quietstorm

Thanks for sharing this article. I enjoyed the read as well and wish those who are transitioning to permanent housing all the best.

13 hours ago, MidCenturyMoldy said:

"Located directly off the Buffalo Bayou to the North-West of downtown Houston..."

 

Yes, I know this is tedious nitpickery on my part, but NO Houstonian would ever say "the Buffalo Bayou." Just say "Buffalo Bayou" and not sound like you're from Dallas. 

Agree. It’s like when people say “the Third Ward, etc” lol. No one from Third Ward says that. It’s just Third Ward, Fifth Ward, etc.  

20 hours ago, Ross said:

You can thank the combination of Garnet "Not in my Neighborhood" Coleman and the Midtown RDA for piling up lots of land East of 288. Coleman is vehemently against gentrification, and thinks that he is the only thing standing between the Third Ward and a bunch of new people buying townhouses there. Personally, I want Coleman to just go away. I am annoyed that tax dollars have been used to accumulate several million square feet of land that is sitting there doing nothing and not contributing to the tax base. A quick search on HCAD shows 474 properties owned by the Midtown RDA. That's ridiculous. Maybe Coleman will work with Rice to use some of that land.

https://kinder.rice.edu/2016/05/25/third-ward-looks-to-shift-the-gentrification-conversation

https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112888084

I am a long-time resident of Third Ward and disagree with your characterization of Garnet Coleman who I know and who is my state Rep. Vacant lots aren’t unique to TIRZ zones and holding them for extended periods of time until suitable development is reached isn’t either. Your definition of suitable development (e.g. gentrification) doesn’t override the development wishes of current Third Ward residents who also have agency and some power in the area, which seems to vex some non/recent residents.
 

Additionally, wanting Coleman to just “go” doesn’t rest with you, but with the majority of voters who overwhelmingly support him. 

21 hours ago, Luminare said:

 

It already did break ground. What you are seeing is the beginning of the project. A massive amount of civil work is required before they can even get close to constructing buildings. They are basically building a mini-city on land that had very little infrastructure to begin with. We won't see much progress for a bit. Once we see streets finished then the buildings will begin. For reference look at the photos of the Lower Heights District. For awhile it looked like nothing was happening, but during that time they were putting in all the storm/sewer and surface infrastructure which is required to get things going in an urban core project like these. Yes you can do it the other way where you build everything at once, but sometimes its better to do it the way they are doing it.

My daughter worked for Kimley Horn and I learned so much from her about the vast amount of behind the scenes and prep work involved in construction projects. 

4 hours ago, nate4l1f3 said:

It’s a loss no matter how you slice it IMO, one of the few “major” retailers Downtown.  Realistically what would you like to see?

I think Zara would do better. Whenever I travel and visit Zara, it’s busy and would probably fit the DT residents, workers and tourists. 

The primary pockets in DT that have established pedestrian activity are Discovery Green/Convention Center, Main Street (i.e., JW Marriott/Finn Hall), and Market Square Park (i.e., Niko-Nikos/Franks/Barnaby's).  

Where do you see the next DT "pedestrian pocket" evolving?

14 hours ago, Russell said:

It was a question because it looks like they have already been moving in that direction over the past 5 years and the layout of the block would indicate that may be in the future.

That’s fair, and part of the complex is already gone. I find it interesting that some decry “cookie cutter” suburbs, but are ok with “cookie cutter” density. 

12 hours ago, Russell said:

At some point will there any more additions to replace the current assisted living complex located next to all this?

Why? I live in the area and think it’s cool that student housing is next to an assisted living complex. Why would elderly residents need to be “replaced”?
 

18 hours ago, nate4l1f3 said:

It’s been like that every weekend for a while now..

Yep, even for us older folks.  Hubby and I particularly enjoy bars like One Armed Scissor on Travis and Bravery Chef Hall's "secret garden" patio area that faces Main. Downtown is now place we or our 20-something kids could hang out.  There is starting to become something for everyone, even Avenida de las Americas and Discovery Green were packed with families last Friday night.  

On 8/7/2019 at 2:56 PM, X.R. said:

I was just talking to a friend about how behind Houston is when it comes to the merging of work and play spaces in their office buildings. He was complaining about his employer (a large oil company) moving their campus (hes younger) and was blaming it on the company moving to where people lived. I don't know if that is the case.

 

My thought is that these large oil and gas and startups are competing for the same workers that are looking at startups in Austin/Boston/SF where companies have already embraced the beer fridges, the lounges with ping pong tables, the huddle rooms, the on-site gyms, the yoga during lunch-times, and on-site food halls. A friend of mine does headhunting for 25-35 year old engineers/researches and they are looking for generally the same ^ stuff. They pay the premium to live downtown (close to work) and their potential office is a couple blocks away and you don't have the foresight to have a secure bike area and showers/changing room? Hard pass. I don't think the companies that left Downtown Houston will ever come back, but its good that these office spaces have recognized that they were 20 years behind the times. I just hope they don't skimp out on anything because they cant afford to anymore. 

On 8/7/2019 at 10:50 AM, CrockpotandGravel said:

More on Brookfield Properties' Houston Center renovations in downtown Houston.

From Houston Business Journal in late July:
https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2019/07/25/first-look-more-renderings-of-houston-centers.html

 

 

The lobbies of LyondellBasell Tower and 2 Houston Center will feature tenant lounges, which will be flanked by these conference facilities:
 

LyondellBasell Tower: six bookable tenant conference rooms with A/V capabilities — three of which are scalable for a combined seating capacity for up to 231 people — situated around a social staircase – an architectural feature to encourage employees to sit, relax and congregate, per the release.

2 Houston Center: two boardroom-style meeting rooms with A/V capabilities; two huddle rooms for more informal break-out meetings, which seat six to 14 people per room; plus "ample public seating areas for tenants to collaborate," the release states.

The fitness center will be located in LyondellBasell Tower and will be open to all Houston Center tenants. It will feature floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the new central plaza greenspace below, fitness equipment, locker rooms with towel service, a secluded space for private workouts and access to on-demand virtual fitness classes, per the release.

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2019/07/25/first-look-more-renderings-of-houston-centers.html

You make a great point.  Both my kids are 20-something engineers, and while their workplaces are considered among Forbes' "best companies to work for" with onsite amenities to combine work and play, the hours that they put in working leaves little time for play.  So much so that burnout and turnover among the young engineers is very high.  I almost wonder if the amenities are more of a ploy to just keep you at work longer.  It reminds me of a modern take on company towns like Hershey, PA where the workers lived, worked and played in the town, which also kept their earnings going back to the company's bottom line. 

3 hours ago, MarathonMan said:

I’m hoping that’s the case...

The light at the top left is out already

Also went Saturday, and again Monday. Good vibe. Nice wine and beer selection at the central bar. Seems to be working on ventilation issues, but overall great addition to downtown.  Not to mention that Saturday, downtown, around Main St./Market Square was absolutely buzzing.

The outdoor bar/"secret garden" patio area facing main is gorgeous.

8 hours ago, MarathonMan said:

I love almost everything about this building, but I still don’t like that the lighting on the north face doesn’t extend all the way down to the pool level.  In the rendering on Caydon’s website, it looks like that was the plan.  Maybe it was a budget cut?

I get what you're saying. But imo, when heading south the lighting looks "classy" and understated--not trying too hard to be "edgy". 

On 4/3/2019 at 8:20 AM, samagon said:

 

I know it's more scary than the Walmart in the Heights. the one on Wayside might be a little farther, but it is much easier to get to.

 

I know the SO will be excited about Target opening a store in midtown. the Midtown Sears no one remembered was there was never really a great option for this kind of store.

What's "scary" about the Wayside Walmart? (seriously)

Interesting article on the viability of GFR, which I think has relevance to the area around the Mid-Main area, including Camden.  The trend to require GFR in cities like New York and San Francisco has resulted in vacant storefronts; largely due to developers holding out for tenants that can pay the higher rents.  Unconventional uses for these spaces such as pop-up shops, and programming to engage pedestrians is mentioned.  

Quote

“People have so many choices now, you have to have a reason to get people inside the stores,” said Morgan, who was one of the brokers that represented the landlord in the Nike deal. “There are certain things you can’t buy online. You can’t buy an experience. You can’t go to Disneyland online.” Other landlords find solutions in repositioning properties. Along Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade, where more than 11 million visitors come each year, many of the retail storefronts that once lined the popular outdoor pedestrian mall have become creative offices or mixed-use properties. Such repositioning can require new conversations about what is wanted out of a property.

Read more at: https://www.bisnow.com/national/news/retail/fed-up-with-vacant-storefronts-residents-force-cities-to-punish-retail-landlords-91715?utm_source=CopyShare&utm_medium=Browser

1 hour ago, H-Town Man said:

 

Where is there vacancy in One Park Place? They leased their park-facing space to a brasserie, after they had held it vacant for a few years until the market was right for a high end tenant. Skyhouse is a unique case where they built in a no-man's land in south downtown using a one-plan-fits-all model that they use in many cities, so it will take time. Honestly this sounds like a post from 2013. Ground floor rents are high in downtown and midtown, new projects have more and more GFR (compare the succession of Hines office buildings downtown from BG Group Place to 609 Main to Texas Tower), major brands like Shake Shack and Whole Foods are going into ground floors, and even Class A properties like 700 Louisiana and Houston Center are undergoing costly renovations to create ground floor spaces.

You're right, One Park Place is occupied by a restaurant.  It seems we're referring to different things as GFR....as I've said, restaurants seem to be more viable. Not sure how posting that B&M retail is losing ground to Amazon is reminiscent of 2013, but ok lol.

17 hours ago, BeerNut said:

 

What has MidMain Lofts done differently?  They probably have the most available spots for GFR of any recently built multifamily and all but 2 spaces are currently leased.

I believe it's the type of ground floor amenities (dental, restaurants, kickboxing?).  I think certain amenities appeal to the demographic that would live in and around MidMain, but not necessarily traditional B&M retail.  Strictly anecdotal, but my daughter lived in a Post property in Uptown Dallas, and most of the ground floor around there is restaurants/coffee shops.  She later moved to the Bishop Arts area in Dallas (which has a Heights "feel"), where there are more eclectic, "funky" little shops in converted homes and refurbished buildings.  My son, who lives in the Bay Area (CA), likes the look and feel Heights Mercantile here--so I think certain types of retail still have an appeal, but not sure if GFR is it.

1 hour ago, bobruss said:

I hope the city planning department figures this out before it gets all built out. There needs to be GFR in every block.

Whats the purpose of building a neighborhood without places to walk to in the neighborhood?

I don't care about the argument that you don't own the property so you don't make the rules. If there aren't planning rules we'd have a bunch of shty

apartment buildings that are full of parking lots. That doesn't promote the neighborhood. Its ugly and defeats the purpose of walkability.

For the future benefit of the area they need to plan ahead and make room for the needs of a vibrant, affective neighborhood.

Trees, lighting, nice wide sidewalks, bike lanes and retail. Then you begin to see people getting out of their cars, and walking in the hood.

Unfortunately, the GFR ship has sailed. There are GFR spots sitting vacant in Skyhouse, One Park Place, etc. Perhaps ground floor "amenities" such as yoga studios, fitness clubs, bars and restaurants would work (perhaps not), but the idea of GFR sounds better than the reality.  Young people moving into these developments are shopping online, either via Amazon or through Instagram "influencers" marketing products.  What has promoted walkability in Houston has been public art, parks, water features, concerts, festivals, farmers markets, craft fairs and other "programming" that invites people to common spaces (i.e. Discovery Green, Market Square Park, Levy Park).  Another is density, but we just aren't there yet.  

2 hours ago, crock said:

replacing local restaurants with pass-their-prime national chains and removing all free parking is just...  sad.     I would love to meet whatever idiot that runs Mendocinco farms that came to houston and ate at Local Foods and Dish Society and watched East Hampton already close a store and thought "yup, we should enter this market".   

Hubby and I ate at Mendocino Farms last night and it was packed. Great location, especially outside with the nice weather. That being said, Local Foods and Dish Society have nothing to worry about, imo. 

I think concepts that are popular elsewhere, i.e. Mendocino Farms, Hopdoddy, Shake Shack etc. see Houston as a viable market because of the many transplants coming here who identify with those places. I honestly think our homegrown eateries are less likely to expand to other markets because there aren’t as many Houston transplants en masse in other cities to create a following. To me, it speaks to the fact that generally speaking, Houston is a place people relocate to, rather than from. 

2 hours ago, mollusk said:

Appears to be a very skilled cyclist, balanced while remaining stationary.

 

Still, your point is well taken.  Main's actually a pretty good north - south route for two wheels.

Yeah, most of the folks on the Bcycle bike shares still stick to the sidewalks.  For a hot and humid Saturday afternoon, pedestrian activity was pretty solid along Main and Market Square Park. Discovery Green, Avenida de las Americas and the restaurants in the area (Phonecia, Kulture, Xochi)  were all packed.