KinkaidAlum

Wow. That's MASSIVE. The scale model is kinda scary but the renderings from street level are nice. If this thing gets up, even at half the size, it would be HUGE for the near northside.

A bunch of naysayers on this board. From the VERY beginning, MOSAIC was planned as an apartment tower and a condo tower. The companies involved are VERY experienced with building hi-rises and are bringing a NEW concept to Houston; smaller condos with a smaller price point. That said, they are seeking financing of the condo tower without having to have a certain % of units sold before groundbreaking can begin. The thinking was that people at this end of the market (likely first time buyers) will not put money down on a unit that is 2 years away from reality. With the connections these companies have, I don't doubt that the condo tower will break ground in the next few months followed by a re-opening of the sales center.

The problem I have with naming rights of public spaces is that those funds aren't given back to the public. McNair/Alexander/Papa Drayton are modern day robber barons in my book. They pocket millions off of the taxpayer's dime. Shouldn't the $ from the naming rights have been given to say public education, the public library, Houston Community College, or even a public hospital like Ben Taub?

The mystery is solved... The developers are actually BUILDING St Joseph's Parkway to run down the middle of the block! It currently doesn't exist but it soon will. The street has been paved over the last month or so. Also, the block is directly across the street from the Rise ( the artist's Lofts formerly known as Post Midtown Square).

Just West of the Summit (Arena of Love). The empty parcel that has looked like a park for as long as I can remember will have a strip center fronting the feeder (oooh, a strip center) and the Camden Plaza will be behind it (is that first street Norfolk?) A rendering is on-site of the building. I was hoping for ground level retail (you'd think between these units and the two condo towers there might be a need for something walkable...) because there appear to be awnings and such above the ground floor but I guess they are just for show. Sorta like most of Houston.

The Spires is a nice building. The units vary widely in style and price though. Check www.har.com to see current listings. Another option, if you want new and can wait a year or so, would be to check out the new Mosaic Project on Almeda. Looks to be very nice and will be located on the Northeastern corner of Hermann Park. Other hi-rise options in this general area include 5000 Montrose (great building and location), Warwick Towers (very top notch) and the older 1400 Hermann Bldg. All of the above are nice hi-rises. Of course, Commerce Towers downtown is right on the rail line and it's a SUPER building. If you are up for living downtown, I'd highly suggest you check out this one.

The Monday Chronicle's article on street closures in the 4th Ward mention Midtown Square Phase III. No real info. other than it is a proposed "hi-rise" that wants to close off public streets.

The housing stock and location of all of these neighborhoods cannot be beat. Nor can the prices. I think this is the next area that will skyrocket in Houston just like the Heights in the last decade and Montrose before that. With Hermann Park's renovation complete, the growing Museum District (MFA expansion, Children's expansion, and new Asia House), proximity to U of H, Texas Southern, Rice, UST, and HCC Central, and light rail (walkable from all areas of the Binz hood) as well as the Med Center and Downtown, it's a natural. What's more, the houses are amazing, especially in Riverside Terrace. The views aren't half bad either! As for crime, if you are coming from D.C. it will be a non-issue. The Third Ward has a much worse reputation than it deserves and what little violent crime that does occur doesn't seem random (perp knows the victim). I think most of the reputation is based on old racial stereotypes as most of these areas have been historically African-American neighborhoods. Of course, that's partly why I like them so much (I'm a WASP). From Frenchy's Chicken on Scott to Alfreda's on Almeda to the campus of TSU (nation's 2nd largest HBCU) to Project Row Houses, there's a vibe there that is totally unique. You'll notice too that many of the houses (especially in Washington Terrace) will display signs that read "Third Ward is My Home, Not for Sale." Many took this to mean the populace was worried about gentirification (becoming too white) but in reality, it was a collective effort to fight the developers from destroying the fabric of the Third Ward by tearing down the old and building townhomes with no curb appeal (you'll find those metal townhomes on the east side of 288 now right smack in the middle of a beautiful neighborhood). To me, that represents a neighborhood that cares. That's a good sign. I apologize for being so long-winded, it's just that I really like these neighborhoods and it's where I want to end up if I ever make it back to Houston full-time (in Boston now).

Enough with the downtown lighting. There are plenty of buildings that are lit appropriately (the old Gulf comes to mind). The BEST thing the Pavilions can do for downtown is to make a place that is so fun and exciting that nobody will be bored enough to look up! OR, even better, it will bring people INTO downtown at night instead of just staring at it when they are buzzing around a friggin freeway on their way somewhere else.

The Boston area used to have a House of Blues across the river in Cambridge. It was right in the heart of Harvard Square. Saw a couple of really great shows there about 5-6 years ago. Even saw Buckwheat Zydeco. I've also been to the HOB in New Orleans for a Sunday brunch. Great times. This will be HUGE for downtown and the city.

Are you serious? Man, if I wasn't a native, I'd hate Houston too. When will we learn?

Gateway will have a 450,000 sq foot medical office tower and two hotels with long term condos available. Retail will also be available. It was implied in the release that it would be a multiple building project. If not, then it would be one really large tower! The website www.gatewaymedcenter.com is registered now so I'll keep checking to see what pops up (just a placeholder right now) Also, don't forget the MASSIVE 22 story Outpatient Care Center which will be just South of the new 430 foot Memorial Hermann Plaza. From renderings, the O.C. Center appears to be taller than the Smith Tower at Methodist (over 300 ft).

What a shame. There's nothing on Spire's website to indicate that anything is happening to the property. My guess is we just got ourselves some more surface parking. Yippee. Parking is in such short supply around the Juice Box. Not.

We should have just made fun of ourselves as a city. Then nobody would care. I still like... Houston It's Worth Its Houston Strip Maulers Houston Pollution Houston Flood Houston Storm Refuge Houston Evacuees

To be honest, I know little about the twin Sussex Towers other than units seem to constantly turn over there. Sharpstown is also not the nicest area to say the least. As for the 2016, the units vary WIDELY. I've been in some that were dumps and others that looked incredible. The one thing all units have in common are some unbeatable views. Additionally, there's a great new jazz/blues club in the lobby and access to light rail. The downside is the proximity to the Greyhound station. That said, I'd choose the 2016 over the Sussex to be sure!

Well, there's one MAJOR difference between those renderings and the plans just announced; one less tower. From what the HBJ had to say, the eastern most block will house the multi-story House of Blues and retail. The middle block will house the loft office space in 11 floors above the 3 floors of retail. The offices will feature 13 and a half foot ceiling heights, exposed duct work, and concrete floors. The emergency clinic leased space here. The block closest to Main will house the 12 floor condo tower, and I am assuming that would also be over the 3 floors of retail. in short, it seems as if all three blocks will have 3 floors of retail but only two will have hi-rise towers (14 floor office and 15 floor condo)

That is interesting news about the Parklane. I have always wondered about that building. Thought it was entirely rental but from time to time a for sale unit will come on the market. I really think the Museum District/Northern Hermann Park area is about to explode with major growth. It is easily the most beautiful part of Houston with Hermann Park, Mecom Fountain, Rice U, and all the live oak canopies. It now is also very convenient to major employment centers (med center, downtown, Rice, UHouston, HCC Central, USt Thomas, Greenway, and even the Galleria area). The light rail also makes for easy trips into midtown/downtown possible for drinks/dinner/night out/rockets/astros/etc...The completion of the Montrose bridge over US 59 will help with traffic flow too. AND, watch out for the Hotel ZaZa. This redevelopment will make a big splash on the local scene. I think the ZaZa will make Houstonians realize that the Museum Area could be a great place to PLAY as well as to seek a little culture. I am still praying for the Mosaic though. That's my favorite proposal of all of them out there and from what I hear from friends in Atlanta, Wood Partners gets things done.

I went into the "Royalton" once. On the surface it appeared o.k. but it took just a few minutes to realize it was built on the cheap. I could hear the neighbor's tv next door as well as the people upstairs walking around. That might fly for a rental (which it was built to be) but that wont work with for sale condos for the type of money they want. Whoever bought it to flip it didn't do their homework. They paid way too much and will never get their money out if it through condo sales. Their only luck will be to find some sucker more foolish than they were to buy it from them. The unit I went into was rented by a friend. They offered current residents the chance to purchase units and very few (you could count them on one hand I was told) took them up on it. Not a good sign. On the other hand, I am surprised someone hasn't purchased the Museum Tower to turn it into condos. Everyone I know who lives there loves the building AND neighborhood. Many have casually said they wish they could purchase there. It's one of the few new highrises that to me makes sense with regards to location. Close to the museums, light rail, med center, downtown, and Montrose. Take the elevator down and there's a great environment right outside. Probably why there are only 19 units for sale right now in the Warwick Towers, 5000 Montrose, Parklane, Parc IV, Parc V, and 1400 Hermann COMBINED.

I agree with you about the houses. There are some really great 1920s/30s homes back there that are in great shape. That said, this particular proposal is for a vacant lot that sits across from a surface parking lot that serves the Children's Museum. I hope that surface lot is where the rumored CM's expansion will take place. It ruins the streetscape right now. The Asia House proposal is also for land currently vacant as is the Mosaic. However, the townhome movement has caused quite a few of the older homes to go by the wayside, although, to be fair, many that have been lost were in horrible condition and had been turned into duplexes/fourplexes years ago.

Of course, the $8,025,000 unit is a TEN THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED square foot penthouse! That is actually cheaper than the comparable units in the Huntingdon, Bayou Bend, Montebello, and Villa d Este. The price for the penthouse on the Redstone was around $10 million. There's also a 2400 unit for around $1.1 and a 1400 square foot unit for $500,000 and change. The developers are going all out on textures, fabrics, stone, and technology. Savy buyers wont balk at these prices, especially considering the location. They also aren't making the mistake of the Orion by dumping 400 units on the market. This will be a slender project with far fewer units.

I thought Perry's development was going to be East of 288? The one with medical office space and two hotels? This site is near the Children's Museum on Binz West of 288. I don't think they are one in the same.

What major lease projects have been cancelled lately? The only one I can think of is Ballpark Place. Lofts on Post Oak, 1200 Post Oak, 3333 Allen Parkway, Dominion Post Oak, Museum Tower, Sabine Street, Lofts at the Ballpark, Camden Midtown, Post Lofts at Midtown Square, Alta Lofts, Ventanna, Calais at Cortland Square, 3000 Sage, Seven Riverway, ZOM Allen Parkway, Broadstone, Augusta, Jackson Hill Apts, several projects in "Memorial Heights" and the Med Center have all gone up recently. Seems to me that it has been the for-sale hi-rises that have been cancelled, especially the ultra high end ones like Redstone, original Dominion, Monaco, and Orion not to mention the other Mercer and Shamrock.

I've noticed that sign a few times too. That's my route to UH. I think I first noticed the sign in September. It seemed like a weird spot for office space though since it was several blocks away from the medical offices near the Park Plaza and seemed to be smack dab in the middle of a residential hood. That's Houston for ya though!

The HBJ had an article on it last week. 31 units. A rehab of an existing building on Bartlett Street near the Rice Village. The upper units are being called "sky lofts." The developer is out of Albuquerque and apparently there is a sales office on site.

What are y'all talking about Houston being a slow city? Sure Dallas has more light rail. But, did Dallas have to build a line without federal money? That was a HUGE feat for Houston. AND, as for no projects right now, some of you need to get out more. In downtown there's a huge crane for a beautiful new cathedral and the new Civil Courthouse is nearing completion. There are several smaller projects underway too, like the bayou trail improvements, Nabisco conversion, and Christ Church Cathedral project. In the past five years, downtown has seen things like the Aquarium, Hobby Center, Hilton Americas, GRB expansion, 5 Houston Center, Reliant Energy Plaza, Calpine Center, Inn at the Ballpark, and 1500 Louisiana rise. We've also seen empty buildings converted like Commerce Towers, Humble Tower Apts, Capitol Lofts, Magnolia Hotel, Hotel Icon, and Alden Hotel to name a few. Then there's been the major street improvements, Cotswold project, Main Street Square, and a host of other public space improvements! Head South out of downtown into Midtown and the entire neighborhood has transformed in five years. There are smaller projects happening all over that stretch into the western fringes of the Third Ward. Where Midtown meets the Museum District, there's the Mosaic proposal for two towers and the Hotel ZaZa conversion underway. AND, don't forget the Asia House Museum coming. The Medical Center is NUTS right now. Prairie View ATM College of Nursing is nearing completion. Texas Women's University's new bldg is coming close to topping out. The 430 foot tall Memorial Hermann Plaza is well underway as is the expansion of the actual hospital itself across the street. Then there's the 21 story Faculty Center Tower that is in the clearing stage and the Diagnostic Center is coming down right now to make way for the 22 story Outpatient Care Center at Methodist Hospital. And there are enough proposals out there to make your head spin. Head to uptown and there are cranes and projects all over. Seven Riverway is up to about 10 floors. The Granduca Hotel in Uptown Park is rising. The Empire condos is well underway. Then there's the Hilton Garden Inn that is nearing completion and the Homewood Suites that has topped out. Just on the other side of the loop, the Briarglenn is rising. Out west, Sysco's new corporate headquarters is rising as well as new additions to several hospital systems from Memorial City to Katy to SugarLand. AND, don't forget the boom in Galveston and proposals for Clear Lake. The Houston Pavilions WILL happpen. I think some of you just need to buy a CLUE as to how long it takes to get a project this large off of the ground. We are talking THREE FULL CITY BLOCKS people. It's not like putting up a new CVS Store!