RedScare Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 I am not at all sure that any of your "more appealing" alternatives would be more appealing to the city, or to anyone else. I am quite sure that a McDonald's restaurant produces far more tax revenue for the city than an athletic club, or office or residential. A multi-level entertainment center sounds like something that would attract young people and thugs, so I doubt the wealthy condo owners nearby would be impressed. And, as stated several times, McDonald's has owned this property for decades. No one is going to force them out, and the city is not in the business of working deals to make them move. I understand that in your opinion something else should be built there. However, that simply is not how life works. Some of us do not even agree that your opinion is a better idea than what is being built. I think selling half the lot to pay for my redesigned McDonald's is a brilliant idea. I also think athletic clubs are a waste of space, much more than a fast food restaurant. And, in my opinion, entertainment complexes belong in the suburbs, where all the teenagers are. But, that is just my opinion. I think the owner is right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
por favor gracias Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 I'm certainly not "sure" that these ideas would be more appealing to the city, either...but I know for a fact that at least some people agree that the area can be better served than by just *this* McDonald's. I absolutely may be wrong in my assertion that I think more people would agree with that than not, but that's just what I think. Do you think that *this* McDonald's would generate more tax revenue than one with a different layout PLUS multi-level retail and/or mixed use development (as opposed to being replaced by it)? I hear you about certain entertainment centers, but there are plenty of arts/entertainment concepts that appeal to wealthy people. I think this would be a great spot for a nice bar w/ pool tables kind of like Slate in NYC, or an athletic club (sorry) or gym, or a dance studio, or more office/residential, or a number of tenants that could go above or next to McDonald's. I would like to add that although it's far more the exception than the rule over time, the city has been doing a lot to encourage higher-density development downtown recently...and it seems to be paying off already. I think that it would be wise to consider doing this in parts of Uptown (especially along Post Oak) and perhaps a few other areas inside the loop at this point. Houston is changing, and it seems inevitable that the sprawl concepts *these particular areas* have been built upon are evolving more and more towards density. That's largely why I feel the way I do...and I feel the same way towards mass transit. For some reason, your "I also think athletic clubs are a waste of space" comment reminds me of when Stephen Colbert once said "I think owls are a waste of time." Good stuff... To each his own, my friend...thanks for the feedback. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 I would like to add that although it's far more the exception than the rule over time, the city has been doing a lot to encourage higher-density development downtown recently...and it seems to be paying off already. Like owls, I am probably wasting my time pointing this out, but the City has done many things to thwart density, not promote it. The historic districts, lot line ordinances, parking ordinances, and the high rise setback requirements are just a few, but all of these new rules limit density within the city. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
por favor gracias Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 Like owls, I am probably wasting my time pointing this out, but the City has done many things to thwart density, not promote it. The historic districts, lot line ordinances, parking ordinances, and the high rise setback requirements are just a few, but all of these new rules limit density within the city. No doubt the city has done all of that...I'm just talking about the recent tax incentives they've given to developers downtown and the timely results they seem to be yielding. You are indeed wasting your time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 I'm glad we are discussing downtown incentives in a thread about a Galleria McDonalds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
por favor gracias Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 I'm glad we are discussing downtown incentives in a thread about a Galleria McDonalds. I was just talking about using the same kind of incentives in the Uptown (particularly Post Oak) area, and perhaps a few other areas inside the loop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
citykid09 Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 Without reading all of this discussion I want say that I think I know what por favor gracias was talking about when he said that the McDonalds shouldn't have been allowed there. Its not the McDonalds that he has a problem with, its the form of McDonalds, Its suburban. But the problem in Houston is that the city (unlike other cities) does not like to tell developers how to develop there land, its pretty much anything goes. Thats when zoning would come in handy. In other cities an area like uptown would never allow a developer to put in a McDonalds like that. I found this: http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2008/02/09/no-holiday-for-the-holiday-inn/while searching for urban McDonalds. Its not really urban, but it is much more walkable than the one built in uptown. If you notice in the article McDonalds had planned one in that Oklahoma City neighborhood similar to the one in Uptown Houston, but the urban planners in that city made them change it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfastx Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 (edited) To combine this topic with another, it would be really cool if the Astoria took up the whole space, with a McDonald's as GFR Put a drive through around the building, with parking in the back. Edited June 23, 2013 by mfastx 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
por favor gracias Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 Without reading all of this discussion I want say that I think I know what por favor gracias was talking about when he said that the McDonalds shouldn't have been allowed there. Its not the McDonalds that he has a problem with, its the form of McDonalds, Its suburban. But the problem in Houston is that the city (unlike other cities) does not like to tell developers how to develop there land, its pretty much anything goes. Thats when zoning would come in handy. In other cities an area like uptown would never allow a developer to put in a McDonalds like that. I found this: http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2008/02/09/no-holiday-for-the-holiday-inn/while searching for urban McDonalds. Its not really urban, but it is much more walkable than the one built in uptown. If you notice in the article McDonalds had planned one in that Oklahoma City neighborhood similar to the one in Uptown Houston, but the urban planners in that city made them change it. Thanks and good find... Here's the correct link: http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2008/02/09/no-holiday-for-the-holiday-inn/ I do wish we had more zoning here...at least in certain parts of town. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
por favor gracias Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 To combine this topic with another, it would be really cool if the Astoria took up the whole space, with a McDonald's as GFR Put a drive through around the building, with parking in the back. That would be a HUGE building capable of housing a lot more residents for sure. I think I read a couple of months or so ago that Astoria didn't want McDonald's on the first floor...does anyone know if this is correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 Without reading all of this discussion I want say that I think I know what por favor gracias was talking about when he said that the McDonalds shouldn't have been allowed there. Its not the McDonalds that he has a problem with, its the form of McDonalds, Its suburban. Perhaps you haven't noticed, but Uptown is built on a suburban street grid. The McDonalds fits just fine there. Besides, the only change OK City demanded of the McDonalds in Bricktown is that they clad the McDonalds in brick, to fit with the other buildings. They did not remove the drive thru. The new modern McDonalds is already a style that fits in Uptown. I still don't understand all the uproar over this little McDs. Why not go large and complain about all of the strip centers all up and down Post Oak and Westheimer? Why not demand GFR in all of those condo towers? Let's gripe about something that actually matters! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
por favor gracias Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 Perhaps you haven't noticed, but Uptown is built on a suburban street grid. The McDonalds fits just fine there. Besides, the only change OK City demanded of the McDonalds in Bricktown is that they clad the McDonalds in brick, to fit with the other buildings. They did not remove the drive thru. The new modern McDonalds is already a style that fits in Uptown. I still don't understand all the uproar over this little McDs. Why not go large and complain about all of the strip centers all up and down Post Oak and Westheimer? Why not demand GFR in all of those condo towers? Let's gripe about something that actually matters! If the renderings from the article are anything close to the outcome of the situation, then the new McDonald's in Bricktown looks like it's right off the street and taking up less land than the first rendering appears to have taken. It's certainly more "urban" than the first rendering or the one here on Post Oak...again...IF the McDonald's is anything like the 2nd rendering. I can only speak for myself, but I absolutely want to "go large" with different kinds of development up and down Post Oak where the strip centers are. I've posted my interest there on other threads on this site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 Feel free to google it and look for yourself. The address is 501 E. Reno, Oklahoma City OK 73105. After you look at it, come back and tell us if that is what you have in mind for Uptown Houston development. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
por favor gracias Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 The only picture I could find of it is at this link: http://www.urbanspoon.com/rph/46/1432819/73079/oklahoma-city-mcdonald-s-mcdonald-s-photo It's not really my cup of tea for Uptown's location at all, actually. It still has a very "suburban" feel, at least from what I can see in that photo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdog08 Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 Perhaps you haven't noticed, but Uptown is built on a suburban street grid. The McDonalds fits just fine there. Besides, the only change OK City demanded of the McDonalds in Bricktown is that they clad the McDonalds in brick, to fit with the other buildings. They did not remove the drive thru. The new modern McDonalds is already a style that fits in Uptown. I still don't understand all the uproar over this little McDs. Why not go large and complain about all of the strip centers all up and down Post Oak and Westheimer? Why not demand GFR in all of those condo towers? Let's gripe about something that actually matters! Yet Uptown is trying to add BRT and a drive through McDonalds is being rebuilt. This is a perfect example of the need for some sort of balance between planning and free market. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fernz Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 I have a hard time believing the city couldn't work something out with McDonald's to convince them to either share the land or sell it under certain conditions...preferably under the condition that McDonald's still has a restaurant there. Uh? Just let it go already...I have a hard time believing you can be this naive. Do you know anything about Houston's no zoning and intentional laissez faire attitude? Do you know anything about property right? For all the time you seem to spend on this forum, it seems like you've been living under a rock since the Ashby debacle began. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgriff Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 The area is booming, though...and it has SO much more potential than drive thru fast food restaurants and banks IMO. Do you think this McDonald's is "what's best" for this location? I think whatever the owner wants to do with is what's best for it. Of course within certain boundaries... they shouldn't put a toxic waste dump on it. Believe me McDonald's didn't become one of the most successful companies in the world by making bad decisions. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that they probably know better what to so with this land than I do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
por favor gracias Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 (edited) Uh? Just let it go already...I have a hard time believing you can be this naive. Do you know anything about Houston's no zoning and intentional laissez faire attitude? Do you know anything about property right? For all the time you seem to spend on this forum, it seems like you've been living under a rock since the Ashby debacle began. Am I being naive, or are you being close-minded? Again, there's more than one way to skin a cat. I'm well aware of Houston's zoning and property rights situation. That's not really what I'm talking about, though. As I noted earlier, the city has been giving tax incentives for developers to come downtown...and as citykid09 pointed out in Oklahoma City, McDonald's didn't have a problem scaling back their original plans for their Bricktown location. Why would it be "naive" to think that city could work something out with McDonald's at this location? And what's with the personal stuff? I've been on this forum for a few months now, and I haven't even made 50 posts yet. I made a few posts on the Ashby thread about a month ago, but I honestly don't know what you're talking about here or what "debacle" you're referring to in the first place. I don't post on a lot of threads...and apparently, neither do you. You've apparently been on this site since November 2006. If I've been "living under a rock" for the last month, where exactly have you been "living" over the last six and a half years? Edited June 24, 2013 by por favor gracias Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
por favor gracias Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 I think whatever the owner wants to do with is what's best for it. Of course within certain boundaries... they shouldn't put a toxic waste dump on it. Believe me McDonald's didn't become one of the most successful companies in the world by making bad decisions. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that they probably know better what to so with this land than I do. Again, I absolutely agree that they will do what they think is best for them...and they have every right to do that. I just don't think that this is what's best for that spot in Uptown, and I don't think I'm in the minority on that. That's really all I'm saying. But like I said earlier, there's always that "one in a million" chance that I'm wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gene Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 (edited) how in the heck did my favorite thread about my favorite mcdonalds with a drive through get turned into the dumbest yet funniest thread ever?! lets stick to updates...i need to know when the mcdonalds reopens! Edited June 25, 2013 by gene 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
por favor gracias Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 I'll take credit for the funny parts and ONLY the funny parts! I don't know when it reopens but it should be VERY soon. It looks like it's almost ready as of today. The sign in front of the Astoria still says 50% sold. I wonder at what point do they start construction? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fernz Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 I wonder at what point do they start construction?They're probably waiting until they can figure out what the best use for the site is. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golyadkin Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 They're probably waiting until they can figure out what the best use for the site is. When my parents talked to them about buying a unit, they made a point of talking about how you can design the walls inside your unit any way you want them, and they are custom building all of the units. I expect when they are close to completely sold is when it will start to go up. The units that haven't sold are mostly the lower-level ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
por favor gracias Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 When my parents talked to them about buying a unit, they made a point of talking about how you can design the walls inside your unit any way you want them, and they are custom building all of the units. I expect when they are close to completely sold is when it will start to go up. The units that haven't sold are mostly the lower-level ones. That's a great perk. I hope they can turn enough people on to justify building it. This is probably my second favorite high-rise building scheduled to go up around town in the foreseeable future, behind the 40-story tower currently going up at W. Alabama & Weslayan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livincinco Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 I have to go back a couple of pages here to the comment about getting rid of the "hideous" Zone D next to the Galleria. C'mon people, if anyone is serious about historic preservation in Houston, than Zone D should be designed as a landmark. This is a monument to Houston's lack of zoning laws and putting that building next to the Galleria is the greatest "I don't give a cr*p what you think" statement that I've ever seen. The only thing that could possibly be better would be if Neiman Marcus was in the Dillard's space so that all the Neiman's customers could pretend to be offended by the sight of it while secretly shopping there (with sunglasses and hats on). 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
por favor gracias Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 I have to go back a couple of pages here to the comment about getting rid of the "hideous" Zone D next to the Galleria. C'mon people, if anyone is serious about historic preservation in Houston, than Zone D should be designed as a landmark. This is a monument to Houston's lack of zoning laws and putting that building next to the Galleria is the greatest "I don't give a cr*p what you think" statement that I've ever seen. The only thing that could possibly be better would be if Neiman Marcus was in the Dillard's space so that all the Neiman's customers could pretend to be offended by the sight of it while secretly shopping there (with sunglasses and hats on). Okay...NOW I see the light, and it is neon!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
citykid09 Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 Zone D Erotica has been there almost 10 years now right? When it first opened I never thought it would last this long. It makes the Galleria area look bad! What was there before this? Looks like a Pizza Hut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
por favor gracias Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 Zone D Erotica has been there almost 10 years now right? When it first opened I never thought it would last this long. It makes the Galleria area look bad! What was there before this? Looks like a Pizza Hut. It was Luke's Hamburgers before this, and you're right...it does kind of look like a Pizza Hut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Broadfoot Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 More McDonalds pictures please! I'll take a McAstoria, no cheese! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chi-Char-Hou-Dal Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 Everything has a price. :;();: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Random Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 Zone D Erotica has been there almost 10 years now right? When it first opened I never thought it would last this long. It makes the Galleria area look bad! What was there before this? Looks like a Pizza Hut. It's gotten to a point where that place should be a historic landmark. If Houston were ever on TV it'd be right up there with Randy's Donuts in LA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArchFan Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 The building Zone D' occupies here was originally built for a fast-food roast beef sandwich franchise (Roy Rogers, I think, but could have been Arby's). I don't recall the year, but it went up during the era in which Galleria-area real-estate investors/speculators gave up on their unfulfilled dreams of selling to developers of big, high-profile projects and decided to cash out by selling to developers of mass-market retail operations (fast-food joints, big-box stores, etc.). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkylineView Posted June 29, 2013 Share Posted June 29, 2013 2013 06 29: Weekly & final update of the McD's. It's not open yet, but about 100 people have gone through the drive through wishing it was (the fork lifts, utility trucks, and personal vehicles parked across the entrances mean nothing... I NEED A BURGER). 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkylineView Posted June 29, 2013 Share Posted June 29, 2013 Update... guys are removing what I would call the "skirt" of the Astoria trailer and have a dumpster on site... is it possible they are preparing to move it? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brijonmang Posted June 29, 2013 Share Posted June 29, 2013 Update... guys are removing what I would call the "skirt" of the Astoria trailer and have a dumpster on site... is it possible they are preparing to move it? Maybe considering they were at 50% sold according to Por Favor Gracias last week. Don't know why else they would be cleaning up unless they decided not to build. Don't think that's the case though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
por favor gracias Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 The McDonald's is now open. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 (edited) 70% sold, breaking ground sometime at the end of this month. Edited July 3, 2013 by Urbannizer 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston? Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 70% sold, breaking ground sometime at the end of this month. Nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gene Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 The McDonald's is now open. Nice! and in a semi related post, i am moving next door to it at the end of the month! haha! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tangledwoods Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 I am now hearing that the BHP tower (on the site of the old 24 hour fitness) will be breaking ground before thanksgiving. Uptown is booming! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
por favor gracias Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 Uptown, downtown, the Woodlands and the Energy Corridor are booming, and even Greenway Plaza, the TMC and Westchase areas are all filling up with more buildings that are either inevitable or already under construction. And then there's that AWESOME 40 story residential tower going up at 2929 Weslayan...assuming it looks anything like the renderings. Houston is growing like crazy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennyc05 Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 Is there really that much demand for all of this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 70% sold, breaking ground sometime at the end of this month.Sweet, did you call the office?Shouldn't we be seeing this in some kind of planning commission report before ground breaking? something to keep an eye on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tumbleweed_Tx Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 Is there really that much demand for all of this? yes. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkylineView Posted July 13, 2013 Share Posted July 13, 2013 2013 07 13: Weekly update. No trailer. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nativehoustonion Posted July 13, 2013 Share Posted July 13, 2013 OMG McDonald's is open. What is going on? Does not look good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Broadfoot Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 Nice touch with the outdoor seating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 how tall will this be? the article on the first page says 23 stories, the title says 25 stories, and im pretty sure skyscraperpage says 28 stories..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TowerSpotter Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 how tall will this be? the article on the first page says 23 stories, the title says 25 stories, and im pretty sure skyscraperpage says 28 stories..?The Official website says its going to be 28 floors.http://astoriahouston.com/aboutastoria.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston? Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 How close is this thing to getting built? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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