East River: Mixed-Use Development By Midway

[HoustonMidtown]

More dirt work on the far east side

 

[Naviguessor]

There is a marine construction company setting up in that area as well, for bulkhead work and bank stabilization.  

[cougarpad]

On 7/2/2021 at 2:06 PM, HoustonMidtown said:

More dirt work on the far east side

 

If it was not for Houston's flooding this development would be perfect to build up the river front on one side be built up like the San Antonio River Walk. 

[arche_757]

Flooding was partly the reason San Antonio built the River Walk.  Obviously they don’t know how to flood like we do!

[Highrise Tower]

East River Building F Site and Foundation. Building is a total of 5 floors above grade.

[JBTX]

I've noticed some poles being planted around the property for what looks like an impending construction fence.

[j_cuevas713]

The building fronting the bayou is going to be first for Phase 1

Edited August 5, 2021 by j_cuevas713

[samagon]

so roughly here on the googs:

https://www.google.com/maps/@29.7626221,-95.3401902,18.58z

very cool.

[ljchou]

There are basically no permits in this system for East River yet

[sapo2367]

1 hour ago, ljchou said:

There are basically no permits in this system for East River yet

The project screenshot above lists a start date of 10/15/21, when would you expect to see permits to meet that date? I'm just curious what sort of lead time is needed typically.

[ljchou]

4 hours ago, sapo2367 said:

The project screenshot above lists a start date of 10/15/21, when would you expect to see permits to meet that date? I'm just curious what sort of lead time is needed typically.

From what I've seen from other businesses most are almost instantaneous but I would expect them to get plan review requests in a few weeks early.

Edited August 6, 2021 by ljchou

[thedistrict84]

They’re making some progress on the golf course.

 

[Highrise Tower]

East River Building F Core & Shell.

[Urbannizer]

[hindesky]

Hard to see thru the shrubbery but there is a barge doing shore pilings on the East End's river bank.

[thedistrict84]

21 hours ago, hindesky said:

Hard to see thru the shrubbery but there is a barge doing shore pilings on the East End's river bank.

I just walked through there this morning and noticed the same thing. Do you go through those paths on your bike? A portion of the path is unpaved through there, and it gets a bit rough. 

[hindesky]

6 hours ago, thedistrict84 said:

I just walked through there this morning and noticed the same thing. Do you go through those paths on your bike? A portion of the path is unpaved through there, and it gets a bit rough. 

I rode up to the barge, and turned around. I've been further east in the past and yes it becomes a dirt trail. First time I rode I felt uncomfortable because it looked like a homeless encampment. This time I saw several people walking with dogs and 1 bike rider so it felt much more comfortable. I always get off at Talente Bilingue because 2 sets of people have been mugged with guns for their bikes, phones and wallets near Clayton Homes.

Edited August 16, 2021 by hindesky

[JBTX]

3 hours ago, hindesky said:

I rode up to the barge, ad turned around. I've been further east in the past and yes it becomes a dirt trail. First time I rode I felt uncomfortable because it looked like a homeless encampment. This time I saw several people walking with dogs and 1 bike rider so it felt much more comfortable. I always get off at Talente Bilingue because 2 sets of people have been mugged with guns for their bikes, phones and wallets near Clayton Homes.

Yeah, I bike and walk the area often. East of Jensen along the bayou is fine, though parts are unpaved still. Never had any problems. West of Jensen near Clayton Homes is not great, as noted.

[ljchou]

There are fences up on the Jensen portion of East River property.

[HoustonMidtown]

On 8/14/2021 at 4:44 PM, hindesky said:

Hard to see thru the shrubbery but there is a barge doing shore pilings on the East End's river bank.

The other side of the bike path from this has all been cleared out - is this where there will be a bridge going over the bayou ?

 

 

[hindesky]

[samagon]

On 8/20/2021 at 6:08 PM, HoustonMidtown said:

The other side of the bike path from this has all been cleared out - is this where there will be a bridge going over the bayou ?

 

 

I didn't know a ped/cycle bridge was planned on the east side? awesome if so.

[JBTX]

1 hour ago, samagon said:

I didn't know a ped/cycle bridge was planned on the east side? awesome if so.

Two ped/cycle bridges, if I recall. One near Hirsch and one just east of Middle.

[Naviguessor]

There are a few bridges indicated in the BBP's Eastern Sector Masterplan.  But I doubt that this is what is going on here and now.  There has been working going on the north and south banks of the bayou in this area.  It could be that the foliage was cleared for equipment access or perhaps a connecting trail.  But, I think it is still early for a pedestrian bridge in this area.  

[ljchou]

[EastEndHeritage]

This morning I saw a big tent and what appeared to be catering trucks. Groundbreaking, maybe?

[Montrose1100]

36 minutes ago, EastEndHeritage said:

This morning I saw a big tent and what appeared to be catering trucks. Groundbreaking, maybe?

Yeah there's an ABC13 article about "Houston's Riverwalk"?

 

 

Quote

Thursday's groundbreaking kicks off the first of four phases of a project designed to bring a flurry of activity to the area.

The development is in Fifth Ward across the bayou from Minute Maid Park

Tee-hee.

https://abc13.com/east-river-project-development-houston-buffalo-bayou/10977069/

 

[ljchou]

A day I thought might never arrive!!!

[Naviguessor]

Been waiting eight years for this.  Purchased my home over here because of what this property appeared to offer...long before Midway was involved.  Planted a pine tree shortly after moving in, which was 5' tall... is now 30' tall. 

[Checo2021]

Does anyone knows who’s going to be the General Contractor for this project?

[ljchou]

One of the first confirmed leases I've heard of is Broham Grocery (a small box, artisan bodega currently in north Houston). Owned by Chef Jonny Rhodes of Indigo. He also owns Food Fight Farms. His mission is to combat the lack of food availability in lower socioeconomic communities.  He's specifically targeting the fifth ward as the primary community served with this new location.

Excited he'll be a member of the community.

https://www.instagram.com/broham_groceries/?hl=en

[Naviguessor]

Can anyone get around the paywall in the Hou Biz Journal? 

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2021/08/26/midway-east-river-breaks-ground-new-tenants.html

Curious about the new tenants.  

 

[samagon]

Quote

Houston-based commercial architecture firm Method Architecture will occupy 9,000 square feet in East River 1 (Building C). The firm currently has offices in Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio.

Teal, which provides a cloud-based system for delivering hot water to buildings without water heaters, has leased 12,000 square feet in the same building for its new corporate headquarters. The company currently has offices in Missouri City, Austin, Dallas, Atlanta and Denver.

Finally, the owners of The Astorian event venue near Sawyer Yards will open a new 20,000-square-foot private event space and rooftop bar in Trail Head 1 (Building F). The yet-to-be-named event space will include a ballroom, bride and groom suites, and an outdoor wraparound deck with panoramic views of downtown Houston and Buffalo Bayou.

and this

Quote

Negotiations are currently underway for another 30,000 square feet of office space and 31,000 square feet of retail space. 

 

[Houston19514]

3 minutes ago, Naviguessor said:

Can anyone get around the paywall in the Hou Biz Journal? 

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2021/08/26/midway-east-river-breaks-ground-new-tenants.html

Curious about the new tenants.  

 

Per the HBJ article:  

Houston-based commercial architecture firm Method Architecture will occupy 9,000 square feet in East River 1 (Building C). 

Teal, which provides a cloud-based system for delivering hot water to buildings without water heaters, has leased 12,000 square feet in the same building for its new corporate headquarters. 

Finally, the owners of The Astorian event venue near Sawyer Yards will open a new 20,000-square-foot private event space and rooftop bar in Trail Head 1 (Building F). The yet-to-be-named event space will include a ballroom, bride and groom suites, and an outdoor wraparound deck with panoramic views of downtown Houston and Buffalo Bayou. 

[77011transplant]

I am very excited for all of this. Now let's build quickly! 

[Tumbleweed_Tx]

[texan]

Model posted by TEAL on Facebook  

[tangledwoods]

Quote

Teal, which provides a cloud-based system for delivering hot water to buildings without water heaters

My interpretation of that really stupid sentence:  They use drones to scoop up hot Buffalo Bayou water and drop it on your house....

 

[sapo2367]

I know every news outlet wants to compare this to the River Walk, but the more I see of this, the more I am reminded of The Pearl redevelopment. Not that this is a bad thing though -- they did a great job making that a fun destination :)

[Tumbleweed_Tx]

this kind of reminds me of the Las Vegas Town Square, which is on Las Vegas Blvd south of 215. The only things this will have that LVTS doesn't have is residential units and the bayou. It's too close to the runway at McCarran for residential.

[feedvaulter]

Houston East End Chamber appears to have accidentally shared some confidential information about potential retail tenants on their Facebook post related to the groundbreaking... see third image on linked post below [update: looks like the pic was removed, lol]

https://www.facebook.com/houstoneastendchamber/posts/4270379686380622

Edited September 2, 2021 by feedvaulter

[EastEndHeritage]

24 minutes ago, feedvaulter said:

Houston East End Chamber appears to have accidentally shared some confidential information about potential retail tenants on their Facebook post related to the groundbreaking... see third image on linked post below

https://www.facebook.com/houstoneastendchamber/posts/4270379686380622

Some of these tenants have been known for awhile. There was a file on the Midway site that appeared to have been uploaded by accident. It is somewhere in this tread probably towards the beginning of the year.

[Naviguessor]

There doesn't seem to be much overlap from the list which was found/shared a few months back.  Here is what I can see from HEEC photo.  It's not all readable:  

Proposed:

1. Ace Bounce (a Ping Pong, shuffleboard, Beer Pong party bar) from Chicago...  mmmkay

2. Federal American Grill

3. Duo Coffee & Pliates

4. Cutthroat (Barbershop) 

5. Waterside or Watershed 

6. Plank

7. Orange Theory

8. Hopdoddy Burger Bar

9. HS

 

In Negotiation 

1. Ambriza (Social Mexican Kitchen)

2 Astorian (Event Space / Rooftop)

3. Lick

4. Urban Dental

5. ES

6. ??

 

 

 

[sapo2367]

On 2/1/2021 at 10:48 AM, ljchou said:

Text:

"White-boxed spaces are designed to lower the barrier to entry for these local makers.

The cost and complexity of managing a full-scale build-out if often why young brands avoid brick and mortar expansion.

The names on the merchandising plan are purely representation of categories and uses. There are multiple brands that could successfully serve our coffee, juice, or yoga needs but the key is the placement of each within the project.

Our immediate focus is on the larger users in office and retail building along Buffalo Bayou, as they will be early adapters and set the tone for the project considering the buildings adjacent to both the Central Plaza and Bayou connections.

Current Tenant Mix:

2k SF restaurant by Fifth Ward resident and Multi-nominee of the James Beard Award
4k SF cultural grocer/market
2k SF East End Barbershop
2.5k SF market of locally sources products from Fifth Ward retailers
10k SF Architectural Firm
20k SF multi-strategy holding company
5k SF ral estate development company
15k SF chain rooftop event space and cocktail lounge
3k SF bank
Preliminary negotiations are underway with tenants and build-to-suit opportunities.

Current On-Site Activations:

Moonstruck Drive-In Theater at East River specialized in first-run films and classics playing every Fri-Sun. In January on 2021, the drive-in will be a satellite location for the Sundance Film Festival. Additionally, the drive-in acts as the venue for monthly private events for non-profits, corporate and community functions.

East River Gold, a planned par-3 golf course with driving range and ice-house restaurant concept will be the eastern end of the property. Construction to begin 2021.

Plans are underway to bring a black-owned and operated urban farm to East River, offering access to fresh produce and community programming.

For y'all looking for the previous list

[Montrose1100]

30 minutes ago, Naviguessor said:

There doesn't seem to be much overlap from the list which was found/shared a few months back.  Here is what I can see from HEEC photo.  It's not all readable:  

Proposed:

1. Ace Bounce (a Ping Pong, shuffleboard, Beer Pong party bar) from Chicago...  mmmkay

2. Federal American Grill

3. Duo Coffee & Pliates

4. Cutthroat (Barbershop) 

5. Waterside or Watershed 

6. Plank

7. Orange Theory

8. Hopdoddy Burger Bar

9. HS

 

In Negotiation 

1. Ambriza (Social Mexican Kitchen)

2 Astorian (Event Space / Rooftop)

3. Lick

4. Urban Dental

5. ES

6. ??

 

 

 

Urban Dental would be very welcomed. And don't act like you and I wouldn't play pong at Ace Bounce... at least once.

[Naviguessor]

 

24 minutes ago, Montrose1100 said:

And don't act like you and I wouldn't play pong at Ace Bounce... at least once.

Ok.  Beer Pong.  

[mkultra25]

21 hours ago, Naviguessor said:

There doesn't seem to be much overlap from the list which was found/shared a few months back.  Here is what I can see from HEEC photo.  It's not all readable:  

Proposed:

1. Ace Bounce (a Ping Pong, shuffleboard, Beer Pong party bar) from Chicago...  mmmkay

2. Federal American Grill

3. Duo Coffee & Pliates

4. Cutthroat (Barbershop) 

5. Waterside or Watershed 

6. Plank

7. Orange Theory

8. Hopdoddy Burger Bar

9. HS

 

In Negotiation 

1. Ambriza (Social Mexican Kitchen)

2 Astorian (Event Space / Rooftop)

3. Lick

4. Urban Dental

5. ES

6. ??

 

 

 

Assuming Lick is the Austin-based premium ice cream shop (which appears to have expanded to San Antonio, so a Houston outpost certainly makes sense if they're continuing to expand their Texas footprint). Their ice creams have been available at H-E-B for a while now. 

https://www.ilikelick.com/

[corbs315]

Why are there so many Federal Grills? I've never been impressed.

[EastEndHeritage]

1 hour ago, corbs315 said:

Why are there so many Federal Grills? I've never been impressed.

The Trumpers got to eat somewhere I suppose. I went to the one in Rice Military several years back. It was empty and the food was bland and overpriced. Never went back and that was before the shenanigans from below.

https://houston.eater.com/2020/4/23/21232948/memorial-federal-grill-harris-county-reopening-coronavirus

Edited September 1, 2021 by EastEndHeritage

[thatguysly]

I went to a ping pong bar in Denver a few years back. It was packed and pretty fun. I figured one would show up here eventually.