Jump to content

GreenStreet And The Laura Hotel, Autograph Collection


JLWM8609

Recommended Posts

That because mom and pop places don't cater to outside money...most focus on repeat business from a loyal base...that means they would draw the bulk of their money from those who call downtown, home and the business around them..the add advantage of focusing them along dallas st would be the hotel and convention crowd..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The sumiain problem with most thought process is making downtown into a retail destination. .truth not going to ha7at least in our life time...the galleria area just has too huge a advantage in name recognition and size. .Downtown best is to seek out unquine small stores and to get them to cluster in a given area ( Dallas st)...similar to how the downtown bar scene was revived...examples why would I go all the way to sak downtown when the one in galleria would most likely be bigger and connect to more high end stores...of I jus want a day of shopp5...now if I'm from out of town and attending a convention with maybe a hr to spare between prestation..I'm might dip out for a quick bit and to look are that intresting little boutique I saw as I was heading towards m the convention center

Edited by Moore713
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The sumiain problem with most thought process is making downtown into a retail destination. .truth not going to ha7at least in our life time...the galleria area just has too huge a advantage in name recognition and size. .Downtown best is to seek out unquine small stores and to get them to cluster in a given area ( Dallas st)...similar to how the downtown bar scene was revived...examples why would I go all the way to sak downtown when the one in galleria would most likely be bigger and connect to more high end stores...of I jus want a day of shopp5...now if I'm from out of town and attending a convention with maybe a hr to spare between prestation..I'm might dip out for a quick bit and to look are that intresting little boutique I saw as I was heading towards m the convention center

 

That's the whole point man. If you build up a strong neighborhood that can support itself then people will choose convenience over anything. Doesn't mean the Galleria is going to lose it's status as a focal point for shopping, but if you create an environment for those living downtown to avoid having to make a trip all the way to the Galleria for the same item they could get downtown, then you've accomplished the goal of creating a successful urban core. And to think it won't happen in our lifetime is insane. No disrespect to your opinion, but foot traffic is going to increase so much downtown that it's going to draw regular retail chains to capitalize on that increase in population. I mean of course conventions are going to only be a plus for downtown, that's where Uptown loses. There are positive and negatives for both districts, but to say downtown isn't going to reach it's potential in our lifetime I think is very far fetched. I would agree with that if there was zero infrastructure in place, but that's not the case. Especially since people are moving closer to urban centers with easily accessible public transportation, the market is already following that pattern.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think parking will become increasingly less of an issue.  I can't remember the exact numbers, but I seem to recall reading somewhere that the downtown population (excluding detention centers, of course) should be at least 12,000 people by the time the current housing developments are finished and start filling up.  That's the size of a small town, big enough to support lots of shops on its own with no outside shoppers.

 

Downtown is dense enough that nearly all of that housing will be no more than about an 8 block walk from GreenStreet.  No matter how much you want to argue that Houstonians hate walking, I think 8 blocks is not unreasonable.  This means that I think GreenStreet should have no problem supporting ordinary shops, even without free parking, once the housing built for the Downtown Living Initiative is occupied.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

^^^ actually, this particular model / render, is much more attractive than the prison like / forbidding structure, that later took the place of the original alessandra concept. this illustration, is a bit softer in scale, much more classic / modern and aesthetically appealing. the front entry is softer / beautiful, and much more inviting. oh, and did i mention the gorgeous palm trees that present a bit of an exotic feel. well done gensler....

I don't think those Palms would've happened. That's the skybridge end. Atleast you've got palms on the other end by Forever XXI

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I seriously doubt the high-end luxury retailers would give up their west side locations for Downtown. I mean, a city like New York only has 2 Chanel locations (and we are light years away).

 

I can see affordable middle class options opening up Downtown, the kind of stores you see in suburban shopping malls. It's already happened with just a hand full at Green Street. I don't see why the stores would necessarily have to close shop to open Downtown. While Downtown has a few multi-million dollar condos,  it has no where near the money power of the Galleria. 

 

Certain stores can it make it that close. All they need is the demographics and the population. Look at Memorial City and the Galleria. Downtown +/- that close.

 

I agree that options like the ones you see in Meyerland (e.g. Target) or a suburban 'Town Center' would work well. IMO DT Houston has the capacity to support a Bath and Body Works, Marshall's, Home Goods, etc.  Stores you find in the strip center on Grey would work well, I think.

 

Incidentally, I was in downtown Fort Worth recently and saw a White House/Black Market there. BTW, downtown Fort Worth is really nice and I think a "sleeper" area in terms of growth and development in the state.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I seriously doubt the high-end luxury retailers would give up their west side locations for Downtown. I mean, a city like New York only has 2 Chanel locations (and we are light years away).

 

I can see affordable middle class options opening up Downtown, the kind of stores you see in suburban shopping malls. It's already happened with just a hand full at Green Street. I don't see why the stores would necessarily have to close shop to open Downtown. While Downtown has a few multi-million dollar condos,  it has no where near the money power of the Galleria. 

 

Certain stores can it make it that close. All they need is the demographics and the population. Look at Memorial City and the Galleria. Downtown +/- that close.

I agree that stores like Target, Bath and Body Works, Marshall's, etc. would work well downtown.  

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree that stores like Target, Bath and Body Works, Marshall's, etc. would work well downtown.  

 

You're probably right. One day (maybe sooner than we think), downtown Houston will be the hottest shopping area in the city. The Galleria will still be the Galleria, as long as it stays relevant and keeps adding amenities, but downtown will be the place to go. Just look at what's going on in downtown LA, a place no one 5-10 year ago would have said would be able to attract the likes of Gucci or Whole Foods, let alone Ross Dress for Less. Houston, as we all know, is behind on trends by 5-10 years. As these luxury residential towers fill with the richy rich, they will start to demand better and better retail. The more of these rich peeps there are, the more the retailers will want to be close to them. If the wave of luxury residential continues - and it will - we'll start to see some cool stores open. Within 10 years we might even have a Gucci ;)

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

even opening up that one corner shows the missed opportunity with the original GreenStreet/Pavillions design.  It would have looked so much better if more liight/access would have been opened up to the street.

 

oh well.  The new hotel will be great start in a new direction.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Wow, if records were kept on how short a time big buildings are built then torn down and replaced in Houston. Was this less than 10 years? A nice new idea would be: build something right the first time, build it to last, build it once, never build it again...well for a long time.

Good grief. They are taking down a small 2 story building about which almost no one has ever said a kind word.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • The title was changed to Scott Gertner's New Downtown Venue
  • The title was changed to GreenStreet And The Laura Hotel, Autograph Collection

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...