Grizzly46

They havent even poured concrete for the ground floor retail; it is still dirt.

Why would they not have poured concrete? Doesn't make sense to me.

Also, is the August 2014 Development map the latest version?

Its going to be a busy remainder of the year. 3 projects remain slated to start in 3Q 2014 (that havent already started) and 8 are slated to start in 4Q 2014. Does anyone have any updates on the redevelopment of State National Bank?

In case anyone was worried that last week's surface level clearing was a fluke, the excavator is really going at it now. Dig baby, Dig!

I think what you may see is a mini-condo boom downtown in the upcoming years.  Right now, it still isn't an easy sell to buyers to move when there is such a lack of retail and street level activity.  Once all the rental units deliver, retail will pour back into the CBD, and it will demonstrate that downtown is a living, dining, and playing destination.  Then I think Condo-developers will head to the drawing boards, because there is less risk and the area is proven.  Maybe I'm alone on this one, but that's how I see the process playing out.

Agreed. You have to set the climate for homebuyers.

The excavator that was digging at Franks has broken ground in the middle of the lot (it also appears that they took down the pay station). I spoke with the excavator operator the other day, and he said that Cherry (the company) was going to excavate both lots. Maybe they are ready to move on this project too?

Awesome. Any update on the start date? Other than just 4Q 2014?

This block seems suited for a gas station or some type of strip center, but not so much for residential. It just seems far too noisy and distanced from the downtown core. I wonder what imppace residential in this area would have on downtown overall. I would think marginal, especially when compared to the emply lots that are readily available in better locales.

Again, I need to take a look at the document again when I get home but there appeared to be $2 million allocated for a southern park in downtown. Need to double check the numbers but I could not find a specific location mentioned when I read it last night.

Thanks, I would be very interested in seeing that. With as many residents as are planned for that area, we need another market square type park.

With all of the residential moving into south downtown, I wonder if it would be a good idea to build a centeral square type park in that area, just to green up the space and create an outdoor vibe. I don't anticipate that the city has those types of plans, but it would be great.

I wish they would put a top golf on top of skyhouse 3.

I had called the Hines office a few weeks ago to ask them the status. Yesterday a Hines official called me and I told him I wanted to find out if the project had been delayed or still on. He said they should be starting very soon just got final drawings and have lined up a contractor and were getting ready to start. He said they would be rental units and I should consider a unit. So we have another high rise residential tower going up on Market Square. This is really going to be exciting. Market Square is going to come alive with people. Day and especially night. With these two towers along with the rice, the lofts on Franklin and Travis the density level might spur new street level retail in the old existing empty buildings around the area. It will be a great place to live with the theater district and all of the sporting venues downtown. Plus with the rail you'll have access to med center nag and Herman park and all of the museums.

Wow. This is another Hines project? This will make their fourth highrise construction site in downtown. Amazing.

I just spoke with the guy operating the excavator, and he confirmed that the digging is for a patio for franks (i.e. beer garden). This is good news and bad news. I love the idea of a beer garden, but it would be great to see the tower construction begin.

Bingo!

Ill be on the observation deck of the Chase Tower. Although if there were a HAIF party, I would be there instead.

Always the educator, Purdue. Thanks.

I just spoke with a manager at Skyhouse 1, who confirmed that Skyhouse 2 downtown is in the works. In fact, she mentioned that they received permitting last week, and it is projected to break ground mid-2015 and be completed sometime in 2016. Lets keep our fingers crossed.

I just spoke with a manager at Skyhouse 1, who confirmed that Skyhouse 2 downtown is in the works. In fact, she mentioned that they received permitting last week, and it is projected to break ground mid-2015 and be completed sometime in 2016. Lets keep our fingers crossed.

Is there some listing for it? How do you know it is on the market (and do you know the asking price?)

Any news on who bought the post office land? Who submitted bids? Has that been determined yet?

Bloomingdale's Main Street (Main at Dallas) is planned as one of the anchors for Mayor Parker's proposed Dallas Street Retail Corridor Project. A smaller relocated Macy's will also go up along Dallas Street, as well as a third big box anchor. All three, plus additional shops, will line Dallas Street from Main to Discovery Green. An announcement will be made after Hotel Alessandra breaks ground.

I hope this is not a joke.

From the development map, it looks like they will build on both sides of the rail line and the train will pass through the parking garage through a tunnel. Has anyone released blueprints or a sketch on how the rail will interact with the building?

They took down the Savoy sign today. No more Savoy.

Why not just build downtown and get the 15K/unit incentive?

The very specific information she had regarding the information intrigued me (i.e. the building location; she also said that there would be two swimming pools on the new building -- one at mid level and one at the top.). I hope this is more than a rumor.

I was talking to a resident of Skyhouse this weekend, and she mentioned that in a conversation with the Downtown Skyhouse project manager, he told her that Novare Group had already purchased the block bounded by Main, Pease, Jefferson, and Fannin, and was planning a second Skyhouse across the first skyhouse ). Can anyone substantiate this rumor? I tend to be very skeptical of hearsay statements like this one.