uhlaw09 Posted September 20, 2010 Share Posted September 20, 2010 I drove by the site this morning, and there is a large excavator on the site, along with a dumpster and fuel tank. They seem to have started breaking up the concrete pads just south of W Dallas near the cemetery. Perhaps this is to comply with the tax rebates they are seeking. For some reason a start date of October 2010 comes to mind.I've noticed this too, but I wouldn't read much into it. They've been doing pretty minor work on the site sporadically for the past couple of years, yet it still looks virtually the same as it did in 2007. They've also marked the Dunlavy / W. Dallas sidewalks for ramps and improvements at the intersection.My guess, however, is that the original "stimulus" deal with the tax rebate is dead. It required infrastructural improvements to begin by October 2009 and private development to begin by October 2010 (as reported by Chron). Latest word (cited above) is that private development may start in 2012 (http://culturemap.com/newsdetail/08-09-10-montrose-fields-forever-theres-a-billion-dollar-regent-square-project-among-those-weeds/). I may be misinterpreting what the original deal was, but I wouldn't think that a 2012 (or later) development was what everyone had in mind when the City was trying to "stimulate" its way out of the bottom of the recession in early 2009. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shasta Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 With all the waiting, it looks like Regent Square may find itself with more difficulty in attracting residents if this projects goes up first. New 28 Story Tower Planned; sister tower later. http://www.bisnow.com/houston_commercial_real_estate_news_story.php?p=10181 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 With all the waiting, it looks like Regent Square may find itself with more difficulty in attracting residents if this projects goes up first. New 28 Story Tower Planned; sister tower later. http://www.bisnow.co...ory.php?p=10181 Or maybe it will create a buzz and help propel it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uhlaw09 Posted September 27, 2010 Share Posted September 27, 2010 Nancy has a brief update:http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/sarnoff/7217466.html 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KinkaidAlum Posted September 27, 2010 Share Posted September 27, 2010 Ugh, the sad news in Nancy's update is in regards to the old Sheraton site!!! We're gonna get a "lanscaped" surface parking lot!Yippee. Look for 3 crepe myrtles to be planted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfastx Posted September 28, 2010 Share Posted September 28, 2010 Yet another surface parking lot in downtown Houston. How about they build a 3 level parking garage above ground with street level retail? Make it like the Chase Tower parking garage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted September 28, 2010 Share Posted September 28, 2010 Nancy has a brief update:http://www.chron.com...ff/7217466.htmlI wonder if this recession has set Houston back in urban progression more than any other city? Without it, Houston was going down a road relatively fast towards being very different.I'm sure the project will still be nice, but just a blip on the screen compared to what it could have been. It seems a lot more has been cancelled than what is being told. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted September 28, 2010 Share Posted September 28, 2010 Seems like this proposed tower might block desirable downtown views from Regent Square.No need to fret. I wouldn't take either of these towers seriously at this point.Vacant land is vacant land. Hell, potentially vacant land may as well be vacant land! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted September 28, 2010 Share Posted September 28, 2010 I wonder if this recession has set Houston back in urban progression more than any other city? Without it, Houston was going down a road relatively fast towards being very different.I'm sure the project will still be nice, but just a blip on the screen compared to what it could have been. It seems a lot more has been cancelled than what is being told.As bad as it has been here, we're in waaaaay better shape than other Sunbelt cities such as Miami, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and LA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted September 28, 2010 Share Posted September 28, 2010 As bad as it has been here, we're in waaaaay better shape than other Sunbelt cities such as Miami, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and LA.But I'm curious. If we compared developments planned prior to the collapse to what developments were cancelled or downsized and then compare the change the city would have gone from pre-recession to post-recession, which city would have changed the most? BLVD Place, Regent Square and High Steet really would have changed the game for Houston. I'm curious if those other cities would have changed as much with their cancellations/downsizes. I'm not sure the effect of the landscape would have been as drastic.I'm not sure if I'm being clear, probably not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted September 28, 2010 Share Posted September 28, 2010 BLVD Place, Regent Square and High Steet really would have changed the game for Houston.The game was a delusion in which Miami and Las Vegas scored the most points. And Houston had only asked to be dealt in after all the other players had busted and gone home. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Stonian Posted September 28, 2010 Share Posted September 28, 2010 I agree BLVD Place, Regent Square, and High Street would have (& still may) change the game for Houston. Houston was late to the game as far as building mixed-used urban infill developments. The credit crunch has slowed us down considerably & I'm not sure that was necessarily a bad thing. My hope is that City Centre (& West Ave to a lesser extent) will be the game changers. I'm hoping other developers see City Centre's success out on the west side and try to emulate it inside the loop.Here in Atlanta they were out front as far as securing financing for large urban infill developments & were able to complete quite a few projects before financing dried up. However, Atlanta severely overbuilt (a lot of those developments currently sit empty) & now they are paying the price with falling values which have disastrous effects on so many other fronts (i.e. local government tax collections, school budgets, lowered office rents, home values etc). Also at a time when we most need to be creating jobs, since everything is already built, construction related employment will be severely impacted for the forseeable future. I often ask myself would it have been better for all the proposed trendy developments to have been built in Houston & just sit empty until the economy improves (I mean at least they would have already been built right, huh?) & I must say that I'm leaning more towards the old saying of "Slow and steady wins the race"! IMO (& I'm no expert) Atlanta is about to experience something similar to what Houston experienced (maybe lasting 5 years instead of 10 yrs) from the late 80's through the mid 90's when virtually nothing got built and land values had fallen so low that very few quality developments were proposed even after things had improved by 1995'-97'. While I'm still looking forward to the change at Post Oak & San Felipe, I have never been totally pleased with the plan for BLVD Place (& I'm sure the developer couldn't care less about what pleases me lol). But it appears Ed Wulfe is more or less following the model of Uptown Park. Although Uptown Park by most accounts appears to have been a huge success, I think BLVD Place would complement or compete more favorably with Uptown Park if they offered something slightly different that's more urban/walkable like City Centre. My hope is that the delays caused by this recession will give planners in Houston an opportunity to refine their designs to offer something that's truly urbane. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted October 1, 2010 Share Posted October 1, 2010 As requested WF posts have been moved: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrLan34 Posted November 26, 2010 Share Posted November 26, 2010 (edited) As requested WF posts have been moved:http://www.houstonar...s/page__st__150http://culturemap.co...ng-those-weeds/"Darrah now says groundbreaking for the project is anticipated in 2012."Also talks about the new Whole Foods. Edited November 26, 2010 by DrLan34 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted November 26, 2010 Share Posted November 26, 2010 http://culturemap.co...ng-those-weeds/"Darrah now says groundbreaking for the project is anticipated in 2012."Also talks about the new Whole Foods.Hopefully Whole Foods succeeds. If it doesn't then maybe Regent Square doesn't happen after all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 GID Urban Development, the developers of Regent Square also have a similar project going on in Atlanta, called High Street.All I gotta say is, I'm a little jealous. But I guess only for the reason that theirs has more height and the picture of the plaza area with the convexed area looks sweet.http://www.highstreetatlanta.com/indexFlash.htmlThoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sowanome Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 GID Urban Development, the developers of Regent Square also have a similar project going on in Atlanta, called High Street.All I gotta say is, I'm a little jealous. But I guess only for the reason that theirs has more height and the picture of the plaza area with the convexed area looks sweet.http://www.highstree...indexFlash.htmlThoughts?Pretty, Pretty Nice....If R.Square ever gets built it will forever change that area Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatesdisastr Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 GID Urban Development, the developers of Regent Square also have a similar project going on in Atlanta, called High Street.All I gotta say is, I'm a little jealous. But I guess only for the reason that theirs has more height and the picture of the plaza area with the convexed area looks sweet.http://www.highstree...indexFlash.htmlThoughts?yeaahhh jealous. crap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotus Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 GID Urban Development, the developers of Regent Square also have a similar project going on in Atlanta, called High Street.All I gotta say is, I'm a little jealous. But I guess only for the reason that theirs has more height and the picture of the plaza area with the convexed area looks sweet.http://www.highstreetatlanta.com/indexFlash.htmlThoughts?Regent Square will be nowhere near a MetroRail line and that area overall is "close to everything" but sort of isolated as far as pedestrian action. I would love to see it happen but something like High Street there might be a major pig-in-a-poke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 GID Urban Development, the developers of Regent Square also have a similar project going on in Atlanta, called High Street.All I gotta say is, I'm a little jealous. But I guess only for the reason that theirs has more height and the picture of the plaza area with the convexed area looks sweet.http://www.highstreetatlanta.com/indexFlash.htmlThoughts?Why must we always look for reasons to be jealous of developments in other cities? High Street is at Perimeter Center, 13 miles from downtown Atlanta. I'll take Regent Square, 2 1/2 miles from downtown Houston any day. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 GID Urban Development, the developers of Regent Square also have a similar project going on in Atlanta, called High Street.All I gotta say is, I'm a little jealous. But I guess only for the reason that theirs has more height and the picture of the plaza area with the convexed area looks sweet.http://www.highstreetatlanta.com/indexFlash.htmlThoughts?Why must we always look for reasons to be jealous of developments in other cities? High Street is at Perimeter Center, 13 miles from downtown Atlanta. I'll take Regent Square, 2 1/2 miles from downtown Houston any day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 Why must we always look for reasons to be jealous of developments in other cities? High Street is at Perimeter Center, 13 miles from downtown Atlanta. I'll take Regent Square, 2 1/2 miles from downtown Houston any day. If Regent Square is built to the plans as of now, it will be way awesome. I'm just being greedy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 . I would love to see it happen but something like High Street there might be a major pig-in-a-poke.How so? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotus Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 How so?Just because it's located where cars are going to be used 90+% of the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 A development of that size in suburban Atlanta will also be accessed 90% by cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 So is ours going up or what? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 A development of that size in suburban Atlanta will also be accessed 90% by cars.I can't find any renderings of it online. I'd like to see more because the ones on their website sure do hide the parking garages pretty well. If they're underground, I'll be doubly jealous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 I can't find any renderings of it online. I'd like to see more because the ones on their website sure do hide the parking garages pretty well. If they're underground, I'll be doubly jealous.If the traffic near nearly half as bad as City Centre (CENTER, DAMNIT!), they have to at least incorporate some sort of shuttle to downtown, if not to Westheimer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 (edited) I can't find any renderings of it online. I'd like to see more because the ones on their website sure do hide the parking garages pretty well. If they're underground, I'll be doubly jealous.Before you get suicidal, High Street was announced around the same time as Regent Square and I think the progress on it has been similar to the progress on Regent Square. Edited February 8, 2011 by Houston19514 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 Before you got suicidal, take a look at the flash website for Regent Square. The parking structures are hidden in that presentation too.Also, High Street was announced around the same time as Regent Square and I think the progress on it has been similar to the progress on Regent Square.Suicidal...lol.I've seen the 'hidden' garages for RS as they're easily noticable. However, I cannot see any 'hidden' garages on the flash site for Atlanta's project. I'm sure they're there somewhere, that's why I'm wondering if there are more renderings in addition to their website that might show them. Either they're hidden better than RS, simply not seen in the website renderings or most fearful at all...DUN dun DUUUuunnn, underground.And you're right, I saw an article saying they should break ground around '12 or '13, same as us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 If the traffic near nearly half as bad as City Centre (CENTER, DAMNIT!), they have to at least incorporate some sort of shuttle to downtown, if not to Westheimer.Why? City sentre is waaay out there anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
htownproud Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 (edited) this thing isn't going to be built by these guys. i think they should sell the property so that it can be put to some good use--i vote for a grocery store. Edited February 9, 2011 by htownproud Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 this thing isn't going to be built by these guys. i think they should sell the property so that it can be put to some good use--i vote for a grocery store.They've been quoted as saying that they've owned the land for 30+ years or something like that, so they're not gonna just sell it away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 this thing isn't going to be built by these guys. i think they should sell the property so that it can be put to some good use--i vote for a grocery store.How about a CVS instead? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Note some posts on the High Street project were moved to that topic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shasta Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 So, had the developers of Regent Square had their financing in place before annd started construction on time, they would be now taking advantage of the lack of multi-family housing in the Houston area. Couple that with the success of simialr type of developments and the proximity to downtown, I'm sure it would be a great asset right now. Anyone have information on when they plan to break ground and if they are changing th escope from what we were presented before the hold?http://www.builderonline.com/multifamily/hottest-multifamily-markets-for-2011.aspx# Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoninATX Posted April 8, 2011 Share Posted April 8, 2011 I believe groundbreaking is in 2012, other than that seen no info on any design changes, and yes it is a great time for some start up projects that I've been dying for to breakground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrLan34 Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 (edited) Some promising details in Bisnow today. http://www.bisnow.co...ory.php?p=14834"In other area news, the former Houston Ballet building on West Gray, which Dave helped sell to Novare in ’09 went back to the bank and resold to multifamily developer Slosberg. (Again with Dave and Jeff’s help…seeing a trend?) Marvy Finger’s currently developing 10.3 acres at Waugh and W. Dallas (C&W represented AIG in selling the land to Marvy), and Regent Square is set to break ground next year. That project will include 400k SF of retail and restaurants, 240k SF of office, 1,000 apartment units, and 500 condos. Washington Heights breaks ground this year, and there’s a Kroger planned at Studemont and I-10. And last but not least, a tract at Sawyer and Washington recently sold to a multifamily developer. Catch all that?" Edited May 12, 2011 by DrLan34 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 (edited) The developer of Regent Square, a proposed mixed-use project at Dunlavy and Allen Parkway, said the company is "in discussions with several significant tenants."Luxury apartments are also being considered for the site, according to John Darrah of Boston-based GID Urban Development Group.Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/7655882.html#ixzz1STlambli Edited July 18, 2011 by lockmat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shasta Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/7655882.html#ixzz1STlambli So, from the article are we to assume Regent Square will be either: A) A mixed-Use development similar to previous one planned or... just Luxury Apartments Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UrbaNerd Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Oh joy, more EIFS clad, faux-mediterranean, red tile roofed, turreted "luxury apartments" just west of downtown. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swtsig Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Oh joy, more EIFS clad, faux-mediterranean, red tile roofed, turreted "luxury apartments" just west of downtown.have you seen any of the renderings for this project? even if it just ends up as apartments (which it likely will), none of the renderings have even hinted at any "faux-mediterranean" stucco boringness... unless, of course, i missed something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 even if it just ends up as apartments (which it likely will)You think it could really turn into only apartments? This company has been sitting on this property for years and then they're simply gonna do apartments? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 You think it could really turn into only apartments? This company has been sitting on this property for years and then they're simply gonna do apartments?Yes, very easily. Financing for new anything-but-apartments remains difficult to obtain. Mixed use projects are complex, difficult to prelease for, and...they just aren't that efficient in terms of layout and cost per net rentable square foot. It's what a developer builds when 1) they are forced to, or 2) retail rents are proven to be ridiculously high.Another consideration is that many institutional buyers of the highest-quality real estate have very specific criteria in terms of what kinds of land use they deal in, the size of the project, and other factors. Mixed-use projects often don't meet their criteria. They want something more like a commodity, interchangable. And developers build for the end-user...which is not the general public or their tenants, but the buyer. (...oh, and also to screw their partners. Actually, that might be developers' foremost consideration.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 You're right, but it just seems odd to sit on it for over two decades and then settle for apartments. They don't want to wait any longer I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20thStDad Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 This is the most frustrating thread ever. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister X Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 (edited) Don't get too frustrated. Take it for what it's worth; free entertainment on the internet and nothing more. Edited July 19, 2011 by Mister X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 have you seen any of the renderings for this project? even if it just ends up as apartments (which it likely will), none of the renderings have even hinted at any "faux-mediterranean" stucco boringness... unless, of course, i missed something.It seems that is the latest fad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wernicke Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 I'm curious, why are developers constantly tearing down existing properties that generate positive revenue before they have secured financing for a replacement development?The previous Regent Square renderings were great, but they were probably overly ambitious even before the Great Recession and tightening of credit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shasta Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 It seems that is the latest fad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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