MarathonMan

When this building goes up it’s going to block one of the best views (from the north) of 609 Main.  I wonder why Hines oriented 609 Main so that it’s best, most dramatic side (facing Chase) is mostly blocked from view by taller buildings while the plain back side is wide open toward MMP.  I would have flipped it 180 degrees.

13 minutes ago, rechlin said:

It hasn't really changed since that June 8 photo.  I'll post a photo once HAIF fixes image posting (I'm not sure how some people have been able to get it to work, because it's totally broken for me), but it looks basically the same as a month ago.  They've pushed a lot of dirt around, probably in preparation for pouring the foundation, though.  I guess it won't have a basement since they haven't dug anything out.

They’ve been drilling and pouring piles for the past few weeks.  There has been a great deal of activity on-site, but the extent of their work is all underground, without a lot of visible progress to show for it.  Typical for foundation work.  

1 hour ago, Urbannizer said:

 

From this image you can see the atrium levels are about the same height as 609 Main's crown.

 

 

Here it appears taller as well.

 

 

Me thinks it'll come in as the 5th tallest, but I'm hoping for our first 800' footer.

This is a GREAT looking building.  Unique.  And it’s oriented at an angle from everything else .  Smart.  I hope you’re right, Urbannizer.  800’ would be nice.  But at 48 floors, I bet it comes in right in line with 609 main — 750’ +/-

10 minutes ago, Urbannizer said:

Block 42: 430,000 sq ft, 331 units (Pg 7)

 

https://s3.amazonaws.com/hines-assets/documents/Experience-Record_12-31-17_FINAL_web.pdf

Same page shows the office tower at 50 stories and 1MM sf.

This is just AWFUL!  Marlowe is turning out to be far better looking.

Looking at the renderings for this project, I wonder how they can, with a clean conscience, build so close to the Bayou.  Less than a year after Harvey, I would suppose developers would design generous buffer zones between the water and their buildings.  Maybe I’m missing something.  Can anyone help me understand this?

Another residential tower perched on a hulking parking vault. Ugh! ☹️

Activity on The Greensheet building at McGowan and Main — 2 blocks north of the Caydon construction site.  Are they gutting the inside to prepare it for demo (making way for The District?) or are they doing renovations?

On 6/14/2018 at 11:14 AM, Urbannizer said:

 

http://www.sdcarchitects.com/on-the-boards

 

Is it just me, or does this building look really dated?  Not good something that hasn’t been built yet.

4 hours ago, Triton said:

There are two blocks here right? So this multi-family complex is taking one and a parking garage is taking the other? Or do we have two multi-family complexes here?

Only one block is fenced off.  I’d say the other will lie vacant.

Looks like no retail on this project.  A shame, really.  East of Main Street, Midtown is kind of a retail desert.  Lots of non-profit homeless & no/low income services.  Lots of single family residential development.  But not one Starbucks.  I look at Mid Main and the Post Midtown at Gray & Bagby (and, presumably, the Caydon high-rise, which IS East of Main — barely!)as great examples of how GFR can make a neighborhood come alive.  Too bad some developers don’t develop for the long-term benefit and vibrancy of the neighborhood (Camden) but rather for their immediate ROI.  Hopefully this development will be a catalyst for a Mid Main-type development or two deep into Eastern Midtown.

Crawler crane is being assembled.  More heavy equipment and workers are now on site.  This project is ramping up quickly!

1 hour ago, Dakota79 said:

Off the topic, but I don't see a thread anywhere. How tall of a building do you think Hines will do on the corner of D'Amico and Waugh across form Whole Foods.  We all know Hines doesn't mess around.

I’d say around 30 floors.  The Southmore is around 27.  Aris Market Square is 32.  I think La Colombe d’Or will be 33 or so.  That seems to be their sweet spot in Houston.

3 hours ago, houstontexasjack said:

Phase II is Phase II of the portion of the project called the Sovereign.  Ziegler has a map of its version of the master plan for the Regent Square project that features the tower we know as "The Sovereign" with a label of "Phase I" next to it.  A label of "Phase II" is next to a structure just to the south of it.  The image of such is to the right of the map below:

 

Truly, this will take a century to complete.

3 hours ago, lockmat said:

 

Sorry, should have clarified. Based on looking at the site plan, it looks like phase two is a taller tower than the existing phase I tower. At least that's what it looks like to me.

 

Actually, page 19 shows it to be a taller tower as well, good news! And according to page 25, could they be connecting the two Sovereign towers???

http://regentsquarehouston.com/wp-content/uploads/GID_RegentSq_Bro_US_A4.pdf

I’m a little confused by all the Phase I/Phase II talk.  I’m assuming Phase I is The Sovereign and Phase II is everything else, yes?  If so, I see three new high rise residential towers coming.  One at Tirrell and W Dallas, one directly south of The Sovereign and one just southwest of The Sovereign.  In addition, there will be a high rise hotel at Dunlavy and Allen Pkwy a mid rise office tower at Tirrell and Allen Pkwy, and low rise residential and entertainment over the rest of the site.  Based on the renderings, the development could be truly spectacular, — a slam dunk — especially being nestled next to the new Buffalo Bayou Park.  It just needs to get done........

I’m torn on this one.  I like the infill..... but, boy this is NOT an attractive building based on the rendering.

11 minutes ago, Houston19514 said:

 

I think maybe the writer might have been confused.  Isn't the Caydon building that is under construction going to be 26 stories? And I'm pretty sure it is slated to be the shortest of the three planned Caydon towers. It seems they may have confused the current building with the next one that is under development (unless, of course, Caydon's plans have changed).

 

For convenience, I'm reposting the FAA filing links:

https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external/searchAction.jsp?action=displayOECase&oeCaseID=335960229&row=2

 

https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external/searchAction.jsp?action=displayOECase&oeCaseID=335958451&row=1

 

 

544’ and 621’ for District 1 and 2, respectively!  Unprecedented for Houston residential development... I LIKE IT!

16 minutes ago, thedistrict84 said:

 

There will still be a freeway-like presence between downtown and Buffalo Bayou Park. Latest maps from last week still show several elevated connectors starting south of W Dallas originating at Bagby, Jefferson, etc. to connect to I-10 west and I-45 north. The Bayou will still have multiple, multi-lane bridges crossing it at the same point I-45 does now.

 

I agree with your concern about “creat[ing] unfortunate physical . . . barriers.” Unfortunately, the same plan that will (eventually) bring down part of the Pierce requires a rerouting of I-45 to the southeast of downtown that will actually create a physical barrier . . . for EaDo and the East End. More than a dozen vibrant city blocks eliminated, several streets that currently provide access to downtown cut off—a sizable physical barrier that will unequivocally have a detrimental impact to the neighborhood, more harm than the Pierce could ever be credited with.

 

I wish we could follow Vancouver’s example, but we passed the point of no return to do away with freeways near the CBD long ago.

I understand that we aren’t going to eliminate all the freeways adjacent to downtown.  I’m not that naive.  My argument was more general.  

40 minutes ago, thedistrict84 said:

 

I don’t understand the need for downtown and Midtown to “integrate.” The presence of the Pierce Elevated has hardly stunted development in Midtown. Further, light rail passes through uninhibited, and all streets maintain a clean connection despite the half-block wide Pierce Elevated. There is still room for development on the southwest side of downtown and the northeast side of Midtown, with new projects announced in these areas recently. The only “barrier” that the Pierce Elevated seems to constitute is a visual barrier between the two districts. 

 

As I’m sure you’re aware, the Pierce Elevated coming down would be the last step in the I-45 reroute project. Best case scenario, and assuming no delays with this ambitious project, you’re probably looking at least 10 years before that happens. Hope you don’t develop a cramp keeping your fingers crossed for that long. 

I never said there was a NEED for Downtown and Midtown to integrate by removing the Pierce Elevated.  Both districts will be fine if the Pierce stays.  And I’m not naive enough to think that the Pierce is going anywhere anytime soon.  I didn’t write anything to that effect.  My point, to be clear, was that I think freeways in general create unfortunate physical, visual and psychological barriers between neighborhoods.  When those barriers can be eliminated a city is better off. Vancouver, B.C., for instance, doesn’t do freeways near its core For this reason.  Another example, Klyde Warren Park in Dallas (over the Woodall Rogers Fwy).  That park is a great way to connect Uptown and Downtown Dallas.  I may be wrong, but I bet you’d be hard pressed to find someone who thinks otherwise.

 So, yes, I would love to see Midtown and downtown Houston more connected someday.  And I’d love to see I-45 gone between downtown and Buffalo Bayou Park.  That would be transformational for the city!

7 hours ago, TheSirDingle said:

Feel like it's gonna be a skeleton crew until; they start pouring the foundation 

Jeez, I hope not!  It’ll take them years!  This developer is giving new meaning to the term “baby steps”.  Well, this outfit and the one doing Dolce Midtown on W Gray.

Whatever they’re doing, it’s not full-force construction work.  There is only a skeleton crew there each day.

1 hour ago, hindesky said:

Not sure if they are adding dirt or taking it away. Anyone see dump trucks hauling away the dirt?

I haven’t seen any dirt hauled away.  I think they’ve been shifting it, exposing pieces of the foundation from the old building. Maybe to yank them out? 

17 minutes ago, dbigtex56 said:

Sooo...(if I can finesse a segue) will residents of 3300 Main be going downtown, or spend more time in Midtown?

Both.  I live in Midtown and I love spending time downtown.  I also spend time in the Museum District/Hermann Park.  I think that, once the Pierce Elevated is eliminated (fingers crossed!), the two districts will integrate.  They’re both pedestrian-oriented and easy to navigate.

I don’t think there’s been any discussion of converting the Fiesta.  And I’d guess that most would agree that there isn’t much architectural significance to the Fiesta building.  I’d wager that it comes down.