said: We have to remember that the med center is in the process of developing a major high tech corridor just south of the med center on Main at Brays bayou. What are they developing on Main at Brays Bayou? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobruss Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 (edited) TMC3, just north of Brays Bayou. Edited January 31, 2018 by bobruss 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 22 hours ago, HoustonIsHome said: I like all three sites. But how exactly is that a corridor? I love the idea behind it and it's catalysts like this that midtown needs to show it's true potential, but what links the three sites? Would be interesting to see what sort of link there was in the proposal. If there is none then I can see why the proposal failed to crack the top 20. I do wish that a tech corridor develops in midtown. And I do hope that that Exxon building can be repurposed as is. But three disjointed sites is not much of a corridor. It's like calling St Thomas, TSU and UH a university corridor because they are all on Wheeler/ Richmond. I can see linking then by rail and calling the line the University Line, but what makes it a corridor? Relax. There is no need to be so literal about the use of the word corridor (although in reality there is no reason a corridor cannot take a 90 degree turn.) Look at a map of the Energy Corridor. What "links" the Energy Corridor? Energy business. What links the University Line corridor (if there is such a thing?)? Universities. What links the proposed Innovation Corridor? The plan/desire/intent to encourage the location and development of innovation companies, entities, institutes, people, etc. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UtterlyUrban Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 It’s a shame that we are going to put all innovation in one place. I guess that in a few years only non innovative companies will be scattered around the city conducting their mundane and drivel and won’t be able to locate there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 1 hour ago, UtterlyUrban said: It’s a shame that we are going to put all innovation in one place. I guess that in a few years only non innovative companies will be scattered around the city conducting their mundane and drivel and won’t be able to locate there? It's meaningless. The people who think of these names have no control over anything. There is no "we" who is going to put jobs or innovation anywhere. It's just a ploy to try to appeal to tech companies and sell the city. We've already got more innovation than most countries could ever dream of. There is innovation going on right now in the energy corridor and scattered office campuses that has the power to shift the world economy and alter the geopolitical balance of power. But those people don't need catch words like "innovation." 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UtterlyUrban Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 8 hours ago, H-Town Man said: It's meaningless. The people who think of these names have no control over anything. There is no "we" who is going to put jobs or innovation anywhere. It's just a ploy to try to appeal to tech companies and sell the city. We've already got more innovation than most countries could ever dream of. There is innovation going on right now in the energy corridor and scattered office campuses that has the power to shift the world economy and alter the geopolitical balance of power. But those people don't need catch words like "innovation." I think that you missed my intended sarcasm. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angostura Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 19 hours ago, j_cuevas713 said: I always question if it's reasonable to close off a large section of Main thru Fannin for strictly light rail. It wouldn't be a huge step. There's already one block that's closed to traffic, and all through the CBD it's essentially local access only. Trying to drive down long stretches of Main is a mistake most people only make once. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 4 hours ago, UtterlyUrban said: I think that you missed my intended sarcasm. Haha, ok. I've found it doesn't come across as well in print as out loud. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drecey Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 Fences are up around the block that the auto shop was on as well as the large parking lot that sits between Fiesta and Sears. Don't know if that means anything but it's deterring the homeless from sleeping there...but they'll find a way back, I'm sure. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drecey Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 Just realized they fenced the entire sears block as well. The actually building along with the parking lot. Can't remember if the lot across from it (between the shipleys and the rail station) was ever fenced, but it is now. Drove to the store last night and it was amazing! It's really making the area feel better. I only saw a handful of homeless. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 They were power washing the sidewalks yesterday. It's amazing how much better the property looks. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 Oh, so it's actually closed? When was the closing date? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkultra25 Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 43 minutes ago, IronTiger said: Oh, so it's actually closed? When was the closing date? Three weeks ago (January 28). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 I wonder if the adjacent Fiesta will close too. Was that announced? I believe the Fiesta was on land Sears leased, and that property is now Rice's... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 Just now, IronTiger said: I wonder if the adjacent Fiesta will close too. Was that announced? I believe the Fiesta was on land Sears leased, and that property is now Rice's... They have 2 years left on their lease. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 All 3 lots now have fencing around them. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonBoy Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 I’m a bit lost. Are there any plans for these three lots or are they just clearing it out for now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 1 hour ago, HoustonBoy said: I’m a bit lost. Are there any plans for these three lots or are they just clearing it out for now? Rice University's Endowment owns the property but I haven't seen what they plan on doing with it but hopefully it's glorious. The potential possibilities are exciting. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobruss Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 I think its fair to say that this would be a game changer. I'm sure there are visions of mixed use transit oriented developments dancing in their heads. Maybe a couple of high rises for starters. I would think that this would also inspire some new developer to pick up the Main street properties adjacent to the station. I think Metro is holding some of it. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CREguy13 Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 My thought would be they are going to tear down the existing buildings, but keep the Midtown Sears building. I think MS will be the center of this development and they will bring it back to its original structure, bring it up to building code for an office building. I think it will serve as a large start up incubator, be the new home for Houston Exponential and others - it is approximately 200k SF. They will likely want to start this process as quickly as possible and are in current discussions with Station Houston to try to get them to relocate to this building. Have this first phase be the catalyst and then Rice Endowment, along with city/private officials, can carefully formulate a plan for the next phases of development. Again, this is just my opinion butI imagine there will be more updates in the coming months. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 (edited) 4 hours ago, CREguy13 said: My thought would be they are going to tear down the existing buildings, but keep the Midtown Sears building. I think MS will be the center of this development and they will bring it back to its original structure, bring it up to building code for an office building. I think it will serve as a large start up incubator, be the new home for Houston Exponential and others - it is approximately 200k SF. They will likely want to start this process as quickly as possible and are in current discussions with Station Houston to try to get them to relocate to this building. Have this first phase be the catalyst and then Rice Endowment, along with city/private officials, can carefully formulate a plan for the next phases of development. Again, this is just my opinion butI imagine there will be more updates in the coming months. I couldn't agree more. This is going to be a major tech hub area of the city. The next 4 to 5 years are really going to bring Houston over the hump. I think of the Sears building as a icon to Midtown much how the WALD building is to EaDo. Edited February 19, 2018 by j_cuevas713 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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