Holiday/Days/Heaven On Earth Inn At 801 St. Joseph Parkway

[cloud713]

On 4/29/2020 at 8:15 PM, Brooklyn173 said:

But I fear that the structure itself may be the question now, especially after the reported contract fell through last year.

The website says under contract again.

Edited May 14, 2020 by cloud713

[Houston19514]

On 4/29/2020 at 10:52 PM, Naviguessor said:

The problem with senior living in high rises...fire alarms and actual fires. 

 

Well, we have them all over town.  Even those that are not designated as senior living facilities have a lot of residents who are seniors (predominantly so, in a lot of cases).

18 minutes ago, cloud713 said:

The website says under contract again.

 

Website?

Edited May 14, 2020 by Houston19514

[Brooklyn173]

I'd love to be wrong.

[TheSirDingle]

<BUMP>

So anybody see that pdf posted in the I-45 thread?

Edited August 18, 2020 by TheSirDingle

[Houston19514]

37 minutes ago, TheSirDingle said:

<BUMP>

So anybody see that pdf posted in the I-45 thread?

 

 

Hmmmm...  I meant to post it here as well (and thought I had).

 

There seems to be some movement here. &nbsp;Scroll to page 73

[TacoDog]

43 minutes ago, TheSirDingle said:

<BUMP>

So anybody see that pdf posted in the I-45 thread?

 

I was just going to say the same thing.

 

So... does posting this online hurt their confidentiality notice 🤐

[TheSirDingle]

16 minutes ago, TacoDog said:

 

I was just going to say the same thing.

 

So... does posting this online hurt their confidentiality notice 🤐

😅We'll have to see

[TheSirDingle]

31 minutes ago, Houston19514 said:

 

 

Hmmmm...  I meant to post it here as well (and thought I had).

 

There seems to be some movement here. &nbsp;Scroll to page 73

 

Rendering and massing 

 

 

There's an absolute crap ton of information provided by @Houston19514 in that pdf (also includes i-45 redo, and many, many other things). 

 

Main takeaways: 

>> completion sometime 2021!?!?!?

>> being redeveloped by Phoenix Development Partners

>> includes 482 units with 100 units given the affordable designation

>> 345 efficiency (362 sf), 22 efficiency +(467sf), 92 studio (507-585 sf), 22 two bedroom and two bath (1038 sf)

>> 482 total parking spaces, also a bike storage area totaling 521 sf on the ground floor.

>> 1257 sf of ground floor retail 

>> Garage roof 

>> ground floor plan with Bike Storage

 

Again going to quote @Houston19514 for giving us this monstrous amount of information, which also includes much more than what I posted. Including garage floor plan, rooftop floor plan, efficiency/studo/bedroom floor plan, etc. 

45 minutes ago, Houston19514 said:

 

 

Hmmmm...  I meant to post it here as well (and thought I had).

 

There seems to be some movement here. &nbsp;Scroll to page 73

 

[Brooklyn173]

I checked the Phoenix Development Partners site and it seems they have a lot of experience renovating older buildings in the Chicago-Milwaukee corridor. I noticed a renovation of theirs for student housing, and considering the small size of the units discussed here, I wonder if that market that might be their focus?

 

https://phoenixdevelopmentpartners.com/#home

[zaphod]

That would be seriously wild if 2020 was the year they redeveloped this thing.

[HouTXRanger]

33 minutes ago, zaphod said:

That would be seriously wild if 2020 was the year they redeveloped this thing.

I was just thinking that. What are the chances it actually gets developed this time? I'd almost rather they just demolish the thing and be done with it, but this looks like a good plan. We do live in the strangest timeline after all . . .

[zaphod]

Who knows.

 

The idea of building a lot of small units gave me the idea that they could turn it into a dorm for the homeless. They'd have an efficiency unit and there would be onsite security guards. Eligibility would be based on history of involuntary institutionalization, substance abuse, etc. Get them off the street, that would go way further in de-trashing that area than anything else proposed thusfar.

[BeerNut]

Is this an opportunity zone development?  

[IronTiger]

9 hours ago, zaphod said:

Who knows.

 

The idea of building a lot of small units gave me the idea that they could turn it into a dorm for the homeless. They'd have an efficiency unit and there would be onsite security guards. Eligibility would be based on history of involuntary institutionalization, substance abuse, etc. Get them off the street, that would go way further in de-trashing that area than anything else proposed thusfar.

 

Problem with that if you block the druggies/alcoholics/the ones most likely to trash the place and start fires, those are the ones that stay on the street, furthermore it would just be a way to spend the night, while the day is spent panhandling (unless they are denied doing so, in which case it becomes a de facto jail). That's not to say that the homeless should get nothing, but building housing for the homeless is, at best, more complicated than it seems, and at worse, will just make the problem worse at the taxpayers' dime.

[rechlin]

7 hours ago, BeerNut said:

Is this an opportunity zone development?  

 

All of downtown (inside 45/69/10/Buffalo Bayou) is an opportunity zone, as well as Midtown east of Main.  All the opportunity zones are on this map: https://www.houstontx.gov/opportunityzones/houstonOZ.html

[cspwal]

4 hours ago, IronTiger said:

 

Problem with that if you block the druggies/alcoholics/the ones most likely to trash the place and start fires, those are the ones that stay on the street, furthermore it would just be a way to spend the night, while the day is spent panhandling (unless they are denied doing so, in which case it becomes a de facto jail). That's not to say that the homeless should get nothing, but building housing for the homeless is, at best, more complicated than it seems, and at worse, will just make the problem worse at the taxpayers' dime.

There's been success elsewhere in "housing-first" initiatives to help the homeless, but they were small lots with 6 or 7 tiny cabins on it, not a highrise apartment building.  Last thing you want to do with extreme poverty is concentrate it that much

[Eastdwntwn]

I drove by a week ago and there were some workers around the building. I just assumed they were boarding everything up to make sure that homeless people couldn't get in. 

 

This is such an eyesore and whenever someone comes to visit they always ask about "that gross building with the windows missing." 

[Specwriter]

Is anyone familiar with the Torre de David in Caracas, Venezuela? It is never finished residential tower that was "colonized" by some homeless in the city. The government was either powerless or indifferent to prevent it though the residents were relocated in 2014, some 20 years after some had first move in. There was book published about the building available on Amazon of course. https://www.amazon.com/Torre-David-Informal-Vertical-Communities/dp/3037782986

[Brooklyn173]

preliminary work is underway.

[mfastx]

Wait, this actually happening?  Trying not to get my hopes up lol. 

[HouTXRanger]

I can't tell if there's anything in the pictures out of the ordinary from how it usually looks, maybe Brooklyn just knows something we don't.

Also, they could be cleaning it up to try and sell it to the investors better, hasn't it been gutted and re gutted a few times?

I'd love to see something done with the place but who knows at this point.

[Brooklyn173]

The chain link fencing and the temp wall on the parking ramp is brand new. Today they were pumping water out of the basement. I spoke to a worker briefly but he didn't have much to add. But stuff is happening.

Edited August 22, 2020 by Brooklyn173

[Brooklyn173]

As promised, a picture of the water being pumped out. And notice the new particle board on the garage gate. I walk past here on my way to the YMCA and the gate has been open every day this week and i've seen 3-4 guys working there. Even the graffiti on the tower has been painted over.

 

Looking at the Fairfield going up across the street has me wondering how the renovation will stage their job. Lay down areas and all. The adjacent lot is now taken by a field office and parking lot for the Fairfield project. But within a relatively short time, a METRO parking lot and a zombie tower will be bustling with new residents. Kind of exciting to me.

 

 

[hindesky]

Fairfield Development, the project across the street is using the surface lot for their employees parking. Some of that wood looks fairly new.

[TheSirDingle]

If this renovation is truly underway, then there would be an astounding 1684 units under construction in Downtown during this time. With potential additional population being anywhere in the range of 2021 (1.2/unit) - 2863 (1.7/unit) extra people. 

 

Current Downtown residential projects under construction: 

 

The Preston: 373 units

Fairfield Residential: 291 units

Block 98: 309 units

Sovereign at the Ballpark: 229 units

Potentially This: 482 units 

 

Talk about a surprising residential boom. You can honestly take this further and include the 2nd Camden tower and the block 114 tower, easily blasting this to 2259 additional units, but I would say that is wishful thinking for now... or is it.

Edited August 23, 2020 by TheSirDingle

[iah77]

On 8/20/2020 at 8:22 AM, Specwriter said:

Is anyone familiar with the Torre de David in Caracas, Venezuela? It is never finished residential tower that was "colonized" by some homeless in the city. The government was either powerless or indifferent to prevent it though the residents were relocated in 2014, some 20 years after some had first move in. There was book published about the building available on Amazon of course. https://www.amazon.com/Torre-David-Informal-Vertical-Communities/dp/3037782986

 

Actually the government encouraged the invasion as well as the invasion of the SAMBIL mall they expropriated a few blocks away. 

[HNathoo]

Here is a recent article on another project the developer is working on in Chicago. They seem equipped to handle the challenge. 
 

https://www.bisnow.com/chicago/news/construction-development/how-a-historic-west-loop-office-tower-became-a-luxury-hotel-105475?utm_source=outbound_pub_13&utm_campaign=outbound_issue_41323&utm_content=outbound_link_6&utm_medium=email

[Brooklyn173]

 

 

 

This is a picture from today of a maintenance crew buttoning up the outside of the building. When I took the picture I ran into a sort of supervisor who shared some of what is going on (at least as much as he knows).

 

According to this guy, "everything is on the table" as for the next use of the building. Even some major hotel chains are showing interest. Or possibly turning it into condos such as those across the street at 2016 Main Street. Or maybe a plan more similar, smaller rental units, to what was shown to the City.

 

The major problem with the building wasn't the homeless as "No one really cares about them. They get in, one or two at a time, and do what they wanted but didn't impact anyone else." The problem is what, when I was a kid, were called juvenile delinquents. They get in with groups of a dozen or more and party and break things and then got into the habit of throwing rocks from the top floors. One projectile hit a HPD cruiser and the City quickly became very involved. The guy talking to me said that's why things are happening quickly now. "Either take care of it or the City will take it."

 

The company behind the recent activity is not the Chicago company but a company that has developed hotels in Houston.  I don't know if they are working with the Chicago company or on their own or something in between. I don't even knows who really owns the building.

 

The guy says that a decision on what to do has been slowed by the COVID world but a final decision is likely before the end of the year.

 

The long strange history of this building continues.

[H-Town Man]

19 minutes ago, Brooklyn173 said:

 

 

 

This is a picture from today of a maintenance crew buttoning up the outside of the building. When I took the picture I ran into a sort of supervisor who shared some of what is going on (at least as much as he knows).

 

According to this guy, "everything is on the table" as for the next use of the building. Even some major hotel chains are showing interest. Or possibly turning it into condos such as those across the street at 2016 Main Street. Or maybe a plan more similar, smaller rental units, to what was shown to the City.

 

The major problem with the building wasn't the homeless as "No one really cares about them. They get in, one or two at a time, and do what they wanted but didn't impact anyone else." The problem is what, when I was a kid, were called juvenile delinquents. They get in with groups of a dozen or more and party and break things and then got into the habit of throwing rocks from the top floors. One projectile hit a HPD cruiser and the City quickly became very involved. The guy talking to me said that's why things are happening quickly now. "Either take care of it or the City will take it."

 

The company behind the recent activity is not the Chicago company but a company that has developed hotels in Houston.  I don't know if they are working with the Chicago company or on their own or something in between. I don't even knows who really owns the building.

 

The guy says that a decision on what to do has been slowed by the COVID world but a final decision is likely before the end of the year.

 

The long strange history of this building continues.

 

So... nothing.

 

[Eastdwntwn]

37 minutes ago, Brooklyn173 said:

 

 

 

This is a picture from today of a maintenance crew buttoning up the outside of the building. When I took the picture I ran into a sort of supervisor who shared some of what is going on (at least as much as he knows).

 

According to this guy, "everything is on the table" as for the next use of the building. Even some major hotel chains are showing interest. Or possibly turning it into condos such as those across the street at 2016 Main Street. Or maybe a plan more similar, smaller rental units, to what was shown to the City.

 

The major problem with the building wasn't the homeless as "No one really cares about them. They get in, one or two at a time, and do what they wanted but didn't impact anyone else." The problem is what, when I was a kid, were called juvenile delinquents. They get in with groups of a dozen or more and party and break things and then got into the habit of throwing rocks from the top floors. One projectile hit a HPD cruiser and the City quickly became very involved. The guy talking to me said that's why things are happening quickly now. "Either take care of it or the City will take it."

 

The company behind the recent activity is not the Chicago company but a company that has developed hotels in Houston.  I don't know if they are working with the Chicago company or on their own or something in between. I don't even knows who really owns the building.

 

The guy says that a decision on what to do has been slowed by the COVID world but a final decision is likely before the end of the year.

 

The long strange history of this building continues.

 

Thanks for the update! 

[Houston19514]

Just to fill in a little additional information gleaned from the Downtown TIRZ meeting:

 

It sounds like Phoenix has the building under contract, but has not yet closed on it (as of mid-August).

 

They are working with consultants etc to try to come up with best mix of units/pricing.  The initial plan as shown above was mostly micro and studio units and a mix of affordable and market rate.  They are looking at increasing the number of 1 bedroom units and also possibly increasing the percentage of affordable units.

 

They are aiming to minimize the amount of "ask" from public bodies, hoping to not ask for any (other than HUD financing based on affordable housing and Oppportuniy Zone tax benefits).

 

Yes, it is an Opportunity Zone project. (Contrary to the implication above, just being in an Opportunity Zone does not make a project an Opportunity Zone project; but this one is.)

 

They are definitely addressing the student housing market.  They specifically talked about it being an ideal location to provide housing for students at multiple area universities (UH-D, UH, Rice, TSU, St Thomas), Medical Center employees, downtown employees, including hotel employees...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 18, 2020 by Houston19514

[wilcal]

Holy bananas how did I miss all of the updates to this thread over the last 3 months. 

 

 

I always thought that the small room sizes in this property may be a challenge, but it would be fantastic to add some pricing variation to downtown (and even Midtown). 

 

Based on room size, a hotel makes the most sense, but this area needs residents and not temporary guests imho. People that can take advantage of the YMCA next door and if the NHHIP and the city develops the land the Pierce Elevated land into parks or whatever, that there are more residents that are nearby. 

 

You have to think that the new BRT lines connect with the downtown transit center, so this might be one of the best transit-connected blocks in the city. Could be direct BRT to the Galleria/HSR/IAH, direct LRT to NRG/Med Center/UHD and LRT->BRT/LRT connection to TSU, UH, the other sports stadiums, etc.

[cspwal]

It will be very well connected, but I think the BRT will connect at Central Station (for Inner Katy) and Wheeler (for University line)

[wilcal]

3 hours ago, cspwal said:

It will be very well connected, but I think the BRT will connect at Central Station (for Inner Katy) and Wheeler (for University line)

 

Wheeler is a no-brainer for University, but Central Station is so annoying for Inner Katy/IAH. I really think that they should integrate 2 stations. Preston and Convention would be a nice combo imho and would allow easy connections while also offering super easy Discovery Green/Convention center access for IAH BRT.

[cspwal]

I didn't even consider that - BRT could go extend to the convention center

[Houston19514]

14 hours ago, wilcal said:

 

Wheeler is a no-brainer for University, but Central Station is so annoying for Inner Katy/IAH. I really think that they should integrate 2 stations. Preston and Convention would be a nice combo imho and would allow easy connections while also offering super easy Discovery Green/Convention center access for IAH BRT.

 

I think they are a long ways from having made any decisions about the end-point, stops, and connecting points for the IAH BRT.  From the MetroNext website:  "NOTE: During the course of the implementation of METRONext, exact routes of the METRORapid and METRORail connections shown will only be decided and finalized after an extensive community involvement process."

[wilcal]

11 minutes ago, Houston19514 said:

 

I think they are a long ways from having made any decisions about the end-point, stops, and connecting points for the IAH BRT.  From the MetroNext website:  "NOTE: During the course of the implementation of METRONext, exact routes of the METRORapid and METRORail connections shown will only be decided and finalized after an extensive community involvement process."

 

It can't be too much longer! Inner Katy BRT/elevated HOV funding from HGAC is set for 2021 fiscal year. Even if two-way HOV on 45 won't be done for a decade due to NHHIP, the cost to implement BRT to IAH is relatively low. Just skip the planned red line extension station until that's finished and build the BRT stations at Greenspoint and IAH. Not much community involvement needed on where to plan these specific items. 

 

Also, maybe they'll finally close Main St to cars and they can make a cool BRT station. 

[HouTXRanger]

26 minutes ago, wilcal said:

 

It can't be too much longer! Inner Katy BRT/elevated HOV funding from HGAC is set for 2021 fiscal year. Even if two-way HOV on 45 won't be done for a decade due to NHHIP, the cost to implement BRT to IAH is relatively low. Just skip the planned red line extension station until that's finished and build the BRT stations at Greenspoint and IAH. Not much community involvement needed on where to plan these specific items. 

 

Also, maybe they'll finally close Main St to cars and they can make a cool BRT station. 

Honestly, I'm more excited that the BRT sharing stations with the green/purple lines might finally get the city to make those lanes dedicated transit instead of turn-only. Anything to improve the slog through all those lights for the train . . .

[wilcal]

12 minutes ago, HouTXRanger said:

Honestly, I'm more excited that the BRT sharing stations with the green/purple lines might finally get the city to make those lanes dedicated transit instead of turn-only. Anything to improve the slog through all those lights for the train . . .

 

It would really be incredible. However, I remember reading about how someone, maybe downtown district(?) made them promise to keep the lanes accessible to cars. It's been awhile, and clearly downtown tirz is acting progressively (bagby st rebuild) so who knows!

 

I wish Metro would be more forthcoming with their potential plans.

[Houston19514]

This proposal is still alive.  Downtown TIRZ had a LOI on their agenda (presumably approved) stating its intent to provide some TIF for the project.  The developer also has gotten an LOI from the Houston Housing Finance Corporation.  The developer will use these LOI to help them put together the whole financing package for the project.  (86 affordable and 342 market-rate units).  The affordable units are a mix of 64 studio, 17 one-bedroom and 5 two-bedroom units that will be affordable to tenants at 50% of area median income.

 

[downtownian]

 

I think it’s strangely beautiful 

[Specwriter]

On 10/1/2021 at 7:23 PM, downtownian said:

 

I think it’s strangely beautiful 

In that lighting I agree.

[hindesky]

That metal chimney is waiting for the right amount wind to rain down on somebody.

[zaphod]

A thread about this building was the first thing I ever posted on this forum, which was the second-ever internet thing I ever signed up for, in 2005, when I was in 11th grade.

Now I am 34 and on the same forum I am still seeing pictures of this POS. When are they going to blow it up.

[BEES?!]

I just wanna know how it could be structurally sound after all this time. 

Also there’s a forest springing up on the roof. New rooftop vertical park when?😎

Edited October 17, 2022 by BEES?!

[EllenOlenska]

I like this rectangle filled up with little rectangles and will be cheering for it until it falls into the sea

[hindesky]

[hindesky]

[hindesky]

[BEES?!]

It sounds like someone may have purchased this building and intends to do a conversion on it. 
 

From the Downtown TIRZ board of directors meeting on Jan 10th 2023 

(Page 148)

Highlight: Within the month of December, CHI was approached by a local developer to help inform an investment & development group from NYC regarding the potential acquisition and conversion of a major Downtown Houston asset which has sat vacant for years.
CHI's research lead and executive team spent approximately 20 hours responding to their research requests, including items such as the residential pipeline, historical population trends, and projected tax liabilities, and forecasts for potential development support tools. CHI management understands that the group closed on the property on Dec 31 and intends to advance the project.

I can’t think of another “major downtown asset” that’s sat vacant for years that would be suitable for conversion. Am I missing any?

Edited January 12 by BEES?!