Rice Hotel At 909 Texas Ave.

[gto250us]

JFK spent his last night on earth in the Rice Hotel in Houston. Does anyone know what that room is used for now that the Rice has been converted to lofts? Does someone live in it, is it a museum or a storage closet?

[sevfiv]

JFK spent his last night on earth in the Rice Hotel in Houston. Does anyone know what that room is used for now that the Rice has been converted to lofts? Does someone live in it, is it a museum or a storage closet?

not much to go on (and nothing too detailed), but this site mentions it:

http://www.lonestarspirits.org/haunthouston.html

The room in which John F. Kennedy spent his last night on Earth has been home to cold spots, rattling doors & beds as well as balls of light. Perhaps the ghost of the late President is making himself known. Ghost dancers have been seen in the ballroom, and one of our own team members saw a lady in white pacing where the balcony USED to be.

and here's a picture of the room:

http://pictopia.com/perl/gal?process=galle...=houston:131181

[texastrill]

I guess Houston and FW do have something in common,both are where JFK spent his last night on earth.

The hotel in FW I THOUGHT was his last is very creepy.

[nmainguy]

not much to go on (and nothing too detailed), but this site mentions it:

http://www.lonestarspirits.org/haunthouston.html

The room in which John F. Kennedy spent his last night on Earth has been home to cold spots, rattling doors & beds as well as balls of light. Perhaps the ghost of the late President is making himself known. Ghost dancers have been seen in the ballroom, and one of our own team members saw a lady in white pacing where the balcony USED to be.

and here's a picture of the room:

http://pictopia.com/perl/gal?process=galle...=houston:131181

JFK used the International Suite on the 5th floor of the Rice to change clothes and rest before going to the Coliseum.

He spent his last night in Rm. 850 of the Texas Hotel in Ft. Worth.

[kenc]

JFK used the International Suite on the 5th floor of the Rice to change clothes and rest before going to the Coliseum.

He spent his last night in Rm. 850 of the Texas Hotel in Ft. Worth.

That's correct...spoke to hundreds at a Breakfast in the Hotel Ballroom, and then went outside to speak to the crowd there in what is now Sundance Square. His last speech. He and Jackie flew to Dallas, where as we all know, he was shot before he made it to the luncheon at the Trade Mart.

[mojoboogie]

family history has it that JFK spoke here(sorry, I don't remember,was an infant) and then left for Dallas. Cut to early 2000's, was looking at apts in the Rice Lofts-I was shown an apt on the 13th floor(!) and it had a plaque on the inside of the door naming it the JFK Suite-the last place that he spent the night here. The rental agent said that they were not renting it at the time as they were having "problems" with the AC(!!)

[nmainguy]

family history has it that JFK spoke here(sorry, I don't remember,was an infant) and then left for Dallas. Cut to early 2000's, was looking at apts in the Rice Lofts-I was shown an apt on the 13th floor(!) and it had a plaque on the inside of the door naming it the JFK Suite-the last place that he spent the night here. The rental agent said that they were not renting it at the time as they were having "problems" with the AC(!!)

See post #4...and welcome!

[telwink]

I was hoping maybe some folks who live/have lived in the Post Rice lofts would chime in on these questions. I've lived in the downtown area for the past couple years, but I'm thinking about moving into the Post Rice Lofts to be within walking distance from work. I'm in my mid 20s, and am very privy to the party nature of this party of downtown, and of the Lofts themselves, given the clientele they likely attract. I'm okay with this to a certain degree, but I'd like to know two things from folks who might know from experience. I've toured the units themselves, and they seem decent. Nothing fancy, the price tag is for the location.

I was out on Main Street this past Saturday night and it was absolutely, positively party-city. I mean loud. People shouting, cars banging bass, huge lines to get into the clubs, club music itself. This is all well and good, but I just can't imagine this wouldn't be loud as hell if you live in the building.

So my questions are:

1. How is the sound proofing from <excessive> street noise such as partying? I know there will be some street noise; such is living downtown. But I want to know if the Friday/Saturday night madness becomes cumbersome.

2. How is the sound proofing from unit to unit?

Any other general comments about the experience of either being in, or living in the place are welcome. I've read all the comments on apartmentratings.com, and have looked at a 500-something sqft 1br unit on the 6th floor of the building, which I'm considering leasing.

Thanks much in advance!

[gnu]

So my questions are:

1. How is the sound proofing from <excessive> street noise such as partying? I know there will be some street noise; such is living downtown. But I want to know if the Friday/Saturday night madness becomes cumbersome.

2. How is the sound proofing from unit to unit?

Any other general comments about the experience of either being in, or living in the place are welcome. I've read all the comments on apartmentratings.com, and have looked at a 500-something sqft 1br unit on the 6th floor of the building, which I'm considering leasing.

Thanks much in advance!

i lived there from 1999-2001 on the north side of the 13th floor. the noise from the street was pretty loud, especially from clubs late on friday night,

but the air conditioner usually camouflaged it enough for me.

i never had any problems unit to unit - it might be that i had quiet neighbors. however, i lived near the trash chute and i could hear when people opened the door to drop in their garbage.

i didnt like sharing the washing machines and on the weekends I would have to go to different floors to try to find a free machine.

all in all my experience was good. i would do it again if i could.

[rsb320]

Ben & Jerry's is having a free scoop day today between 12:00 and 8:00. I just walked over to get my scoop and they have closed up. How will I ever satisfy my ice cream craving now?

That's all we need, another vacant storefront.

http://www.benjerry.com/scoop-shops/feature/free-cone-day/

Edited April 21, 2009 by rsb320

[cosmic08]

I know - so sad! They closed up at least 3 months ago

[rsb320]

I can't see any smoke, but all these units have been dispatched.

TEXAS BLK MAIN 493L 05/03/2011 15:47 Highrise on Fire 1 E009, E017, D008, SF027, SQ009, D019, E508, E007, E008, E019, L019

Edited May 3, 2011 by rsb320

[sevfiv]

Yikes - or maybe the Binz or Chase Tower...

[rsb320]

No. They're right in front of the Rice. They've even got southbound Main blocked off at Prairie. The train is still running, though. Thank goodness, I'm getting ready to hop on it.

[Highway6]

The call was almost an hr ago.. and chron, kprc, and khou are reporting nothing yet.. so hopefully it is nothing.

[editor]

Probably just a smoke alarm or something. Certain types of buildings get a huge response, whether it's burned toast, or six floors on fire.

[rsb320]

I've been told that there was a fire on, what would be, the 13th floor. I have no information on the severity, though.

[august948]

Probably just a smoke alarm or something. Certain types of buildings get a huge response, whether it's burned toast, or six floors on fire.

I had a fireman tell me one time that if there is nothing else going on dispatchers will send all the locally available units out regardless of the reported size of the fire. A few years ago we had three trucks show up to a small trailer filled with remodeling debris next door. They put it out with fire extinguishers. I guess the thought is you never know how bad it can be or could get so better to send too much than too little.

[ricco67]

I had a fireman tell me one time that if there is nothing else going on dispatchers will send all the locally available units out regardless of the reported size of the fire. A few years ago we had three trucks show up to a small trailer filled with remodeling debris next door. They put it out with fire extinguishers. I guess the thought is you never know how bad it can be or could get so better to send too much than too little.

I'm not totally against this, but my issue would be their ability to get rolling to an area that was stripped of equipment once they were dispatched someplace.

Then again, if its obvious it is a small fire, maybe one of the engines can just sit there and help out the other trucks instead of unpacking their own.

When dealing with a fire in downtown, however, you can deal with so much stuff, so that part is understandable.

[august948]

Then again, if its obvious it is a small fire, maybe one of the engines can just sit there and help out the other trucks instead of unpacking their own.

That's basically what happened at the fire next door. Most of the firemen milled around while a couple used the fire extinguishers. Since they were all suited up and ready to go, I suppose if another call came in they could respond as fast or faster than if they were at the station.

[Jeebus]

I had a fireman tell me one time that if there is nothing else going on dispatchers will send all the locally available units out regardless of the reported size of the fire. A few years ago we had three trucks show up to a small trailer filled with remodeling debris next door. They put it out with fire extinguishers. I guess the thought is you never know how bad it can be or could get so better to send too much than too little.

For the city of Houston all 911 calls are received by civilian call takers who determine the emergency, input basic information, then route the information to either HFD or HPD where the call is finally dispatched.

HPD dispatches calls by placing low priority calls in a que for available officers to select from on their mobile computer. High priority calls are automatically assigned. If no one has taken a low priority call after a certain amount of time, it is automatically assigned to the closest available officer.

HFD dispatches using an established algorithm designed to send the most appropriate units immediately. E.g. Ambulance and Fire Truck to a chest pain call, or a pre-determined number of fire trucks to a fire. Dispatchers can only add additional units if a near by unit requests to be added, if they get updated notes from the 911 caller, or if at the incident the officer requests more resources.

HFD doesn't get to pick and choose low priority calls. If you call for an ambulance for a heart attack or a stubbed toe, they will come immediately with lights and sirens every time.

Edited May 6, 2011 by Jeebus

[bulldog]

This is not unusual. HFD, or pretty much any large fire department, will dispatch what is known as a "box alarm" for anything that implies a building may be on fire, e.g., "smoke in the building" qualifies (usually these turn out to be things like burned food on the stove). A box alarm ("1 alarm fire") consists of numerous pieces of apparatus. I don't know the HFD dispatch protocol off hand but it's probably something like 4 engines, a ladder truck, ambulance and district chief. If it's a "high rise" building then even more apparatus will be dispatched. Most of these calls turn out to be nothing and the units are quickly placed back in service.

[IronTiger]

The Chron reports the Rice Hotel has been sold with no changes in leases.

When did it reopen, 2001? Some sources say 1998 but I think that's when renovation began.

At least this explains why it was called "Post Rice", never got that. Now I do! Will it be renamed to Rice Lofts now?

[102IAHexpress]

There's going to be a reception tonight in the ballroom hosted by the new management for the tenants with a q and a to follow. So far I'm not impressed with the new management.

[Avossos]

There's going to be a reception tonight in the ballroom hosted by the new management for the tenants with a q and a to follow. So far I'm not impressed with the new management.

 

Why are you not impressed?

[102IAHexpress]

Communication has been poor. I learned about the sale via the Houston Chronicle. A letter in the mail or an email would have been better. The new manager comes from Austin. The property she last managed has positive reviews about the property itself but negative reviews about the management. The notice I did get about the new owner was poorly written. On one page it says to make payments out to The Rice. The Rice underlined for emphasis. On the next page it says to make payments out to CH Realty/MF Houston Rice VI, LP. Seems like there is no online payment of rent available. No online capabilities at all for that matter.

 

[IronTiger]

Communication has been poor. I learned about the sale via the Houston Chronicle. A letter in the mail or an email would have been better. The new manager comes from Austin. The property she last managed has positive reviews about the property itself but negative reviews about the management. The notice I did get about the new owner was poorly written. On one page it says to make payments out to The Rice. The Rice underlined for emphasis. On the next page it says to make payments out to CH Realty/MF Houston Rice VI, LP. Seems like there is no online payment of rent available. No online capabilities at all for that matter.

"The Rice"? For some reason, that sounds worse than "Post Rice Lofts".

[Luminare]

ugh. I can imagine the scene now! A group of knuckleheads in a room filled with crumbled up paper with name ideas.

 

Knucklehead Eins: "Guy's we been at this for hours. Y we no have name yet!"

 

Knucklehead Zwei: "Idea! Might be a risk, but....what if we just keep the old name???"

 

Knuckleheads: "YOU FOOL!" *everyone throws papers*

 

Knucklehead Drei: "STFU everyone! I know. How about "The Rice"???"

 

Knuckleheads: *all let out uhhh's and ahhhh's*

 

*sigh* -.-

[102IAHexpress]

At the meeting they clarified that the new name will be Rice Urban Lofts. At the meeting they mentioned that Rice University's lawyers had input on the final name.

[UtterlyUrban]

There are. Number of significant changes planned.

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2014/05/rice-hotel-owners-planning-major-renovations/

[sevfiv]

Rice Urban Lofts? Is that necessary? (the urban addition)..

[Specwriter]

Rice Urban Lofts? Is that necessary? (the urban addition)..

 

My great-grandfather had a rural loft but he called it a barn.

 

[NenaE]

well, unless I'm writing a rent check, I'll continue to refer to it as The Rice Hotel.

[Brian Reading]

well, unless I'm writing a rent check, I'll continue to refer to it as The Rice Hotel.

 

I'm there with ya.

[H-Town Man]

Rice Urban Lofts? Is that necessary? (the urban addition)..

 

It is, because the corner of Main St. and Texas Ave. could be interpreted as Suburban or Rural by some people. With "Rice Urban Lofts," they are capturing that portion of the market that can afford to live in a prime spot downtown and has an IQ below 70.

Edited August 7, 2014 by H-Town Man

[cloud713]

The signage has changed. Not sure how new that is but I noticed it today

[IronTiger]

I thought that name was supposed to be temporary?

[adr]

I live in the Bayou Lofts and face south, towards the Rice.  I noticed lately that there are some stringed lights on the roof there at night that I don't think I noticed before.  They doing some sort of roof-deck improvements?

[aarosurf]

I think those are personal terraces - someone probably just redecorated.

[Mab]

 

The new owner of the former Rice Hotel is launching a major renovation project at the building, intending to give it a more modern look as developers start or prepare to break ground on gleaming residential towers around it.

Renderings for what has been recently rebranded as "The Rice" show a redesigned lobby with sleek new furniture in earthy tones beneath a contemporary chandelier glowing in the two-story space.

"The entrance and lobby space will be totally reinvented," Clay Hicks, managing director of real estate for property manager Greystar, said in an email.

The 308 units will be transformed, as well.

Kitchens will get islands, marble countertops, tile backsplashes and stainless steel appliances. Bathrooms will have frameless glass showers, dual marble sinks, tile floors and linen closets. Each unit will ultimately have new paint, light fixtures and full-size washer and dryers.

Valet parking for the residents will be a new service that will be introduced next month, Hicks said.

The upgrades are being made amid a boom in downtown residential construction.

Aiming to bring more vibrancy to the urban core, the city has been offering developers up to $15,000 for each unit they build in a multifamily complex of at least 10 units. The idea behind the incentive was that it would reduce the financial hurdles of developing in the central business district.

A dozen residential projects - amounting to more than 3,800 units - are now planned or under way.

They include two towers off Market Square Park, a pair of twin buildings branded as SkyHouse on the southern end of downtown, and the renovation and addition at the old Texaco building.

At The Rice, the lobby and common area renovations are expected to be completed by next spring, and interior unit renovations will begin before the end of the year.

The Page architecture firm designed the renovations for the owner, Dallas-based Crow Holdings Capital Partners, which acquired the building earlier this year from Post Properties.

Marissa Yu, a principal at Page, said the goal of the design project was to make the space feel more modern and bright while respecting the historic character of the building.

She described the new chandelier, a custom-made Plexiglass piece that will replace a stained-glass element that resembles a skylight, as "a metaphorical representation of what was there before, but interpreted in a new way."

Hicks said the apartments will be upgraded as they turn over. He declined to provide a project cost, saying the full scope of the renovation project is still being finalized.

Rents on the remodeled units, Hicks said, will be commensurate with other high-end downtown apartments.

Rents have risen sharply across Houston as job growth has bolstered demand.

As one of the strongest apartment markets in the country, the Houston-area vacancy rate was 5.1 percent at the end of June, according to data from CBRE.

The average rent was $939, up almost 5 percent from a year earlier.

Downtown units are generally much higher.

Jay Simmons pays $1,550 a month for his one-bedroom unit in The Rice. His apartment has not yet been renovated.

He hopes he doesn't see a big increase, but he knows rents are rising all over the inner city.

"I'm not going to find an $800 apartment like I did two years ago," said Simmons, 28.

The historic Rice building, originally a 1,000-room hotel, was constructed in 1913 on the site of the former Texas State Capitol building before the Legislature moved to Austin. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

At 909 Texas, between Main and Travis, the building is well known for being the place President John F. Kennedy spent time the day before he was assassinated in Dallas in 1963.

The hotel closed in 1977 and sat vacant until developer Randall Davis and Post Properties, in partnership with the city of Houston, took on the redevelopment of the 18-story building in the late 1990s.

It contains studios, one- and two-bedroom lofts and penthouses ranging from 485 to 2,452 square feet. It has a basement swimming pool and a fitness center that will move to the second floor.

When Post Properties put the building up for sale around the beginning of this year, the company said the property was about 95 percent leased and the average unit rented for just under $1,700 per month.

Over the years, Post had made improvements to the building's exterior and common areas to freshen up the space, but the units have not had any major renovations since the project opened.

The building's first floor houses restaurants and bars.

The operator of Sambuca, a longtime tenant, has leased the former State Bar space on the second floor of the property and plans to open a new concept there, a bar called Lawless.

Simmons, who has lived in The Rice about four months, said he moved downtown in part because of all the new bars and restaurants that have recently opened.

When he's not traveling for his job in chemical sales, he works from home. He likes the lifestyle and doesn't plan on moving from downtown any time soon, even if it gets more expensive where he lives now.

"It would be disappointing if rents go up," he said, but with all the residential units going up, my hope is that I'd be able to find something else."

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/Modern-changes-planned-for-historic-downtown-Rice-5815285.php#/4

[IronTiger]

Better than "Rice Urban Lofts"...

[Howard Huge]

Holy smokes.

[H-Town Man]

This makes me sad, but it's another symptom of our growing wealth gap (currently about 9% of Americans control 50% of the wealth). When the upper class views the lower class as a completely separate society, they have no incentive to enjoy mingling with them in shared spaces.

 

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/columnists/sarnoff/article/The-once-open-Rice-lobby-now-a-private-space-6350230.php?t=578f70d002&cmpid=twitter-premium

 

[Nate99]

This makes me sad, but it's another symptom of our growing wealth gap (currently about 9% of Americans control 50% of the wealth). When the upper class views the lower class as a completely separate society, they have no incentive to enjoy mingling with them in shared spaces.

 

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/columnists/sarnoff/article/The-once-open-Rice-lobby-now-a-private-space-6350230.php?t=578f70d002&cmpid=twitter-premium

 

I would think it unusual if any residence-only building allowed the general public to go in and out of its lobby space without a reason to be there.  Given their location, I'd be surprised if they did not get a lot of coffee shop/Chipotle patrons and homeless wandering in and making themselves comfortable that they would have to ask to leave on a very frequent basis. 

 

I don't see it as a shared space, it's a private business that doesn't get any bump from foot traffic.  But then again, I don't get much out of mingling with anyone regardless of class.

Edited June 26, 2015 by Nate99

[BigFootsSocks]

They have to let Minuti shoppers use the lobby though; there's no restroom in the store itself

[LarryDierker]

They have to let Minuti shoppers use the lobby though; there's no restroom in the store itself

 

Shay McElroy's also, i believe.

[Luminare]

Its not exclusive to Houston too, or that building. I was just in New York for a week, and most residential buildings and even big commercial highrise you couldn't access the major portions of the lobby. It is a shame though. I think there could have been a compromise where the bottom floor was a public access lobby and the 2nd floor was an exclusive lobby for the residence, but oh well.

[mkultra25]

I would think it unusual if any residence-only building allowed the general public to go in and out of its lobby space without a reason to be there.  Given their location, I'd be surprised if they did not get a lot of coffee shop/Chipotle patrons and homeless wandering in and making themselves comfortable that they would have to ask to leave on a very frequent basis. 

 

I don't see it as a shared space, it's a private business that doesn't get any bump from foot traffic.  But then again, I don't get much out of mingling with anyone regardless of class.

 

Fair enough, except it's not strictly speaking a residence-only building. The Lawless bar on the second floor (formerly the State Bar) is open to the public. And as mentioned previously, there are several street-level businesses adjacent to the Rice that don't have restrooms, so the only way they're allowed to operate is if their patrons have access to the restrooms in the lobby. I wonder how the Rice plans to identify patrons of those businesses as opposed to _verboten_ commoners intent on loitering in the lobby until they can plant an Occupy flag in a potted ficus? Maybe via restroom/hall passes, like in high school?

[kbates2]

The lobby has been for residents only for months with no problem. The businesses still utilize the bathrooms. No clue why this article just came out.

[H-Town Man]

I would think it unusual if any residence-only building allowed the general public to go in and out of its lobby space without a reason to be there.  Given their location, I'd be surprised if they did not get a lot of coffee shop/Chipotle patrons and homeless wandering in and making themselves comfortable that they would have to ask to leave on a very frequent basis. 

 

I don't see it as a shared space, it's a private business that doesn't get any bump from foot traffic.  But then again, I don't get much out of mingling with anyone regardless of class.

 

They allowed people to walk through the lobby for twenty years after the original renovation, and I don't know of any problems that ever came of it. The spokesman of the company didn't cite any problems, such as homeless coming in.  It's true that most residential buildings don't invite the public into the lobbies, but this building was unique in that it was Houston's most famous hotel for generations, and a lot of people have memories of it. Randall Davis, who redeveloped it in the 90's, speaks with pride in the article of the lobby being a space that people could step into and appreciate. Too bad his civic spirit is not more shared.