j_cuevas713

That is a PERFECT location for them

Damn, it sucks this building will be gone soon 

That's very impressive! 

Anyone know what's going on on Holman? Looked like they were doing some work

So basically this Target lot is the only thing really holding the area back from becoming super dense and urban? From the RR tracks to ROD, the area is relatively walkable. There's no way San Felipe goes on much longer without sidewalks. 

I've always loved this little building

Anyone else think this building is haunted? 

Found some info on the building next door. If we could get some more retail in these areas it would be so much nicer. I saw a few little old buildings downtown that really go unnoticed because they lack retail. 

https://www.greenbergcompany.com/inventory/?propertyId=189681-lease

I took a few Google screengrabs. These little pockets of downtown have SO MUCH POTENTIAL it's crazy. 

Yeah Understory does a bad job letting people know they're open. The few times I tried to go when it first opened, they were closed. So I quit trying . 

7 hours ago, Houston19514 said:

Unfortunately, I'm thinking the answer may be "never".

That's one of the oldest public housing units in the city. I think it's even designated a city landmark. I agree with @004n063There is nothing unfortunate about that. People of different income's have a right to live in better parts of the city and not be displaced

Ahh ok, wow great news. So does this affect the SEARCH building across the street? 

On 2/13/2023 at 4:51 PM, Houston19514 said:

Overwhelming sense of hopelessness?  My goodness, the drama.  Look around and observe how much improvement has been made and continues to be made right here in Houston.  Houston has installed/is installing an amazing amount of safe bicycling infrastructure and continues with traffic calming, street diets and pedestrian enhancements all over the place . . . 

Yep, it's def becoming more and more common place to see a bike lane or pedestrian infrastructure inside the Loop. I'm expecting to see an even greater amount this year. 

Just now, Houston19514 said:

No, it is not 

This isn't in the way of the I-45 realignment? 

Well in a couple of years this thing is about to be leveled so the name is fitting

2 hours ago, Bmill said:

An event venue with 300 occupancy and no parking lot?? Are they just expecting everyone to street park? That is ridiculous. 

I mean yeah, it's east downtown. This area has no parking minimums and with good reason. You can find a garage or street parking nearby and walk. 

10 minutes ago, Amlaham said:

Take it all in boys, another strip center/surface parking lot is history! 

+ for density, + for better aesthetics, and a BIG plus for pedestrians! No more parking lot right on this major street, no parking entrances off of Westheimer, the building itself will provide shade from the sun to the pedestrians. 

In an urban sense, this is perfect for the area. There is a Whole Foods 3 blocks away and multiple restaurants all within walking distance. The Density in the area is getting close to midtown (near bagby) we just need a few more of these along Kirby 😅

And we need Upper Kirby Management District to maintain the sidewalks. There's a stretch from Westheimer to West Alabama along Kirby where the WFs is at that is getting very bad. 

5 minutes ago, Amlaham said:

Don't let the suburb commuters see this, they'll want to give us their opinion on the neighborhood/ the city they don't even live in. 

Facts haha

1 hour ago, Amlaham said:

I believe someone once posted a video on here about how large streets/ far buildings set backs increase the likelihood of speedy drivers and decreases the comfort for pedestrians. This area has both, its 5 lanes wide and pretty much surrounded by empty lots/ parking lots. For instance, I don't see this as a problem along Bagby. I think the least they could do is dedicate one lane to street parking along Fannin (I know its already like that in certain parts but its not like that on this portion)? There's always going to be a need for parking, but I really don't see a reason for a 5 lane street in midtown, especially since its never THAT backed up. 

I agree. I'd say Smith, Louisiana, Travis and Fannin all need to be reduced to 2 lanes.

40 minutes ago, steve1363 said:

I guess he sold it to Tillman Fertitta.

For years, Hakeem Olajuwon wasn't particularly known for making the assist. The 7-foot Houston Rockets center spent much of his court time in the low post, waiting for teammates to deliver him the ball.

But after 17 seasons in the NBA and with an eye more on future enterprises than his scoring average, Olajuwon is extolling the virtues of teamwork on and off the court as he looks to beef up what's already a substantial real estate holding.

Indeed, Olajuwon has accumulated — and routinely sold for a tidy profit — a host of high-profile properties in the Houston area in recent years. While critics have blasted him for failing to develop the prime tracts, Olajuwon defends his position as a businessman as if he were describing a game-play strategy.

"What I've learned about real estate is to specialize, and do what it is you do best," he said. "You create an opportunity, and you pass the ball to the next guy to finish it. It's called an assist."

In his most recent real estate play, the ball was passed to Tilman Fertitta, chairman of Landry's Seafood Restaurants.

Fertitta is now under contract to purchase the World Trade Center building located across from the Houston Astros' Enron Field for an estimated $8.5 million. Olajuwon acquired the 40-year-old facility in 1999, and the Houston restaurateur is currently conducting due diligence on the property, which he plans to redevelop into a hotel.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/2001/02/19/No-Topic-Name/Big-Man-In-Houston-Real-Estate.aspx

 

Oh yeah he sold that a long time ago. This is the site today as a Westin hotel. 

6 minutes ago, steve1363 said:

Yeah I’m not happy about that, but I guess we shouldn’t be surprised after the Crawford Street outfield wall was polluted with advertising and “community” outreach signage.  The Yankees we are NOT!  Surprised though to read the Red Sox struck a similar deal…

Are you an Astros season ticket holder?  Where is your sense of entitlement coming from?  Has Hakeem Olajuwon done anything with that decrepit building he owns near the ballpark?

Which one does Hakeem own? 

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/farmers-market-work-day-17781957.php

17 hours ago, 004n063 said:

What exactly was her problem with the project? 

Her argument was that the street already get's overwhelmed with traffic during events for TSU and UH, so reducing it to one lane is going to make it worse. Half the street is already street parking and TSU fully endorsed the plan well before Shabazz had her complaints. She really doesn't have a foot to stand on in this because it's her district so she should have been aware of what the plan was and she decided to make an issue of everything well after so much work had already been done. I'm glad this is moving forward because in the last discussion the city had about this, Mayor Turner was not happy with Shabazz.

9 hours ago, mattyt36 said:

Well $50 million from Oxy for Boy Scout badges won’t hurt. 

Those things are ugly af 

4 minutes ago, Houston19514 said:

The sidewalk is a bit narrow, but it was built under the old rules.  The new building will have to have wider sidewalks.  Other than that the pedestrian realm at Parc Binz I is pretty ideal.  Removing the landscape barrier would make the sidewalk feel less safe (and less shaded) and therefore , less pedestrian friendly.

Yeah for sure. It's going to be interesting to see the old rules vs the new rules. That's why I think the old pedestrian realm needs some improvement. I'm not against the trees, you can still place grates around those. It's amazing how far we've come in being more conscious of pedestrians. 

2 minutes ago, Houston19514 said:

What would you want this building to do with the pedestrian realm that it does not plan to do?

I think they need to open it up a bit. I'd like to see the sidewalk lowered to street level instead of this weird ramp going up. Plus I think they should widen the sidewalk to the curb, This would go a long way in making the building feel more inviting and walkable. We'll be able to better compare with the new building going up. The pedestrian realm is much nicer based off the renderings.