Catalyst: 28-Story Residential High-Rise At 1475 Texas Ave.

[Luminare]

FYI to whoever changed the thread title....Catalyst is spelled wrong (hint: missing an 'a') >.>

Edited October 30, 2014 by Luminare

[H-TownChris]

FYI to whoever changed the thread title....Catalyst is spelled wrong (hint: missing an 'a') >.>

Lol. I just noticed that.

[Howard Huge]

So would I. There's Minute Maid Park, Toyota Center, and Discovery Green, plus it's only a short train ride to NRG Stadium. There's also the theater district with the symphony, orchestra, opera, ballet, and Alley Theater. I also think that the views from this highrise will be much better than anything in Uptown.

I was talking about shopping and retail buddy, not going to plays and ballgames.

[Howard Huge]

That building is so pretty

Edited October 30, 2014 by Howard Huge

[Howard Huge]

FYI to whoever changed the thread title....Catalyst is spelled wrong (hint: missing an 'a') >.>

Also, ms Sarnoff said the building is now "28" floors.

[cloud713]

I was talking about shopping and retail buddy, not going to plays and ballgames.

It's all perspective. Not everyone cares about theGalleria, just as not everyone cares about sports, theater, bars, and mass transit options.

[fkp5]

I was talking about shopping and retail buddy, not going to plays and ballgames.

 

You were saying that you would rather be in a high rise in the Galleria because of the shopping. I was just stating some other factors that people might take into account besides shopping which might influence them to choose a downtown high rise over an Uptown high rise.

[Luminare]

Lol. I just noticed that.

 

lol Yeah I didn't notice that either for awhile. I know what it's like to Misspell titles on Forums and its a good feeling -.- You gotta give a heads up though and support them in making the correction.

 

I remember I was like.....ok I'm not that great of a speller, but I know this is missing a letter somewhere!

[TexasGeneral]

As great as these places are, and as awesome as it is that all this is being built downtown, when I think of how high the rents will be, I would still honestly rather be in a similar high rise in the Galleria.

As many leaps and bounds as we have made downtown, there still isnt enough retail in the immediate area, as opposed to the galleria.

In other words, when all of these rich people want to go shopping on the weekends, they will still have to get in their cars and drive out of downtown to get there, ("there" probably being the galleria area) because there damn sure aint any shopping downtown.

 

These places are mostly for people who work downtown.  If I work downtown and wanted to live in a high-rise, I would live downtown.  I go shopping about 3 times per year, I go to work 5 days a week.  For people who work in the Galleria, living in the Galleria makes more sense.  It's all about the commute.  

[KinkaidAlum]

Downtown > Galleria for me.

 

Market Square, Discovery Green, Buffalo Bayou trails, Sundance, Alley, Hobby, Jones Hall, Minute Maid, Toyota Center, House of Blues, Dynamo, Warehouse Live, LaCarafe, Warren's Inn, Hearsay, Batanga's patio, Little Dipper, and more right at your door step. 

 

Galleria wins for Kenny and Ziggy's and yearly trip to Container Store. 

[toxtethogrady]

Kenny & Ziggy's. Always considered good.

[UtterlyUrban]

Living in downtown is fantastic, especially if you work here too. Clothes Shopping is a bit of a bother (often have to drive somewhere) but, entertainment, sports, performing arts, open spaces, fitness clubs, social clubs, dining, movie theater, live music, food, toiletries, hair salons, massages, eye doctors, dentists, doctors, jewelry stores (get a watch battery replaced, ect), post offices, cell phone stores, basic shoe store (Payless), Jos. A Banks, F21, Maxamaria something (high end womens store), etc are all walkable.

All that said, the point is well taken, downtown does not have the size or selection of stores that the galleria does and likely never will. But, hopefully, downtown will get one or two "urban anchor" concepts in the next few years. If it does, there will be no better place to live anywhere in the city (at least in my opinion)!

[editor]

One way the developer is saving money is by re-using the name.  Marquette Companies just finished a similar building in Chicago also called Catalyst. Lame.

[H-Town Man]

One way the developer is saving money is by re-using the name.  Marquette Companies just finished a similar building in Chicago also called Catalyst. Lame.

 

This is smart. One thing that costs a lot of money is thinking of a new name. Say, for example, Altura. I just thought of that name. Didn't really cost me anything, but then consider the time it would take to change it in the spreadsheet that links to all the advertising materials, etc. Now you're talking time. And time is money. Smart move.

 

[/sarcasm]

[Howard Huge]

From BizJourn, my god this thing is BEAUTIFUL!!

[UtterlyUrban]

One way the developer is saving money is by re-using the name. Marquette Companies just finished a similar building in Chicago also called Catalyst. Lame.

Are building names trademarked (or other IP?)?

If so, I can see how a trademark search might be expensive and costly to perform for every building. Do it once and build it over and over. Kinda like SkyHouse.

[LarryDierker]

Naming a building is kinda silly IMO. Street number and name should suffice. Perhaps I'll name my house.

[monarch]

Naming a building is kinda silly IMO. Street number and name should suffice. Perhaps I'll name my house.

larry, there are many people throughout the great and beautiful world, that do indeed name their homes....

[LarryDierker]

larry, there are many people throughout the great and beautiful world, that do indeed name their homes....

 

Other than Elvis?

 

I named a cat once. It never came to me when I called it.

[monarch]

Other than Elvis?

 

I named a cat once. It never came to me when I called it.

larry, elvis is dead... or we can only assume.  and as for the "cat"... please remember that cat's have nine lives.  maybe he / she was used to it's first name.....

[ClutchCity]

I've seen cats respond to names. It's pretty remarkable!

[HoustonIsHome]

From BizJourn, my god this thing is BEAUTIFUL!!

That looks sexy.

I love love love how this area is being transformed

[H-TownChris]

That looks sexy.

I love love love how this area is being

transformed

It definitely is

[Mab]

 

 

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2014/10/a-closer-look-at-downtowns-newest-apartment-tower/#28026101=1

 

Edited November 3, 2014 by Mab

[monarch]

very nice!

[UtterlyUrban]

This looks like a terrific property. I just wish it were taller.

great location and this will be a jewel of a property

[Timoric]

-

 

Edited July 8, 2019 by Timoric

[Subdude]

Peculiar name aside, I really do like this project.  Five years ago I never would have believed that the eastern slice of downtown would become a hotbed of high-rise residential development.  

 

I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that the next big downtown wave is going to be restaurant development.  All of those people living downtown are going to want places to eat after the tunnels close in the evening.  

 

 

[kbates2]

Looks like the parking lot this thing is going up on closed today.  The 609 Main webcam shows an empty lot.  Groundbreaking on Wed sounds right.

[Dakota79]

Looks like the parking lot this thing is going up on closed today. The 609 Main webcam shows an empty lot. Groundbreaking on Wed sounds right.

Moving so fast, yet 7-8 yrs later we still have the ghost of the big, bad, Ashby Highrise!

[Houston19514]

Very exciting!

[H-Town Man]

Peculiar name aside, I really do like this project.  Five years ago I never would have believed that the eastern slice of downtown would become a hotbed of high-rise residential development.  

 

I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that the next big downtown wave is going to be restaurant development.  All of those people living downtown are going to want places to eat after the tunnels close in the evening.  

 

Any particular names you'd like to see? I think a downtown Golden Corral would be kind of fun.

 

Flame away.

[Moore713]

Peculiar name aside, I really do like this project. Five years ago I never would have believed that the eastern slice of downtown would become a hotbed of high-rise residential development.

I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that the next big downtown wave is going to be restaurant development. All of those people living downtown are going to want places to eat after the tunnels close in the evening.

The last part of your passage may have been prophetic..Just read a article in eaters about a popular Washington ave restaurant that is deliberately shutting down it Washington front to move downtown.He cite a decrease on foot traffic and a increase in foot traffic downtown as well as all the new residential towers being built..He also hinted that other restaurants owners may follow suit and abandone their current location for locations downtown..He said he is in negotiations for the former ERA spot but nothing is final and he is also looking at other downtown locations

[Subdude]

Any particular names you'd like to see? I think a downtown Golden Corral would be kind of fun.

 

Flame away.

 

Well, perhaps not a Golden Corral, but some inexpensive restaurants would be just the thing.  Something like Jason's Deli, Panera Bread or Chipotle would do killer business.

[H-Town Man]

C'mon man, I want to sit with a bowl of soft serve covered with gummy bears looking at multi-million dollar real estate and cutting edge architecture.

 

Plus, I think there is a Jason's on Travis Street and maybe Walker?

 

 

[Subdude]

C'mon man, I want to sit with a bowl of soft serve covered with gummy bears looking at multi-million dollar real estate and cutting edge architecture.

 

Plus, I think there is a Jason's on Travis Street and maybe Walker?

 

Seriously?  Not all downtown residential development is "cutting edge architecture".  It's not like the experience of seeing cutting edge architecture is some sort of mystical experience that miraculously changes people's taste in or budgets for food.  Look around NY.  There are plenty of quick and easy delis around.  My point is that just because development is downtown we can't assume that it will all be inhabited by wealthy people who must have exclusive restaurants and retail.  Thinking of downtown as an enclave for the rich or "upscale" is not only factually wrong, but risks hurting development in the long run. 

[H-Town Man]

Seriously?  Not all downtown residential development is "cutting edge architecture".  It's not like the experience of seeing cutting edge architecture is some sort of mystical experience that miraculously changes people's taste in or budgets for food.  Look around NY.  There are plenty of quick and easy delis around.  My point is that just because development is downtown we can't assume that it will all be inhabited by wealthy people who must have exclusive restaurants and retail.  Thinking of downtown as an enclave for the rich or "upscale" is not only factually wrong, but risks hurting development in the long run. 

 

I think you missed the point of my post. I just liked the incongruity of a Golden Corral and all the high value development downtown, and I was being quite serious. Unfortunately the value of the real estate dictates that most new restaurants that we see will either be fast food or upscale, but I would love to have a good traditional lowbrow eating place like LC Cafeteria was.

Edited November 3, 2014 by H-Town Man

[Houston19514]

FWIW, there's already a Jason's Deli downtown at McKinney and Travis.  And there's a Chipotle at Texas and Main.

[mollusk]

There's also a Panera Bread in the Park Shops.   So Subdude, you're covered. 

[cloud713]

I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that the next big downtown wave is going to be restaurant development.  All of those people living downtown are going to want places to eat after the tunnels close in the evening.  

are any of these new restaurants projected to be high-rises?

[swtsig]

are any of these new restaurants projected to be high-rises?

 

not unless they're trying to be the largest restaurant in the world.

[cloud713]

not unless they're trying to be the largest restaurant in the world.

haha.. alright, alright. the joke was kind of lame. it seems so many of us (myself included) only tend to care about downtown developments if they are high-rises. the restaurant boom will obviously be much less exciting, filling in the available GFR spots in buildings currently going up/planned. but it will be a much needed boom none the less, and all the new downtown residents will surely be grateful. and hopefully many new restaurants will have moved in by 2017 for the 10 day Super Bowl party in downtown.

so a wave of restaurant developments is predicted, followed by retail..?

[Avossos]

haha.. alright, alright. the joke was kind of lame. it seems so many of us (myself included) only tend to care about downtown developments if they are high-rises. the restaurant boom will obviously be much less exciting, filling in the available GFR spots in buildings currently going up/planned. but it will be a much needed boom none the less, and all the new downtown residents will surely be grateful. and hopefully many new restaurants will have moved in by 2017 for the 10 day Super Bowl party in downtown.

so a wave of restaurant developments is predicted, followed by retail..?

 

I think we are already seeing a wave starting for restaurants going downtown. Ive heard of a few recently moving downtown from other parts of town.

[cloud713]

I think we are already seeing a wave starting for restaurants going downtown. Ive heard of a few recently moving downtown from other parts of town.

good point.. when i was trying to think if there were any tex mex restaurants downtown yet i remembered El Big Bad or something made an announcement that it was moving (or opening a second location?) downtown around Market Square a little while back..

[Avossos]

good point.. when i was trying to think if there were any tex mex restaurants downtown yet i remembered El Big Bad or something made an announcement that it was moving (or opening a second location?) downtown around Market Square a little while back..

 

Once the people are there, its going to make such a difference. I would love to see little shops open up for specialty clothing stores and such. those are the best.

[kbates2]

good point.. when i was trying to think if there were any tex mex restaurants downtown yet i remembered El Big Bad or something made an announcement that it was moving (or opening a second location?) downtown around Market Square a little while back..

 

El Big Bad is a good place.  Irma's is one of the better Tex-Mex places in town.  Guadalajara in Greenstreet, Fusion Taco (kind of Tex-Mex), crappy chain Ninfa's if you want food poisoning, the queso and tamales at Pastry War, and the taco stand across from the old courthouse are some of the others there.

[Houston19514]

Not to mention Pappasitos

[Houston19514]

I think we are already seeing a wave starting for restaurants going downtown. Ive heard of a few recently moving downtown from other parts of town.

 

Quite right.  The last year or two have been pretty active for new restaurants downtown.  

 

By the way, this is veering a bit off-topic, but does anyone know what is going in the restaurant space at the southwest corner of Texas and Main (across the street to the south of Chipotle)?

[por favor gracias]

Would love to get Lupe Tortilla downtown

[Nate99]

I would love to have a good traditional lowbrow eating place like LC Cafeteria was.

 

I'm telling you, a Waffle House would kill it if you could keep the bumstink out.