totheskies Posted May 8, 2013 Share Posted May 8, 2013 Any renderings of the Aga Khan center? Sounds like a cool project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Stonian Posted May 8, 2013 Share Posted May 8, 2013 (edited) No renderings yet for the Houston Aga Khan Ismaili Centre but here is a rendering of the (under construction) $300 million Toronto version to be completed later this year (scroll down for detailed renderings): http://urbantoronto.ca/news/2010/05/prime-minister-harper-and-aga-khan-aga-khan-museum-ismaili-centre Maybe we can expect something similar - Toronto's version appears to sit on similar acreage (15 acres), the site here is 11 acres. More of an Islamic Arts/Cultural Center and Museum..., This thing could be huge. Facebook page with good pics: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=571658612858938& Edited May 8, 2013 by HOUSTONIAN (N-ATL) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texasota Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 That's... actually pretty underwhelming for $300 million. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swtsig Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 That's... actually pretty underwhelming for $300 million.Agreed. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Stonian Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 Remember it's in Toronto and NOT Houston. $300 million doesn't go quite as far there. I would also think the total includes the cost of the museum's collection of artifacts and not just building costs. Who knows, one painting could be world millions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrLan34 Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 The center is still a few years out apparently. This is going to be a temporary sports area. It will include soccer, volleyball and cricket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texasota Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 That's actually a great use in the short term, particularly considering its proximity to the bayou. Do you have a source? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
htownproud Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 My understanding is that it's a great way for a non-profit to sit on tax free property and let the value appreciate. Total scam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Vik Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 I think what he's implying is that he wishes it would not be built - perhaps motivated by his particular brand of tribalism - and that he laments not being able to truly express how he feels because it would be deemed politically incorrect.Am I right? Do Muslims not have the same rights as anyone else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrLan34 Posted May 24, 2013 Share Posted May 24, 2013 That's actually a great use in the short term, particularly considering its proximity to the bayou. Do you have a source?I got in touch with their VP of development, not sure if that was his exact title but it is close.The half of the lot closest to Allen Parkway will be for parking. I don't think it will be paved or anything though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted May 24, 2013 Share Posted May 24, 2013 So I guess the sidewalk all along Montrose will be forever in ruins... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xsatyr Posted May 24, 2013 Share Posted May 24, 2013 My understanding is that it's a great way for a non-profit to sit on tax free property and let the value appreciate. Total scam. It's def savvy but I wouldn't call it a scam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrLan34 Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 (edited) http://swamplot.com/there-will-be-wickets-empty-w-dallas-lot-in-play-for-youth-sports-facility/2013-05-31/"It doesn’t seem that this grassy, fenced-in lot along Montrose between W. Dallas and Allen Pkwy. is going to change very much: All that scraping and dragging a few weeks ago was to level the ground for a cricket field, according to a contractor at the firm responsible for doing the dirt work. The Aga Khan Youth and Sports Facility, the contractor says, will comprise that cricket field, a pair of soccer fields, and a concession stand. In 2006, the Aga Khan Foundation purchased and demolished the Robinson Warehouse on this frequently flooded 11-acre property and said it was planning to build an Ismaili Center here." Edited June 3, 2013 by DrLan34 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 the thread is as simple as the title sounds. sorry if this is a well known answer, it just seems like such a fairly large piece of undeveloped property that just seems to be aching for development. anyone know if there are any plans for the site? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonMidtown Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/18539-aga-khan-foundation-islamic-community-center/?hl=+old%20+sears Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 well thats kind of a bummer. i was hoping for another high rise or something. ah well, hopefully the architecture is cool. thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbates2 Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 They did an excellent job of purposing this land for volleyball and soccer. The volleyball courts are generally a consistent puddle on top of a small section of sand and they even have a part of a soccer goal. No development for cricket yet. If they are really keeping this lot tax free by the work they did last year, then 'scam' is without a doubt the proper description. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nate4l1f3 Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 i've always wondered why the land on Montrose in between Allen Pkwy and W. Dallas has remained empty for so long? I'm sure this has been discussed here before but I can't find nothing on it. Who owns it? Has anything ever been planned here and later cancelled? What would y'all like to see here? I would love to get some feedback on this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elseed Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 49 minutes ago, nate4l1f3 said: i've always wondered why the land on Montrose in between Allen Pkwy and W. Dallas has remained empty for so long? I'm sure this has been discussed here before but I can't find nothing on it. Who owns it? Has anything ever been planned here and later cancelled? What would y'all like to see here? I would love to get some feedback on this. If you're referring to the land on the corner of Allen Pkwy and Montrose I believe it was initially bought by the Aga Khan Foundation and they were going to build a cultural center there. That was the news a few yrs. ago as of now I really don't know whats going on but something might happen in the near future based on the article below. http://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/gray-matters/article/Imagine-A-safe-way-to-cross-Allen-Parkway-6807170.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 Man something like this would really put Houston in the forefront for urban development. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbates2 Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 It would be awesome. The city needs to start taxing Aga Khan. They built a "park" so that they could stay off of the property tax records. That "park" is a "joke". 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skwatra Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 Here is the original thread on the subject: Warning: lots of "fun" discussion on Islam, no rendering of the originally proposed Islamic Center. But gives a timeline of when they acquired and when the decision was made to build in Toronto. Last real news in that thread is from May 2013 when Aga Khan stated that the center was a few years out and the land would be turned in to a "sports complex". I remember they put a fence up and did a little bit of work to clear things up, have a half-ass volleyball court that is in ruins and I never saw used. Really no change there in almost 3 years. they do mow the grass on occasion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 They lost their property tax exemption, and currently owe 3.5 million dollars in back taxes. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADCS Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 (edited) How long until the land is condemned then? Edited May 12, 2016 by ADCS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HNathoo Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 The museum that was built in Toronto is beautiful, but these guys will move at a snails pace. I think the end-result will be much better than a stick-built apartment complex, even if it takes considerably longer. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 7 hours ago, ADCS said: How long until the land is condemned then? The Aga Khan Foundation sued HCAD last year claiming that they were erroneously denied an exemption because the land is a youth athletic facility. Really, that's their argument - a volleyball net and some alleged soccer fields make it a youth athletic facility. No telling when it will be resolved. I've never seen anyone using it for youth athletics, and we drive by there on a regular basis. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KinkaidAlum Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 That's hilarious. Setting aside my personal belief that all religious organizations should be taxed (seriously, Lakewood and Second Baptist don't pay taxes?), how is one supposed to use those fields. Is there an unlocked gate in the fence that I am unaware of? 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iah77 Posted May 19, 2016 Share Posted May 19, 2016 The comments on here are a bit shocking, it seems no one knows how important and prestigious the Aga Khan foundation is.... Most of their projects are done by Pitzker Prize winners, including their huge project in Toronto by Fumihiko Maki and the water gardens are by an amazing guy based out of Beirut. People should google but their collections rotate among museums such as The Hermitage in St.Petersburg and the like of the Louvre and it would be amazing for Houston. It would be a MAJOR gift to have a project of theirs here and the monkeys who probably went to HCC at HCAD probably don't understand that but whatever : ) We'll see what mess this new administration gets us into anyways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted May 19, 2016 Share Posted May 19, 2016 Whatever. Non-profits don't get to hold vacant land for long periods without paying taxes. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmac Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Monkeys? Really? I wish I had known apes attended classes at those two institutions. Would have made for some great photos! Good ol' Karim loves (and leaves) the ladies and the ponies. I don't know what he does with the ponies when they are past it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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