Nate99 Posted February 7, 2014 Share Posted February 7, 2014 (edited) They have brought in and/or are building on site the steel reinforcement for concrete forms to be poured. Edited February 7, 2014 by Nate99 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tumbleweed_Tx Posted February 7, 2014 Share Posted February 7, 2014 They have already removed two feet of dirt from sections of the site. In going to guess we're in a prep stage for the new Hilcorp tower Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monarch Posted February 7, 2014 Share Posted February 7, 2014 please pardon me... but am i the only one, that thinks that this incognito activity is a bit weird... just saying. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 please pardon me... but am i the only one, that thinks that this incognito activity is a bit weird... just saying. It's almost.... it's almost as if they found something... maybe... just maybe, they found Thor's hammer, Mjölnir. Redevelopment of Main pdf shows the layout of the new office tower here: http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/29592-main-st-improvments/?p=448813 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
por favor gracias Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 please pardon me... but am i the only one, that thinks that this incognito activity is a bit weird... just saying.Bigfoot. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 The size of the building is 406,600 square feet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 Bigfoot.Excalibur. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClutchCity Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 (edited) The size of the building is 406,600 square feet.Urbannizer you're incredible at finding out all this information! Great job and keep it up. :] Do you remember what thread Hoothrewpoo gave us an estimate on the size on? I don't remember exactly but I thought she estimated 300-400k. Pretty close! Would be nice to have more insider information from her, plus we need an update on how the 2nd Chevron tower's deadline was affected by their recent decisions. Sorry for rambling! Edited February 8, 2014 by ClutchCity 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avossos Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 I like the building. Did Hines sign on for this? What's their role here, if any? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shasta Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 I like the building. Did Hines sign on for this? What's their role here, if any? Hines is a developer. While they do "develop" some of their own buildings they also make a living by performing "development services" for business or equity sources. I guessing, in this case, the company hired them to oversee the development stages of their building, or some arrangement where they will be the tenant. I don't the exact specifics of their involvement of this one but I do know it is not a speculative development. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 Don't they also do building management? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 For anyone doubting if this is under construction, it 100% is. I'll post pics when I get home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 It's almost.... it's almost as if they found something... maybe... just maybe, they found Thor's hammer, Mjölnir. Redevelopment of Main pdf shows the layout of the new office tower here: http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/29592-main-st-improvments/?p=448813 Note that they are closing Main Street in front of the tower and turning it into a plaza, like Main Street Square. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 Yeah, that's awesome. I wonder if/when they will close off the block in front of the Main Street square north station, to have a full 3 blocks closed off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
por favor gracias Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 Emporis says it will be 346 feet tall. http://www.emporis.com/city/houston-tx-usa/all-buildings/5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 Yeah, that's awesome. I wonder if/when they will close off the block in front of the Main Street square north station, to have a full 3 blocks closed off. Probably tougher since there's a little bit of street parking for Kirby Lofts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downtownian Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Probably tougher since there's a little bit of street parking for Kirby Lofts. At the Main Street TIRZ meeting, they ruled out closing off the north bound side precisely because of this reason (vehicles needing access to the front of a residential building) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sky-guy Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Is part of Main still going to be closed off to cars? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Is part of Main still going to be closed off to cars? From the schematics I've seen, yes. Main is to undergo some renovations itself (even though it is only 10 years old) and one of the key things is to close off this small section of Main: http://downtownhouston.org/site_media/uploads/attachments/2014-02-07/140203-Main_St-Public_Mtg_Presentation-SM.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonIsHome Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 They should have planted densely along Main in mainstreet square. Lots of big thick trees with hanging moss. Then the water feature should have been landscaped with sLopping grass covered mounds. Make it look like the train is navigating a bayou. It is the Bayou City after all. The fountains were a good idea, but it never seems to be working. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fernz Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 They should have planted densely along Main in mainstreet square. Lots of big thick trees with hanging moss. Then the water feature should have been landscaped with sLopping grass covered mounds. Make it look like the train is navigating a bayou. It is the Bayou City after all. The fountains were a good idea, but it never seems to be working.The fountains were meant to be a splashy feature (pardon the pun) to be showcased during the Super Bowl. They served their purpose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 "Let us think that when we build, we build forever." Read that somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fernz Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 "Let us think that when we build, we build forever." Read that somewhere.That would be nice. Not in Houston though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avossos Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 That would be nice. Not in Houston though. You're right. Certainly not in terms of the cheap townhouses they are throwing up. But I would say inside the loop, most large scale buildings are starting to take a hint and truly invest in sustainable and lasting structures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 The problem with the fountains is that they function by shooting nice pretty arcs of water. However, those nice pretty arcs have a habit of getting blown around and onto the sidewalks, aggravated by the Venturi effect created by the nearby buildings. Whoever came up with the design didn't think through its practical effects. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 What is the deal? Those fountains are operating most of the time, by far. (Except for the video wall fountain which I have not seen working even one time... that should be torn out.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brhaltx Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 It's almost.... it's almost as if they found something... maybe... just maybe, they found Thor's hammer, Mjölnir. Redevelopment of Main pdf shows the layout of the new office tower here: http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/29592-main-st-improvments/?p=448813 They probably found the bunker beneath the building. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
infinite_jim Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 That first shot is totally rad! Looks like a completely different city. I have a soft spot for super 80's buildings and the one on the left and 1801 really do it for me. Like the background of the second level of sonic on the original sega.Sorry for that last part, it's a great shot, and we might not see that same angle for a really long time. Thank you for taking time to shoot it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tellez1984 Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 Another view, Dallas Street side (construction fence is at the bottom of the pic): 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate99 Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 Really good view of the work from the top of the old Foley's garage: Near the Milam/Dallas corner, you can see where they are framing up a big rebar "cage". No idea what that does. More toward Lamar, you can see a big terraced excavation with what looks like a concrete bottom. I'm not sure that is is though, could just be the ground prepped really well for whatever is going on top of it. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 Near the Milam/Dallas corner, you can see where they are framing up a big rebar "cage". No idea what that does. could it be the pad site for the crane? thats the corner for the fountain/plaza area so there wont be any structure there that the crane could get in the way of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate99 Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 could it be the pad site for the crane? thats the corner for the fountain/plaza area so there wont be any structure there that the crane could get in the way of. I didn't think of that, that makes a lot of sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 wait. i was wrong on which corner that was (just noticed greenstreet in the background), but still, i would think it would probably be the pad site for the crane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClutchCity Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 Do we know how many underground levels this thing has? It seems like they are done digging and then they just keep going! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobruss Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 I have a couple of questions about the image of the excavation above.1. What Is the hole to the left of the terraced sunken area with the yellow x across it?2. Will the excavation clear the lot to the bottom of the terraced level. I know they'll leave the driveway in until they're finished with the excavation so the dump trucks and loaders can get out.This is going to be fun to watch.I count at least 7 cranes up once all these projects get going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoninATX Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 (edited) Not sure, but the 2 pads could be for the crane tower(s). Edited February 13, 2014 by JoninATX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tumbleweed_Tx Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 I'd say the square hole covered with caution tape is a crane pad, as is the hole in the lower right side of the pic. y'all's angle is better than the one I get from the top o the Pavilion's garage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate99 Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 I'd say the square hole covered with caution tape is a crane pad, as is the hole in the lower right side of the pic. y'all's angle is better than the one I get from the top o the Pavilion's garage The hole with the rebar is fairly close to the Dallas/Travis corner of the property, It's hard to say, but the big terraced hole could even be a crane pad too given how much the building curves back away from the Travis/Lamar corner. I was walking by there yesterday and had a minute, so I just went up the elevator in the old Foley's garage. I don't know why I had not done that earlier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 I'd say the square hole covered with caution tape is a crane pad, as is the hole in the lower right side of the pic. y'all's angle is better than the one I get from the top o the Pavilion's garage I just noticed on the site plan that it references the possibility of Main closing on the west side. No way the city would consider that unless they planned on retail or a major entertainment venue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 I just noticed on the site plan that it references the possibility of Main closing on the west side.No way the city would consider that unless they planned on retail or a major entertainment venue.actually at the Main Street planning agenda meeting or w/e the thread in the downtown subforum was started about, they talked about closing that section of Main St several times.. and is there not retail along the Main side of the garage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 actually at the Main Street planning agenda meeting or w/e the thread in the downtown subforum was started about, they talked about closing that section of Main St several times.. and is there not retail along the Main side of the garage?I know, but this site plan is months old an nobody ever noticed it.And I don't know about the retail . From what I remember everyone was just speculating because it's hard to tell from the renderings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 what do you mean no one ever noticed it lockmat? as for the "ground floor retail" i mentioned in the quote, yeah that was just my assumption because it looked like store fronts and people walking around the area, and i know the city wanted that intersection to be retail on all four corners. since people are too lazy to click links.. lolMain street side with ground floor retaildid anyone else notice this..?"extension of pedestrian walkway if Main Streets 1 lane of traffic is closed".. maybe that idea to close main street to traffic was more serious than we thought? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 I just noticed on the site plan that it references the possibility of Main closing on the west side.No way the city would consider that unless they planned on retail or a major entertainment venue. Why not? The current Main Street Square at the Reliant tower doesn't have street level retail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 heres the presentation from the Main Street Improvements meeting.. about 2/3rds the way down under Main Street Square: Improvements it talks about closing the block in front of Block 256, and has aerial renderings of what the closed off block would look like.http://downtownhouston.org/site_media/uploads/attachments/2014-02-07/140203-Main_St-Public_Mtg_Presentation-SM.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tumbleweed_Tx Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 Crane is going up.. I'll post a picture later 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 Why not? The current Main Street Square at the Reliant tower doesn't have street level retail.Good point, but I'm sure they're hoping closing off the street would encourage it though, right?Also, I just realized this site is the next block over from the square, so it doesn't seem totally unreasonable. Still, I'm curious what Hilcorp's justification would be other than, "why not, the next block over is," unless there is retail. Even then, I'm not sure it makes sense. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 That section of street doesn't serve much purpose besides serving as a place to do u turns from Lamar over to Dallas, so getting rid of it won't effect much.I still say that's most likely retail along the bottom of the garage on main. Idk why they would have the cut out/overhang like that with the big clear windows just to see into a parking garage.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 Good point, but I'm sure they're hoping closing off the street would encourage it though, right?Also, I just realized this site is the next block over from the square, so it doesn't seem totally unreasonable. Still, I'm curious what Hilcorp's justification would be other than, "why not, the next block over is," unless there is retail. Even then, I'm not sure it makes sense. Maybe it wasn't Hilcorp's decision. It is part of the plans of Downtown Management District. Anyway, just like Main Street Square, closing the road off to cars can create a better pedestrian environment. Main Street Square has trees for shade and etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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