East River: Mixed-Use Development By Midway

[Timoric]

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Edited July 11, 2019 by Timoric

[Triton]

20 hours ago, Timoric said:

Nice Haunted Halloween Field look to the foreground - Field of Screams!

 

We all float around here. 

[rechlin]

[houstontexasjack]

Well, I guess the HQ2 sweepstakes was not lost on Midway. That, or maybe their folks are just really big fans of the "amazing" Mets.

[HoustonMidtown]

http://swamplot.com/a-sign-of-amazon-interest-in-houstons-east-river/2017-10-06/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+swamplot+(Swamplot%3A+Houston's+Real+Estate+Landscape)

 

 

[HOUTEX]

http://swamplot.com/the-fifth-ward-building-with-amazons-wall-street-name-and-jeff-bezoss-fast-action-concept-in-lights/2017-10-09/

 

Edited October 10, 2017 by HOUTEX

[79ta]

DAY 1?

[HoustonMidtown]

3 hours ago, 79ta said:

DAY 1?

 

From the article: 

 

Day 1 is the name assigned successively to 3 different Amazon buildings in Seattle, the latest a new 37-story downtown tower that itself features a lit-up sign on its lower floors that reads HELLO WORLD. Day 1 is also a common catchphrase in the company, a reminder to itself, among other things, to focus on outcomes rather than process and to make decisions quickly,even if you have less information available than you’d like.

[Naviguessor]

Have a look at the brochure now. First concept of the property layout. 

Edited October 22, 2017 by Naviguessor
Inaccurate

[Naviguessor]

EastriverHTX.com

[Triton]

11 hours ago, Naviguessor said:

EastriverHTX.com

 

[rechlin]

Now the KBR building is lit up with "STROS":

 

 

[mcook2002]

these guys are doing an awesome job marketing this site. kudos to them.

[Mr.Clean19]

13 hours ago, Triton said:

 

I saw this too. A couple of takeaways.... There is no through street to the east end. I thought that Gregg Street would connect to Middle Street. Also I may be reading too much into this but I think you can see from the Squares with Open Spaces in the middle, where they plan on having Apartments. The multi-building plots along Clinton must be retail/commercial. Most office buildings looks to be located closer to the bayou or to the east. 

[EllenOlenska]

It seems like a street grid. That's good. 

[Houston19514]

49 minutes ago, Mr.Clean19 said:

I saw this too. A couple of takeaways.... There is no through street to the east end. I thought that Gregg Street would connect to Middle Street.

• Quote

 

That of course would require the construction of a bridge over Buffalo Bayou.  The Hirsch and Jensen Street bridges at the east and west ends provide through streets to the east end.

 

There also appear to be perhaps 4 pedestrian bridges.

[Naviguessor]

Hey Mr Clean.

I think that you at correct about the "Squares with open spaces" being apartment buildings.  The large Standard sized blocks in each one of these square seem to have shadows, so I bet that that would indicate mid-rise with parking beneath.  Or .  The small plots along Clinton look to me like, townhomes/single family.  Without any parking in their vicinity, I doubt that they would be retail fronts.  The western edge looks like small retail, where the NE corner appears to be Grocery store and other retail pads. 

[H-Town Man]

15 hours ago, Triton said:

 

 

A few thoughts.

 

1. As Ellen said, the street grid is a good sign, especially as it links with the existing street grid outside the site.

2. Development looks dense, which is good news but will take awhile if it's really built out like this (big if). There are probably as many multi-family units in here as there are in all of Midtown currently.

3. Looks like we might get a good walkable retail street with an urban village atmosphere. The natural candidate for this would be Clinton Drive, but since there is no zoning, you have no idea what will happen across the street. Development must turn inward.

4. This could be what Regent Square should have been, only with less of a high street fashion orientation.

5. Success will be driven by Buffalo Bayou improvements and townhome developments outside the site to help establish the neighborhood and support retail.

6. Looks like they are probably hoping for a corporate campus or perhaps an education/research campus as the anchor on the eastern end. Of course any educational campus would be limited to UH, since the local political wolves will chase off any of the big $ state universities.

 

[EllenOlenska]

*what Regent Square will be in fifty-five years 

[HOUTEX]

A big difference of course being that Regent Square is still separated from Buffalo Bayou Park by Allen Parkway. East River touches the (future) park directly. 

[Mr.Clean19]

2 hours ago, Naviguessor said:

Hey Mr Clean.

I think that you at correct about the "Squares with open spaces" being apartment buildings.  The large Standard sized blocks in each one of these square seem to have shadows, so I bet that that would indicate mid-rise with parking beneath.  Or .  The small plots along Clinton look to me like, townhomes/single family.  Without any parking in their vicinity, I doubt that they would be retail fronts.  The western edge looks like small retail, where the NE corner appears to be Grocery store and other retail pads. 

Probably just my preference but I think they have an opportunity to get rid of the classic grocery store with the 500 parking spaces on this site. They should have made it more central to the site to allow better walkability. Also do something like Phoenician and mix in a Wine bar on top with a great downtown view. I think they will have trouble filling the NE corner though.

 

You are probably right about the townhomes too. Which would mean there would be a lot!

[79ta]

for some perspective: city centre is about 47 acres while regent square is just 23 acres and this site is an astonishing 150 acres

 

city centre is already nearing 13 years old   it's almost complete but still growing.

regent square is coming up on 10 years old and there's not much to say... 

hopefully AMZN will come in and, along with midway, build this site out quickly

[UtterlyUrban]

3 hours ago, 79ta said:

for some perspective: city centre is about 47 acres while regent square is just 23 acres and this site is an astonishing 150 acres

 

city centre is already nearing 13 years old   it's almost complete but still growing.

regent square is coming up on 10 years old and there's not much to say... 

hopefully AMZN will come in and, along with midway, build this site out quickly

Today is Tuesday.  If this were China, that 150 acre plot of raw land would be 100% built and ready for occupancy by Friday.  Of course, no one would be living there but that is another story all together!

Edited October 24, 2017 by UtterlyUrban

[Timoric]

-

Edited July 11, 2019 by Timoric

[htownbro]

Amazon HQ2 will come and towers will rise on the east end.  H-town skyline will get more density

[UtterlyUrban]

If the second Amazon HQ comes here, Amazon workers will have a choice:  1) constant rain or 2) constant heat.

 

at least they would get consistency.

[bobruss]

Me thinks a Canadian city will get it. Toronto or Vancouver.

[Houston19514]

2 hours ago, UtterlyUrban said:

If the second Amazon HQ comes here, Amazon workers will have a choice:  1) constant rain or 2) constant heat.

 

at least they would get consistency.

 

... he posts on a beautiful October day when it is 73 degrees in Houston and 62 and sunny in Seattle.

 

Hopefully, Amazon workers will deal more in reality than in myths.

[htownbro]

3 hours ago, UtterlyUrban said:

If the second Amazon HQ comes here, Amazon workers will have a choice:  1) constant rain or 2) constant heat.

 

at least they would get consistency.

 

They would prefer constant heat because we have AC and pools!

Edited October 24, 2017 by htownbro

[htownbro]

1 hour ago, bobruss said:

Me thinks a Canadian city will get it. Toronto or Vancouver.

 

I think Amazon will shock people and pick a city that is not a frontrunner...hopefully Houston! 

[htownbro]

"Business officials agree Houston looks to be a good choice for the corporate giant to set up its second headquarters; among other benefits, the city’s proximity to Austin could attract tech talent.

 

Houston offers a growing talent pool of young professionals with several universities, colleges and tech trade schools in town – a check for Amazon’s search for locations meant to “attract and retain strong technical talent.”

 

Houston additionally well exceeds the minimum population requirement of 1 million outlined by Amazon as one of its guidelines.

 

The recent growth in population means diversity and talent, and a large workforce to hire from; real estate, though suffering with damage from Harvey, is still favorable, as there is plenty of land and plans to grow in Houston.

 

The city, furthermore, is located close to major airports and airlines, railroads and shipping lines, all modes of transport helpful for Amazon to get its products out more quickly.

 

To make the sell sweeter, Houston is part of Texas’ “business friendly culture” and happy “quality of life,” with the city offering tax breaks to businesses in the area and putting in serious work on things, like parks, cultural institutions and restaurants, in recent years."

 

WE WIN!

[bobruss]

1 hour ago, htownbro said:

 

I think Amazon will shock people and pick a city that is not a frontrunner...hopefully Houston! 

I hope your right but I think Houston, and Texas  has not shown that they are ready for the types of things Amazon is looking for. 

Too much conservative bathroom talk. Dan Patrick

Not enough plans to complete the rail system      John Culberson

Too much flooding

 

 

Edited October 24, 2017 by bobruss

[htownbro]

2 minutes ago, bobruss said:

I hope your right but I think Houston, and Texas  has not shown that they are ready for the types of things Amazon is looking for. 

Too much conservative bathroom talk. Dan Patrick

Not enough plans to complete the rail system      John Culberson

Too much flooding

 

 

 

We have more space and available land.  Bezos will come back home. 

[Naviguessor]

8 minutes ago, bobruss said:

I hope your right but I think Houston, and Texas  has not shown that they are ready for the types of things Amazon is looking for. 

Too much conservative bathroom talk. Dan Patrick

Not enough plans to complete the rail system      John Culberson

Too much flooding

 

 

BINGO!

[htownbro]

Dan Patrick doesn't run Houston.  I wonder what Houston put in proposal.  Why are they mum on this?  I'd be happy if Generation Park got it as well.  Either way East River will be developed regardless.  

[HOUTEX]

Leave the bathroom politics in the past and quit beating dead horses. 

[Gary]

3 minutes ago, HOUTEX said:

Leave the bathroom politics in the past and quit beating dead horses. 

Agreed.

 

[intencity77]

8 hours ago, HOUTEX said:

Leave the bathroom politics in the past and quit beating dead horses. 

 

Tell that to the local and state Repugs in power constantly beating that dead horse. Large companies like Amazon definitely take these state sponsored discrimination issues very seriously, especially when considering a large headquarters facility. 

[HOUTEX]

8 hours ago, intencity77 said:

 

Tell that to the local and state Repugs in power constantly beating that dead horse. Large companies like Amazon definitely take these state sponsored discrimination issues very seriously, especially when considering a large headquarters facility. 

 

I didn't think this was the Amazon thread. As I recall several posts from this thread were deemed inappropriate and moved to that thread when the Amazon RFP originally went out, including the aforementioned subject (circa Sept. 10). I'm in agreement with the disdain for a needless bill like what was being championed by the Lt. Gov., but this thread doesn't seem like the appropriate place to reopen that subject. 

[Mr.Clean19]

Agree with HOUTEX, I want more discussion on the layout on the site.

[HOUTEX]

http://swamplot.com/former-brown-root-building-3-moving-on-from-amazon-lure-to-world-series-contention/2017-10-24/

 

THE LIGHTS have been changed again in the vacant office building at the center of Midway’s newly renamed East River site on Buffalo Bayou in the Fifth Ward. The 12-story former Building 3 on the KBR campus the development firm bought last year has progressed from referencing Amazon minus a couple of vowels to spelling out our city’s well-accomplished hometown baseball team minus its initial A. 

 

 

Edited October 25, 2017 by HOUTEX

[Mr.Clean19]

Wow @CrockpotandGravel good find. How did you find out that they were tied?

 

Also, something that I noticed is that the park they have identified on the mid-western portion along the Bayou is about the only portion of the site that falls within the 500-year flood plain. I think they will lower this to the bayou as a boat dock or the open patch to the north could be used for the infamous swimming hole.

 

 

[HOUTEX]

https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/abandoned-building-lights-up-with-messages-new-future-for-property/285-547077836

 

For some perspective, the 65-block chunk that encompasses East River is more than four times larger than what might be Midway’s best-known development: CityCentre.

 

“It basically is going to be a town, but it’s going to be a town that was conceived and developed and executed intentionally to be a pedestrian-oriented walkable community,” says Hightower.

 

Even as Midway beats back the jungle, it’s planting a forest. The property is now home to roughly 300 trees, which were uprooted by construction along Post Oak Blvd.

 

“These are trees that we will then transplant throughout the project as we develop,” Hightower explains. “We’ll use them for street trees and park trees.”

Edited May 3, 2018 by HOUTEX

[Triton]

3 hours ago, HOUTEX said:

https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/abandoned-building-lights-up-with-messages-new-future-for-property/285-547077836

 

For some perspective, the 65-block chunk that encompasses East River is more than four times larger than what might be Midway’s best-known development: CityCentre.

 

“It basically is going to be a town, but it’s going to be a town that was conceived and developed and executed intentionally to be a pedestrian-oriented walkable community,” says Hightower.

 

Even as Midway beats back the jungle, it’s planting a forest. The property is now home to roughly 300 trees, which were uprooted by construction along Post Oak Blvd.

 

“These are trees that we will then transplant throughout the project as we develop,” Hightower explains. “We’ll use them for street trees and park trees.”

You know, I should have given up on Regent Square long ago, but if we do lose Regent Square, it's good knowing we at least have Midway with this development because, considering their track record, I think they have a good chance on actually delivering this project and not over a decade from now.

[TexasArchitect]

I drove by this area the other day, and am curious to everyone's thoughts to what will happen to the neighboring communities. 

 

Since the plan looks like midway is looking to develop a "town" within the 150 acres... would the neighboring area (specifically east of Hirsch Rd.) stay as is? Or would that get gentrified?

 

Also, I see architect on record for the project is Gensler. Any updates in general to the master planning of this east river project?

[jmitch94]

If it gets built there is a 100% chance of gentrification. 

[Visitor]

6 hours ago, jmitch94 said:

If it gets built there is a 100% chance of gentrification. 

Exactly. People are aware that gentrification is a market outcome and not a planned activity in most cases, right?  As an area becomes more desirable, the limited inventory increases in price and lower income residents either take the inflated offers or fall victim to being priced out of the area. 

Edited May 21, 2018 by Visitor

[I'm Not a Robot]

5 hours ago, TexasArchitect said:

Any updates in general to the master planning of this east river project?

 

 

AFAIK, They are supposed to release more information regarding this later in the summer but I guess we will have to see as time goes on. I haven't heard of any updates since the pitch to Amazon.  If they do end up coming through with the plan, I  hope that they break ground sooner than later.   If I recall, it's going to be built in phases, so it would be nice to see them actually get started on the first phase.

 

Whichever grocery store decides to build on the East Side near downtown first is going to get a lot of business quickly because everyone seems to travel to the HEB on Alabama or Kroger in the Heights. I think phase I will include a grocery store. Maybe Amazon will put a Whole Foods there after being pitched for HQ2. 

[j_cuevas713]

I'm so excited about this. What are the chances a light rail line goes straight there or an extension of the Green line?

[Mr.Clean19]

Why get light rail when you can have a Gondola to Downtown? Hopefully plans are released soon. They have been suspiciously quiet lately. If you ever need an update on what is going on, you just need to go to The New Potato across the street from the site. The owner Paul can fill you in.