Houston Pavilions, Now Green Street

[Mister X]

http://blog.chron.co...dios-wednesday/

City, NBC to announce agreement for downtown Comcast SportsNet Houston studios Wednesday

"NBC will take another step Wednesday afternoon toward the launch of its Comcast SportsNet regional sports network with a 2 p.m. news conference at the Pavilions, which will house the network’s downtown Houston studios.

Matt Hutchings, the network’s general manager, will be on hand with Mayor Annise Parker and officials with the Rockets and Astros, whose games will appear on the network beginning this fall and in the spring of 2013, respectively.

The NBC Sports Group was seeking about $2 million in city and state support for studios and office space for the network, which will employ about 125 people."

Excellent exposure for downtown H

O who cares about any of that non-sense! WHAT ABOUT THE HOMELESS PROBLEMS!!!! I thought I saw someone who looked kind of poor walking by downtown the other day.

Just Kidding.

This is fantastic news. Who would have ever thought that HP's first real nationally known tenant was going to be NBC. I know it isn't retail, but NBC Sports will surely make HP a more attractive location for other businesses - hopefully some more cool ones like House of Blues, Lucky Strike Lanes and Pete's Dueling Piano Bar.

[stjnky]

Most important thing gleaned from the press conference: the street-level production studio is supposed to have a big glass window for us to stand outside of holding signs.

[citykid09]

So what is the result from the press confrence? Is this just for the local cable channel or for the national NBC Sports studio Houston was bidding for? With the national deal, I heard that talk shows would also be filmed in the studios. What did they mean by talk shows? Sports talk shows or a Debra Duncan/Oprah/Ellen/Rachel Ray type talk show where many tourist will go daily with free tickets to the shows.

[ChrisPHous]

So what is the result from the press confrence? Is this just for the local cable channel or for the national NBC Sports studio Houston was bidding for? With the national deal, I heard that talk shows would also be filmed in the studios. What did they mean by talk shows? Sports talk shows or a Debra Duncan/Oprah/Ellen/Rachel Ray type talk show where many tourist will go daily with free tickets to the shows.

That would be huge, but I think that it is going to be a local affiliate similar to Fox Sports Houston...but its just my opinion

Edited March 7, 2012 by ChrisPHous

[citykid09]

Here is an older article about how Houston was competing with Stamford, Conn for the facility:

http://www.chron.com...own-2653814.php

If the studio was just ment for Houston related sports then why would the shows be broadcast out of Stamford? Where do the other 10 local sports channels that this company owns broadcast from? There cities or from Stamford? I remember reading something about talk shows being taped in the studios as well. I will look for that article.

Edited March 8, 2012 by citykid09

[DrLan34]

http://houston.cultu...ston-pavilions/

"Just steps away from the light rail, and down the street from the George R. Brown as well as three nearby stadiums, the studio's street level viewing area is poised to become a destination in itself — akin to the sidewalks outside of NBC's Today Show at Rockefeller Center."

Edited March 8, 2012 by DrLan34

[Pleak]

......... the studio's street level viewing area is poised to become a destination in itself — akin to the sidewalks outside of NBC's Today Show at Rockefeller Center."

Cool! A national audience can see all the mean, scary vagrants wandering around downtown molesting helpless Spring chicks.

[JJxvi]

Is this the studio for a regional cable network? Rival cities? Who did we beat out? deer Park and Pearland?

[citykid09]

Is this the studio for a regional cable network? Rival cities? Who did we beat out? deer Park and Pearland?

Thats what I am saying! When the channel was first announced, they made it seem like Houston was competing with Stamford for the national studios of the NBC Sports Network. Now it seems that its just the local channel that will have shows taped from there. They said something like if Houston didn't win the bid for the studio then it would still get a smaller office, but that the main studio would be in Stamford. Its all just so confusing!

Its still exciting that something new is coming to downtown though, even if it won't be national shows and talk shows.

Edited March 8, 2012 by citykid09

[citykid09]

Also, does Fox Sports Houston film in Houston? I remember hearing something about them filming in downtown as well. I wonder if they will upgrade their studio to a street level one to compete.

[skwatra]

I noticed NBC Sports on Comcast channel 49. They were showing an MLS game over the weekend, of course the Dynamo game was only on Galavision...

I guess they merged with Versus and relaunched (Spring 2011), i didn't even notice. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBC_Sports_Network#Merger_with_NBC_Sports

Here's a wiki on the Houston channel:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comcast_SportsNet_Houston

Is this the same channel that will have studios in the Pavilions?

[lockmat]

Magic Johnson's group purchased HP. Any chance that they will do something that will get this place 100% leased?

Actually, that would be a great poll question: When will HP be 100% leased. A) by 2014 by 2016 C) after 2020 D) Never

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2012/08/magic-johnsons-company-buys-houston-pavilions/

Edited August 20, 2012 by lockmat

[Fortune]

Hopefully Midway can help turn this property around and become a success like its City Centre mixed use development.

[LTAWACS]

Magic Johnson's group purchased HP. Any chance that they will do something that will get this place 100% leased?

Actually, that would be a great poll question: When will HP be 100% leased. A) by 2014 by 2016 C) after 2020 D) Never

http://blog.chron.co...ston-pavilions/

From the little I know of his real estate investments, I think it is safe to say "There goes the neighborhood".

[j_cuevas713]

I think this is great news. Magic can definitely help get HP completely leased out.

[editor]

Here's another article about the Houston Pavilions being sold:

Since Houston’s regional malls were born in the suburbs decades ago, retailing in downtown Houston has been a challenging proposition. Converting some of the Pavilions’ retail space into office space could be a viable option with a near-term boost in revenue.

The Canyon-Johnson and Midway venture has a strong track record that is perfectly suited to revitalizing the Houston Pavilions.

Linky: http://realtynewsreport.com/2012/08/21/magic-johnson-group-and-midway-buy-downtown-houston-project/

[samagon]

Will be interesting to see what happens here.

[LTAWACS]

So then the studios are cancelled?

[j_cuevas713]

I don't see why they would be cancelled, they are a scheduled tenant, plus agreements with Comcast and the city have already been made. This is just a change in ownership if the property, but I don't see where Magic and the other investors would just cancel this some how.

[Houston19514]

I don't see why they would be cancelled, they are a scheduled tenant, plus agreements with Comcast and the city have already been made. This is just a change in ownership if the property, but I don't see where Magic and the other investors would just cancel this some how.

You should know better than to pay any attention to LTAWCS. I don't think there is any reason to believe the NBC/Comcast Studios will be canceled. In fact, I'm pretty sure the buildout of their space is proceeding right now.

Edited September 5, 2012 by Houston19514

[asubrt]

From a Chronicle article about Comcast Houston...

Meanwhile, work continues on the company’s office and studio complex in the Houston Pavilions, and rehearsals began this week for the studio news and talk programs that will air when the network premieres.

http://blog.chron.com/sportsmedia/2012/09/csn-houston-promo-campaign-features-altuve-lin/

As usual, his attempts to demean anything good about Houston are unfounded. The network launches October 1.

[j_cuevas713]

I learned my lesson lol great news tho

[LTAWACS]

Ah.. I was mistaken.

[ChannelTwoNews]

Found this on Clutchfans' twitter feed - a quick peek into the studio

[ChannelTwoNews]

The network makes it's debut today. Interesting to see if it does stand up to the the hype of "HSE 2.0" or something similar.

http://www.chron.com/news/article/Fans-of-local-teams-stand-to-win-as-new-network-3907606.php

[Tumbleweed_Tx]

it goes live at 5pm

[lockmat]

Jones Lang Lasalle is calling the HP office space Class B, wow.

http://downtownhouston.org/site_media/uploads/attachments/2012-10-11/2012-Q3_-_JLL.pdf

The directory shows only the large spaces filled, while the second floor is a ghost town.

http://houstonpavilions.com/uploads/120828%20HP%20Fall%20Directory-no%20gift%20card.pdf

Armchair economists, kick back your lazy boy:

1) When/will HP be 100% leased?

2) What will it take to get it 100% leased? Maybe a condo/office mixed used tower across the street on Caroline and maybe another apartment tower on Caroline and Polk?

[TheNiche]

Jones Lang Lasalle is calling the HP office space Class B, wow.

http://downtownhoust...12-Q3_-_JLL.pdf

The directory shows only the large spaces filled, while the second floor is a ghost town.

http://houstonpavili...o gift card.pdf

Armchair economists, kick back your lazy boy:

1) When/will HP be 100% leased?

2) What will it take to get it 100% leased? Maybe a condo/office mixed used tower across the street on Caroline and maybe another apartment tower on Caroline and Polk?

Ouch. That's harsh. Then again, this is a newly-built asset in a prime location that sold for only $188 PSF whereas other downtown buildings have set record high prices. Maybe that reveals what I've been saying all along, that the downtown retail market isn't that strong and that mixed-use projects tend to be functionally obsolescent at completion because office building operators don't know what to do with retail and retail operators don't know what to do with office.

More downtown residents can't hurt, but it'd take a huge number to make a difference. Like it or not, I think that substantial quantities of downtown retail organized as single projects just make bad investments.

[kylejack]

I went to Pete's Dueling Piano on Saturday, and it was packed. They don't have food, so I brought up some carryout from Mia Bella, and both Mia Bella and Andalucia had every table occupied. At least on the weekends, business seems to be good for the restaurants. I think the failure of Yao's says more about Yao's than Pavilions.

[Houston19514]

I went to Pete's Dueling Piano on Saturday, and it was packed. They don't have food, so I brought up some carryout from Mia Bella, and both Mia Bella and Andalucia had every table occupied. At least on the weekends, business seems to be good for the restaurants. I think the failure of Yao's says more about Yao's than Pavilions.

Yeah, it's a surprisingly popular and active place for the miserable failure it has been pronounced to be. I hold out high hopes the new ownership will make it even better and more successful.

[TheNiche]

Yeah, it's a surprisingly popular and active place for the miserable failure it has been pronounced to be. I hold out high hopes the new ownership will make it even better and more successful.

To me personally, it's as unremarkable as nearly any new retail development; but that I'm unexcited by it just means that I'm not the target audience, not that it is necessarily a failure.

My assessment of the circumstances are only from a business perspective. Vacancy is a real problem there, and some stores have struggled with sales and even with paying the rent. It does seem that restaurants, bars, and clubs are the most successful constituents of their tenant base, but how many of those can one development have?

Was the $188 PSF sale price even above replacement cost? If it takes fresh capital to fix new construction, to me that signals a business failure.

[kylejack]

Was the $188 PSF sale price even above replacement cost? If it takes fresh capital to fix new construction, to me that signals a business failure.

Well clearly they failed since Pavilions went into receivership, but new hope for downtown can still spring from it. Even the restaurants on the interior streets seem to do alright...the decent ones, anyway (iii Forks, Guadalajara del Centro).

Edited November 6, 2012 by kylejack

[kylejack]

Books-A-Million is OUT. http://swamplot.com/books-a-million-now-packing-up-its-books-leaving-houston-pavilions/2012-12-26/ For real this time, apparently.

[burgower4]

http://www.chron.com/business/article/Books-A-Million-closes-in-downtown-Pavilions-4147442.php

Here is a article from the chronicle which Midway states that they are in a state of renovations. I hope this is true I trust Midway and hope they can fix this center

[stan the man]

Books-A-Million is OUT. http://swamplot.com/...ons/2012-12-26/ For real this time, apparently.

Not surprised...considering the state of brick-and-mortar bookselling in the Age of Amazon. More bizarrely, when Books-A-Million originally decided to close nearly two years ago, there were also rumored reports on Swamplot (link here) that a disability rights lawsuit may have played a hand in their initial decision to pull out before deciding to stay put. Of course, little to nothing has been heard of said lawsuit (I don't even recall seeing this on the news), but nothing changed the fact that Books-A-Million was essentially on borrowed time in the run up to their closing up shop.

Now that they're gone, and as the Pavilions is under new management, I wouldn't be surprised if they attempt to attract one of those "fast fashion" concepts downtown given its glassy, street-corner storefront. Whether or not they will succeed remains at best a hard sell.

[livincinco]

Not surprised...considering the state of brick-and-mortar bookselling in the Age of Amazon. More bizarrely, when Books-A-Million originally decided to close nearly two years ago, there were also rumored reports on Swamplot (link here) that a disability rights lawsuit may have played a hand in their initial decision to pull out before deciding to stay put. Of course, little to nothing has been heard of said lawsuit (I don't even recall seeing this on the news), but nothing changed the fact that Books-A-Million was essentially on borrowed time in the run up to their closing up shop.

Now that they're gone, and as the Pavilions is under new management, I wouldn't be surprised if they attempt to attract one of those "fast fashion" concepts downtown given its glassy, street-corner storefront. Whether or not they will succeed remains at best a hard sell.

Forever 21 is already located directly next door, but I don't know if anyone is aware of how successful that location has been and if there are any restrictions associated with that lease.

IMO, they need to go hard after H&M. Landing them in that space would be a major coup for Pavilions and downtown.

[jayshoota]

Forever 21 is already located directly next door, but I don't know if anyone is aware of how successful that location has been and if there are any restrictions associated with that lease.

IMO, they need to go hard after H&M. Landing them in that space would be a major coup for Pavilions and downtown.

I have always thought the Books-a-Million spot would be a perfect H&M. Throw in the speculative Macy's renovation and you would have a great little area. From what I have seen, the Forever 21 stays pretty busy.

[Nole23]

I guess we have the same minds. When H&M announced it was opening stores in Houston, I thought opening it in the Pavilions would be huge. While it sucks that this is closing down, bookstores in general haven't been doing that great lately. Hopefully they can land a huge tenant to occupy this space.

[kylejack]

I think that Forever 21 can probably absorb some losses. They probably get referral business from the other locations when they have someone's size available in an item, and there's also probably some brand value to having a visible downtown presence, even if the store itself isn't profitable.

[j_cuevas713]

This isn't even that big of a loss, tons of bookstores are shutting down, he market is slowly easing them out of existence. I think something nicer will takes its place,hopefully a clothing store.

[samagon]

Luckily for people like me who relish buying and reading real books from a real bookstore, rather than a reader and downloading an e copy, there's still a few bookstores in town. I don't even like using Amazon, I've never had a package ship in less than 2 weeks from amazon.

I will always prefer real books and shopping for them locally. Though I can say I never went in this bookstore, nor had i any desire to with another bookstore close enough with better and cheaper parking.

[HoustonBoy]

Downtown may look bad right now, but there is a lot of advancement. The new jw Marriott is under renovation downtown, the new convention center hotel is approved, the pavilions seems to be getting a little bit more action (eventhough books a million left), residential units are being made/sold left and right, and the metro line is extending. We seem to be in the transformation stage going from office and work to residential and recreation.

[shasta]

Why not brong a Target to downtown? Perhabs they can fit one onto the now vacated book store space.

[LarryDierker]

Food trucks to line up at Houston Pavilions

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/breaking-ground/2013/01/food-trucks-to-line-up-at-houston.html

[j_cuevas713]

Nice little idea. Things like this make Houston unique and help build its own personal character.

[lockmat]

iPic is rumored to moving in per culture map

http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/02-23-13-cinema-wars-heat-up-luxury-movie-theater-wants-to-take-over-the-vacant-books-a-million-spot/

[Houston19514]

iPic is rumored to moving in per culture map

http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/02-23-13-cinema-wars-heat-up-luxury-movie-theater-wants-to-take-over-the-vacant-books-a-million-spot/

 

Very cool. 

[livincinco]

iPic is rumored to moving in per culture map

http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/02-23-13-cinema-wars-heat-up-luxury-movie-theater-wants-to-take-over-the-vacant-books-a-million-spot/

I don't think that the Books a Million space is big enough for iPic, so that could be a significant additional win as well if it happens.

IPic runs 43-46k sq feet in their theaters and it looks like the Books a Million space is 23k.

[Houston19514]

I don't think that the Books a Million space is big enough for iPic, so that could be a significant additional win as well if it happens.

IPic runs 43-46k sq feet in their theaters and it looks like the Books a Million space is 23k.

 

Interesting point.  And unless they relocate another tenant (i.e., part of NRG's offices), there is not sufficient space next to the Books a MIllion space to achieve 42-46k.

[j_cuevas713]

Wow this would be an upgrade from the bookstore