CaptainJilliams

33 minutes ago, arche_787 said:

Pardon my ignorance, but is there an actual rendering for said high-rise?  A 40 floor building is costly, and presumably the developers needed a rendering for/to assist selling this to their lenders (much less the public).

 

I’ve seen the SketchUp model, but surely that was not the actual rendered building?!?

Check out the developer's website, the rendering that has been posted several times on this thread appears next to the project "Aspire Post Oak": 

https://www.dinersteincos.com/properties/

Newest downtown tenant: Life Time Fitness Center and Co-Working Space

Set for a 2020 opening.

Read more here: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/Newest-downtown-tenant-Life-Time-fitness-center-13717442.php

Vorys law firm inks downtown lease at Houston Center

Read more at: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/Vorys-law-firm-leases-new-downtown-offices-at-13714425.php 

5 minutes ago, Timoric said:

Is it accessible by rail? Could a line but put there easily? Texas Bullet train end stop be good?

If by accessible you mean the Red Line (which is on Main Street, about 3 blocks to the East), then technically yes, it just would not be a direct light rail connection.

And as for the Bullet Train, unless things have changed, I believe they are still planning on using the NW Mall site (just outside of the 610 loop near 290).

I'm skeptical of construction starting next month, but it would be great if work actually kicked off before summer.

The other lingering question: when will we see those updated renderings?

Wow...such a creepy sight. Looks like a storm spawning a tornado.

2 minutes ago, august948 said:

 

Just deposit the bags in the bag recycle barrel outside the HEB on your way out.  Or bring them back on your next trip, that's what I do.

It seems like it should be common sense, but sadly I've seen far too many people who simply could care less about their actions.

I remember watching one time, in disbelief, someone driving away from IAH toss their fast food garbage out their window. 

9 minutes ago, Woods said:

Update from the sky. Taken earlier this month.

Great shot! Also, on a side note, if you look towards the upper right-hand corner, you can see the hollowed-out pawn shop that will soon become a Bottled Blonde.

25 minutes ago, Reefmonkey said:

There are something like 40-some other subforums containing countless other threads if this one isn't to your liking, CaptainJilliams.

You know, you're right, my apologies. You kids have fun continually bumping a thread from 2007, seems like a constructive conversation.

So we still don't have any idea of what is going on here? A lot of dirt moving around, are they just clearing the site from the demo?

Definitely dig the greenery, hopefully, we get something similar to what the renderings show.

Drove past the site today, the remaining buildings have been torn down, they are clearing the land of debris. 

Visited HV today and walked around, definitely busy.

Makes me wish there was some form of light rail that ran down Westheimer, but I don't think there'd be much room if they tried to!

Also, it's a real shame to see that empty steakhouse sitting there on the corner at Drexel. Beautiful building, hope it finds a tenant soon. 

I don't think anyone ever posted the link, so check it out below, the website has a video detailing the renderings:

https://www.lifetime.life/life-time-locations/tx-greenway-houston.html?selecteddate=2019-03-09

On a side note, the workers have been installing windows for the past 2 days.

Approve it or oppose it, most major American cities damned themselves a long time ago when they built major highways that flattened whole neighborhoods. Most of these cities have only continued to grow since then and the infrastructure will need to be updated (at the very least) to avoid dangerous deterioration. I drove south on i-45 through downtown just yesterday and you can tell just by looking at the existing structures that something will need to be done the next 5-10 years if the highway is expected to handle traffic for the next generation. The current roadways are outdated, I'd argue smaller scale changes (widening the lanes, adding more shoulder room for disabled vehicles/emergencies, better feeder/exit connections) are an absolute must, regardless of whether or not the whole "trenching" proposal comes to fruition. 

I'm open to alternative perspectives on how we can update i-45 and the highways surrounding downtown, but I think it's a tad bit foolish to oppose any highway expansion altogether.

54 minutes ago, CREguy13 said:

I hate to sound like a downer, but I am not looking forward to the new design... I imagine it will be seriously value-engineered, similar to the way they reduced the glass exterior at Arabella.  Especially with all the recent bad news surrounding the EB-5 program, which is how DC finances its projects.

 

I hope I'm wrong, but I really have a hard time thinking this design will be equal to or better than the original.

I'm feeling the same way, hope I'm wrong, but it's just a gut feeling.

I understand the concerns that have been raised by Mr. Speck, but like Luminare said, what is the solution?

Houston's population is still on an upward trend, automobiles will dominate the city for the foreseeable future, congestion will likely get worse as time goes on with the current system in place, and not to mention in another 10-15 years the existing infrastructure will likely need to be updated due to aging and deterioration. 

It is what it is unfortunately.

Nice! I like how the pedestrian walkways are completely separate from the road itself. 

I was wondering if a thread existed for this project. Driving home yesterday I saw they were putting up the Rice Box sign.

Yes! Great infill for that spot, excited to see that old building finally get demoed. 

For reference, this was the old design:

Driving along 610 North this morning, I noticed that the Drury Inn along the feeder road looked different. In fact, it looked noticeably better.

It appears that they made some quiet renovations over the past few months: new exterior design that, while nothing amazing, is a welcome change from the previous, dated look, new signage near the road, and new exterior lighting.

Not a huge story, but it's an indicator that businesses in the area are taking steps to update as Uptown grows.

Katy prepares to break ground on new boardwalk district:

https://abc13.com/community-events/katy-prepares-to-break-ground-on-new-boardwalk-district/5121031/

"The hotel and conference center is scheduled to be finished by the fall of 2021, while the whole district should be finalized within the next three to five years."