One Market Square: Proposed Office Tower For Block 43 - 800 Preston Street

[Houston?]

I'm crossing my fingers on all of these towers however. I don't trust any of these renderings or proposals.

[cloud713]

does anyone think International Tower will come out with their specs and more information now that the rendering has leaked? 

[Moore713]

does anyone think International Tower will come out with their specs and more information now that the rendering has leaked? 

 

Hines did, when main leaked, they played dumb then a few days later they confirmed it

[Houston19514]

Is it just coincidence that this building shrunk by almost exactly the amount 609 Main allegedly grew, almost at the same time? 

[brijonmang]

Is it just coincidence that this building shrunk by almost exactly the amount 609 Main allegedly grew, almost at the same time? 

 

Well I think they had already shrunk this down much earlier in the year....closer to when 609 Main was first leaked.  I would think that might have more to do with it than Hines adding a few floors.

[cloud713]

it would be awesome if someone photoshopped the tower to be closer in height to the 41 story version, but you can tell this will still be very prominent from the north side. this really needs to get built!

hope no one minds me posting this. it was on another site and the cropped version of this rendering has already leaked.

Edited August 1, 2013 by cloud713

[wxman]

I LOVE this building but hate the location. It doesn't mesh well AT ALL with the other buildings around it. It looks very alien---like it just doesn't belong. I think this building would be better suited for an area near DG or uptown. I think it is a GREAT addition but to be so bold and center like that would, IMO, take away from the north view skyline.

[xsatyr]

I LOVE this building but hate the location. It doesn't mesh well AT ALL with the other buildings around it. It looks very alien---like it just doesn't belong. I think this building would be better suited for an area near DG or uptown. I think it is a GREAT addition but to be so bold and center like that would, IMO, take away from the north view skyline.

 

Personally I think it works. Houston's downtown consists a mix of claddings anyway but it will blend in nicely with Group Place and Hines' new tower.

[houstonfella]

Personally I think it works. Houston's downtown consists a mix of claddings anyway but it will blend in nicely with Group Place and Hines' new tower.

 

Of course.  It will make a beautiful addition to the skyline.  In that area, though, would it be tunnel connected?

[swtsig]

I LOVE this building but hate the location. It doesn't mesh well AT ALL with the other buildings around it. It looks very alien---like it just doesn't belong. I think this building would be better suited for an area near DG or uptown. I think it is a GREAT addition but to be so bold and center like that would, IMO, take away from the north view skyline.

I don't even know what this means... Sound like you're complaining simply for the sake of complaining.

[largeTEXAS]

Of course. It will make a beautiful addition to the skyline. In that area, though, would it be tunnel connected?

Yes, there will be access to the tunnels. From what I hear, the entrance to the tunnels will be very public and accessible from the street (almost).

[102IAHexpress]

I LOVE this building but hate the location. It doesn't mesh well AT ALL with the other buildings around it. It looks very alien---like it just doesn't belong. I think this building would be better suited for an area near DG or uptown. I think it is a GREAT addition but to be so bold and center like that would, IMO, take away from the north view skyline.

 

The tower if built would be just outside the historic district so they are free to build what they want.

http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/HistoricPres/maps_of_districts/MainStMarket.pdf

But I agree it is out of place for that neighborhood.

 

That block would be better served with residential. But that's just my two cents.

[Houston19514]

I LOVE this building but hate the location. It doesn't mesh well AT ALL with the other buildings around it. It looks very alien---like it just doesn't belong. I think this building would be better suited for an area near DG or uptown. I think it is a GREAT addition but to be so bold and center like that would, IMO, take away from the north view skyline.

 

Proving once again that HAIFers are NEVER happy.

[xsatyr]

The tower if built would be just outside the historic district so they are free to build what they want.

http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/HistoricPres/maps_of_districts/MainStMarket.pdf

But I agree it is out of place for that neighborhood.

 

That block would be better served with residential. But that's just my two cents.

 

Mixed-use would have been great.

Edited August 2, 2013 by xsatyr

[ClutchCity]

I think office and retail counts as mixed-use.

[xsatyr]

Yeah sorry, was referring to residential/retail/office. My original post was completely different but I edited it in haste because I misread the post I quoted.

[TowerSpotter]

Either way there is some residential coming along in downtown such as the skyhouse, the 38 story tower replacing the Texaco, and marvy's residential near minutemaid

[shasta]

Either way there is some residential coming along in downtown such as the skyhouse, the 38 story tower replacing the Texaco, and marvy's residential near minutemaid

 

Don't forget Hines residential which will be in the same area as this tower, around Market Square.

[cloud713]

I just read per urbannizers post on another forum that this is scheduled to be "officially" announced later this year, with a projected ground breaking of next year? Has anyone else heard this?

[TowerSpotter]

Yea I think it was already mentioned here earlier, swamplot also says construction would start early 2014.

Edited August 3, 2013 by TowerSpotter

[LTAWACS]

Will that be too late?

[Texasota]

...for what?

[j_cuevas713]

I can't wait for all these buildings to be complete... SkyHouse, Hines new tower, Skanska replacing the Houston Club, the new Cheveron tower, and a couple mid-rise residential buldings. This is the development that will create a thriving downtown. Once we establish our city with a solid downtown, the media is going to swarm like crazy. I can already see it... we are the next great American city, finally gaining the respect we've deserved for years. We already have a ton of national news as the coolest city in America, we hold a top 10 public green space in Buffalo Bayou, the Super Bowl and Final Four, the list goes on and on. 

[TowerSpotter]

I can't wait for all these buildings to be complete... SkyHouse, Hines new tower, Skanska replacing the Houston Club, the new Cheveron tower, and a couple mid-rise residential buldings. This is the development that will create a thriving downtown. Once we establish our city with a solid downtown, the media is going to swarm like crazy. I can already see it... we are the next great American city, finally gaining the respect we've deserved for years. We already have a ton of national news as the coolest city in America, we hold a top 10 public green space in Buffalo Bayou, the Super Bowl and Final Four, the list goes on and on. 

 

I'm so excited too and I think all of these projects will be ready before the Super Bowl. Also the list of projects will grow as we get closer to the Super Bowl, which means we will have more than whats planned now.

[cloud713]

Agreed with both posts.. Very exciting times for Houston, and the list is sure to keep growing. I'm not sure I would consider a 38 story building to be a midrise though.. (New residential tower at Texaco redevelopment site), lol. Don't forget all the new hotels too.. The Marriott Marquis will be at least 30 stories. Can't wait for Houston 2017.. Downtown is going to be a completely different place.

Edited August 5, 2013 by cloud713

[nativehoustonion]

Just calm down, take a tablet.  Once the cranes are up all of us can meet at La Carafe and then wonder what is next!

 

[LTAWACS]

Texasota: For the project to survive.

[TowerSpotter]

Texasota: For the project to survive.

 

Would do you mean?

 

Edit: I am very confident this project will come out to the light.

Edited August 5, 2013 by TowerSpotter

[Howard Huge]

Would do you mean?

Edit: I am very confident this project will come out to the light.

I think he/she means will the project still be viable a year from now

[swtsig]

Texasota: For the project to survive.

please go back to not posting.

[LTAWACS]

Please go back to not making any sense.

Too many times projects like this are announced only to be shelved.

[Hugh Stone]

I don't have anything to say. I'm just posting so that no one else has to look at LTAWACS' post when they first open this thread.

 

Your welcome. 

[mfastx]

So I guess LTAWACS is back

[cloud713]

(Cue slim shady..) guess who's back... Back again...

Edited August 6, 2013 by cloud713

[LTAWACS]

Yes, I'm back. I'll be stopping by from time to time due to popular demand. Thanks!

[livincinco]

Yes, I'm back. I'll be stopping by from time to time due to popular demand. Thanks!

Wow! 15 words! That's like a whole novel from you. You're a changed man/woman/child!

[Gary]

Yes, I'm back. I'll be stopping by from time to time due to popular demand. Thanks!

 

Hilarious! You "liked" your own post.

[lockmat]

Hilarious! You "liked" your own post.

That was me.

He made me laugh

[cloud713]

unless lockmat is secretly LTAWACS... 

[brijonmang]

unless lockmat is secretly LTAWACS... 

 

Definitely not.  I've met Lockmat, there's no way he could play that charade for that long.  It's just not in him.

[lockmat]

unless lockmat is secretly LTAWACS... 

 

haha!

 

I just enjoy a good laugh.

[j_cuevas713]

A lot of projects have been shelved in the past, because lets be honest, after the oil bust back in the day Houston was a scary place for investors. Now that we have gained some national spotlight for once, the city is getting the projects that we deserve. Investors and developers are taking a new chance on Houston. And this time around we are more stable than ever. What you go through only makes you stronger, and Houston is a stronger city. Here's proof, Skyhouse, Discovery Green, etc. etc. etc. We hadn't had development downtown in almost 25 years before Minute Maid Park was built. I'm glad the city forced them to build downtown. Actual city planning is a beautiful thing.

[Hugh Stone]

The new jobs, population gain and demand for office space doesn't hurt either.

[nativehoustonion]

chron.com has a graft how much construction is happening around the country and absorption and we are number 1. It's under Business.

[BayouCityMan]

@j_cuevas

To expand on what you ere saying . . . This was such a different place 25 yrs ago, even despite the oil bust. The city was very much in it's modern day infancy. For those who have been here all this time, I think it's safe to say that this is the most diverse our economy has ever been. Yeah Oil and Medical still power this town but in 25 years we've added a much bigger legal, logistical, and manufacturing base than we had back then. I'd say banking has stayed about the same although BBVA Compass really seems to be setting up shop. I wouldn't be surprised if more major worldwide banks give this place a long look in the next 20 years. And to think, they project another 2 million people here within 20 years.

And yeah, a little planning and some beautification do go a long way. I can't think of a single more transformative project in the last 25 years than the East side of downtown. I remember going there in the early 80s and seeing the utter dereliction. I credit MMP somewhat and Discovery Green mostly. The GRB was all alone out there previously and never really did anything for that side of downtown. My only lament is that Discovery Green isn't twice as large.

[fatesdisastr]

chron.com has a graft how much construction is happening around the country and absorption and we are number 1. It's under Business.

 

I couldn't seem to find the article. Do you happen to have a link?

[cloud713]

I was just about to ask the same. I'm not a chron subscriber.

[BayouCityMan]

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2013/08/office-construction-surpasses-historical-norm/?cmpid=businesshcat

[nativehoustonion]

Sorry about that. Thanks BayouCityMan.

[j_cuevas713]

@j_cuevas To expand on what you ere saying . . . This was such a different place 25 yrs ago, even despite the oil bust. The city was very much in it's modern day infancy. For those who have been here all this time, I think it's safe to say that this is the most diverse our economy has ever been. Yeah Oil and Medical still power this town but in 25 years we've added a much bigger legal, logistical, and manufacturing base than we had back then. I'd say banking has stayed about the same although BBVA Compass really seems to be setting up shop. I wouldn't be surprised if more major worldwide banks give this place a long look in the next 20 years. And to think, they project another 2 million people here within 20 years. And yeah, a little planning and some beautification do go a long way. I can't think of a single more transformative project in the last 25 years than the East side of downtown. I remember going there in the early 80s and seeing the utter dereliction. I credit MMP somewhat and Discovery Green mostly. The GRB was all alone out there previously and never really did anything for that side of downtown. My only lament is that Discovery Green isn't twice as large.

 

Absolutely agree 100%, I remember moving to Waco for about 4 years (so happy to be back in Houston), and during this time Houston was barely in its beginning phases to redevelop downtown. I believe the Cotswold street projects were the beginning of the transformation back in 1995 up until about 2000 right before Minute Maid Park was built. Since then, I've seen a complete transformation of downtown before my eyes. From rooting for the Stros and Rockets to stay in Houston, to hoping and praying that Pavilions would get built. We went through the phase where all these bars and clubs were trying to capitalize on the recent improvements, and once that phased out (thank God) we are now beginning to see a more stable downtown. The businesses that have survived are those that economically were meant to survive according to the demand downtown. It's been a beautiful thing to witness since then. Anyone else remember the Cotswold streetscape projects?

Edited August 8, 2013 by j_cuevas713