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MarathonMan

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Everything posted by MarathonMan

  1. MarathonMan
    The city has plenty of infrastructure (i.e. grocery stores). I’d submit that people choose the suburbs for the cheaper cost of living and schools.
  2. MarathonMan
    I have a bias because I live in the city, but I’d agree that, all other variables being equal, a corporate office downtown would be a much bigger draw for young talent. There is a vibrancy downtown that is simply lacking in the suburbs. The benefit is probably impossible to quantify, but it’s real.
  3. MarathonMan
    Interesting. RD’s least-intricate building design turns out to be, arguably, the best-looking.
  4. MarathonMan
    This link also lists a 600 unit high rise by PM Realty at 2601 Main. What’s THAT all about? That address is The Greensheet building at Main and McGowan
  5. MarathonMan
    I’m confused. DC Partners lists Arabella & Marlowe as their developments. So does Randall Davis. What’s the relationship? And if they work hand-in-hand, should we worry about DC’s The Allen???
  6. MarathonMan
    I haven’t heard of the 600 unit PMRG tower rumor. What is that?
  7. MarathonMan
    In terms of neighborhood, Alexan is more developed. Eighteen 25, on the southern fringe of downtown, is in a more sketchy locale, but things will improve in coming years as more development happens around it. In terms of the living space itself, both seem very nice! If I had to choose, I’d go with Alexan.
  8. MarathonMan
    I think driverless car ride sharing will be the eventual direction we go with “mass” transit in Houston and elsewhere. Driverless cars would reliably navigate our existing freeways and streets more effectively and efficiently that human drivers ever could. Capacity increases, accidents/deaths decrease and we don’t have to invest in a complete new infrastructure. On a a side note... extensive light rail mass transit in Houston seems impractical. We’re too spread out. It works for the central, more dense parts of the city, but would put the city under financially if we tried for a large network.
  9. MarathonMan
    This is starting at lightning speed! It begs the question: In general, is it more cost-effective to put more people on the job and expedite it, or keep head count low and draw it out? There is such a wide range of paces on the various projects around town, I’ve often wondered this.
  10. MarathonMan
    Same building. Different angle. The B&W image is the view from Market Square Park (looking west). The color slim rendering is the view from Block 58 (looking north), where the new Hines office tower is going up.
  11. MarathonMan
    Same building. Different angle. The B&W image is the view from Market Square Park (looking west). The color slim Rendering is the view from Block 58 (looking north), where the new Hines office tower is going up.
  12. MarathonMan
    What is the fifth one going up?
  13. MarathonMan
    I hope this is a turning point for Houston. This building definitely raises the bar. It makes sense to design a building with some serious eye appeal and then use that as a marketing tool. I doubt Hines will have any trouble filling this quickly. I’m looking forward to following the progress of this and The District I and II.
  14. MarathonMan
    The next logical light rail line would run East-West, connecting downtown to Uptown to Briar Forest to the Energy Corridor. Extending current lines to IAH and HOU would be nice, too.
  15. MarathonMan
    58 is the current Hines tower construction site.
  16. MarathonMan
    Good point, and it begs the question: Why are the new and proposed residential/mixed use towers in Austin significantly taller, on average, than those in Houston? Is it because real estate is much more expensive there? Rents in central Houston have to be comparable to those in Austin. And newly-delivered units in Houston fill quickly, so the demand is definitely there. Why, then, the hesitation to go taller in H-Town?
  17. MarathonMan
    Nice!!!
  18. MarathonMan
    By the way, the light wall at the HOB is a perfect example of the various “swing and a miss” efforts at Greenstreet. It’s arbitrary and underwhelming. If you want to make a statement, you’ve got to SPEAK UP. This is a half-hearted whisper.
  19. MarathonMan
    Greenstreet is so inward-focused. It is very unwelcoming from the street. For the life of me, I don’t know why they designed it that way or why they can’t change it. At the very least, if the businesses can’t all open to the street, give the outside some pizzazz— cool lighting displays, LED Jumbotrons, anything to bring some electricity (no pun intended) and excitement to an otherwise BLAH development. Make it a destination, not an afterthought.
  20. MarathonMan
    I doubt that CBDs will fall out of favor. True, some workers may work from home, but many of those people will have to appear at the office periodically and won’t want to drive a long way to get there. Also, vacant office space created by downsizing will eventually be filled by new companies to the area. And there will always be an appetite for city culture that will draw people downtown to live. Houston’s CBD is getting more residential and much more attractive as a home base. I’d liken it to air travel. While the internet offers plenty of opportunity for video conferencing between remote locations, business travel seems to be alive and well!
  21. 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.
  22. MarathonMan
    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.
  23. MarathonMan
    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’ +/-
  24. MarathonMan
    Same page shows the office tower at 50 stories and 1MM sf.
  25. MarathonMan
    This is just AWFUL! Marlowe is turning out to be far better looking.
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