BLVD Place/Hanover Towers/Apache Headquarters

[Highway6]

The whole foods in seattle has large underground parking so maybe they'll plan for something like that here. I know theres a flooding issue in Houston, but I've also seen some stores that have rooftop parking as well......I can't imagine wfmi building a flagship grocery store there without planning for sufficient parking, even if the drawings dont seem to depict any.

There is a big deal of underground parking associated with this project.. but i I agree with Fernz.. while garages can handle high volumes, they're less convenient for quick run-ins and pulling in passing drivers off the street.. retailers want some amount of street parking too.

[Trae]

Maybe build a parking garage across the street, but have it look like the development. Maybe a few retail shops at the bottom of it.

[The Great Hizzy!]

I agree with Mister X. The new renderings look awesome. I like the commercial component's design. Kind of an ode to the 70s but with a bit more flare and color. Very clean looking without looking cliche.

And I also like the San Felipe frontage.

[Subdude]

Maybe build a parking garage across the street, but have it look like the development. Maybe a few retail shops at the bottom of it.

Any development of this size would need massive parking garages, but in the pictures you can't really tell where the parking is.

[Highway6]

You can see ramps in the 1st and the 6th picture.. course, im cheating since i know where to look.

There will also be underground parking..

So yeah... they don't need an additional garage across the street.

Edited June 14, 2007 by Highway6

[woolie]

I really dig this, actually. It's quite nice. Definitely my tastes. Let's hope it gets built (of course, standard cynicism applies.)

[The New Juniper]

Just wish they'd lose the narrow parking lot that faces post oak. That parking lot almost seems like a superficial add-on. It's too small to provide any real benefit or convenience. It's almost like they had to go out of there way to make the front of this development look less pedestrian friendly. I don't mind the buildings being set back from the street, but a nice extra wide sidewalk with some beautiful fountains and shade trees would be fantastic where that narrow parking lot will be. The part that faces San Felipe (I think) looks great though.

I agree. If the goal is a new urbanistic pedestrian-friendly development, go all the way. Don't almost do it. This design is 95% there. Why uglify (new word) it with a typical Houston strip of parking?

Glad to see they've been working over at Wulfe, if only on new pretty pictures.

[Highway6]

I agree. If the goal is a new urbanistic pedestrian-friendly development, go all the way. Don't almost do it. This design is 95% there. Why uglify (new word) it with a typical Houston strip of parking?

Glad to see they've been working over at Wulfe, if only on new pretty pictures.

Why do you think that is their goal.. or only goal ?

How many people do you see walking along Post Oak... even once LRT gets there, it's not a sea of parking ppl are being asked to cross, its one drivelane.... no different the majority of Rice Village.

Also, design work and pretty pictures aren't done over at Wulfe.. they lease spaces and control the finances of the project, thats about it... credit belongs to the design firm for the pretty pictures..

Edited June 14, 2007 by Highway6

[Subdude]

I agree. If the goal is a new urbanistic pedestrian-friendly development, go all the way. Don't almost do it. This design is 95% there. Why uglify (new word) it with a typical Houston strip of parking?

Glad to see they've been working over at Wulfe, if only on new pretty pictures.

Is the goal here really an "urbanistic pedestrian-friendly development," or just high-end stores fronting office space? Regent Square maybe I can see getting closer, but I think BLVD is going to have to be more auto-oriented. That's why I thought the parking made sense.

[Trae]

A subway line down Post Oak from 59 all the way to the Northwest Transit Center is looking so good right now. How else are they going to connect the two? Some plans show them going on 610. Who wants to do that?

[lockmat]

Is the goal here really an "urbanistic pedestrian-friendly development," or just high-end stores fronting office space? Regent Square maybe I can see getting closer, but I think BLVD is going to have to be more auto-oriented. That's why I thought the parking made sense.

It seems more like an urban-pedestrian friendly place, exclusive to those who live or stay there, yet is still inviting to the outsiders with autos.

[Highway6]

A subway line down Post Oak from 59 all the way to the Northwest Transit Center is looking so good right now. How else are they going to connect the two? Some plans show them going on 610. Who wants to do that?

It wont run on 610 till north of Post Oak and south of 10. It's basically only bypassing Memorial Park, and i believe they are still have a Park station.. or they were.

And it's not going to be subway.. thats not going to change.

[Trae]

How are you going to have BRT run on 610? And don't they want to change it to LRT soon after?

[Mister X]

I can't see Post Oak becoming some major pedestrian boulevard, and perhaps the sight of parking in front will make BLVD more attractive to drivers going by.

I agree that it is hard to imagine Uptown or Post Oak ever becoming truly pedestrian friendly. There is just too much that would have to be rebuilt in every direction. But, if nothing else, an entry plaza or something special facing Post Oak would have more curb appeal than just another parking lot like the ones in front of all the other minor strip centers in town. BLVD Place seems special, after all, not every mixed use development in Houston will be blessed with a rail line right in front of it (eventually), and the front should look special. A project of this magnitude will certainly make a significant impact on uptown and might even start a trend on Post Oak.

Like Juniper said - it's 95% there. But I can live with what they are doing. I mean, I don't think the front is ugly or anything, and I know that attracting drivers off the street HAS to be a top priority for the developers. The overall coolness of these buildings (design and style) and the layout of the complex far out weighs any problem I have with the narrow parking lot facing PO. But it would be so nice to see this place set a new standard for street aesthetics in Houston even if the rest of Uptown never becomes pedestrian friendly.

My 3 cents

[houston-development]

in regards to hanover, they plan to break ground beginning of next year.

this is not speculation but straight from the horse's mouth.

ps - im not calling nor implying anyone at hanover looks like a horse...

well, now thinking about it, one person kinda does but thats not important.

[citykid09]

If ever built, this will be like Uptowns central "downtown" area.

[nmainguy]

Just wish they'd lose the narrow parking lot that faces post oak. That parking lot almost seems like a superficial add-on. It's too small to provide any real benefit or convenience. It's almost like they had to go out of there way to make the front of this development look less pedestrian friendly. I don't mind the buildings being set back from the street, but a nice extra wide sidewalk with some beautiful fountains and shade trees would be fantastic where that narrow parking lot will be. The part that faces San Felipe (I think) looks great though.

The properties on Westheimer and Post Oak are simply too valuable to devote to surface parking. IMO, the Post Oak elevation would be better if they matched the San Felipe elevation. They could take a cue from the Galleria. Imagine a strip center parking lot in front of Neimans on Post Oak. While the Galleria did build some surface parking on Westheimer, they did so keeping in mind that eventually there would be future developement supplanted with parking structures.

I agree. If the goal is a new urbanistic pedestrian-friendly development, go all the way. Don't almost do it. This design is 95% there. Why uglify (new word) it with a typical Houston strip of parking?

But that's the prevailing attitude of many developers and posters here on HAIF. Build just what you can get away with and leave the aggie designed crap for someone else to clean up. I love your description "Don't almost do it"...it seems the mantra of the provincial Houston real estate/developer mind-set...and I propose we make "uglify" a legitamate descriptor for those that truely don't give a damn.

But it would be so nice to see this place set a new standard for street aesthetics in Houston even if the rest of Uptown never becomes pedestrian friendly.

My 3 cents

Absolutly. But it doesn't have to be pedestrian friendly on the outside to be aestheticly appealling on the inside. Houston for the most part has nailed down the environmetally controlled pedestrian interior shopping spaces. It's the expediant Aggie designed strip centers that will never beat the visitorship and long-term profitability of places like the Galleria.

BTW, have you seen the Aggie-style designed Jiffe Lube firehouse downtown? I know I'm off topic but I've yet to see a more embarrasing civic structure since the Hobby Center.

Edited June 14, 2007 by nmainguy

[Highway6]

blah blah blah.. Aggies suck

1st off, the design firm working on Blvd place works out of San Francisco... eventhough you'd be lucky to having Aggies designing for you.

2nd, it doesnt matter where the design firm is becasue a project of this magnitude, decisions about parking will always come down to the developer.

3rd, even developers have to answer to tenants to get something built. Aggie (Engineer & businessman, not architect) developer Wulfe knows this. This project wouldnt get built if tenants can't be found and if all the tenants want some degree of street parking to be comfortable enough to sign, then thats thats what they get.

Furthermore... Hobby Center was designed by Robert Stern out of NYC.

And i read through the entire "fire station" thread, certainly noticed all your jiffylube moaning.... mind telling me what Aggie firm designed the firehouse, I certainly havent been able to find out which firm did it?

I was under the impression that new civic bldgs, including our firehouse, or least a good portion of them, had to go to disadvanted firms - minority or women owned.

Lastly, on the firestation, it a city's civic architecture across the board is mundane.. who's fault is that ? All the individual firms that design for them over time, or the city that controls the money. I guarandamntee you that even with the firehouse, firms start of a project presenting numerous visions to the client.. nobody wants to design mundane... but ultimately, the client gets what the client wants or can afford... and if so-in-so architecture firm can't deliver that, they can be replaced.

Regardless, your stance that if its a local project that sucks, it must be a local firm, and if its a local firm, it must be run by aggies is pretty juvenile and pathetic.

Edited June 15, 2007 by Subdude

[Jax]

I know the "Aggie" is the mascot of Texas A&M but can somebody please explain to me what an Aggie is? Is it an animal, like most of the other US college mascots? Or a scary looking native person like some of the Canadian college mascots??

[bcnet]

I know the "Aggie" is the mascot of Texas A&M but can somebody please explain to me what an Aggie is? Is it an animal, like most of the other US college mascots? Or a scary looking native person like some of the Canadian college mascots??

This should answer your question.

Texas A&M Aggies

The official mascot is Reveille. It was a originally a mutt found by some college students back in the the 30's. Since the original mutt, it has been a Collie.

[ProHouston]

The properties on Westheimer and Post Oak are simply too valuable to devote to surface parking. IMO, the Post Oak elevation would be better if they matched the San Felipe elevation. They could take a cue from the Galleria. Imagine a strip center parking lot in front of Neimans on Post Oak. While the Galleria did build some surface parking on Westheimer, they did so keeping in mind that eventually there would be future developement supplanted with parking structures.

But that's the prevailing attitude of many developers and posters here on HAIF. Build just what you can get away with and leave the aggie designed crap for someone else to clean up. I love your description "Don't almost do it"...it seems the mantra of the provincial Houston real estate/developer mind-set...and I propose we make "uglify" a legitamate descriptor for those that truely don't give a damn.

Absolutly. But it doesn't have to be pedestrian friendly on the outside to be aestheticly appealling on the inside. Houston for the most part has nailed down the environmetally controlled pedestrian interior shopping spaces. It's the expediant Aggie designed strip centers that will never beat the visitorship and long-term profitability of places like the Galleria.

BTW, have you seen the Aggie-style designed Jiffe Lube firehouse downtown? I know I'm off topic but I've yet to see a more embarrasing civic structure since the Hobby Center.

Aggie envy...

[Jax]

Interesting. So Aggies are just students? Maybe it has something to do with agriculture? That's kinda boring. I expected it to be some kind of really fierce yet obscure mythical creature or something like that.

[woolie]

Interesting. So Aggies are just students? Maybe it has something to do with agriculture? That's kinda boring. I expected it to be some kind of really fierce yet obscure mythical creature or something like that.

It's pretty pedestrian, actually. Aggie is just a term for a TAMU graduate. If you want to give it a more colorful flavor in your mind, try to imagine it as the Texas Illuminati. Basically, Aggies give preferential treatment to other Aggies in hiring, promotions, awarding contracts, etc. Think "good ole' boys network." It's also somewhat of a military society, very rigid and focused on power structures. In some ways you can imagine an "Aggie Ideology," somewhat like neoconservatism. I find the whole thing pretty boring, and the whole Aggie creed just makes me tired and

Applied to architecture, the myth is something like this. TAMU is an engineering school, that produces architects who are competent engineers but completely void of any vision or artistic ability. The UH architecture school is much more theoretical and interested in the study of architecture itself, with less an emphasis on building and engineering. UH architects have a reputation for being good dreamers but bad at execution.

or so I've heard...

Also, don't have to go far to find a typical Aggieism, even in this thread. Look at the TAMU demographics and it'll be obvious why.

I was under the impression that new civic bldgs, including our firehouse, or least a good portion of them, had to go to disadvanted firms - minority or women owned.

Edited June 15, 2007 by woolie

[TheNiche]

Applied to architecture, the myth is something like this. TAMU is an engineering school, that produces architects who are competent engineers but completely void of any vision or artistic ability. The UH architecture school is much more theoretical and interested in the study of architecture itself, with less an emphasis on building and engineering. UH architects have a reputation for being good dreamers but bad at execution.

or so I've heard...

Woolie nailed it. ...and nmain is only so pissy about Aggies because I said in a thread somewhere that all other things being about the same, I'd hire them any day of the week over a UH architecture grad.

[RedScare]

An Aggie is a nickname for a student of agriculture. Numerous Argricultural & Mechanical Schools nicknamed their student bodies Aggies.

As for the "Aggie-style" firestation, it was not designed by Aggies. It was initially drawn by a California architect who specializes in fire stations. Included in the design were numerous throwbacks to firestations of old, such as a non-functioning hose tower, as requested by the client (the City of Houston). After the initial design, it was turned over to a local architecture firm for completion. I will not name the person who worked on it, as he is a friend of mine, and is embarrassed by it.

He is a graduate of UH Architecture School.

[ProHouston]

It's pretty pedestrian, actually. Aggie is just a term for a TAMU graduate.

Actually, an Aggie is any person who has ever attended a class at Texas A&M, it doesn't have anything to do with graduation.

It's also somewhat of a military society, very rigid and focused on power structures. In some ways you can imagine an "Aggie Ideology," somewhat like neoconservatism.

This statement show what little you know about Texas A&M. You're taking 10% of what Texas A&M is and generalizing it to include all Aggies. There is actually very little difference in the students that attend Texas A&M, Texas, OU, <insert any other big school here>...

[TheNiche]

This statement show what little you know about Texas A&M. You're taking 10% of what Texas A&M is and generalizing it to include all Aggies. There is actually very little difference in the students that attend Texas A&M, Texas, OU, <insert any other big school here>...

I'd agree with you except that Aggies seem to go much further to look after their own. ...at least that's what anecdotes and my own experiences have indicated. They're just like Masons, it seems. With the other schools, there is definitely some sort of a comeradery, but it isn't nearly as overt.

...and of course there really IS a big difference between Aggies and other schools of architecture. That much is absolutely clear and in the open.

[millennica]

An Aggie is a nickname for a student of agriculture. Numerous Argricultural & Mechanical Schools nicknamed their student bodies Aggies.

Students who attend UCDavis are called Aggies, too. This is because UCDavis was once only an ag school--originally founded in 1905, called the University Farm School and designed to give provide a farm and practical experience for UCBerkeley which offered coursework in botany and such, but nothing in the way of practical experiences. Not until 1959, did UCDavis become part of the UC system as a separate campus. Although it now offers a much wider range of majors-- including the only vet school in the UCSystem-- is still referred to as the ag school and subject to numerous jokes about being rural, backwards, and conservative, particularly when compared to its older more famous urbane, liberal brother UCBerkeley located 90 miles away.

[moni]

Students who attend UCDavis are called Aggies, too. This is because UCDavis was once only an ag school--originally founded in 1905, called the University Farm School and designed to give provide a farm and practical experience for UCBerkeley which offered coursework in botany and such, but nothing in the way of practical experiences. Not until 1959, did UCDavis become part of the UC system as a separate campus. Although it now offers a much wider range of majors-- including the only vet school in the UCSystem-- is still referred to as the ag school and subject to numerous jokes about being rural, backwards, and conservative, particularly when compared to its older more famous urbane, liberal brother UCBerkeley located 90 miles away.

Students attending New Mexico State University are called "aggies" too. Agricultural colleges you know. :-)

[RedScare]

An Aggie....

[nyc_tex]

Actually, an Aggie is any person who has ever attended a class at Texas A&M, it doesn't have anything to do with graduation.

This statement show what little you know about Texas A&M. You're taking 10% of what Texas A&M is and generalizing it to include all Aggies. There is actually very little difference in the students that attend Texas A&M, Texas, OU, <insert any other big school here>...

I completed a graduate degree at A&M. I will certainly confirm the degree of ideological and ethnic homogeny is greater amongst the undergraduate student body at A&M than any other university I have taught at or been on. But granted my perspective is probably skewed and less credible, for I went to UH.

And I am far from being an Aggie.

Any school that cherishes "the hanging tree" deserves the prejorative and provincial assocations it gets. And they wonder why minorities don't want to attend the school.

[ProHouston]

I completed a graduate degree at A&M. I will certainly confirm the degree of ideological and ethnic homogeny is greater amongst the undergraduate student body at A&M than any other university I have taught at or been on. But granted my perspective is probably skewed and less credible, for I went to UH.

And I am far from being an Aggie.

Any school that cherishes "the hanging tree" deserves the prejorative and provincial assocations it gets. And they wonder why minorities don't want to attend the school.

I spent 4 years there and I don't even know what the "hanging tree" is. Never heard of it, I know the wedding tree, is this the one you are referring too? The tree under which everyone gets engaged?

[Highway6]

Any school that cherishes "the hanging tree" deserves the prejorative and provincial assocations it gets. And they wonder why minorities don't want to attend the school.

Yeah.. you have no clue what the heck you are talking about.

It's called the Century Tree... it's old.. it's big...people get engaged under it... thats all.

[nyc_tex]

Yeah.. you have no clue what the heck you are talking about.

It's called the Century Tree... it's old.. it's big...people get engaged under it... thats all.

It's not the one in front of the Academic Buiding. It's behind Northgate and I am going on what was conveyed to me by quite a few students. So, if I have incorrect information, the indoctrination process at A&M is losing it's tight grip.

But even if it's untrue, there are a multitude of other verifiable circumstances that exemplify my point just as poignantly.

Gig'em.

[jt16]

It's not the one in front of the Academic Buiding. It's behind Northgate and I am going on what was conveyed to me by quite a few students. So, if I have incorrect information, the indoctrination process at A&M is losing it's tight grip.

But even if it's untrue, there are a multitude of other verifiable circumstances that exemplify my point just as poignantly.

Gig'em.

You just lumped 45K people into one very tiny box.

[woolie]

You just lumped 45K people into one very tiny box.

Don't be disingenuous.

November 7, 2006

Yesterday was a sad day for Texas A&M. It was brought to my attention that individuals who

appear to be Aggie students had posted to a public web site a home-made video that is so utterly

disgusting that, regardless of race, religion, or background, I believe virtually any member of our

Aggie family would be outraged and ashamed if they viewed it. The content of the video is

offensive on many levels and would be so to all Aggies, but is particularly insulting and hurtful

to members of our Black community. The hateful video is not simply an example of poor

judgment and insensitivity; it appears to have been purposefully produced to insult and demean.

When one member of the Aggie family is insulted, we are all insulted. I find the content of the

video inexcusable and I believe virtually all Aggies join me in that belief.

I cannot fully express my disappointment and embarrassment that Texas A&M students may

have been involved in this matter. While I respect and value the constitutional right to free

speech, I can neither condone nor accept that right being disrespected in this manner. We

believe we have identified the students allegedly involved in producing the video and are

directing them to meet with Student Affairs officials to discuss their actions, as well as their

future at Texas A&M. The university has already contacted the web host and demanded that the

video be removed, and they have done so.

[Guest danax]

Let's drop the Aggie posts, please.

Here's a rendering from the design group's website. That brown part looks like a rusty shipping container. Is bland in again?

[musicman]

Here's a rendering from the design group's website. That brown part looks like a rusty shipping container. Is bland in again?

think mid century modern

[Boris]

I think the whole site has a sort of 50's, 60's commercial look to it, which I especially dislike.

[woolie]

I can name a thousand buildings in Houston I only wish had the quality of MCM "blandness."

[Houston19514]

Let's drop the Aggie posts, please.

Here's a rendering from the design group's website. That brown part looks like a rusty shipping container. Is bland in again?

Who is the design group? I think that might be an older, more-preliminary rendering. It does appear a little more bland than the new renderings on Wulfe's website (which I think look great, except for the parking strip in front).

[Guest danax]

Who is the design group? I think that might be an older, more-preliminary rendering. It does appear a little more bland than the new renderings on Wulfe's website (which I think look great, except for the parking strip in front).

DMJM H&N

What you say would make sense and I hope you're right but you would think they'd have updated any renderings if that was the case.

[pm91]

have they broke ground yet on blvd place or is it a proposal, approved, or a never built?

[Captain Impossible]

I actually really like the style of the project. Makes me feel like a jet-setter just looking at it. It's so gloriously mod.

Edited June 18, 2007 by Captain Impossible

[WesternGulf]

Let's drop the Aggie posts, please.

Here's a rendering from the design group's website. That brown part looks like a rusty shipping container. Is bland in again?

I like the new renderings but it is easy to tell that the "old" design would have been MCM which I particularly like. Here is a pic I took of some condos on Alabama that has the wood design.

Edited June 18, 2007 by WesternGulf

[woolie]

I love those, and admire them all the time (like 3 blocks from my house.) I'd buy one if it were anywhere near something we could afford.

[The Great Hizzy!]

I actually really like the style of the project. Makes me feel like a jet-setter just looking at it. It's so gloriously mod.

That's it exactly! It has a cool and refreshing mod feel to it. Nothing to glitzy or pretentious and yet still clean looking.

[Subdude]

I'm still confused. The pictures on this page and the previous ones look very different. How final are any of these?

[DevelopmentX]

BLVD PLACE

Ritz Carlton Hotel (lower floors)

Ritz Carlton Residences (higher floors)

Hanover luxury apartment tower

Whole Foods Flagship

Retail:

Barneys Flagship

H&M

Prada

Escada

Niketown

Virgin Megastore

Intermix

Scoop

Restaurants:

Spago

Emeril's

Existing Anchors:

Cafe Annie

Americas

Hermes

I'm throwing this information out in the hopes that elicits some sort of a response form someone inside or at least near this deal.

Tell me I'm wrong.

Tell me I'm close.

Tell me I right.

Just tell me something.

Development X

[TheNiche]

I'm throwing this information out in the hopes that elicits some sort of a response form someone inside or at least near this deal.

Tell me I'm wrong.

Tell me I'm close.

Tell me I right.

Just tell me something.

Here's something! It is not good form to post a tenant roster first and explain it as guesses later!