Jonah

Slightly off topic, but I've always wondered with it's proximity to downtown, has UH-D considered building residential units to offer to their students?

I actually used to rehearse in that warehouse. I think the first 3 floors are kind of musician lockouts for band practice, and the top level had people living in it. Very interesting place.

This is kind of off subject, but I was thinking the other day about the parking lots on the east side of downtown near Toyota Center, GRB, and MMP. I presume that many of them are still parking lots because the land value is priced so high that it makes it hard for a developer to come in and build. So I guess my question would be why don't these people who own the parking lots, sell them to developers at a lower price, so something could get built, but they keep part ownership of the property to make up for the lower sell price? They may lose money on the sell, but they'll still be invested in the property. Instead of just trying to sell the property for a big upfront paycheck. I have no expertise in this matter, so I was kind of hoping somebody who does could maybe chime in here. Thanks everyone!!

I was in Houston for the first time in months this past weekend, and I had the chance to drive by the Pavilions and One Park Place. I have to say even from the initial renderings I was excited, but after driving by the construction process on the Pavilions, I am beyond excited. The scope is so much bigger in real life and just seeing those 3 blocks being entirely taken up by this is pretty amazing!!! It looks like this thing is going to be big!!!

I'm glad to see Yao's and Red Cat Jazz Cafe coming into the Pavilions. I think it's important for the bars and restaurants that come in should either be exclusive in the Houston area or should be local concepts. I think the problem with Bayou Place was that the bars were concepts you had seen elsewhere and they soon became old. Thankfully I've heard they've opened a few new bars at BP that are new concepts that seem to be working well. So I hope Pavilions takes note when signing on additional tenants for restaurants and bars.

What a great design. It's sleek, modern, classy, and will hopefully stand out in a good way in that area of downtown. This is like the first building that has a received a unanimous positive response.

Wonder if anyone here has ever been to UCLA and the Westwood Village area? Very similar to Rice Village, theaters, fine restaurants, bars it is so neat. Could U Of H Main campus ever be close to that. Out of the question?

I've walked around Westwood several times and have driven around the UCLA campus, but I actually walked around the UCLA campus this past weekend. I have to say I was thoroughly impressed. The view around Royce Hall and the library is absolutely beautiful. Having attended U of H, I think it's definitely possible especially with this new plan in place, to fill in parking lots with new buildings for class and dorms. I do think it might take a little time though before we ever see the type of activity that there is around Westwood.

Noticed yesterday going by that HP is starting to affect the neighboring properties as well. Across Caroline (the block that Josephine's Italian restaurant is on) one abandoned building is down and another one (corner or Caroline and Polk I think) is being gutted, and may be torn down. Behind the building being gutted is just one of those Ticket Exchange places (organized scalping) and a large surface lot over half of the block.

This will be pricey property between HP and the Toyota Center. Any rumblings on what might be happening at this block?

I wouldn't doubt it if something is announced around there sometime over the next year before Pavilions, Park Place, and Discovery Green are finished.

I notice that here in Houston people honk at you while you try to parallel park!

That's funny, every single time I go home to Houston and I parallel park with my friends in the car, they are so impressed. I don't really notice having to do it so often in LA

What I really like about this project is, instead of the building taking up this whole block, they place that little avenue in the middle. I hope if they ever decide to build a structure on that midtown Superblock, they do something similar like maybe having a plaza in the middle so it's not just one huge building.

That would be awesome if they build the new Dynamo stadium on those surface parking lots on the east side of 59. What I really like about that idea, is that you already have all of those lofts and apartments surrounding those parking lots. So once the stadium is built you will have a vibe somewhat like Wrigley Field, where there's a stadium in the middle of an urban neighborhood. Hopefully it could spur some more development near MMP which is an area I feel hasn't come close to it's full potential.

Although I would have had the small grocery facing the park instead of the opposite side of the building.

I agree, I was hoping the grocer would have faced the park and they could have had sidewalk seating. With the entrance to the building facing the Park Shops. That seems like it would have made more sense to me. Oh well, still excited about all of the development happening on this side of town. Now we just need a few mid rise residential buildings to fill in a few of those empty blocks around MMP and Toyota Center. I really think once Houston Pavilions, One Park Place, & Discovery Green get closer to completion sometime next year, we're going to start to hear more residential buildings announced. At least I hope.

Wow!!!! Great news for Houston. I was really hoping that the remaining two lots surrounding the park would be developed into residential towers like One Park Place, but I'll take anything. I just really hope that the bottom floor of this new tower has retail to help compliment the the specialty grocer going in on the bottom floor of One Park Place.

I'm kind of torn by this project. On one hand I think it would be awesome to have this right near the heart of the Galleria but at the same time I don't want it to take away from the momentum that downtown will hopefully build upon with Houston Pavilions and the Finger Building. I would like to see the Pavilions established and in the minds of the Houston public before BLVD Place gets built because I feel it will compete somewhat with the Pavilions. Hopefully within the next year as the Pavilions and the Finger tower draw closer to completion we'll hear more good news about tenants signing onto Pavilions and hopefully spurring some new projects for downtown.

That looks pretty awesome!! That's great news for Austin. I wish the Hardy Rail Yards would get off the ground with something like this.

I know. I looked at their site today for the first time. Lame-o. Isn't American Apparel the same kind of Emo?

Between the Emos and the Thugs, I don't know what to think.

What happend to all the Preppies?

I think the difference with American Apparel is that they sell products that fit well and are well made. It's a brand for forward-thinking urban youth and I think it's store will do very well in downtown Houston. It may cost a little more to buy their products but you feel like your supporting a respectable company. Forever 21 is cheap in comparison.

I think before everyone gets upset about the tenants, we should all remember that the Pavilions is going to be able to hold 360,000 sq. ft. of retail space. So let's do the math:

360,000sq. ft. available:

Lucky Strike = 24,800sq. ft.

House of Blues = 43,000sq. ft.

Forever 21 = 24,000+sq. ft.

Books-A-Million = 24,000+sq. ft.

Plus

Lawry's, The Prime Rib:

McCormick & Schmick's:

Yao's Restaurant and Bar:

Antica Osteria:

Red Cat Jazz Cafe:

Tuscany Coffe:

Guadalajara Del Centro:

since these 7 aren't anchor tenants like the previous 4, we'll say that they'll equal about 70,000 sq. ft.

That would give us a grand total of: 185,800 sq. ft.

Which means we would still have roughly 174,200 sq. ft. left to be occupied.

So those who are still upset about the current tenants, don't worry it seems like we still have plenty of space left to occupy. So the current list of tenants could double once this thing is all said and done.

The thing that I really enjoy about the Denver Pavilions is how it does seem to be very accessible from the street and it seems really open with space. There also seems to be a lot of windows and street banners which I think gives it a much more livelier atmosphere. I can't tell from the models but I hope this is something the Houston Pavilions really incorporates.

I can't believe how upset a lot of people are getting. I am a bit bummed by the new tenants, also... but this project is still happening with great tenants... and MORE tenants will be announced. Our project is bigger than Denver's... and just go to their website and see the number of stores they have. They are two blocks... we are going to be three! I was hoping we would get a movie theater... but oh well.

That's so true, I just went to the Denver Pavilions website and they have way more stores, restaurants, and clubs listed. So the known tenants for the Houston Pavilions is just the beginning, we still have another year and half to go before this things is complete. That's a long time for a load of new tenants to sign up with HP. Once again, I think we should just be happy to see the progress being made and sit back to enjoy all of the new tenants that will continue to be announced in the coming months and year.

Out of curiosity, why is there only one tower instead of three? I know they took out the residential, but shouldn't that have been one tower gone instead of two. What happened to the other one? On another note, I seriously doubt this will end up like Bayou Place. What sets this apart is that there is actual retail instead of just restaurants and clubs. Plus the location, so close to the Toyota Center and MMP I can see regular foot traffic for the Pavilions. People can park and leave their car to go to the Pavilions and then walk over to a game. Bayou Place is on the edge of downtown making it a tough walk for anyone wanting to go there before or after a game. Also the Verzion Wireless Theater only attracts an audience certain days of the week when there's a show. The Pavilions has a House of Blues and also a Lucky Strike, which I can guarantee will bring people down there every night of the week. The Lucky Strike here in LA is always busy and that place has been here for years. Which is pretty good considering all the hot places in LA fizzle out after a few months. Then with the added retail stores and restaurants, I can see the Pavilions bringing people in everyday of the week. This place will be successful and is definitely going to be a catalyst for surrounding downtown development. Now let's stop worrying and start getting excited about the change that's coming for downtown Houston

Hey guys let's just be happy the groundbreaking is actually happening. A month ago we were still worrying about whether or not this thing was going to happen. How much retail space is left for the Pavilions? If there was 360,000 sq. ft. to begin with, how much is left after all the tenants that have been anounced? Who knows there still could be some great places coming that have yet to be announced. I'm sure once this thing is complete, we won't care what's down there, we'll just be happy to have it.

What time is the groundbreaking by the way

I like the rings too, I hate the all those strip centers.

Wow, I never realized how close this is to the Toyota Center, Discovery Green, the new Finger Building, and the Hilton!!! I think the ground floor retail on the Houston Center is going to do a lot better because of this project. Hopefully they compliment one another. It would be awesome if a few more residential projects sprout up on the empty lots around MMP and the Toyota Center. I would love to see those 4 empty blocks on Maint Street, just south of the HP project also turned into some sort of mix-use development.

This is probably the last great Houston project that has yet to off the ground. Now that the Pavilions and Finger building are actually starting construction, I wonder if it will put a fire under Camden to put the pieces together and get this project moving. I'll keep my fingers crossed. I still feel like I'm dreaming with the HP and Finger construction actually moving forward. Exciting times!!!