Big E

2 hours ago, Luminare said:

Fulshear is basically what Cypress was like 30-40 years ago. At least from looking at old Satellite images and talking with family members.

The difference being Fulshear is incorporated, and Cypress isn't.

On 9/20/2022 at 10:41 PM, Highrise Tower said:

There was an RFI for the 80-acres UT still controlled back in 2019.

RFI No.: 720-1930 Request for Information - Ground Lease and/or Joint Development of approximately 80 Acres of Land west of Buffalo Speedway and bisected by Willowbend Boulevard, Houston, Texas.

The recent HBJ article mentioned the Texas Medical Center had partners. Did the UT System and TMC go into a partnership for a joint development? I also remember hearing Fertitta was opened to a joint development.

The UT land is, in total, 307 acres.  Did the TMC purchase more land on Buffalo Speedway/Holmes Road?  I know there are several large tracts for sale out there.

 

UT weren't mentioned in the announcement though, were they? It seems that TMC bought the land from them, which would make sense, since UT were selling it. I just wonder how much of that land they acquired? Though, however much of the land they got, this is a much better use of it than simply leaving it vacant.

This project is taking forever though. It seems to have slowed to a crawl since they finished the garage portion.

20 hours ago, Luminare said:

And so it begins...

Ominous. Did something change?

Overall a good move, even if all that replaces the garage is an empty space. Abandoned buildings like that are just a draw for vagrants and criminals.

3 hours ago, hindesky said:

Cherry Companies just showed up.

 

This isn't permitted to come down yet but it also has fencing around it. Same owner owns the whole block.

https://atticusre.com/properties/2505-fannin/

https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/2505-Fannin-St-Houston-TX/5047983/

Rowdy sure gets around doesn't he? There's no vacant building he won't tag at some point. How the heck does he get near the roof?

4 hours ago, editor said:

I've seen larger office buildings converted either into hotel+condo, or office +condo. Usually the blocking factor is will.  It's hard to introduce new ways of thinking about buildings into established markets. 

I think for a building of that size to get a conversion, it would have to be almost empty. Those conversions are expensive (I think this conversion cost like $28 million, if I remember correctly), and you need to ensure a healthy return on investment. A few rooms spread across several floors wouldn't be worth it.

2 hours ago, EllenOlenska said:

There's a Hanover Montrose looking building behind the tallest building in one rendering, but not in the site map rendering. 

Yeah I noticed that, but I'm pretty sure previous revealed plans and buildout information also showed that they were planning for at least two high rises, in addition to that midrise.

On 9/17/2022 at 3:04 PM, Urbannizer said:

https://www.showcase.com/3712-autry-park-dr-houston-tx-77019/22777270/

 

I thought there was going to be at least one more high rise towards the rear or the development.

5 hours ago, editor said:

How about Heritage Plaza?  Texaco's gone, and people would pay big bucks for a condo with those views, and location.

Not sure how much space is available and if it would be economically feasible to convert prime office space in a building of that size.

13 hours ago, samagon said:

https://residencesattheallen.com/the-developer/

according to that page, there's a Chinese real estate company involved. Tianqing Group.

considering the issues with Chinese mortgages right now, this may be having some impact on their ability to move at pace.

I wonder how much they are actually involved. They may just be investors, but considering what is going on in China right now, they probably aren't doing so hot.

6 hours ago, editor said:

Also, I'm not sure what magical opening up of access from downtown you're talking about. I live downtown, and there is plenty of access to the places you list.  Getting to and from certain parts of EaDo can be slightly inconvenient, but nothing that requires almost ten billion dollars and displacing a thousand people for. To say that downtown needs improved access to Midtown is particularly specious. Can you explain what you mean do I can understand better?

So are you trying to argue that the massive freeways aren't a barrier between downtown and other central city neighborhoods? Doesn't this literally go against the entire dogma of anti-freeway advocates for the past several decades?

I'll grant that the Pierce Elevated isn't a physical barrier per se, if only because the entire street network passes unimpeded underneath, but I'd argue its far more of a psychological barrier, and depresses surrounding land value because of that. Eliminating it via the reroute would do wonders for downtown and midtown. Also, the Pierce Elevated is an aging mess, and would probably need replacement at some point in the coming decades anyway.

6 hours ago, editor said:

Also, I'm not sure what that has to do with anything. He's an expert in the affects of freeways in neighborhoods and society around the world. 

I'm not sure what even makes one an expert of such or what that would entail. Does it make him different than any other average urban planners?

6 hours ago, editor said:

There's plenty of good reasons to oppose the I-45 expansion.

Name one (aside from the cost, which is only going up by pointlessly delaying it, or the displacement, which we've gone back and forth on in this very thread dozens of times already).

6 hours ago, editor said:

Are you trying to say that because he doesn't live in Houston that he is not able to study an issue and write about it?  That defies logic. It's like saying someone can't be against the war in Ukraine because they don't live in Kherson.  Or that you can't prefer Windows over macOS because you don't live in Cupertino, California. 

The issue isn't whether or not he lives in Houston. Is he saying anything that hasn't already been said a hundred times, or is he just parroting the arguments of those opposed to the project? If the latter is true, then he isn't saying anything of note to add to the conversation, regardless of where he lives.

I mean, its fine. They could have definitely done more with it though, considering the sheer size of the lot and its great location near such a busy intersection. GFR, more floors, anything really. Its just another dime a dozen wrap around apartment block. We'll all forget it exists half a decade from now.

I am surprised by how slow going this tower has been. It seems like the sections that weren't done five months ago...still aren't done.

On 9/9/2022 at 1:33 PM, samagon said:

it's not just about the views, it's about the impact to those living near, and the impact to the wildlife of the area.

The impact to wildlife and nearby neighborhoods will be minimal since there is already a freeway there at that location, they are just moving it over slightly and taking the pointless bend out of it. In other words, this section is one that is the least worth pointing to since it encompasses the most minimal changes, while ignoring the areas with the more drastic far reaching ones (like the removal of the Pierce Elevated and the sinking of the freeway between East Downtown and Downtown. 

I do agree that the presence of the Convention Center and stadium throw cold water on the situation a bit, but the new freeway cap will more than make up for it.

2 hours ago, phillip_white said:

If that's the case, put the traffic in a tunnel. Seems like that would solve everything. 

Not sure how you will be able to sell the city on that expense, but you are sure welcome to give it the old college try!!

4 hours ago, phillip_white said:

Please no more tunnels.

This is the exact type of development that would actually benefit from tunnels. Its large, covers multiple blocks across very busy streets (that will remain busy even if traffic is slowed), and the buildings will probably already have basements, if Ion is any indication. You can still have street facing businesses for people coming off the street. The tunnels are mainly for those that work inside the buildings and commute to the development and park in the garage.

3 hours ago, wilcal said:

*winks in Heaven on Earth Days Inn*

Is that building even structurally sound?

15 hours ago, X.R. said:

What a difference a paint job makes. 

If the downtown authority can get another conversion going, their program is already a success since it feels like they are making something out of nothing at this point. 

What other building could they renovate that would be economically feasible and is mostly empty?

On 8/30/2022 at 1:01 PM, august948 said:

The trees look to be in the city right-of-way.  Wouldn't that require city approval to cut them down?

I doubt they'll be cut unless the developer are planning to redo the sidewalk. They will probably trim the branches though, since they overhang quite far.

6 hours ago, Beau11b said:

Its interesting that this doesn't incorporate the back "lot" into the use. 

The other previous renderings all show a shiny new building back there. I wonder what use that will ever get.

That's because that rear lot was always meant to accommodate a third building. When this site was initially planned, there were three separate buildings planned for it. It will probably be up to a third developer to develop that final lot sometime in the future.

On 7/18/2022 at 8:29 PM, toxtethogrady said:

Who's the hotel? Some player we don't yet know about?

They've never specified what hotel is going there. All we know is that building is mixed hotel and residential.

8 hours ago, tigereye said:

Given TCR’s status on life support, what are the chances another company, say Brightline, steps in a takes over this project? 

Very doubtful. The economic climate just isn't good for a project like this. And all of this crap TCR went through? Any new company coming in will have to deal with a lot of the same crap, including the frivolous lawsuits and political BS, which will scare off future investment. 

On 7/2/2022 at 2:34 PM, hindesky said:

He probably went to the Randall Davis School of Architecture.

Randall Davis doesn't have eclectic taste though...he just has an absence of taste.

On 6/28/2022 at 2:19 AM, mattyt36 said:

I hate to ask, but can anyone enlighten as to the current status of the HTR extension?

In limbo, last I heard. Considering who the county judge is, I doubt its on their to-do list. Also, the end of that extension is tied directly into this project, since the terminus will have to be integrated into the new freeway system. So I don't see it moving forward until this gets off the ground.