Timoric Posted July 2, 2019 Share Posted July 2, 2019 (edited) - Edited July 12, 2019 by Timoric 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmitch94 Posted July 2, 2019 Share Posted July 2, 2019 (edited) 11 minutes ago, Timoric said: Houston is so big that if we to do a bunch of average stuff for now and later a few signature buildings can punctuate, that works for me, the city literally has so much more developable space than any other city I can think of this size. It isn't like things are really hemmed in by historic this, water way that etc People see all the amazing architecture in New York (and I'm in no way saying Houston is on par with New York) and forget about the thousands of regular boring or downright ugly buildings in the city. I feel a little bad for saying this but is the building across La Branch still there, the two story apartment building in street view with window unit A/C's, peeling paint, shopping carts and jalopies parked under it. The people who live in high rise luxury buildings are not people I'd imagine wanting to live next door to a complex like that. Edited July 2, 2019 by jmitch94 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HNathoo Posted July 2, 2019 Share Posted July 2, 2019 2 minutes ago, jmitch94 said: People see all the amazing architecture in New York (and I'm in no way saying Houston is on par with New York) and forget about the thousands of regular boring or downright ugly buildings in the city. I feel a little bad for saying this but is the building across La Branch still there, the two story apartment building in street view with window unit A/C's, peeling paint, shopping carts and jalopies parked under it. It was recently remodeled. Given how small the lot was, I imagine this is as good as we could hope for. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmitch94 Posted July 2, 2019 Share Posted July 2, 2019 That's A LOT better to be honest. Now it just looks like a smaller older complex not the near tenement it does on street view. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstontexasjack Posted July 5, 2019 Share Posted July 5, 2019 On 7/1/2019 at 10:20 PM, H-Town Man said: I had always envisioned a row of high rises developing along Main and Fannin and the rest of the neighborhood remaining low-rise and leafy, but I guess the high rises will be scattered across the neighborhood, due to no zoning. In practice, I think you’d have high rises along that corridor, paralleling Binz to the south, Almeda to the east, and with the Innovation District to the north. This one is actually quite close to Binz. The Allen Harrison project is much shorter and will provide a nice taper leading up to this one. Property ownership within those bounds tends to be fractured, making it harder to accumulate lots for larger projects. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timoric Posted July 5, 2019 Share Posted July 5, 2019 (edited) - Edited July 12, 2019 by Timoric 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angostura Posted July 5, 2019 Share Posted July 5, 2019 25 minutes ago, Timoric said: How much of what was built in the late 70s early 80s has been or is being torn down? I would guess at least a third of it is gone (older apartment complexes in better areas) Second, the center of the city population has steadily moved West in Houston - well past the West Loop - be interesting to know if/when that stops or starts going East toward DT because of the great new infill inside the Loop. Back inside the loop by 2030? A lot of what was built in the 70s and 80s was built where and how it was built due to the sewer moratorium in force at the time. From 1974, the by-right limit on density for restricted areas (essentially all of the inner loop) was 15,000 sf/acre commercial, 7 DU/acre residential. Anything larger needed administrative review and assembly of sewer rights. As a result, a lot of development got pushed west, and a lot of what was built inside the loop was built at a much lower density than would otherwise make sense. As those properties are getting to an age where they must be either re-habbed or demo'd, we are just now starting to unwind a lot of that mal-investment. This article from 1982 makes for an interesting read on the subject. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeerNut Posted July 5, 2019 Share Posted July 5, 2019 Building already has a intro song. 3 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted July 5, 2019 Share Posted July 5, 2019 The lot just southeast is a junkyard, wonder why they couldn't buy it too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HNathoo Posted July 5, 2019 Share Posted July 5, 2019 3 hours ago, hindesky said: The lot just southeast is a junkyard, wonder why they couldn't buy it too. It’s owned by the Boone bicycle family. They’re holding out hope they can turn this into a bicycle museum. I think they have a go fund me account for this. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted July 6, 2019 Share Posted July 6, 2019 Junkyard just southwest of the new X tower. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timoric Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 (edited) - Edited July 8, 2019 by Timoric 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
X.R. Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 I spoke too soon. I emailed the homies from the neighborhood association and...maybe they aren't as supportive as I assumed they would be. I don't really understand why, because the Southmore is pretty massive and I don't see anything bad stemming from it. In fact, they might be the only reason Java Lava Brew has such consistent business since people just stumble out of their place and fall into that coffee shop/bar/food place. Weird. But @thatguysly called it. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
79ta Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 4 hours ago, X.R. said: I spoke too soon. I emailed the homies from the neighborhood association and...maybe they aren't as supportive as I assumed they would be. I don't really understand why, because the Southmore is pretty massive and I don't see anything bad stemming from it. In fact, they might be the only reason Java Lava Brew has such consistent business since people just stumble out of their place and fall into that coffee shop/bar/food place. Weird. But @thatguysly called it. What'd you ask and how'd they respond? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luminare Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 Now on the HAIF Development Map under the layer "Proposed". For any updates on the status of this project. Please DM me. Things to keep an eye on include (but not limited to): -updated renders (will be adding pics to all projects later) -project name changes -changes in use or additions of uses -changes in number of stories -changes to Developer or additional Developers -changes to Architect or additional Architects/Designers -announcements or changes to construction dates / finish dates If any of the above is missing in the project info already then please assist clarifying any missing info to me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
X.R. Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 32 minutes ago, 79ta said: What'd you ask and how'd they respond? I just sent a "hey I support the development, haven't been to the last few meetings, whats up" email and got a come to the next one because concerns have been raised type response. Nothing terrible, but not the arms wide open that I thought it would be. I don't understand what the concerns could be other than maybe traffic? But its basically right off of Binz soooo... Maybe noise from the building? Granted, I wasn't there for the bigger builds in the neighborhood, but the museums (the Holocaust one) with their constructions haven't disturbed me. I dunno. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angostura Posted July 10, 2019 Share Posted July 10, 2019 16 hours ago, X.R. said: I spoke too soon. I emailed the homies from the neighborhood association and...maybe they aren't as supportive as I assumed they would be. I don't really understand why, because the Southmore is pretty massive and I don't see anything bad stemming from it. In fact, they might be the only reason Java Lava Brew has such consistent business since people just stumble out of their place and fall into that coffee shop/bar/food place. The most predictable majority in American local politics is incumbent residents opposing any new development with a density higher than their current home. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twinsanity02 Posted July 10, 2019 Share Posted July 10, 2019 I don't understand the basis of complaint regarding this high rise. Aren't there already several high rises in the area? Is there a law which limits the number of high rises in an area? On what legal basis can this high rise be stopped? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate99 Posted July 10, 2019 Share Posted July 10, 2019 2 hours ago, Angostura said: The most predictable majority in American local politics is incumbent residents opposing any new development with a density higher than their current home. Yep. Up in Kingwood when the plans for the ridiculously overwrought development on the lake came out, everyone was instantly convinced of any and every calamity that they could imagine ruining their lives because of the impact of towers, offices and some shopping. There were even some high school kids looking to burnish their college applications trying to "organize" the noble opposition. It's a cultural thing, what will we accept happening around us and what rights will eventually be legally recognized if they are not delayed and harassed out of feasibility. There are many places in this world where laws are vague and what will be permitted is anyone's guess. This dynamic is on a spectrum, but unless you are that incumbent in a comfortable position or become wildly rich elsewhere and like the scenery, you don't go anywhere near the least predictable jurisdictions and they stagnate or bifurcate into extremes of luxury and poverty as a result. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post HNathoo Posted July 10, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted July 10, 2019 47 minutes ago, Twinsanity02 said: I don't understand the basis of complaint regarding this high rise. Aren't there already several high rises in the area? Is there a law which limits the number of high rises in an area? On what legal basis can this high rise be stopped? They are asking for a very minor variance to reduce the building setback lines 5’ above the second floor for the garage and balconies. The neighborhood can only really chime in due to the request of the variance. The thought within the neighborhood is that if the variance is denied, the developer won’t be able to build the desired project and will drop the deal. They’ll do whatever they can at the hope the developer just goes away. I don’t believe the neighborhood is actually against the project, but the head of the neighborhood association is a well-known NIMBY who unsuccessfully tried to stop Parc Binz ( barnaby’s with medical office above), the Southmore (25 story Hines project), and the Mondarin condos. All of those developments have been valuable additions to the neighborhood. She even fought the holocaust museum variance for a reduced setback. Frankly the neighborhood would look a lot less appealing today had she gotten her way. It’s important if you live in the neighborhood to voice your support of the X Houston project to both the neighborhood association and the planning commission. 10 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtNsf Posted July 10, 2019 Share Posted July 10, 2019 Looking forward to this one ramping up soon and progress being made, instead of all the talk year after year and nothing changing. Wonder if it's this nimby-ism that rears its ugly head from time to time in our city of no zoning laws (per se) ? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angostura Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 22 hours ago, HNathoo said: They are asking for a very minor variance to reduce the building setback lines 5’ above the second floor for the garage and balconies. The neighborhood can only really chime in due to the request of the variance. The thought within the neighborhood is that if the variance is denied, the developer won’t be able to build the desired project and will drop the deal. They’ll do whatever they can at the hope the developer just goes away. I think the reason the setback requirements haven't been revised/eliminated is so that the Planning Department can use the variance process to extract improvements to the pedestrian realm. A very high percentage of setback variances get approved, almost always accompanied by wider sidewalks, landscape buffers, etc. not otherwise required. 23 hours ago, Nate99 said: Yep. Up in Kingwood when the plans for the ridiculously overwrought development on the lake came out, everyone was instantly convinced of any and every calamity that they could imagine ruining their lives because of the impact of towers, offices and some shopping. There were even some high school kids looking to burnish their college applications trying to "organize" the noble opposition. It's a cultural thing, what will we accept happening around us and what rights will eventually be legally recognized if they are not delayed and harassed out of feasibility. There are many places in this world where laws are vague and what will be permitted is anyone's guess. This dynamic is on a spectrum, but unless you are that incumbent in a comfortable position or become wildly rich elsewhere and like the scenery, you don't go anywhere near the least predictable jurisdictions and they stagnate or bifurcate into extremes of luxury and poverty as a result. There are two kinds of people: those who think it's a question of WHETHER homes will be built, and those with understand it's a question of WHERE. In places where building activity is well-controlled, density prevention results in sprawl. In places where building isn't well-controlled, it results in favelas and shantytowns. (BTW, aside from a lack of adequate wastewater infrastructure, favelas are an urbanists wet dream: low-rise, high-density, mixed use development; zero setbacks, narrow streets, and entirely pedestrian oriented.) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstontexasjack Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 2 hours ago, Angostura said: (BTW, aside from a lack of adequate wastewater infrastructure . . . .) Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted July 15, 2019 Author Share Posted July 15, 2019 Deferred two weeks for additional information. - Coordinating with the developer regarding the city-owned trees on site - Gaining more info from CenterPoint regarding the power lines along Calumet - Gaining more info regarding the drop off area along Calumet A number of residents are against the project, some things that were mentioned: - not in the transit corridor - building is too tall for the immediate area - site is too small for the building - drop-off driveway along Calumet 2 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
X.R. Posted July 15, 2019 Share Posted July 15, 2019 1 hour ago, Urbannizer said: Deferred two weeks for additional information. - Coordinating with the developer regarding the city-owned trees on site - Gaining more info from CenterPoint regarding the power lines along Calumet - Gaining more info regarding the drop off area along Calumet A number of residents are against the project, some things that were mentioned: - not in the transit corridor - building is too tall for the immediate area - site is too small for the building - drop-off driveway along Calumet The last three complaints don't seem like real issues, I'm glad its not earth shattering stuff that could really derail the project. But what does "not in the transit corridor" mean? Meaning, not near the rail? Its actually less than a 5 min walk from the museum district station going northbound so... My only thing is that the energy and internet infrastructure are both weirdly shitty for such a nice area (going toward the "gaining more info from CenterPoint" item). If the weather is pretty bad, you have a decent chance that you'll lose electricity for a while. And internet speeds in the area from all providers are fairly atrocious. I've had both centerpoint and at&t people remark about it. Maybe all this increased density means improved infrastructure, that would be nice. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HNathoo Posted July 15, 2019 Share Posted July 15, 2019 2 minutes ago, X.R. said: The last three complaints don't seem like real issues, I'm glad its not earth shattering stuff that could really derail the project. But what does "not in the transit corridor" mean? Meaning, not near the rail? Its actually less than a 5 min walk from the museum district station going northbound so... My only thing is that the energy and internet infrastructure are both weirdly shitty for such a nice area (going toward the "gaining more info from CenterPoint" item). If the weather is pretty bad, you have a decent chance that you'll lose electricity for a while. And internet speeds in the area from all providers are fairly atrocious. I've had both centerpoint and at&t people remark about it. Maybe all this increased density means improved infrastructure, that would be nice. The transit corridor technically stops at the opposite corner of la branch and calumet - about 50’ away. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post HNathoo Posted July 15, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted July 15, 2019 (edited) The transit corridor designation would allow the developer to build with a 15’ pedestrian realm (0’ setback from property line) by right, meaning the developer wouldn’t need a variance if he was building across the street. The walkable places committee is currently working working on expanding the current area of the transit corridor. https://www.houstontx.gov/planning/_urban/TransitCorridorStreet_Main_020110.pdf Edited July 16, 2019 by HNathoo Added Map 9 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted July 16, 2019 Author Share Posted July 16, 2019 More details regarding last weeks meeting: https://www.virtualbx.com/construction-preview/houston-museum-district-residents-oppose-33-story-tower/ 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twinsanity02 Posted July 17, 2019 Share Posted July 17, 2019 Not familiar with the phrase "transit corridor". Does a it mean rail or bus, or just rail? Or does it just mean a busy street? Would FM 1960 be a transit corridor even though parts have no mass transit but tens of thousands of cars? How is the width defined and by whom? Questions, questions. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HNathoo Posted July 17, 2019 Share Posted July 17, 2019 5 hours ago, Twinsanity02 said: Not familiar with the phrase "transit corridor". Does a it mean rail or bus, or just rail? Or does it just mean a busy street? Would FM 1960 be a transit corridor even though parts have no mass transit but tens of thousands of cars? How is the width defined and by whom? Questions, questions. As of now, I believe it’s just rail - see below link. https://www.houstontx.gov/planning/_urban/TransitCorridorStreet_Main_020110.pdf The new new ordinance being worked on by the walkable places committee also includes bus, but that hasn’t been approved yet. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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