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CREguy13

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Posts posted by CREguy13

  1. On 7/30/2020 at 8:41 AM, jermh said:

    Idea to rescue bars, restaurants in downtown Houston would put customers on the street

    https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/transportation/article/downtown-Houston-bars-restaurants-street-customers-15443004.php

     

    I hope this actually happens even if it's only temporary. It would be interesting to see Main as a pedestrian/bike only thorough fair, but I predict that specific section of Main St. is going to have a problem with homeless people harassing patrons. I'm not sure if there has been an increase in homeless population since COVID, or there's just less of a buffer since there are less people Downtown in general right now. I have a lot more daily interactions walking around that area, and people are way more aggressive. It's equal parts heartbreaking and frustrating because there isn't a easy cookie-cutter to help everyone who has found themselves homeless. 

     

     

    Yes, homelessness has definitely picked up on this stretch of Main street and along both Texas/Prairie street.  I agree that people have certainly gotten more aggressive in their pandhandling. On a more positive note, the progress of Texas Tower and now the Preston picking up steam, it is really starting to help visualize what this area will be like in the coming years.  I'm pretty convinced closing down Main street to vehicular traffic on this strectch will happen, because it fits the vision Central Houston, Hines, and others have for the North District to create an urban downtown neighborhood.

    • Like 1
  2. 16 hours ago, H-Town Man said:

     

    Costar shows them having only 348k SF at 1111 Fannin, expiring September 2021. 

     

    The silver lining in 1111 Fannin getting vacated is that it could inspire a renovation, one which would help tie it in to what is going on across the street with GreenStreet.

     

    I agree 1111 Fannin being vacated may be the bigger story. However in my opinion, the real silver lining is that the current owner buys distressed assets and I believe got this on the cheap a few years back after the previous owner defaulted on its loan.  I'd bet this will be put on the market in the not too distant future and be picked up by a major developer *cough Hines *cough.  This is one of the most desirable locations for development in CBD with its proximity to Greenstreet, Red Line station, Houston Center, Discovery Green, and Skanska mixed-use among several others.  To me this has building demo and Hines next masterpiece written all over it.

  3. This area of downtown is going to transform at a rapid pace...

     

    Hines lands tenant for 250K-SF lease in Houston's tallest office tower with renovations underway

       
     
    By Jeff Jeffrey  – Reporter, Houston Business Journal
    Jul 13, 2020, 2:23pm CDT
     

    Hines has landed a major tenant for Houston's tallest office tower, which the Houston-based firm is in the process of renovating.

    An unnamed financial services firm has agreed to lease 250,000 square feet of space in the 75-story office tower at 600 Travis St., which is commonly known as JPMorgan Chase Tower, according to a press release. The lease comes after Hines and an affiliate of New York-based Cerberus Capital Management teamed up to buy 600 Travis and the adjacent building at 601 Travis St., formerly known as JPMorgan Chase Center, in October.

    Hines is in the midst of renovating 600 Travis, which will see significant updates to the lobby and exterior plaza; the addition of connected, collaborative workspaces; enhancements to other building common elements; and the addition of a conference center that can accommodate up to 150 people. The renovations were designed by St. Louis-based HOK, according to a news release.

    “The planned changes to the building’s ground-floor plane will be some of the most transformative in our firm’s history,” Hines Senior Managing Director John Mooz said in a statement. “For several years, our team has contemplated the unique untapped potential of the building’s large plaza area. The renovation takes strong advantage of that opportunity and that vision resonated with our new tenant.”

    Here are some highlights of the renovations:

    • The exterior plaza will be converted into an urban garden, featuring increased green space, an expanded canopy and more connections from the outdoors to the building.
    • The lobby renovations will see additional retail space added, which will provide new food and beverage options to tenants.
    • The renovations will also reimagine the entrance, paying homage to the building’s designer I.M. Pei, who died last year.
    • The five-story curtainwall will switch from the existing current chrome and glass grid to a new trapezoidal pyramid, which will add almost 3,000 square feet to the lobby.
    • The former Sky Lobby on the 60th floor will be redesigned as an exclusive “Sky Lounge” for tenants. The lounge will provide space for tenant meetings and collaboration.

    Hines and Cerberus Capital Management paid an undisclosed sum to purchase 600 and 601 Travis last year in what was reported to be one of the largest property deals of 2019.

    The building was valued at $473.5 million as of Jan. 1, 2020, according to Harris County Appraisal District records.

    Hines continues to manage the office tower. In the lease with the unnamed financial services firm, Hines and Cerberus were represented by Michael Anderson, Diana Bridger and Margaret Elkins of Cushman & Wakefield as well as Chanse McLeod with Hunton Andrews Kurth.

    • Like 7
  4. Slightly off topic and total speculation, but I don't see how HEB doesn't plant a huge Central Market or HEB in Midtown in the next 3-5 years with the amount of luxury housing and quality development U/C or proposed in Downtown, Midtown, and Museum District.  This corridor becomes more walkable and livable every year. I'd be shocked if HEB isn't engaging in early discussions for a  destination store likely a part of a grander development - maybe the South Main Innovation District?

    • Like 4
  5. On 7/2/2020 at 3:29 PM, HNathoo said:

    https://www.chron.com/business/real-estate/article/The-Ion-on-track-to-open-in-Q1-in-former-Sears-15382356.php

     

    The redevelopment of the former Sears department store in Midtown into a center for innovation is set to open by the end of March 2021, possibly with a full tenant roster, a developer of the project said in a recent interview.

    "If all negotiations we are in right now end positively, we will have a full building," said Ryan LeVasseur, managing director of direct real estate with Rice Management Co., which is leading and financing the $100 million project called The Ion. The company, which manages Rice University’s $6.3 billion endowment, launched the redevelopment last summer.

    I wonder if the demand exceeded Rice's expectations? Are they revising their timeline for the next phase to break ground sooner than anticipated and will the project be larger in scale than originally planned?  

    • Like 7
  6. I actually like the scaled down version - it kind of looks like the Allen.  The fact that it will have a neighboring tower on the same block is great for density and based on Drewery Place, Caydon will use high quality materials.  Of course would prefer a higher floor count, but 30+ floors with good design/quality in an area that didn't have a high-rise 12 months ago is a W in my book.

    • Like 9
  7. Woodbranch put this block back on the market today.  I'm okay with this as I thought I'd heard they were planning to hold this site to keep the unobstructed views from Market Square Tower.  Hopefully it gets scooped up quickly by a developer with big ambitions!

    • Like 9
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