Jonah

Hey guys,

Does anybody have any recent pics of all the development in The Woodlands? I would love to see all the lofts, restaurants, and other new buildings going up along the Waterway. I'm currently living in LA so I just wanted to see what has changed since I was last there several years ago. Thanks

Great pics!! Man I really hope the new park and the Finger building jumpstart some construction around that area. It would be great to see those parking lots around MMP turn into a little urban residential village.

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!!!

I think Downtown is going to be a bust as far as businesses thriving. I just don't see the appeal of going downtown for bars or clubs when i can go to the Galleria area or hang out at the bars near where i live(Sugarland). There is plenty to do in Sugarland at night. Plus, i don't have to pay for parking. It will be a bust ,you'll see. Surely, i wouldn't want to live downtown.

I think you're crazy if you think you can find the same sort of lively atmosphere and bars/clubs in Sugarland that you find in dowtown. Sugarland is nothing but chain restaurants and bars nothing original about that place.

Where we're these pictures taken? It looks nice

I know it might sound lame after seeing all of these great pics of inner city Houston, but does anybody have some recent pics of the Woodlands area, specifically the Waterway and surrounding "downtown" area? It seems there's been a lot of construction going on around there and I was hoping to see what all the new brownstones, lofts, and restaurants looked like. Since I'm living in LA, it's been years since I've been over there and I was justing wanting to see what the recent activity looks like.

Does anybody have any renderings of this project? I couldn't find any on that site. Also what is the Franklin Tower they show on their website? I don't think I've ever heard or seen that one.

i'll put my camera in the car. there is a new apartment complex going in on the waterway called "the boardwalk", a new upscale retirement community and more condos. town center is about to have over a thousand new residents.

goose's acre is the first pub/grill to open on the waterway level and its packed on weekends. churrasco's and baker street pub are to follow (baker street pub is open now). last weekend at goose's acre, i met a couple from san francisco who are here to buy property. they were trippin' at what they could buy for a million. the woodlands is on "the map" and it scares me. people are gobbling up townhomes and condos in east shore over 400K. it's freaking crazy. there are still fixer-upper homes along north millbend that are selling for under $120K. north millbend is across woodlands parkway from town center (east shore, the waterway, pavilion, etc.).

Any news pics?

Since it looks like this is going to be built in phases, how long do they predict until this project is completely finished?

Construction is underway...started earlier this week. This project is going to be incredible when finished. Lots of residential and lots of retail. Just can't believe how many great projects are about to break ground!!! It's a good time to be in Houston..

You said it largeTEXAS!! I'm bummed that I'm living here in LA now. It's going to be real exciting to see what Houston looks like in about 5 years or less. It's like the Pavilions groundbreaking announcement started a domino effect with all of these other projects. Pavilions, Finger tower, City Centre, Kirby@Westheimer, I really hope they start construction soon on Blvd. Place and High Street. Even though it'll never happen, could you imagine if they built a rail line down Westheimer? You could take the rail from Blvd. Place to High Street to this Westheimer project to the Pavilions, plus the whole Montrose area. In a perfect world. Oh well this is all still awesome news!!!

Does anybody have the most recent renderings of what the Pavilions is going to look like since it seems construction is about to get underway? Could there still be changes made to the appearance of the structure even though it's already in early stages of construction?

It would seem that downtown would be a natural for singles ... and singles don't typically require lots of space.

I totally agree, that's why I think this would be a good idea. I have single friends in NYC who have apartments similar to that size and they've made the space really nice despite it being so small. I really think there's a group of young singles in Houston who want that downtown NYC vibe but can't afford buying a loft in downtown.

Thats exactly what I was thinking. Richmond Strip turned ghetto, Sheperd Plaza turned ghetto, and now its downtown. Midtown is the new hotspot, so you know it wont be long before it becomes ghetto as well.

Actually the only area that I think has sustained its presence of not turning ghetto are the bars around Rice Village.

This is so true, and I think true for pretty much every city. Even in LA, the Sunset Strip isn't the fabulous image most people have in there heads. If you live in LA you know that the Sunset Strip has been ghetto for quite awhile. Many of these clubs in Hollywood that were popular a year ago with the A-listers are now ghetto attracting the wanna-be gangster crowd. The clubs that have remained succesful are the ones that usually don't charge a cover and cater to the have a beer and strike up a conversation crowd.

I'be been hearing different people both inside and outside the UH-D family speak of them actually trying this out in the future, if they can work out the finances. A long rumored site was the parking garage/warehouse located west of the current UH-D facility on Franklin @ Fannin. I personally have doubts, however, given its location next to the county jail.

I just feel with the Pavilions and the Finger tower now starting construction it would seem a no brainer to try and bring in a younger population demographic. If I had a chance to live downtown as a student after these projects get finished, I would take it in a heart beat. That's why I think this apartment conversion would work. I just feel there's a big population in Houston of young artists types who would love to be able to live downtown but just can't afford the price of it.

After all the naysayers, I'm so happy that this and the Finger tower are actually going to get built. I think with these two projects, I would guess the next few years are going to get really exciting with all sorts of new construction. Now can't we just build a time machine and make it Fall '08 already. I can't wait to see both of these finished with the new park.

I think it would be an awesome idea. Especially since it seems the Pavilions is now actually happening, it would be great for students at UH-Downtown or those younger urban types who can't afford NYC prices but want that same atmosphere. I can see a student at UHD working, going to school, and then living in downtown, wow what a concept. It would be great if UHD did have some sort of housing in downtown even it was just a few buildings, does anyone know if that might ever happen?