editor Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 Llewelyn-Davies Sahni to Lead Two Major Redevelopment Projects in Houston’s Midtown District Projects will make area around HCC Central Campus an urban focal point HOUSTON, TX (May 25, 2011) – Llewelyn-Davies Sahni (LDS), a leading architecture and urban design firm in Houston continues to lead two redevelopment / upgrade projects for Midtown TIRZ and Houston Community College in Houston’s historic Midtown District. The projects will include approximately 90 block fronts in and around the HCC Central Campus, major open space redevelopment program in and around the existing campus and construction of a major plaza in the foreground of the campus’s San Jacinto Building. “The work to be done is a significant part of the revitalization of Houston’s Midtown, and it will dramatically change the campus ambience at HCC Central campus,” said Randhir Sahni, president of Llewelyn-Davies Sahni. “The new look and new features will provide a sense of place with a sense of arrival, and become a destination for visitors and residents.” The Star Plaza, a magnificent outdoor area and perhaps the crown jewel of this redevelopment project, will be located on the HCC Central Campus adjacent to the San Jacinto Building currently under renovation. It represents Houston’s commitment to education, as the San Jacinto Building was the birthplace of the University of Houston, HISD and HCC. The new Plaza will include a replica of the San Jacinto Monument as the visual focus of a planned Star of Texas. In January 2011, HCC Board funded the redevelopment of the historic San Jacinto Building. The Star Plaza improvements will complement 90 block-front improvements on blocks adjacent to the campus and will visually reinforce the focal architecture qualities of the San Jacinto Building. The Central College campus of the HCC System is the largest landholding entity in Midtown Houston and has the largest international student enrollment of any community college system in the nation. The Central Campus—the first in the HCC System—spans 16 city blocks in the physical core of Midtown. These improvements will enhance as well as provide for the needed community open space and should stimulate neighborhood redevelopment. Establishing a destination for Houstonians may also bolster commerce in Midtown, and help revitalize the area while serving the needs of the HCC District and the students. Inspiration for this redevelopment concept was drawn from various world-renowned urban spaces which served as examples of how best to exploit street amenities and manage ground plane treatment while providing a superior educational experience. The Plaza will be the “lung” of Midtown and potentially inspire quality private physical redevelopment. Improvement plans to be implemented along Caroline, Holman and Alabama Streets will be funded by Midtown TIRZ by use of tax dollars. Improvements include upgrading the area from the back of the street curbs to the ROW line with features such as new trees, ground cover, new hardscape, signage, lighting and street amenities such as benches, trash receptacles, bicycle racks, banners, and other support infrastructure. Work on the $20 million project is expected to commence in the second quarter of 2011. Major improvements are targeted to be completed by 2014. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrLan34 Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 i agree i am more interested in this area than others because I live near it, but midtown seems to have some excellent projects in the pipe line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor Posted May 25, 2011 Author Share Posted May 25, 2011 Just got a map in the e-mail. It helps put the project in perspective: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrLan34 Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 Here are some renderings, a video, and more information on the project http://www.theldnet.com/details.php?project=HCC Central Just got a map in the e-mail. It helps put the project in perspective: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian0123 Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 Editor, I started a thread on this awhile back (not sure if they should be merged)... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrLan34 Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 (edited) More information on the project from Bisnow...http://www.bisnow.co...ory.php?p=15180"Change is a comin' to Midtown, and we think you’ll like it. Work is expected to launch this quarter on a $20M project involving HCC’s Central Campus and surrounding streets." Edited May 26, 2011 by DrLan34 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jax Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 For some reason when I first read the title, I thought it said "Star Pizza" Must have been hungry... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
intencity77 Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 For some reason when I first read the title, I thought it said "Star Pizza" Must have been hungry... Hilarious! I initially thought I saw Star Pizza too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 (edited) Hilarious! I initially thought I saw Star Pizza too!I'm glad people are fessing up to this, for a bit I thought star pizza was REALLY hering ambitious.Edit: feeding > fessingDamn autocorrect. Edited May 26, 2011 by ricco67 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20thStDad Posted May 27, 2011 Share Posted May 27, 2011 I'll admit it. I didn't even realize it wasn't Star Pizza until Jax wrote that. I guess my mind filled in the chasm between reality and imagination by creating some educational alliance between community college and beer with pizza. I actually didn't give it a second thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jax Posted May 27, 2011 Share Posted May 27, 2011 I admit, it took me a few re-reads before I realized it was a plaza and not a pizza. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrLan34 Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 (edited) http://www.ultimatemontrose.com/stories/247518-revitalization-projects-set-near-hcc Edited June 28, 2011 by DrLan34 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GerryM Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 The old HCC building at the corner of Holman and San Jacinto has been demolished, so this project is definitely progressing. The campus already looks tremendously better now that the plaza has an opening to the sky, with sight lines to the main buildings cleared aside from the graceful, mature oaks lining Holman. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GerryM Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 An earlier post in this thread included a link to the architectural renderings. The link didn't work any more, but here's an updated one…http://www.theldnet.com/details.php?project=HCC%20Central Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrLan34 Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 ya, i also noticed the parking lots to the east of the campus (and in front of Luigi's Pizza) are being redone as well, i'm assuming they will include some new sidewalks too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 So... it's basically a new park. No towers... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian0123 Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 So... it's basically a new park. No towers... Yes, it's a new park for HCC's plaza. HCC has said in a past public meeting that they've had talks about building a tower on the lot across the street. I have no clue if they are still talking about it though. They have plenty of land to build on though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
photohunts Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 ya, i also noticed the parking lots to the east of the campus (and in front of Luigi's Pizza) are being redone as well, i'm assuming they will include some new sidewalks too.They are renovating this lot 50% at a time. Estimated completion is summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
photohunts Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 The surface parking lot to the east is pretty much completed. I'm glad they actually lined it with trees and greenery. Also, there were some hardhats in the plaza-to-be site this morning. Construction trailers have been there as well for the past few weeks, but it's the first time I've actually seen workers around. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsb320 Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 I live in the area, so Star Pizza will be a welcomed addition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
photohunts Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 I live in the area, so Star Pizza will be a welcomed addition. I don't think Luigi's would like that very much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrLan34 Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 The surface parking lot to the east is pretty much completed. I'm glad they actually lined it with trees and greenery. Also, there were some hardhats in the plaza-to-be site this morning. Construction trailers have been there as well for the past few weeks, but it's the first time I've actually seen workers around.This is actually a really badass parking lot... i'm impressed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Yes, it's a new park for HCC's plaza. HCC has said in a past public meeting that they've had talks about building a tower on the lot across the street. I have no clue if they are still talking about it though. They have plenty of land to build on though.A 3 story building does not qualify as a "tower"... sorry. Let me know when it reaches at least 30 stories. Thnx. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skwatra Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 I live in the area, so Star Pizza will be a welcomed addition. this is the 2nd time i read this thread title and thought Star Pizza was coming. At least its been a year since I made the mistake... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrLan34 Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 (edited) http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2014/07/02/beyond-the-lists-houston-civil-and-structural.html 5. $90 million — Houston Community College capital improvement project. Freese and Nichols Inc., No. 19, will provide project management services along with Heery International at HCC's central campus. The project is part of HCC's $425 million bond program that will provide improvements to all six of HCC's campuses. Freese and Nichols will oversee the central campus project until its anticipated completion in June 2016. Edited July 4, 2014 by DrLan34 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 my how the times have changed. back in 2011 this was considered "huge". lol.. to me it looks like a park, and a renovated parking lot is what weve gotten so far? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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