phillip_white

Yeah, that's what I thought too. But the hole is right across from the McGowen south-bound METRO rail stop.  We can only hope that Camden realized how douche-y they were being and decided to switch back to the south side of the block. 

I'm surprised that no one has updated this yet... there is green fence screen all the way around and several excavators digging a BIG hole on the Camden end of the block.

I'm digging both of these designs, but this one takes the cake.  Reminds me of something from the Life After People show.

This is a great idea.  Call Sheila Jackson Lee and tell her she will get lots of time on TV and she will champion this idea like it was her own.

I think they should take this opportunity to do something historic and help save a great example of Nicholas Clayton's
architecture here in Houston..
Here is a twist of fate that is a little ironic.
The sisters of Incarnate Word want to stay down town and build there new building where the Nicholas Clayton wing now stands.
John Nau and his group had planned on building on the adjacent block a history museum.
That failed and they are now in the process of giving the donations back.
Why not trade the vacant lot next to the school for the Nicholas Clayton building and repurpose it into a history Museum. That way the nuns can build there new campus right next door.
John Nau can save a historic landmark and possibly still create a history museum.
and the city can make a statement on historic preservation and start a new era of saving our past for the future.
Isn't that kind of what Nau was planing anyway.

I posted this on the Nau page also.

Tearing down the building would lower the valuation and thus their property taxes... but the demolition cost could easily be more than several years worth of net tax savings.

Therefore, they're building soon or not for a looooong long time.

Would there be a reason for them to demolish this building if they were not starting construction?

Not to mention that the houses are already there too...

If they don't build this center at all, what will happen to the land?  Somewhere it was said that it was donated by the city

They've installed brick on the lower level of the East and North sides.  It's starting to look marvelous.

Damn. So is this the second shooting in Midtown in the past week?  I heard there was a fatal shooting outside of F Bar.

This is exactly the scenario that was laid out at the Midtown Community Meeting.  Howard seems to have information that says otherwise.  With the rate at which things change, I'm deferring to his "insider information" as the current status quo.

Both could be true.  The Midtown Redevelopment Authority could be "building the underground garage" (i.e., paying for it) and Camden could be managing the construction of the parking garage.

Per MRA, Camden will be managing construction of the parking garage...

Well, the parking garage is happening, which has nothing to do with Camden.

We'll just hope Camden builds right after the garage is complete.

From what I've read about this, they're using a modular design that's the equivalent of creating a lego building (similar to tilt wall).  I don't imagine they are including the fre-fab stage or foundation pour in the actual construction time.  Supposedly this type of construction uses less material, is cheaper, and supposedly stronger than conventional construction.  Perhaps they'll find the downside after the building is complete.

Is this true?

Can someone educate me? I would guess that this is largely pre-fab stuff that was manufactured a while ago (and not counted into the "construction time"). But, even then, what are the trade offs of constructing this way?

They should have redesigned it into the Chinese version of a Skyhouse:

http://sploid.gizmodo.com/china-builds-complete-57-story-lego-like-skyscraper-in-1690315984

I spoke to the gentleman who was working at the gas station on the proposed site of Alexan Main Street and he vehemently denied that there would be an apartment built there.  He said that they had refused all offers to purchase the property.  If Alexan has purchased all of the other lots, maybe there will be a retail component after all...

I'm not sure if anyone has noticed, but there is newly installed red-ish colored brick on the side facing the garage.  It looks like they are going to install it on the sidewalk level of the front side as well.

This is not an outstanding structure, but like 2016 Main, once you drive by it enough you will grow fond of it.

There's a note taped to the wall facing Hadley warning cars not to park there because concrete is being poured in the morning.

White Oak Music Hall by marclongoria, on Flickr

Let's not clean up the neighborhood too soon... That couch will offer an amazing front-row view of construction.

Thanks for the update.  I'm still interested as to what they'll be doing with the clock on top.

Last picture is of the retail section.

I think the ultimate revenge would be to open a pawn/liquor/check cashing store on the site.  I bet the neighborhood wouldn't be so NIMBY after that.

Is dropping a crack pipe considered arson?  Hopefully they use some of the insurance money to upgrade the facade.

This fire was close to this development. I have a feeling it will be arson.

http://abc13.com/news/fire-destroys-two-residential-buildings/521480/

Where else will they mount the bat signal???

The police chief has been adamant supposedly about it not functioning correctly in a high rise.

15-20 ft is a pretty big drop.  It's a shame he wasn't tied off.

Looks like a worker fell 

 

 

http://abc13.com/news/worker-rescued-from-downtown-construction-site/521812/

Did they pour any piles?  I'm not sure what else they would be load testing.

Someone put out the Purdue signal.

 

WTH is this thing?

 

 

You can't tell really, but it is sitting elevated on probably 6' of beams.

 

http://www.testpile.com/

 

Looks like they are still testing for the foundation.

To elaborate on this post, they're installing windows on the front portion closest to Enterprise (where the "Central" letters used to be).  As of this evening two rows are nearly complete.  I would have posted a picture, but then there wouldn't be any incentive for you all to come visit beautiful Midtown.

They just out up a row of glass on the main part of the building

Nice!  I'm glad someone else attended to provide additional information.  I didn't have a pen, so I was relying on my sketchy memory to update the thread.

Thanks, phillip_white!

 

Note that technically this was a meeting of the Midtown Management District, and we're dealing with the part of the meeting where a representative of the Midtown Redevelopment Authority (I didn't catch his name) provided an update to the MMD board. 

 

For grins I tried out an app at the meeting last night that let me record bits and then pay to have them transcribed. I thought this part of the meeting was interesting, but I missed recording the majority of his discussion of superblock.Here's the little bit of SuperBlock-related stuff that I recorded:

 

MRA Rep: "...also a 12 month construction contract. Very aggressive schedule targeting completion of the park November/December 2016. In time for a potential home uh venue for the Superbowl in early 2017. [iNAUDIBLE]. Uh, Camden's, uh it's 300. Between 300 and 400. It's an 8 story."

Roger Neal [member of MMD board]: "334"

MRA Rep: "Between 300 and 400. Thank you sir."

[LAUGH] 

 

I got all of the MRA rep's Caroline Street comments. Will post on that thread.