UtterlyUrban

Walked by today..... Lots going on..... Encouraging.

No opportunity has been lost in connection with the surface parking by the Embassy Suites. The opportunity is still there. (Embassy Suites does not own the parking lot.)

Wow! That is great news! I didn't know that the parking lot was under different ownership! That holds hope that something terrific could be put there!

Thanks!

I agree Triton. That embassy suites belongs in The suburbs of Beaumont. It amazes me when someone builds something that's already dated looking before it's even finished. GRRRR.

That building is a shame. The building looks marginal but the use of that prime lot for a bunch of private surface parking essentially on discovery green is utterly foolish design. Opportunity lost.

The pedestrian crossings are going in. The design seems to be a long ramp up and down taking the full block.....Not a typical "hump".....

I can almost understand the $1M+ condo... it's the $4,500/month fee that blows me away (http://search.har.com/engine/dispSearchPrint.cfm?MLNUM=12651939&CLASS=6&sType=0&print=y&leadid=6&portalid=HAR)

That's like another $1M mortgage.

These units are 4600 sq feet each. $1 per sqft for HOA fees in a highrise is not unheard of and many highrises that have few units (46 units in this case have to split the burden of all the Amenities, insurance, staff, and up-keep) have fees as high or higher than this.

A tough nut to swallow but my guess is that a bunch of folks buying here are paying cash for their condo so they have a place to stay the six times per year when they fly in from overseas....... The $4500 per month is likely not an issue.

It is amazing though.....

$4500 for Maint fee

$0 for mortgage because you paid cash

$4000 per month for taxes (guessing)....

Sooooo..... Even without a mortgage, for a $2.6m property, you are paying $8k+ per month for the place...... Wowza!

They do contribute, that's why you have all the fast food restaurants in the tunnels. Beyond that, they don't support much more.

I don't fully agree with this.

I live in downtown now but 17 years ago (before leaving Texas), I commuted to DT for work. While here as an office worker I personally purchased Jewlery (there was a Jewlery store in the Park Shops where Tejas is now), luggage (Parkshops upstairs), and clothing (Macy's). If there was MORE retail, I would actually have purchased MORE items.

You are obviously correct though.... If there was a LOT of people doing this then the businesses I mention would still be in business..... They aren't..... They are closed......

No, one A/C unit per apartment unit. Two apartment units per balcony with a divider in the center, making it two A/C units per balcony.

Edit: Before they put in the dividers, they were one balcony in total. I mean, technically it is still one balcony but that divider separates the units more now.

Interesting. I am definitely not in the age demographic that Skyhouse is marketing to and I am starting to see why that is.

Nope, they are large A/C boxes on each balcony. Usually two per balcony for each residential unit. I'll try to take a picture next time.

Wow, that really surprises me.

I just checked the floor plans, and, you are correct. There is no "air handler" in a closet on any of the plans.

My guess is that since this is like the 10th or 12th time that they have built a skyhouse (likely very similar designs for each), any "rusting" issues with the AC would have been figured out. But, we shall see.

Looks like I got my questions from this morning answered! Thanks folks! Great folks here. The pictures from the linked thread are terrific!

I have been searching for answers to this for a bit and it shows my goggling skills stink! Help?

When I left Houston 20 years ago (returning only about a month ago), I recall a small park in the location of Discovery Green. My guess is that the park I remember is the section of Discovery Green that has the Large Oak tree line promenade.

Question: How did discovery green form? What was there before? Were parking lots purchased, combined, and turned into a park? Buildings demolished?

Also, One Park Place..... What was on that lot before it was built?

Any pictures would be terrific!

Thanks in advance for any help!

Looking at this I wonder if it was an intentional design decision to give it somewhat of a blocked off from the street fortress appearance. People do value security, and given that the area is mostly new to development they might well have wanted to impart a feeling of safeness.

I see a parking structure that is seemingly unsecured, open to the street and with the vegetation on the walls (not sure if the wells are solid or those are just vines on some sort of mesh), totally blocked off from view from the street. To me, that spells: "criminal's dream".....

Funny how different people can interpret the same structure completely differently!

Either way, I really hope that this project is successful as that part of downtown would be terrific to have lots of new residents in! 5 more projects like it in the immediate area would be even better!

Say good-bye to all these one story box stores with huge lots in front. Next up, Randall's , Kroger, etc will have apartments above them. Not sure when, but it will happen.

It already has......

One Park Place downtown.

If this project really does start this fall, what are "typical" construction durations for something like this? A year? 18 months?

Just curious.

Also, that is going to be a 6 story building. What does Houston building (fire) codes require: concrete slab floors or just wood frame?

Those balconies with the a/c units on them are going to turn into an absolute mess in the future. Imagine the rust stains coming off the sides of the balconies.

Are they A/C units or just a vent cover? Many residential highrises have central AC (cold water from cooling tower). That grill you see may be to cover the exhaust vent for the dryers, stove exhaust fan, and bathroom vent fan. OneParkPlace works that way.

Personally, I like the sketch and think the ideas in it are interesting (although I don't think a mini-golf thing is a good idea, regardless, it certainly is an interesting one). About the only thing that surprises me about your idea and sketch is the odd reaction it has triggered in some.

I think this will be hotel overload for downtown. Where are all these people staying now? We get a lot of visitors for the O&G industry, but a lot of those companies are not located downtown (unfortunately). And for the Superbowl and OTC it will be great, but the rest of the year I would imagine that these places will have a high vacancy rate. I'm sure these companies do the math, but I am suspect . . .

As a frequent business traveler to downtown Houston over the last 4 years (prior to moving here recently), I can assure you that trying to book a hotel in downtown on short notice can be quite challenging at times and often impossible during the fall and spring seasons (conventions).

I have no idea how many rooms are "too many" but I know for certain that during significant portions of the year, there are not "enough".

There is a topic on just about every one. Start here for a recap:

http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/28590-development-list-for-buildings-in-houston-march-2014/page-4

Thanks for this.

.......

Time to educate myself.......

Residential is also beginning to boom... hopefully we see more in this area

1. 40 Story Market square Tower

2. Hines Market Square Tower

3. Fingers Ballpark Apts

4. The sliver 38 story tower behind Hess

5. Other 34 Story tower near the ballpark

6. 10 Story apts South DT

7. The 8 / 12 Story buildings South DT

8. The 5 Story apartments in South DT

9. Skyhouse

Hi guys! I am new here and a new resident of Downtown. I know about skyhouse and the fingers ballpark apartments but many of these other resi projects I had no idea about. Would folks be so kind as to give a an update on them or point me in the right direction to get info?

Thanks!