UtterlyUrban

5 hours ago, Houston19514 said:

 

I don't think there is any reason at all to think this is targeted solely at software innovation.

 Would think that software innovation may be ancillary to the bulk of the work.  I would think that much of the work will be focused on traditional energy and sustainable energy as well as medical and health.  I further suspect (and hope) that there be robust outliers to this “core”.  But, if someone really wanted to found the “next big thing” in software, they will head to the Valley,

21 hours ago, MarathonMan said:

Yes, it’s directly ly south of the GRB.  Odd location in my view.  No visibility at all.  It’s “boxed out” of the Discovery Green/Avenida Houston traffic zone by the GRB to the north and the parking garage to the west.  Then, it’s cut off from Eado to the east by US 59.  With surface parking to the south, it’s pretty much isolated from everything!

But the folks staying at the Holiday Inn Express  will be digging the 2 minute walk to Booze and Bands!

Hey!  This ^^^^^^^ is great news!  

I will head over there when it opens!  

I too am excited to see this potentially moving forward.  It will be terrific for the area and will draw other uses to also come to the area.  However, i feel that, given its location,  it will be more difficult to lease up than other residential areas of downtown. The owners, if they build it, will need to “get real” on lease pricing.

1 hour ago, HoustonIsHome said:

It's a really exciting project for an underutilized part of downtown.

 

I wonder how active was that area when Clyde Barrow lived at the peacock.

 

I heard he used to hang out at Root Square. Must have been something off a spot at the time.

No kidding?  I have never heard any of this story.  I need to google..... unless you are pulling my leg!

7 hours ago, CREguy13 said:

I think the residential component is slated to be 40 - 45 floors.  Hopefully they are tearing down the garage and close to a groundbreaking - this is becoming a dense residential neighborhood.

Wow!

3 hours ago, mkultra25 said:

 

. I thought I knew all of the best "mondegreens" (aka "misheard lyrics"), until a few days ago I ran across someone who swore they had always heard it as "a gay pair of guys put up a parking lot".

 

 

“A Gay Pair of guys
put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique
And a swinging hot spot”

I mean, who else, in the box of stereotypes that was 1970, would build this?

I am assuming that with all the windows in and that blue material on the sides that this building is “dried in” so that all the work inside is proceeding.  Is that a correct assumption?

4 hours ago, mkultra25 said:

I got my last set of tires at that Goodyear, and have had a couple of puncture repairs done under warranty since then. I like Goodyear Eagles, and it seems that Goodyear service centers are about the only places that carry them anymore locally. None of the other locations are nearly as close or convenient as this one, so I'll be sorry to see it go. 

I always seem to head to NTB in midtown.  That’s said, I agree with you.  The park IS a better use for the burgeoning neighborhood.  However, I do hope that is all of the lots across Downtown fill up over the next 15 years, that we are able to keep some of the “context” of urban life in place.  That “context” includes places to repair your car, wash your car, store your processions, get a cheap hamburger or a cheap haircut, etc.  Without these, IMO, you are left with Disneyland.

Good news.

On 3/12/2018 at 6:36 PM, CREguy13 said:

The below two quotes + article from today say otherwise:

 

"Less than a year after opening, Market Square Tower, Houston's tallest residential high-rise, is now over 90% leased."

 

"Despite many in Houston tightening their budgets, especially in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, interest in the property, where rent starts at $2,200/month, has been robust."

 

https://www.bisnow.com/houston/news/multifamily/market-square-hits-90-occupancy-amid-down-market-86022

This is great to see. For a building this large to fill up this quickly is terrific and likely faster than the owner’s projected.  I read somewhere that landlords (and their bankers) of large complexes believe that a 5-8% vacancy rate is “structural/normal”.  The fact that they have essentially “filled up” very fast is a credit to there marketing and the product that they delivered.  Kudos to them.  

My gut gut tells me that Aris will fill up just as fast.

7 hours ago, intencity77 said:

Long given up on this project. Even if major parts of it ever manage to come to fruition it will never be as cohesive as it was originally visioned to be.

I agree, unfortunately.

“The Homey”?

somebody should be embarrassed.

On 3/5/2018 at 10:59 AM, samagon said:

 

because the improvements aren't strictly going to be advantageous to promoting the single occupant car culture we so desperately cling to.

Bingo.  

On 2/28/2018 at 8:30 PM, mollusk said:

.......and strong remedial programs.......

I honestly don’t understand what this means.  Can you explain?

1 hour ago, Twinsanity02 said:

I have lived in Houston since 1981. In my opinion it has vastly improved. The downtown used to be a number of impressive tall buildings , empty lots, no sports facilities, a small theater district, and many decrepit buildings. There was no George Brown Convention Center. The Rice, the old Albert Thomas, the Texaco, and numerous buildings were abandoned some with strong urine odors. The bayou downtown was an embarressment ( look up " reeking regatta") The midtown area was worse. Much worse. The Medical center was impressive but small by todays standard. 

I agree.  Downtown was a wreck and midtown was a wreck on crack (literally).

By the 1980’s, I think that it is fair to say that Houston had turned its back on its downtown.  Houston was not alone in this, true. 

What “saved” Downtown?  What created the Downtown we have today?  A few bits of vision between 1980 and 2000 and, frankly, Millennials coming of age, asking questions about urban planning, ex-urbs, and deciding to put their vote, their money, and their persons “close in” to the city core.

When complete, If it looks and feels anything like this, it will be the “must live at” midtown location for many, many people.  It will be in huge demand.

question: what is a “laneway”?

Brick is good.

better than synthetic stucco.

but I am sick of beige.

would a reddish or brown brick been so shocking to the senses of the 2010’s Houstonian that it would have caused mass revolt?  Are we all just beige now?

14 hours ago, kbates2 said:

Went today.  They didn’t end up doing the produce section so it is a pretty standard CVS.  That said, we have been a desert over here so this is a massive addition.

I am surprised that they didn’t do the “produce thing”.......

CVS is buying one of the health insurers and their pitch to wall street includes that they will use their retail stores as “neighborhood health centers”..... when I heard that, I immediately thought of this store’s concept.......   

This surprises me.

”5 star” hotels are “typically” not “convention hotels” ( yes, a lot of quotes).....

convention hotels attract the typical mid-level manager/worker ...... not the luxury expense budget crowd.  And, this hotel is “far” from many of the office towers on the other side of town.  Very curious ........

15 hours ago, Timoric said:

The Dream...tall buildings connecting the Medical Center with Downtown and another spoke connecting Uptown with Downtown ringing the fine parks and bayous, view of a mega city

IF you are currently under 30 years old, you just might see that in your lifetime.  If you are over 50, probably not.  Either way, it is a great vision.

This sounds really great!

i think that I will book a room there one night after they open.  I like furniture that floats.  Of course, this being Houston, they may have chosen other words.

23 hours ago, j_cuevas713 said:

I thought it was always that washed out green industrial look

I did too.

Downtown could used a place like this too!  Kinda cool looking, IMO.

50 minutes ago, CrockpotandGravel said:

More on Benjamin, the restaurant from B&B Butchers' Benjamin Berg, opening inside The Star in downtown Houston at 1111 Rusk.

From Houston Business Journal:
 

What's the update on your new restaurant, Benjamin, inside The Star?
I hope it’ll open late summer or fall of 2018. It’s going to be upscale dining. I have this idea in my head the way dining is going: upscale but very approachable. I don’t think people want stuffiness anymore. But I want to give a high level of service and an unbelievable experience in an absolutely breathtaking space that’s iconic for Houston — the architectural work on the building is just gorgeous. I want to do the concept at a price that’s approachable and in an environment that’s approachable.

The whole restaurant is about 18,000 square feet and we’re going to have some of the best, especially for restaurants, private event space. The dining room itself will have somewhere between 180 to 200 seats, a bar with roughly 60 seats. The rest of the space will be private rooms that can fit about 400 people. We’re going to have a table in the kitchen. In fact, I’ll have two kitchens: a kitchen on the mezzanine for private events and an a la carte kitchen. Plus, a garden. 

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2018/02/01/ny-restaurateur-carves-out-a-niche-in-upscale.html

This sounds like a great place for corporate events and lawyers/bankers and maybe even the 25-year wedding anniversary!