Multifamily At 2706 White Oak Dr.

[J008]

Saw this posted on the chronicle. It looks like good news to me.

http://blogs.chron.com/peep/2010/07/fitzgeralds.html

[Angostura]

 

(Former) owner speculating that the building will be torn down after the new year.

 

https://www.chron.com/life/article/Long-time-Houston-music-venue-set-to-shutter-13444663.php

 

 

[mkultra25]

I can't say I'll be surprised if it's demoed, but that doesn't make the situation suck any less. The building is 100 years old and has a long history that predates Fitzgerald's. It's too bad that another solution can't be found to repurpose it instead of replacing it. But the time for that would've been before the building was sold to someone who, as Sara points out, paid a lot of money for the land and will be looking for a return on that investment. Kudos to her for cashing out to a comfortable retirement after 42 years - I imagine by the time I'm her age, leaving Houston for Seguin or someplace similar will have likewise begun to seem quite appealing. 

[HouKev]

I drove by Fitzgerald’s this evening and construction fencing is up around the property as well as what appears to be the two residential properties immediately behind Fitzgerald’s on E 6 1/2 st. I’m speculating, but it looks like in preparation for demo of at least some of the structures if not all.

 

That’s a big plot of land if combined. Has anyone found anything on what is planned?

Edited April 18, 2019 by HouKev

[samagon]

18 hours ago, HouKev said:

I drove by Fitzgerald’s this evening and construction fencing is up around the property as well as what appears to be the two residential properties immediately behind Fitzgerald’s on E 6 1/2 st. I’m speculating, but it looks like in preparation for demo of at least some of the structures if not all.

 

That’s a big plot of land if combined. Has anyone found anything on what is planned?

 

sadness.

[Evil Developer]

i believe this is the same owner that bought the strip just west of this with public house, barnaby's, etc. in it, as well as the construction on the south side of WO, and the automated parking garage as well.  

[Tumbleweed_Tx]

apartments are going up here.

 

I took one last walk-through of Fitz in early January, chatting with Sarah's son. He said she's opening an events center in Seguin.

[gene]

long live Fitzgeralds... loved that place and it was home to most of my favorite concerts ever by my best friends band Blue October...

I had at one point spoke to them about playing one last special show before it closed but it just never worked out.

 

[native_Houstonian]

Fitzgerald's was originally the Polish Home.  My father told stories of dances and parties there.  Best story was either during or right after WWII.   He and his cousin were at a dance there, and while dancing, his cousin hit a girl's leg and tore her stockings.   The girl's date insisted that he pay for the stockings as there were expensive and hard to come by.   A fight ensued at the top of the stairs, punches were thrown, and the date fell down one side of the stairs and my dad and his cousin ran down the other. 

[samagon]

On 5/9/2019 at 9:20 AM, native_Houstonian said:

Fitzgerald's was originally the Polish Home.  My father told stories of dances and parties there.  Best story was either during or right after WWII.   He and his cousin were at a dance there, and while dancing, his cousin hit a girl's leg and tore her stockings.   The girl's date insisted that he pay for the stockings as there were expensive and hard to come by.   A fight ensued at the top of the stairs, punches were thrown, and the date fell down one side of the stairs and my dad and his cousin ran down the other. 

 

something as old and unique as this building, and let's tear it down, but all those bungalows that look exactly the same, we need to preserve those. what a joke, and what a waste.

[Ginger Meyer]

The demo of this was not even permitted. Nor is their plans for a 75' tall parking garage (I just came from a lunch were they talked about their plans for this). What a shame. Hopefully neighborhood will push back on a 5-7 story parking garage being built on this corner.

[BeerNut]

 

[Angostura]

On 5/16/2019 at 5:52 PM, Ginger Meyer said:

The demo of this was not even permitted. Nor is their plans for a 75' tall parking garage (I just came from a lunch were they talked about their plans for this). What a shame. Hopefully neighborhood will push back on a 5-7 story parking garage being built on this corner.

 

The demo WAS permitted, but not as Fitz's original address (2706 White Oak), but rather as 615 Studewood. Permit was issued in April.

[Tumbleweed_Tx]

my buddy Chris played at the venue across the street from Fitz yesterday. He took this pic. 

[Angostura]

 

Apparently they meant: Easy Park is planning a retail development on [ano]the[r] property called Railway Heights.

 

Maybe they got confused because this particular Easy Park project is actually IN the Heights (though not particularly near a railway)

 

 

Quote

Briefly stated, the Gell-Mann Amnesia effect is as follows. You open the newspaper to an article on some subject you know well. In Murray's case, physics. In mine, show business. You read the article and see the journalist has absolutely no understanding of either the facts or the issues. Often, the article is so wrong it actually presents the story backward — reversing cause and effect. I call these the "wet streets cause rain" stories. Paper's full of them.

In any case, you read with exasperation or amusement the multiple errors in a story, and then turn the page to national or international affairs, and read as if the rest of the newspaper was somehow more accurate about Palestine than the baloney you just read. You turn the page, and forget what you know.

 

— Michael Crichton

 

 

[gene]

Wow so crazy to have lived a life of going to Fitz for almost 20 years to see my best friends and tons of other friends play this venue to see a completely vacant empty lot when i drove by this weekend! (so Fitz, their parking lot AND the 1 or 2 buildings behind Fitz on the residential street are all leveled and fenced in...)

It was kinda sad to see it all gone!

 

[Urbannizer]

https://theleadernews.com/mixed-use-development-targeted-for-fitzgeralds-site/

 

Quote

Clues can be found on the website for Verde Communities, a real estate investment firm that develops and manages properties throughout the Houston area. A page dedicated to “Fitzgerald’s at White Oak” shows a video montage of the former building, recounts its history and outlines a plan for the future – a mixed-use development with a multi-story structure.

 

“We hope this will include retail and multi-family residential uses, and perhaps a street level or rooftop lounge which, perhaps in a modest way, is an homage to the history of the Fitzgerald’s site,” the website reads.

 

 

https://verdecommunities.com/commercial-projects/801-congress-second-floor-houston-tx-77002/

 

Quote

 

Building Type: A new mixed use development project is being considered.

Stories:  The project is planned as a multi-story structure.

 

Year Built: The site has been in operation just over 100 years.  Sara Fitzgerald owned and ran her Fitzgerald’s concert venue on the site for 40 years.

 Year Renovated: We plan a new structure for the location in or after 2019, to include a retail operation at the street level of at least 7,500 square feet and possibly also a rooftop lounge.

 

[Urbannizer]

Project now includes the two homes at E 6th 1/2 & Studewood:

 

Potential name: 'Holcombe Heights North'

 

SubdivisionPlatPDF_Holcombe Heights North_plat_03-Plat 36X24 LSCP (2).pdf

[Angostura]

7 hours ago, Urbannizer said:

Project now includes the two homes at E 6th 1/2 & Studewood:

 

Potential name: 'Holcombe Heights North'

 

SubdivisionPlatPDF_Holcombe Heights North_plat_03-Plat 36X24 LSCP (2).pdf 505.08 kB · 4 downloads

 

 

Kind of a big deal. Here's why:

 

 

There have been two minimum lot size application filed that cover this block face (the south side of 6th 1/2). The first extended all the way to 9th St, between Oxford and Studewood, and (on staff recommendation) was voted out of the Planning Commission with this block face excluded, as it's predominantly 3200 s.f. townhouse lots rather than 6000+ s.f. detached house lots. The second covers JUST the south block face of 6th 1/2 St., and appears to meet all the requirements for a minimum lot size designation of ~3200 s.f.

 

However, these MLS applications aren't really about preserving a minimum lot size. They are aimed specifically at preventing development of this site. The MLS ordinance requires that if a parcel current (or, in the case of vacant land, most recent) use is single family residential, it must remain single family residential for the duration of the MLS protection. This a replat of three 6250 s.f. lots into a single unrestricted reserve. The third lot from the corner (738) is already classified as commercial, but the other two were designated as A1 (Residential, single family) at the time of demolition, and hadn't been replatted when the application was submitted.

 

So, if this replat is approved, whatever happens with the MLS application won't affect the development of this site. If it's rejected, I expect the developer to challenge the classification of the two lots on the corner (742 and 746), as the have already filed a statement from Sara Fitzgerald that these properties were used for commercial purposed related to Fitzgerald's activities. Failing that, they may opt to challenge the entire MLS process as an illegal form of zoning, since it applies land use restrictions on property but wasn't subject to a city-wide referendum.

[CrockpotandGravel]

7 hours ago, Urbannizer said:

Project now includes the two homes at E 6th 1/2 & Studewood:

 

Potential name: 'Holcombe Heights North'

 

SubdivisionPlatPDF_Holcombe Heights North_plat_03-Plat 36X24 LSCP (2).pdf 505.08 kB · 5 downloads

 

4 minutes ago, Angostura said:

 

 

Kind of a big deal. Here's why:

 

 

There have been two minimum lot size application filed that cover this block face (the south side of 6th 1/2). The first extended all the way to 9th St, between Oxford and Studewood, and (on staff recommendation) was voted out of the Planning Commission with this block face excluded, as it's predominantly 3200 s.f. townhouse lots rather than 6000+ s.f. detached house lots. The second covers JUST the south block face of 6th 1/2 St., and appears to meet all the requirements for a minimum lot size designation of ~3200 s.f.

 

However, these MLS applications aren't really about preserving a minimum lot size. They are aimed specifically at preventing development of this site. The MLS ordinance requires that if a parcel current (or, in the case of vacant land, most recent) use is single family residential, it must remain single family residential for the duration of the MLS protection. This a replat of three 6250 s.f. lots into a single unrestricted reserve. The third lot from the corner (738) is already classified as commercial, but the other two were designated as A1 (Residential, single family) at the time of demolition, and hadn't been replatted when the application was submitted.

 

So, if this replat is approved, whatever happens with the MLS application won't affect the development of this site. If it's rejected, I expect the developer to challenge the classification of the two lots on the corner (742 and 746), as the have already filed a statement from Sara Fitzgerald that these properties were used for commercial purposed related to Fitzgerald's activities. Failing that, they may opt to challenge the entire MLS process as an illegal form of zoning, since it applies land use restrictions on property but wasn't subject to a city-wide referendum.

 

The project has included those two homes since LAST YEAR. 

That was included in this thread along with other details until mods removed all of my content in early October.


 

Edited October 24, 2019 by CrockpotandGravel

[Angostura]

2 minutes ago, CrockpotandGravel said:

The project has included those two homes since LAST YEAR. 
 

 

Yes, but since they were never re-platted, they would still (theoretically) be subject to the restrictions in the MLS ordinance. Those restrictions were placed in the ordinance to close the "condo loophole," under which a lot that couldn't be subdivided due to MLS restrictions could instead be developed as multi-family.

 

At the hearing for the larger MLS area back in September, a large number of speakers supported maintaining the original boundary, and were clear that the application was intended specifically to block this development. (For example, the multi-family project on the corner of Oxford and 6 1/2 would not be affected.)

[CrockpotandGravel]

Originally posted May 1, 2019 in this thread before all of my content were removed from the entire forum earlier this month. Reposting this throws off the flow of the thread (i.e. out of order),  still, it may be helpful for visitors to see what was previously discussed or shared before. I wasn't  able to retrieve  everything I contributed to this forum, but I'm reposting what I do have.



An updated Loopnet listing of 2805 White Oak Dr includes plans for the Fitzgerald's building at 2706 White Oak. 

Shown on the map  where Fitzgerald's is located are plans for a future development.

https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/2904-2920-White-Oak-Dr-Houston-TX/15766084/
(archive link)



 
 

Edited October 24, 2019 by CrockpotandGravel

[CrockpotandGravel]

Originally posted May 14, 2019 in this thread before all of my content were removed from the entire forum earlier this month. Reposting this throws off the flow of the thread (i.e. out of order),  still, it may be helpful for visitors to see what was previously discussed or shared before. I wasn't  able to retrieve  everything I contributed to this forum, but I'm reposting what I do have.


 

From Houston Chronicle last August:



The owner of Fitzgerald’s, the live music venue housed in an century-old wooden building in the Heights, has sold the property to a real estate investor who has been buying sites in the area to redevelop.

The longtime owner of the property and venue, Sara Fitzgerald, said Monday that she is still running the club at 2706 White Oak but is now a renter. She did not say how long she was planning to stay or what the future holds for Fitzgerald’s.
 

...The new owner of the property, an entity affiliated with a Chicago-based parking company, owns multiple sites along White Oak just west of Studemont. They include buildings on the north side of the street that house the Barnaby’s, Tacos A Go Go and Christian’s Tailgate restaurants. A parking garage is slated for the area as well.
 

The investor behind the entity, Jesse Levine of Easy Park, is also planning a retail development on the south side of White Oak and a project on Washington Avenue called Railway Heights.
 

Levine could not be reached Monday.
 

In 2015, another Easy Park affiliate purchased the Broadway Square Apartments, a 2,470-unit complex built near Hobby Airport by the late Harold Farb. At the time, Levine said that “in the very long term” a section of the property closest to the airport could be redeveloped.
 

The change in ownership of the Fitzgerald’s property from its longtime owner to Easy Park entity called Heights Studemont Purchase Company LLC was recorded in a deed filed last month in the Harris County clerk’s office. The purchase price was not disclosed.
 

The property also includes three lots on 6½ St. that back up to the nightclub. The entire parcel totals 36,750 square feet and has a market value of nearly $3 million, according to the Harris County Appraisal District.


https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/Fitzgerald-s-property-in-the-Heights-has-new-13152404.php
 

 

[CrockpotandGravel]

Originally posted May 14, 2019 in this thread before all of my content were removed from the entire forum earlier this month. Reposting this throws off the flow of the thread (i.e. out of order),  still, it may be helpful for visitors to see what was previously discussed or shared before. I wasn't  able to retrieve  everything I contributed to this forum, but I'm reposting what I do have.

 

Houston Business Journal speculates on the future of 2706 White Oak Dr in the Heights, Houston. This is the Fitzgerald's building under demolition.

Houston Business Journal says the lot will become a parking garage, but I think that's wrong. Houston Chronicle reported the Fitzgerald's lot and the houses behind it will become some kind of new development. A recent site plan posted above shows this too.

The parking garage is going in at 2714 White Oak Dr, next to Fitzgerald's (thread about that here).

The automated parking garage was previously planned for the site of 2912 White Oak Dr or 2920 White Oak Dr (more about the previous planned location in the thread here).



From Houston Business Journal:


The historic Heights live music venue Fitzgerald’s, which closed with a New Year's Eve bash, is now being demolished, according to media reports. The longtime establishment is making way for new development — most likely an automated parking garage.

Sara Fitzgerald, the venue’s founder and former owner, sold the property in July 2018 to an entity called Heights Studemont Purchase Company LLC — which has the same Chicago address as My Park Easy, which also goes by Easy Park. From August through December, she leased the venue from the property’s new owners.

“I’ve been here 42 years, and I’m tired,” Fitzgerald told CultureMap in December. “You can’t stay up at four o’clock in the morning when you’re 70."

The venue, at 2706 White Oak Drive, had been quiet for more than five months. Since 1977, the two-story building that was formerly a Polish dance hall put on shows for up-and-coming and local musicians.

In the '80s, Houston Chronicle music critic Marty Racine wrote that Fitzgerald’s was “the most essential club to the city’s and region’s original live music scenes,” according to the Chronicle.

Another entity that shares Easy Park’s Chicago address, South Heights Purchase LLC, is developing a 10,000-square-foot building for retail — dubbed South Heights on White Oak — just steps away at 2805 White Oak Drive, the Houston Business Journal reported in July 2018.

Plans for South Heights on White Oak call for a 244-space automated parking garage across the street — where Fitzgerald’s used to be. Easy Park could not be reached for comment about Fitzgerald’s.

Easy Park purchases, finances and builds automated parking garages for densely populated neighborhoods, universities, mixed-use developments and other uses, according to its website. It works independently or in conjunction with established developers, depending on the project.

It’s unclear whether other developers are involved in South Heights on White Oak or if Easy Park is acting alone.

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2019/05/13/historic-heights-music-venue-demolition-begins.html

[CrockpotandGravel]

Originally posted May 28, 2019 in this thread before all of my content were removed from the entire forum earlier this month. Reposting this throws off the flow of the thread (i.e. out of order),  still, it may be helpful for visitors to see what was previously discussed or shared before. I wasn't  able to retrieve  everything I contributed to this forum, but I'm reposting what I do have.



The building last known as Fitzgerald's at 2706 White Oak Dr in the Heights, Houston.

Photos of the demolition process.


******************
The Fitzgerald's lot is not becoming a parking garage but some kind of development, maybe residential based on rumors (posted above). For more on the automated parking garage going in at  2714 White Oak Dr, next to Fitzgerald's  (thread about that here). The automated parking garage was previously planned for the site of 2912 White Oak Dr or 2920 White Oak Dr  (more about the previous planned location in the thread here).
****************



From Instagram last week:


















https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxvw5FbpCOD/

 

[CrockpotandGravel]

Originally posted May 28, 2019 in this thread before all of my content were removed from the entire forum earlier this month. Reposting this throws off the flow of the thread (i.e. out of order),  still, it may be helpful for visitors to see what was previously discussed or shared before. I wasn't  able to retrieve  everything I contributed to this forum, but I'm reposting what I do have.




The building last known as Fitzgerald's at 2706 White Oak Dr in the Heights, Houston is rubble. 

Another photo of the demolition process, this one showing the building demolished.


******************
The Fitzgerald's lot is not becoming a parking garage but some kind of development, maybe residential based on rumors (posted above). For more on the automated parking garage going in at  2714 White Oak Dr, next to Fitzgerald's  (thread about that here). The automated parking garage was previously planned for the site of 2912 White Oak Dr or 2920 White Oak Dr  (more about the previous planned location in the thread here).
****************



From Reddit Houston this weekend:





 

[CrockpotandGravel]

Originally posted May 28, 2019 in this thread before all of my content were removed from the entire forum earlier this month. Reposting this throws off the flow of the thread (i.e. out of order),  still, it may be helpful for visitors to see what was previously discussed or shared before. I wasn't  able to retrieve  everything I contributed to this forum, but I'm reposting what I do have.




From ABC 13 Houston or KTRK Eyewitness News on Fitzgerald's at 2706 White Oak Dr in the Heights.

This is from their Friday evening report. There was another report yesterday, but ABC 13 Houston has not posted the video and transcript online. ABC 13 Houston has a habit of not posting all the news reported on air to their website. And that practice is pointless because they're a news station.



From the report (video is in the link):


Jon Garner, a local street artist, told ABC13 Eyewitness News that he plans to use the torn down wood from Thursday's demolition of Fitzgerald's for his future art pieces.

Garner posted about the demolition on his social media accounts saying, in part, "As a lifelong Houstonian and member of the local arts community, this venue holds a lot of memories for me."

The artist says the pieces he plans to make will portray the musicians, artist and rebels that graced the venue.

"Over the coming weeks, Artboy will be curating the hardwood floors, stairs, stages, and walls that held Fitzgerald's together, and will be using these historic canvases to create works of art that will be made available to the public," Garner posted.

https://abc13.com/society/local-artist-transforming-pieces-of-iconic-music-building-into-art/5314427/


 

[CrockpotandGravel]

Originally posted May 29, 2019 in this thread before all of my content were removed from the entire forum earlier this month. Reposting this throws off the flow of the thread (i.e. out of order),  still, it may be helpful for visitors to see what was previously discussed or shared before. I wasn't  able to retrieve  everything I contributed to this forum, but I'm reposting what I do have.



 

From Community Impact:

 

While the tear down of the longtime punk rock venue Fitzgerald’s has been underway since early May, permits officially were logged this week along with the demolition of two adjacent residential properties on E. 6th 1/2 Street and another facing Studewood Street.
 

The properties are owned by a holding company associated with EasyPark LLC, a firm that specializes in automated parking garages.


https://communityimpact.com/houston/heights-river-oaks-montrose/city-county/2019/05/27/demo-monday-fitzgeralds-rethink-coworking-space-and-more-houston-demolition-permit-activity-may-20-24/

 

[CrockpotandGravel]

Originally posted July 5, 2019 in this thread before all of my content were removed from the entire forum earlier this month. Reposting this throws off the flow of the thread (i.e. out of order),  still, it may be helpful for visitors to see what was previously discussed or shared before. I wasn't  able to retrieve  everything I contributed to this forum, but I'm reposting what I do have.




Here's more on the new development at  2706  White Oak Dr in the Heights, Houston. This is the former Fitzgerald's building. The development also includes two lots behind Fitzgerald's on E. 6th 1/2 St.

The development is from Easy Park in Chicago.

This comes from their other company Verde, which is their retail and apartment arm.


 

Just to the east of our planned garage, we purchased the former Fitzgerald’s concert venue and property. Given the site’s history and visibility, many Houstonians we meet ask about our plans for this nearly one acre site. Please stay tuned. We seek a development program sensitive to the rich history of the location and interesting given that this corner of White Oak and Studemont acts as a southeastern gateway to the Heights.


https://verdecommunities.com/retail/



 

[CrockpotandGravel]

Originally posted July 5, 2019 in this thread before all of my content were removed from the entire forum earlier this month. Reposting this throws off the flow of the thread (i.e. out of order),  still, it may be helpful for visitors to see what was previously discussed or shared before. I wasn't  able to retrieve  everything I contributed to this forum, but I'm reposting what I do have.




More on the new development at  2706  White Oak Dr in the Heights, Houston. This is the former Fitzgerald's building. The development also includes two lots behind Fitzgerald's on E. 6th 1/2 St.

This comes from their other company Verde, which is their retail and apartment arm.



Fitzgerald's at White Oak:
 

• Building Type: A new mixed use development project is being considered.
   
• Stories:  The project is planned as a multi-story structure.
   
• Year Built: The site has been in operation just over 100 years.  Sara Fitzgerald owned and ran her Fitzgerald’s concert venue on the site for 40 years.
   
• Year Renovated: We plan a new structure for the location in or after 2019, to include a retail operation at the street level of at least 7,500 square feet and possibly also a rooftop lounge.

 

We were privileged to have the opportunity to purchase the nearly one acre land site previously owned by Sara Fitzgerald, who managed the Fitzgerald’s concert and nightclub operations at the corner of White Oak and Studemont in Houston’s Heights neighborhood. Since our purchase in the summer of 2018, numerous friends and colleagues called to tell us about how often they attended concerts at Fitzgerald’s over the years.
 

We are planning to design and build a mixed use project for the site. We hope this will include retail and multi-family residential uses, and perhaps a street level or rooftop lounge which, perhaps in a modest way, is an homage to the history of the Fitzgerald’s site.

 

https://verdecommunities.com/commercial-projects/801-congress-second-floor-houston-tx-77002/


 

Edited October 24, 2019 by CrockpotandGravel

[CrockpotandGravel]

Originally posted July 25, 2019 in this thread before all of my content were removed from the entire forum earlier this month. Reposting this throws off the flow of the thread (i.e. out of order),  still, it may be helpful for visitors to see what was previously discussed or shared before. I wasn't  able to retrieve  everything I contributed to this forum, but I'm reposting what I do have.


Other than what was published last month on Verde's website (a division of Easy Park), I couldn't find anything that would point to a possible name for this.

But based off leads from this forum (that is not cited in the article), The Leader has at least one new finding.

Yesterday, the paper reported on the proposed multi-family residential apartments and retail at 2706 White Oak Dr, the site comprising of the former Fitzgerald's and the two (or three) lots behind it on E. 6th 1/2 Street.

This was all posted above in this thread weeks ago.



From The Leader:


The century-old building that was Fitzgerald’s, which had more than a 40-year run as a popular concert spot, was demolished in May. What’s to become of the lot has been a hot topic among those who frequent the intersection of White Oak Drive and Studewood Street, where there are well-liked bars and restaurants on the other three corners.

Clues can be found on the website for Verde Communities, a real estate investment firm that develops and manages properties throughout the Houston area. A page dedicated to “Fitzgerald’s at White Oak” shows a video montage of the former building, recounts its history and outlines a plan for the future – a mixed-use development with a multi-story structure.

“We hope this will include retail and multi-family residential uses, and perhaps a street level or rooftop lounge which, perhaps in a modest way, is an homage to the history of the Fitzgerald’s site,” the website reads.

The marketing material goes against previous news reports and speculation among Heights residents that Fitzgerald’s will be replaced by an automated parking garage, the specialty of the Chicago-based company that purchased the property from Sara Fitzgerald last summer. Easy Park and affiliated entities, according to Harris County Appraisal District records and a prominent Heights Realtor, own more land near the property and have other projects in the works.

HCAD records show... Heights Studemont Purchase Company LLC, which HCAD lists as the owner for the former Fitzgerald’s site as well as three lots immediately to the north with 6th ½ Street addresses (the entity shares a Chicago address with Easy Park).

Verde Communities’ Marilyn Jimenez confirmed they are all affiliated with Easy Park.

Heights Realtor Bill Baldwin, a member of the Houston Planning Commission, said the lead investor for Easy Park is Jesse Levine. Neither he nor Easy Park, which has not responded to multiple messages left at its Chicago office, could be reached for comment.






On a possible snag for the proposed development and opposition from nearby residents



There is a “potential snag,” Baldwin said, regarding the plan for the mixed-use development where Fitzgerald’s once stood. The three lots immediately to the north are included in a Special Minimum Lot Size Area (SMLSA) application filed in March with the city’s Planning & Development Department.

According to HCAD, those lots are designated for single-family residential use. If the SMLSA application is approved by property owners, the planning commission and Houston City Council, it would be in effect for 40 years and could prevent those lots from being used for commercial purposes or for a multi-family residential complex.

“I think he’s hung up a little bit there,” Baldwin said of Levine. Johnson said many nearby Heights homeowners are against the addition of apartment complexes, although she would welcome more retail developments and especially likes the idea of a rooftop lounge because it would provide good views of downtown.


More here: https://theleadernews.com/mixed-use-development-targeted-for-fitzgeralds-site/

 

[CrockpotandGravel]

Originally posted July 25, 2019 in this thread before all of my content were removed from the entire forum earlier this month. Reposting this throws off the flow of the thread (i.e. out of order),  still, it may be helpful for visitors to see what was previously discussed or shared before. I wasn't  able to retrieve  everything I contributed to this forum, but I'm reposting what I do have.


The other White Oak Dr properties from Easy Park included in the above article have dedicated threads of their own in the Heights forum. Please direct discussions about them there.

 

• A proposed multi-story automated parking garage | 2714 White Oak Dr
  
  There was another site proposed. 2912 White Oak Dr (the address listed on building permits) was the first proposed site for the White Oak Drive automated parking garages from Easy Park. This would have been next to Christian's Tailgate and Tacos A Go Go (thread about that here)

 

• South Heights on White Oak | 2805 White Oak Dr
  
  This is a one-story retail development.

Easy Park also plans to add multi-story automated parking garages in other parts of Houston: Railway Heights (thread here), Montrose (thread here), and the Hobby Airport area (thread here).

 

[BigFootsSocks]

On 10/24/2019 at 7:18 AM, CrockpotandGravel said:

Originally posted May 28, 2019 in this thread before all of my content were removed from the entire forum earlier this month. Reposting this throws off the flow of the thread (i.e. out of order),  still, it may be helpful for visitors to see what was previously discussed or shared before. I wasn't  able to retrieve  everything I contributed to this forum, but I'm reposting what I do have.



The building last known as Fitzgerald's at 2706 White Oak Dr in the Heights, Houston.

Photos of the demolition process.


******************
The Fitzgerald's lot is not becoming a parking garage but some kind of development, maybe residential based on rumors (posted above). For more on the automated parking garage going in at  2714 White Oak Dr, next to Fitzgerald's  (thread about that here). The automated parking garage was previously planned for the site of 2912 White Oak Dr or 2920 White Oak Dr  (more about the previous planned location in the thread here).
****************



From Instagram last week:


















https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxvw5FbpCOD/

 

Oh god seeing those photos hurts

[Angostura]

On 10/24/2019 at 8:04 AM, Angostura said:

 

 

Kind of a big deal. Here's why:

 

 

There have been two minimum lot size application filed that cover this block face (the south side of 6th 1/2). The first extended all the way to 9th St, between Oxford and Studewood, and (on staff recommendation) was voted out of the Planning Commission with this block face excluded, as it's predominantly 3200 s.f. townhouse lots rather than 6000+ s.f. detached house lots. The second covers JUST the south block face of 6th 1/2 St., and appears to meet all the requirements for a minimum lot size designation of ~3200 s.f.

 

However, these MLS applications aren't really about preserving a minimum lot size. They are aimed specifically at preventing development of this site. The MLS ordinance requires that if a parcel current (or, in the case of vacant land, most recent) use is single family residential, it must remain single family residential for the duration of the MLS protection. This a replat of three 6250 s.f. lots into a single unrestricted reserve. The third lot from the corner (738) is already classified as commercial, but the other two were designated as A1 (Residential, single family) at the time of demolition, and hadn't been replatted when the application was submitted.

 

 

 

The variance request is on the agenda for 31Oct.

 

This type of variance is "shall-approve" if the Commission finds that, "the owner, in good faith and in material reliance on the [...] lot size otherwise applicable [...] expended a substantial sum of money prior to the effective date of the establishment of the[...] special minimum lot size requirement for the lot that cannot be recovered."

 

The developer argues that since they (a) spent well above what land restricted to SF residential would have cost ($900k per lot, or $144/sf), and (b) spent a few million on work related to the development, they meet the requirements for a variance.

 

 

[Angostura]

On 10/28/2019 at 9:39 AM, Angostura said:

 

 

The variance request is on the agenda for 31Oct.

 

 

 

Deferred to 14 Nov.

 

 

[CrockpotandGravel]

Thanks for the updates @Angostura.


I have a question about the proposed parking garage. The garage is intended to  serve this development, Easy Park and Verde's other White Oak properties acquired last year, their new retail building nest Bobcat Teddy's Ice House and the surrounding businesses.

According to Virtual Builders Exchange, the automated parking garage will built on the two lots at 742 6 ½ St  and 746 E 6 ½ St.

I'm assuming Virtual Builders Exchanged arrived at that conclusion because the variance request documentation and the planning commission meeting discussed the parking garage. There's also this language in the documents submitted to the city:




We have purchased the two specific lots prior to the submission of  application  #749  at  a  price  intended  to  reflect  its  commercial  redevelopment  potential,  approximately $900,000 per lot, well above what the lots cost if they are restricted to single‐family residential use. Additionally, the two lots were purchased as part of a very expensive assemblage of lots that took place prior to the submission of application #749, which includes the former Fitzgerald’s site and the adjacent retail development along White Oak Drive. The owner has spent approximately $9.5 million on this assemblage, which includes acquisition costs, architectural design and engineering costs for the entire site, which includes the land subject to the replat.   

The owner has also spent an additional $3.2 million on design, engineering and other work as well as equipment necessary to construct the parking garage proposed for the site, all prior to the submission of application #749. The current retail along White Oak Drive has been underparked for years, and the project, including  the  $3.2  million  parking  garage  equipment,  is  intended  to  add  parking  needed  to  comply with City of Houston parking rules. 




But I think Virtual Builders Exchange's reporting is not  entirely accurate. From proposed plans shown in marking documents for another Easy Park development on White Oak, the automated parking garage is shown at 2714 White Oak Dr (thread and images of the proposed site can be found here on the forum). Also Easy Park vaguely referred to 2714 White Oak Dr as the White Oak site for the automated parking garage. as Easy Park 


The  two lots at 742 6 ½ St  and 746 E 6 ½ St are shown in proposed plans as being part of Easy Park and Verde (their retail arm) plan to redevelop the former Fitzgerald's site at 2706 White Oak Dr. Also Easy Park and Verde reference the lots (I think) on their website for the upcoming Fitzgerald's site redevelopment.

So, for clarification, are the  two lots at 742 6 ½ St  and 746 E 6 ½ St part of the mixed-use/ possible residential included at the former Fitzgerald's site? Or has Easy Park switch course once again and intend to build the parking garage on those two former residential lots instead of at 2714 White Oak Dr as discussed in this linked thread?

 

[Angostura]

They acquired the Fitzgerald's lots about a year after acquiring the original lots. I think the current plan is to site the garage at Studewood and 6-1/2, but I haven't seen site plans or renderings.

[CrockpotandGravel]

50 minutes ago, Angostura said:

They acquired the Fitzgerald's lots about a year after acquiring the original lots. I think the current plan is to site the garage at Studewood and 6-1/2, but I haven't seen site plans or renderings.

So, I did a search on the county clerk's website. I saw documentation from August 2019 referring to 2714 White Oak Dr. 

The documentation referenced a parking lease agreement. The parking in the attached documents for referred to the White Oak lots which  are lots 14 and 15 combined as shown in the replat in the 2714 White Oak Dr thread (thread is here). The combined lots are 2714 White Oak Dr.

South Heights Purchase Company ( 2805 White Oak Dr ) and Heights Studemont Purchase (the former Fitzgerald's venue soon to be mixed use at 2706 White Oak Dr) are listed as the tenants. Lot 14 & 15 Purchase Company LLC as landlord (2714 White Oak).

There's nothing (at least when I skimmed the document)  specifying what kind of parking: surface parking or automated parking garage.

With space being limited and Easy Park & Verde's public remarks on providing more  parking in the White Oak District by way of a parking garage, I don't think the 2714 White Oak Dr property will be converted into a surface lot for parking.

2714 White Oak Dr is likely still the site of the automated parking garage as depicted in the site maps shown in the thread for 2714 White Oak Dr (thread is here). I wish we could get a definitive answer from the developer.

 

 

Edited November 11, 2019 by CrockpotandGravel

[Angostura]

Not sure they know yet, at least until the MLS issue gets resolved. I don't think they can open 2805 White Oak until they provide some kind of additional parking.

[Angostura]

On 11/8/2019 at 9:42 AM, Angostura said:

 

Deferred to 14 Nov.

 

 

In the intervening two weeks, it appears staff uncovered an approved parking plan for 2805 White Oak that included three spots on the these lots to meet the minimum requirements. That parking plan pre-dates the MLS application, which means that those lots should have been coded commercial in the MLS application. As a result, the planning commission approved the replat without a variance.

 

[IntheKnowHouston]

 In October, someone asked if there were any updates pertaining to 2714 White Oak Dr:
 

On 10/21/2022 at 3:00 PM, bookey23 said:

Have there been any updates on this?

https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/38696-2714-white-oak-dr-retail/?do=findComment&comment=665735



My response:


I don't know. Easy Park / EasyPark purchased 2722 White Oak Dr about two years ago. The lot is next to 2718 White Oak Dr and 2714 White Oak Dr. 

Maybe more details regarding Easy Park's plans for this particular portion of White Oak Dr will surface soon.






 

This map highlights most of the White Oak properties Easy Park has acquired in the last 7 years. The highlighted areas are orange:
 

• 2802 White Oak Dr, retail center South Heights on White Oak
• 2722 White Oak Dr
• 2718 White Oak Dr
• 2714 White Oak Dr
• 2706 White Oak Dr / 615 Studemont St, Fitzgerald's

Not shown, are other acquired properties on White Oak Dr.

[IntheKnowHouston]

Just now, IntheKnowHouston said:

 In October, someone asked if there were any updates pertaining to 2714 White Oak Dr:
 

https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/38696-2714-white-oak-dr-retail/?do=findComment&comment=665735



My response:


I don't know. Easy Park / EasyPark purchased 2722 White Oak Dr about two years ago. The lot is next to 2718 White Oak Dr and 2714 White Oak Dr. 

Maybe more details regarding Easy Park's plans for this particular portion of White Oak Dr will surface soon.






 

This map highlights most of the White Oak properties Easy Park has acquired in the last 7 years. The highlighted areas are orange:
 

• 2802 White Oak Dr, retail center South Heights on White Oak
• 2722 White Oak Dr
• 2718 White Oak Dr
• 2714 White Oak Dr
• 2706 White Oak Dr / 615 Studemont St, Fitzgerald's

Not shown, are other acquired properties on White Oak Dr.

According to documents submitted last October to the city's Joint Referral Committee, the below map outlines the border of Easy Park's proposed mixed-use. The mixed-use is on the former site of Fitzgerald's at 2706 White Oak Dr. However, the address for the parcel where the music venue was located is 615 Studemont St.


The mixed-use includes the parcels at:
 

• 2706 White Oak Dr / 615 Studemont St
• 2714 White Oak Dr
• 2718 White Oak Dr
• 2722 White Oak Dr (the parcel also includes 2726 White Oak Dr)
   

The project is titled Verde White Oak










 

[IntheKnowHouston]

Easy Park / Verde Communities applied for an abandonment and sale of street or alley last October (for the planned mixed-use at
the former Fitzgerald's site at 2706 White Oak Dr)

Below is what the developer submitted and accepted by the city's Joint Referral Committee:

 

• Description and square footage of requested street or alley to be abandoned and sold: 
  
  15' Alley, 15-foot x 135-foot; total 2,025 square feet 
  
  
   
• Statement of intended use and details of the requested street or alley to be sold: 
  
  Land consolidation for future commercial / mixed use to be determined.
  
  
   
• Is there a site plan if the property will be redeveloped?
  
  No.  Site plan will be developed after land consolidation is complete.
  
  
   
• What is the timeline for proposed redevelopment? 
  
  Redevelopment will occur after land consolidation is complete.
  
  
   
• Description and square footage of any property interest to be conveyed to the City by the applicant:
  
  15' Alley, 15-foot x 125-foot; total 1,875 square feet 
  
  
   

https://popms.houstontx.gov/OnlineJRC/Review/Review/1515

 

A preliminary map of the White Oak at Studemont alley abandonment and dedication requested:

Edited April 2 by IntheKnowHouston

[IntheKnowHouston]

Any updates on this project?

[emmanume]

I heard from one of the developers they’re planning a 20-something story residential tower with cvs on ground floor 

[Ross]

25 minutes ago, emmanume said:

I heard from one of the developers they’re planning a 20-something story residential tower with cvs on ground floor 

Will there be an HEB on the second floor? 

[steve1363]

The surface parking lot was pretty full last night, and surprisingly well-lit.

[IntheKnowHouston]

16 hours ago, emmanume said:

I heard from one of the developers they’re planning a 20-something story residential tower with cvs on ground floor 

Thanks. Well, hopefully the developer will release a preliminary design for this project later this year.

[IntheKnowHouston]

On 4/2/2023 at 7:48 AM, IntheKnowHouston said:

According to documents submitted last October to the city's Joint Referral Committee, the below map outlines the border of Easy Park's proposed mixed-use. The mixed-use is on the former site of Fitzgerald's at 2706 White Oak Dr. However, the address for the parcel where the music venue was located is 615 Studemont St.


The mixed-use includes the parcels at:
 

• 2706 White Oak Dr / 615 Studemont St
• 2714 White Oak Dr
• 2718 White Oak Dr
• 2722 White Oak Dr (the parcel also includes 2726 White Oak Dr)
   

The project is titled Verde White Oak










 

 

On 4/2/2023 at 8:04 AM, IntheKnowHouston said:

Easy Park / Verde Communities applied for an abandonment and sale of street or alley last October (for the planned mixed-use at
the former Fitzgerald's site at 2706 White Oak Dr)

Below is what the developer submitted and accepted by the city's Joint Referral Committee:

 

• Description and square footage of requested street or alley to be abandoned and sold: 
  
  15' Alley, 15-foot x 135-foot; total 2,025 square feet 
  
  
   
• Statement of intended use and details of the requested street or alley to be sold: 
  
  Land consolidation for future commercial / mixed use to be determined.
  
  
   
• Is there a site plan if the property will be redeveloped?
  
  No.  Site plan will be developed after land consolidation is complete.
  
  
   
• What is the timeline for proposed redevelopment? 
  
  Redevelopment will occur after land consolidation is complete.
  
  
   
• Description and square footage of any property interest to be conveyed to the City by the applicant:
  
  15' Alley, 15-foot x 125-foot; total 1,875 square feet 
  
  
   

https://popms.houstontx.gov/OnlineJRC/Review/Review/1515

 

A preliminary map of the White Oak at Studemont alley abandonment and dedication requested:

 

Following the approval of the alley abandonment, EasyPark / Easy Park submitted a replat for the Parker Hobby plat.  This includes the former site of Fitzgerald's.

The plat combines:

• 2722 White Oak Dr
• 2714 White Oak Dr
• 2718 White Oak Dr
• 2706 White Oak Dr / 615 Studemont St
   

The reason for replat: to create one unrestricted reserve and revise building lines.

[hindesky]

Proposed plat called Parker Hobby.