mhh222

There has been a lot of activity at the abandoned concrete warehouse building on the north side of Washington between Knox and Birdsall, just east of Benjy's. About a month or so ago, they spruced the place up, put in canopy's and spotlights and had some sort of late-night event/party... Since then they poured a concrete parking lot on the front of the site (used to be an old wood frame commercial property "The Thomas Collection" which you can still see on Google StreetView. I spoke with a guy who seemed to be overseeing things there last week and he said they are putting in a new Sushi restaurant on the first floor and I thought he said a wine cellar upstairs. Hopefully a a great, sustainable, addition to the Washington Corridor!

Some other news after some snooping further east on Washington. According to the realtor marketing the properties, those modern four story townhomes, the ones they wanted 600K for just east of Reign Lounge at Jackson Hill (they were abandoned mid-construction and the exposed insulation blowing in the wind has been an eyesore for months now) are finally going to be finished. In fact, the two on Washington will be torn down. The middle one will be a lawyer's office, with the rear two units now being finished for sale. The front will be parking for the lawyer's office. Makes sense for the lawyer's office in the middle one -- who would want to live right next door to Reign lounge and look down on Washington Ave for 600K+???.

Yeah I agree. However, there is currently residential and retail under construction, and even more in proposed development. I don't think Midtown is going away for awhile.

Y'all, this is a thread about the redevelopment of Washington Ave -- maybe you should take this discussion to the Midtown forum! Back on topic, plenty of goings on along Washington...

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• Benji's has finally begun construction. Interesting that the footprint of the building is a relatively small section on the southwest side of the lot. The rest is parking. Anyone seen any renderings of the final product? Based on what's there so far, looks like a lost opportunity to improve the street-scape, but too early to tell for sure.
  
• Town-home complex diagonally across Washington from Benji's (the one that had the major fire) approaching completion -- starting a wall to close it off from the street.
  
• Soma finally done! Big improvement over the O'Reilly's that was last in that spot. The former Eckerd's/CVS is still empty and the gym in the back appears to be doing pretty well. Wonder when they're going to take down what's left of the two old and ugly sign posts along Washington?
  
• A commercial property, Eye Impact, has broken ground across from El Tiempo. Takes up about 1/3 of the site, the rest of which is El Tiempo's valet/overflow parking. The eye impact sign I think used to say "coming Spring 2006" so good to see some progress!
  
• The new apartment complex, called "The Core" at 3990 Washington is nearing completion -- not to bad in that it isn't cookie cutter, but I'm not convinced that I love it yet! Yahoo! Real Estate lists units going from $1,125 to $3,000.
  
• The concrete is up on the strip center across from the Core. That baby is tall compared to the other new strip centers on Washington.
  
• And for those of us that live in the area, the CVS (which aesthetically speaking, doesn't do us any favors) is now open 24 hours! So you're good if you need some benadryl at 3:00 AM!!!
  

So, now that we're firmly back on topic, what other Washington St. news is out there?

Isn't there plans to build an office tower where 24 hour fitness currently is, and also the Willie G's locations? Does Uptown have a really low vacancy rate or something? It seems like all of a sudden there are a lot of proposals for office towers in the area.

Willie G's was sold and they'll be moving (was in the 9/21/07 Houston Business Journal). I heard that Brucette's Shoes just south of Willie G's on the corner of San Felipe and Post Oak was also sold and will be going out but haven't been able to find anything on that. Does anyone now what's to become of these sites? I go to the 24 Hour Fitness across Post Oak (formerly Q Club and I wish it were still a Q Club!!!) and can't believe they're long for life at this site, at least int the present form. With the new Cosmopolitan across the street just south of them, the Titan, which will be just to the east and all of the other development, I see 24 Hour Fitness out at their next lease renewal! Easy to imagine another condo tower on the site, and maybe a new 24 Hour Fitness on the lower floors. Anyone have the scoop?

Psychic Gone -- Did She See it Coming???

The palm reader on San Felipe is no more! Driving home from work this evening, saw a bulldozer and a pile of rubble where the old white ranch house used to be. She was there for as long as I can remember and must of made a killing on what will be the northwest portion of the Blvd. Place development. As well as she likely made out, I probably should have paid her a few visits over the years!

I didn't notice, but I think the Chabad House, one block west of this, on what will be the northwest corner of the site, is still there, but not for long I'm guessing. Prior to Chabad, this housed a gallery with what looked like schlocky art, some of which was actually hung on the side of the house. The profile of this portion of San Felipe is about to change big-time! Can't wait.

This was a good thread -- nice if we could get some new action here! So much new development to talk about on Washington. Here's some stuff to get this going:

1. The big apartment complex at Washington just west of Heights. Looks like it might not be that bad, design wise... Beats what was there anyway!

2. New strip center across Bonner from #1 above. Looks like their about ready to go vertical. The sign outside has a rendering... Again, not too bad as Houston strip centers go.

3. New strip center at Washington and Fowler. Disappointed at what appears to be close to the final product. Don't love the painted stucco, but let's see what the finished product looks like.

4. What about the old firehouse next to #3 above -- I hear that will be a restaurant/bar with rooftop patio, but haven't seen any recent news.

5. Same people that are doing #3 above are putting up the big one where Clark Motors used to be just southwest of #3 at Parker. This will be another urban retro looking place, not the typical Houston cookie cutter strip center. The site is totally cleared -- ready for some action.

6. The old art-deco center between Durham and Shepard is coming along as slowly as ever, but it looks like it will really be an improvement over the Hi/Lo & Eckerds combo that used to reside there. Nice blue tile, metallic lined awning, and looks like some real attention to detail with the work on Soma, the new restaurant on the West side of the building

7. Urban Realty has had a sign up about there new building at Reinerman forever, but no action here... Maybe they will tear down the old night club that hasn't seen any action in a couple of years? They also bought the old red brick auto repair building across the street -- for lease -- maybe someone will fix that up into a cool restaurant or shops?

8. The SW corner of Washington and Malone... Never got the eyeglass place the sign promised I think for Spring of 2007. 3/4 of this block is El Tiempo overflow parking -- they fixed it up as a lot. Hope there is some better development coming for this block.

9. Finally, about ready to go vertical too for the new Benjy's at Washington and Knox. They've laid the foundation and most of the parking lot. Can't wait to see how this one will turn out -- it's pretty close to my place!

Anyway, not all inclusive, but a start... Let's hear what you know/think about Washington development. Pix/renderings would be great too!

What do y'all think of the mid-rise going up at Westcott and I think Prague??? This is right by the McDonald's and Goodyear. The exterior isn't finished yet, but the ground floor appears to be a garage and is an ugly cinder block with window openings complete with not so inviting black iron bars!!! Not sure what they were thinking (other than $$bucks$$) but this is totally out of context with anything else within a good mile or two. I hope at least the finish for the upper floors is at least something tasteful. Anyone have some drawings of what the finished product is going to look like?

I think in contrast to all these wine bars there needs to be a sports bar or neighborhood pub... something that draws regulars... a home away from home type place... not to be too cliche, but sort of like Cheers.... Cahills sort of does that, but doesn't have a high enough profile nor enough of a feel... I think a BW3 could work well as much as it pains me... anyone know what is going to happen to all the space in that center next to Candelari's on the Washington roundabout?

Idogg, I agree. BTW, the space next to Candelari's is the site of the new Benji's location. Looks like they're building the wood forms for the foundation. Interesting that this only takes up as small portion of the site on the southeast side. To bad if the rest is just for parking, but who knows? I was hoping the new building would take up most of the Washington frontage with parking on the side and back, but we'll see how it plays out. Does anyone have pix/plans for the new restaurant?

I can add that the Azuma location at Washington and Sheperd will also house a gym. Fitness Exchange is moving to this location and changing names.The expected completion is the end of September/ first part of October.

WestGrayGuy, does it seem to you that the Azuma/Fitness Exchange construction is just taking forever? Wonder if they've been having permitting problems or something -- I'm so ready for that site to be done! I did notice that they put some good looking blue tile in the "crown" at the center/top of the building.

Boognish, agreed! There's much to discuss about this stretch, which to me encompasses, east to west, the northwest edge of downtown to the eastern edge of Memorial park, and north to south, I-10 to Memorial Drive. That's a pretty substantial area. As to some of the discussion above, not sure why the whole area is being labeled by one bar's marketing, and that bar isn't even open yet! Why not talk about the center it will be in, which appears to be much better than the typical strip center that goes up in Houston. Or how about the newest one which was just in the Chronicle last week, to be put up at 4600 Washington -- again, with more of an urban style than the typical suburban strip center we're used to. I think that's where Clark Motors was (note the moving sign at that location). I for one am excited about the overall development albeit sometimes disappointed by individual elements.

Subdude, just curious, but is your point about energy efficiency a fact based on information from the builder/architects or your opinion?

Another restaurant on the west end of Washington is great news! I took a spin to see where 5922 was and couldn't find it, so hoping it is the future development of this lot where the tortilla manufacturing company used to be -- note the holdout on the northwest corner. At one time a few years ago, there was a sign up for some residential development here but that didn't go forward. Hope they have some quality plans for this important piece of land!

View from Knox and Washington NW - towards Candelari's

View North from Washington

I agree with HtownWxBoy - the northern facade is not bad, although "love" is a strong word -- more stylized glass on the North side might have led to love!

If the width of the floor-plan had been doubled, the current plan could have been mirrored on the southern side, placing the services (elevators, stairs, etc) in the center -- see the picture of a typical floorplan unitb.pdf there's nothing but services on the south side. The northern facade could then have been mirrored to the southern, eliminating the current hideous southern exposure (although then they would have had the east and west to deal with!). The doubling of mass would have also reduced the slither effect which is magnified by the fact there are no tall buildings around it -- would have looked more like the Montebello and Villa D'Este in Uptown Park, or the Four Leaf Towers on San Felipe.

What I've generally seen in most cities when a building is designed with a full facade employing minimal windows is that the architects are anticipating a structure of comparable height in that direction, so why put anything but service windows (in stairways, halls, etc.) which ultimately won't have any view. I originally thought with the talk of a twin tower, that this is exactly what was going to be done. The second tower would be due south of the current one, and it would have the attractive facade facing south, and the blank one facing north toward the original building. That's giving these hack architects too much credit though -- I've seen architectural drawings with the new building to the east, so now you get double the monstrosity. One can only hope that this thing(s) are torn down in 10 or 20 years!

Even the most extensive mass transit systems do not have stations outside each and every residential building, so even in those cities, visitors to the vast majority of residences have to WALK several blocks.

Yeah, well I was born and raised in NYC. Yes you still have to walk, but that city is more conducive to walking as a function of 1) weather -- Houston is typically uncomfortable to walk for long distances like we do in NYC simply as a function of the temperature and humidity and, 2) NYC and many of those other cities are much more pedestrian friendly -- they give you a reason to walk! They tried it here in Houston in Midtown (not sure of the name of the development) and seemed to have the right idea, and then right next door CVS drops a suburban style store with total disregard to the urban street environment that was begining to develop -- real shame. Washington Ave has some potential, but again, the new strip centers are designed with pedestrian unfriendly/car friendly lots in the front. One exception appears to be the one that is going to be built a few blocks east of Sheppard on Washington.

Anyone know what their building on the huge site at approximately 1205 Post Oak Blvd? If you Google that address, Google will show you the the approximate location off of Post Oak. I think there used to be apartments here, but can't remember. Site goes virtually down to San Felipe, but not quite, with some older office complexes before that street. I'm guessing newer apartments, but does anyone have the scoop? Sorry in advance if this is covered in another post, but I couldn't find anything!

Oh well, so much for the supermarket!

Found this on the TX DOT site (note the quote about the sloped roof design -- sounds interesting!):

Gilbane to Develop HQ for TxDOT

Gilbane Development Co, has entered into an agreement with TxDOT to develop and leaseback a new headquarters building and renovate several existing facilities in the Houston area.

The new 130,000-sq.-ft. headquarters building will be developed on a 16-acre site in western Houston along the IH-10 corridor. The building will house TxDOT's Houston District Headquarters operations. The building consists of five stories and is capped by a contemporary slopped roof design, which invokes movement through its airfoil shape. Gilbane will also construct a new 14,000-sq.-ft. stand-alone laboratory and 575-vehicle parking garage on the same site.

As part of the overall leaseback, renovations will be made to an existing five-story TxDOT building that will become a new traffic signal shop and warehouse. Renovations will also be done to an existing TxDOT laboratory.

Robert V. Gilbane, president of Gilbane Development, said Gilbane's involvement in the project allowed the team to expedite the project and shorten its schedule. >> Having Gilbane develop the facilities under a leaseback structure preserves TxDOT's capital for use on roads, bridges and other transportation projects, he added. Gilbane Building Co. will manage construction of the facilities.

The large TX DOT site just north of I-10 on the east side of Washington has construction activity -- bulldozers clearing what has been a large empty lot for some time know. Does anyone have any information on what may be happening here. Wishful thinking says a new supermarket/shopping center (please!), but I'm guessing new apartment or town-home complex or something for TX DOT. Anyone have any information? Inquiring minds want to know!

Click the large "edit" button on the top of the screen. You will be able to edit the whole article by doing that.

Yes, thanks VicMan, I miseed that particular edit button among the others on the page -- and looks like someone following this thread beat me to the punch! Gotta love Wikipedia! Might need to go out there and increase the accuracy though as the principal architect was James Ingo Freed, of Pei Cobb Freed & Partners!

Okay, what do you all think about the progress along Washington Avenue? I live in the Rice Military area and was so encouraged with the potential when I moved to this part of town in 2001. Now I don't know! On the plus side, the roundabout! Also the fact that commercially, it is starting to thrive and a lot of the blight (car repair shops, low end dealerships, etc.) is disappearing. How about Candelari's and El Tiempo?!? As to the negative, damn, where do I start??? Okay, here's a shot:

1. New townhome complexes (mostly ugly) with ugly walls facing Washington -- can think of at least three, one on the north side of Washington not far from the Blockbuster strip mall on Durham and the other two new ones east of Shepherd (by the Clark auto dealership) where Washington bends eastward. I heard that the new complex under construction by the roundabout, the one that just had the four alarm fire, is going to have a wall over twenty feet high -- what a disaster!

2. Suburban style CVS... UGHHH. Glad to have the shopping close to home, but couldn't they have respected the street-line and the urban context of the area? Guess not -- see what they did in midtown!

3. Uninspired new strip centers -- the one by CVS and the one on Shepherd are so disappointing (what's with the green/puse paint job on the latter???

4. The pawn shop on Durham is still there! Please go away, burn down, go out of biz, whatever...

5. Okay, your turn -- like to hear the positives too!

-- MHH

That's a good article in Wikipedia, although couple of observations: 1) Disappointed they missed I.M. Pei (James Freed) in the listing of architects with buildings in the area -- Peli and Johnson get mentions. I think his hotel, now Hilton Post Oak (formerly Warwick and Doubletree), is among the best buildings in the area, second only to Johnson's Williams Tower. For more see this Pei Link. Actually, I tried to edit to add that in Wikipedia, but for some reason the only section that opens through the edit feature is on the schools. Strange! 2) As to calling the area Uptown (they don't even list the Galleria, or Galleria Area as a neighborhood) that's crazy. Guarantee any Houstonian can give you good directions to the Galleria (or Galleria area). Ask how to get to Uptown, your probably just as likely to end up in midtown or the Heights! At least they get it right here on HAIF. -- MHH