The Mix: Mixed-Use Project Planned for two blocks in Midtown (formerly 3001 Louisiana)

[DrLan34 1874]

Edit.

Edited February 14, 2013 by DrLan34

[samagon 2600]

It gets uncomfortably warm at worst for both cities. Chicago at least has wind that can make it pleasant in the middle of summer. Both cities also cool down significantly at night too. 

 

 Houston gets hot... like the feeling on your face after opening an oven that's been on for 3 hours. My best sense of comparison is when I go cycling. In Chicago I could manage a 40 mile ride mid-day in the summer. In Houston; I'll normally get heat stress after about 15 miles if I did a mid-day ride in open sunlight in August. (even with a camelback/waterbottle). Ive lived here for 4 years and my bodies ability to acclimate to the heat still hasn't caught up.   . I dont complain though--- The winters here are faaaantastic. I havent turned my heater on once this winter!

 

As a friend who relocated from the north east said, and I feel it can't be repeated enough...

 

you don't have to shovel the heat.

 

being able to wear flip flops 365 days a year is a plus as well.

[woolie 121]

How hot does it get in NYC and Chicago in the summer time? Is it humid there?

 

I've been to NYC in the summer, and it's miserable. Miserable in winter, as well. That's not where I'm planning to move  Hint: I'm a scientist and software developer.

Edited February 27, 2013 by woolie

[capnmcbarnacle 90]

How hot does it get in NYC and Chicago in the summer time? Is it humid there?

Good question. I have been really, really hot in those cities in the summertime, and I've also had to put on a jacket at night on occasion. So I decided to look up the data and compare. No doubt those places get their share of brutal days, but the intensity and duration of the summer are different. I'm posting the average High/Low that I found.(rounded up or down). Their June, August and September is more like our April and October. Their July is like our May. If it never got worse than May around here, I bet we'd see a lot more walking.

NYC

April 61/44

May 71/53

June 81/63

July 85/68

August 83/66

September 77/60

October 67/51

Houston

April 79/61

May 86/68

June 91/74

July 94/75

August 95/75

September 90/72

October 82/62

[KinkaidAlum 2402]

There's nothing worse than a hot and humid August in NYC.

 

First, the city stinks. Literally. The foul smells can become overwhelming.

 

Second, so many places still have no A.C. or bad A.C. Sitting next to a brick oven in an old building in SoHo with no ac when it's 85+ outside sucks. 

 

My old Boston townhome used to not have ac. It was a brick building and all it would take was 2 consecutive days of 80+ degrees for it to heat up like an oven. My thermostat hit 92 once.

[swtsig 2631]

people who use the "it gets too hot in houston during the summer to walk" excuse are just flat out lazy. it gets damn hot in NYC during the summer AND they're winters are atrocious, something houstonians do not have to worry about at all. grow a pair.

[ChrisPHous 78]

My personal favorite is when people in Dallas complain about the heat in Houston...

[largeTEXAS 278]

Rendering and plan of Senterra's proposed building for Van Loc block: 

Edited October 8, 2014 by largeTEXAS

[H-Town Man 3870]

Nice façade treatment, and good to see what appears to be GFR.

 

Is it city requirements that make the parking garages for these so big (same with the Mid Main office building), or is it that developers want extra parking for retail patrons, or do you just need that much parking for such a small building?

 

[Montrose1100 2892]

Looks nice! I really like the colors and the set backs. Is that why Van Loc closed? "Retirement".  

 

Edit: Looks like a nice little cluster of mid-rises are sprouting around HCC.

Edited October 8, 2014 by Montrose1100

[xsatyr 71]

So what happens to Van Loc? I like that place.

[lockmat 2106]

I'm liking the tiers.

Seems like basically the same project as some other one close by that I can't remember the location of - the one with a ugly garage and small office on top - but ten times better...done right.

[Fortune 572]

Nice to see Midtown get some proposals with height.

[monarch 2993]

BIG.  BODACIOUS!  simply perfect, as per the right place at the right time.  midtown is on fire!

[cloud713 3722]

i wonder how long before the surrounding plots get redeveloped. this looks great, it just seems like the GFR might be a little slow until it gets some better neighbors.

[Avossos 1504]

Edit: Looks like a nice little cluster of mid-rises are sprouting around HCC.

 

I would say that this 15-18 story building would count as a high rise.

 

Anything over 10 stories is a high rise, right?

 

Low rise: 1-4

Mid rise: 5-10

High rise: 11-100+

[Luminare 4541]

Is this that same office building that is going up near that church and MATCH?

[cloud713 3722]

I would say that this 15-18 story building would count as a high rise.

 

Anything over 10 stories is a high rise, right?

 

Low rise: 1-4

Mid rise: 5-10

High rise: 11-100+

i think low rise is 1-3. mid rise gets a little tricky. ive always considered a 10 story a high-rise but it seems as though high-rises might start at 12 stories.

but yeah.. HCC, along with this proposal and the Mid Main office tower proposal, are all high-rises. wasnt there something else/a residential high rise or something rumored to be planned for the block south of the HCC garage? that area is definitely sprouting up.

[Triton 10417]

I knew it!!

Me and my girlfriend went to Van Loc last night since we didn't know what their last day was. I kept telling her there's no way this place was closing due to poor business because I've been there so many times and it's been packed. I said they had to have sold to a developer who was going to turn it into apartments. Even though that part was wrong, glad to see a nice new development head our way.

[cloud713 3722]

Is this that same office building that is going up near that church and MATCH?

lol, no.. similar proportions. though this one takes up a full block, that one only takes up half. this one looks better IMO even though its bulkier. i like the 3 staggered set back type things in the side of the office part. do i even see some greenery on some of the setbacks or is that just stuff inside the building showing through? i hope they make use of the top of the parking garage..

[Avossos 1504]

I knew it!!

Me and my girlfriend went to Van Loc last night since we didn't know what their last day was. I kept telling her there's no way this place was closing due to poor business because I've been there so many times and it's been packed. I said they had to have sold to a developer who was going to turn it into apartments. Even though that part was wrong, glad to see a nice new development head our way.

 

Triton, I go there all the time.

 

And I told my roommate, less than a week ago, that this had a limited life because the area was exploding around it. The lot they have is pretty great. And, what do you know? Just a couple days later... This.

[Triton 10417]

Is this that same office building that is going up near that church and MATCH?

No.

[cloud713 3722]

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/morning_call/2014/10/established-midtown-restaurant-closesas-new.html

[Fortune 572]

i wonder how long before the surrounding plots get redeveloped. this looks great, it just seems like the GFR might be a little slow until it gets some better neighbors.

Pearl is building a apartment building directly across the street plus their two other buildings to the SW of this site. One completed and the other planned where the social security office use to be. Also the Camden complex to the NE. I think the GFR will do well.

[Subdude 1470]

Nice façade treatment, and good to see what appears to be GFR.

 

Is it city requirements that make the parking garages for these so big (same with the Mid Main office building), or is it that developers want extra parking for retail patrons, or do you just need that much parking for such a small building?

 

You're right.  It's not bad-looking, but the parking block seems a bit overwhelming for the size of the building.  Even though it looks like it, I'm sure the garage won't be glassed in.

 

 

 

I was an early skeptic, but I'm amazed at the transformation of Midtown. 

 

 

[Montrose1100 2892]

You're right.  It's not bad-looking, but the parking block seems a bit overwhelming for the size of the building.  Even though it looks like it, I'm sure the garage won't be glassed in.

 

 

 

I was an early skeptic, but I'm amazed at the transformation of Midtown. 

It does look like it's glassed in. I know renderings are no guarantee but it looks like they gave an inch of thought into the overall design so hopefully it won't be exposed.

[bobruss 4524]

Going to miss their fried garlic tofu and spring rolls.

I hope they have owned the property since the beginning.

They should have enough to retire on. By the way the closing was mentioned in todays Swamplot.

[Luminare 4541]

You're right.  It's not bad-looking, but the parking block seems a bit overwhelming for the size of the building.  Even though it looks like it, I'm sure the garage won't be glassed in.

 

 

 

I was an early skeptic, but I'm amazed at the transformation of Midtown. 

 

You are right to be skeptical, but I assume it's to have enough parking for the retail requirement and not just the offices above. It would be nice if it could have gotten some leniency for being near the light rail....but I guess we still aren't at that point yet -.-

[arche_757 773]

^It is possible the developer wanted the number of spaces, and not the city?  Could be wrong?

 

I like it - its simple and clean and a new looking design for Midtown.

[Luminare 4541]

^It is possible the developer wanted the number of spaces, and not the city?  Could be wrong?

 

I like it - its simple and clean and a new looking design for Midtown.

 

It's not bad. It is certainly better than what we are seeing going up near Match. That's why I was so confused at first! It definitely is very sleek and clean almost matching the sort of "clean slat" persona that Midtown is taking on as it rapidly gentrifies.

 

Btw, is that Low-E glass I'm seeing on here? Why is the glass so green lol ? Maybe it's just the rendering, but maybe we are looking at a building pursing LEED certification? Just throwing that out there.

[Purdueenginerd 1212]

thats 3 rather large office buildings rather large for Midtown Houston (including Central square) under development/construction

I'm curious if this area is developing into a lower priced office market next to downtown. Either way, with the influx of people living & and working in midtown; it should increase pedestrian traffic in the area and increase the walk ability of the area. 

[Luminare 4541]

The fact that it needs that absurd amount of parking for just that one building!!! means we aren't even close to the walk ability you are mentioning, BUT it is a very good start Bringing more businesses to the area will at least make the area a tad less barren. Most of the development during this go around is mostly just infill and simply to fill existing holes where there is nothing there. The real change will come maybe 5-10 years from now when the next cycle will have more developments aimed at more what you and most of us would like midtown to be. Just getting people living/working in this area though is the first step. More sophisticated development comes later (this is actually many areas of Houston in general).

Edited October 8, 2014 by Luminare

[Purdueenginerd 1212]

Yeah, I imagine the parking requirements are based off of, 'cheaper' land than downtown and the developer doesn't expect most of the employees to walk there--- which is similar to downtown where most are coming in from elsewhere. This is relatively close to the light rail station as well. I used to live at the Camden Travis; easily walking distance. I think it would be interesting to see the utilization of parking for this development and the other midrise in midtown and see if future office developers alter their strategies. 

 

I think the other think that would be interesting, is if this complex would charge for parking for non-reserved people. Quite commonly I would see people park at the midtown superblock and take the train into reliant or towards downtown. 

[cloud713 3722]

The fact that it needs that absurd amount of parking for just that one building!!! means we aren't even close to the walk ability you are mentioning, BUT it is a very good start Bringing more businesses to the area will at least make the area a tad less barren. Most of the development during this go around is mostly just infill and simply to fill existing holes where there is nothing there. The real change will come maybe 5-10 years from now when the next cycle will have more developments aimed at more what you and most of us would like midtown to be. Just getting people living/working in this area though is the first step. More sophisticated development comes later (this is actually many areas of Houston in general).

well yeah.. how many people have access/ride METROrail..? 40k? how many people live in Midtown? no idea.. 10k? point being. the population isnt there yet. as of right now, for the office developments, many workers will have to commute in from somewhere in the city thats not connected by rail. it will be interesting to see what happens to the space in the future when the population gets there and all the parking isnt necessary anymore.

[LTAWACS 91]

Looks nice. About time midtown gets some proposals.

[Texasota 1717]

i like it, but i wish the garage access and loading docks were all off of Rosalie rather than Milam and Louisiana

[Purdueenginerd 1212]

well yeah.. how many people have access/ride METROrail..? 40k? how many people live in Midtown? no idea.. 10k? point being. the population isnt there yet. as of right now, for the office developments, many workers will have to commute in from somewhere in the city thats not connected by rail. it will be interesting to see what happens to the space in the future when the population gets there and all the parking isnt necessary anymore.

 

in August 2014 it was about 44,000 people per weekday, an 11.7 percent increase from last year. 

 

http://www.ridemetro.org/News/Documents/pdfs/Ridership%20Reports/2014/0814_Ridership_Report_FY14.pdf

 

page 18

 

And a few months ago I started to put together a spreadsheet from census results for inner loop houston, I havent finished it but here's the link

 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Yb0ikorR9cz-iIdfLkwNHbv8uWP4319VpG_5UgFA2XM/edit#gid=0

 

Midtown's population is around 20,000, but the census tracts overlap some with montrose and neartown, so that number is probably overstating the actual population of Midtown, In 2000, the same census tracts were around 17000

Edited October 9, 2014 by Purdueenginerd

[toxtethogrady 726]

Apparently, we REALLY jumped the gun on this one, as Swamplot is reporting only that there is a highrise being discussed on Reddit.

 

http://swamplot.com/midtowns-van-loc-will-lock-up-for-good-this-friday/2014-10-14/

[BigFootsSocks 2982]

Ummm no...? It says 16 story's and that's what the rendering shows.

[toxtethogrady 726]

It's not been publicized anywhere. I'm surprised no one at Swamplot got a look at the rendering.

[BigFootsSocks 2982]

Yeah but the first post on this topic was of a 16 story building, so i don't understand the confusion.

[Fortune 572]

Even more interesting is that according to the poster on Reddit, who confirms that it will be 16 story building with office and retail, also states that the developer is trying to get his office to move into the building so that the developer can purchase that block for another similar building. So that's another potential high rise for Midtown.

[lockmat 2106]

Ummm no...? It says 16 story's and that's what the rendering shows.

I believe 16 stories is considered a high rise.

[BigFootsSocks 2982]

I believe 16 stories is considered a high rise.

No I get that, he said we "jumped the gun on this one" but the very first post shows the 16 story "high rise" so I don't see what's changed.

[swtsig 2631]

i'd really like to see the Midtown TIRZ/district, perhaps the city to try and turn this part of Midtown into a tech hub, especially health care tech. there's obviously been a huge push from TMC to ramp up activity on more commercial aspects of the health care industry locally and Midtown is in a prime location to lure those types of companies. it's the most transist oreinted and pedestrian friendly part of town, it's directly between both TMC and the financial center of Houston (CBD) and Rice which has a huge incubator program, and the area is swimming with young professionals.... it makes too much sense not to take advantage.

[cloud713 3722]

i'd really like to see the Midtown TIRZ/district, perhaps the city to try and turn this part of Midtown into a tech hub, especially health care tech. there's obviously been a huge push from TMC to ramp up activity on more commercial aspects of the health care industry locally and Midtown is in a prime location to lure those types of companies. it's the most transist oreinted and pedestrian friendly part of town, it's directly between both TMC and the financial center of Houston (CBD) and Rice which has a huge incubator program, and the area is swimming with young professionals.... it makes too much sense not to take advantage.

Wow, I like your vision.. Midtown, a high tech hub!

[Houston19514 3202]

i'd really like to see the Midtown TIRZ/district, perhaps the city to try and turn this part of Midtown into a tech hub, especially health care tech. there's obviously been a huge push from TMC to ramp up activity on more commercial aspects of the health care industry locally and Midtown is in a prime location to lure those types of companies. it's the most transist oreinted and pedestrian friendly part of town, it's directly between both TMC and the financial center of Houston (CBD) and Rice which has a huge incubator program, and the area is swimming with young professionals.... it makes too much sense not to take advantage.

 

Maybe something like this?

 

[arche_757 773]

I think Swtsig wants to see more.  Houston Technology Center is great and has spawned a lot of new companies over the years (many of which LEFT town for greener tech pastures).  Keeping the majority of those tech companies would be great.

 

I'd love to see the Houston Endowment (or other philantropic orgs) give some millions to the Houston Tech Center to build another building that focuses on bio-tech/nano-tech and draw Rice into its umbrella.  Why not?  Perhaps one of these new office buildings would better suit them for expanded growth - this one or the other?  Could be the start of something big.

 

Maybe the developers know something we don't?  Hopefully so.

Edited October 14, 2014 by arche_757

[Houston19514 3202]

Not in Midtown, but nearby we also have this:

 

Texas Medical Center Life Sciences Accelerator

 

And Houston Technology Center already works very closely with Rice University.   If you asked them (either HTC or Rice) what they need most, I doubt it's another building.  What the Houston technology startup world probably needs most is local investors in the startups.

[arche_757 773]

Yes, but *how* involved is Rice?  Working "closely" with some one or some organization is often a misrepresentation.  I mean - if Rice had a goal of driving the Houston tech scene, they could.  HTC must have a few professors tied into their organization, but I truly wonder how important it is to the Rice heirarchy to support this more than just a little?

 

What I'd like to see:  HTC morphs into what the UH Energy Research Park is becoming.  Something truly serving as a catalyst for the area.  Yes, we have a lot more energy companies than tech firms, but why not see if Rice (and/or UH too) could push the HTC into a larger role?

 

And while I agree we don't need another building for the HTC (there are two now if memory serves me right), I'd love to see a need for additional buildings nearby that feed off of and with the HTC to grow that sector.

 

And the *new* Medical Center Accelerator is... well... new!  How many years ago did we hear about Texas Biomedical Park?  I realize a few of those buildings sorta happened south of TMC, but not to the level and size of what we should have given our clout and size in the medical world.  Compared to Boston its really sad actually.

Edited October 14, 2014 by arche_757