Nate99 7729 Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Right across Crawford from the ballpark, there's a nondescript three story old white building that I never gave too much thought, but with the cataloguing of old buildings around here lately, I thought I'd look it up. It is apparently a prison, near as I an tell a private/contract place. Maybe it is a unit that requires some logistically convenient location to get to the courts, but this and the Federal pen on Texas Ave seem to be holding down some pretty valuable real estate. Anyone ever heard anything else about the place? https://www.google.com/maps/@29.7582722,-95.3562352,3a,75y,350.2h,78.86t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sfHyg9TIT4jobWKTn3TEXgg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
UtterlyUrban 1677 Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 I have noticed it before. There is a big sign on the wall. It's probably not a prison as there are no bars, etc. it is most likely a halfway house of some kind. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nate99 7729 Posted January 13, 2016 Author Share Posted January 13, 2016 I have noticed it before. There is a big sign on the wall. It's probably not a prison as there are no bars, etc. it is most likely a halfway house of some kind. I walked by it yesterday, access is heavily, but discretely, very restricted. This is the only link I have found: http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/unit_directory/xm.html ISF's are evidently a treatment based short-term (but full-time) place for parole/probation violators. https://www.versustexas.com/criminal/isf/ 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nole23 1449 Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 I've always wondered about this place but figured it was vacant. I can only imagine that many of these empty lots and smaller buildings will be redeveloped over the next decade with all of the new apartments, hotels, ect going up nearby. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nate99 7729 Posted January 12, 2017 Author Share Posted January 12, 2017 (edited) Driving by this place recently, there is a big construction waste type dumpster in the parking lot. Would be a great step for the area if this were turned into something that people visited willingly. EDIT: Found these from August, there were at least plans to close it, but can't find if they actually followed through. http://www.chron.com/news/politics/texas/article/TDCJ-moves-to-close-downtown-Houston-lockup-9148332.php http://www.ktxs.com/news/texas-department-of-criminal-justice-to-request-budget-cut-exemptions/50768230 Quote "This would free up a site for commercial development that would be more compatible with restaurants and residential development and ballpark that are now its close neighbors," Whitmire said. "The new site is across from the Harris County Jail, a much better location." Quote The Department of Criminal Justice says those cuts would come in large part from shutting down the 450-bed South Texas Intermediate Sanction Facility in Houston You have to wonder how the whole downtown block market price dynamic works with the state/county owned property. Probably corruptly. Edited January 12, 2017 by Nate99 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Highrise Tower 33186 Posted December 4, 2019 Share Posted December 4, 2019 Demolition permit has been issued. 5 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Luminare 6042 Posted December 4, 2019 Share Posted December 4, 2019 1 hour ago, ekdrm2d1 said: Demolition permit has been issued. If this was in any other place I would say this should be tried to be restored or remodeled, but with its proximity to the ballpark, and its rough shape it makes sense to Demo it. Do we know if this is for the entire block or just this particular building on the block. Is this more residential? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nate99 7729 Posted December 4, 2019 Author Share Posted December 4, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, Luminare said: If this was in any other place I would say this should be tried to be restored or remodeled, but with its proximity to the ballpark, and its rough shape it makes sense to Demo it. Do we know if this is for the entire block or just this particular building on the block. Is this more residential? It's the only structure on the block, but the rest of the block looks further divided. It would be interesting to know if there are still separate parcels/owners, or if the divisions are just remnants of old foundations hastily paved over. The cost of the demolition would take a long time to recoup through parking revenue, I would think, unless there is some other compelling reason to get rid of the structure and parking lot-itize it like Hines briefly did with the Chronicle building block prior to the tower construction. Apart from 81 five hour chunks of time per year, that area isn't short of parking options, which makes me hopeful that someone has a plan here, but I know nothing. To my untrained eye, the building looks to have been designed explicitly to be immemorable; I thought it was someone's storage warehouse for years, turns out it stored officially unsavory people for the State of Texas. Restoring it to anything interesting would not be faithful history unless it were heavily modified from something else to get to its current state, not that anyone seems to remember or care [edit - see below]. The covered sidewalk on the Preston side is nice for function (and I wish more of downtown had them), but form is pretty basic. This block has 4 adjacent blocks that are surface lots, 2 are part of the MMP grounds and one the back end of 500 Crawford apartments. Other nearby neighbors include the DeGeorge hotel (a homeless veteran outreach type facility if I remember correctly) The Salvation Army, and a bail bonds place. Edited December 4, 2019 by Nate99 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Houston19514 4617 Posted December 4, 2019 Share Posted December 4, 2019 /\ According to HCAD, there are still separate owners... 4 different owners on the block. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Avossos 2281 Posted December 4, 2019 Share Posted December 4, 2019 this building should have been redeveloped. Not torn down. I hate how much this city throws away good architecture. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ttuchris 97 Posted December 4, 2019 Share Posted December 4, 2019 I started this thread which has some history of the building. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Houston19514 4617 Posted December 4, 2019 Share Posted December 4, 2019 (edited) 11 minutes ago, Avossos said: this building should have been redeveloped. Not torn down. I hate how much this city throws away good architecture. Do we know that it is being torn down? I think demolition permits don't necessarily mean the building is being torn down. Edited December 4, 2019 by Houston19514 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nate99 7729 Posted December 4, 2019 Author Share Posted December 4, 2019 (edited) I retract my bit about no one knowing or caring about the history, that is interesting info. Not that it makes it an interesting building as it sits now to me personally, but to each his own. Edited December 4, 2019 by Nate99 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Highrise Tower 33186 Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 Demolition should start next week. 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Avossos 2281 Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 12 hours ago, ekdrm2d1 said: Demolition should start next week. The full thing is coming down? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Highrise Tower 33186 Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 5 minutes ago, Avossos said: The full thing is coming down? I believe so. A Cherry represenative said the space will probably used for parking. He only took a guess though. This would indicate the whole thing is coming down. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Avossos 2281 Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 2 hours ago, ekdrm2d1 said: I believe so. A Cherry represenative said the space will probably used for parking. He only took a guess though. This would indicate the whole thing is coming down. 😪 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phillip_white 1910 Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 3 hours ago, ekdrm2d1 said: I believe so. A Cherry represenative said the space will probably used for parking. He only took a guess though. This would indicate the whole thing is coming down. I could support a parking garage with ground floor retail and top floor bar and/or restaurant. 6 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cspwal 3903 Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 If there is no bar/restaurant in whatever building eventually gets built there, I would be very surprised 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wilcal 1682 Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 Someone making the bet about the Astros losing a big chunk of their surface lots from NHHIP? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Highrise Tower 33186 Posted December 6, 2019 Share Posted December 6, 2019 Better view. 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nate4l1f3 1119 Posted December 6, 2019 Share Posted December 6, 2019 If they go vertical here then the Civil courthouse building would probably be blocked from the view inside MMP. (These are the things I think about). 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Houston19514 4617 Posted December 6, 2019 Share Posted December 6, 2019 11 hours ago, nate4l1f3 said: If they go vertical here then the Civil courthouse building would probably be blocked from the view inside MMP. (These are the things I think about). Hopefully, it would also block the view of the county's horrible parking garage. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Highrise Tower 33186 Posted December 7, 2019 Share Posted December 7, 2019 On 1/13/2016 at 7:37 AM, UtterlyUrban said: I have noticed it before. There is a big sign on the wall. It's probably not a prison as there are no bars, etc. it is most likely a halfway house of some kind. Someone helped me with this photo. Appreciate it! 7 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nate4l1f3 1119 Posted December 8, 2019 Share Posted December 8, 2019 On 12/6/2019 at 11:49 AM, Houston19514 said: Hopefully, it would also block the view of the county's horrible parking garage. Excellent point. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hindesky 46417 Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 7 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
swtsig 2929 Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 is this simply being demo'd and prepped for sale or has this site been acquired and is being prepped for development? I wouldn't be surprised if this was/is one of the lots Crane and the Astros et al have acquired. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Houston19514 4617 Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 32 minutes ago, swtsig said: is this simply being demo'd and prepped for sale or has this site been acquired and is being prepped for development? I wouldn't be surprised if this was/is one of the lots Crane and the Astros et al have acquired. That is a logical theory. Nothing showing up in the county records so far... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nate4l1f3 1119 Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 3 hours ago, swtsig said: is this simply being demo'd and prepped for sale or has this site been acquired and is being prepped for development? I wouldn't be surprised if this was/is one of the lots Crane and the Astros et al have acquired. This being one of Cranes lot was my hope. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
H-Town Man 4989 Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 The rest of this block has three different owners, none of them having the Crawford St taxpayer address that signifies one of Crane's properties. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Highrise Tower 33186 Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 On 12/16/2019 at 11:15 AM, swtsig said: is this simply being demo'd and prepped for sale or has this site been acquired and is being prepped for development? I wouldn't be surprised if this was/is one of the lots Crane and the Astros et al have acquired. A Cherry representative said Minute Maid is the new owner. I’m not sure if that means the Harris County Houston Sports Authority or Crane and the team. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cspwal 3903 Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 Maybe a bottle of orange juice bought it 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post Entropete 18 Posted December 17, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted December 17, 2019 It's been a long time coming but today after a few days of fencing, they have finally started the demo of the South Texas Intermediate Sanction Facility (It also says Southern DRV Company on the front of the building). This frees up a whole block, and I'm excited to see what they put here. Even as an empty lot for now, this eyesore will not be missed. It should be gone within a couple of weeks according to the guys I spoke with this morning. 11 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wilcal 1682 Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 First, really good pics and thanks for sharing!\ Second, there's actually a thread in the Downtown forum since we still don't know what is going to go up. A mod will probably roll this thread into that one. A 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bobruss 4986 Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 I used to walk by this building every day and wondered when it would meet the wrecking crew. Looks like its time has finally come. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Subdude 1592 Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 Note dupe topics merged. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Highrise Tower 33186 Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 On 12/17/2019 at 3:37 PM, Entropete said: It's been a long time coming but today after a few days of fencing, they have finally started the demo of the South Texas Intermediate Sanction Facility (It also says Southern DRV Company on the front of the building). This frees up a whole block, and I'm excited to see what they put here. Even as an empty lot for now, this eyesore will not be missed. It should be gone within a couple of weeks according to the guys I spoke with this morning. @Entropete Thanks for the pictures, and welcome to the forum. Keep us posted Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Entropete 18 Posted December 20, 2019 Share Posted December 20, 2019 Thanks! I'll update their progress every few days. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Highrise Tower 33186 Posted December 21, 2019 Share Posted December 21, 2019 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hindesky 46417 Posted December 27, 2019 Share Posted December 27, 2019 Cherry Demolition started on the north side demo. 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Entropete 18 Posted December 28, 2019 Share Posted December 28, 2019 update. im not going to miss this guy 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tigereye 1843 Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 (edited) On 12/17/2019 at 12:27 PM, ekdrm2d1 said: A Cherry representative said Minute Maid is the new owner. I’m not sure if that means the Harris County Houston Sports Authority or Crane and the team. Interesting to see what Crane and the Astros will do here. Maybe more residential with ground floor bar/restaurant space. Reminder: Crane/Astros own Block 161 25 minutes ago, tigereye said: Our local media is slow. Culture Map first mentioned Crane owning block 161 back in 2016. http://houston.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/03-30-16-astros-owner-gives-the-inside-scoop-on-his-two-new-restaurants-near-minute-maid-park/#slide=0 When the MMP lease was renewed in 2018, it was again mentioned as being possibly earmarked for ballpark village plans. https://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/Astros-plans-future-improvements-Minute-Maid-Park-13061261.php Edited December 29, 2019 by tigereye 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bobruss 4986 Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 At the rates they charge for parking close to the stadium on game days they might just leave it as parking for a while. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Texasota 2933 Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 That's definitely what I'm afraid of. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brooklyn173 818 Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 A couple of years ago, Crane and the Astros bought the old New Hope building on Hamilton. At the time there were rumors of additional parking. "Jim Crane, owner of the Astros, plays a significant role in this plan. Horak-Brown said he purchased the Hamilton and has kept it operating as a dwelling until the Harrisburg building replaces it. “Once Harrisburg is complete in the fall of 2017 (likely November),” said the housing group’s president, “New Hope will relocate its corporate headquarters to its fourth floor, and the eligible residents of Hamilton will move into Harrisburg or another New Hope property. Then, Hamilton will permanently close.” She said Crane is expected to raze the Hamilton and use the property as part of the Astros ballpark complex, possibly a parking lot. The property, now owned by Crane, is located at 320 Hamilton at Congress Avenue, just west of U.S. Highway 59." Did anything ever happen at that site? It appears that Crane/Astros are purchasing all the land surrounding the stadium. A lot of professional teams want that sort of real estate leverage for their facilities but are looking for governmental assistance in getting the land. Maybe Crane is a step ahead of everyone else and has something big and special up his sleeve? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kbates2 1339 Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 It would make sense for him to make the New Hope property additional premium parking but I think that this site is much more likely to be in his ballpark village plan. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nate4l1f3 1119 Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 It has already been converted into premium parking. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hindesky 46417 Posted January 3, 2020 Share Posted January 3, 2020 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Highrise Tower 33186 Posted January 4, 2020 Share Posted January 4, 2020 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HoustonMidtown 4330 Posted January 5, 2020 Share Posted January 5, 2020 Untitled by Houston Midtown, on Flickr Untitled by Houston Midtown, on Flickr 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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