quietstorm

Was in Sydney a couple weeks ago, and this rendering really does reflect the "look and feel" of their architecture.  

23 hours ago, hindesky said:

The white and black stripes are making this look so much better.

 

Yep, I saw them this morning and thought the same. The marketing was going for a vintage 40's feel and the stripes kinda remind me a pin stripes on a suit...pretty clever touch. Glad you got a pic.

From that viewpoint it does look squat, but from street level, and viewing from near DG, the scale "feels" right to me.

On 5/17/2018 at 7:15 PM, hindesky said:

I wish it was about 10-15 stories taller.

I vote "everyone's neighborhood" too.  While everyone obviously won't live there, DT is increasingly becoming a place for all Houstonians. From Discovery Green and the Convention District to Market Square and the plans for HPL and the Theater District...there is definitely more to see and do, DT. 

On 2/20/2018 at 4:05 PM, kbates2 said:

Personally, I like PVA better than that ^.

That's my point. Every school design in the HISD bond is based on stakeholder input/preferences--The HSPVA design is largely based on what the school community wanted. And the new HISD school designs are not "good/bad" based on zip code.  The quality of design is no better for 77002 (HSPVA) than schools in less affluent areas.

21 hours ago, bobruss said:

North or south?

 

I'm off South MacGregor.

6 hours ago, bobruss said:

Good point. In fact thats going up on the corner of Tierwerster and Southmore on the other side of the bayou from me. We almost bought a house on Wichita about two doors from the parking lot.

That is a good example and a fine addition to the neighborhood! Got me on that one. 

So thats where the money went for HSPVA's  more modern design.

You would think that the parents of a school like HSPVA would have done the same thing. My son went there and they had a very strong PTO so I don't know who or why but I do know there were lots of discussions and budget concerns.

We're neighbors (I'm off MacGregor). Have lived in the neighborhood for years.  My kids went to school at the Energy Institute High School site when it was Lockhart Elem and graduated from Carnegie Vanguard HS, which also has a more interesting design that HSPVA, imo.  

On 2/10/2018 at 12:07 PM, bobruss said:

All of the projects you mentioned were developed by parties that have never shown a concern about aesthetics or design. They have consistently put up

poorly designed badly executed projects with no concern for the overall affect they will have on the surroundings. They are just indefensible developers with no sense or desire to create quality projects. For them its all about the money.

On the other hand Trammel Crow is a well respected developer who continually develops well planned and executed projects.

Truly apples to oranges.

I don't have too many problems with HSPVA. Lets face it its a project of HISD, and they are strapped for cash. I'm just so excited that this school is going in downtown and the

ramifications of having 800 energized creative minds roaming around downtown is worth the lack of edgy design.

HISD would have never been able to explain it to the masses if they went out and spent a fortune on this new school when so many others are in desperate need of repairs.

Not quite how this works.  I'm speaking as a former HISD administrator who has had a school built w/ bond funds.  The bond elections to fund these schools was held as a largely separate measure from funding for school repairs.  The school design is largely based on a committee of school stakeholders that meets with the architect to give input on the design. The amount per school was also pre-determined as part of the bond vote. So for example, the new Energy Institute High School (see below), which is also currently being built, has a somewhat more dynamic design, and was funded along the same cycle as HSPVA.

I've stayed at the W in Uptown Atlanta and attended a conference there.  It was a bit "cheesy" feeling to me, but maybe I'm just getting old (lol)...

On a related note...Hubby and I had lunch at Kulture today and were remarking that we hadn't noticed the Avenida De Las Americas actually connects Toyota Center with Minute Maid Park (although it's hard to tell).  I believe this hotel will help create more to connect the Convention District, MMP, Discovery Green and Toyota Center.

22 minutes ago, Nate99 said:

 

Hotel pricing is all over the place. Now, who knows what algorithm the cookies on my browser are spitting out, but Hotels.com is listing Club Quarters at $103. Not sure how comparable they are, I've never been inside CQ. 

CQ are designed for basic business travel.  I've stayed at three:

Financial District SF - modern clean decor, compact rooms

DT Boston - clean, comfortable, small rooms, fairly modern, clean decor

Center City Philly - larger rooms, but not very well-maintained

*all of them were in older/historic buildings...the one here is in an older building (I think). I'm not sure about the quality of the Houston CQ.

19 hours ago, JoninATX said:

I'm excited about all the transformations that's happening around downtown, with The Rustic breaking ground in a few wks, it's really going to livin up that part near the Convention Center.

 

http://m.chron.com/neighborhood/bellaire/business/article/Avenida-Houston-to-add-new-restaurant-art-11297609.php

Color me a bit cynical about this project being successful in Houston. I love all of Texas' cities, but each is so unique...like very different members of the same family...fwiw my daughter just landed her first job in Dallas and lives in Uptown, and the vibe couldn't be more "opposite" Houston. While The Rustic has done well in Uptown Dallas, I'm not so sure it's larger than life, everything's bigger in Texas, honkey tonk vibe will do well in Houston's more laid back, cosmopolitan atmosphere. Not wanting it to fail by any means, but just not sure.

8 hours ago, UtterlyUrban said:

I do hope that you are correct.

 

however, in 1 square mile in downtown, we already have 100,000 "high wage office workers" who commute in daily.  We also have, what?,  20,000-50,00 "affluent" consumers within a few mile radius.  But, nothing except retail crickets...........

 

While I hope that you are correct -- i REALLY hope you are  -- personally I now believe that downtown will be an "entertainment" destination, not supported by dry goods retail for many, many more years.  Gosh, I hope that i am wrong but I just don't see that it is going to happen.

I actually think it will be ok if downtown Houston doesn't develop significant retail.  What I've found that distinguishes Houston from places like NYC, Chicago and SF in terms of retail is our lack of public transportation and street grid in our retail district (Uptown). My visitors mistakenly think 'Uptown' (Galleria Area) is Houston's CBD. In my view, the Galleria Area is similar to 5th Ave, Michigan Ave, or Union Square in terms of retail options. If downtown develops into a significant entertainment district to compliment the growing residential and existing corporate sector and developed better transit options to Uptown that would be something. While the Galleria itself is certainly 'walkable', the greater Uptown district has a ways to go in terms of overall mobility and access.

4 hours ago, 102IAHexpress said:

 

We don't have to wait to see if any activity builds around the new residential. There's evidence already around existing residential. 420 Main Street, has a perfect location according to HAIF, in front of not just the light rail but the light rail platform, behind a huge residential community (Rice Lofts), even near a park. Yet, all the grocery stores that have operated in that location have failed. Dead Zone indeed.

What 'grocery stores' are you referring to?  If you're speaking of Byrd Market (Georgia's), (1) that was a specialty store and not a traditional grocer, (2) the absence of said specialty store does not negate the businesses that have opened in the area since to DT living initiative (e.g., Local Foods).

1 hour ago, Jbarn said:

 

How active was the other 95% of downtown?

Main Street, Phoenicia and even Green Street were busy; but since much of downtown is comprised of singular buildings on whole blocks (i.e., BoA, Chase) with no ground floor retail, I expect downtown will continue to have weekend and after 5 pm "dead zones" outside of Discovery Green, Market Square, Main St, Theater District, etc.  If street vendor ordinances  are changed, it may help somewhat. We will also have to see what, if any, activity builds around the new residential, HSPVA, etc.

3 hours ago, Nate99 said:

Downtown is a whole different deal than what we had pre-DG. The whole residential subsidy thing might bear fruit and draw more non-subsidized projects in to the area. It's actually a place people want to be, whodathunkit?

 

Having been in Austin for school in the late 80's/early 90's and with a daughter there now, Houston's DT (dead zones notwithstanding) "feels" more settled and "grown-up". Don't get me wrong, I love Austin's energy and San Antonio's history, and even Dallas' "bling", but imo, the planning (this time) involving downtown incorporates what Houston is about--diversity, industry, good food, and a southern urbanity that is unique to the Bayou City.  It doesn't feel like we're trying to copy or compete with other cities, but rather build/create something that is unique and befitting the 4th and soon to be 3rd largest city in the nation.

16 hours ago, Urbannizer said:

https://www.apartments.com/broadstone-tinsley-park-houston-tx/bl33y48/

 

 

 

16 hours ago, Urbannizer said:

https://www.apartments.com/broadstone-tinsley-park-houston-tx/bl33y48/

 

 

 

The view of DT from W. Dallas is one of my favorite (sans the power lines).

Nice compliment to the Rice (Lofts)...