musicman Posted June 2, 2007 Share Posted June 2, 2007 (edited) Yeah ... the whole Astrodome redevelopment seems to be unworkable. I know we all love the old building and its history, but seems like everyone that has tried to do something with it hasn't been too successful at getting it off the ground.i don't think anyone's really "tried". so far it's really been more talk by the county. they are so cash strapped with stadia right now that coming to the taxpayers and asking for MORE money isn't going to go over well. doing it from the private sector gets everyone's heads turning. Edited June 2, 2007 by musicman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonmacbro Posted June 2, 2007 Share Posted June 2, 2007 i don't think anyone's really "tried". so far it's really been more talk by the county. they are so cash strapped with stadia right now that coming to the taxpayers and asking for MORE money isn't going to go over well. doing it from the private sector gets everyone's heads turning.I realize they need money, but I think they types of private ventures should not be done by taxpayer dollars. You're right, there has been a lot of talk ... anyhow, I guess we just have to wait and see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted June 2, 2007 Share Posted June 2, 2007 (edited) I realize they need money, but I think they types of private ventures should not be done by taxpayer dollars.that's the point. the county supposedly isn't doing any financing. Edited June 2, 2007 by musicman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonmacbro Posted June 2, 2007 Share Posted June 2, 2007 that's the point. the county supposedly isn't doing any financing.That's a good thing. It means this albatross is gonna have to fly or sink with the ship (wait ... it is the ship). I fear the Astrodome's time may have passed.They should just turn it into one big ole monster truck, extreme fighting, and hotel arena. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkjones98 Posted June 5, 2007 Share Posted June 5, 2007 I have a suggestion that will take care of everything: CASINO! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonmacbro Posted June 5, 2007 Share Posted June 5, 2007 I have a suggestion that will take care of everything: CASINO! Ah baby ... LTGTR! (let the good times roll). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted June 5, 2007 Author Share Posted June 5, 2007 I think they should donate the dome to the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. It has more architectural merit than the Beck building, it would take care of MFAH's expansion space needs for a long time to come, there's plenty of filtered natural light, and the field could house the sculpture garden. Think of a Texas-sized Guggenheim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jax Posted June 6, 2007 Share Posted June 6, 2007 That sounds kinda cool but it would be too far away. I kinda like the high density museum neighborhood and it would be great to have more MFAH buildings in walking distance of the buildings they already have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deut28Thirteen Posted June 6, 2007 Share Posted June 6, 2007 (edited) At 1st I did not like the hotel idea but adding this hotel to Houston could bring a lot of business and conventions to the city. Having 2 convetion hotels could be good for the city because it shows that Houston wants the conventions here and more and more would come. The dome does need a lot of work on the out side and some real good landscaping its a Houston land mark but it aint a pretty one. It could also bring some Super Bowls back to the city. And a casino wont hurt. Edited June 6, 2007 by Deut28Thirteen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonsemipro Posted June 6, 2007 Share Posted June 6, 2007 Casinos will never be legalize in Texas. So, y'all need to change the subject. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted June 6, 2007 Author Share Posted June 6, 2007 At 1st I did not like the hotel idea but adding this hotel to Houston could bring a lot of business and conventions to the city. Having 2 convetion hotels could be good for the city because it shows that Houston wants the conventions here and more and more would come. The dome does need a lot of work on the out side and some real good landscaping its a Houston land mark but it aint a pretty one. It could also bring some Super Bowls back to the city. And a casino wont hurt. Even if this is able to attract significant incremental convention business - a big if - I think there's more to it than showing we really really want conventions by building redundant hotels. To me it is looney to have competing publically funded facilities (city vs county). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProHouston Posted June 16, 2007 Share Posted June 16, 2007 Reliant Astrodome Receives Viable Redevelopment PlanThe landlord of the Reliant Astrodome says it has received a viable financing plan to redevelop the "Eighth Wonder of the World" and turn it into a hotel and convention complex. Mike Surface, chairman of the Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation, told FOX 26 Sports on Friday that the financing plan is from the Astrodome Redevelopment Corporation.Surface said it is approximately a $450 million project, that if approved, could become reality in 3 1/2 to 4 years. Surface emphasizes the plan does not include any public money.See remainder of story... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonfella Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 It appears financing to the tune of $500m for this project is happening. Financing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted July 13, 2007 Author Share Posted July 13, 2007 Well you can knock me over with a feather. I never thought it would happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Great Hizzy! Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 I can't wait to read the bickering, condemnations, exhaltations and commendations regarding the design of the complex. With something like this, there's sure to be all kinds of opinions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GovernorAggie Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 Wow, Deutsche Bank is big time. So much for our piddly opinions on the project's feasibility. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Great Hizzy! Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 Interestingly enough, I noticed that Hilton Hotels acquired land recently near Reliant Park (on S. Main) to build a new hotel, so if a new hotel and convention center project IS to be the future of the current Astrodome, it will have even more area competition by the time it opens.It would be nice to see some progress being made on the redevelopment of the former Astroworld site. That would give us a better idea of what that area of town will be like in 5 - 10 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GovernorAggie Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 I wonder where Frank Liu's Duany-designed development is in relation to the Astroworld property, Reliant Park, and Fannin South. Any HCAD wiz's in the house? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 (edited) I wonder where Frank Liu's Duany-designed development is in relation to the Astroworld property, Reliant Park, and Fannin South. Any HCAD wiz's in the house?I seem to recall that Liu's properties are at the northwest corner of Almeda and Bellfort, and in an odd shape along the west side of Fannin, south of Holmes. They aren't contiguous to one another, the Fannin South station, Astroworld, or Reliant Park.Duany spent more time designing street grids for the area and a traffic circle for the Almeda/Bellfort/Holmes/RR fustercluck than he did looking at what Liu actually owns. Edited July 13, 2007 by TheNiche Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GovernorAggie Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 Oh that's right that's your hood isn't it, Niche? Thanks. Any word on Astroworld's redevelopment? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 Oh that's right that's your hood isn't it, Niche? Thanks. Any word on Astroworld's redevelopment?None, except that I'd expect that this project, the Hilton, Baylor, and the rest of the TMC are probably going to generate a fair bit of new employment and put some price pressures on my neighborhood and fuel demand for Liu's projects and other developers' projects that are in the works just south of the Loop. For those households with schools topping the priority list, Pearland will be a the top of the list and will benefit greatly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 I wonder where Frank Liu's Duany-designed development is in relation to the Astroworld property, Reliant Park, and Fannin South. Any HCAD wiz's in the house? from HCAD: looks like IntownHomes (Liu) owns the land at 9300 Knight Rd., which would be right about where Niche mentioned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trae Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 So, is this black hole getting redevelopment? Will 288 be completely filled all the way to the Beltway soon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 Will 288 be completely filled all the way to the Beltway soon?No Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 (edited) So, is this black hole getting redevelopment? Will 288 be completely filled all the way to the Beltway soon?My crystal ball shows that the infill will begin in earnest in the latter part of 2009. ...but musicman is right--I don't think that the word "soon" is appropriate. Edited July 13, 2007 by TheNiche Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ V Lawrence Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5114972.html Yo, check it. The Astrodome will have a new look, but totally different from the design seen before... Astrodome Redevelopment had good reason to scrap the best of Texas theme. The historical commission may not have approved its rehabilitation plan, and the company may not have received the tax credit, Clanton said.The commission wanted the project to include some features of the building and to play up the Dome's status when it was dubbed the "Eighth Wonder of the World" upon its opening. Atlanta-based Worthington-Hyde Partners have joined Astrodome Redevelopment and Senate Hospitality Group, which would operate the hotel, as partners in the project. Worthington-Hyde's sizable investment will reduce the amount that Astrodome Redevelopment must finance, Clanton said. ---------------- The convention hotel would employ 1,550 and generate nearly $23 million a year in state and local taxes, Hanson said. The complex would have as many as 1,300 hotel rooms, ballrooms, convention meeting rooms, multiple restaurants, upscale shopping and one or more music venues. Swaths of Astroturf would be replaced with a series of ponds, fountains and tall trees. A parking garage would be built around the Dome. County officials may require Astrodome Redevelopment to build a $15 million overhead ramp from the South Loop to the garage. Plans for a cineplex have been scrapped. Hanson said he was convinced that the Dome hotel would be heavily booked. Astrodome Redevelopment isn't seeking any public money to renovate the Dome, but has asked the county to consider paying for the $15 million ramp and an expansion of Reliant Park's air conditioning/heating plant, which could cost as much as $1 million, Hanson said. Loston said, "We have not responded to that request. But this is a 100 percent privately financed project." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pumapayam Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Nice rendering, but it would be more useful had the Chronicle allowed us to view a higher resolution version, and maybe something with a legend or labeling. This picture is such a tease. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trae Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Yeah, I don't even know what everything is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pumapayam Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 (edited) Even though this is a new development within the confines of the same building, does this really deserve a new thread?I found the link of the original post. Edited September 7, 2007 by Pumapayam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Merge and purge, DUDE! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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