Theater District Master Plan

[Avossos 1888]

Do we have an updated timeline on the Theater District Master plan?

 

There is actually quite a lot of green space that is under-utilized. I think if Houston First is smart, they will work in 1-3 residential towers in the area to make this an area that is constantly vibrant.

[Urbannizer 42202]

20 minutes ago, CREguy13 said:

https://www.rchstudios.com/projects/the-lynn-wyatt-square/

 

Another slight design change for the retail structure:

 

 

Before:

 

[H-Town Man 4400]

33 minutes ago, Urbannizer said:

 

Another slight design change for the retail structure:

 

 

Before:

 

 

I like the exposed wood joists better on the new design. Hopefully a snake doesn't slither off that roof and land on somebody as they're carrying their coffee outside. Or a mudslide after one of our major rain events.

 

 

[X.R. 850]

Kinda reminds me of the Dunlavy, with the open nature of the windows and the setting of the building. 

 

The amount of thought that went into that space as shown by the website is pretty astounding. Different parts of the area activated for different uses, and its almost like a smaller Miller outdoor theatre/discovery green.

 

Really cool.

[Luminare 5583]

On 10/8/2019 at 11:39 AM, H-Town Man said:

 

I like the exposed wood joists better on the new design. Hopefully a snake doesn't slither off that roof and land on somebody as they're carrying their coffee outside. Or a mudslide after one of our major rain events.

 

 

 

They will have to add that thick parapet back. Other than that it looks like they got some feedback from a structural engineer and were like...yeah I think some lateral joists make sense.

 

Are they going to rename the park? or will this be something like "Lynn Wyatt Square For The Performing Arts at Jones Plaza"?
@Urbannizer

Edited October 10, 2019 by Luminare

[bobruss 4913]

I just wish they could solve the flooding issues with that part of town. I think if they went ahead with the White Oak Bayou bypass over to the eastern side of town to connect with Buffalo Bayou they would help the western and northwestern side of downtown. I also believe that the county buidings that are built near Louisiana and Travis should be taken out as they constrict the flow of water through downtown. They are literally built to the waters edge leaving no room for excess drainage.

[H-Town Man 4400]

16 minutes ago, Luminare said:

 

They will have to add that thick parapet back. Other than that it looks like they got some feedback from a structural engineer and were like...yeah I think some lateral joists make sense.

 

Are they going to rename the park? or will this be something like "Lynn Wyatt Square For The Performing Arts at Jones Plaza"?
@Urbannizer

 

I think Houston Endowment should write them a check for $15 million with the memo line: "Name stays."

 

[Luminare 5583]

3 minutes ago, H-Town Man said:

 

I think Houston Endowment should write them a check for $15 million with the memo line: "Name stays."

 

 

I'm still wondering what the black dude in the bottom right is point at in the sky...

 

5 minutes ago, bobruss said:

I just wish they could solve the flooding issues with that part of town. I think if they went ahead with the White Oak Bayou bypass over to the eastern side of town to connect with Buffalo Bayou they would help the western and northwestern side of downtown. I also believe that the county buidings that are built near Louisiana and Travis should be taken out as they constrict the flow of water through downtown. They are literally built to the waters edge leaving no room for excess drainage.

 

...maybe its the rising tide!

[wilcal 1258]

September board meeting packet was put up. Only real new information is timeline and Phase breakdown of Bagby street construction: http://www.downtowntirz.com/downtownhouston/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/190919_Bagby-Street_Stakeholder-Advisory-Committee_Presentation.pdf

 

Text is kind of small. Blue is 1Q20-2Q20. Green is 3Q20-4Q20. Purple is 1Q21-2Q21. Orange is 3Q21-4Q21.

 

There is some utility work in the southern half (left side of this pic) Bagby that will be completed in 2020. 

 

 

 

[wilcal 1258]

Just noticed that they were originally planning to extend the cycle track onto Franklin and then wrap around to Congress, but that's been dropped. I emailed the Downtown District planner to see what happened. 

 

Edit: heard back already!

 

TLDR: Franklin bridge was hard to retrofit and they had to cut back due to budgetary reasons. There's still relatively decent access to Buffalo Bayou, so that's not a huge deal. 

Edited October 14, 2019 by wilcal

[Urbannizer 42202]

 

[corbs315 450]

50 minutes ago, Urbannizer said:

 

 

It's not NOT like a horror movie trailer

[TOMIKA! 52]

That’s one ugly park! Didn’t realize a park this bad could be designed in 2019. And, all I notice in the video are the cars. Feels like a freeway park with a couple of circles in the middle. Just bad. Gensler is the worst. 

Edited October 24, 2019 by TOMIKA!

[Subdude 1576]

The LBJ statue placement comes off as pretty awkward, but I supposed it's an improvement over what's there now.

[Texasota 2150]

LBJ can stay where he is. It's the landscape architecture shown here that's disappointing.

[X.R. 850]

Yeah that park is going to hoooooot during the summer time. Unless they need all that space for discgolf, I don't really understand the thought behind having all that space and no significant landscape architecture. It screams "THIS IS BETTER THAN A PARKING LOT, RIGHT?" when in actuality, I don't know.

[mollusk 2218]

It is over a parking garage, so the arborial options are limited.

[arche_757 823]

Surely a large earthen berm or grassy knoll would allow a spot or two for a tree or trees of greater circumference?  🧐

[Ross 1207]

7 hours ago, arche_757 said:

Surely a large earthen berm or grassy knoll would allow a spot or two for a tree or trees of greater circumference?  🧐

Just have to make sure no presidents drive by...

[X.R. 850]

The long wait is over: https://abc13.com/traffic/bagby-street-remodeling-construction-set-to-last-until-2021/5829293/

 

Construction on Bagby is supposed to start this Saturday, January 11. I don't know how Nature feels about that, since Houston is supposed to have severe, crazy Houston weather on Saturday, but at least its starting now! I did not know it includes an upgrade to the drainage system and such in that area. We're going to have all these separate bike/pedestrian lanes and pocket parks across the city after this, Houston just needs a way to link East Downtown/Midtown to the Lamar/Bagby Spine. 

[HtownWxBoy 176]

The crazy weather is happening tonight / overnight .... the rain will be over by sunrise.  

[TheSirDingle 886]

New rendering/perspective for the soon to be redeveloped park. From the latest downtown market update. 

 

article: http://www.downtowndistrict.org/static/media/uploads/attachments/downtown_market_update_2019_q4.pdf

picture Pg 15, information on both Pg 14 and 15 

Edited January 18 by TheSirDingle

[Highrise Tower 23349]

Got lost in the tunnels today.  Ran into a Alley Theatre flood gate.

 

[Tumbleweed_Tx 1580]

Hopefully this time it works. They lost their entire props catalog with the last flood.

[X.R. 850]

First, the city made Main and its surrounding areas nicer so attorneys could enjoy their brand new civil and criminal courthouse and tap into some great drinks and food pre, during, and post trial.

 

Now they are putting in this park so going to the federal courthouse will be a relaxing experience and help attorneys get their mind right before going to court. I dunno which law firms and attorneys have been donating to make this possible, but god bless them! 

[Naviguessor 2011]

The Law Firm of Lynn & Wyatt

[TheSirDingle 886]

THEY STARTED TEARING UP BAGBY!!!!! (Sorry no pics for now) 

[ChannelTwoNews 2714]

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2020/02/07/cbre-dishes-on-search-for-restaurant-operator-for.html?iana=hpmvp_hstn_news_headline

 

Quote

CBRE dishes on search for restaurant operator for Jones Plaza redevelopment

 

By Laura Gillespie  – Reporter, Houston Business Journal

Feb 7, 2020, 8:37am CST

 

CBRE is now looking for an operator to run the restaurant as part of the previously announced transformation of Jones Plaza, which will be renamed the Lynn Wyatt Square for the Performing Arts. 

 

The 8,547-square-foot restaurant will be two stories, CBRE Associate Lacee Jacobs said, making it ideal for a dual concept overseen by a single operator. She is handling leasing for the restaurant along with Associate Laura Harness. Jacobs said the street level could be suited for a more formal concept, with valet, serving as a nice restaurant to go to before attending a performance in the Theater District. That lower level will be 2,000 square feet. 

 

The upper level, which will face the park, will have a patio and could support a more casual concept with greater interaction with the park and parkgoers. That level will be 2,400 square feet. 

 

“It is definitely going to be part of what we think is an awesome transformation of this park," Jacobs said of the restaurant. "And we really want it to interact with the park and with the parkgoers and with all the events that will be hosted at the park. But we really want it to be a great representation of our city and downtown.”

 

 

Although Jacobs doesn't have a specific type of food in mind for the restaurant, CBRE is seeking a local brand. 

Specific rent hasn't been set, and there's some flexibility available to work with operators potentially interested in the space. 

 

The operator will have input on the restaurant’s design.

 

“It’s designed to feel very cozy and to have very defined bar area and dining area and patio area,” Jacobs said.

 

Jacobs said the restaurant will bridge the gap between downtown workers, residents and Houstonians who are just in the area to catch a show or see the park. The park will have similar programming to Market Square Park, with possible activities including movies, bingo or the biking group Critical Mass meet-ups. 

 

”The Lynn Wyatt Square For The Performing Arts will be a gamechanger for the Theater District and the west side of downtown Houston” Brenda Bazan, president and CEO of Houston First Corp., said in a press release. Houston First is managing the park. 

 

“We are confident that having CBRE as part of our team will result in selecting the right restaurant operator, which is a key component to reimagining the next chapter of the new greenspace.”

 

 

Edited February 7 by ChannelTwoNews
formatting

[X.R. 850]

A bar area? I can get my drink on at the park without my typical brown paper bag? Sign me up!

[Luminare 5583]

While updating the info for the Jones plaza redo I found a couple fun images on RCH's website that were neat.

Park Configurations:

 

 

Model:

 

[Naviguessor 2011]

"Pre-Show Cocktail Hour"  Now the Plaza is sounding better as well as looking better. 

[Luminare 5583]

18 minutes ago, Naviguessor said:

"Pre-Show Cocktail Hour"  Now the Plaza is sounding better as well as looking better. 

 

Its the bougiest thing ever, but definitely wouldn't mind going to one just to be in that environment at night.

[j_cuevas713 2396]

53 minutes ago, Luminare said:

 

Its the bougiest thing ever, but definitely wouldn't mind going to one just to be in that environment at night.

All the assholes unite on one city block lmao

[H-Town Man 4400]

On 2/7/2020 at 10:26 AM, ChannelTwoNews said:

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2020/02/07/cbre-dishes-on-search-for-restaurant-operator-for.html?iana=hpmvp_hstn_news_headline

 

 

 

Bingo? Will they get Ethel from the St. Vincent Harvest Years Society to call the numbers? She's the best. And what about bridge? This thing is DOA unless there's a good game of contract bridge.

 

[jermh 662]

There was a truck on the Louisiana side of the plaza that looks to be pulling core samples as I walked by at lunch.

Edited March 6 by jermh

[Luminare 5583]

3 hours ago, jermh said:

There was a truck on the Louisiana side of the plaza that looks to be pulling core samples as I walked by at lunch.

 

Saw this while driving around during lunch break, but wasn't to sure if this was for the plaza or not.