Urbannizer Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 http://downtownhouston.org/site_media/uploads/attachments/2014-01-06/140102_Current_Projects_11x17.pdf This proposal has been on the development map for a while now, guess no one really noticed. Anyway, the owner behind the plans recently asked the DRA to increase funding. I'm not sure if the building will be converted to residential or hotel use. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 Glad to finally see a morsel of information on this. Oh what I would give to have just one reporter in this town that might occasionally dig into public records, attend meetings, and, you know, report on development projects (beyond pulling press releases out of the email/off the fax machine. ) Urbanizer, you could be the person for the job. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsb320 Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 They put new cooling units on the roof a few months ago. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moore713 Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 Mkae a great loft style apt.. with the bottom floor a bar 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
infinite_jim Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 Anyone remember the first rave party in Houston was in the bank vault of this place? I think it was 1995 or maybe 1994; NEW WORLD (waaay before my time but some older friends told me about it in the early aughts). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgriff Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 (edited) Anyone remember the first rave party in Houston was in the bank vault of this place? I think it was 1995 or maybe 1994; NEW WORLD (waaay before my time but some older friends told me about it in the early aughts). I have been trying to figure out where I was ever since that night. I remember going into the vault. It was a crazy night. I think it must have been '95 or '96. I'm not really positive it was this building but I do remember going to a rave downtown in the mid 90s in a bank. My memory of it was a more modern building than this. I remember a HUGE dance floor and escalators. I think people were smoking cigars in the bank vault. Edit: I think this article mentions the one I went to. They claim 3200 people showed up. http://www.houstonpress.com/1998-10-15/news/spun-from-the-underground/full/ Edit: I'm pretty sure that's it. I found some interior pictures of a bar that used to be there and it fits the layout I remember. It's much smaller than I thought though. Of course I had just moved from a small town to Houston 2 months earlier so everything seemed larger than life. http://www.clubzone.com/c/63058/level-Houston I had been trying to figure out where this was for years. Thanks.... Edited January 8, 2014 by jgriff 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chi-Char-Hou-Dal Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Hilarious jgriff. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted January 10, 2014 Author Share Posted January 10, 2014 Office w/ street-level retail & includes improvments to the facade. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 Yay! Any estimated start date? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted January 16, 2014 Author Share Posted January 16, 2014 Restorations didn't begin on the previously planned start date, TIRZ Authority recently asked the developer for a construction timeline. Here's a look at the approved improvements, click image for larger size. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 Love these old skinny buildings. This may not get a ton of attention, but it's these type of buildings that people love to have around (Market Square anyone) that make up a good walkable urban area. The northeast is full of these types and what makes them so interesting and pedestrian friendly. We should be very thankful to this company. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonIsHome Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 I was shocked when I saw that Hines residential tower didn't include plans to level this tower. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treblelino Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 I, too, like the old buildings - makes for a good mix. Makes no sense to demo these old beauties. Houston is not desperate for space. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted August 28, 2014 Author Share Posted August 28, 2014 3Q 2014 start date for renovations. http://www.downtownhouston.org/site_media/uploads/attachments/2014-08-28/140814_Double_Sided_Development_Map_Renders_Map_11x17.pdf 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted September 12, 2014 Author Share Posted September 12, 2014 http://www.mainstreettirz.com/images/08122014_DRA_Minutes-finals.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howard Huge Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 (edited) Nice, it says the Texaco building is nearing its 50% inspection. Edited September 12, 2014 by Howard Huge 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate99 Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Walked by there last week and they had a guard posted at the door on Main. They are active inside. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 Yea, this has started. They have scaffolding on the very top now. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rechlin Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 Actually that scaffolding has been there for weeks. Also, early last week I saw a hanging platform (like that typically used for window washers, or like those they have been using on the Texaco building) on the southwest wall with men inspecting that wall. So work has been going on for a little while already. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 Actually that scaffolding has been there for weeks. Also, early last week I saw a hanging platform (like that typically used for window washers, or like those they have been using on the Texaco building) on the southwest wall with men inspecting that wall. So work has been going on for a little while already.Interesting. I had never noticed it and I'm surprised no one mentioned yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 2014-09-20 10.32.54 by marclongoria, on Flickr 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monarch Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 attractive edifice! this is going to become a wonderful addition to downtown's residential capacity. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmancuso Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 wont most of that rear of that building be blocked by Hines' new tower? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UtterlyUrban Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 attractive edifice! this is going to become a wonderful addition to downtown's residential capacity.Wait. I thought this building was to stay as an office building. Am I wrong about that?wont most of that rear of that building be blocked by Hines' new tower?Yes. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Wait. I thought this building was to stay as an office building. Am I wrong about that? I was under the same impression, UU. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monarch Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 I was under the same impression, UU.ooops! i hereby stand corrected. it shall indeed become office space. not residential. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate99 Posted September 29, 2014 Share Posted September 29, 2014 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsb320 Posted September 29, 2014 Share Posted September 29, 2014 They've been working on the west side windows today. I can't tell if they're replacing them or just painting the frames. It looks like they got about 6 floors done today - must just be paint. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsb320 Posted September 29, 2014 Share Posted September 29, 2014 They've been working on the west side windows today. I can tell if they're replacing them or just painting the frames. They got about 6 floors today, so it must just be paint. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 Fretz Construction State National Bank Reno by marclongoria, on Flickr 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-TownChris Posted October 27, 2014 Share Posted October 27, 2014 Took a little walk through DT 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted November 27, 2014 Share Posted November 27, 2014 State National Bank by marclongoria, on Flickr 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted April 11, 2015 Share Posted April 11, 2015 State National Bank Building by marclongoria, on Flickr 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFootsSocks Posted April 11, 2015 Share Posted April 11, 2015 On the dev map this is listed as finishing very soon. I guess most of the renovations are interior? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monarch Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 a very stately edifice! i cannot wait to view the finished product.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chinchillaq Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 Picture of tile roof being worked on at 412 Main. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Urbannizer Posted June 3, 2015 Author Popular Post Share Posted June 3, 2015 http://h-town-visually.blogspot.com/2015/05/state-national-building-redevelopment.html 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 Yea it looks like gold on top (I'm sure it's not) but it is quite impressive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monarch Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 ^^^ very nice progress! props for sharing.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted July 6, 2015 Author Share Posted July 6, 2015 http://www.downtowntirz.com/projects/ 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monarch Posted July 6, 2015 Share Posted July 6, 2015 ^^^ this is one seriously grand edifice. i cannot wait the view the completed renovation.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted September 23, 2015 Author Share Posted September 23, 2015 Work still going on, the existing cornice is badly damaged and has to be replaced. http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/Commissions/docs_pdfs/hahc/reports_DRAFT/Sept_DRAFTS/412_Main_Street_Cornice_DRAFT.pdf 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rechlin Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 A pity they are replacing the stone cornice with a plain painted styrofoam wall, but something obviously had to be done, and I guess the budget doesn't allow for it to be done right. Oh well; at least they are leaving open the possibility of restoring it properly in the future. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 A pity they are replacing the stone cornice with a plain painted styrofoam wall, but something obviously had to be done, and I guess the budget doesn't allow for it to be done right. Oh well; at least they are leaving open the possibility of restoring it properly in the future. Funny thing is, the old cornice is "cast stone" - a fancy term for concrete. So replacing it with EIFS is sorta accurate. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 Funny thing is, the old cornice is "cast stone" - a fancy term for concrete. So replacing it with EIFS is sorta accurate. Sadly though, the cornice is not being replicated. Instead of the projecting cornice with its row of corbels there will be a flat parapet, with only a small lintel left at the bottom. See before and after on p. 6 of Urb's link. I'm not sure the historical commission should approve this, or not without at least seeing some estimates for a full restoration to know how costly it would be. This is a significant loss of the building's character. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avossos Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 The historic commission should NOT approve this. They need to go to the extra cost to repair this. Whatever it takes. Period. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Nate99 Posted January 15, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted January 15, 2016 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monarch Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 ^^^ beautiful illustration nate99! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adr Posted February 4, 2016 Share Posted February 4, 2016 Old cornice parts coming down off the building. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avossos Posted February 4, 2016 Share Posted February 4, 2016 Old cornice parts coming down off the building. This will probably (hopefully) be saved. If not reinstalled, I bet they incorporate them somehow. Does anyone know what the result of their request to remove the accent ledge up top? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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