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Convention Center Redevelopment, Office Building & W Hotel


Mab

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I'm kind of surprised they aren't having a New Years celebration at Disco Green this year. It may be an issue of sponsorship, or they just don't want to host a big event while they are putting the finishing touches on everything prior to the Super Bowl. Either way, this area is Houston's prime celebration spot so I hope they do it in future years.

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Just went jogging through this area....wow. This will be HUGE for downtown Houston once all of the restaraunts are open. There is also lots of buzz around the Marriott Marquis as it opens today and saw a bunch of suits inside Biggio's for some sort of meeting I supposed. Can't wait to check it out.

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This really looks great.  Can't wait to see what happens with Block 98, the boutique hotel being announced on top of Partnership Tower, and the future development of the block north of the Marriott Marquis.  This area will draw so much positive attention during the Super Bowl for the next building cycle.

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2 hours ago, CREguy13 said:

This really looks great.  Can't wait to see what happens with Block 98, the boutique hotel being announced on top of Partnership Tower, and the future development of the block north of the Marriott Marquis.  This area will draw so much positive attention during the Super Bowl for the next building cycle.

I know it kind of a pipe dream but it would be amazing if they use the original Alexandera design for this Hotel it would go great with the area

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2 hours ago, CREguy13 said:

This really looks great.  Can't wait to see what happens with Block 98, the boutique hotel being announced on top of Partnership Tower, and the future development of the block north of the Marriott Marquis.  This area will draw so much positive attention during the Super Bowl for the next building cycle.

Agreed.

 

i wished, I really wished beyond all wishes, that they would build the Marriott Marquis on the lot to the north and have used the current location to EXPAND discovery green.  Oh well.  A boy can wish, right?

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On 12/28/2016 at 6:37 PM, bobruss said:

There are always people who like to be negative about change. They said the same thing about the Main street rail line , and how it wasn't going to attract development. Look at it now. I think they said the same thing about Enron Field when it was planned downtown. Now its turned into a bustling residential and hotel neighborhood. Its usually people with no vision for the future and are stuck in the past, I love it.

 

I don't think the issue is change. Nobody (from what I remembered) was enthusiastic or had fond memories about the undeveloped area around GRB and therefore negative towards change. The issue is public money to finance private enterprises which sometimes raises negative concerns. Discovery Green is a very nice park. I'm glad there is development around the park. But did the Marriott Marquis break ground because it was near the park or because the city offered $138million in incentives? Is new residential poping up around Minute Maid  Park because it's a great public development project or because the city offered tax incentives to developers to build residential in downtown? Is there any private development along the ride line north of downtown?

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6 minutes ago, 102IAHexpress said:

 

I don't think the issue is change. Nobody (from what I remembered) was enthusiastic or had fond memories about the undeveloped area around GRB and therefore negative towards change. The issue is public money to finance private enterprises which sometimes raises negative concerns. Discovery Green is a very nice park. I'm glad there is development around the park. But did the Marriott Marquis break ground because it was near the park or because the city offered $138million in incentives? Is new residential poping up around Minute Maid  Park because it's a great public development project or because the city offered tax incentives to developers to build residential in downtown? Is there any private development along the ride line north of downtown?

Bingo.

 

and, if Discovery Green continues on the course it is on, it will become little more than extended event space for private conventions or other functions.  After all, one of the stated purposes of the GRB renovation is to seamlessly tie the two facilities together (hence the street configuration).  More and more conventions will use some or all of the "park" and will have even less space for the public to enjoy. 

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On 12/28/2016 at 4:01 PM, hindesky said:

A temporary cell phone tower for the Super Bowl crowd is going up a couple blocks away from Discovery Green.

 

r9pME2c.jpg

 

There seems to be a lot of these going up; across the street from Houston House a black pole is going up that looks much more pernament, and when I asked a worker on it he said that it was a cell phone tower

Edited by cspwal
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On 1/9/2017 at 6:40 PM, cloud713 said:

To me it looks like a pipe broke under the "lake" and the trapped water forced up a plastic liner, which was covered in a thin layer of cement and dirt.  The boat was probably used by maintenance personnel to check out the issue.  Just a guess though...

DSC01861

 

 

DSC01879

 

 

 

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11 hours ago, cloud713 said:

Seems like a plausible scenario.. I still wonder if anyone has any official confirmation on what happened, or how it will be fixed. They've got what, like two weeks before the Super Bowl festivities start?

I wonder if the freeze(s) had anything to do with it?

 

it didn't get cold enough for something that deep in the ground to have frozen.

 

has anyone seen if there's any water in the parking garage right below this? I'd imagine if there's a leak under whatever water barrier there is that it will eventually leak into the garage too.

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5 hours ago, CREguy13 said:

the MM turned out so well.  I can't wait until the boutique hotel above Partnership tower gets announced and is underway.  This area is becoming very flashy and sleek.

 

Agree, and given what it was back in the 80's, it's a huge transformation.

 

Amazing what a few hundred million dollars will do.

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On 1/13/2017 at 8:57 AM, samagon said:

 

it didn't get cold enough for something that deep in the ground to have frozen.

 

has anyone seen if there's any water in the parking garage right below this? I'd imagine if there's a leak under whatever water barrier there is that it will eventually leak into the garage too.

 

Thats true.. I guess it would of had to of been a pretty deep freeze to go that deep into the ground. The water above it serves as a decent insulator too I'm sure, just interesting timing. Good point about the garage.. hopefully they can get this fixed quickly. I haven't been back since those pictures, but it would be interesting to see what the site/repairs look like.

 

On 1/13/2017 at 1:04 PM, Nate99 said:

 

Agree, and given what it was back in the 80's, it's a huge transformation.

 

Amazing what a few hundred million dollars will do.

 

A few hundred million? I assume you're just talking about the $300+ million hotel? The construction costs of the developments around DG are well over a billion dollars.

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5 hours ago, Ctaf said:

That bench! I want it

Except, have you seen how the front rail of the "seat" has already had the epoxy  paint worn through?  They are all like that..... take a look.  These will look like crap soon enough or will require a lot of maintenance if not.......

Edited by UtterlyUrban
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5 hours ago, UtterlyUrban said:

Except, have you seen how the front rail of the "seat" has already had the epoxy  paint worn through?  They are all like that..... take a look.  These will look like crap soon enough or will require a lot of maintenance if not.......

 

Where do you see that? I see the anti-skateboarder bump things to keep skaters from grinding on the bench/tearing them up, but no worn through places..

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26 minutes ago, cloud713 said:

 

Where do you see that? I see the anti-skateboarder bump things to keep skaters from grinding on the bench/tearing them up, but no worn through places..

Easy easy to see in person but also in photo.

 

zoom in on photo.  Walk your eye down towards the kid seated on the left.  Look at the front rail.  That discoloration you see is not dirt but wear through.

IMG_0797.JPG

Edited by UtterlyUrban
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8 hours ago, UtterlyUrban said:

Except, have you seen how the front rail of the "seat" has already had the epoxy  paint worn through?  They are all like that..... take a look.  These will look like crap soon enough or will require a lot of maintenance if not.......

Noticed that the first week they were installed.  There are also spots where the railing is bent already.

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8 hours ago, cloud713 said:

Hmm.. I didn't notice it originally (I usually check HAIF on my phone), but I see it in the close up. Weird.. I wonder how/why it would already be showing signs of wear?

I don't know but, frankly, since the benches have been installed and open to the public for what? Only Two months? It seems to me that within 6 months those things will look terrifible.  GRB management needs to be chasing somebody for warranty work.

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On 1/15/2017 at 9:41 PM, Twinsanity02 said:

Went with my twin daughters to the convention center district. The entire area is beautiful. Did notice the benches and yes the paint is coming off. Actually saw people promenading. In Houston! Checked the pool area at the Marriott. Fantastic view. 

 

"Checked the pool area"..? Do they let the general public wander around inside/go up to the pool deck?

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