wxman Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 From the today's edition of the Houston Business Journal (Jan. 27th)I wrote a story in the Jan. 27 edition of the Houston Business Journal that details plans by Randall Davis and Roberto Contreras to build a new condominium tower in the Galleria area using $40 million from foreign investors through a federal immigration program.We ran a rendering of the 23-story Astoria, which is designed to have 55 condos, but did not have room to show other projects developed by Davis. The owner of Houston-based Randall Davis Co. has developed and redeveloped numerous residential buildings over the last two decades in the Houston area.Click on the slideshow to the right to see some of his other projects. Webcam: http://oxblue.com/open/transwestern/5oaks Latest rendering and info: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/Galleria-area-tower-has-global-backing-5373796.php 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pumapayam Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 From the today's edition of the Houston Business Journal (Jan. 27th) Great rendering, but will this actually happen. I am having a deja vu moment and it smell like The Titan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 (edited) They haven't even purchased the land yet.They want to start construction this year and only need 15-20 investors to get it kick started. They want to duplicate this development model for other projects too like a high-end hotel w/ condos on top.I'm curious how often these efforts come to fruition? It seems like it's more and more likely that the hotel by the GRB will get done, and they're using this same program. Edited January 27, 2012 by lockmat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pumapayam Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 They haven't even purchased the land yet.That land is smack in the middle of some existing proposals from BLVD place too. I guess I take the rendering too seriously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purdueenginerd Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 very nice rendering. I'd like to see the day time shot for color purposes instead of inundated with flood lights Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wxman Posted January 27, 2012 Author Share Posted January 27, 2012 I have to say what I feel (reminds me of that song from the Golden Girls---yes, I watch that show. What I'm gay, don't judge me! lol)....anyway, I think the BLVD Place development is a bore without the highrises. I think it's a wasteful use of valuable land and space. It's just my opinion and it means nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 I have to say what I feel (reminds me of that song from the Golden Girls---yes, I watch that show. What I'm gay, don't judge me! lol)....anyway, I think the BLVD Place development is a bore without the highrises. I think it's a wasteful use of valuable land and space. It's just my opinion and it means nothing.I agree... Except the golden girls part. I dont know why Post Oak didnt fill up back in the 80's, why San Felipe got two +40 office towers,and Post Oak got strip center heaven... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 I have to say what I feel (reminds me of that song from the Golden Girls---yes, I watch that show. What I'm gay, don't judge me! lol)....anyway, I think the BLVD Place development is a bore without the highrises. I think it's a wasteful use of valuable land and space. It's just my opinion and it means nothing.The building makes you think of that song? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsb320 Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 I agree... Except the golden girls part. I dont know why Post Oak didnt fill up back in the 80's, why San Felipe got two +40 office towers,and Post Oak got strip center heaven...The strip centers were there long before the high rises. Four Leaf towers and all those buildings, plus Transco were built in the 80. I think Post Oak Central was the 70's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pumapayam Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 I have to say what I feel (reminds me of that song from the Golden Girls---yes, I watch that show.The Astoria and Golden Girls theme song. . .please explain....grabs popcorn. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 (edited) Full scale website up! You can see it up close for those that want to see detail! http://goo.gl/IBI0T I like it! Edited January 27, 2012 by lockmat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pumapayam Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Full scale website up! You can see it up close for those that want to see detail! http://goo.gl/IBI0T I like it too, it's like "The Titan" knocked up "The Cosmopolitan" before he croaked and this is her baby girl. Titan was 25 stories. Cosmo is 21 stories. so Astoria will be 24 stories. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wxman Posted January 27, 2012 Author Share Posted January 27, 2012 (edited) LOL...there was an episode on the Golden Girls where they sang a song about Miami. The song began with ''I have to say what I feel" which is how I opened up my previous statement. I guess if you were avid watchers of the show like I am/was, then you'd know instantly what I was talking about. Sorry for the distraction. Back to topic :) Btw, we should dream up a song about Houston....anybody? Edited January 27, 2012 by wxman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pumapayam Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 LOL...there was an episode on the Golden Girls where they sang a song about Miami. The song began with ''I have to say what I feel" which is how I opened up my previous statement. I guess if you were avid watchers of the show like I am/was, then you'd know instantly what I was talking about.You were really in the mood just to sneak in a Golden Girls reference.Hey, the subject is it should be change from 23 stories to 24 stories. . .#justsaying Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wxman Posted January 27, 2012 Author Share Posted January 27, 2012 Hey, come on man, cut me some slack It's FRIDAY! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shasta Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 (edited) Btw, we should dream up a song about Houston....anybody?Dean Martin did....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCDcp5xwNFA Edited January 28, 2012 by shasta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tumbleweed_Tx Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 oh, FSM damnit, that song will be stuck in my head for a week now.thanks, man! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jax Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 Dylan too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IApGjIn4dhQ And Tom Waits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 I hope this project (if built), will look closer to the rendering, unlike his other projects. Cosmopolitian came out cheaper looking, a huge disapointment in my book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pumapayam Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 I hope this project (if built), will look closer to the rendering, unlike his other projects. Cosmopolitian came out cheaper looking, a huge disapointment in my book.The Cosmo was a lot less detailed and had cleaner line.I dunno, I am indifferent to the statues he uses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tejo Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 ..Whole Foods is an RD magnet.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmancuso Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 I hope this project (if built), will look closer to the rendering, unlike his other projects. Cosmopolitian came out cheaper looking, a huge disapointment in my book.agreed. the blank walls are horrible. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texasota Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 Tom Wait > Bob Dylan. Fact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pumapayam Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 agreed. the blank walls are horrible.The Greek god posters on foam board pedestals don't scream classy and chic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pumapayam Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 From Swamplot:Houston EB-5 is looking for 40 such investors to pony up $1 million each for stakes in the development partnership behind Davis’s new Galleria tower. But unlike a similar EB-5 scheme for a hotel headed up by former Houston mayor Lee Brown over in East Downtown, Davis’s project offers investors a potential place to live that they’d be able to sell later as real estate.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick_G Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 (edited) The Greek god posters on foam board pedestals don't scream classy and chic?Haha you don't like the Greek and or Roman gods? Unless you can prove otherwise I think their ethnicity it up for dispute.The building doesn't look bad from a distance though especially when compared to the faded-by-design red panels of the four leafs.(This post does not in any way attempt to justify the blank walls, I also agree they should not be there and I hope this new building does not follow suit) Edited February 2, 2012 by Nick_G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArchFan Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 The Greek god posters on foam board pedestals don't scream classy and chic?Whenever I pass by there, I still laugh when I recall the comment of someone here -- before the posters finally went up -- describing the faux-pedestals as "urinals of the gods". They do kinda look like bathroom fixtures.Wish they had gone instead with the waterwall-like feature depicted in the earlier promo sketches! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRUTH Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 I suppose the idea is that this building pays homage to the Waldorf in NYC, but I would love to see something original and modern on this space. It just seems a little cheesy to me. I will give Randall Davis a good deal of credit for trying to create new projects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wxman Posted February 8, 2012 Author Share Posted February 8, 2012 Give me credit, too! I'm proposing a 100-story building downtown and 110-story twins in the Galleria. That's about all it amounts too. I can provide a drawing just as soon as I sit down to do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 per RD, the trailers are indeed for Astoria Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pumapayam Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 Just like the Titan, only this time, McDonald's is staying put. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkylineView Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 Pumapayam is correct. New website on the trailers... http://www.astoriahouston.com/index.html.Triangular building, McD's appears to stay. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pleak Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 Pumapayam is correct. New website on the trailers... http://www.astoriaho....com/index.html. Triangular building, McD's appears to stay. Now that we have the important information settled - they can proceed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pumapayam Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 (edited) Just like the Titan, only this time, McDonald's is staying put.I am wrong. McDonald's is being demolished in Q1, 2013.Made a quick phone call to RD, and surprisingly, was transferred to Mr. Davis...(nothing firm, he was nice enough to at least give me information on soft dates and plans that was not official for a press release)So long story short, it is essentially Titan 2.0, just now it's a new building, new name.Same spot, same base, and no McDonalds, and hopefully this one breaks ground.I still like the design of the Titan crown, but Astoria still has charm.UPDATE:It's gained a floor since the last update. 25 floors now.3 floors taller than the Cosmopolitan, and same floor count as it's predecessor.TAKING HIGH-RISE LIVING TO NEW HEIGHTS.Combining modern architectural elegance with art deco features, this is a home for a select few. Twenty-five floors of superlative custom high-rise living. Edited July 26, 2012 by Pumapayam 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 Thanks for your work on getting this info, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfastx Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 This really looks like a great building. Very exciting to see all of this development in Uptown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 (edited) I really liked Titan, but I like this better. Nice update! I say make Astoria mixed-use and put a Mc'Ds on on the first floor, what do yall think? Oh yeah, and did anyone notice the shape of the building has changed from a square to a triangle? Check out the floor plans. Maybe that's why it's taller, too? NM, skylineview already pointed that out. How many triangle shaped buildings do we have? This is cool. Edited July 26, 2012 by lockmat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pumapayam Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golyadkin Posted July 27, 2012 Share Posted July 27, 2012 (edited) YAY!!!! I actually have nothing of actual value to post here. I'm just happy to know that that McDonald's is finally getting replaced by a really nice tower. I was so upset when the Titan was cancelled. I haven't been following the Astoria at all for a while, so this was awesome to see. Although once it starts going up, I'll have yet another project I can post updates about just by taking a picture out of my window. *does happy dance* Edited July 27, 2012 by Golyadkin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatesdisastr Posted July 27, 2012 Share Posted July 27, 2012 This is a picture of what now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonMidtown Posted July 27, 2012 Share Posted July 27, 2012 This is a picture of what now?I would guess it's a mock-up of the kitchen...There sure are going to be a lot of maids living in the building -- half of the floor plans have maid's quarters !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted July 27, 2012 Share Posted July 27, 2012 Looks good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisPHous Posted July 27, 2012 Share Posted July 27, 2012 It looks very Gotham/1920s to me. I like it a lot in the rendering, we will just have to wait and see as to how it translates in real life.There is so much going on here: The Astoria, Hanover (BLVD), Five Oaks, BBVA, Skanska, and the one on Westheimer....getting kinda crazy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted December 22, 2012 Share Posted December 22, 2012 (edited) bidclerk says the estimated start date is in April. Page Southerland Page is the architect and GT Leach is the GC. 28 stories. This was updated yesterday. its looks like they update the rendering to reflect the actual location. Edited December 22, 2012 by lockmat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennyc05 Posted December 22, 2012 Share Posted December 22, 2012 Houston is turning into a beast with all these developments little by little. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asubrt Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 There is a sign at the site that says 20% sold. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golyadkin Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 Just went by and talked to a guy who I think was a manager at McDonald's. What I got from him: -McDonald's is closing in 10 days. -McDonald's reopening in May. They are demolishing their current building and putting up a new one that's pushed over more towards the apartments at 1111 Post Oak. They are going to clear the site and get a new building up and opened within 3-4 months. -This is the new McDonald's: 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkylineView Posted January 19, 2013 Share Posted January 19, 2013 (edited) That's pretty interesting. Here's the site... (taken with my phone... it's 8am and I'm feeling lazy). Edited January 19, 2013 by SkylineView 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted January 19, 2013 Share Posted January 19, 2013 That's pretty interesting. Here's the site... (taken with my phone... it's 8am and I'm feeling lazy). Sweet view, sp when are you hosting the HAIFy part So they are going to rebuild the McD's on the same lot but just closer to those apts? That seems weird. Not saying its not happening, just weird. It seems like Astoria would need the entire lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golyadkin Posted January 19, 2013 Share Posted January 19, 2013 Through talking with the guy at McDonald's and looking at the renderings on their website, it looks to me like the edge of the tower is going to be somewhere between that white strip in the parking lot and the edge of the current McDonald's. I think they are pushing it over as far as they can while still having just enough room for a drive thru on that side. I suspect the tower is going to have a much smaller footprint than most of us expected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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