POST: 401 Franklin Post Office Site Redevelopment

[West Timer]

Just think how many Block 98 towers could fit on this parking lot.

[Texasota]

I do not understand why the concepts of limited funds and phased sites are difficult for people.

 

This project was tied to specific funding having to do with its status as a historic resource. It makes sense that they started by focusing on the existing, historic building as a complete project before turning to new construction.

 

The developer has indicated in the past their intention to build on the parking lots, but that will ultimately depend on the success of this first phase. I understand that additional housing in close proximity could help contribute to that success, but there is a lot of existing and under construction housing within walking, cycling, and transit distance. 

 

This is a good project. That's no guarantee that it will succeed, but I genuinely think they are handling it appropriately. And I hate parking lots.

[iah77]

1 hour ago, Fortune said:

 

The issue is that we do not know what the future plans are for the parking lots. We do not know if it is the developers intention to reserve the parking lots for future towers. 

I've seen the master plan and there are multiple towers. 

 

The economy literally is in free fall, we are lucky things aren't paralyzed at this point across town.

[Fortune]

55 minutes ago, iah77 said:

I've seen the master plan and there are multiple towers. 

 

The economy literally is in free fall, we are lucky things aren't paralyzed at this point across town.

 

Really? How many towers? What are the heights?

 

We need details!

Edited July 17, 2020 by Fortune

[West Timer]

3 hours ago, iah77 said:

I've seen the master plan and there are multiple towers. 

 

The economy literally is in free fall, we are lucky things aren't paralyzed at this point across town.

I agree. But as for the details. Are we talking, Ro, Regency Square, East River. Please give us an idea of how many and how high. Thank you.

Edited July 17, 2020 by West Timer

[nate4l1f3]

On 7/17/2020 at 2:03 PM, iah77 said:

I've seen the master plan and there are multiple towers. 

 

The economy literally is in free fall, we are lucky things aren't paralyzed at this point across town.

[Luminare]

This project, is a testament to what I've said in other threads where people cry value-engineering or the fact this is Houston, and we can't have nice things are wrong, and superficial explanations at best. Architects are really important. In an economic climate such as this, the posers will fold, but the actual creative and innovative ones will pull through. OMA is one of the best because they don't fold, and they press on. This really got going during this the time the economy was going into the gutter and they could have easily cut a lot of things especially this set piece type stairways. Oh just make a regular stair, its a stair who cares. That could have been the case, but it's clear the Architect on this job has found ways to work around it and keep their promises in what they have proposed. Maybe not everything will turn out exactly as they wished given the current constraints, but at the very least they are giving it a shot, and will keep the biggest of promises they made which were some very beautiful stairway spaces, and cool rooftop garden. If they can pull those things off then this will be a success.

[TheSirDingle]

Food hall and commisary build out permits. Looks like we're getting even more food options in and near Downtown. 

 

Full list:

Edited July 21, 2020 by TheSirDingle

[gene]

this place better have a big bike rack! so excited to see this place when complete! 

[tigereye]

Lovett has released more details. The rooftop will be branded as the Skylawn and will feature a 6,000 sq ft outdoor event venue accommodating up to 300 guests. 

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2020/08/12/lovett-commercial-post-houston-skylawn.html

 

 

[West Timer]

It's o.k.

Edited August 12, 2020 by West Timer

[Moore713]

1 hour ago, West Timer said:

It's o.k.

 Should be popular with weddings  parties and photo shoots

[cspwal]

It’s crazy how hard it is to find a wedding spot with a skyline view, so this will be very popular with weddings 

[tigereye]

20 hours ago, tigereye said:

Lovett has released more details. The rooftop will be branded as the Skylawn and will feature a 6,000 sq ft outdoor event venue accommodating up to 300 guests. 

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2020/08/12/lovett-commercial-post-houston-skylawn.html

 

 

Sarnoff’s piece on this mentions Post also containing a concert venue and a hotel. Is this in the first phase currently under construction or is she referring to future phases? What is being down with the 5 story administration building on site? 

 

Quote

Houston-based Lovett purchased the 16-acre site, formerly the Barbara Jordan Post Office, in 2015 and is remaking the space into a coworking, shopping and culinary destination with a concert venue, hotel and rooftop farm called POST Houston.

 

 

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/Downtown-venue-to-open-on-five-acre-rooftop-park-15481162.php

 

EDIT: Looking at the renders, the concert venue is in the northeast corner and takes up the first 2 levels. There appears to be balconies overlooking the event floor and stage area. I take it the Skylawn event space will be on the rooftop above the concert venue. 
 

Not sure where a hotel goes in (unless it’s in the administration building or being built as a separate addition in a later phase. 

Edited August 13, 2020 by tigereye

[southerncrj]

2 hours ago, cspwal said:

It’s crazy how hard it is to find a wedding spot with a skyline view, so this will be very popular with weddings 

The Castillo Community Center on White Oak Bayou can be rented for weddings. Not a comparable venue of course, but it does have some pretty grandiose views of DT, and it is likely to be much kinder to people's pockets.

[nate4l1f3]

So will there still be a rooftop bar or is it only event space?

[TheSirDingle]

Some more info and renderings 

 

[hindesky]

Lot of civil work going on in the eastern portion.

[hindesky]

[hindesky]

[gene]

honestly i am just so excited to see this lot landscaped when done...pleeeeease let them have lots of greenery....

i always hated going to this post office unless it was for Day For Night of course  

 

[Texasota]

I hope they lay out an internal street grid with trees, sidewalks etc in preparation for (hopefully) future development.

[JBTX]

Anyone else amazed by the lack of cars in that shot?

[tangledwoods]

Quote

Anyone else amazed by the lack of cars in that shot?

 

i'm more amazed by the rooftop pool at 110 Milam.

 

https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/5134-110-milam/

 

anyone have any photos of inside that house?  it looks incredible!

[mkultra25]

14 minutes ago, tangledwoods said:

i'm more amazed by the rooftop pool at 110 Milam.

 

https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/5134-110-milam/

 

anyone have any photos of inside that house?  it looks incredible!

 

I've always been intrigued by that building and was likewise surprised to discover there was a pool on the roof. I've often thought it would be a cool place to live, except for the fact that given the building's proximity to the bayou and where its parking area is, it would get old losing your car(s) during the increasingly frequent flooding events that have afflicted the area over the past 20 years. 

[astrohip]

One of my best friends owns that building. I've been in it many, many times. I'm off to Pilates, will post more info later...

 

And yes, it's his house.

[HoustonBoy]

1 hour ago, astrohip said:

One of my best friends owns that building. I've been in it many, many times. I'm off to Pilates, will post more info later...

 

And yes, it's his house.

It's a single dwelling? Wow

[cspwal]

There's a couple of unusual residences downtown.  The office building next to Houston House is actually just a large house; there's a block-sized warehouse in East Downtown that one couple lives in.  I'm sure there's more that I haven't discovered yet

[downtownian]

38 minutes ago, cspwal said:

There's a couple of unusual residences downtown.  The office building next to Houston House is actually just a large house; there's a block-sized warehouse in East Downtown that one couple lives in.  I'm sure there's more that I haven't discovered yet

 

National Cash Register Building is pretty cool.

 

 

[astrohip]

My friend bought this building (110 Milam) several years ago, and decided to save it. It was in ill shape, and needed more money than any developer is ever willing to put into a building. He decided to completely refurb/rehab it, and turn it into his residence. Several years and a shitload of money later...

 

The bottom floor backs onto Buffalo Bayou. He acknowledged it was going to flood, and made it an open-ish storage area, with walls designed to handle water exposure. Each floor has a purpose--one for his bedroom, another for living/dining/kitchen, another for work space, etc. His living floor has these huge, commercial glass-paneled overhead doors (like Garage doors) along the back wall (facing Buffalo Bayou & west), that when shut provide a wall. But they can open with a button, and create an open-air environment.

 

Those metal stairs on the side are to meet fire egress codes. On the roof is a stainless steel pool and deck. You can imagine the structural support he had to put in for that.

 

He also collects cars, everything from Ferraris to classic oldies...

 

[HouTXRanger]

3 hours ago, astrohip said:

My friend bought this building (110 Milam) several years ago, and decided to save it. It was in ill shape, and needed more money than any developer is ever willing to put into a building. He decided to completely refurb/rehab it, and turn it into his residence. Several years and a shitload of money later...

 

The bottom floor backs onto Buffalo Bayou. He acknowledged it was going to flood, and made it an open-ish storage area, with walls designed to handle water exposure. Each floor has a purpose--one for his bedroom, another for living/dining/kitchen, another for work space, etc. His living floor has these huge, commercial glass-paneled overhead doors (like Garage doors) along the back wall (facing Buffalo Bayou & west), that when shut provide a wall. But they can open with a button, and create an open-air environment.

 

Those metal stairs on the side are to meet fire egress codes. On the roof is a stainless steel pool and deck. You can imagine the structural support he had to put in for that.

 

He also collects cars, everything from Ferraris to classic oldies...

 

Incredible. Glad the building managed to be saved at all.

Don't suppose there are any pictures floating around of the place? I wouldn't want you to go and invade your friend's privacy for the sake of curious internet strangers 😁

[astrohip]

12 hours ago, HouTXRanger said:

Incredible. Glad the building managed to be saved at all.

Don't suppose there are any pictures floating around of the place? I wouldn't want you to go and invade your friend's privacy for the sake of curious internet strangers 😁

I looked, and I don't have any. While it is certainly a photo-worthy place, I guess taking pics when you visit a friend doesn't usually happen 😉

[Specwriter]

I believe I saw that Edsel station wagon on a morning walk in my neighborhood several months ago. If it is the same car (and how many turquoise Edsel station wagons can there be even in Houston) it is in very good shape. I love the boomerang tail lights.

[hindesky]

I wonder what the grid pattern area is for?

[hindesky]

[tangledwoods]

Quote

I wonder what the grid pattern area is for?

Those grid patterns in the concrete are from saw cutting the concrete.  Basically after they finish the concrete, a grid is laid out and joints are cut into the concrete.  It is how they attempt to control cracking and force cracks to happen in certain spots vs others.

 

If you want an informative look at the process:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9UrR31RGVI

[samagon]

I was hoping for the worlds largest chess board.

[BeerNut]

https://posthtx.com/ETFE/

 

Quote

POST is the first commercial building in Texas to make widespread use of the plastics that once originated in a NASA lab. Covering over 20,000 square feet and spanning over 100 feet in some instances, the roofs provide daylighting that make the interiors of the building feel like the outdoors. The resultant indoor-outdoor qualities offer guests an entirely new way of dining, shopping, and working in Houston.

 

[Naviguessor]

Oh. Unlike Astrodome or the Galleria, I guess. 

And “Once originated”? Makes my eye twitch. 

Edited October 24, 2020 by Naviguessor

[hindesky]

[hindesky]

[hindesky]

[tangledwoods]

if they time this thing right, its going to be a HUGE success.  Imagine this building opens in July / August of 2021.  The vaccine has rolled out, people are itching to get out and BOOM there is this place ready for you to spend you money.

 

2021 is going to be a GREAT YEAR (i keep telling myself as I hide under my desk from the current world). 

[houstontexasjack]

2 hours ago, tangledwoods said:

if they time this thing right, its going to be a HUGE success.  Imagine this building opens in July / August of 2021.  The vaccine has rolled out, people are itching to get out and BOOM there is this place ready for you to spend you money.

 

2021 is going to be a GREAT YEAR (i keep telling myself as I hide under my desk from the current world). 

As an addendum, if it’s August and the vaccine has rolled out, people are ready to get out but realize they’ll melt if they actually go outside, and there’s this cool new air conditioned place that just opened up. 😊

[samagon]

On 12/7/2020 at 10:45 AM, houstontexasjack said:

As an addendum, if it’s August and the vaccine has rolled out, people are ready to get out but realize they’ll melt if they actually go outside, and there’s this cool new air conditioned place that just opened up. 😊

 

or they realize that they have to resume going into the office and sitting in traffic for 2 hours a day.

 

I wonder, how many people are going to start missing those 2 hours, and either demand more WFH options, or try to move closer to their offices?

 

probably a topic for another post...

 

no matter, I can't wait to see this thing up close and in person. looking back at my photos from day for night festival, the view of downtown is spectacular, and being able to see it from the roof is going to be even better.

[CREguy13]

 

https://houston.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/12-09-20-post-houston-mixed-use-development-food-hall-downtown-vendors-salt-time-lea-janes-hot-chicken-taco-fuego/#slide=0

 

First 6 food hall concepts announced.  Can't wait to see announcements continue to flood in.  Really excited about Post Houston and the destination it will be for visitors/residents downtown.

[hindesky]

https://www.houstoniamag.com/eat-and-drink/2020/12/post-houston-restaurants-announcement

 

THE MAJOR 550,000-SQUARE-FOOT, MIXED-USED DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT POST Houston announced Wednesday the first few food and drink tenants for its POST Market, and the names include a mix of local and emerging national shops and restaurants.

Austin-based butcher shop Salt & Time headlines the list. Per the announcement, butchers Ben Runkle and Bryan Butler are not only opening a Houston location of their award-winning shop at POST Market, but they’re also launching a burger concept called The Butcher’s Burger. 

 

Also coming in are Lea Jane’s Hot Chicken, a concept from South Carolina-born chef Nick Graves that got its start last year in Denver; Taco Fuego, an expansion of the South Houston food truck that offers quesadillas, quesabirrias, tostones, and flautas; GELU Italian Ice, another Colorado concept serving up icy dessert treats; and SOUPreme, a pho and bun bo hue concept from Tuan and Thy Tran of Moku Bar.

The vendors will be a part of POST Market, a 53,000-square-foot space designed to be Houston’s largest indoor market hall. More than 30 retailers and culinary vendors are anticipated to reside at the market.

“We are beginning to manifest our vision for a pioneering food destination that reflects Houston’s diverse culinary community,” said Frank Liu, president of the Lovett Group, which is developing POST Houston at the former Barbara Jordan Post Office property. “This is just the tip of the iceberg; we are excited to continue announcing additional vendors that will be dynamic additions to downtown’s food and beverage scene.”

[tangledwoods]

Imagine if they could land a Whole Foods or Phoenicia, downtown could use another grocery store.

[samagon]

there's already a phoenicia, unless you are suggesting they move to that side of downtown, which doesn't net a new store, just moves an existing location.

 

maybe Rice Epicurean can be convinced they need to expand?

Edited December 10, 2020 by samagon

[Andrew Ewert]

I want an Eataly 😬