j_cuevas713 Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 (edited) i hope not, that's the loading dock area.That's true, I'm just saying I wish there was a plan to maybe open that area up more. I think it would have been nice to have walkways through the GRB in to Discovery Green. And close off that back street to allow foot traffic much like they are doing to the front. Edited July 21, 2015 by j_cuevas713 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobruss Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 I love the view that Mab got looking down Avenida De Las Americas from Minute Maid. Talking about some massing going on. This part of town is going to be amazing once The Fingers, Catalyst, Marlowe plus all of the residential on the Eado side get finished. I also like the sense of urban neighborhood feel you get around Luckys and the apartments that have been built or repurposed. Its a great mix of new and old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timoric Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 (edited) - Edited July 9, 2019 by Timoric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobruss Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 Its probably close but I wouldn't be surprised if Dallas doesn't have something like the apparel mart or one of their many market spaces that might have more S.F.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 (edited) Is GRB the biggest convention center in Texas? Might depend on what metric one uses. According to the "prime exhibit space" metric employed in this Trade Show Executive article, it's not even the biggest convention center in Houston (that title goes to NRG (nee Reliant) Center). NRG Center is also the biggest convention center in Texas and 8th biggest in the U.S. GRB is the third biggest in Texas and the 12th biggest in the U.S. (Dallas's convention center also has more "prime exhibit space" than the GRB.) Edited July 21, 2015 by Houston19514 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nativehoustonion Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 Who cares the top convention centers are McCormick Place in Chicago, then Las Vegas, and Orlando are the top for visitors. Houston First is making moves to bring more people here. We are on the right track. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFootsSocks Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 I'm pretty sure the guy that initially asked cares, as neither the question nor the response were accusatory in any way towards other cities. Take that crap to ssc please 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 GRB Houston FB Page 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gene Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 that one man in the bottom photo makes everyone look like hobbits...just sayin' (great pics and thank you for posting! i really am loving this project!) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Urbannizer Posted July 26, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted July 26, 2015 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monarch Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 ^^^ simply amazing progress thus far.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samagon Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 It would have been awesome had the architect of the grb made a basement for all the loading docks. Kind of impossible to do now. Hopefully when they decide to raze this one and make another it'll be built that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
largeTEXAS Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 GRB would be so much better as a mall... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFootsSocks Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 GRB would be so much better as a mall...*ringring* *ringring* Yes?Hello?1980sHere. I'veGotThisNewInvestment,YaSee. Malls. Malls,I TellYa. TheNextBigThing. GetOnThisShipQuickBaby, We'reRidingHighOnOil. NothingCanStopThisTrain. *click* 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
largeTEXAS Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 *ringring* *ringring* Yes?Hello?1980sHere. I'veGotThisNewInvestment,YaSee. Malls. Malls,I TellYa. TheNextBigThing. GetOnThisShipQuickBaby, We'reRidingHighOnOil. NothingCanStopThisTrain. *click* The 80's is back and has been for a while now, buddy. Where you been?!? Plus, what year was the GRB built? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Urbannizer Posted July 27, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted July 27, 2015 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monarch Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 ^^^ outstanding illustrations urbannizer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFootsSocks Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 The 80's is back and has been for a while now, buddy. Where you been?!? Plus, what year was the GRB built? If you don't think I'd rock the hell out of that look then you are sorely mistaken. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gene Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 love those pics urbannizer!!! wow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Nate99 Posted July 31, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted July 31, 2015 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Urbannizer Posted August 4, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted August 4, 2015 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post hindesky Posted August 9, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted August 9, 2015 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monarch Posted August 9, 2015 Share Posted August 9, 2015 ^^^ wow hindesky wow! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post brijonmang Posted August 12, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted August 12, 2015 Photos courtesy of Bobruss: 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 (edited) Facade going up today on the office building. I noticed it while driving by so the picture is pretty last minute/terrible. Edited August 18, 2015 by cloud713 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monarch Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 ^^^ shouldn't the GHP officials be announcing the hotel tenant for the top of this new edifice sometimes soon? i could have sworn that the announcement was slated for august 2015... right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 More on that 65,000 sq ft retail opportunity: Opportunity #2 is a potential ground lease of the 64,870 SF City owned land parcel bounded by Polk Hamilton, Chenevert, and Clay Streets. No specific use restrictions apply, although property will be limited to a 10 year primary term with Landlord right to terminate after year five. The ground lease parcel will be available for construction as soon as tenant’s plans are approved and tenant has received a building permit. HFC’s goal is to execute leases by December 31, 2015. Expression of Interest - Polk Street - 2015-08-12.pdf 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mab Posted August 19, 2015 Author Share Posted August 19, 2015 I would love some kind of mixed used entertainment complex here. For example it be awesome to have an Dave and Buster with some type of movie theater. With all these convention coming to the Houston area I think this could work very well in this park of Downtown Houston! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monarch Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 More on that 65,000 sq ft retail opportunity: Expression of Interest - Polk Street - 2015-08-12.pdf ^^^ i was under the impression, that this particular aforementioned property, was hereby slated for the future expansion of the GRB Convention Center, on or around 2025? not to mention, this particular property is so well hidden behind the HILTON and it's garage, that whomever decides to purchase it, just may spend an exuberant amount of their marketing budget, trying to lure patrons that simply do not know that it's actually there. personally, i think that the money and effort would be better spent further enhancing GREENSTREET, to make it a much bigger, better, and more dynamic entertainment / retail venue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 Yeahhh... What do you mean "more on that opportunity"? It's been slated for GRB 2025 expansion for years now.. Will they build it reinforced to support a convention hall above, give up expansion plans for the time being, or tear these buildings down after the 5-10 year lease is up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twinsanity02 Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 Exactly how many stories is this structure planned for? Does it presently include a hotel or not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HNathoo Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 With a landlord right to terminate after 5 years, the only tenant that could make a ground lease work would be a surface lot operator or a food truck mall type development. You can't get an ROI in 5 years on any real improvements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparrow Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 What sort of dining/entertainment option would be most interested in a full downtown block ground lease for as little as 5 years? I would expect they are giving one hell of a deal as a concession for such a short term ground lease. No doubt Houston First Corp is more interested in creating the image of a vibrant urban environment around the GRB than seeking maximum ROI--especially for the Final Four and Super Bowl. Anyone willing to build anything in the realm of dining/entertainment at this site would be preferable to a surface parking lot. Perhaps the best use of such a ground lease would be a parking garage with GFR? Maybe the folks behind the now canceled Nau Center would be interested in such a short term lease? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 (edited) just build an entertainment complex in a basic warehouse type structure that looks decent on the outside. a decently managed entertainment complex seems like it could be easy to keep expenses down. what activities would y'all put in a convention district entertainment complex? of course there are a lot of typical entertainment complex activities i could list, but what do you think would be best geared towards a downtown/visitor/convention crowd? heres an out of the box idea of mine.. a gun range.. i guess the problem/expense with that would be keeping the entertainment complex family friendly and confining the noise and bullets to the range without disturbing the other activities/areas of the complex. parents probably wouldn't want to take their kid to an indoor putt putt golf/laser tag/trampoline room/<random indoor entertainment activity> location with a bunch of guns going off in the same building. heh.. idk, for some reason i always thought a small indoor gun range would do well downtown. though i usually envisioned it near the office district, down in the tunnels for lunch/break/after work stress relief type stuff. Edited August 19, 2015 by cloud713 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texasota Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 NO GUN RANGES DOWNTOWN. PERIOD. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 Lulz, considering this is just some fantasy off the wall suggestion, I don't think you have anything to worry about.. But why so adamant about it? I'm not the biggest gun supporter, nor do I own one, but it would seem to me that being able to unload a clip of ammo during break or after a long day of work to blow off some steam would appeal to enough of the 150,000 workers to keep it operational? Admittedly the convention district might not be the best place for one though, lol.I don't know how many foreign employees come to downtown on business trips (obviously the oil business does a fair bit of international business), but I hear people like the English love hitting up gun ranges when they're in the states due to the strict gun laws back home, so the idea of it being an entertaining activity for out of town visitors might not be so far fetched? Or are you not wanting to live up to the Texas stereotypes? Heh..Anyways.. Suggestions, assuming you agree a warehousey entertainment complex would be a good ROI in such short amount of time.Something like a WonderWorks entertainment/learning center would be awesome at this location but id assume way too expensive to set up for a 5 year lease.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texasota Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 Yes, I'd prefer to avoid the stereotype, but I also don't thing a range is at all appropriate in an urban setting. As to a warehousey entertainment complex? The thing is, a single downtown block isn't actually all that big. I wonder if just a brewery/brewpub wouldn't be a bad idea. Yes, 8th Wonder is nearby, but that could actually be a good thing. If Houston First prices the block aggressively enough it could be a good way to get a new business going while giving them enough time to find some place permanent (and with room for more capacity.) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 (edited) Interesting idea.. Yeah a downtown block is what, like 250x250? I just figure they want the place to be another amenity for the downtown visitors to utilize for the time being, and thought something more family friendly might be appropriate (so much for the gun range, lol). I do like the idea of a temporary brewery/pub though, or some sort of start up business that would have an effect on the "neighborhood".What ever happened to Two Rows? I never heard why they closed.. Bring them back? Heh Edited August 20, 2015 by cloud713 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigereye Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 (edited) With a landlord right to terminate after 5 years, the only tenant that could make a ground lease work would be a surface lot operator or a food truck mall type development. You can't get an ROI in 5 years on any real improvements.Houston Food Truck Park has bounced around this area. First, they were nearby this site next to the old Meridian, then relocated to 1311 Leeland.EDIT: They've kind of moved again, lately splitting time between 1311 Leeland and 800 Polk now. They don't seem to have a set location... Edited August 20, 2015 by tigereye Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 yeah but why wouldn't you want the food trucks where they currently park on the pedestrian avenue of discovery green? or parked in the new pedestrian plaza in front of GRB. there just seems like so many better existing/under construction areas that could be used for food trucks than tucked back on this property. its kind of a dead zone unless you can make this new development enough of an attraction to get people to want to walk over there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigereye Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 yeah but why wouldn't you want the food trucks where they currently park on the pedestrian avenue of discovery green? or parked in the new pedestrian plaza in front of GRB. there just seems like so many better existing/under construction areas that could be used for food trucks than tucked back on this property. its kind of a dead zone unless you can make this new development enough of an attraction to get people to want to walk over there.It may not be a dead zone after the GRBCC renovation. Restaurant pad site is going in at the very corner by garage, across Polk St from this site. And with ADLA being chopped down to 2 lanes or less, not sure they'll be able to park in front either. It could work, but thinking about it, it may hurt the new restaurants going in at GRBCC too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naviguessor Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 Could this just Houston First's way of capitalizing on the land for the Super Bowl, that they own and don't have any imminent plans on ? Doubt that anybody will spend much money on a structure. But, controlling the land here during SB'17, for sponsorship/party/promotion tents or pavilions, could turn profit? I think Houston First is just putting it out there. Looking testing the market for a highest bidder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 yeah, they're definitely shopping the site out with hopes something lively will be there for the super bowl festivities.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Urbannizer Posted August 21, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted August 21, 2015 From today by me 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monarch Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 ^^^ simply amazing illustrations urbannizer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gene Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 great photos and man i am so excited to see this get a face lift in such a big way!!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post PD_1 Posted August 27, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted August 27, 2015 Lifting the 'steel cage' into place. This shot was taken about 1:20 PM in August. Note how much of ADLA the new shade structure is covering. Basically all of the 'pedestrian' side of it. This should be a very walkable area after completion. 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Triton Posted August 30, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted August 30, 2015 Putting in more glass Houston First by Marc longoria, on Flickr Light rail Houston First by Marc longoria, on Flickr 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monarch Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 ^^^ wonderful illustrations! steady progress... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cspwal Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Very interesting feel riding through that parking garage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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