The Shops At Arrive: Retail And Residential Complex In Upper Kirby

[lockmat]

Should we have some HAIFy celebration for this? I mean, this is kind of the first of it's kind on this scale for Houston, isn't it?

[Houston19514]

Should we have some HAIFy celebration for this? I mean, this is kind of the first of it's kind on this scale for Houston, isn't it?

I guess if you don't count Houston Pavilions

[desirous]

I guess if you don't count Houston Pavilions

HP is two stories tall, like Sharpstown Mall. I'm a DT resident and would love to take pride in my pet tiddlywinks, but we have to be honest here. West Ave -- with its future expansions -- is the first of its kind in Houston.

[TheNiche]

HP is two stories tall, like Sharpstown Mall. I'm a DT resident and would love to take pride in my pet tiddlywinks, but we have to be honest here. West Ave -- with its future expansions -- is the first of its kind in Houston.

The retail part of HP is three stories tall, more than West Ave. The office component is 12 stories, more than West Ave.

Maybe its just that I see these all the time in other cities I do work in, but these cliched mixed-use projects don't really excite me. The cookie-cutter architecture on most of them (this one included) is pretty boring. At least HP has some unique skywalks to distinguish it...and I still am underwhelmed by HP.

[lockmat]

I guess if you don't count Houston Pavilions

True, but I think the apts set West Ave apart.

[desirous]

The retail part of HP is three stories tall, more than West Ave. The office component is 12 stories, more than West Ave.

No residential.

Maybe its just that I see these all the time in other cities I do work in, but these cliched mixed-use projects don't really excite me. The cookie-cutter architecture on most of them (this one included) is pretty boring. At least HP has some unique skywalks to distinguish it...and I still am underwhelmed by HP.

Mixed-use is vastly better than single-use apartment complexes or strip malls. I'd rather have "cliched" mixed-use developments than hideous strip malls. Separation of uses for multifamily residential and retail is one of the most idiotic boondoggles I've yet to wrap my mind around.

[Pumapayam]

Mixed-use is vastly better than single-use apartment complexes or strip malls. I'd rather have "cliched" mixed-use developments than hideous strip malls. Separation of uses for multifamily residential and retail is one of the most idiotic boondoggles I've yet to wrap my mind around.

I am 100% agreeing, and just excited that West Ave is built, with West Creek and BLVD Place on the horizon.

I think Houston Pavilions will be a catalyst from something even bigger and better on dowtown in the near future, this time larger, with residential.

We have SO many surface lots still to convert.

[Houston19514]

True, but I think the apts set West Ave apart.

Just as the office building portion of HP sets HP apart. ;-) So I guess we could say HP is also the first of its kind. ;-)

[desirous]

I am 100% agreeing, and just excited that West Ave is built, with West Creek and BLVD Place on the horizon.

I think Houston Pavilions will be a catalyst from something even bigger and better on dowtown in the near future, this time larger, with residential.

We have SO many surface lots still to convert.

I'll be frequenting HP to provide patronage. Gotta show the downtown pride! Hope we get a grocery store around here eventually; all we have is the Midtown Randall's. We're so far behind Dallas in the downtown grocery department.

What I wonder is whether development will jump Westheimer. Kirby/Westheimer would become Houston's most impressive intersection if stuff goes up on all four corners.

[uhlaw09]

I'll be frequenting HP to provide patronage. Gotta show the downtown pride! Hope we get a grocery store around here eventually; all we have is the Midtown Randall's. We're so far behind Dallas in the downtown grocery department.

Will be a downtown grocery in OPP soon enough.

[Vertigo58]

"I won't be ignored!"

Hilarious, but too reiterate, my fascination with this place is it's mere presence and modern appearance not the stores. Just drive past and see what I mean.

Like I stated earlier it is grand! If anyone has a link to what the apartments will look like (interiors, etc).

[roadrunner]

So this is supposed to have residential available in August? That's weeks away.

[Vertigo58]

So this is supposed to have residential available in August? That's weeks away.

So there must be a model somewhere that prospects have toured. Question is where?

I will answer my own question, all we have to do is go to the links and send our questions.

[HtownWxBoy]

So this is supposed to have residential available in August? That's weeks away.

I don't believe that for a second.

[desirous]

So this is supposed to have residential available in August? That's weeks away.

Maybe August 2009.

[Houston19514]

HP is two stories tall, like Sharpstown Mall. I'm a DT resident and would love to take pride in my pet tiddlywinks, but we have to be honest here. West Ave -- with its future expansions -- is the first of its kind in Houston.

The retail portion of Houston Pavilions is approximately double the size of the retail portion of West Ave (360,000 vs. 190,000 square feet) pet tiddlywinks, indeed.

Edited August 5, 2008 by Houston19514

[swtsig]

The retail portion of Houston Pavilions is approximately double the size of the retail portion of West Ave (360,000 vs. 190,000 square feet) pet tiddlywinks, indeed.

just wait til West Ave. expands across the street.

[roadrunner]

just wait til West Ave. expands across the street.

What property across the street? There doesn't seem to be too much room to expand.

[Houston19514]

just wait til West Ave. expands across the street.

LOL and then what? It will approach 2/3 the size of HP, sometime in the far distant, very uncertain future?

Edited August 6, 2008 by Houston19514

[capnmcbarnacle]

What property across the street? There doesn't seem to be too much room to expand.

Where Chuy's and Rickshaw are. There are even rumblings about the corner spot with Buffalo Hardware and Armando's....

Edited August 6, 2008 by capnmcbarnacle

[crunchtastic]

Where Chuy's and Rickshaw are. There are even rumblings about the corner spot with Buffalo Hardware and Armando's....

Chuy's is expendable. But the Buffalo Hardware center??

That's a nice looking old corner shopping center. With useful shops.

[jgriff]

LOL and then what? It will approach 2/3 the size of HP, sometime in the far distant, very uncertain future?

Maybe HP is bigger, but West Ave. is in a good neighborhood, Pavillions is not.

Edited August 6, 2008 by jgriff

[TheNiche]

Maybe HP is bigger, but West Ave. is in a good neighborhood, Pavillions is not.

A new shopping center in one of the top neighborhoods in Houston isn't going to help it very much because they already have lots and lots and lots of similar shopping. This is a drop in the bucket. A new shopping center in a neighborhood where there aren't very many has a larger impact on the perceptions of that neighborhood.

[hammond2003]

A new shopping center in one of the top neighborhoods in Houston isn't going to help it very much because they already have lots and lots and lots of similar shopping. This is a drop in the bucket. A new shopping center in a neighborhood where there aren't very many has a larger impact on the perceptions of that neighborhood.

Zen koan: If you drop a shopping center where no one shops, does it make a sound?

[Pumapayam]

Maybe HP is bigger, but West Ave. is in a good neighborhood, Pavillions is not.

West Ave. will have a much larger pool of nearby residential to gain customers from. But it does have some competition with Highland Village.

[swtsig]

LOL and then what? It will approach 2/3 the size of HP, sometime in the far distant, very uncertain future?

your cynicism notwithstanding, West Ave also has about 400,000 SF of residential compared to HP's approximately, um.... 0 SF.

Where Chuy's and Rickshaw are. There are even rumblings about the corner spot with Buffalo Hardware and Armando's....

bingo.

[sowanome]

Maybe HP is bigger, but West Ave. is in a good neighborhood, Pavillions is not.

Thanks "jgriff", you hit it on the head: "Location, Location, Location"....West Ave has the best location right now and the location is also established, which usually beats up and coming..

[TheNiche]

your cynicism notwithstanding, West Ave also has about 400,000 SF of residential compared to HP's approximately, um.... 0 SF.

But Houston Pavilions will have about 220,000 sf of office space. Downtown office users average only about 300 square feet of office space per employee. As such, the daytime population of HP's office component will likely be greater than the nighttime population in West Avenue's residential component.

[capnmcbarnacle]

Chuy's is expendable. But the Buffalo Hardware center??

That's a nice looking old corner shopping center. With useful shops.

Uh-oh. That swipe at Chuy's could reignite the Chuy's battles that took place earlier in this thread.

[TheNiche]

Zen koan: If you drop a shopping center where no one shops, does it make a sound?

The Galleria was at one time only agricultural land. Change happens.

[JJVilla]

Uh-oh. That swipe at Chuy's could reignite the Chuy's battles that took place earlier in this thread.

Overpriced Tex-Mex is very expendable. Just look at the Chuy's in the Galleria (on Richmond) - GONE.

[swtsig]

But Houston Pavilions will have about 220,000 sf of office space. Downtown office users average only about 300 square feet of office space per employee. As such, the daytime population of HP's office component will likely be greater than the nighttime population in West Avenue's residential component.

220K SF of office doesn't mean anything if they cant sign a single tenant.

[desirous]

West Ave. will have a much larger pool of nearby residential to gain customers from. But it does have some competition with Highland Village.

Highland Village will have High Street and Oaks District for competition as well. They have more to worry about than West Ave.

[TheNiche]

220K SF of office doesn't mean anything if they cant sign a single tenant.

Perhaps not, but this is being marketed as a multi-tenant building.

[citizen4rmptown]

A new shopping center in one of the top neighborhoods in Houston isn't going to help it very much because they already have lots and lots and lots of similar shopping. This is a drop in the bucket. A new shopping center in a neighborhood where there aren't very many has a larger impact on the perceptions of that neighborhood.

oh my ,oh my ,where will the new residents of OPP shop or socialize or eat?

[desirous]

oh my ,oh my ,where will the new residents of OPP shop or socialize or eat?

I think he's saying West Ave is a drop in the bucket within River Oaks' plentiful retail, whereas HP makes more of a splash. Rice residents are pretty excited about HP opening too, at least some of my neighbors are. It's not just OPP.

[HtownWxBoy]

It's coming along nice... the elevated walkways look neat.

[livincinco]

It's coming along nice... the elevated walkways look neat.

Pictures???

[HtownWxBoy]

Pictures???

No... sowwy... I was just driving by.

[ricco67]

well, as I was driving by, I noticed the cross walks as well. I also thought they were neat.

Does anyone know the design of the walkways when they are finished?

[HtownWxBoy]

well, as I was driving by, I noticed the cross walks as well. I also thought they were neat.

Does anyone know the design of the walkways when they are finished?

There are some renderings on their website... dont know address onhand... they are turning out to look exactly what the renderings look like IMO.

[lockmat]

How's this look for those who have driven/walked by? I'm assuming it's pretty much ready since they're leasing now.

[swtsig]

How's this look for those who have driven/walked by? I'm assuming it's pretty much ready since they're leasing now.

pretty much ready? hardly.

it is definitely an impressive project (imo) and an exciting one at that, but there's still a ways to go before it's complete.

[mls1202]

I need a bit of help in regards to this place. My wife and I are looking to relocate back to Houston, probably by January of next year. We are interested in possibly living here, but we cannot find any recent photos. Could someone please take a few shots of the exterior? The last photos I have seen are back form May.

[sowanome]

Go to "West Ave" in the "Going Up" Section and scroll down the various pages. There should be multiple pictures there.

[Vertigo58]

www.swamplot.com too?

Opps sorry I forgot you want actual real pics not renderings ...

Edited October 1, 2008 by Vertigo58

[missmsry]

I know it's only a rendering, but ditch the palms and get some of those high tech, digitally remastered live oaks the Chron was talking about a couple of days ago.

[CandacitaBonita]

Hello, all. New to the forums here. I actually work for a company that supplies materials for this project. I've had the pleasure of walking the jobsite and I must say, it is pretty amazing.

[sowanome]

Hello, all. New to the forums here. I actually work for a company that supplies materials for this project. I've had the pleasure of walking the jobsite and I must say, it is pretty amazing.

..

Welcome to HAIF, I just want to warn you that your life will never be the same after you've joined (In a good way)...Anyway can you give us more details, as in how the project looks from a ground level, how close it matches the renderings, etc...

THX

[CandacitaBonita]

..

Welcome to HAIF, I just want to warn you that your life will never be the same after you've joined (In a good way)...Anyway can you give us more details, as in how the project looks from a ground level, how close it matches the renderings, etc...

THX

Thanks for the welcome! I stumbled upon the forum when I was looking for information on another project (which I was happy to find in The Heights Forum) and just thought I'd see if there was anything here about Gables West Ave. while I was browsing around.

It's fairly close to the renderings, although I don't know about the actual exterior color or those awful palm trees. The picture to the left appears to be a rendering of the view from Westheimer, and the right appears to be the view from Kirby. If I am correct, then the street between the buildings in the left picture is intended to be a sort of pick up/drop off lane between the buildings with store front on either side. It is all intended to be pedestrian, as well as vehicle friendly. Also, there is a rather large parking garage, which I typically loathe. Parking structures are just eyesores as far as I have seen, but this one is strategically placed behind the buildings, so all that will be seen driving by is actually a really pretty building.