Central Square At 2100 Travis St.

[fernz]

They're not sure if it will be residential or commercial, but "hopefully" they will start renovations in 30 to 60 days...good luck with that.

Edited May 5, 2013 by fernz

[Triton]

I would prefer mixed-use. Residential on top... retail on the bottom since there was clearly retail there to begin with such as the Kwik Kopy sign that is still there. 

 

By the way, if the moderators want to move this to the Midtown topic area, that's fine. This isn't exactly "going up" since it's been there for 50 years.

[scarface]

How will they know whether to begin constructing for residential intended infrastructure or office infrastructure? I'm with fernz on that one.

 

Still good news nonetheless.

Edited May 6, 2013 by scarface

[barracuda]

Has it really only been vacant for 13 years? I thought it'd been much longer. 

[Subdude]

Note two open Central Plaza topics merged. 

[Jax]

Why was this moved to Crater Houston Alliance? Isn't this forum for things that are being torn down? I'm going to move it to Midtown unless anybody has an objection.

[lockmat]

The original thread was in crater. Now that it has changed I'm sure it is fine to move it

[DrLan34]

"Midtown Central Square LLC purchased Central Square Plaza, a 290k SF office building at 2100 Travis Downtown. Herbert Shapiro & Associates' Herb Shapiro and Bob Heard repped both parties."

http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/90-old-central-bank-building/page-6#entry421799

Edited May 7, 2013 by DrLan34

[Purdueenginerd]

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/sarnoff/article/Buildings-new-skin-aims-for-sleek-look-4487900.php

 

 

 

The 14-story building, Central Square Plaza at 2100 Travis, was built more than 50 years ago and has been vacant for about 13 years, the new owner said.

Over time, the property was plagued by thieves, drug addicts and graffiti, receiving multiple citations from the city.

 

Central Square Plaza, built more than 50 years ago, was developed by oil tycoon Glenn McCarthy.

"Structurally it's in fantastic shape, but as far as the interior, it's like the 1970s in there," said Keeley Megarity, who purchased the building from an entity controlled by Alfred Antonini. "It looks like people just walked away from their desks 15 years ago and never came back."

The nearly 300,000-square-foot building was developed by oil tycoon Glenn McCarthy, who also built the city's famous Shamrock hotel, which was torn down in the late 1980s and the property taken over by the Texas Medical Center.

Megarity said he's going to put in all new glass, "gut it, take it down to its shell and completely redo it." But he's not sure if he'll convert it to a residential or commercial building.

"We've already started cleaning the building," he said. "Hopefully we'll start on renovations in the next 30 or 60 days."

Herb Shapiro and Bob Heard of Herbert Shapiro & Associates represented the buyer and seller. The purchase price was not disclosed.

 

 

That was fast! 30 to 60 days?!

 

[brian0123]

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/sarnoff/article/Buildings-new-skin-aims-for-sleek-look-4487900.php

 

 

 

 

 

That was fast! 30 to 60 days?!

 

I drove by yesterday and there were crews working in it. I was in shock considering I lived in MIdtown for five years and this place is finally getting renovated AFTER I move out. This building was always one of those places I hoped would be fixed up... I'm so glad to see that happening instead of a wrecking ball.

[Triton]

Honestly not trying to be rude to anyone but I'm not quite sure why the same Houston Chronicle article I posted on just the next page over is being posted again.

 

Anyway, 30 to 60 days? Try now!

 

 

Crews are gutting the building.

 

[Purdueenginerd]

Honestly not trying to be rude to anyone but I'm not quite sure why the same Houston Chronicle article I posted on just the next page over is being posted again.

My bad. Not sure how I missed your post. I guess I went to the latest page and didn't realize the previous had new posts too. party foul I guess

[TGM]

I would love to see some of the vintage stuff they are pulling out. Dumpster dive anyone?

[brijonmang]

Honestly not trying to be rude to anyone but I'm not quite sure why the same Houston Chronicle article I posted on just the next page over is being posted again.

 

Anyway, 30 to 60 days? Try now!

 

 

 

Crews are gutting the building.

 

 

I hope the new design incorporates the existing barbed wire.  I really enjoy that Eastern Europe/Cold War era brutalist look.  Not enough of it here in town IMO.

[TGM]

I hope the new design incorporates the existing barbed wire. I really enjoy that Eastern Europe/Cold War era brutalist look. Not enough of it here in town IMO.

Ditto. It looks like it belongs in a Front 242 video. Somebody get them on the Telex, maybe they can play a tribute show.

Edited May 9, 2013 by TGM

[RedScare]

I hope the new design incorporates the existing barbed wire.  I really enjoy that Eastern Europe/Cold War era brutalist look.  Not enough of it here in town IMO.

 

I know you are a Tech fan, but if you can stand it, take a drive up to A&M. They have an entire campus of Soviet bloc architecture up there, including a football stadium.

[TGM]

I don't always stay in Amerika, but when I do...

[brijonmang]

I know you are a Tech fan, but if you can stand it, take a drive up to A&M. They have an entire campus of Soviet bloc architecture up there, including a football stadium.

 

Oh trust me, I know.  Seen it with my own eyes.  I just didn't want to start some "my school/your school" crud on a thread incredible enough to showcase the pinnacle of Houston post World War II architecture.  

[BrettSFA]

Does anyone know if this will soon be a re-dev? I drive by daily and see people doing general maintenance on it. They also have a trailer under the parking garage and were draining water onto Travis St. on Monday.

 

old docs i found online from 2006 below..

 

I like how they mention that the Greyhound station will soon be relocated. Yeah right!

 

 

Central-Square-Flyer (1).doc

[Nole23]

Yea it was recently purchased to be redeveloped.

 

http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/90-old-central-bank-building/page-6

[sevfiv]

Yes - check out the above thread for the latest discussion and information

[j_cuevas713]

I never thought this building would get renovated. I have a feeling that the southern side of downtown is going to be mostly residential.

[Subdude]

Dupe topics merged.

 

[Triton]

Not much has changed... still gutting it out. I've noticed a lot of boarded up areas are now open. They've removed little things here and there all over the place. 

 

 

 

Hopefully my photos don't get too redundant. :S I'll see if I can get other angles of the building to show some of the things they've removed on the outside.

[LarryDierker]

Redundant photos are better than no photos.

[TGM]

If anybody spots an Osborne 1 tossed from the building I'm interested in purchasing it.

(Hmm, is that you Mr. Kerry)

[sevfiv]

I want one of these (not as portable, though!)

 

[djrage]

It's great that Central Plaza will get a new lease on life, but I hate that all of these relics that have been inside as well as the interior of the building serving as a kind of time capsule will all end up in a landfill somewhere

 

 

I want one of these (not as portable, though!)

 

 

 

[bachanon]

i want those tiles on the side of the building................

[trymahjong]

Does anyone know if this will soon be a re-dev? I drive by daily and see people doing general maintenance on it. They also have a trailer under the parking garage and were draining water onto Travis St. on Monday.

 

old docs i found online from 2006 below..

 

I like how they mention that the Greyhound station will soon be relocated. Yeah right!

 

a small blurb that caught my eye in today's business section---

re: Bus station's location

.

Inviting other issues during the question-and-answer portion of her talk, Parker was asked if the Greyhound bus station would ever move from 2121 Main.

She said the possibility is high on the agenda of Andy Icken, the city's chief development officer. But she acknowledged that finding a new place for the station would be a "NIMBY issue," referring to the "Not in my backyard" argument.

"You have to site it in an area where it won't cause pitchforks and burning tar to come from the neighborhood," she said. "And it has to be somewhere where it's accessible to the bus system."

She said the city is "actively participating in discussions on what alternative sites could be

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/Narrowing-the-distance-between-street-tunnel-4516479.php

[TGM]

a small blurb that caught my eye in today's business section---

re: Bus station's location

.

Inviting other issues during the question-and-answer portion of her talk, Parker was asked if the Greyhound bus station would ever move from 2121 Main.

She said the possibility is high on the agenda of Andy Icken, the city's chief development officer. But she acknowledged that finding a new place for the station would be a "NIMBY issue," referring to the "Not in my backyard" argument.

"You have to site it in an area where it won't cause pitchforks and burning tar to come from the neighborhood," she said. "And it has to be somewhere where it's accessible to the bus system."

She said the city is "actively participating in discussions on what alternative sites could be

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/Narrowing-the-distance-between-street-tunnel-4516479.php

"actively participating in discussions" sounds like a cross of the attourney's "we'll take it under advisement" statement and the "we'll have to get together soon" comment.

[infinite_jim]

You mean I'll be able to go to the Randalls and not have to dodge random needles and feces? 

Edited May 16, 2013 by infinite_jim

[MidtownMan]

Yeah, would be great to get rid of the Parole Triangle: 1st Stop Greyhound (just released from prison) , 2nd Stop McDonalds to chow down, and 3rd Stop Texaco to get my smokes. 

 

 

[kbates2]

It's a square.

4th Stop Your House.

[TGM]

It's a pentagon. 5th stop is the morgue.

[RedScare]

It's a hexagon. 5th stop is the crackhouse. 6th stop is the morgue.

[TGM]

The good news for crackhouse owners is that in Midtown you're not required to seek approval for a modern window if they happen to kick in a historic one.

[Purdueenginerd]

Saw a sign with a rendering next to building. Was on my way to work so I couldn't get a shot

[DrLan34]

Saw a sign with a rendering next to building. Was on my way to work so I couldn't get a shot

 

Was it different than this one?

 

http://swamplot.com/will-central-square-plaza-look-like-this/2013-01-24/

[Purdueenginerd]

Was it different than this one?

http://swamplot.com/will-central-square-plaza-look-like-this/2013-01-24/

Yep that's it! At least that's pretty much what it looked like when I drove by

[Triton]

Yep that's it! At least that's pretty much what it looked like when I drove by

 Yea, that's exactly it. It's a nice touch. Looks like they're going to completely change the bottom two floors and make them larger lobbies...

[DrLan34]

280,000 sq.ft. Office + 22,000 sq.ft. Retail

Edited May 25, 2013 by DrLan34

[KinkaidAlum]

I hope this happens, but I am disappointed to not see the clock tower in the modernized building. I always pictured that as a focal point that should be played up.

[TGM]

I hope this happens, but I am disappointed to not see the clock tower in the modernized building. I always pictured that as a focal point that should be played up.

I'm guessing there was not much as a peep from the new architects regarding the saving of the clock. While a cool feature it's not consistent with their "modernization" of the building. With cellphones no one really needs a giant device telling them the time and temperature.

Maybe they could place it on top of the Greyhound station to give out the number of parolees on each bus, or the current price of crack. ;-)

[lockmat]

A modern chic clock could fit, I think. People had watches when they built the clock with the building, which are actually faster to check the time than to pull a cell phone out of your pocket or purse.

[KinkaidAlum]

If I am a developer proposing an office project on the South Side of the Pierce Elevated, I'd be looking for ways to stand out from the competition to better position the space. Having a unique feature that sets the property apart would be a good place to start.

 

 

 

 

 

[Specwriter]

Help me out other "chronologically enhanced" HAIF'ers; which building had the "weather ball" on top? Was it the old Continental Oil Company building?

I vaguely remember a spherical element that was lit up in different colors to indicate changes in the weather. It was probably tied to barometric pressure readings and whether those were rising or falling. True that a smart phone can give that information including RADAR but a quick glance on top of a tall building is faster and safer when driving on the Pierce Elevated even if not as detailed.

[rsb320]

Help me out other "chronologically enhanced" HAIF'ers; which building had the "weather ball" on top? Was it the old Continental Oil Company building?

I vaguely remember a spherical element that was lit up in different colors to indicate changes in the weather. It was probably tied to barometric pressure readings and whether those were rising or falling. True that a smart phone can give that information including RADAR but a quick glance on top of a tall building is faster and safer when driving on the Pierce Elevated even if not as detailed.

 

It was Central Bank.  There was also a nightclub up there on the top floor (from what I remember reading).

[intencity77]

Help me out other "chronologically enhanced" HAIF'ers; which building had the "weather ball" on top? Was it the old Continental Oil Company building?

I vaguely remember a spherical element that was lit up in different colors to indicate changes in the weather. It was probably tied to barometric pressure readings and whether those were rising or falling. True that a smart phone can give that information including RADAR but a quick glance on top of a tall building is faster and safer when driving on the Pierce Elevated even if not as detailed.

This would be 1300 Main Street or Travis Tower. According to Emporis "The originial design of the building once had corporate signage for Conoco, including a "Weatherball" of colored light that would change to inform people of weather conditions."

[Specwriter]

This would be 1300 Main Street or Travis Tower. According to Emporis "The originial design of the building once had corporate signage for Conoco, including a "Weatherball" of colored light that would change to inform people of weather conditions."

 

So it was the old Continental Oil Co. (Conoco) building. My memory is not as bad as I feared. Thanks, intencity.