UtterlyUrban

500 addicts and mentally ill can really mess up an area while Turner sits.  I wonder what Turner would do if those 500 people were camping and dealing and deficating on his block?  Do we think that he could find “solutions” if they were on his street Rather than yours or mine?

6 hours ago, C List said:

To be completely honest, Midway does not own the property. They are the General Partner so they probably own 5% of the property and would not be putting up the majority of the capital for renovations, all they do is provide the vision and programming. It is up to the Limited Partner (Lionstone) to decide when and what actually gets funded. 

 

I know everyone likes to think designing, programming, and construction are the epicenters of buildings but I promise it is finance. I'm willing to bet that when the team got their hands on the property in 2012 and then sat through the downturn 2014, that the property needed a whole lot more money infused and that the returns weren't worth it. Sometimes you have to sit on a property and find the right time, sometimes you have to admit you got it wrong and sell. 

 

If it was easy to flip/build a property I'm sure you would be doing it yourself. 

Midway and whomever else can do what theywish, as I said.  I also didn’t say it was easy nor that I had any chance of doing it myself.   That said, what I did say is that I am tired of midway publishing gorgeous  renderings of this property that, IF it gets built, looks nothing like the rendering.   There is a pattern of this since 2012, IMO.

since you say that finance folks are in charge, perhaps midway et al should wait to publish all the glitzy renderings until the finance folks approve of the cost.  If the glitz isn’t approved, then publish renderings of what the finance folks did approve.  Seems Simple, honest, and straight forward.

7 minutes ago, kbates2 said:

 

It doesn't close too early.  Still open on nights and weekends unlike the Main location.  I do agree it would be cool to have been 24 hours and REALLY cool if they had incorporated the fresh grocery/produce offerings that they said they would.  I still shop there weekly at least.

 

 

Yes it is open.  I am still not sure if they have had a "Grand Opening" but I have gone here and there for a few months.  When they have stuff it is good.  The pastry counter is often empty though and they will say they are out of stuff on the menu.  

Cool!  I will need to check it out!

On 4/20/2018 at 1:47 AM, CrockpotandGravel said:

Website for Coterie opening at Market Square Tower at 737 Preston in Houston.

https://www.coteriehtx.com

 

I am confused...... your post is from April but the website is talking about a “soft open” and while it has a link for “menus”, there are no menus on the page.

is this place open? 

Midway acquired the Pavillions in 2012, I think.  In the last 7 years midway has created lots of pretty pictures and installed some grass on some roofs and some patch of AstroTurf called a “lawn” to hold events on.  They have also built a hotel.

the pretty pictures that they published look nothing like what they built.  Remember that grand hotel edifice and the “value engineered structure” that they actually built?  Meet me in the Sky lobby, anyone?   How about those expansive dry goods shopping spaces?

They own the property and they are free to do as they wish.  And I am free to not believe that they will ever do anything at this property remotely like what they describe in their pretty pictures and flowery prose.

oh, and I hope, I desperately hope, that one day, they prove me wrong.

This single property may well be the most impactful development in downtown after Discovery Green as it could combine traditional retail, residential, entertainment, and commercial in ways that seamlessly connect pedestrians to the Water, trails, rail, and to Downtown.

i am exceedingly hopeful that we don’t get Greenstreet version 2.

If I had. Nickel for every time a developer used H&M or other store logos on their project, I might be able to buy a condo at Marlowe.

Does Greenstreet retail look  like the renderings?  It’s been about 5 years.

didnt The Star include H&M specifically in their renderings?  Under the new tower that they didn’t build as I recall.

didnt the downtown organization include an H&M in the renderings for Dallas street where Houston has spent millions to attract retail and has gotten none?

On 1/10/2019 at 11:04 AM, Alec said:

 

At least one unit on the SW corner is now furnished; I couldn't say whether it's a resident or model unit.

 

Edit: I'm now seeing three furnished units on the SW corner.

It seemed to me that the SW corner of the building would be where I would buy if I had more than 3 nickels and a dime.

Does this mean that folks will be moving into the building on or after the 24th?  Or have they already been moving in?

20 hours ago, rechlin said:

I wonder if they are still planning to do the second phase, with the condo tower on top of the garage, or if that is postponed indefinitely.  Considering how quickly the other new condos downtown have sold (Marlowe), I wouldn't be surprised if there is a good market for it.  Perhaps they will start on that once the restaurant buildout is complete?

I am unaware that they built the foundation of the parking garage to support this.   There was much talk of this when the garage was being built.  Not sure if they actually put that foundation in or not.

1 hour ago, hindesky said:

They are fencing off the drive thru area as a construction manager once told me. I've seen homeless people camping out there several times.

Very likely “homeless people” were not camping there.  The “addicts and the mentally ill” were.

Anyhow, school starts tomorrow. I think.  Fantastic news for downtown!

4 hours ago, MarathonMan said:

https://caydonproperty.com/us/properties/main-st-mid-town-houston

 

2850 Main, the current tower under construction, will have 357 units.  2711 Main (presumably The District I & II), according to the Caydon website, will have 1000+ condos.  That’s almost three times the size of 2850 Main.  Should Caydon deliver on its plan, 2711 Main will absolutely set a new standard for Houston!  I did hear that there was a construction delay, so I’m holding my breath until they start digging.

Highrise condos in midtown.  Wow!

Excuse me, but now I need to go and find Lucifer.  I need him to get me some ice for my drink!

There appears to be nothing about this entire rehab for this building that went even remotely on time.  Glad to see that they building and it’s ground floor amenities are coming together.

On 12/19/2018 at 1:06 PM, CrockpotandGravel said:

The Houston Center website has a new look, promising new changes to go with the look of the website.

 

The heart of downtown Houston is changing. Planning is underway for a major redevelopment of Houston Center’s landmark 4.2M square foot office and retail campus. Brookfield Properties is making a significant capital investment that will raise the bar in the total tenant experience. Houston Center will be a modern and dynamic mixed use office campus with the amenities to retain and attract top talent.
 

Please check back in January 2019 for the unveiling of the redevelopment plans.

 

http://houstoncenter.com/

 

 

“Retail campus”?

hmmmmmm.  I guess the dress barn is about the only store left in the “retail campus” ......

sadly, I think that thier vision for the “retail campus” is going to be a food court with liquor.   

On 12/13/2018 at 3:59 PM, Nole23 said:

I've been twice in the past week and went to Craft Burger and Sit Lo. The prices are a little higher as mentioned before but I love this place! I'll definitely be going back often. Excellent addition to downtown in a great location.

Agreed.

Went today.  Place was packed at 1 pm.  I liked it.  Good crowd.  Mostly 20-and-30-ish folks.  Good beer .  Good food.  Good crowd.  So far, a success, it seems.

On 12/13/2018 at 2:14 PM, Nate99 said:

There are cheaper options out there to be sure, but not as many as there used to be. There are $11 grilled chicken salads for takeout in the tunnels. 

True.

and even la Calle — the best joint in town - I think, may have raised prices a bit.

Meeting rooms, ball room, restaurant, expanded spa, gym, indoor pool, .......

I am thinking that this might be a way to expand “infrastructure” .... not “additional guest rooms”

16 minutes ago, Urbannizer said:

I can see this being renovated to condominiums for the JW Marriott.

What an interesting thought!

would it not be difficult for residential given that there isn’t much natural light inside?  I.e. long and narrow building with no windows on either side.

On 12/10/2018 at 3:30 PM, wilcal said:

Link to the full presentation: http://www.downtowntirz.com/downtownhouston/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/181206_Bagby_Public-Open-House_Presentation.pdf

This is going to be fantastic!  

I hope that they make it an urban Target.

well, at least I can hope.

Is  everything still  on track for the school to open for classes at the start of the new semester (Jan 7?)?.  It will be absolutely great to have a new bunch of young creatives downtown.  They will add vibrancy just by being here.  And, I am hoping that some of them do some busking.... it will be one more cog in making downtown feel like a neighborhood, 50 years after it stopped feeling that way.

4 hours ago, Elseed said:

Mehh. The Houston shops has been lame just like the downtown tunnels since day one. 

I disagree.

20-years ago, the mall was full of decent stores.  There was a brooks brothers, a mid-tier jewelry store (‘corrigans” as I recall), luggage store, men’s shoe store, a fancy candy store and lots more.  How do I know this? 

Well..... I bought clothes at brooks brothers for myself.  Johnson and Murphy dress Shoes at the shoe store, pearl earrings at the jewelry store for my wife, an expensive Jack George briefcase at the luggage store, and my friend owned the candy store.  The mall was NOT “lame” since “day one”.... it was quite functional and a place where downtown office people actually shopped.

And herein is the problem:

“The city says they will all be given the opportunity to go to shelters with the help of The Way Home Coalition, but only a handful of people appeared to be taking the city up on that offer.”

I am tired of the term “homeless” to describe addicts and the mentally ill.  As a society we need to stop using the euphemism “homeless” and start referring to folks as what they are:  mentally ill and/or addicts.  I have been told by the good folks at Star of Hope during one of my volunteer days that “the vast majority” of the folks on the street are addicts or mentally ill.  Star of Hope  deals with it daily.  They get that there are the occasional “mother and child” or nuclear family fallen on hard times and the shelters around the City marshal resources to help these folks.  But increasingly, i understand, they are seeing addicts and mentally ill.

“Homelessness” in America is only marginally about “folks hitting a rough patch after losing a job and having a medical bill too”.   It’s really about addicts and mentally ill.  Once society starts talking in that language, society can begin to create viable programs and enact viable laws, that deal with the problems of addiction or mental illness rather than the outcome.

8 hours ago, Subdude said:

 

I remember the Cattle Guard well.  It was at 2800 Milam.  The place was extremely popular for a short time in the time frame you mention.  

Thank you very much!   I just streetviewed that address.  It doesn’t look at all like I remember.  I am NOT suggesting you are wrong.  Rather, what I have in my mind looks nothing like those buildings.  I guess that the cattle guard building might have been razed?   

Do you recall that as you as you entered the parking lot of the place, that there was an actual cattle guard in the ground that you needed to drive over?  Or, am I just making this all up from some miserable whiskey dream that I had?

I just googled reviews on this property.  It seems that some reviews by tenants were very negative on the “Stay Alfred” room rental.  It also appears that “a week ago” management responded to several reviews and indicated that they sent a letter around to all tenants explaining that “Stay Alfred (is)vacating our community.”   Hopefully the Star is filling up with tenants so that they don’t have to pretend to be a hotel..  Frankly, I think it was a really bad idea to begin with.  Had I been looking for an apartment, and knew about that “hotel” practice, I would not have leased there.

is the B&B Butcher restaraunt under construction?