thatguysly

Everyone keeps wanting to make Houston more like NYC. I get it, it's a great city. But it will never happen. There is a reason that city is so unique. Urbanization is great but getting people out of their cars isn't easy. We don't have good public transportation like NYC has. You would be crazy to drive a car into NYC because of traffic and lack of parking. We grow up here under different circumstances when it comes to transportation and it becomes ingrained in how we commute. Plus we have massive suburbs with no better way to get into town than to drive. The schools within the loop that are public aren't great so people don't want to live in the loop. It creates more driving into the loop to do things than walking. In the end transportation and schools have to vastly improve (and affordable housing) for Houston to ever have a shot at really becoming urban. I love what Houston is becoming, it doesn't need to just become a clone of NYC to be great.

Compared to the interior of his last couple projects, this is fantastic. Have to look at it through a Randall Davis lens. 

The foundation is poured and the steel frame for Mastros is being erected. The utilities are being installed for Willie Gs.

3 hours ago, AREJAY said:

I understand that it's just pre-leasing, but 6 units, out of 297, in two months? Ouch 

Because most people aren't crazy enough to spend almost $1,800 a month on a 550 sqft studio. This is Houston, you can find a two bedroom in a new wrap for under $2,000.

12 hours ago, Houston19514 said:

 

What's the current floor count?

33 with the crown making it 34.  They did 31 concrete floors and two with iron beams. 

Construction on Mastro's has begun. Grading is complete and utility connections are being made.

They have also brought in dirt and graded the space for the new Willie G's. It looks like most of the focus is on Mastro's at this point.

2 hours ago, gene said:

wait...so this is taking over the huge empty grass/park like area in front of The James? i was hoping they would turn this into a true park like the new midtown park with music/event venue etc...oh well! 

It sure looks that way

Cranes are being jumped

The steel frame for the crown is being installed.

I don't think the building is slimmer. The rendering doesn't show a good side profile to show how slim it is.

Parking is a major part of it. I know at many of the areas the parking is strictly for the 1-5 business in that area. If you walk across, in theory you can get towed. That would have to be changed. For instance, the parking at Mens Warehouse is for their customers only. If you want to go to The Gap down the street, you will have to move your car. The parking at Kroger says for Kroger customers only. The same is for the parking garage at the corner by Barnes and Noble. 

Legacy is expanding on their current building on the other side of the street. They took out the parking under the building and are building it out. The fenced off the parking lot east of the building as well.

The closest bar to there is Bar Bleu

I drove by here last night. They were trying to drum up business by having a little "open house" event. They set it up outside along San Felipe so it was awkward but they had a bar, white couches and chairs, tents with a place to take "red carpet" photos, a spotlight, and loud music.  

1 hour ago, Houston19514 said:

 

The base of the tower has 4 floors.  I'm guessing your are counting it as only 2.   The stacking plan shown in the site linked above shows a total of 34 stories, and it also shows that what has been referred to here as the "crown" is actually the 34th level, served by an elevator.  I think the heliport will be on the the 34th level.  Note that this is identified on the stacking plan as Level 35.  That is because there is no Level 13, as is customary in hotels.

I counted 4 at the base. If they are working on the crown now, then they cut the two floors that are shown in the rendering below the crown off. From what I can tell that is the only difference. The rendering never had as many floors as the articles claimed the tower would have.

If that is the case then then I count 31 floors plus the crown.

I see this one everyday so I know what it looks like. I am just saying that aside from the elevator shaft, which can be hidden in the crown, a new floor construction has not taken place in weeks. Prior to Christmas, new floors were being constructed every 7-10 days. Additionally, if you look at Urbannizer's photo near the top of the page, which shows the top of the building, I don't see any areas to attach new rebar for pillars from the previous floor. Maybe it hasn't topped out but they haven't built a new floor in 2017.

I feel like this one topped out a couple floors early. They haven't started construction of a new floor in at least a month and I don't see any new pillars being built or added. 

That helicopter blew past my window in the Galleria/Uptown area. 

I hope to see more and more of these mix use with grocery stores in the loop. This and the one with Whole Foods are a great start. I also hope this lowers the traffic in the Montrose HEB just a little bit.

18 hours ago, ArtNsf said:

I totally agree.  But, it would be much more attractive if they removed that god-awful crown thingy at the top.  Should be easy enough to do.  Consider this my own personal request to the owner of the building to fix this and soon ! Please.

The crown looks halfway acceptable from the from. From every other angle it is a mess. 

20 hours ago, Houston19514 said:

 

Where are all of the ground breaking designs in Dallas? 

 

 

 

 

https://www.dezeen.com/2015/08/12/kengo-kuma-rolex-building-office-tower-underway-dallas-texas/

It is now a parking lot

49 minutes ago, terra002 said:

 Its almost too late for that. However, ive lived close by here for a while and never had an interest in visiting an antique shop...

I've been to one in that location. Super pricey but I like the artsy scene in that area as well. I am more just hoping the things that make Montrose unique don't slip away. I like how there is Midtown, the Heights, Montrose, etc that each have their own flavor. 

Don't Midtown my Montrose!

I hope that area keeps all the things that make it great the antique shops, bike shop, etc. I'd hate to see it just become more "trendy chains" Steel City Pops and Shake Shack.