shasta

Downtown, easily. Uptown does not have anywhere near the infrastructure to handle the increased traffic caused by a 102 story building. Downtown is designed for it, Uptown is NOT.

Congressman Poe is trying to make a case to secure federal funds so that the University Line can be built. his rationale is that people in his district want it and that the federal funds would just go to another city that is proactive about securing them.

He is asking for your voice on Facebook. Please make your opinion heard so he can get an accurate reading of the support for the completion of the University Line.

http://www.houstontomorrow.org/livability/story/Rep-Poe-calls-for-action-on-University-Line/?utm_source=Houston+Tomorrow+Growth+News&utm_campaign=d3e45a1388-Houston_Tomorrow_Livability_News_042513&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_02f1bf7b5d-d3e45a1388-7265

If somehow both 609 Main & International Tower get built, I'd imagine the skyline will literally have a "ski slope" look on the east edge from the 45 North view.

And they said Houston was flat. We'd have a mountain of steel & glass lol!

 

Perhaps, it will look something like this, from this angle.

Bisnow reports that Griffin Partners will be building the new 2,000 space parking garage at the north end of the GRB that will serve both the GRB and the new Marriott Marquis Hotel.  It will have a "creative and original facade" according to the chairman of Griffin Partners, who also said that he believes retail is poised for new development and particularly sees demand for new retail downtown.

Isn't this the same garage that is indicated on the Downtown Houston Development Map?

Totally hoping/speculating, but maybe this is it?

From Bisnow:

Kurt (whose office is designing 7M SF totaling $1B across property types) proved his prowess as a prognosticator. During last year's event, he predicted mixed-use would grow. (Now we call him every day for the weather and the trifecta winners at the horse track.) He was right, but there's been a shift within that sector from horizontal to vertical mixed-use. The facilities are high-rises with product types stacked on top of each other—Ziegler Cooper is designing two of these, one in Houston and one in Austin. The Houston facility will include multifamily, hotel, retail, and office components.

Well, they designed the Austonian in downtown Austin so, if there was going to be a mixed-use super tall downtown, ZC would be a qualified firm to do it.

Let me guess. Randall Davis??

Why are they so secretive with the design and why are they so late, when compared to the other proposals? Aren't all of these buildings racing to secure potential  tenants?

If this design is the best, then why are they holding it back?

Nor can I, but whatever.

 

There does seem to be a higher concentration of map and camera carrying tourists DT lately. Couldn't really figure out why.

Don't forget that the city is "putting their money where their mouth is" in trying to transform downtown to an entirely different place.  They have begged for more hotels and apartments which are essential ingredients in developing synergy. With the increased "24-7" people who now will be downtown you will get secondary supporting pieces like more retail, restaurants, parks, tourism centers, and yes a tourism bus.......the market is just following what is needed.

Someone from Cleveland who is here for a 3 day convention and it is their very first time in Houston may have little reservation about spending $30 to educate themselves about Houston. So, at least they have an idea about "Houston" when they return. These type of tour buses should be supported....Let's hope they continue to be viable and increase after all of the new hotels are built.

Updated development map looks like they did a good job keeping up with all the new projects sprouting up downtown. It's good to see all the planned and under construction blocks and can't wait for more details to surface because they didn't include Hines' multifamily and Hilcorps new tower.

http://www.downtownhouston.org/site_media/uploads/attachments/2013-07-03/dt_current_projects_130703_FOR_PRINT.pdf

Looks like they left off the Hines proposed Market Square Residential and the other 30+ story residential as part of hotel conversion.

I don't know how many people have read the book "The Rise of the Creative Class" but Florida makes the assertion that in demand, talented employees prefer to work in diverse, 'quality of place' cities. On a micro level, it will see which one attracts the most sought after employees:  Exxon Mobil, with its self contained suburban campus, or Chevron, with a significant investment in downtown and all that will be available to downtown workers. Throw in a third options, the Energy Companies located in the Energy Corridor and it should be interesting.

My guess is that it will come down to $$$ BUT with all things equal, it will be interesting to see which one of these three locations attracts more quality employees. Downtown lifestyle of suburban lifestyle.

It's amazing how, with few exceptions, downtown is turning into two downtowns. You have the area around Discovery Green that is really aiming to be designed 'around the pedestrian' with new hotels, entertainment, tourism centers, residential, sporting venues etc.and then you have the 'skyline district' which still likes the big boxy glass skyscrapers with little urban connectivity. the only break I see to this is the proposed Hines apartment building near Market Square. Other than that, most of that part of that part of downtown will not be as kind to the pedestrian, especially after hours. They always have the option to drop down into the tunnels.

Bad news: Kirksey didn't get the bid, so these renderings (and the video, already removed from the Vimeo page) are just for show.

 

Here's the story on Swamplot:

 

No, the Renovated Bell St. ExxonMobil Building Is Not Gonna Look Like This

Probably another situation where an Architectural firm agreed to do an initial study only, for peanuts, hoping to get the big commission in the future.

Once the developer get the ideas they probably shopped around the production/cd portion to other firms who could do it for even less money. 

Gotta love how the architecture industry operates.

With all of the excitement brewing on HAIF about all of the new residential coming to Downtown, I'm curious. Is anyone on here, who doesn't currently live in Downtown, seriously planning on moving to downtown as these new units come online? This crowd certainly seems to be the target market.

Yes, we have to remember that downtown in the next 5-10 years will start to resemble a place that none of us have seen in our lifetime. I honestly believe that this turnaround was triggered by the desire to build the new stadiums/arenas downtown.....then the commitment to a true "convention district"...and then the game changer...Discovery Green.

This was such a strong amenity that it was only a matter time before it changed everything. One Park Place was able to make it but the recession slowed the residential growth but it is back in full force..aided by the city's residential incentive program. they have a focused vision when it comes to this. Even neighboring EADO and Midtown are seeing growth.

With multiple residential opportunities downtown (various price ranges for recent college graduates to executives "city home" or temporary home), we will start to see typical residential supporting retail/restaurants...something different than is what is there now.

Guys, we are entering a new chapter in Houston's life. One that was drastically different than the 70's and 80's when a company like Hines was looking to put up a pedestal sky scrapper with zero street interaction and zero concern for the urban fabric. Not all their fault, that is what the market research was telling them. Things have drastically changed since then and THIS is only the beginning, it is a very Exciting time to be in Houston, Texas!

Fellow HAIFers

I am looking to start a part time business and I'd though I'd do something that not only comes naturally to me but will also help people.

My services will be to  teach those who need help organizing their monthly finances.   I will walk them through a system so that they have money left over at the end of the month (to use toward their long term goals) and to help them fully understand where their money is going. I will not try to sell additional products (investments, insurance, annuities, etc.).

I am only here to teach people how to manage their own money.


If you, or someone you know, is interested please PM me and I can provide more details.

Niche,

Any updates on your job search?

If you fancy yourself a new urbanist, you must clamor for GFR in EVERY building. You must also demand rail everywhere, and condemn freeways and suburbs. It is the mantra. Unfortunately, most new urbanists...or wannabes...cannot actually tell when ground floor retail is useful and when it is not, so they demand it in every building, even when the building is not in a walkable area.

 

The naivete is not yours, but theirs.

People like this just have no clue.......it's not even worth our time responding to their sarcastic remarks.

It would be great to see the Museum District get a little more urban connectivity.  More retail and restaurants are desperately needed. In fact ,even the Cafe Express that is there (on Bissonnet) closes at 5 pm.

An Italian Bakery

The website says Houston

Since we are dealing with an Apartment Building (no pre-leases, no sales) they probably only need to produce a rendering good enough to secure the construction loan from the bank.

The Architecture Firm is probably in Atlanta and  they just threw in an urban setting to get the point across.

No compare this rendering to the Speculative office towers which NEED a significant pre-lease guarantee before they break ground. A large part of that early budget is geared towards getting the marketing information correct and making it competitive. An Apartment developer does not need a pretty rendering if they don't want to produce one.

Three possible real estate development posted her. Anyone know about the other two? I'll start researching. I just found this

http://www.hfflp.com/GetDocument.aspx?ID=55592&FN=Americas+Plaza+OM.pdf&DT=1

I've always thought that Houston should proactively, and formally, go after the title as gateway the Central and South America.

Will take vision but......Imagine If you are a top up and comping company in one of those countries (Brazil, Peru, Argentina, etc.) you US headquarter should naturally be located in Houston. Especially with the anticipated  boom to the port with items coming from that part of the world.

Imagine if the area East of Downtown developed as a sort of Gateway District with Urban Planning paralleling some of the elements in the home country. There would be tons of potential in an idea like this and right now our only main competitors are Los Angeles and Miami.

Does anyone "in the know"  know if the developers of regent square plan on having the 2 original blocks (proposed in 2007-2009) up and running by 2017, when the Super Bowl is here? that would be another huger entertainment node that didn't exist in 2004, or now, for that matter.

Vancouver was left with a $1B debt hangover, an Olympic village that was rebranded and eventually went into receivership, and still haven't paid off all the debt.

I believe the Houston Olympic Plan was a bit more responsible, if not the most fiscally responsible bid ever put out there. The City was prepared to use already built, and financed,  stadiums and arenas (Reliant, Toyota, Minute Maid, etc.). The Olympic Village was slatted to be built on the campus of the University of Houston and were planned to be  converted to dorms after the Olympics were over. 

I know the University Line and the Uptown Line were dealt major blows late last year and earlier this year but could the Super Bowl help?

Many visitors will flock to the city and a large number will venture to Uptown but as the All Star Game fiasco pointed out, Houston does not have an infrastructure in place to handle large number of people in Uptown. 'People Movers' are desperately needed in urban areas like this, to easy get large amount of people to an d from dense parts of the city. Without something in place I feel we will have to really aim to center the activities around downtown. The Uptown situation could make the All Star mishap look like a blimp on the radar and 'No' the current mobility plan that they are proposing will not cut it.

With the February 2017 Super Bowl Bid secured, is it possible that the city reconsiders their approach to the traffic congestion problem in Uptown?

If so what is the latest they can start construction and be able to have it completed by February 2017? Let's say the go back to the drawing board now, secure funding sources, and start construction no later than January 1, 2015. Could they finish it in twenty five months?

There's nothing listed about it in the May Downtown Houston report that Lockmat posted on the other thread. Since this was pulled from a February report, makes me a little skeptical that anything is happening in the near future.

I don't know about this particular project, but I do know that there are projects, in the early stages, that were not shown on the April or May Downtown development map.

So this community center owns all the land from Allen Parkway to Dallas?

I believe so. Remember this is the site that had that  abandoned 1920's era art deco warehouse. I really wish they could have renovated that one but I imagine it had asbestos issues.