urbanize713

So this will be taller than Caydon by ~ 27 ft. Let the Midtown height wars begin!

On 7/14/2016 at 3:01 PM, Urbannizer said:

Bumping the rendering. It looks like there will be a few “curves.”

Climbing 

Anyone know of any examples for Choice luxury/boutique hotels? I thought they were on the lower end of the scale. 

2 hours ago, UtterlyUrban said:

How about an urban Target concept?  I think at it would be smashing there.

I love the idea but anyone know where the loading docks for the building are?

That would be the only obstacle I would see to a major retailer taking hold there. 

They appeared to be working into the night. Is that typical for crane construction?

Harris county annex building / (newer) cotton exchange building absolutely needs to be a high end hotel or something vibrant. Every time I'm driving down main it catches my eye and then I'm bummed it's a county office building.  The facade/ornamentation  reminds me of the historical buildings around downtown San Antonio. 

1 hour ago, Mr.Clean19 said:

Not to distract from your political pitch ArtNsf, but I believe people like to move to Houston because of the economic opportunities and affordability of the area. I dont think either of these are affected by politics but the housing sprawl and businesses that have thrived in this area... not the "Blue Wave" (So much cringe) . I'm excited that we are still in the running and I hear good things are around the corner at two of the potential lots in the Houston area regardless of the HQ2 bid.

Correct and I could not agree more. Texas has a very friendly business environment. By that I mean it has less regulatory and tax hurdles for business to maneuver. That has made more businesses move here as well allowed new ones to begin. You couple that with affordable housing and we have the logical reason for the growth across Texas including our 4 largest cities. Not some political naïveté. Politics may play a role in a very small group of people’s decisions but I would confidently say it’s pretty far down the list for majority of poeple. I to am excited at the potential. Regardless of the outcome great things will continue to come to Houston!

If anyone has HBJ access they have a write up and at least one pic I have not seen before. 

They are now building barricades and scaffolding around this building.  

11 hours ago, HoustonIsHome said:

It's this going to be built in phases? 

Any idea what the other buildings will look like? 

Looks like this tower will take up 1 of the 2.5 blocks purchased. 

 

Will this building open before it's neighbor across the street?

Before Camden? Their leasing office will open in January with first move in's in February. 

1 hour ago, H-Town Man said:

 

Hines considers it a private park on their website, but you keep holding your ground and calling it a courtyard, lol. When we "get there" is probably around the time when Hines will decide that the highest and best use of land on Main Street is something other than a fenced park.

 

Man you are really trying. Are you telling me that marketing brochures and websites would never ever aggrandize amenities/features? Please 

This is one of if not the priciest addresses  downtown. If it didn’t include at least a private sidewalk called a private park to walk someone’s  shih tzu i’d be shocked.

You can keep going on and on  but I just called you out on saying this was anti urban even though the most urban cities in the work have similar features end of story. 

5 hours ago, H-Town Man said:

 

Yeah, and there's fenced private parks in London too, none of which anyone would really consider the height of urbanism. More of a vestige of aristocracy (like Southern country clubs). A "Victorian gentleman that has refused to die," as the NY Times once termed Gramercy.

 

So some of the most of the urban cities in the world have private parks? Awesome, it sounds like we are finally getting there! Though I hold my ground this is more like a courtyard, lol. 

I would say this is more like a private courtyard, lol. It sounds like it will also serve the food hall. 

You ever heard of Gramercy Park? That is a fenced in private park in the northeast's most urban city with other parks/plazas all around it. 

On 12/5/2017 at 3:02 PM, wxman said:

Between this, Capitol Tower, 609 Main and the other tower Hines just built (the one with the slanted roof), we could have put up a new super-tall. Why they keep building these crappy 30-something story buildings is beyond me. Clearly somebody thinks there's room for more office space and they're being leased or they wouldn't come out of the ground. Is there an unwritten law that nothing over 40 something stories can be built downtown any longer? It's kind of annoying...

Not to be critical but this is factually incorrect. 

BG Place 2011 46 Stories

609 Main 2017 48 Stories. 

The truer statement would be nothing over 50 Stories has been built in some time.

Some, many years ago, would have said we would never see residential towers be built in downtown again.... By my count we have 5 new towers, one conversion, and 2-3 in the pipeline. The super-tall will come its just a matter of when. Who knows maybe Hines has one last gift for us on the chronicle site?

You missed Houston19514's entire point. Everything you mentioned is great but unless it's an exact replacement for what was pushed away it is a net loss. 

You can spin it which every way you want but the shortsightedness of some in this city pushed away what could have been another gem in our city's crown. Just as an example. 

" Mr Bezos  on top of all the great universities and institutions we already have the state's flagship university is building out a multidisciplinary campus to work closely with employers in the area to better prepare professionals for today's workplace. On top of that they will be adding to our city's already expansive research capabilities. "

As I said in my last post I am very glad to hear UT is heavily involved here. Any investment they bring to Houston is welcomed in my book. 

I would not say failed more like pushed away by politicians with horse blinders on but I digress.

It is great news that UT is heavily involved!

4 hours ago, Pitts said:

It will be harder to determine exactly what the feel of the area will be after the 45 reroute. All the new bars and restaurants in this area will now be immediately facing a massive freeway. And of course everything on the other side of St.E will be demolished. The noise and visual blight may be enough to kill this part of town.

I’m not saying you have to be a sunshine pumpers but geez. Calling this pesamistic would be offensive to pessimist. 

If  ,and it’s a big if, the park happens it will only add to the area not kill it. Once an area is determined to be a entertainment area (by community not developers) it’s not just gonna die. If current business’ don’t make it others will come in. 

That staircase is pretty impressive!