stjnky

iconic = tall

Tentative implosion date: 9/22/2013, as per a note from my apartment management.

Like some of the comments made in the chron article, I really wish we could somehow get a mini HEB or something that sells everyday items for the people that live downtown.

CVS carries all of my everyday items.

Most important thing gleaned from the press conference: the street-level production studio is supposed to have a big glass window for us to stand outside of holding signs.

Polk Street Pub quit.

Hate to BUMP and old thread but, I figured it was better to put it in here, then anywhere else

Today as I was talking my usual lunch hour stroll through Downtown, I noticed the old State Bank building at 420 Main (NOT the Byrd Building) is under construction/renovation. Scaffolding now surrounds the entire building on both Main and Preston sides. Carol Kenny, whom handles leasing didint give any details as to what's going on. But I do know they have been trying (unsuccessfully) to lease the space for a while now.

Anyone know whats going on?!?

A grocery store:

http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2009/10/12/story5.html

Polk Street Pub has finally dropped off the houstonpavilions.com "Key Dates" list.

http://houstonpavilions.com/key_dates.php

but i believe they're moving from 1000 Main, which is just one block away.

I'm a Reliant employee at 1000 Main, and I'm one of the folks who will be making the move. A couple of months ago, the *original* Reliant Energy sold its retail operation to NRG, and the brand name was part of the deal. So the original Reliant Energy has now changed its name to RRI Energy, and they are staying in 1000 Main. The *new* Reliant Energy (now part of NRG) is currently subleasing space in 1000 Main, but needs to GTFO eventually.

It's a win for Houston Pavilions, because while 1000 Main may only be a block or so away, it's a loong surface block, particularly in a heat wave. And I think I can speak for most 1000 Main dwellers when I say we currently get most of our lunches from the tunnel system.

I'm glad this one isn't so early as some others, although I can't decide if it's worth it to hear all the hillbilly type cheers and "yeeehaws" when it goes down..

Considering the neighborhood, I would expect more of a bravo/splendid response.

This would be the future food court underneath the Commerce Tower, no?

I peek through the little porthole in the temporary wall every time I pass by (usually daily), and I don't think the plan has been abandoned, because sometimes I'll see a guy in there or hear a power tool. I just think that the construction crew is probably just that one guy. And he's probably working on that in his spare time when he's not busy fixing some condo's plumbing.

Any news on Polk St Grill?

I only have unsubstantiated hearsay. A pub owner I know who is pretty well plugged into the market says the Polk Street Pub isn't going to be happening.

I heard some scoop on HOB.

Apparently, they have some sort of contractual stipulation whereas a performer cannot do a show at another venue and then perform at HOB.

Well, BB King performed at the Arena and then HOB denied him a show there. Then, Beeb's got on the phone and took care of that and then performed. He then went on to NOLA HOB and announced that the Houston HOB was the * venue he'd ever played. I've heard other performers have cancelled. Looks like the manager is a SOB.

Keep in mind that this information is all hearsay.

BB King hasn't actually played at the Houston HOB yet. His shows are Nov. 21-22.

Bump.. cuz this was a serious question.

I commuted the west loop twice a day for 9 yrs to go to school.

I distinctly remember a bungee tower being erected sometime around jr high.. I distinctly remember thinking.."yah, thats gonna cause rubbernecking being right on the freeway".. i remember it not lasting long.

I really am curious if anyone remembers this.. nobody i've ever asked in the past does.

Google searches bring up nothing.

Id really like to know if i was imagining this and if i did, what was it i saw that made me remember it as a bungee jump.

Anybody got anything ??

I vaguely remember the bungee tower. Searching the Chron archives I only found one mention here:

http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive....id=1994_1206347

And now most of the fencing has come down. You can actually walk right up and touch the dang thing.

On this interactive map of the system...it shows all the access points. It's showing stairs, and stairs alone, where the tunnel crosses under Main between Walker and Mckinney. Most other acceess points are shown in the center of blocks and are more obviously associated with buildings... so I guess this could be it.

Yep, on Travis at McKinney (next to the door for the Jason's Deli), there's a door to a stairway directly to the tunnel system.

Great! Thanks for the pics, but who's the hairy guy in the tighty greenies?

That would be Har Mar Superstar, from my trip to the South By Southwest music fest this past week. :-)

I assure you he is in no way affiliated with the Houston Pavilions.

Tearing up the middle lot now:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44979020@N00/411660502/

Well the closest entrance into the tunnels that I can think of is the Park Shops. It wouldn't seem unreasonable to connect them.

Leetle bit closer if they could hook up with Foley's... er, Macy's.

Not to be rude but is your wife 16? I dont know any Women who shop there for clothes, just teenage girls.

So the bouncers aren't even enforcing that whole 21-thing, huh? That's a shame.

I'm sure someone has pointed this out, but I'm glad that the rail runs just west of it. That's perfect. Does anyone know how close the nearest stop is?

Southbound is just across Dallas Street. Northbound is two blocks further north, just the other side of McKinney.

When was a 4th block added, I have seen only rendering for a 3 block development?!?!?

I think they're maybe referring to a new parking garage somewhere.

Why is the Pavillions website not updated to reflect this work.

Damn these lazy webmasters.

Yeah, and seriously don't EVEN bother visiting the PR firm's website. It's a Flash nightmare.

But I grabbed a copy of the press release, and I happen to have some OCR software, so here ya go:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Marta Fredricks

February 27, 2007 Christie Peeler

Dancie Perugini Ware

Public Relations

713.224.9115

HOUSTON PAVILIONS BREAKS GROUND AND

ANNOUNCES FINAL ANCHOR TENANTS

$170 Million Downtown Urban Landmark to Open October 2008

HOUSTON - The Houston Pavilions, a four city block mixed-use development that will become downtown's premiere entertainment, retail and urban office hub, broke ground on Tuesday morning, February 27th. The $170 million project is scheduled to open in October of 2008.

The project will be comprised of 360,000 sq. ft. of retail space, 200,000 sq. ft. of office space, and a 480,000 sq. ft., 1,525 space parking garage. The development will be bounded by Dallas St. to the north, Polk St. to the south, Main St. to the west and Caroline St. to the east.

The developers, William Denton and Geoffrey Jones, who separately have been responsible for numerous commercial, office and residential projects in Houston and other major cities, revealed the identity of the Pavilions' two latest anchor tenants during the groundbreaking ceremony.

Each of the new anchors is in excess of 24,000 sq. ft. A two-level Books-AMillion Superstore and Forever 21 will join the project's original anchor tenants, the House of Blues

NEW ANCHORS: Books-A-Million Superstore, and Forever 21.

Also, they have a nifty mockup under the tent.