Hugh Stone 104 Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 Signs of construction? I hope this project gets built. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Golyadkin 287 Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 (edited) Can't really see from here what they did today, but I did get a picture of the sign on Sky Lark: Edited April 27, 2012 by Golyadkin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SkylineView 1410 Posted May 8, 2012 Share Posted May 8, 2012 I drove down S Post Oak Lane tonight, and I could swear there was a new fence up around the old Pavilions including yellow "caution" tape... I only drive back there about once a month, so this could be old news. Also, does anyone know what Michael's church is doing with the back half of their property? New building? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Golyadkin 287 Posted May 8, 2012 Share Posted May 8, 2012 Yesterday they coned off the Pavilion and have spent the past two days working on removing the decorative shrubbery from around the front of the building. I saw them earlier today loading a sculpted bush into the back of a pickup. Hopefully this means they are preparing to finally tear that thing down. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gene 3260 Posted May 8, 2012 Share Posted May 8, 2012 my god...wish they would knock it down already!!! haha (*crosses fingers*) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Houston19514 4922 Posted May 8, 2012 Share Posted May 8, 2012 Glad to see some kind of progress. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Golyadkin 287 Posted May 8, 2012 Share Posted May 8, 2012 (edited) Looks like they are indeed preparing the area for demo work. A truck is there right now loaded with what looks like chain link fences:Sorry the picture isn't too great, I need a better lens.Personally, I'd like to go over and as if they'd let me like throw a brick through a window or something as they are starting demo work, 'cause I mean, when else would you get the chance to smash the front window to a store and not get arrested? Edited May 8, 2012 by Golyadkin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bamaluke 6 Posted May 8, 2012 Share Posted May 8, 2012 http://www.stmichaelcs.org/index.cfm?load=page&page=238St. Michael is building a new two-story school building and ball field. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
woolie 138 Posted May 8, 2012 Share Posted May 8, 2012 http://www.stmichaelcs.org/index.cfm?load=page&page=238 St. Michael is building a new two-story school building and ball field. I looked at the plan; this will be on their existing land; the track will be where the baseball field is, it doesn't go all the way to S. Post Oak. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SkylineView 1410 Posted May 9, 2012 Share Posted May 9, 2012 Information much appreciated. Thank your sirs (or ma'ams). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bamaluke 6 Posted May 9, 2012 Share Posted May 9, 2012 I looked at the plan; this will be on their existing land; the track will be where the baseball field is, it doesn't go all the way to S. Post Oak.That was meant to be in response to Skyline's question about the work on the St. Michael property. When the capital campaign was kicked off a few years back the church looked into purchasing the lot directly behind the ball field and adjacent to S. Post Oak. Apparently, the owner was willing to sell, but wanted upwards of $7 mil. Not sure if Wolfe owned it at that time or not. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gene 3260 Posted May 9, 2012 Share Posted May 9, 2012 Looks like they are indeed preparing the area for demo work. A truck is there right now loaded with what looks like chain link fences:Sorry the picture isn't too great, I need a better lens.Personally, I'd like to go over and as if they'd let me like throw a brick through a window or something as they are starting demo work, 'cause I mean, when else would you get the chance to smash the front window to a store and not get arrested? Yes!!! went by there just now and there is indeed a chain link fence encasing the entire old complex...so looks like this is being torn ASAP!!! AWESOME!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Golyadkin 287 Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Demolition has officially begun. There's an excavator tearing apart one of the walls right now. I'll try to get some pictures up later today, 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gene 3260 Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 whooOoHoooOooOoooo!!! awesome news! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Golyadkin 287 Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 Here's the one decent picture I could get over the fence of the demo work: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
burgower4 11 Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 This looks awesome I am so excited for this develoment. I found this on the web about ULI convention where Ed Wulfe is talking about BLVD place on June 6 I really want to go but cant Here is the link I hope someone here can go so we can hear more about this develoment. http://houston.uli.org/events/detail/ylg-blvd-place Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Golyadkin 287 Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 Oh man. It's across the street from where I live, and it's 4 days after I leave the country. :/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gene 3260 Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 gosh now i know how those flying monkeys felt when water was thrown on the witch...! goodbye ugly old building!!!!!!!!!!!! haha!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Golyadkin 287 Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 They're making some decent progress. Hopefully it'll be down before the end of the month: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ArchFan 324 Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 Thanks a bunch for the pics! I walked by last week and the progress wasn't as evident, so I kinda despaired about whether it would happen or not.I think highly of Mr. Wulfe. Hope he hits a home run with this next phase ... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lockmat 2340 Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 (edited) Hanover's website says equity is committed and debt is available. What's that mean? Looks to be about 25 stories.http://hanoverco.com...lace?val=equity Edited May 23, 2012 by lockmat Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Golyadkin 287 Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 The thing that gets me about that is that they say "...located at the intersection of Sky Lark and Post Oak Lanes..."Why not say the intersection of Post Oak Lane and San Felipe? Nobody knows Sky Lark, and everyone knows San Felipe.But I take it that's the new design of the residential tower. Certainly not as nice as the original. :/ 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
woolie 138 Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 (edited) I believe it means they're looking for people willing help to finance it through a loan (debt) and cash (partner equity.) Basically advertising investment opportunity.But yeah, this building is... not a looker. Edited May 23, 2012 by woolie Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Houston19514 4922 Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 I believe it means they're looking for people willing help to finance it through a loan (debt) and cash (partner equity.) Basically advertising investment opportunity.But yeah, this building is... not a looker.Actually, after looking over their website, it looks like it means they have the partner equity already, but are looking for the debt financing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lockmat 2340 Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 (edited) Hanover's website replaced the rendering with "Coming Soon." I remember when ChannelTwoNews found the "Another Hines DT Project" rendering from an engineering company website involved with the project and they took it down. I don't understand why they publish it if they don't want anyone seeing it. I can understand the engineering company mistake, but not so much Hanover, unless it's an old rendering. Edited May 23, 2012 by lockmat Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tangledwoods 766 Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 Hanover's website replaced the rendering with "Coming Soon." I remember when ChannelTwoNews found the "Another Hines DT Project" rendering from an engineering company website involved with the project and they took it down. I don't understand why they publish it if they don't want anyone seeing it. I can understand the engineering company mistake, but not so much Hanover, unless it's an old rendering.Well everyone said their rendering looked like shit, that is probably why they took it down! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Golyadkin 287 Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 They made some serious progress today:They've also got a large pile of debris in the center atrium, and have taken out almost all of the windows: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
woolie 138 Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 Both previous renderings looked much better. Maybe they'll put up a better one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Golyadkin 287 Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 I just figured out why that less than stunning Hanover tower is listed as Sky Lark Ln. and Post Oak Ln. rather than San Felipe and Post Oak Ln: It's not going on the site that we thought.It's not going in the middle island thing created by Sky Lark Ln, San Felipe, and Post Oak Ln. It's going around the outside of the corner of Sky Lark.From Swamplot:You can tell it's also nicer than was initially shown, but on the second picture, the little park in the front left is the area that was originally set as the site for this tower:This is fantastic news, IMO. I was wondering what they were going to do with that little strip of land, and this I think fits it perfectly. Also, it keeps that center block open for future development. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
woolie 138 Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 (edited) Screen Shot 2012-05-24 at 3.53.05 PM by wools, on FlickrYeah, from the renderings, this is clearly going on the red lot above; the green lot will still be available for future high rises. Great news! And the new renderings look much better. Still not great, world-changing, visionary architecture.. but perfectly OK.Also, amusing -- I guess they don't own that parking lot and no one would sell. It's in the renderings. Edited May 24, 2012 by woolie Quote Link to post Share on other sites
infinite_jim 943 Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 Is that where the psychic was located? I think that parcel was condemned by the city and was supposed to be public park but maybe Wulf bought it? Maybe someone here knows the details on this parcel. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Golyadkin 287 Posted May 25, 2012 Share Posted May 25, 2012 More pictures from today. Around 4:30 I saw a very large cloud of dust come up form the site. I imagine it was either the roof or a wall falling in.Is that where the psychic was located? I think that parcel was condemned by the city and was supposed to be public park but maybe Wulf bought it? Maybe someone here knows the details on this parcel.I was under the impression that the park that was made there was put in so that the remaining house or two on that street could be forced to sell through eminent domain. From what I heard, the guy in the last house was demanding something like $2 million for his tiny house. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pleak 144 Posted May 25, 2012 Share Posted May 25, 2012 Is that the parcel that there was some sort of scandal about the city using eminent domain? I remember a big ruckus a couple of years ago and wasn't the end result that most of the parcel was going to be left as a city park?Or am I thinking of the wrong development totally? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ArchFan 324 Posted May 27, 2012 Share Posted May 27, 2012 It's been awhile, but I think the psychic was located on what is now the east side of Skylark (in the area colored green in Woolies pic). I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing that the property taken by the city using eminent domain is the parking lot contiguous with the red area in the pic. Media reports said it was owned by 2 older guys, brothers, who said it was an investment they were counting on for a comfortable retirement. I had a sense of deja vu when I read that. In buying up the land for Greenway Plaza, Ken Schnitzer (Century Development), had to deal with a homeowner who held out to the bitter end. In that case, the homeowner made out pretty good in the end. (Wikipedia cites him getting $350K, but from my recollection it was more like $450K. In any case, considering this was in the 70s, he did really well!) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
'Stonian 362 Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 While this explains the recent move to demolish the Pavilion, I'm still not sure what all this means for the overall BLVD place project. Ed Wulfe states in the article that selling 6.4 acres off to Apache allows the project to move forward this summer. This almost assures the project will be revamped in some major/minor way!http://www.chron.com/business/article/Apache-Corp-buys-a-big-chunk-of-BLVD-Place-3603732.php Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Golyadkin 287 Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 Isn't part of the new Apache parcel the same place Randal Davis wants to put up the Astoria?Update: They are currently tearing up the parking lot between the area of the building they demolished and Post Oak. It looks like they are digging into the underground parking, which a while ago someone over at the Ed Wulfe offices said they needed to get rid of before they would be able to start working on the underground parking for Whole Foods.Unfortunately, I won't be able to have any more pictures for you guys for quite a while. I'm leaving the country for 5 weeks in a few hours. Hopefully when I get back in July they'll be done with this and something constructive can actually start to happen on the site. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KinkaidAlum 2867 Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 Hopefully it means Apache builds a corporate headquarters tower in the future. Always thought The Apache Tower had a nice ring to it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
swtsig 2961 Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 Hopefully it means Apache builds a corporate headquarters tower in the future. Always thought The Apache Tower had a nice ring to it.Towers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KinkaidAlum 2867 Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 Towers.Interesting.That said, I'd prefer to see one trophy tower rise rather than 2-3 smaller towers as part of a complex in Uptown. Transco needs a northern neighbor. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lockmat 2340 Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 That makes sense since if they bought a third of the land. Is the land they bought inbetween the Whole Foods and the current building? I wonder if the new plans are on the blvd place website. Can't check on my slow bb. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Houston19514 4922 Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 (edited) That makes sense since if they bought a third of the land. Is the land they bought inbetween the Whole Foods and the current building? I wonder if the new plans are on the blvd place website. Can't check on my slow bb.Nothing on the Blvd Place website about this so far.I just went back to review Apache's expanded lease at Post Oak Central. They lease almost 1/2 million square feet. And they only signed up through 2018. That probably gives them a couple years before they need to start construction, but also tells us it would be a pretty substantial building. Edited June 4, 2012 by Houston19514 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KinkaidAlum 2867 Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 Let's assume Apache stays in growth mode and that they'll need 600,000 to 700,000 square feet. In a single building with a typical floor plate, that would put it in the 5 Houston Center range (25-29 floors or so). However, if it's two buildings, then were looking at twins in the 15 floor range. Bleh. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
swtsig 2961 Posted June 5, 2012 Share Posted June 5, 2012 (edited) Interesting.That said, I'd prefer to see one trophy tower rise rather than 2-3 smaller towers as part of a complex in Uptown. Transco needs a northern neighbor.purely speculation, of course. Edited June 5, 2012 by swtsig Quote Link to post Share on other sites
woolie 138 Posted June 5, 2012 Share Posted June 5, 2012 Some days I want signature towers, some days I want just good solid infill. Ask me tomorrow. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Golyadkin 287 Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 Even from Rome, I still manage to supply pictures of the demolition progress! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pleak 144 Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 Do you have a camera hidden in the hedge across the street? I'll go down and adjust the angle in you need. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Golyadkin 287 Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 Nah. I wish I could set up something like that, though. lolMy mom is in Houston for a few weeks, and she knows I was following the demolition so she took it upon herself to snap a picture and email it to me. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Houston19514 4922 Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 Nah. I wish I could set up something like that, though. lolMy mom is in Houston for a few weeks, and she knows I was following the demolition so she took it upon herself to snap a picture and email it to me. Awesome! Way to go, Mom! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mister X 227 Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 Unconditional love is so awesome. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pumapayam 140 Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 Nah. I wish I could set up something like that, though. lolMy mom is in Houston for a few weeks, and she knows I was following the demolition so she took it upon herself to snap a picture and email it to me. Your mom should join HAIF. She'd fit right in. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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