tangledwoods Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 Could someone share some other major Skanska projects? Reliant Stadium (minority partner) 3009 Post Oak Capitol Tower (now BOA) Large development jobs in Boston and Seattle LaGuardia Airport Met Life Stadium World Trade Center Oculus Hub https://www.usa.skanska.com/what-we-deliver/build/ 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purdueenginerd Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 7 hours ago, nate4l1f3 said: Could someone share some other major Skanska projects? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skanska#Major_projects 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 (edited) 51 minutes ago, tangledwoods said: Could someone share some other major Skanska projects? Reliant Stadium (minority partner) 3009 Post Oak Capitol Tower (now BOA) Large development jobs in Boston and Seattle LaGuardia Airport Met Life Stadium World Trade Center Oculus Hub https://www.usa.skanska.com/what-we-deliver/build/ Most of those projects were Skanska's construction arm, not development (Skanska was a construction contractor, not the owner or developer). Here are links to projects on which they were/are the developer: https://www.usa.skanska.com/what-we-deliver/invest--develop/commercial-development/office_mixed-use/ https://www.usa.skanska.com/what-we-deliver/invest--develop/commercial-development/multi-family/ Edited October 21, 2019 by Houston19514 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 14 hours ago, TheSirDingle said: Honestly the college would be stupid not to sell at the price Skanska is buying at. Now that you say that I could still see them getting the lot in front of the Toyota center, the power station, and the rest of block 276. But we'll have to see what happens, if the lot isn't sold now it's eventually gonna be sold later. Especially with the rising land prices in Downtown, it's just a matter of when. Also it seems like that Taiwanese oil company is starting to budge on some lots. Do we want Skanska to acquire all the land in this area? From what I can tell, the high-rises they've built in the U.S., particularly in Houston, have been on the conservative side. Having a large area developed by a single developer generally doesn't result in the most interesting combination of buildings, although it might offer certain continuities (like a line of retail shops) that are beneficial. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post dbigtex56 Posted October 21, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted October 21, 2019 On 10/20/2019 at 8:27 AM, Moore713 said: Read that CVS was closing two stores in Houston...for a moment I had hope that it was the one on main. I'm sorry but that store doesn't generate enough foot traffic to justify it huge foot print... unfortunately it will be one in spring and the one off fry rd CVS remains on my 'naughty' list because of their inflexible approach to development. Whether it's Main & Elgin, Gray & Brazos, or Montrose & Richmond, they slap up the same cookie-cutter building regardless of its surroundings and impact on the surrounding neighborhood. Good riddance. Hope more of them close. 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobruss Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 I agree with you dbigtex56. They have continued to create huge parking islands wherever they build in Houston, with no regard for new directions in retail and urban planning. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texasota Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 They will build what city ordinance requires. Minimum setbacks and parking create the cookie cutter pad sites you referenced (and of course the infamous W Alabama & Shepherd atrocity). Different development requirements might produce something more like this. CVS is absolutely conservative and less than creative, but I mostly blame the city. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
X.R. Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 Based on that Business Insider article, seems like Skanska is good to go with what they have. I'm sure they would like to secure some more land if it fell into their laps, but the tone didn't seem to reflect more stuff coming their way. I'd rather STCL just build a giant ugly parking garage than have all those parking lots that don't do anything (are they available for parking during Rockets games?). I go to their library sometimes, and those lots are always mostly empty. At least put a tree or two or something in those lots. You'd think they'd want to do something nice for their students with those lots. I do agree with @H-Town Man. I am a little wary of one developer doing all of the development in that area, especially land that...could shape the weekend Houstonian's experience for years to come. I am happy they are upping the ante and putting pressure on everyone else. Rando thought: Astros announce mixed use around MMP, which makes sense because other baseball teams do it. Tilman buys the Rox, and all of sudden some of the land around the stadium that no one really thought about developing gets sold to a developer who wants to start developing pretty soon? Hmmmmmm 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 2 hours ago, Houston19514 said: Most of those projects were Skanska's construction arm, not development (Skanska was a construction contractor, not the owner or developer). Here are links to projects on which they were/are the developer: https://www.usa.skanska.com/what-we-deliver/invest--develop/commercial-development/office_mixed-use/ https://www.usa.skanska.com/what-we-deliver/invest--develop/commercial-development/multi-family/ This one on Post Oak for example: 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txtiger Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 5 hours ago, DrLan34 said: https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2019/10/18/bank-of-america-tower-developer-buys-downtown.html?iana=hpmvp_hstn_news_headline Skanska paid $55 million in total for the properties, which were sold by a private citizen, according to an Oct. 17 press release. The parcels total around 3.5 acres, and Skanska plans to develop a mix of office, multifamily and retail on the land. The press release does not identify where exactly the parcels are located, but a spokesperson for Skanska confirmed that one of the parcels is a full city block bordered by Dallas, Lamar, LaBranch and Austin streets, with another just to the south and a third just to the east, wrapping around the Embassy Suites by Hilton Houston Downtown. There's also a small parcel in another adjacent block. Those four properties are all parking lots owned by MIPS Investments LLC and MIPS Parking LLC, according to the Harris County Appraisal District. Combined, they have an appraised value of nearly $30.06 million and span about 3.48 acres, according to HCAD. Skanska plans to begin the master planning process for the sites by the end of the year, which will help determine a development timeline and more details about the project, a spokesperson confirmed. ^The phrase "wrapping around the Embassy Suites…" is a key thing to acknowledge. With that verbiage, suggests the electrical yard will be re-developed/re-incorporated elsewhere, or maybe somehow on the top of new construction? Regardless, yes: that's such a prime block to be wasted on ground-level utility. I still wish downtown would receive some sort of an indoor, ticketed attraction, or series of attractions, like our own Nickelodeon Universe (a-la the new one opening up in NY at the Meadowlands - https://www.americandream.com ), or at a smaller scale: a Legoland Discovery Center, Crayola Experience, and/or even a KidZania ( https://kidzania.com/en - the first of which in the States is of course going to the Dallas area, instead). How neat would a conditioned, indoor park - something like Galaxy Station, but Gulf Coast Texas-themed - be? - https://berjayatimessquarethemeparkkl.com/galaxy-station/ Proper attraction(s) aside… at minimum, I hope a City Target concept gets developed somewhere soon 'round there. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSirDingle Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 (edited) 5 hours ago, H-Town Man said: Do we want Skanska to acquire all the land in this area? From what I can tell, the high-rises they've built in the U.S., particularly in Houston, have been on the conservative side. Having a large area developed by a single developer generally doesn't result in the most interesting combination of buildings, although it might offer certain continuities (like a line of retail shops) that are beneficial. I see what you're saying, and agree with the skepticism. I honestly want to see what they have planned for the land though. I could see this going either way, they could keep it conservative like what they've done for most of their projects in Houston. They could also turn it into a special project. I would like something huge in front of the Toyota Center, but I don't know if Skanska is going to do something big with that lot (Even if they get it). Overall it's a mystery what they're going to do with these lots, hopefully it's something great. Maybe Hines might be able to do something around this area in the future, or even another big developer. Edited October 21, 2019 by TheSirDingle 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainJilliams Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 1 hour ago, txtiger said: I still wish downtown would receive some sort of an indoor, ticketed attraction, or series of attractions, like our own Nickelodeon Universe (a-la the new one opening up in NY at the Meadowlands - https://www.americandream.com ), or at a smaller scale: a Legoland Discovery Center, Crayola Experience, and/or even a KidZania ( https://kidzania.com/en - the first of which in the States is of course going to the Dallas area, instead). How neat would a conditioned, indoor park - something like Galaxy Station, but Gulf Coast Texas-themed - be? - https://berjayatimessquarethemeparkkl.com/galaxy-station/ Proper attraction(s) aside… at minimum, I hope a City Target concept gets developed somewhere soon 'round there. Agreed. My dream would be to have a new aquarium/amusement park complex built near Minute Maid/Discovery Green. If the highway cap park ever happens in downtown, that would also be an excellent area to have it. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 3 hours ago, txtiger said: ^The phrase "wrapping around the Embassy Suites…" is a key thing to acknowledge. With that verbiage, suggests the electrical yard will be re-developed/re-incorporated elsewhere, or maybe somehow on the top of new construction? Regardless, yes: that's such a prime block to be wasted on ground-level utility. No, they mean the parking lot wrapping the Embassy Suites. 6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txtiger Posted October 22, 2019 Share Posted October 22, 2019 3 hours ago, Triton said: No, they mean the parking lot wrapping the Embassy Suites. Ah, gotcha. (My mind kept adding ‘full city block’ instead of ‘parcel’ after each of those notes, in-series.) 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrLan34 Posted October 23, 2019 Share Posted October 23, 2019 (edited) https://bisnow.com/houston/news/mixed-use/meet-the-new-neighbors-skanska-buys-four-parcels-near-the-houston-astros-101416 Not much new info, but here's the latest press release. Skanska purchased four parcels, including one full city block, altogether totaling roughly 152K SF adjacent to the award-winning Discovery Green park, boarded by the Houston Rockets’ Toyota Center, the George R. Brown Convention Center and the Houston Astros’ Minute Maid Park. Skanska’s plan is to develop a mix of office, multifamily and retail for the surrounding community. Skanska confirmed that the city block it purchased was the surface parking lot bordered by Dallas, Lamar, LaBranch and Austin streets, between the Four Seasons and Embassy Suites, with three other adjacent surface parking lots included in the deal. Those four properties were all owned by MIPS Investments and MIPS Parking, according to the Harris County Appraisal District, which values the combined parcels at $30.6M. Skanska hasn't announced any specific plans or a development timeline for the site yet. “We are excited about this next endeavor for Skanska Commercial Development in Houston. For this project, Skanska will tap our global expertise in multi-family, office and retail development as we consider the best uses for these sites advantageously located in the city’s front yard at Discovery Green,” Skanska Executive Vice President Matt Damorsky said in a statement to Bisnow. “These prime acquisitions include a full city block, which will be transformed into sustainable, high-quality space in the urban core. We look forward to advancing the master planning process so we can begin creating this dynamic community reflecting the vibrant cultural fabric of Houston.” Skanska paid $55M, which comes out to approximately $361 per SF, a hefty price for downtown real estate. Just five years ago, land in Downtown Houston was topping out at $275 per SF, according to CBRE research. By the end of the year, Downtown Houston will have 8,400 hotel rooms at 28 properties, up from 4,500 in 14 properties when Houston hosted the Super Bowl in 2004, according to Eury.Read more at: https://bisnow.com/houston/news/mixed-use/meet-the-new-neighbors-skanska-buys-four-parcels-near-the-houston-astros-101416?utm_source=CopyShare&utm_medium=Browser Edited October 23, 2019 by DrLan34 8 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avossos Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 I am curious how they will end up developing the land around the Embassy Suites... Seems challenging and expensive... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tumbleweed_Tx Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 4 hours ago, Avossos said: I am curious how they will end up developing the land around the Embassy Suites... Seems challenging and expensive... yep, but it WILL happen. Skanska is 2 for 2 including a grand slam with the BoA Tower, so they'll be back for more in Houston. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post bobruss Posted January 15, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 15, 2020 4 hours ago, Avossos said: I am curious how they will end up developing the land around the Embassy Suites... Seems challenging and expensive... In a similar way that Hines is developing The Preston around the Hogg Palace, I would think. Look on the bright side. Maybe they'll cover up the Embassy Suites building. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luminare Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 13 hours ago, bobruss said: In a similar way that Hines is developing The Preston around the Hogg Palace, I would think. Look on the bright side. Maybe they'll cover up the Embassy Suites building. Maybe they can put the substation across the street inside of the Embassy Suites building. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arche_757 Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 14 hours ago, bobruss said: ...Maybe they'll cover up the Embassy Suites building. I recall the original design for that particular hotel being of higher quality than the end result. Value engineered no doubt to its current form. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobruss Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 Thats why when this development group announces a new project I always cringe. They have fairly decent renderings and then in comes the changes after they receive their funding and the value engineering begins. And they're the stucco kings. 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trae Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 On 10/21/2019 at 7:10 AM, dbigtex56 said: CVS remains on my 'naughty' list because of their inflexible approach to development. Whether it's Main & Elgin, Gray & Brazos, or Montrose & Richmond, they slap up the same cookie-cutter building regardless of its surroundings and impact on the surrounding neighborhood. Good riddance. Hope more of them close. On 10/21/2019 at 7:32 AM, bobruss said: I agree with you dbigtex56. They have continued to create huge parking islands wherever they build in Houston, with no regard for new directions in retail and urban planning. I think it's mostly a Houston problem (setback requirements, parking minimums) than a CVS problem. CVS builds plenty of urban locations. A similar example would be the Walmart and Target in the Heights with giant parking lots. We know both big box stores build urban locations, especially Target, but City of Houston policies at the time led to what we have currently. Luckily that is all changing and pretty rapidly at that. Exciting to see what Skanska builds here. Maybe we get an urban CVS or Walgreens on a corner with this development. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Trae Posted January 16, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 16, 2020 13 hours ago, arche_757 said: I recall the original design for that particular hotel being of higher quality than the end result. Value engineered no doubt to its current form. If the original design to the Embassy was built then it would be holding up well today. The current ugly ass building gets worse with time. versus... ... 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tumbleweed_Tx Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 the finished product looks like a minecraft building 1 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cougarpad Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 9 hours ago, Trae said: If the original design to the Embassy was built then it would be holding up well today. The current ugly ass building gets worse with time. versus... Even just putting the top and spire on the building as in the original plans would of made a difference in making the building look more complete. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KinkaidAlum Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 The lack of the subtle setback and balconies on the penthouse levels is what kills me the most. What we got is a cheap EIFS box. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 Why are we beating this dead horse again? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobruss Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 I guess because it will be affected by the new Skanska project, and vice versa. It's relevant to its overall look and appeal of Skanska's new development. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txtiger Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 If I were Skanska, I'd try to bring back some of the spirit of the originally-proposed Nau Center for Texas Cultural Heritage, and get some tourism-related attractions in, there along the edge of Discovery Green: I'd put in a heavily-Texas-themed Flying Theater: https://www.super78.com/flying-theaters http://dynamicattractions.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Dynamic-Flying-Theater.pdf (See also Seattle's "Wings Over Washington:" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaMiqp3Y9kc ) And a put in a large/exploratory, adventure Mirror Maze, showcasing Houston's history: http://mirrormazesint.com/mirror-mazes-international-floor-plans/#infinit1200 (or even better, something more largely experiential like "Nat Geo's Encounter: Ocean Odyssey" in NYC: https://natgeoencounter.com/experience ) 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texasota Posted January 17, 2020 Share Posted January 17, 2020 Hmmm, or maybe just an Alamo Drafthouse? Please? 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainJilliams Posted January 17, 2020 Share Posted January 17, 2020 2 hours ago, Texasota said: Hmmm, or maybe just an Alamo Drafthouse? Please? An Alamo Drafthouse downtown would be a game changer. I honestly think if and when they rebuild the Bayou Center downtown, plugging in an Alamo Drafthouse in place of the AMC that is there currently. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate99 Posted January 17, 2020 Share Posted January 17, 2020 On 1/16/2020 at 2:16 AM, Tumbleweed_Tx said: the finished product looks like a minecraft building It is the Tesla Cybertruck of buildings. 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luminare Posted January 17, 2020 Share Posted January 17, 2020 6 minutes ago, Nate99 said: It is the Tesla Cybertruck of buildings. Blasphemy! Bring forth the Paul Verhoven future of abstract geometry vehicles! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
X.R. Posted January 17, 2020 Share Posted January 17, 2020 2 hours ago, CaptainJilliams said: An Alamo Drafthouse downtown would be a game changer. I honestly think if and when they rebuild the Bayou Center downtown, plugging in an Alamo Drafthouse in place of the AMC that is there currently. My god, I haven't thought about Bayou Center in years. Remember when they would run all those lame clubs out of there? I agree, an Alamo Drafthouse downtown within a 10-15 min walk from the light-rail would destroy worlds. The market would be downtown/midtown/third ward/second ward/east downtown residents, your 100k downtown workers some of whom may want to catch a date/movie at Alamo before going home, and the constant influx of people at those hotels. The potential reminds me of the sawyer heights Target, where you go there on a Wednesday night at 8pm and you're like how are they out of dove soap (actually happened to me before). Just mind-boggingly busy. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trae Posted January 17, 2020 Share Posted January 17, 2020 (edited) 3 hours ago, CaptainJilliams said: An Alamo Drafthouse downtown would be a game changer. I honestly think if and when they rebuild the Bayou Center downtown, plugging in an Alamo Drafthouse in place of the AMC that is there currently. They opened a location in Downtown Los Angeles that is probably the nicest theater they have. Very clean, modern, and right about LA's busiest subway system. It also had only one giant restroom that was completely gender neutral. First time I've ever seen something like that. This would be better than the current AMC downtown. Edited January 17, 2020 by Trae 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naviguessor Posted January 17, 2020 Share Posted January 17, 2020 ...in ADDITION to the AMC theater. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zaphod Posted January 18, 2020 Share Posted January 18, 2020 (edited) My stance has always been that the Embassy Suites is the sort of forgettable urban building that will get imploded before its 40th birthday for something bigger. Like the Crown Plaza in the Med Center. It's just filler and welcome investment at a time when downtown really needed it. Edited January 18, 2020 by zaphod 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattyt36 Posted January 18, 2020 Share Posted January 18, 2020 FWIW, the Embassy Suites itself is one of the best ones I've ever stayed in, and I've stayed in plenty. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Urbannizer Posted March 3, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted March 3, 2020 https://www.downtownhouston.org/news/article/repurposed-and-revitalized/ Skanska Commercial owns the parcel of land that sits directly east of the Four Seasons Hotel, a full city block. It also owns two neighboring properties, a large portion of site to the hotel’s south, and the parcel that surrounds the Embassy Suites Hotel that fronts Discovery Green Park. “We looked at those sites for a long time,” said Matt Damborsky, an executive vice president with the company. From a development standpoint, Skanska loved that the pieces of land were in such an active part of the city. Since the completion of the park, Discovery Green has become a hub of city life, hosting everything from flea markets to concerts to the annual Ice at Discovery Green. And all of that made Damborsky and his colleagues see a lot of potential in their purchase. “Currently, we’re just scratching the surface on what do there, but we’re discussing multi family, an office component and street level retail,” he says. “Retail is important to the city, and it offers a great experience for people walking around the building. It’s intriguing to control three adjacent sites and determine how they work together.” Having spaces that complement each other is important to the development of the three lots, Damborsky says, because it means his company can develop concepts that not only build on the current energy in the city center, but also provide tenants and clients with engaging spaces. “We can mix the uses of each site,“ he says. “And allow the adjacencies to actually benefit the other sites. For example, one might have a certain mix of retail that augments a different mix of retail in another site. We’re thinking of how all of these properties can interconnect.” Geographically, the space is a sweet spot. Discovery Green is basically its front door. But so is Phoenicia, the upscale grocery store and café. Toyota Center and the George R. Brown Convention Center are within very short walking distance. Xochi, Brasserie du Parc, Grotto and The Grove offer places for business lunches, but also dinner dates, whether Skanska chooses to construct a high-rise residential tower or a new office space. The built-in amenities of that section of Downtown mean that Skanska can market its properties on many levels, pointing to the vibrancy of the area as proof it’s a place people want to be. “Tenants want to be close to activities, retail and programs,” says Damborsky. “It’s really about the customer; that’s a huge part of our business.” He says he expects the company to finish its master plans for the sites by April, after which it will determine which project to begin first, and how the concept should move forward. He’s also excited for the changes he says he’s seen in how Downtown has developed over the last decade. 21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nate4l1f3 Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 Probably unreasonable but I would have liked to hear buzz words like “landmark” or “game changer”. I’m sure whatever is built will be nice, but my personal expectations are high because I’ve waited soo long for a couple of those lots to be developed. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wxman Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 Developers in Houston have a very low bar for what they deem "exciting." A roller rink in downtown is not exciting. Putting a Joseph A Bank or a sandwich shop isn't a retail space that's going to get people excited and want to hang out downtown. A 20, 30 or 40 story building isn't going to cause a frenzy of activity. It would just be another highrise amongst a sea of others. I think about other cities: San Antonio (Alamo, Tower of the Americas, Rivewalk), Toronto (CN Tower), Atlanta (Aquarium/Coke Factory), Seattle (Seafood Market, Space Needle), Nashville (Grand Ole Opry), San Fran (Golden Gate, Painted Ladies, Coit Tower, Alcatraz). I realize not all those attractions are downtown and some of them are quite historical. What's my point? Why don't developers plant a landmark here that would be a draw for the downtown area? An example would be a observation tower similar to Tower of the Americas or CN Tower. Maybe a large, world-class museum? There's not a single thing downtown I'd want to fight traffic for to go see or hang out at. Hell, even a 100-story, really cool, futuristic tower with an observation deck would probably be enough to get people drawn in and spur other development. I just find it hard to believe Skanska has anything of the caliber listed above planned for this area. Hope I'm wrong. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arche_757 Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 You sound as upbeat as I typically do. I think - to make Downtown a more vibrant place - we don’t need a trophy tower or grand attraction, we need more boring infill of retail and residential. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Angostura Posted March 3, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted March 3, 2020 6 hours ago, nate4l1f3 said: Probably unreasonable but I would have liked to hear buzz words like “landmark” or “game changer”. I’m sure whatever is built will be nice, but my personal expectations are high because I’ve waited soo long for a couple of those lots to be developed. I'm very wary of words like “landmark” or “game changer”. The bigger a project is, the longer it will take to improve when it turns out to be terrible. I'd much rather see a 250-ft blockface divided into 10 pieces of 25-ft frontage than one single huge building. I mean, how much nicer is this: .... than this: 19 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 1 hour ago, wxman said: Why don't developers plant a landmark here that would be a draw for the downtown area? An example would be a observation tower similar to Tower of the Americas or CN Tower. Maybe a large, world-class museum? My fondness for observation towers notwithstanding, it's been done. Remember the one that was proposed by the downtown aquarium? People hated it. I think a landmark would need to be sufficiently unlike other landmarks to stand out. On another bent, reading the Skanska article I can't help but wonder how much retail can really be supported. Right now one hears mostly about retail chains closing. I would think the retail element would need to be limited to be viable. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arche_757 Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 Additionally, observation towers that have been successful are also typically landmarks associated with something akin to a Worlds Fair. Think Space Needle, Hemisphere Tower etc. Now I’ve been to the Hemisphere Tower and it isn’t a great experience, and frankly spending time riding up to the top is wasteful when one could easily walk the streets of San Antonio and get a better feel for the city. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Timer Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 (edited) ✌️ Edited March 3, 2020 by West Timer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 59 minutes ago, Subdude said: My fondness for observation towers notwithstanding, it's been done. Remember the one that was proposed by the downtown aquarium? People hated it. I think a landmark would need to be sufficiently unlike other landmarks to stand out. On another bent, reading the Skanska article I can't help but wonder how much retail can really be supported. Right now one hears mostly about retail chains closing. I would think the retail element would need to be limited to be viable. I'm more concerned about the COH spending $ to improve Dallas Street to become our retail corridor when developers are stating "Discovery Green on our front door". Poor vision really. Retail fronting the park should have been a clear thought. We don't need observation decks or rotating restaurant towers to attract people Downtown. Most of the landmarks Wxman is referring to aren't even in the proper "Downtown" of those cities - let alone something that could be created in this day and age. Part of the allure is history and we like to wipe ours clean. A Texas history museum would be a start. The city just needs some better planning. Discovery Green can't be a luxury or even middle shelf retail destination if the city wants it to be our tourist trap. I could see a ripleys setting up shop nearby or every single landry's restaurant opening up shop. Anyways... Retail Downtown would be great. I currently have to drive +15 minutes to shop the retail I frequent (that includes groceries). Guess maybe someone with vision could turn south Main into a retail hub. Would make sense starting with Green Street to the Metro building. Let Disco Green become the tourist trap. Skanska is going to give us some boring boxes here that might interact with the street better. Whatever they plan hope it blocks the Embassy Suites. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txtiger Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 Flagship retail would certainly be great... I'd still love to see a City Target put in, right along the curved edge of Discovery Green: https://www.bostonherald.com/2015/07/21/opening-day-is-right-on-target/ Back over on Dallas St.: A monumental Lego Store, w/ a Legoland Discovery Center (on the 2nd level of mixed-use, would stretch above other ground-level retail). https://dallasfw.legolanddiscoverycenter.com/whats-inside/a-visit-to-the-ultimate-indoor-lego-playground/ An M&Ms store: https://www.mms.com/en-us/experience-mms/mms-world-stores And maybe even a Crayola Experience (maybe the 2nd level of mixed-use on the other development block): https://www.crayolaexperience.com/plano _____ Other urban diversion centers: Chicago - https://navypier.org/ St. Louis - https://www.stlouisunionstation.com/ Seattle - https://visitseattle.org/neighborhoods/waterfront/ San Francisco - https://www.pier39.com/ San Antonio - http://www.shoprivercenter.com/shops/?genre=fun ^Loaded with observation wheels, flying theaters, Lego experiences, aquariums, mirror mazes, miniature golf, etc... _____ 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texasota Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 I mean, it really seems like what you're describing is what Lovett is trying to do with the post office, except that the post office will be less generic and more specific to the city. It will even be close to the existing (though admittedly terrible) aquarium. A real market can absolutely be a tourism draw - think Reading Terminal Market etc. My dream for Dallas Street is for it to draw international brands like Muji (or even Uniqlo, Zara, H&M) *and* even bring in some that aren't really in the market yet like Flying Tiger. My impossible dream is for the Sakowitz building to return to use as a department store, except this time as El Corte Ingles, KaDeWe, orJohn Lewis. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonIsHome Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 On 10/21/2019 at 3:19 PM, CaptainJilliams said: Agreed. My dream would be to have a new aquarium/amusement park complex built near Minute Maid/Discovery Green. If the highway cap park ever happens in downtown, that would also be an excellent area to have it. Been saying the same thing. This area of downtown is screaming for new life and always thought a new aquarium or other major attraction would be nice in that area. Theirs in a ton of shops and bright flasy nightlife and those hotels in the area will be constantly busy 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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