eelimon

Does it look like I'm Skeered, lawyer guy ?

But I do see you holding on for dear life to the banister

As far as the Katy Freeway expansion (finally) goes, I just learned that it surpassed the Dallas High-Five project as the most expensive highway project in Texas (to date), as is appropriate.

I lived in Houston several years ago, and the Katy Freeway expansion was “coming” at that time. I am glad to see that it is finally happening! I hope the final result is a world class freeway, similar to the recent upgrades to the Southwest Freeway.

I drove the Katy daily and I keep remembering the constant “up and down” of the road as it crossed overpasses on the three lane roads that were at capacity. The new expansion will be great!

The Katy Freeway is the last major freeway to get expanded in Houston (after 59, 610, 45, etc.), but has some of the greatest need and was probably the most complex (and therefore will take the longest to complete)

Yeah, now we need to get to working on expanding the US 290, 288, 225 and finish the grand parkway

if thats the same deal im thinking of, crow bought +/- 7 acres for about $23 psf and I think underwrote rents at $1.40 psf

personally was not a fan of the site at that price.

will the rest of the area change soon into residential and retail. Since it is so close to the medical center it makes sense. I thought it will happen fast if it happens at all. Is the building boom going to slow to a Holt soon?

What is going in that Lord & Taylor expansion at the Galleria, I heard new stores were coming in? Anyone know which ones?

From Town&country Happenings thread earlier this year

The original Macy's Location is were Simon is looking to put the residential according the Houston Business Journal article. No plans exist for the surface parking areas. The Lord and Taylor location is to be small shops.

Simon will not be building new retail square footage with all the space they are going to get with the Lord and Taylor room.

I still say it should be a Target or a Wal-Mart.

Better yet an assortment of these small shops should go up there: Dollar General, Pawn Shop, Godfathers Bail Bond Office, Jungle Juice Liquor, Sperm Bank Anonymous, Pay-Less Shoes, and A 24 hour adult book store.

I had my way, I'd expand and attach the Dillards department store building to the mall across the street, and make, like a MAD retail, another department store area, and food court in the current parking lot area of Dillards.

That is, of course, after Lord & Taylor and Macys were filled to capacity.

If you can do this because Neiman Marcus does not want to and because it is not owned by Simon. Why not attach the Dillard to the Galleria by via under ground and this way a subway rail station could be attach to the mall under the street.

What major lease projects have been cancelled lately?

The only one I can think of is Ballpark Place.

Lofts on Post Oak, 1200 Post Oak, 3333 Allen Parkway, Dominion Post Oak, Museum Tower, Sabine Street, Lofts at the Ballpark, Camden Midtown, Post Lofts at Midtown Square, Alta Lofts, Ventanna, Calais at Cortland Square, 3000 Sage, Seven Riverway, ZOM Allen Parkway, Broadstone, Augusta, Jackson Hill Apts, several projects in "Memorial Heights" and the Med Center have all gone up recently.

Seems to me that it has been the for-sale hi-rises that have been cancelled, especially the ultra high end ones like Redstone, original Dominion, Monaco, and Orion not to mention the other Mercer and Shamrock.

Are all of the above high-rise apartment, or are some mid-rise?

I wonder what was up with all the blank faced wall department stores going up in those days.

it is still a beautiful building blank wall or not it is very interesting kind like monument.

What is going in that Lord & Taylor expansion at the Galleria, I heard new stores were coming in? Anyone know which ones?

it will be a Wal-Mart

I was thinking about the massive (and expensive) Big Dig project in Boston the other day, and about the massive final bill for the project (~ $15 Billion), and I was wondering how we, as a community, here in Houston would spend $15 Billion on transportation/infrastructure.

So, I ask the question of all of you:

If you were guaranteed $15 billion in federal transit spending, how would you spend it?

Get ready, get set... GO!

How about bulldozing all of the inner city and starting over make it more dense and do away with all freeways and make everyone must park and take public transportation at the city limits except trucking companies and buses who would take dedicated transit system.

Everyone else must park at the city limits and take public transportation that can get you any were in the city in less then 30 min

Hey all, there were some environmental problems with the site that had to be remediated. It caused groundbreaking to be delayed a couple of months. Closing date is set mid-December and construction should start after the first of the year.

Can you let us know what the environmental problem was?

Hey all, there were some environmental problems with the site that had to be remediated. It caused groundbreaking to be delayed a couple of months. Closing date is set mid-December and construction should start after the first of the year.

ehh<_<

sorry did we get off topic

Hey we sound like Denver in the 90's.

You mean John Denver. Didn't he pass away in the 90's

Oh and welcome to page

Listen. I want this project to go forward. Houston needs it, downtown needs it. But, I was just telling y'all what my friend told me about it, that' all. Then y'all jumping down my throat.

This is not the only time you have been negative a bout a project on this forum. In fact this is not the first time you have said this project was cancelled. you have been saying that for a couple of pages on this thread now you just need to have patience.

And from what I can remember on the first page of this thread or was it on the 2nd or 3rd or was it the 4th were ever it was said on this thread. I think it was first mentioned that it may not get off the ground until late this year and or spring of 2006.

And with the redesign I am sure that it is delayed a few months. I would expect to hear. I only said hear. I would expect to hear a public announcement form the developer that this project is going to be built later next year. the best scenario would be to hear the press release from the developer next month, but I have true hopes for this to get built

They could probably build something similar in rundown neighborhoods 10 minutes from Downtown with skyline views, places like 5th Ward and Magnolia Park, at a price that would attract median-income buyers but, if they built them, would anyone except urban pioneers come? I'm sure a quick sell out of a project is a crucial factor in calculating a project's viability.

So, if that's true, then it would follow that by the time an area becomes no-brainer enough to warrant developments of this type the area is already too expensive for the entry-level homebuyer, except for the few tiny units that are offered.

Probably the closest things to new housing going up in formerly ragged areas would be the Warehouse District and Jensen Drive area. So, if someone built a 10 story residential tower with skyline terraces in the heart of 5th Ward, 1500 sq. ft. for $150K with all of the nice touches, would anyone here buy one?

it does not even have to be too complex in design it just needs to be build like you say 1500 ft for $150 K. But it must be built well and most importantly profitable. with high ceilings and home feel to floor plan as opposed to apartment feel to floor plan

After you start this how could you keep prices low

Then you going to see how good Semi really is.

Whatever dud.

Edit: Oh! Ooops, I mean whatever dude

to my knowledge, you cant find anything at those prices inside the loop unless its an older condo or a foreclosure. land prices and construction materials have gone through the roof. if you take all the costs, the developer is already in over $100 psf and they are not in the business to lose money

I kinda figured that it is just wishful thinking. You can barely get those prices inside the Belt

I heard that the Houston Pavilions is a NO GO! I heard this from my friends that work downtown. So, another one for Houston.

Houston need to change it's name to, Letdown, TX.

Bummer dude!

I would not listen to what Houstonsemipro After all he is not really a Professional only a Simulation of one. Hence the name HoustonSEMIPRO .

Plus take a look at how his story seems to evolve it sounds made up to me.

I'm for real. I told him about the project, Houston Pavilions. I was just talking and talking away about it, then he just cut me off and said "Listen, word going around that the Pavilions is a No Go." He said his boss knows people that dealing with the project.

And he didn't tell me what's the reason for it. I just told him, "That's Houston for ya."

Hummmmmm?

So, you heard from a friend, who heard from his boss, who heard from someone dealing with the project, who heard from the developers.....

Down at the courthouse, we call that fourth hand hearsay....HIGHLY reliable information.

Good Point RedScare

So your downtown friend? Are they in the know? Or just someone who likes the sound of his/her own voice?

nmainguy I think HoustonSEMIPRO is the one who likes the sound of his own voice, or in this case the sound of his typing.

Unless you are actually an employee of this project I wont believe the bull____ that you write. Otherwise no one should be spreading rumors like this on this forum

This:

will be built

This project will be semi-affordable ($200 psf). Morris designed it and from the looks of it, it should be pretty cool.

Yes but I would like to purchase a place and not have it feel like an apartment. If the interior sq footage could be better like ($100 - $125 psf) I think more people would be inclined to buy in the inner city. Of course what I mean is that there should be options in this price range in a multi family development for sale or in a mixed-use development.

The HBJ had an article on it last week.

31 units. A rehab of an existing building on Bartlett Street near the Rice Village. The upper units are being called "sky lofts." The developer is out of Albuquerque and apparently there is a sales office on site.

it is awful how they offer these living spaces and then price them so high I would hope to get more space for the price. Maybe, these projects would take off in the Houston area if they were price accordingly to square footage. Mainly more square footage for less money then is currently offered by most of these projects. If they build bigger units then they could go vertical more often then they currently do. I don't k now maybe they could find a happy middle ground to allow for profits.

I hope I am making myself clear, and please let me know if you care and don't understand to clarify

The Shops at Houston Center, aka the Park, is about to undergo a serious redesign/upgrade (including a "plug and play" area where people can plug in their ipods, laptops, and phones). I suspect that this is taking place in reaction to the upcoming competition from the Pavillions.

yup and they are trying to make it were it is easily accessible via the street level on the side that butts to the park

Somebody should give TX-DOT that tidbit concerning the palm trees along Dowling St.

What block will this be built on?

He has been shopping in the galleria area sice the early 1900's?

Get real!

They have been shopping as a family for Xmas in Houston were ever it may be. The shift of course was to The Galleria once that was built. He is glad the shift and other choices will be in the downtown.

Does anyone know anything about this project conversion. Other than what is on the website?

is that a project in Los Angeles

Well I'm sure they'll do ok on this type of project. But I'm against leasing on High-rise Buildings in Houston. They never work...

Yes, they do if they are managed well. That is a complete generalization I have to say.

In order for the city to achieve density it need to have a great mix of many things, and rental properties are in need too. You can't have one homogeneousness type of mold to build a city.

It is like a bouquet of flowers. Yes one flower alone is beautiful, but many forming a bouquet is diversely beautiful and pleasing to the eyes. Additionally you may like some of the flowers. Others may like another flower better then the one you like. I well I like the whole bouquet.

Ahhh! it is nice to receive flowers he-he I Just got some delivered from my-other-half