kylejack Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 Phoenicia needs to sell food too. Also you might be surprised how much we downtown yuppies eat out. I'm really lazy. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KinkaidAlum Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 I'd imagine a lot of downtown business travelers eat room service or in the hotel lobby. Houstonians supposedly eat out more than citizens of any other American city. I'd imagine the average downtown resident eats out more than the average Houstonian. Demographics would likely back that up (higher incomes, more singles, more men, etc...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naviguessor Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Springhill Suites: No room Service. No Restaurant. Marriott Point Chaseres and convention goers. Will be eating most/all dinners close to hotel. On Good/reasonable budgets. Bodes well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Broadfoot Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 (edited) Phoenicia needs to sell food too. Also you might be surprised how much we downtown yuppies eat out. I'm really lazy. While I see the benefit of both sides, I must point out that my wife and I live downtown and spend on average $3500.00 a month eating out. Albeit, probably less than $500.00 is spent in the downtown area. However, with more new restaurants opening, we are starting to walk to dinner a little more. Edited March 29, 2013 by Andrew Broadfoot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted March 29, 2013 Author Share Posted March 29, 2013 If this hotel was going to be a high end hotel, then I might think the visitors would spend more downtown than Humble Tower Apartment residents. However, this is a mid-range hotel aimed at business travelers who will likely be on expense accounts. I doubt folks staying at Spring Hill Suites on a Wednesday night will be checking out shows at the Hobby, dining at Artista, or even drinking at LaCarafe. People who choose to live downtown right now do so either because they need to be very close to their office or they are drawn to downtown living. People drawn to downtown are MUCH more likely to explore, spend, and visit than a mid-range business traveler. Travelers, even mid-range travelers are much more likely to explore and spend at restaurants 2-3 times a day than even the most intrepid downtown apartment resident. Apartments have kitchens in which some people cook meals (or at least thaw a frozen something brought home from the grocery store.) People staying in hotels, even if they have a kitchen in their rooms, most often eat out every meal of the day during their stay. Plus, the fact is, the hotel will almost certainly have more people residing in it than the apartments do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted March 29, 2013 Author Share Posted March 29, 2013 I'd imagine a lot of downtown business travelers eat room service or in the hotel lobby. Houstonians supposedly eat out more than citizens of any other American city. I'd imagine the average downtown resident eats out more than the average Houstonian. Demographics would likely back that up (higher incomes, more singles, more men, etc...) Room service at a Springhill Suites Hotel? Get serious, man. Springhill Suites offers free breakfast. The rest of the day, downtown restaurants get the benefit. You cannot make a serious case that this conversion will be bad for downtown restaurants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Room service at a Springhill Suites Hotel? Get serious, man. Springhill Suites offers free breakfast. The rest of the day, downtown restaurants get the benefit. You cannot make a serious case that this conversion will be bad for downtown restaurants. Since the Marriott offers room service to Humble Tower residents currently, I see no reason why they wouldn't also offer room service to Springhill Suites. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livincinco Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 This seems like an awful lot of analysis dedicated to the economic impact of the loss of 82 residence units. If that loss of revenue has a severe impact on downtown restaurants (especially considering all of the current upside) then they were probably going out of business anyway. There are two major residential projects in the near future and a major city initiative to support future development of that kind. Downtown's population is growing. Even in the worst case scenario, this is a minor setback. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nole23 Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 I agree with livincinco. Everyone knows that downtown needs more residents and hotel rooms. So the fact that we are adding 166 more hotel rooms is a plus. While losing 88 apartments is a minor setbeck, SkyhouseHouston (336 apts) and Finger's Ballpark apts (380-400 apts) will add ~720 units over the next couple of years. Also the old Texaco building will be renevated into apartments in the near future. Keep calm and carry on... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
infinite_jim Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Awesome news! Now I can use their pool in the summer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted March 29, 2013 Author Share Posted March 29, 2013 (edited) Since the Marriott offers room service to Humble Tower residents currently, I see no reason why they wouldn't also offer room service to Springhill Suites. Okay, got me on the room service. But you and KinkaidAlum are kind of stepping on your message there. Earlier KinkaidAlum told us that people who will stay at a Springhill Suites are on tight budgets so will supposedly not be able to spend enough to benefit downtown restaurants (as if all downtown restaurants are uber-expensive). Now we are to believe that those travelers won't go to restaurants because they are blowing their money on room-service meals? Which is it, guys? Tight-fisted travelers apparently going hungry or expense account spendthrifts living it up on room service? ;-) Edited March 29, 2013 by Houston19514 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KinkaidAlum Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 I am not against the Spring Hill Suites. I like the idea of a midrange hotel option downtown and do think it will add to the overall vibrancy of the area. That said, I simply wish it wasn't coming at the expense of a wildly successful apartment building. It's not as if there's a shortage of vacant lots downtown for Spring Hill/Marriott to build on. Or, even better, why not put a Spring Hill Suites in a vacant building. There are several of those languishing on the market as well. yeah, I know this location makes sense for Marriott because there's already a Residence Inn and Courtyard on site, but it still doesn't mean I have to like it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniepwils Posted April 3, 2013 Share Posted April 3, 2013 Most of the Humble Tower people are doing one of two things: Buying a home in the burbs or finding another place in downtown/Eado/Midtown.I have looked at a few places, my number one is Sabine Lofts, well now called Marquis on Sabine. The Marquis Management seems to be a legit management company. They do a lot of things for their residents at the Marquis Lofts on Runnels street right outside of downtown in east downtown. There are probably about 130 people in Humble Tower (I think there are about 8 kids in the building)As far as eating out habits of Humble Tower residents. Most of the residents here do eat out majority of the week, but we don't eat in downtown all the time. Maybe one or two days a week do people eat downtown. Thursdays, Friday's and Saturdays are when a group of us will go out. Usually drinks followed by dinner. Most places we drink at are in downtown or midtown. A few of my neighbors are only in Houston during the work week and have homes outside of the city somewhere. As of today Sterling Group (Management Company for the entire building, including the hotels) has not given any of the residents an official notice. Sterling hasn't even been officially told about the plan to turn the building into a hotel. They are just not allowed to extend leases after 12/31/2013. All leases end before that with the exception of two leases. Mine ends 8/31, but they are allowing me to stay month to month after that at no additional cost. I just need to give them a 60 day notice as when I intend to leave. October 31st is what I am aiming for. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
totheskies Posted April 4, 2013 Share Posted April 4, 2013 Thanks for the first-hand info!! Most of the Humble Tower people are doing one of two things: Buying a home in the burbs or finding another place in downtown/Eado/Midtown.I have looked at a few places, my number one is Sabine Lofts, well now called Marquis on Sabine. The Marquis Management seems to be a legit management company. They do a lot of things for their residents at the Marquis Lofts on Runnels street right outside of downtown in east downtown. There are probably about 130 people in Humble Tower (I think there are about 8 kids in the building)As far as eating out habits of Humble Tower residents. Most of the residents here do eat out majority of the week, but we don't eat in downtown all the time. Maybe one or two days a week do people eat downtown. Thursdays, Friday's and Saturdays are when a group of us will go out. Usually drinks followed by dinner. Most places we drink at are in downtown or midtown. A few of my neighbors are only in Houston during the work week and have homes outside of the city somewhere. As of today Sterling Group (Management Company for the entire building, including the hotels) has not given any of the residents an official notice. Sterling hasn't even been officially told about the plan to turn the building into a hotel. They are just not allowed to extend leases after 12/31/2013. All leases end before that with the exception of two leases. Mine ends 8/31, but they are allowing me to stay month to month after that at no additional cost. I just need to give them a 60 day notice as when I intend to leave. October 31st is what I am aiming for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted April 4, 2013 Share Posted April 4, 2013 Some are buying in the burbs? Seems strange. I guess they're not the same ones that already have the homes there. Why are they going from one extreme to the other? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniepwils Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 Some are buying in the burbs? Seems strange. I guess they're not the same ones that already have the homes there.Why are they going from one extreme to the other? Starting families. Or at least the ones I have talked to. Well one of my good friends when they first moved in thought they had a mini pot belly big. He was the size of a teacup puppy. Fours years later he is now the size of mastiff! He weighs over 150 pounds and is quite aggressive if he doesn't know you and you don't have food to give him. There is no where in the downtown area that will take him. ~ Buying a house seems like the best option for them right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted April 10, 2013 Author Share Posted April 10, 2013 Starting families. Or at least the ones I have talked to. Well one of my good friends when they first moved in thought they had a mini pot belly big. He was the size of a teacup puppy. Fours years later he is now the size of mastiff! He weighs over 150 pounds and is quite aggressive if he doesn't know you and you don't have food to give him. There is no where in the downtown area that will take him. ~ Buying a house seems like the best option for them right now. or selling a pig. ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 Starting families. Or at least the ones I have talked to. Well one of my good friends when they first moved in thought they had a mini pot belly big. He was the size of a teacup puppy. Fours years later he is now the size of mastiff! He weighs over 150 pounds and is quite aggressive if he doesn't know you and you don't have food to give him. There is no where in the downtown area that will take him. ~ Buying a house seems like the best option for them right now.It seems like the people described that live there should have the dough to live in town and send their kids to private school if they wanted. Of course I don't know the details. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 The place wasn't too pricy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 The place wasn't too pricy.Oh ok, I was going off what Andrew Broadfoot said in earlier post that he and his wife spend 3500 a month on eating out. Guess he is the exception. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 When I was looking about 2 years ago I think they had a 1 BR for maybe $1000 or thereabouts? Very reasonable for downtown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KinkaidAlum Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 1 bedrooms, as of a few months ago, were in the $1300 range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniepwils Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 So my last day here is this coming Saturday. The building is at about 30% capacity. Most of everyone will be gone by next month. There are a few people that have leases until the end of January. The new owners want them all out by December. I found two weeks ago that initially Sterling Group (the joke of a management company) told those that do have a lease until the end of January that they are willing to put them up in the hotel that month. Today we found out that the management company is now asking that the residents also pay their rent while living in the hotel. Needless to say that isn't going to happen. Does anyone know if they can legally kick anyone out just because they want to start construction? Also can they even start construction/renovations with tenants still occupying the building? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(Otto Mation) Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 Patrick Feller has added a photo to the pool: Now Marriott Courtyard SpringHill Suites View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(Otto Mation) Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 Patrick Feller has added a photo to the pool: Now Marriott Courtyard SpringHill Suites View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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