democide

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/breaking-ground/2015/02/joint-venture-pursues-city-of-houston-to-redevelop.html

 

So if the city moves in they won't redevelop the outside facade to the proposal.

If this happens, I'll be happy that this will take 1+ million sq. ft. of floor space out of the market, but not happy that the ugly facade will remain.  Anyways, I hope that they include in the improvements (because I'm sure there's things that still need fixing and upgrading) the connection to the tunnel system.  Could that raise the rent if they pursue that?  

I am surprised that they raised the tower crane at groundbreaking. Don't they have to drill piers and dig out a foundation first?

I believe that is what will happen first, do pile driving.  That is not a tower crane going up.

Maybe the implosion compromised the structural integrity (at least in a certain area) of the garage, making it unsafe to have it in operation again.  I always thought that is was very risky having one half of it come down in freefall so near to the other half without causing no damage.

Looks like the garage will be preserved in its current state based on the rendering at the site.

Thanks for the update, but I believe this picture is showing the Catalyst site.  Block 73 is south from this one.

This tower is suppose to have tunnel access, correct? 

If so, would that be by connecting with One Market Square?  I'm just wondering if this tower's tunnel access is depended on One Market Square getting build, because it will also have tunnel access by connecting with the block directly south of it (Chronicle building).  Could that be delaying this project, if there is that dependency?  Also, Hines has know for a while about the proposed One Market Square/International Tower.

Houston ISD breaks ground on new campus for arts high school

Come Tuesday, the cement will be ripped up and construction will begin on a new five-story, 168,000-square-foot building for the Houston ISD's High School for Performing and Visual Arts.

The sleek, $80 million project will include a 200-seat mini-theater, 200-seat black box theater, 150-seat recital hall, rooftop garden and outdoor art studio. The centerpiece will be an 800-seat main theater, complete with a balcony, that will fit the prestigious magnet school's entire faculty and student body with room to spare.

Agree with montrose. Would fiit well with the skyline...But, at an expense with the streetscape. Last in my preference for proposed office towers. Hotel/residential/mixed use much better here. Especially combined with Chronicle's old place just behind.

The Chronicle building is on sale, and may be demolished.

Great stuff, but too many parking garages in this area, it need to diversify itself soon!

Hearst Selects HFF to Market Houston Chronicle Downtown Property

Quote

HOUSTON – Hearst Corp. has selected the HFF commercial real estate brokerage firm to handle the sale of its Houston Chronicle property in downtown Houston.

 

Hearst interviewed a number of Houston’s leading commercial real estate brokers before selecting HFF, a national firm with a strong local office.

 

The 10-story Chronicle building, 801 Texas Ave., covers a full city block and comes with parking garage on another block. The newspaper, which has operated at that location since 1910, will move to the former Houston Post building on Southwest Freeway.

 

The Chronicle’s downtown facility, much of it classified as being in “poor” condition by the Harris County Appraisal District, is expected to be demolished.

 

The Chronicle property is in a hot sector. A number of new developments are being built nearby, including a 40-story apartment tower by Woodbranch Investments and the 48-story Hines office tower, 609 Main at Texas.

http://realtynewsreport.com/2014/11/21/hearst-selects-hff-to-market-houston-chronicle-downtown-property/

Thanks to desertpunk at SSC.

That's a very specific estimate.. I believe someone heard it from an elevator guy?

Alright, well I was just wondering since that would make it exactly 100 feet higher than 1600 Smith, which stands at 732'.  Thanks.

Where did the 832' height number come from?  Wasn't that just an estimate based on how it looks surpassing 1600 Smith?

I assume for phase 2, the other building on the south block will be identical, correct?  If so, what's that building to the south?

this building wont really have a impact on the skyline will it?

From certain angles, it will.

The side along 610, I noticed them as I drove by like two hours ago.

A crew at the former Micro Center site is doing soil testing. 

Please do remember to tell us about those things that delayed construction, when you can, thanks.

Same one.

Developer wants to put up 4 towers (including presumably 2 supertalls) in Dallas. There's nothing to kickstart development down here like a case of Dallas envy.

We're already building so much, but yes, I welcome this added incentive to build a lot more.  2015 should be another good year for Houston, and I hope a supertall is in the plans.

Yes, that was the plan all along.

If it's Block 251, I hope it includes tunnel/skywalk access.

For such a promising building, it's too bad it will only be around 20 stories.  Thank you for the info.

The best I could do with an iPhone and poor lighting

The bomb flashes were a lot more noticeable.

Complete, free-fall collapse into it's footprint.  Once again, great job and planning from the demo team.

It has 6 Houston Center, I like that.  It was the big letters on the left side, I hate that.

I'm thinking the floor count was a mistake, I mean the floor space is the same.