Montrose Collective: Office building with Retail Coming to 888 Westheimer

[trymahjong 368]

A lot of rumors about the Montrose HPD (900 block Westheimer) storefront closing, not surprising since HPD Chief Acevedo wasn’t a fan of store front idea. But a neighbor mentioned  a developer had bought the entire strip  ( Guess Theo’s Will be moving also.)center and a few adjacent lots north on Grant and  on Crockett street including a beautifully restored 1920’s home. All for multi use  multi-storied building ——included will be the Freed library’s move from Montrose Blvd. Apparently the developer did something charming around 6 th street and Yale  in  the Heights. Now I wonder if this developer will underwrite the HPD storefront in that development or if someone else will offer rent free space inside Montrose for the storefront to move into.

[LBC2HTX 282]

So Radom is coming in and buying up a strip center on Westheimer and bringing a more walkable, integrated development... Win win. Cant wait for all the strip centers heading into Midtown to be gone. Especially the mattress stores. 

[trymahjong 368]

Love that the library will be coming closer- worried that the HPD storefront will potentially disappearing.

[Houston19514 3089]

Why would the Freed Library be moving?

Edited September 18 by Houston19514

[wilcal 683]

Weren't the Montrose HPD storefront hours kind of ridiculous? Like 10-4 or something like that?

 

All for knocking that strip center down and going denser.

[trymahjong 368]

I heard St Thomas has plans for space Freed Library is currently using-

 

cynically, I just want HPD cars to come and go from the storefront at all hours ( even tho storefront not open to public) as those HPD patrollers are driving to storefront hopefully their eyes are open and they can lookout for criminal behavior.

 

 

my hope now is that new developer will reserve a small space for a new storefront rent free ......and as long as I’m hoping.....I hope the new developers will refrain from tearing down those useable houses but incorporate them into their “ big picture” as part of the development or move them to some of the empty lots in Avondale.

[j_cuevas713 1950]

Wow great news!

[dbigtex56 780]

On 9/10/2018 at 8:31 PM, LBC2HTX said:

So Radom is coming in and buying up a strip center on Westheimer and bringing a more walkable, integrated development... Win win. Cant wait for all the strip centers heading into Midtown to be gone. Especially the mattress stores. 

While I agree with you, I hope you're relatively young. The finishing touches are currently being put on yet another strip center on Lower Westheimer, and it will possibly be several decades before its (and others like it) life cycle is over.
Here's hoping that the developer of the 800 block will push to place it close to Westheimer as possible, and relegate the parking to the rear of the property. 

 

On 9/10/2018 at 6:52 PM, trymahjong said:

a few adjacent lots north on Grant and  on Crockett street

Crocker St. 
Unfortunately, this is an awkwardly sited street for entering or exiting Westheimer, due to the curve and Katz's Deli severely limiting views of westbound traffic. 
A workable solution might be to rout traffic for the new development down Avondale and place the entrance to whatever parking facility has to be provided off Grant St, directly opposite the Avondale intersection.
(However I imagine the Avondale Association would resist this idea.)

[swtsig 2606]

Radom has some pretty exciting plans for this tract but they're obviously not set in stone yet. Rest assured whatever comes will be very well thought out and very well designed. Here's hoping they can follow through with adding some concepts sorely lacking in this area. 

[trymahjong 368]

Not sure how soon this development will take place as Ted at Theos  assures everyone that there are 5 years remaining on his lease and “ he’s not going anywhere”-

worth worrying over are the 2  useable houses on Crocker that were purchased. One a run down rental but the other was totally rehabbed probably sold for 600k +-

it would be a pity to tear down either.

[trymahjong 368]

I reached out to HPD and spoke with one of the asst Chief. ALL HPD storefronts are under review for closing. Acevedo is looking for a way to put more bodies on street and closing storefronts might be one of them.

 

essentially the storefront is a means of communicating with residents and compiling the paper “Citizens complaint forms” I was told very few paper complaint forms come from storefront— most are electronically sent to HPD.  Acevedo thinks those. Officers are mearly waiting....I related my concern that the regular driving to and from The storefront through the neighborhoods by patrol vehicles was a significant crime deterrent ( IMO )and THAT was what I feared losing.

 

i was told that the “ weighstation” part might be adapted but bodies on street was critical.

 

Interestingly the developer apparently  did reach out to HPD about space dedicated to a storefront, as well as the library space. But HPD plans to hold public input sessions before anything is finalized.

[ADCS 376]

8 minutes ago, trymahjong said:

I reached out to HPD and spoke with one of the asst Chief. ALL HPD storefronts are under review for closing. Acevedo is looking for a way to put more bodies on street and closing storefronts might be one of them.

 

essentially the storefront is a means of communicating with residents and compiling the paper “Citizens complaint forms” I was told very few paper complaint forms come from storefront— most are electronically sent to HPD.  Acevedo thinks those. Officers are mearly waiting....I related my concern that the regular driving to and from The storefront through the neighborhoods by patrol vehicles was a significant crime deterrent ( IMO )and THAT was what I feared losing.

 

i was told that the “ weighstation” part might be adapted but bodies on street was critical.

 

Interestingly the developer apparently  did reach out to HPD about space dedicated to a storefront, as well as the library space. But HPD plans to hold public input sessions before anything is finalized.

 

If anything, it would make sense to actually have police walking beats in that area. Put more of 'em on bikes, too.

[Urbannizer 39267]

A ~250,000 sq ft office building with retail proposed for 888 Westheimer. Construction is expected to start 4Q 2019 and finish in 2021. "Montrose Collective Lp" is connected to Radom Capital. 

 

https://www.888westheimer.com/

 

https://www.facebook.com/MontroseCollective/

 

SubdivisionPlatPDF_KANYE WESTHEIMER Plat PDF-54113-20090401.pdf

[AREJAY 1172]

Quote

KANYE WESTHEIMER

heh 

[Urbannizer 39267]

Site: 

 

[Triton 10316]

1 minute ago, Urbannizer said:

Site: 

 

 

Pretty sure @swtsig has talked about this property a few times, right?

[HNathoo 392]

This has to be the best subdivision plat name ever.

 

I think I'll tune into the Planning meeting just to hear the commissioner say the name.

[gene 1723]

 

this has always been such a weird building/lot and i don't know why i feel that way...i just do!

glad to see something hopefully nice and more memorable will be going in!

 

[skooljunkie 419]

I wonder if this would have a shared parking component for neighboring businesses if and when this got built. Wasn't the shared parking district thingy approved a few years back for this very area?  More parking availability could entice greater infill on other small lots nearby. Of course, that would just help tack on a 31st space for all of us. 

[CREguy13 1072]

If the final design is similar to what I saw 6 months ago, this will be very well received.  Lots of retail with a very creative office design - it was a great fit for the neighborhood.  Fingers crossed.

[Avossos 1476]

20 minutes ago, CREguy13 said:

If the final design is similar to what I saw 6 months ago, this will be very well received.  Lots of retail with a very creative office design - it was a great fit for the neighborhood.  Fingers crossed.

 

Promising!!

 

I agree with @skooljunkie that this area needs parking. I tried to go to Aladin's the other day... I can't tell what lot is for what business and there are some former residential lots that now have parking on the dirt... Last thing I want is to see historic structures demolished for a dirt parking lot. It is about time this section of Montrose gets some love..The intersection of Montrose and Westhiemer is extremely disappointing.

[trymahjong 368]

If you parked on that dirt parking lot- take a last look at the historic houses along 2600 block on  Crocker- those are not part of Avondale west Historic district- I have been told  have each been purchased for demolitio.

[Houston19514 3089]

12 minutes ago, trymahjong said:

If you parked on that dirt parking lot- take a last look at the historic houses along 2600 block on  Crocker- those are not part of Avondale west Historic district- I have been told  have each been purchased for demolitio.

 

All of them?  Both sides of the street?

Edited July 16 by Houston19514

[marstrose 68]

Do they have a General contractor?

[Urbannizer 39267]

6 hours ago, CREguy13 said:

If the final design is similar to what I saw 6 months ago, this will be very well received.  Lots of retail with a very creative office design - it was a great fit for the neighborhood.  Fingers crossed.

 

I'm betting Michael Hsu is the architect, them and Radom Capital have paired together in the past.

 

https://hsuoffice.com/

 

Edit: Also, how many floors?

[Avossos 1476]

1 hour ago, trymahjong said:

If you parked on that dirt parking lot- take a last look at the historic houses along 2600 block on  Crocker- those are not part of Avondale west Historic district- I have been told  have each been purchased for demolitio.

 

how wonderful. Houston at it's best.

 

[H-Town Man 3702]

3 hours ago, trymahjong said:

If you parked on that dirt parking lot- take a last look at the historic houses along 2600 block on  Crocker- those are not part of Avondale west Historic district- I have been told  have each been purchased for demolitio.

 

Amazing that those houses would be demolished for parking when a streetview shows hardly any parallel parking along the street. Why park on the street when we can just tear down some of them old houses?

 

[swtsig 2606]

7 hours ago, Urbannizer said:

 

I'm betting Michael Hsu is the architect, them and Radom Capital have paired together in the past.

 

https://hsuoffice.com/

 

Edit: Also, how many floors?

2 or 3 floors of office over 2 floors of retail. CBRE will be leasing the project. Excellent addition to the neighborhood. As @CREguy13 said it will be very well received. Very distinctive. 

[Houston19514 3089]

16 hours ago, H-Town Man said:

 

Amazing that those houses would be demolished for parking when a streetview shows hardly any parallel parking along the street. Why park on the street when we can just tear down some of them old houses?

 

 

Do we know that the demolition is for is for parking?

[H-Town Man 3702]

3 minutes ago, Houston19514 said:

 

Do we know that the demolition is for is for parking?

 

We don't know yet, hence my use of the subjunctive, "would be."

 

[Triton 10316]

I really hope this section of Westheimer gets rebuilt far before 2023 as is currently being discussed.

[Luminare 4342]

On 7/16/2019 at 10:53 AM, Urbannizer said:

A ~250,000 sq ft office building with retail proposed for 888 Westheimer. Construction is expected to start 4Q 2019 and finish in 2021. "Montrose Collective Lp" is connected to Radom Capital. 

 

https://www.888westheimer.com/

 

https://www.facebook.com/MontroseCollective/

 

SubdivisionPlatPDF_KANYE WESTHEIMER Plat PDF-54113-20090401.pdf 331.68 kB · 28 downloads

 

23 hours ago, Triton said:

 

Pretty sure @swtsig has talked about this property a few times, right?

 

Yeah I was pretty sure this was discussed in a Montrose thread at some point. Best to hunt it down and merge it with this one.
This one has also been added to the map as "Proposed".

[trymahjong 368]

About Crocker street

East side of Crocker is not protected by Historic designation.

IMO

or perhaps

In my wildest dreams

Each of thosehouses would be offered for sale at $1.00

The buyer would have to move them of course.

 

 

I think there is another thread .....HPD storefront is closing

Iposted how space would be saved for a library, perhaps even a small HPD space. But the Greek restaurant still has a few years on its lease.

 

one thing no one mentions is saving the historic brickstreet where Crocker meets Westheimer.

[Houston19514 3089]

15 minutes ago, trymahjong said:

About Crocker street

East side of Crocker is not protected by Historic designation.

IMO

or perhaps

In my wildest dreams

Each of thosehouses would be offered for sale at $1.00

The buyer would have to move them of course.

 

 

I think there is another thread .....HPD storefront is closing

Iposted how space would be saved for a library, perhaps even a small HPD space. But the Greek restaurant still has a few years on its lease.

 

one thing no one mentions is saving the historic brickstreet where Crocker meets Westheimer.

 

I'm guessing you meant to say the "west side" of Crocker Street?

[Luminare 4342]

2 hours ago, trymahjong said:

About Crocker street

East side of Crocker is not protected by Historic designation.

IMO

or perhaps

In my wildest dreams

Each of thosehouses would be offered for sale at $1.00

The buyer would have to move them of course.

 

 

I think there is another thread .....HPD storefront is closing

Iposted how space would be saved for a library, perhaps even a small HPD space. But the Greek restaurant still has a few years on its lease.

 

one thing no one mentions is saving the historic brickstreet where Crocker meets Westheimer.

 

Wait. So this isn't going to get started for another two years? This seems to be the same ole song and dance for Montrose. Either developers just haven't quite figured out the direction Montrose is going or tenants have very long leases that slow down potential development. Thoughts?

[Urbannizer 39267]

2 hours ago, trymahjong said:

But the Greek restaurant still has a few years on its lease.

 

 

Are you sure? The website for this and a bidding page says 2021 completion.

[KinkaidAlum 2382]

I'm confused. 250,000 square feet on 2-3 floors over retail would make it a massive structure. 

[skooljunkie 419]

 

thread regarding HPD storefront and this ^

[Subdude 1448]

On 7/20/2019 at 6:05 AM, CrockpotandGravel said:

Thanks @skooljunkie. I thought I remembered reading about this a while ago on the forum. I couldn't find it, so I appreciate this.



Mods @Urbannizer  @Triton can you please merge that thread with this one since it's about the redevelopment of the lot that's to become Montrose Collective?

https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/42919-montrose-hpd-storefront-closing/

 

 

 

Other than the same physical location, I'm not sure I see the connection.  The earlier thread was about the HPD storefront closing; this is about a new development properly in "Going Up".  

 

 

 

[Luminare 4342]

1 hour ago, Subdude said:

 

Other than the same physical location, I'm not sure I see the connection.  The earlier thread was about the HPD storefront closing; this is about a new development properly in "Going Up".  

 

 

 

 

The project can't move forward until all tenants of whatever buildings are on the property vacated. Thats all the connection that is needed. Its also where the first rumors of this project began. Would be good to include it into the thread for the record. We do this for pretty much every other thread with smaller properties that then get replat into one big property. Keeping in line with precedent done in the rest of the forum, can we please merge them?

[Subdude 1448]

24 minutes ago, Luminare said:

 

The project can't move forward until all tenants of whatever buildings are on the property vacated. Thats all the connection that is needed. Its also where the first rumors of this project began. Would be good to include it into the thread for the record. We do this for pretty much every other thread with smaller properties that then get replat into one big property. Keeping in line with precedent done in the rest of the forum, can we please merge them?

Consider it done.

[Luminare 4342]

17 minutes ago, Subdude said:

Consider it done.

 

Appreciate the consideration and understanding.

[Urbannizer 39267]

http://horticulturalbuildingsystems.com/?page_id=219

 

 

[trymahjong 368]

Developing 4Q 2019?

 

Maybe the Greek restaurant lease was bought out?

 

As for storefront.......?

chief Acevedo doesn’t seem to be a fan of law enforcement storefronts because of the cost in manpower hours. Personally I find that the comings and goings of police vehicles, odd times,  is a fairly effective crime deterrent in itself, whether or not the storefront is actually manned.

 

And of course that poor ole mustang topiary will finally be put to rest..........

Edited August 9 by trymahjong

[Avossos 1476]

My dad loves Theos... but the space is too awkward to attract a young crowd. If they wish to continue, I think it would be best if they move somewhere else in Montrose... Montrose is little greek town anyway.

[Triton 10316]

On 8/6/2019 at 3:33 AM, Urbannizer said:

http://horticulturalbuildingsystems.com/?page_id=219

 

 

Pictures gone?

[MidCenturyMoldy 192]

^^^Never fear... I not only swiped them, but I upped the contrast and reduced the "exposure."

[gene 1723]

wow! nice! 

[Avossos 1476]

3 minutes ago, CrockpotandGravel said:

Here is a full-sized high res rendering of one side of Montrose Collective. 

This is the new mixed use that will be built from the ground up at 888 Westheimer in Houston.

Radom Capital are the developers and Michael Hsu Architecture is the architect. 

The rendering is from Radom Capital's website



(direct link to full-size, non-compressed image: original link | Imgur link )

 

 

This looks like a different building...

[bategeler 71]

I believe this is a second building that is also part of the project. Looks to be located on the surface lot just north of Uchi. Word on the street is the second and third floors will house the Freed-Montrose Public Library. This seems to be confirmed in the rendering, if you look closely there appears to be book shelves in both floors.