Jump to content

GreenStreet: Mixed-Use Development At 1201 Fannin St.


MontroseNeighborhoodCafe

Recommended Posts

As I've said time and again, I'm not worried about it. It will give downtown convention goers an option for entertainment within walking distance to the various hotels.

While I am disappointed that they cut down some of the plans, I was especially bummed they cut out the hotel portion. That would have added a whole new dimension to the area.

In a way, Houston alread has that setup over in the Galleria. The hotels will come, they'll just be nearer to Discovery Green and the convention center where they should be.

I have no doubt that HP will be successful, just like Discovery Green has been a wild success. Downtown has broadened its offerrings to both Houstonians and visitors alike, and that's something to be proud of.

What I'm hoping for is that HP will spur some healthy competition with the existing retail in downtown to expand their operating hours. If Houston Center were willing to expand into the 9pm-10pm range with retail, downtown will really be in the game with entertainment and retail.

Just think, along with the theater district and sports venues, we've now got a world-class city park, another great entertainment venue in HOB, a decent commercial bookstore, wealth of new restaurants, and even an upscale bowling alley all in downtown. Man, we better not squint or we'll think we're in SAN ANTONIO ;)

Edited by totheskies
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Does it really matter what the venue is? It's the guest that's important, at least I thought so. Don't get me wrong, I'd see a show at the gorge over any other venue anytime. But most people don't have that option.

And maybe it's down b/c too much traffic? hehe

I agree that the venue name really should really not matter, but lets be honest if the HOB in HP was called "Club" there would not be near the discussion about it, when it is opening, or who will play there much less the decorations and architecture of it. So it seems to me that sadly many in this forum have bought right into it

and really it should not be called HOB because the first acts are gangsta rappas and comedians, but again if it was called "club" and they were charging 200 to see a tired gangsta rappa and have the joy of getting in the cross fire of some athlete and his possie most on here would be laughing how a place called "club" thought they would ever get anyone to pay those prices for some fools to spray you with champagne....fortunately there are some intelligent people in this forum that so see through it....but not enough

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wasn't really compliaining about the jumbotrons not being installed, I was just trying to ask if anyone knew if they were supopsed to be MOTIONLESS screens or MOTION screens like in Dallas.

If they're MOTIONLESS like the ones on the Toyota Center and Hobby Center, then I'm not that excited! -_-

Edited by tierwestah
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree that the venue name really should really not matter, but lets be honest if the HOB in HP was called "Club" there would not be near the discussion about it, when it is opening, or who will play there much less the decorations and architecture of it. So it seems to me that sadly many in this forum have bought right into it

and really it should not be called HOB because the first acts are gangsta rappas and comedians, but again if it was called "club" and they were charging 200 to see a tired gangsta rappa and have the joy of getting in the cross fire of some athlete and his possie most on here would be laughing how a place called "club" thought they would ever get anyone to pay those prices for some fools to spray you with champagne....fortunately there are some intelligent people in this forum that so see through it....but not enough

this post in inanely moronic, and i'm not even going to waste my time explaining to you why.

but kudos, nonetheless.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

this post in inanely moronic, and i'm not even going to waste my time explaining to you why.

but kudos, nonetheless.

when people like you make a post like this the reality is they can't back up there reasons....not that they refuse to

and then they expect a few fools to blindly buy into it....if you were really not going to waste your time you would have not even posted....but you can't resist going for the support of the blind followers of hype and so you had to make at least some form of post even if it was a failure

nice try....you have the support of a few total idiots and that is about it....but that is really all you deserve

the HOB is nothing but a planet hollywierd and a hard rock cafe.....fluff and nothing more...it is the chain restaurant of entertainment and when its trend fades so will you and its supporters

I did not realize that the blind trend followers and the fans of champagne sprayers and athletes posses were so easily offended

Edited by TexasVines
Link to comment
Share on other sites

the HOB is nothing but a planet hollywierd and a hard rock cafe.....fluff and nothing more...it is the chain restaurant of entertainment and when its trend fades so will you and its supporters

House of Blues is a music venue, Planet Hard Rock are restaurants with memorabilia.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

House of Blues is a music venue, Planet Hard Rock are restaurants with memorabilia.

But they're part of a wave of commerce that's replacing real things with pretend things. HoB isn't a music venue, it's a music venue themed amusement park ride. Houston has lots of music venues with genuine funk on them. Why do we need pre-fab funk?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't see the big deal. Why do people think it's so cool to be non-commercial? So what if it's popular? They bring acts that many people want to see. That doesn't make it bad.

When it comes down to it, when you're sitting or standing in the venue, all that matters is the music. Listening to it in a crappy warehouse doesn't make it any cooler or genuine.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

But they're part of a wave of commerce that's replacing real things with pretend things. HoB isn't a music venue, it's a music venue themed amusement park ride. Houston has lots of music venues with genuine funk on them. Why do we need pre-fab funk?

If I go there and see a chuck-e-cheese robot band dressed up like The Clash, I'll probably agree with you. If I go there and see a real live band that I know and like, I'm sure I'll enjoy it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

glad to see that we are all cooperating here and hoping that HP will be a success

btw, TexasVines I'm not going against you here or trying to start an argument

but what is the purpose of your posting here(in the HP topic)

to open ppls eyes and making them realize that HP isn't what they think it is?

hmm?

I hope HP does very well....but stepping into reality what is HP....it is a shopping mall full of mostly restaurants downtown with a bit of office space on top....I am far from a hypster for mixed use, but as many others have pointed out a hotel and or residences would have made this project something unique

I also posted my opinion that people are WAY over hyping the HOB because honestly after seeing a picture of it on wikipedia I have seen air conditioner cooling towers that were more architecturally interesting

and a place called House of BLUES kind of makes me laugh when their opening acts are gangsta rappas and comedians for WAY too much cost.....I would prefer to pay to go to a comedy club on open mic night and hear something original than go see a comedian for too much money that I will already know what 90% of his jokes are before he says them....mix in the over priced drinks to pay for all the "atmosphere" at the house of blues and I will pass on most of their acts.....HOB made a name for themselves as a place that gave small BLUES acts a venue and instead of opening with reasonable prices and a line up of BLUES acts that most would rarely see they open with a has been rappa and comedians

and it is correct to say that sitting in an old warehouse does not make something special, but neither does sitting in a contrived over priced ugly box with a name on the front make something special

people seem set on being excited that it is THE HOB when the reality is it is uglier than a wharehouse and cost more and will be full of people more borish than an empty warehouse.....not really getting what all the excitement is about

I wish this mall the best, but they will really need to WORK to make it something more than just another mall away from a large population center with over priced venues living on what they were somewhere else VS what they have become now

Edited by TexasVines
Link to comment
Share on other sites

When it comes down to it, when you're sitting or standing in the venue, all that matters is the music. Listening to it in a crappy warehouse doesn't make it any cooler or genuine.

A few generations of musicians, music lovers, historians, and other musical types would beg to differ. It does make it cooler. It is more authentic. How much live music have been exposed to, exactly? HOB is exactly a Planet Hollywood with stages. Does it mean I won't go there? No. But understand the difference between a show, and music. I understand that most people are not going to go into some joint in the ward to see a bluesman, or a scuzzy warehouse to see some atonal punk band. But don't think for a second that it is not more valuable to see an art form in its natural state.

We're all poseurs. I understand what you're getting at there. But if you have the chance, and you love music, you should always seek it out where it exists. Pay the service charge to get a ticket to someplace shiny, and enjoy the show. But if you're interested, don't be satisfied with just that. And for god's sake listen to music through good, well placed speakers and not earbuds. And if you really love music, buy it. Not song by song, but actual albums. It keeps the musician types fed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't see the big deal. Why do people think it's so cool to be non-commercial? So what if it's popular? They bring acts that many people want to see. That doesn't make it bad.

It isn't bad because it's commercial. I bought a ticket to see the Butthole Surfers in an abandoned warehouse. There was commerce. It isn't bad because it's popular. Lots of great stuff is popular. It's bad because it's fake, and it doesn't even acknowledge that. It convinces us little by little that it's as real as the real thing. It steals the real out of our lives.

It's like pornography: OK in a pinch, but wouldn't you rather have sex with a real human being? Or at the very least, a real farm animal?

When it comes down to it, when you're sitting or standing in the venue, all that matters is the music. Listening to it in a crappy warehouse doesn't make it any cooler or genuine.

If the music is all that matters then listen to a CD at home. You can hear a much better mix without the limitations of large hall acoustics and amplification, or the interference from other people. Or farm animals. Live performance is about more than music. It's about a real experience, not a "real" "experience".

Look at this:

House_of_Blues_Sunset.jpg

That isn't an old building; it's new. It was built to look old. It's like the worst sort of magic trick, the kind where the magician pretends that magic is real. It was built by people who think you are an idiot.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It isn't bad because it's commercial. I bought a ticket to see the Butthole Surfers in an abandoned warehouse. There was commerce. It isn't bad because it's popular. Lots of great stuff is popular. It's bad because it's fake, and it doesn't even acknowledge that. It convinces us little by little that it's as real as the real thing. It steals the real out of our lives.

It's like pornography: OK in a pinch, but wouldn't you rather have sex with a real human being? Or at the very least, a real farm animal?

If the music is all that matters then listen to a CD at home. You can hear a much better mix without the limitations of large hall acoustics and amplification, or the interference from other people. Or farm animals. Live performance is about more than music. It's about a real experience, not a "real" "experience".

Look at this:

House_of_Blues_Sunset.jpg

That isn't an old building; it's new. It was built to look old. It's like the worst sort of magic trick, the kind where the magician pretends that magic is real. It was built by people who think you are an idiot.

is it because they think people are idiots or because they want to capitalize on authenticity and appear to be authentic? the existence of places like this is evidence that the real thing is/was way better. a tuscan mansion in memorial or the woodlands lacks the very thing that inspires it.

give me a musty hole in the wall with good music any day, or a four hundred year old building still serving its function that is clean as the day it was built. authenticity does not live at HOB or in a mega mansion in..........ok, i just can't say it. ;)

long live fitzgeralds!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So take your favorite singers. Put them in the Houston Pavilion's HOB. Is it real or fabricated?

I'd rather listen to good music inside some place fake than bad music in a "real" place.

Who's not to say that the owner of a "real" genuine music venue is not dooping us? He convinces some people that just because it's an old abandoned warehouse that the music is good.

I'm with crunch. Just go where the music is, regardless of the venue.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't know why everyone is getting so hung up on the venue. As a musician and music lover, I only care to play/see shows in venues that have a good sound system and acoustics. I could care less if it is trying to be trendy, or if it is trying to look "authentic", or if it is someplace like Fitzgeralds or a run down warehouse. WHO CARES! Once you get in the building, the lights go down, the stage lights up, and you get to witness masters of their craft creating music right in front of you. Yes, it is not only about the music... it is also about watching musicians build that song right in front of you! If you want to stare at the damn walls of a worn down warehouse, or marvel at the things on the wall at the House of Blues... don't go to the concert and get in everyone's way! Instead, just take a tour of the place sometime later, and congratulate yourself for standing in a place you felt cool at. In the meantime, I'm going to keep paying attention to the music.

Now, can we please get back on topic?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I hope HP does very well....but stepping into reality what is HP....it is a shopping mall full of mostly restaurants downtown with a bit of office space on top....I am far from a hypster for mixed use, but as many others have pointed out a hotel and or residences would have made this project something unique

I also posted my opinion that people are WAY over hyping the HOB because honestly after seeing a picture of it on wikipedia I have seen air conditioner cooling towers that were more architecturally interesting

and a place called House of BLUES kind of makes me laugh when their opening acts are gangsta rappas and comedians for WAY too much cost.....I would prefer to pay to go to a comedy club on open mic night and hear something original than go see a comedian for too much money that I will already know what 90% of his jokes are before he says them....mix in the over priced drinks to pay for all the "atmosphere" at the house of blues and I will pass on most of their acts.....HOB made a name for themselves as a place that gave small BLUES acts a venue and instead of opening with reasonable prices and a line up of BLUES acts that most would rarely see they open with a has been rappa and comedians

and it is correct to say that sitting in an old warehouse does not make something special, but neither does sitting in a contrived over priced ugly box with a name on the front make something special

people seem set on being excited that it is THE HOB when the reality is it is uglier than a wharehouse and cost more and will be full of people more borish than an empty warehouse.....not really getting what all the excitement is about

I wish this mall the best, but they will really need to WORK to make it something more than just another mall away from a large population center with over priced venues living on what they were somewhere else VS what they have become now

Points taken. Although it is a shame that there are millions of Houstonians that disagree with you. I guess HOB will just have to rely on them to stay afloat.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

God forbid that Houston, the "fourth largest city" or "ninth largest metropolitan area"... whatever you want to call it, be allowed to get another live music venue... we simply have too many of them, and cannot meet our current demand for touring artists as it is. We should have moved HOB to The Woodlands anyway, b/c downtown Houston isn't supposed to get interesting stuff. It's just a place where people work, then they climb into their cars, and get stuck in horrendous traffic for three-and-a-half hours on their way out to Sierra Flatana Cinco-Seis Ranch on the Lake of Cypress Forks of Mine Enemies in the Pear King's Gardens. Let's just tear down Discovery Green too, and move it to Foeswood! :ph34r::angry2::angry2::angry2:

And tourism??? Oh puh-lease! We don't need tourists in Houston, clogging up our rail lines and freeways, exploring downtown. The creation of a tourism industry? That's just un-American!

Edited by totheskies
Link to comment
Share on other sites

A live music venue, is a live music venue. Whether I'm going to see Kittie at Fitzgeralds, Dave Mathews at the Mitchell Pavillion, or Marilyn Manson at the Verison Theater.

Even though most artist suck without studio magic, its fun to see them in person and enjoy it as best you can... Seriously, people are bitching about the authenticity of the House of Blues and its coolness factor? Be thankful we have something exciting going on Downtown and not the surface lots we had before.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey have any of you guys seen the new Houston Pavillions website, it's pretty modern filled with clean lines!!! I am so excited for this project to become real....hopefully it will attract more shopping stores to downtown to make the urban shopping center of Houston.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey have any of you guys seen the new Houston Pavillions website, it's pretty modern filled with clean lines!!! I am so excited for this project to become real....hopefully it will attract more shopping stores to downtown to make the urban shopping center of Houston.

someone already mentioned that before, but yes, but imo, i prefer the old logo, and the old website

probably the old renderings too, but all that matters is the retail, office area, and the venues, right?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

the sight-line to the GRB is exciting.

it hadn't occurred to me that surrounding hotels will have hundreds of rooms with a view of the pavilion. i hope the project will do well. there is still plenty of space to lease. i wonder if interested businesses are waiting to see how the rest do.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Question for you all...

HP is now about 60% leased for the retail. What other stores would you like to see move into HP??

It's starting out with more than enough bars and restaurants, but what about

-The Apple Store

-Bike Rental/Bike Share

-movie theater

anything else?? Would love to hear some input.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Although I'm not a mall person, I'm excited to see this become successful. This is a key component to building an urban core in Houston. I'm hoping this will spur more organic growth and not just more master planned projects with corporate anchors, as DT needs to have some character too. Still, I'm glad to see this is finally opening.

Edited by barracuda
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dream list for tenants:

H & M- would be a destination for girls/women all over Texas

Trader Joe's- Would make a killing on downtown lunch crowds and give a small market to residents and hotel guests

Zara- The Latins love to come to town to shop so let's give them the Spanish Dept. Store.

Kuhl-Linscomb/Area/etc...- a smaller boutique version would be nice and get some "local" flavor

Art Space- dedicate a section to local artists. Have month over month shows

Frenchy's- just cuz I am hungry as I type for some real fried chicken

Bullfrog Tours- knock off Boston's "Duck Tours"...old military vehicles that are amphibious...open air tours of town and the bayou/ship chanel. Give the vehicles local names like Buffalo Betty, Rice-a-Rita, Ashley Dome, Montrose Martha, Ernie Enron, Harold Heights

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This thing ought to be great for out of towners. There is no tourist ghetto in Houston. No West End, no Riverwalk -- and while those aren't places locals necessarily go, they are great for out of towners who don't know the city and want to go someplace easy to find and prepackaged and ready to go. Pavillions is not the Riverwalk and is basically just a mall, but it provides something for the out of towner to do to kill a couple of hours while waiting to do whatever it is they came here for.

The proximity of Pavillions to the Hilton, Four Seasons, Club whatever, even Doubletree, is a good thing. It gives the people who came in Friday afternoon for a Saturday wedding an option that doesn't involve a long cab ride somewhere else. It is a good time killer for the business traveller who is trying to get out of his room. It provides a bunch of good dining options for the conventioneer. I think I can say before it is even open that it is better than Bayou Place or the Shops at Houston Center. It may not be perfect and it may not draw tons of people from in town, but this is something downtown sorely needed. It may be a glorified mall filled with chain stores you can get in any other city, but the reality is that most Americans will go to something familiar first and that is why this place will be successful.

Will it draw people from in town? It just might. I live in Montrose and I like McCormick and Schmicks. I'll probably come down here before the Galleria. I know I'll see some shows at HOB. It's hard to imagine going past 12 bookstores to get to Books-a-million, but you never know. Time will tell.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

-- Museum store that is specific to Houston museums (prints from current exhibits, gift-shop merch, etc). Also it should have free maps and guides to imminent events at Houston museums. As a result, an out of towner or tourist will be made more aware of local offerings.

Edited by N Judah
Link to comment
Share on other sites

This thing ought to be great for out of towners. There is no tourist ghetto in Houston. No West End, no Riverwalk -- and while those aren't places locals necessarily go, they are great for out of towners who don't know the city and want to go someplace easy to find and prepackaged and ready to go. Pavillions is not the Riverwalk and is basically just a mall, but it provides something for the out of towner to do to kill a couple of hours while waiting to do whatever it is they came here for.

The proximity of Pavillions to the Hilton, Four Seasons, Club whatever, even Doubletree, is a good thing. It gives the people who came in Friday afternoon for a Saturday wedding an option that doesn't involve a long cab ride somewhere else. It is a good time killer for the business traveller who is trying to get out of his room. It provides a bunch of good dining options for the conventioneer. I think I can say before it is even open that it is better than Bayou Place or the Shops at Houston Center. It may not be perfect and it may not draw tons of people from in town, but this is something downtown sorely needed. It may be a glorified mall filled with chain stores you can get in any other city, but the reality is that most Americans will go to something familiar first and that is why this place will be successful.

Will it draw people from in town? It just might. I live in Montrose and I like McCormick and Schmicks. I'll probably come down here before the Galleria. I know I'll see some shows at HOB. It's hard to imagine going past 12 bookstores to get to Books-a-million, but you never know. Time will tell.

Great post B)

Agreed... for the out-of-towners that know these places-- House of Blues, Forever XXI, B-A-M, etc. HP really hits the spot. Just imagine yourself as a first-time, NO better yet a second-time visitor to Houston, and the first time you came was in 2005...

You stayed at the Hilton Americas, and it was a DEAD ZONE. Everything around it was dark and empty except for a few scant conventionneers. You trek the long way across eastern downtown (6 blocks) just to hop on the train, go up one station, then walk another 7 blocks where you FINALLY get to the Hobby Center for a Broadway or TUTS show. Coming back to the hotel is lonely, desolate, and frankly scary. You make up your mind right then and there that Houston SUCKS and you're never coming back.

Flash-forward to 2009...

Somehow you're trapped in town for a conference, and you have to stay at the H.A. again!! But wait, this time something is different... whoa look at this cool-ass park! So you get done with meetings, and decide to go for a nice walk around. As evening approaches, you suddenly see a big neon blue sign come on and you go "WTF! I didn't know Houston had a House of Blues?!?" You run over there and encounter Houston Pavilions... stroll around and decide to call up your convention buds... "Hey guys, there's an HOB here. And it's connected to this shopping thing-- yeah, kinda like Kansas City (P&L district). So I say let's grab dinner here, and then decide if we want to go bowling, see the broadway show, or just pal around downtown at the clubs. Cool see ya in a few."

Sorry to go so "twilight zone" in the post, but I guarantee you that this thing is going to change some people's minds about Houston!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh, yeah and something else that I pointed out on SSP...

Houston is a random-ass mess of a city. Hard Rock Cafe has no relation to Inn at the BallPark, and the GRB and the Theater District couldn't possibly have a wider gap between them. But in the strategic sense, Houston Pavilions is a really great use of space. Not only does it help to link east and west downtown, but by linking Macy's with Houston Center, it actually serves to create a retail/shopping district for our downtown. I think this was a key move that will start to "zone" things for downtown Houston. most of the future retail that comes to the area will be in the vicinity of HP and HC.

This obviously helps for the residential future of downtown too. Once we muddle through the credit crunch, you better WATCH OUT for residential projects to be gobbling up the surface lots between Toyota, DG and HP. It's literally the next hot spot for a residential/mixed use highrise. Let's just hope that a major grocer like HEB's Central Market or Whole Paycheck gets worked into the plans.

Edited by totheskies
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not only does it help to link east and west downtown, but by linking Macy's with Houston Center, it actually serves to create a retail/shopping district for our downtown. I think this was a key move that will start to "zone" things for downtown Houston. most of the future retail that comes to the area will be in the vicinity of HP and HC.

I definitely think Dallas St. from GRB to Main St. should be made into a pedestrian friendly corridor, and the city should encourage (incentivize) development of hotel/residential/retail projects. There are 5 blocks adjacent to Dallas between HOB and Hilton/DG/GRB just waiting for it...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pavilions website is rebooted and refreshed.

No longer a construction orientated site.

www.houstonpavilions.com

mia bella is great. i would wager that they need more room and would like to stay open more often. i will miss the cozy location they are currently at (if they are moving).

The retail floor plan does show Mia Bella on level 1 (161A).

So has anyone heard definitively if they are moving from the Main St. location or just opening an additional location? To me, the current location has always been part of the draw due to its charm.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The retail floor plan does show Mia Bella on level 1 (161A).

So has anyone heard definitively if they are moving from the Main St. location or just opening an additional location? To me, the current location has always been part of the draw due to its charm.

This is an additional location, their 3rd. I think a 4th is going in somewhere else.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • The title was changed to Retail District Planned To Be Centered Around Dallas St.
  • The title was changed to GreenStreet And The Laura Hotel, Autograph Collection At 1201 Fannin St.
  • The topic was locked
  • This topic was unlocked, unlocked and unlocked
  • The topic was unlocked

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...