Warehouse District: Mixed-Use By Urban Genesis

[Urbannizer]

Subdivision plat filed by Urban Genesis for a multifamily project at the corner of Wood & Walnut Streets.

 

SubdivisionPlatPDF_CS 19074-PLAT_v1.pdf

 

Currently, a warehouse sits on site.

 

[Avossos]

oh my god, PLEASE tell me they are just renovating this!?!?

[H-Town Man]

23 minutes ago, Avossos said:

oh my god, PLEASE tell me they are just renovating this!?!?

 

Their website's list of core values begins with "Embrace History." They are based out of a historic house on Avondale Street. I think we should be okay.

 

This is going to overlook the North Canal if/when it gets built.

 

[Luminare]

14 minutes ago, H-Town Man said:

 

Their website's list of core values begins with "Embrace History." They are based out of a historic house on Avondale Street. I think we should be okay.

 

This is going to overlook the North Canal if/when it gets built.

 

 

Post Reroute + North Canal will make this entire area a boom town. I'm calling it. With UHD next door, proximity to downtown, and light rail it would be really fun if this became a kind of student village. Education with a dash of artsy.

EDIT: Keeping this as "proposed" as blue on the map until its confirmed to be a renovation which will then be light purple. I have a hunch that the part of the building further north might get torn down to make room for a garage.

Edited July 17, 2019 by Luminare

[Urbannizer]

There's a lot more to this - large scale mixed-use development I imagine. Several other plats filed for nearby land. Will post later.

[Urbannizer]

902 Hardy

 

 SubdivisionPlatPDF_CS 19101 PLAT.pdf

 

 

1702 Nance

 

SubdivisionPlatPDF_CS 19086 PLAT.pdf

 

 

850 McKee

 

SubdivisionPlatPDF_CS 19091 PLAT.pdf

 

 

Sterrett/Willams/Nance/McKee

 

SubdivisionPlatPDF_CS 19072 PLAT.pdf

 

[H-Town Man]

18 hours ago, Urbannizer said:

There's a lot more to this - large scale mixed-use development I imagine. Several other plats filed for nearby land. Will post later.

 

This is old-school Urbannizer. Just dropping a bomb on us and walking away, whatever.

 

[Luminare]

 

yes...yes...its begun.

[Urbannizer]

The Arts District

 

https://urban-genesis.com/portfolio/

 

 

[mattyt36]

OK, I’ll bite ... what exactly is different?

[Urbannizer]

1 hour ago, mattyt36 said:

OK, I’ll bite ... what exactly is different?

 

It's aerial shots of what the area currently looks like.

[Avossos]

dumb name... 1st ward is the culturally designated arts district by the state of Texas.

[AREJAY]

11 minutes ago, Avossos said:

dumb name... 1st ward is the culturally designated arts district by the state of Texas.

I agree, "Prison Place" or "Jail Junction" would be more fitting. 

[Luminare]

Or just " the warehouse district" would fit better. Then again, remember these are marketing terms. The Alexan on Weslayan is now "Alexan River Oaks" when its several blocks away from River Oaks, and not even in River Oaks proper. I would never describe that intersection of W Alabama and Weslayan as being anything like "River Oaks", but thats the association the developers and their marketing team want to make. Thats completely fine, but thats with the understanding that its a "business" decision rather than a "cultural/neighborhood" decision.

Edited August 6, 2019 by Luminare

[Urbannizer]

From their website:

 

[Houston19514]

On 8/6/2019 at 9:24 AM, Avossos said:

dumb name... 1st ward is the culturally designated arts district by the state of Texas.

 

Not exactly.  The Texas Commission on the Arts has designated the "Washington Avenue Arts District" as a (not the) state-designated cultural district (one of five such designated districts in Houston, seven in the metro area).

 

Demonstrating Houston's difficulties with successful branding, the state designated it (presumably at the district's request) as the Washington Avenue Arts District, the street signs in the area say "First Ward Arts District" and it seems to operate at least on the web, as "Arts District Houston".

[Urbannizer]

https://www.urbanoarchitects.com/work#/new-gallery-2/

 

 

 

 

 

 

[X.R.]

Has Sawyer Yards vibes but with a bit more flavor. Is that a trolley or the light rail, lol? 

 

As someone who works in the legal field, I am amazed at what has happened and is happening in this area. 10 years ago you would have been laughed at and potentially called stupid for suggesting this could exist in this spot. And the best thing is that this naturally flows since as Luminaire said you get UHD students, people living in the new construction in that area of downtown, the legal peeps working over there, and then on weekends its just a few stops from the already vibrant mainstreet scene. Thanks @Urbannizer

[houstontexasjack]

34 minutes ago, Urbannizer said:

https://www.urbanoarchitects.com/work#/new-gallery-2/

 

 

 

 

 

I get the sense that trolley is going to hit the person walking further up those tracks in the rendering.
 

[JBTX]

33 minutes ago, houstontexasjack said:

I get the sense that trolley is going to hit the person walking further up those tracks in the rendering.
 

 

Counterpoint: the trolley is moving away from the pedestrian (hence the the cables pulling in the other direction).

 

That said, why does the trolley have a menu? And more importantly, why does it appear to sell burgers, hotdogs, vapes, and baby bottles?

 

As a """millennial,""" I think I'm offended!

 

Also, I take ubmrage to the fact that the Elysian Viaduct isn't painted purple and pink ink their rendering.

Edited June 18, 2020 by JBTX

[CaptainJilliams]

Looks pretty cool, although I'm assuming that trolley is more decorative than functional 😄

[Amlaham]

What if it was a movable trolley restaurant 👀, I know not likely but what if 😂

[cspwal]

I think it's supposed to be a stationary food truck trolley

[Luminare]

17 minutes ago, cspwal said:

I think it's supposed to be a stationary food truck trolley

 

Maybe I should tell everyone that this a render of what could be, but not what actually is? Renders can't be taken literally. They encapsulate an idea, that is all. You want the end product to be as close to the render as possible, but at the end of the day its a visual of something imaginary. Even in the render you see the tracks stop dead at the intersection. If you actually look at what a render gives you then you will see what it wants you to see. If some people are talking about an ACTUAL trolley, then they aren't looking for what the render is telling them, they are only seeing what they want to see.

[Tumbleweed_Tx]

13 hours ago, JBTX said:

 

 

 

That said, why does the trolley have a menu? And more importantly, why does it appear to sell burgers, hotdogs, vapes, and baby bottles?

 

 

It's a food trolley! They're the wave of the future 

 

 

the question is, will The Kindergartener build the North Canal, or will it have to wait until we have competence back in the County Judge seat.

Edited June 18, 2020 by Tumbleweed_Tx

[Texasota]

Classy. Let's try to keep politics out of here, and if it's actually relevant, then we should at least be respectful.

[cspwal]

1 hour ago, Luminare said:

 

Maybe I should tell everyone that this a render of what could be, but not what actually is? Renders can't be taken literally. They encapsulate an idea, that is all. You want the end product to be as close to the render as possible, but at the end of the day its a visual of something imaginary. Even in the render you see the tracks stop dead at the intersection. If you actually look at what a render gives you then you will see what it wants you to see. If some people are talking about an ACTUAL trolley, then they aren't looking for what the render is telling them, they are only seeing what they want to see.

 

On the other hand, a street car that goes around north downtown on rails selling food would be a great draw

[X.R.]

8 minutes ago, cspwal said:

 

On the other hand, a street car that goes around north downtown on rails selling food would be a great draw

 

Would vote for this in the next election to be built, or am willing to beg the Kinders to help fund.

[Urbannizer]

https://urban-genesis.com/portfolio/

[Texasota]

Huh. I like the older renderings better. I appreciate the added residential, but this is now just an apartment block wearing the skin of an old warehouse. 

[astrohip]

On 8/2/2019 at 10:37 AM, Urbannizer said:

 

 

 

Somehow I missed this thread the first time around, maybe the name change made me see it...

I owned this building, and worked in it, for twenty years. Mid 70s thru mid 90s. In the left background is the Dakota Lofts. That was Bute Paint back then. Then RD bought it and made it his first loft conversion project, I think in the early 90s. We were still there when it opened. 

The area between us and the bayou was all open lot for years. Them Metro bought it for their bus barn.

That area has always had immense potential. I loved the location. Had a couple other buildings in that same area.

Edited March 4, 2021 by astrohip

[astrohip]

Coincidentally, another guy who owned several buildings in the same area (and a friend of mine) just passed away last month: H. Milton Howe.

Milton bought a couple of those old, empty warehouses, and tried to create a movie studio business. He made one into a sound stage. He really pushed to develop the arts potential of this area. We called it the Warehouse DIstrict back then.

[Urban Monster]

If you haven’t already shared your opinions on how the area gets planned with the Downtown District, here’s how: https://swa.mysocialpinpoint.com/wdvisionplan_2

 

BTW, it’s the “Warehouse District”.

[dbigtex56]

Is or was there a warehouse/loft building called the Pierce building in that area?
I remember going there for a 1983 New Year's party.

[astrohip]

13 hours ago, dbigtex56 said:

Is or was there a warehouse/loft building called the Pierce building in that area?
I remember going there for a 1983 New Year's party.

I don't remember that specific name, but there's a lot I don't remember from back then 🙃. I know Milton would rent out his movie studio for events. People had parties there, photo shoots, modeling events, anything to create a revenue stream.

The Last Concert Cafe is right across the street, also. A few of those stories I do remember... 😇 🙈

[Brooklyn173]

I didn't see any reference above to the Downtown District plan for this area (Warehouse District Vision Plan)

http://www.downtowndistrict.org/programs/planning-capital-projects/

and then scroll down to to PUBLIC WORKSHOP #2 PRESENTATION

Most (all?) of their plan is based on a post North Houston Highway world. The thread's subject property is in the middle of their proposals. There's is even a survey if you want to drop your 2 cents.

I can't get past my overwhelming objections to the highway plan to give their proposals a fair review. But hopefully, you are a better person than I.

[Highrise Tower]

Warehouse District Building 1.

[j_cuevas713]

I really love this. It's about time some attention was given to this part of downtown. Having two residential developments in this area is really going to help drive redevelopment. How does the new canal affect this area? 

[Houston19514]

11 hours ago, j_cuevas713 said:

I really love this. It's about time some attention was given to this part of downtown. Having two residential developments in this area is really going to help drive redevelopment. How does the new canal affect this area? 

Doesn't seem like the canal should affect this particular property at all.

Edited March 20, 2021 by Houston19514

[astrohip]

13 hours ago, Highrise Tower said:

Warehouse District Building 1.

This is the building I owned, that I referenced in my post above. 813 McKee. Sold it in the mid-90s. Last time I drove by, a used office furniture company was there. Looks like I should have held on to it. 😬

Do we know what this is? Maybe I missed it reading this thread. $45MM project!?!

[Highrise Tower]

Demolition permit issued for 850 McKee.

[hindesky]

That warehouse demo is actually a tiny building that has gone through several iterations thru the years. I ride on McKee often because they have a protected bike lane. I believe it was originally was a fleet mechanics building then it became a Punk Club called Houston Underground for a while, it closed and got painted again and became a bar. It's been closed for a while.

[HoustonMidtown]

I always wondered what the place was.....

Edited April 14, 2021 by HoustonMidtown

[Tumbleweed_Tx]

aw, snap, that's where we did Genitortures one night and Loudness (the Japanese metal band) another night.

A guy I call my puppy dog Jake walked in to the Loudness show, said he heard metal as he was driving by, and figured I would be there...

We also did a Green Jello show there

[HoustonMidtown]

Going to be coming down soon....heavy equipment already onsite

 

[astrohip]

Back when I was at 813 McKee (literally across the street), we rented that unused land for overflow parking. Something like $200/month. We used to park behind our building, on the vast empty land between us and the bayou. But we lost that land, so we struck a deal with whoever owned 850 McKee at the time to use it for employee parking.

Originally, the land between our building and the bayou was empty. We used it for parking, and to allow 18 wheelers to move around. Then at some point (my memory fails on what year), Metro bought it for their bus barn. It turned out we only owned something like 100 feet behind our building, all the rest now belonged to Metro, all the way to the bayou. But we thought no one would ever want the land behind us, it was so crappy. So we struck a deal with Metro to let us use a little bit of the northern edge of their land, so trucks could ingress & egress.

[MidCenturyMoldy]

23 hours ago, hindesky said:

That warehouse demo is actually a tiny building that has gone through several iterations thru the years. I ride on McKee often because they have a protected bike lane. I believe it was originally was a fleet mechanics building then it became a Punk Club called Houston Underground for a while, it closed and got painted again and became a bar. It's been closed for a while.

Here's what it looked like 11 1/2 years ago. Seems longer, actually, but it's dated December 2009.

 

Edited April 15, 2021 by MidCenturyMoldy

[HoustonMidtown]

...and it's gone

 

 

 

[JBTX]

That was quick.

[j_cuevas713]

This area is about to explode. So happy to see developers not just tear down the charming buildings in this area. The Warehouse District should be a destination for people.