Avossos

http://realtynewsreport.com/2014/11/11/wedge-transforming-downtown-property-new-hotel-and-upgrade-to-43-story-office-tower/

hmmm and capital improvements. Do you think 4Q 2014?

So I was at Imagine this past saturday at GRB which is the TSA (Texas Society of Architects) Design Expo. Went to a lecture of sorts which talked about the building in some detail particularly about it's design intent as well as it's incredible LEED Platinum pre-certification. I want y'all to know that this building is going to be awesome! They really made this the Cadillac of spec buildings lol, but at the same time it should be very much affordable for tenets. It's also leading the charge nationally in terms of how people persue the newest version of LEED which is LEED v4. It will be one of only 3 buildings in America that will be classified as LEED Platinum under this new version which is only in Beta trails. That's a pretty big deal. Those distinctions alone will set it miles apart from other buildings downtown which will make it very attractive to tenets. It's presence at street level is going to be fabulous. I'm sure all of you have seen the renders of the two level open space that is at street level down to the tunnels. That's something that no building in downtown has approached the tunnel system in that way. It also has retail on street level. This one will be awesome to see when it's finished!

I like hearing that. Great news. The building's body seems a little flat / simple to me, but we will see. This sounds like this is still very much happening. Good for Houston.

Side bar: Will this building kill 6 Houston Center?

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2014/11/07/new-hotel-apartment-concept-to-enter-houston.html

 

The Houston site is expected to begin construction in June 2015, according to David Redfern, WaterWalk's president. Redfern declined to disclose more details, such as the exact location

Any ideas where this will go?

IMG_1766.JPG

 

Mattress Firm signage added. Also added paper signs right on the corner door where the Pizarro permit was. Not sure what is going where...

hoping that those paper ones are temporary for a "grand opening" type thing. So ugly.

 Disappointing. More overruns on the Australian gas plant? Or another excuse?

My information came from someone who deals with the financial side of things. So, i assume it has something to do with their financial position and financial outlook. But, with big companies, information is not always transperant. He might be consider the "hold" as the year to start this... thats why we have to take it with a grain of salt.

There are a few people on this forum with actual knowledge of this project.  I dont know any big wigs at chevron, but i do know this:

 

HOK has produced 100% CD drawings that are ready for permit.  The contractor (Skanska) now has a big team working full time on this project.

Now as in they just started putting resources in this? Is 3Q start confirmed by Skanska? My source was not a big wig, and I hope he just is possibly incorrect.

Just found out. This project is on hold according to chevron. 3q isn't happening

Don't get your hopes up on Q3 2015 start date. That is all I can say.

I think you should say more.

if you have any familiarity with commercial development and construction in general than yes - you are being ridiculous. this is how these things work... there are an incredible amount of moving parts nevermind the fact that the oil and gas industry as a whole is in a precarious time given the decline of oil and gas prices of late.

btw i'd be shocked if this building got off the ground any time soon.

Shocked is a pretty strong word. But in the sense of construction delays, there might be some truth. Big projects are delayed across the boards.

just called them. This is going to be single family homes accessible from E 5th street. 10 lots, some of which will be larger because they will count some of the flood land that cant be built on as yards.

A completely different development. the Condo is dead.

Greater Houston Partnership just published the Nov Issue of Economy at a Glance.

 

http://www.houston.org/pdf/research/quickview/Economy_at_a_Glance.pdf

 

It is all about the price of oil and the possible impact on Houston, this is a sobering issue folks, Houston may be on the cusp of a down cycle impacting all our shiny new buildings.

Great article. I think Houston is well equiped to handle what could be coming for us. Seems like we are in a much much better position than in the 1980's.

I can see the Office market cooling off (hopefully after Capitol Tower and 6 Houston Center). But it did say class B and C buildings will be more affected. So - I hope that doesnt put a damper on the existing announced buildings.

In terms of residential, I think Houston will continue to grow here... Not just houses, but big apartment buildings are likely still in the works. Right now, construction is delayed because of so many projects coming down the pipeline. Maybe we can stabalize this going forward.

I think if the TVs were in the  lounge area, or maybe a different area, that would make the dinning experience better. I ate there a couple weeks ago. It was too bright, and needed maybe a little more formal dining atmosphere. background music? not sure, but it can be improved some. food was excellent.

· Low-rise Wrap building type

· Podium Mid-rise building type and High-Rise towers.

· The plan proposes a restaurant destination plaza next to downtown with rental and for sale residential units.

1,867 Residential Units

Official???

I was told both would begin in November but that was several weeks ago and truth be told it wouldn't surprise me in the least if they were further delayed. They've had real issues with costs which have required countless reworks. I don't think people appreciate just how meticulous Hines is when they take on a project.

I've also heard they may be postponing a couple of as of yet unannounced projects. That's strictly secondhand info though.

I have a feeling you're talking about the ones off the bayou. I'm looking forward to those.

Will this one still begin any day now? I'm seeing something that says the start date has been pushed back. 

I thought I read December somewhere...

And I would note that 1515 Montrose is the corner of West Gray and Montrose, although the wrong side of the road.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm interesting.

368 units, Jan 2016 completion.

Same exact design?

The Wilson Printing building has been sold.  If Fretz construction has not already moved out, they apparently will soon. 

 

It is now owned by the Episcopal Health Foundation.

 

Within a year, the entire building will be occupied. 

great news. Love this company's work. Glad to see the building will be fully used.

Yes I heard it from someone I would consider to be a very reliable source.

That would be a shame. The post office site could be very very nice, and now it might have this mess right next to it? Let the greyhound station stay right where it is.

Greyhound would need some sort of facility, which isn't there (to my knowledge). Building one would take over a year.

Heard the greyhound bus station is closing and moving by Amtrak at 45 and Washington by next summer, can't find anything about it, anybody know anything?

Did you hear this from a credible source? Seems weird they would take this away from light rail.

Think the W hotel is still just rumor at this point.  Developers across the street would like to make possible clients THINK that a W Hotel is planned for the lot across the street.  But...it's not up to them to announce...but rumor works well for them.

With an office portion likely, an additional hotel makes sense. But I was secretly hoping the W would go to West Creek area.

The redevelopment project is still happening:

 

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2014/11/amreit-updates-development-plans-for-uptown-park/

 

The Tower at Uptown Park: AmREIT is in negotiations with a four-story hotel flag and development partner for a mixed-use project on the southeast corner of Uptown Park, located at the corner of Loop 610 and Post Oak Boulevard. The plan involves a 37-story building with 310 hotel rooms, 236 apartments and 18,000 square feet of retail space. Total project costs are estimated at $200 million. Construction could begin within the next 15 months.

This would be the W Hotel...?

Heard the greyhound bus station is closing and moving by Amtrak at 45 and Washington by next summer, can't find anything about it, anybody know anything?

This doesn't sound right.

good point.. when i was trying to think if there were any tex mex restaurants downtown yet i remembered El Big Bad or something made an announcement that it was moving (or opening a second location?) downtown around Market Square a little while back..

Once the people are there, its going to make such a difference. I would love to see little shops open up for specialty clothing stores and such. those are the best.

haha.. alright, alright. the joke was kind of lame. it seems so many of us (myself included) only tend to care about downtown developments if they are high-rises. the restaurant boom will obviously be much less exciting, filling in the available GFR spots in buildings currently going up/planned. but it will be a much needed boom none the less, and all the new downtown residents will surely be grateful. and hopefully many new restaurants will have moved in by 2017 for the 10 day Super Bowl party in downtown.

so a wave of restaurant developments is predicted, followed by retail..?

I think we are already seeing a wave starting for restaurants going downtown. Ive heard of a few recently moving downtown from other parts of town.

Does anyone have any new information on Regent Square? I'm about to put in a bid on a townhouse that's very close to the site. I would appreciate any news. 

you better get that bid in before someone else does. I would say that area is a sound investment. Even if regent square itself doesnt come into furition, the area will be good to great.