por favor gracias

That's a great list, so much so that I may have to tone down my "iconic" statement about 609 Main and 2929 Weslayan to a watered down version of the term. I agree with just about everything you wrote, except I would label Bank of America as "iconic" also. I think that building says "Houston" more than any other building in this city, and that's saying something considering all the others you mentioned. HA's original design would have been iconic IMO as well...and the Memorial City tower could even be considered iconic in a "could someone please move this thing to Dallas" kind of way. Just curious, what are your thoughts on 2929 Weslayan?

People have been complaining since the downgrade of Hotel Alessandra that we won't get an "iconic building" out of this current building cycle, but I've longed thought that this will be that building. Sure it wasn't designed by a "starchitect" but it does have visual impact and will look nice in the skyline.

Not sure if you're referring to anything I wrote, but since I used the word "iconic" for the original HA design, I want to clarify that I was only talking about that building. I'm with you and several others that would label 609 Main as "iconic" (although I personally like the original HA design more), along with 2929 Weslayan on a different level.

LargeTEXAS,

I've begun a new approach to life which has helped me keep unnecessary worry and stress down. So I'm sorry by my applying that to this situation has left you with the impression that I'm all for mediocrity In this city.

Now you are a poster that I happen to go way back with ever since I first joined on here more than 10 years ago before the old HAIF was hacked. I have always had a high respect for you as a poster, so the last thing I want to do is become your enemy BUT.... you got me all wrong.

I remember one of my first posts ever on HAIF was a complaint about the downtown night skyline. It used to depress me to no end to drive from Dallas or Austin which actually seemed like vibrant cities at night with their well lit skylines to come to what was supposed to be Texas's largest city and see its dark, crummy lit skyline with Christmas light bulbs on its rooftops. You may not remember, but it was you who actually teamed up with me on the idea and made up an electronic petition to start in which I even printed out and got some additional signatures. I also wrote letters to the mayor, downtown management, and several others. Shortly after, several building owners decide to do some stupid "lights out" program and now here we are more than a decade later with an even worse lit skyline than before ( although glad to see less Christmas lights)

Then we were all worked up with the University light rail lines plans. We had all been waiting patiently for at least a decade. Just when we thought we had gotten rid of that roadblock Tom Delay, here comes somebody else making sure he follows in every print of his footsteps. Again, here we are, the most important line in Houston indefinitely put on hold because of a few residents and some @$$hole who only cares about winning votes for another term. And I'm not even going to get into the Houston Pavilions scrapping the original residential plans and then the Embassy Suites design literally being decapitated.

So LargeTEXAS, maybe you're right, I do feel a tad powerless. After a while of disappointments,corrupt politics, I've found that it's easiest to not get so worked up and stressed out about things is best for my OWN sanity. I'm not saying I'm one who gives up, but I have practiced on the positive side of things rather than the negative. Although midway failed us on Alessndra, we still have some other new skyscrapers coming up which offer some pretty interesting designs.

Back to not giving up, I still attend city hall meetings, show up at every election time, voice my concerns, etc. Some people will change the world. Maybe you're one of those people and perhaps I am not. I just now am more focused on controlling what I'm able to: my health, my finances, my career, etc. Because at the end of the day, everything we bicker about on these boards comes down to those with $$$$$ in which I have none.

It can be very discouraging sometimes when you put a lot of effort into voicing and/or reporting your concerns all for naught. I've been doing that for years reporting bumps and potholes in our roads, traffic light timing, etc....and more often than not, somewhere between my call and the time the workers are on the job, the job description is completely distorted and the end result completely ignores my request. That said, sometimes it does work...and when it does, it's a win. I can tell you with an enormous amount of pride that over the years, I've helped get streets like Hillcroft, Alabama, McGowan, Chimney Rock, Woodway, and many more repaved to a better condition than they were in. Also...I don't know how many people will remember this, but in 2006 when they were doing "the new" West Loop (and yes, although it's slightly "better"...it's still a complete joke), the northbound exit ramp to I-10 was only one lane. That resulted in backups every day to Bissonnet St. for a good 8+ hours of the day, and during rush hour, traffic was backed up around the curve at Braeswood at times. This one lane exit to I-10 setup was supposed to last through Dec. 2006, and it was early February when I noticed (by simply looking...Lord knows I had enough time to check things out) that there was easily enough room for them to just move the concrete barrier from where they had it a couple of yards over to allow room for another lane. So I called TxDot (I'm not going to say any names), and the lead manager of that project was insistent that there "wasn't enough room" even after I basically told him there was, and furthermore, it would only take a weekend at the most to do so. Since I couldn't get any movement on this, I took pictures of the entire area (my brother and I walked in all kinds of mud for the better part of a mile or so on a sunny Sunday morning after a good rain) and went to the Houston Chronicle. I still have the emails to this day, and at first, even Mr. Sallee from the Chronicle was like "I don't see enough room"...and so I had to specifically go over each photo with him to SHOW him that there was. Anyways, about a week or so later, I saw his column in the paper (yes, I still got the paper in 2006)...and sure enough, my squeaky wheel got its grease. Of course, the credit went to the project manager at TxDot who maintained that "there wasn't enough room"...but all that mattered to me was getting that extra lane opened up. And low and behold, TxDot actually went ahead and delivered the new product (which was actually better than my request to simply move the concrete barrier over) with the same concrete surface we're using today...and it only took that weekend. Needless to say, traffic was MUCH better for those 10 or 11 months...no more backups to Bissonnet for pretty much the entire day.

My point is that yes, it can be and is often deflating to demand something that most people clearly want but do not get...but sometimes they do listen and we do get what we're asking for, and that is a hell of a lot more rewarding than the (often expected) discouragement of nothing being done/things staying the same. Hats off to you for continuing to voice your concerns for elections, city hall meetings, etc....I think we can all agree that politics often leads to more discouragement as time goes by. It sure seems to me like that's just what our "leaders" want...as little interference as possible. It's up to us to make sure we get as much of what we want as we can...it's obvious in many cases that our politicians/developers/etc. aren't going to do that for us.

If I remember correctly, I thought there was going to be residential on top of the hotel.

The world is what's "strange" in my eyes...people are just people adapting to an ever changing world and economy. I for one am grateful for having all kinds of different styles/personalities on this board and beyond. Monarch...DUDE...you're one of my personal favorite posters on this site!

Just sent them an email (a nice one) telling them how much I...and others...appreciate their work, and that I would personally donate money towards getting an iconic building like the original rendering suggested here. I know it likely won't mean much or change anything, but it's certainly worth 5 minutes of my time.

Even though some may be "bad news," thanks for the updates Fortune!

I agree that the current design isn't bad, and I appreciate the different perspectives that some have given us since the "new" rendering came out. That said, I would personally pony up $500 to get the original design, and I don't even make close to six figures. Thanks for the link, largeTEXAS.

This area needs more residents and entertainment options IMO.

From Adriana Lima to Kathy Griffin...okay, maybe the AT&T girl, but WOW what a letdown.

I think this is reason enough to fill up the rest of BLVD Place with five more condo towers.

At this rate, Chevron will be finished before this one.

I keep thinking of Professor Frink (Simpsons) with a test tube in hand...

It looks to me like 609 Main and BHP Billiton turned on some love makin' music and let one thing lead to another if you know what I'm saying...

I agree that the nicest looking buildings that are immediately off of 610 are the 1233 & 1333 WLS twins...but I like this one more primarily because of its height and crown. It will stand out for sure.

Nothing says "TMC" quite like the O'Quinn tower(s).

Oh, I get it. If I don't like your opinion I'm in the wrong place. Sorry to interrupt YOUR board. It's not YOUR board, and  it's not YOUR property. 

Oh, I get it. If i mock your opinion and turn it into something completely different than your intended use, then I'm in the wrong place. I apologize for putting words in your mouth and interrupting the board. There was absolutely no need for that.

FIFY.

Okay...sorry for interrupting the board myself, but I just felt like that needed to be said. 

And now, this (from the link in the Alexan Blair House thread)...

"NEW YROK, N.Y., Jan. 13, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via PRWEB - The largest medical complex in the world, Texas Medical Center encompasses 21 hospitals, multiple medical and nursing schools and more than 106,000 employees, and is expanding from its current 46 million square feet to 59 million square feet."

  

Plain and boring is all whiny mole people like you deserve. You get what you give.

Ironic post is staggeringly ironic.

Yeah...I like the added density, but the buildings in Memorial City come off to me as gimmicky.

On clear days they should have views (at least building wise) of Greenspoint and The Woodlands, plus the buildings on the North Loop between Shepherd and 290 areas. Maybe they'll get a good view of whatever is going to replace the huge abandoned car dealership on the North Fwy around Gulf Bank if they're lucky, although I'm not exactly betting on another "Marlowe" going up there...

We have got a lot of confirmation recently on this project. I would calm down on when the groundbreaking is... It will be soon

You're probably right. I can speak for myself, but I do think that this is one of the most anticipated projects "soon to go up," and some of us are perhaps a little overly excited.

Undesirable weather conditions.

Wherefore? Does this developer have a naming pattern?

I wasn't really referring to the developer...but wasn't "The Carter" previously named "The Chelsea?" If not, MY MISTAKE w/ egg all over my face...

Thanks for all the updates adr!