Avossos

Look to downtown LA for the best example.

 

There's a Ralph's, Urban Radish, Smart & Final, and now even a Target with food options. 

 

LA is about 10 years ahead of us on the downtown renewal bit though.

Really?

I am not challanging you, but I never thought that LA had a thriving downtown (could be totally wrong).

I looked at Chicago / New York / Boston as examples of strong downtown situations. Houston is definitely headed that way.

This is a handsome building. I hope it ages well

So is this all stucco?

Now named...One Market Square

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2014/09/18/more-details-unveiled-in-houston-high-rise.html?page=2

doesn't bode we'll for international tower...

Although the map gives this one a Q4 2014 start date, I will be a little surprised if it actually breaks ground. Especially if 6HC moves forward.

I am hoping we get both.

Valet or find your own.

That's my guess.....

Kinda like many other hotels in a dense urban core.

Gotcha

very odd that they committed the top floor to tenant taking less than half the floor.

Probably their best option / trying to create some kind of buzz. It just feels like they are trying really hard.

Right by my house. Can't wait. The building is truly awesome.

where do guests park?

I think HEB is the first to come downtown... In terms of major. They seem like they take risks.

And I hope they do because I love HEB.

Eat at Good Dog Houston the other week and saw this photo of the east side of downtown there:

20140824_212624 by marclongoria, on Flickr

After all these years we are just now recovering from the terrible demolition... If recovery is even possible. Years of history, erased

I actually think 5 Allen's site would be one of the worst spots for a super tall. We need a super tall to go in the middle so it would balance out our skyline from all views. I'm thinking that the Bank of the Southwest lot is still the best option.

I disagree - I'll tell you why: I think if you put a super tall in the middle of downtown, our skyline will be boring and triangle shaped. I think a skyline that flows into midtown / Montrose is best.

I imagine 5 Allen as a lighthouse over downtown. Almost like Williams tower is for Uptown

If this gets built, it would guarantee that 5 Allen does not. Which honestly is the best case senario. 5 Allen would be an ideal spot for a super tall - 100 story mixed use tower!

In the last 2 years, 4 blocks in the Garden District (or Parking District) are being developed. Skyhouse, Block 334, Holiday Inn and now Skyhouse 2 ...all next to each other. And 800 Bell is next to be redeveloped. A few other residential projects are planers as well. SoDo area has momentum. Will be interesting to see what happens to the old Days Inn now and the Amegy building when they vacate for the Galleria area.

Isnt most of Amegy already in the Galleria? I thought they were just moving within that area.

http://zieglercooper.com/hines-market-square-2/

OK. there is a space... But who would build now? We will see soon enough if they keep excavating.

Just putting this out there:

 

I don't think is for 900 Preston.

I think this is for the restaurant space being built between 900 Preston and Frank's.

I dont think there is such thing.

thats right at the 45 /69 intersection

We should make a haif party out of it..

I would attend

The gryphon has been installed:

"The renovation includes two ballrooms — the Picasso and the Monet — nods to the hotel’s eclectic art collection, which will eventually include a 13-foot sculpture of a gryphon, the mythical winged creature that makes up JW Marriott’s logo."

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/breaking-ground/2014/06/first-look-the-new-jw-marriott-houston-downtown.html?page=all

20140909_182734.jpeg

I'm not offended by this, but I feel like this is very very weird

Honestly, I think this building is going to be so cool. Not only does it have the amenity rich residential units that downtown sorely needs, it is an amazing compromise between historic and modern, with solid street presence. We have needed this for a long time. I hope other developers take notice. This needs to be a huge success.

So happy it's happening!

Sorry for the tangent, but in all the discussions about hsr and the Texas triangle elsewhere I never considered future expansion to New Orleans.  I know that's pie-in-the-sky right now, but I'd be cool to eventually have an hsr route from San Antonio to Houston to New Orleans, with maybe a stop near the casinos in Lake Charles.  We could call it the "Party Express" and Dallasites could connect to it via the upcoming Houston to Dallas hsr.

 

I think it is bound to happen. And I am excited about the future transportation in the area.

Agreed. I think both Houston and Dallas can agree that we wished we could have that beautiful anitiquity and architecture that they have on the East coast.  UGH!

 

I think the key to playing that up is PRESERVATION. For both cities. and using similar materials in modern uses.

So I went to SMU, and I know just how beautiful Dallas is. What is great about Dallas is the concentration of nice areas. Houston is spottier. Dallas' West End downtown is really really nice. It is important for that vibe to spread and be maintained well.

Overall reading the comments on this thread, I think we all should (if not already) start thinking positive sum. Houston and Dallas can improve greatly without harming each other... in fact the other's growth can only add to the success of the other city.

Transportation: in the next few decades, we will see connectivity much like the East Coast. I imagine these cities will all be connected by rail projects: Houston with Austin / Dallas / New Orleans / San Antonio (this reminds me alot of the NYC / Baltimore / DC / etc...)

For anyone insecure... I imagine Houston will always be the bigger city. Top rung of cities (size wise) is all near water or has a major port (NYC, LA, Chicago, Houston). Dallas is in a different category. Inland metropolis' (Dallas, Phoneix, Atlanta, San Antonio).

Cheers

Where is this?! It looks like an awesome waste of space.

It was only a mater of time before this lot was developed. I hope it's tall enough to block the view of the Allen garage.

As much as I wish for htown lives post to be true, it just seems too good to be true. Obviously the city is working on something/a retail district for the area.. But bringing a Bloomingdales to Houston? In downtown...? Maybe in theGalleria, Memorial City Mall, or something of the like. A proven retail destination. Idk, I would just be reluctant to go all out betting on downtown. But I hope the city can come out with a bang on the new project and really get something going.

Honestly - I agree with you that it seems overly optimistic. But at the same time... 3 big retail stores with a number of smaller stores... She is essentially creating a mall, downtown! And if it's done right, why would it be unrealistic? It's a proven concept in other major cities.

Hope it happens!