Marriott Marquis: GRB Convention Center Hotel At 1777 Walker St.

[LTAWACS]

Ah... thanks

[Nole23]

This looks to be back on the drawing board.

"A 2008 proposal to bring another major convention center hotel to downtown is back on the drawing board.

The details of the plan are a little different this time around, but the goal is the same: at least 1,000 rooms in a high-rise hotel on a parcel that mirrors the Hilton Americas across Discovery Green park.

Houston First, an independent corporation that runs the George R. Brown Convention Center, Hilton Americas and other city-owned buildings, has hired Georgia-based Strategic Advisory Group to help craft a formal request to developers who design, build, own and finance the new hotel.

The hotel would be part of a larger mixed-use development that could include commercial, residential and retail space."

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2011/12/3268/

[wxman]

Also in the news today is the revival of a 1,000 room high-rise hotel opposite DG from Hilton. This is great news indeed!

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2011/12/3268/

[Montrose1100]

I was wondering when the second Hotel would come along... How many years have we seen renderings and maps showing this? Great new indeed! I hope it will be tall & beautiful.

Edited December 17, 2011 by Montrose1100

[Talbot]

Let's hope for a great design!

[Jax]

I hope it won't look like the Embassy Suites!

[totheskies]

So what main line hotel chains are not in downtown yet? Maybe a Conrad??

[Montrose1100]

Maybe Trump will build some gaudy tower since the NOLA one is on hold?

[Houston19514]

So what main line hotel chains are not in downtown yet? Maybe a Conrad??

Starwood has nothing downtown... Westin perhaps.

Omni is going big in convention center hotels these days, especially in Texas.

There is no main line Marriott.

[lockmat]

not sure if this means much, but Ralph said they officially started looking for a developer

http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/03-08-12-its-full-speed-ahead-for-new-convention-center-hotel-in-houston-and-its-going-to-be-one-of-the-biggest-hotels-in-texas/

[editor]

It looks like the second convention center hotel is moving forward.

Houston First (which runs the GRB) says 11 companies have expressed interest in developing the hotel. Among them are the usual suspects -- Hines, Trammell Crow, Omni Hotels, etc...

"We are ready to roll up our sleeves and begin the review of these development teams," said Ric Campo, who chairs the board. "Undertaking a project of this magnitude requires a team with a proven track record of success, financial strength and a vision of Houston's future.

The development team chosen by Houston First will also be asked to propose commercial and residential space as part of the hotel project.

Linky

[ricco67]

Thanks ed!

One thing that jumped out at me is the expansion of the GRB to the south.....Does that mean they're going to shut down that street on the south side?

[lockmat]

I'm happy Hines is in the race. I hope they win it.

[Nate99]

All very interesting. I grabbed this rendering from the link in the link.

A downtown without surface lots. Crayzay!

Edited April 24, 2012 by Nate99

[Nole23]

"The development team chosen by Houston First will also be asked to propose commercial and residential space as part of the hotel project. That's part of a new master plan for the Convention District that was unveiled earlier this year."

This will be huge for the street scene in that part of downtown. Street level restaraunts, bars, and other retail mixed with resident and hotel space will be awesome.

[TheNiche]

In that rendering, long shadows are being cast from north to south. That seems about as credible as what the rendering is depicting.

[ricco67]

Looking at the rendering made a couple of things pop out:

The hilton hotel is going to either be part of the grb, our will be demolished and replaced with the the expansion.

The garage on the northern end is going to have to allow room for the light rail since out os going to cut through a corner of that block.

There are going tip be massively tired people at the end of the day as people walk to the hotel on the back end of the grb unless there is a very efficient shuttle circling that massive structure.

[Nate99]

In that rendering, long shadows are being cast from north to south. That seems about as credible as what the rendering is depicting.

Maybe if they can drum up the billions in investment pictured, they can tilt the earth too. If they're taking requests, I'd like our weather to be like San Diego.

Edited April 24, 2012 by Nate99

[Houston19514]

Looking at the rendering made a couple of things pop out:

The hilton hotel is going to either be part of the grb, our will be demolished and replaced with the the expansion.

The garage on the northern end is going to have to allow room for the light rail since out os going to cut through a corner of that block.

There are going tip be massively tired people at the end of the day as people walk to the hotel on the back end of the grb unless there is a very efficient shuttle circling that massive structure.

I presume you meant the HIlton Hotel garage, not the HIlton Hotel itself? Yes, the Master Plan calls for removing that garage and replacing it with additional convention center space. The hotel itself survives, as is clearly depicted in the rendering.

Yes, the Master Plan discusses the need for the north-end garage addition to accommodate the MetroRail line on the ground floor.

[Houston19514]

Thanks ed!

One thing that jumped out at me is the expansion of the GRB to the south.....Does that mean they're going to shut down that street on the south side?

No. The convention center addition will go over Polk Street.

[LTAWACS]

It's prolly just the sun reflecting off the chase tower. that's why the angle is wierd.

[totheskies]

I presume you meant the HIlton Hotel garage, not the HIlton Hotel itself? Yes, the Master Plan calls for removing that garage and replacing it with additional convention center space. The hotel itself survives, as is clearly depicted in the rendering.

Yes, the Master Plan discusses the need for the north-end garage addition to accommodate the MetroRail line on the ground floor.

So it'd be Houston's version of "Mockingbird Station"?? That solves the major retail component right there. Factor in increased retail need from nearby Dynamo games, and you've got a good recipe for retail in the area.

[TheNiche]

So it'd be Houston's version of "Mockingbird Station"??

No. It'd be our version of our city.

[woolie]

I read the entire master plan a week or so ago. Polk is a key thoroughfare and one of the few links that GRB doesn't already block. They discuss that they can't close it, and how it complicates GRB expansion by needing to go over it. (Maybe they could build an underpass.. haha.) Anyway, that part of the rendering is quite far distant future. They clearly emphasize the need for all the new hotel space to exist before they would consider another expansion.

[woolie]

So it'd be Houston's version of "Mockingbird Station"?? That solves the major retail component right there. Factor in increased retail need from nearby Dynamo games, and you've got a good recipe for retail in the area.

Mockingbird Station is Memorial CityCenter with a commuter rail station.

[LTAWACS]

It also looks like they moved the old calpine tower to old chinatown.

[houstonartstudent]

I know this isn't in the right category, but are they ever going to put a lighted "E" at the top of the Embassy Suites in the little crown on top?!

[travelguy_73]

While I like the idea of expanded convention business, I wish that Discovery Green wasn't going to be completely fenced in by large buildings, with little in the way of amenities for park-goers.

[Houston19514]

what would you like to see around the edges of the park in the way of amenities for park goers?

[editor]

In that rendering, long shadows are being cast from north to south. That seems about as credible as what the rendering is depicting.

Well, if that's the worst problem it has, then I'd call it a success.