Proposed Demolitions At 509 & 517 Louisiana St.

[kylejack]

Because in general, density and historic preservation don't go hand in hand. I'm sure there are many who would like to see the low-rise mish-mash of old houses, gas stations, restaurants, and one-story buildings in Midtown go away in favor of trendy mid-rise apartments, but "historic preservation" would dictate otherwise and force one or two story buildings to stay where they are as land values skyrocket and the only affordable housing (that's not government subsidized, of course) is on the fringe parts of the sprawl. Start running out of realistic space, and you get a situation like the entire Bay Area.

 

I'm not saying that demolishing these buildings is going to make a difference in land value or whatever or that I expect you to start shedding tears for every S/F house torn down in the Inner Loop, but there are two sides of this argument and it needs to be balanced carefully to avoid looking like a hypocrite.

 

Well, these two are being turned into pavement.

[Nate99]

Not to inflame further, but I was walking by when they were doing this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[cspwal]

That tree is in the back - it should be fine to stay unless the Lancaster really wants 50 parking spots instead of just 49

[Sunstar]

Not to inflame further, but I was walking by when they were doing this.

 

 

 

 

 

Just happened to be in the neighborhood, eh?

[Nate99]

That tree is in the back - it should be fine to stay unless the Lancaster really wants 50 parking spots instead of just 49

 

I'm surprised that it survived Calpine being built around it and all the sunlight that must get blocked.  It does look way back there.

[cspwal]

I'm surprised that it survived Calpine being built around it and all the sunlight that must get blocked.  It does look way back there.

 

Maybe the ghost keeps it alive

[mollusk]

(sigh...)

 

I have no idea how they think they are going to park 50 cars on a surface lot there, unless maybe it's door handle to door handle, bumper to bumper, nothing is bigger than the original Hondas and Subarus, and getting one out of the back requires a helicopter.

[Nate99]

Just happened to be in the neighborhood, eh?

 

I work in the area. I've been watching to see when they had the excavators out.

 

I have no affiliation with the Lancaster (stayed there once, it was ok) or any demolition, development or parking lot operation company, though suspicions would be warranted.

Edited January 15, 2016 by Nate99

[samagon]

Not to inflame further, but I was walking by when they were doing this.

 

 

....

 

 

 

 

ha, I know what Nate99 looks like IRL!

 

I figured that it was a haifer taking those pictures that I stopped and chatted for 15 seconds with, but didn't have the guts to say "Excuse me sir, but have you accepted HAIF as your only resource for Houston architecture information?"

[Nate99]

ha, I know what Nate99 looks like IRL!

 

I figured that it was a haifer taking those pictures that I stopped and chatted for 15 seconds with, but didn't have the guts to say "Excuse me sir, but have you accepted HAIF as your only resource for Houston architecture information?"

 

You were the ~20 year old guy on the bike with a short sleeve shirt and tie?

[sevfiv]

That tree is in the back - it should be fine to stay unless the Lancaster really wants 50 parking spots instead of just 49

 

"Moving the tree is not an option because of its massive root system. When the tree was uncovered in 2001, an official with the city's urban forestry office told the Chronicle moving it would be a "long shot." Lusk said he tried to find a way to preserve the tree, but the land around it is uneven and the tree would not survive the leveling of the site."

 

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/100-year-old-downtown-buildings-to-make-way-for-6708623.php

[Nate99]

"Moving the tree is not an option because of its massive root system. When the tree was uncovered in 2001, an official with the city's urban forestry office told the Chronicle moving it would be a "long shot." Lusk said he tried to find a way to preserve the tree, but the land around it is uneven and the tree would not survive the leveling of the site."

 

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/100-year-old-downtown-buildings-to-make-way-for-6708623.php

 

How was it covered prior to 2001? 

[sevfiv]

How was it covered prior to 2001? 

 

"It had been hidden from pedestrians and motorists until 2001 when it was exposed when the Rice Rittenhouse garage was demolished to make way for a skyscraper at 717 Texas that later covered it up again after it was built."

[Sunstar]

You were the ~20 year old guy on the bike with a short sleeve shirt and tie?

 

[KinkaidAlum]

Iron- It's becoming a surface parking lot. Bricks and mortar, even when empty, do more for perceived density than a friggin' surface parking lot. 

[kylejack]

Iron- It's becoming a surface parking lot. Bricks and mortar, even when empty, do more for perceived density than a friggin' surface parking lot. 

Even a parking garage would be preferable to a surface lot. 

[IronTiger]

Iron- It's becoming a surface parking lot. Bricks and mortar, even when empty, do more for perceived density than a friggin' surface parking lot.

I realize that. However, I feel that if it was a parking garage, there would be just as many complaints.

Question: what and when was the last business to occupy this? If they've been locked up for the last decade if not longer, well...

[H-Town Man]

I realize that. However, I feel that if it was a parking garage, there would be just as many complaints.

Question: what and when was the last business to occupy this? If they've been locked up for the last decade if not longer, well...

 

Read the thread.

[Texasota]

Also, how long was Texaco vacant? The Rice Hotel? Union Station? The Melrose Building? 

 

Vacancy doesn't always mean that a building is no longer useful, and it certainly doesn't mean that it no longer has value. 

[Urbannizer]

c/o Swamplot:

 

[IronTiger]

When I drove by here last week, I could see the excavators were below ground level. I briefly thought "Hey, maybe there's more to this project than a surface lot" but then reverted that to "Looks like they're just taking out the old basements".

[Nate99]

It did not look like there was enough depth there for an actual basement, but maybe they already filled it in.  The pecan tree is still there.

Edited February 5, 2016 by Nate99

[rechlin]

I'm glad it's still standing, but surely its days are numbered:

[cspwal]

The shouldn't pave that corner - leave it as a tiny pocket park.  The corner of a parking lot is always the most awkward anyway

[infinite_jim]

[mfastx]

They're just gonna leave that crappy wall up on the right side?? 

[IronTiger]

Trees are gone. Didn't get a super long look at it but it looks like the entire site is leveled.

[HoustonIsHome]

Just my two cents, but New Orleans isn't hurting too much for business. It is about where it should be for a metro of its size.

What New Orleans did is preserve a fraction of the stock, and built the business district outside the protected stock. However, even in between the newer skyscrappers are old stock buildings.

The medical center does not look as nice as ours but I do like the aged character and how well it fits in.

I mean even in the quarter, there are hotels that have been renovated/expanded multiple times and in my opinion got even better.

The Hotel Monteleone for example was renovated after the Quarter was protected. They did a lot of demolition, expanded a great deal and ended up with a hotel with one of the most charming facades this side of the Mason Dixon.

Here are pictures of the Monteleone:

https://www.google.com/search?q=hotel+monteleone&client=ms-android-hms-tmobile-us&prmd=mivn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjUvOWUwZ_LAhVFgYMKHS1LAyAQ_AUICCgC&biw=360&bih=559&dpr=3

Downtown Houston could have protected an area such as Market square and implement regulations that newer buildings/improvements result in a look that matches the area. The east side of downtown and the southern part from pictures never was all that special. The towers could have gone there whole the Vieux Carr preserved.

[IronTiger]

^ Wrong thread?

[Montrose1100]

^ Wrong thread?

I don't think so, considering the french quarter was brought up during the pages and pages of discussion about protecting historic structures versus tearing them down.

[j_cuevas713]

The tree's are gone!?!?

 

[IronTiger]

The tree's are gone!?!?

 

That's what it looked like on Monday, as the previous time, I do remember seeing the trees, and that the picture up there was almost what I saw, except no trees.

 

Keep in mind that because I was driving I can't 100% verify that.

[astros148]

Trees are gone

[j_cuevas713]

Smh what a bunch of idiots running the Lancaster... you get rid of the buildings... ok it sucks but we will move on... but getting rid of a 100 yr old tree for no good reason!?

[cloud713]

Wasnt there some history to those trees (aside from the age)?

Edited March 3, 2016 by cloud713

[kbates2]

F the Lancaster

[KinkaidAlum]

They are trying to squeeze FIFTY parking spaces in there. No place for a damn tree. That said, and this is a serious question, I thought there were new regulations for planting trees when making new surface lots? Is that just a myth I've heard?

[Chi-Char-Hou-Dal]

They told me on Facebook they would keep the trees - duck them! I'll walk naked through the Lancaster and put my member on the front desk if they do anything with this lot (worth a shit) in the next 24 months.

[Tumbleweed_Tx]

lol. .. must have pictures, with both pixels comprising your weiner blurred, of course, since no one wants to see that...lol

[Tumbleweed_Tx]

::drops the mic, grabs another vodka::

[Chi-Char-Hou-Dal]

If you think my comments are outlandish, they were.

 

I urge you to go to page 1 of this thread - look at those two buildings - take into account the former owner of BB's take on the buildings - I rode my bike last night and had to laugh. The end result is so short sighted, in person you really get a sense of how small a parking lot it is.

 

I can't help but feel hatred for their stupid decision.

 

As I told them on Facebook - I started putting my out of town guests at the JW, Icon or Sam Houston and they are all very happy, they were all equally dismayed when we drove past the empty lot.

 

Cue Game of Thrones Shame Bell .

 

 

[IronTiger]

Maybe, and I'm just being optimistic here, that the trees were not supposed to go but a mistake on the contractor's part? Did they get rid of the one on the sidewalk, which (I believe) is the city's right of way? (Again, I drove past too quickly to observe everything, but I did notice the lack of trees)

[samagon]

trees, no trees. is this the way a business that prides itself on historic preservation should act?

 

someone needs to make them a wikipedia page

[Nate99]

The pecan tree in the back is gone, the ones on the sidewalk are still there.

[Nole23]

http://www.chron.com/business/real-estate/article/Pecan-Tree-cut-down-behind-Lancaster-Hotel-6874972.php

[cspwal]

 

 

Family members said the tree was not expected to survive the leveling of the site.

 

They could have kept it if that was part of the goal...

[Nate99]

Few trees can survive being paved over.

[j_cuevas713]

Man what a bunch of idiots running the Lancaster... I will never recommend anyone stay there

[Montrose1100]

http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/Building/2281/The-Longhorn-Pecan.php - someone posted this in the Chron comments (surprisingly).

[IronTiger]

http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/Building/2281/The-Longhorn-Pecan.php - someone posted this in the Chron comments (surprisingly).

 

I don't know when that was written, but if that's true, then the pecan tree wouldn't have lived much longer from this point. If the Lancaster had saved it and paved everything else, then it would've died within a few years, accusations would fly like "Oh, you disturbed the ground around it too much" (like what oak trees have to deal with), then they would have to go in and remove it.

 

That said, it's a laughably small space for a parking lot at least for what they're proposing. Just for fun, I created a polygon overlay of the demolished area near the Lancaster and dragged it over to the parking lot of the nearby Lyric Centre, where I counted the parking spaces there. I counted 38 which included a small corner where you couldn't park cars due to the way the parking lot was built. Then I took the same polygon and put it on a parking garage, which lacked the wide two-way aisles for cars. There I counted about the same number...37. Then I took it to Franklin and Travis, where there was a parking lot on a lot almost the same size of what the Lancaster wanted. I also counted around 40, there too (that one included handicapped spaces). And here they're proposing 50 spaces?! Are they all motorcycle spaces?!