BEES?!

Yeah, I don’t go to that area much, but La Casona is always packed when we go over there. The only thing I’ve seen that didn’t make it was that kids place (it was like a trampoline park or something) next door to it, I think. 

Is that the plot for F1, the residential building with the plaza?

This is so exciting!! I really had hoped it’d be the Days Inn, but this is honestly awesome news.

I hope they keep the character of the building. It’s a really cool MCM skyscraper and I love the shades. 

27 minutes ago, Ross said:

Shorenstein sold 800 Bell and the associated parking garage to Bell Business Investments, llc. Warranty Deed was recorded on January 3, 2023. Tax notices are to be sent to CMI Developers, llc https://www.cmidevelopers.com/

This must be it, then. Maybe we can get these posts moved over to 800 Bell?

5 hours ago, Triton said:

What's the other one? The Holiday Inn site?

I may have spoken too soon. It may have sold on 12/31 (though I don’t know for sure. The TIRZ meeting document was vague), but I posted about it in the Days Inn thread just in case.

(Edit- it may have been 800 Bell, not the Days Inn property)

4 hours ago, kennyc05 said:

You know I was just wondering that I've asked the question on here before in the past is there really that much demand for high-rise residential in Houston I guess it is. And not to mention high rise apartments in the galleria Do you think we are over building?

I don’t think so. We’re a rapidly growing city with several very large projects in progress or on the horizon that will drive more jobs to the area- namely TMC3/Biopark and the ION District. We’re also at the forefront of energy transition, and have a big presence in the aerospace industry.

Building housing isn’t a bad thing at all. IMO we have a very bright future and should keep it up on building housing to keep prices affordable.

It sounds like someone may have purchased this building and intends to do a conversion on it. 
 

From the Downtown TIRZ board of directors meeting on Jan 10th 2023 

(Page 148)

Highlight: Within the month of December, CHI was approached by a local developer to help inform an investment & development group from NYC regarding the potential acquisition and conversion of a major Downtown Houston asset which has sat vacant for years.
CHI's research lead and executive team spent approximately 20 hours responding to their research requests, including items such as the residential pipeline, historical population trends, and projected tax liabilities, and forecasts for potential development support tools. CHI management understands that the group closed on the property on Dec 31 and intends to advance the project.

I can’t think of another “major downtown asset” that’s sat vacant for years that would be suitable for conversion. Am I missing any?

24 minutes ago, mkultra25 said:

They're still open. They expanded their menu beyond mac, so they're no longer "jus" mac - I think the Heights location (the only one I've ever visited) updated their sign to "Jus' Mac & Wings".

Awesome! Thank you for the heads up!

19 minutes ago, nate4l1f3 said:

I wonder if the value of that condo building on main will go up?

Ha, I was browsing HAR and they have a 3.8k sqft penthouse going in the 300s. That’s a steal. 

I’m betting whatever they do to the Pierce is gonna help their values. Tear it down, make it a park, make it a boulevard- literally anything would be better than what they have now haha

(some condo buildings have weird problems, or weird association issues or whatever. so it may not just be its unfortunate neighbors dragging the value down, but I have a feeling it’s a big part of it)

7 minutes ago, samagon said:

but this is happening!

not to long ago Houston passed some reduced parking requirements within specific distances of mass transit.

https://www.houstontx.gov/planning/docs_pdfs/User's Guide for WP and TOD report_2020-10-01.pdf

even before that happened, the amount of density created around the red line is inspiring. the other lines are getting similar treatment. there's density creeping into the east end along the green line. right now it really extends out to Scott street. it's no coincidence that this is right on a rail stop.

now that these restrictions have been lifted, we're going to see more and faster.

Not to drag this too off-topic, but do the TOD ordinances apply to our BRT lines as well? Could people along the current silver line be exempt from minimums because of it? 

I’m also curious to know if these will apply to BOOST routes. 
(I figure this is addressed in the PDF, but my internet is being a butt right now and struggling to load. )

14 minutes ago, Houston19514 said:

Where did you hear this about the McDonald's?

There is a thread about it on here, here it is.  Sounds like it’s coming down, but I’m not sure if there’s word on if the site sold or what.

24 minutes ago, Triton said:

What's the other one? The Holiday Inn site?

Midtown McDonalds next door. Apparently it’s getting torn down.

The last thing I saw about the abandoned days inn was in early 2021. Apparently someone is interested in doing a conversion to residential on it (a firm out of Chicago iirc) but that was the last I’ve read on that one. 

13 minutes ago, kennyc05 said:

I think Midtown is about to be booming in the next few years with all these new lots coming available and the stuff that's going on at the ion too!

Not to mention all the med center development will likely mean more demand for housing, and I could see Midtown picking some of that up for sure. Its location on the red line is a boost for it imo

I loved Jus’ Mac! Are all the ones in Houston still open? Per their site, they have one in Montrose, Galleria, and the Heights. 

Oh my gosh this thread is unlocking memories for me too haha. I remember Camino Real- we liked going there quite a bit. 
 

The old Acapulco/Ninfas building is gone. I think it was demolished some time in 2021. 

I’m hoping that they actually go through with this. They’ve been talking about what to do with the site since I was a kid basically. It’s a neat piece of SL history

Mad jealous. It’d be cool to get another theme park in the Houston area, but my hunch is the demographic data ($$$$$) doesn’t really support it.

Good for them, though.

Yeah it is hard to shake the perception that “public transit = unsafe”, no matter how much you point to the stats, etc. you are just not gonna be able to convince some people. Like it or not, perception is extremely important. I think people feel safer in personal vehicles because you can control several variables that you can’t on, say, a bus or train. Statistically, you’re more likely to die in a personal vehicle (often times because of a mistake you made), but people are willing to roll those dice because they would rather be in control of their own situation than put it in the hands of someone else. I’m admittedly like that with stuff like Uber- I flat-out will not take an Uber or Lyft by myself- maybe it’s irrational, but I will drive or take a bus before you could get me alone in one.

I think it’s also why a lot of people are afraid of flying, even though flying is super safe. Maybe it’s a strong cultural thing here where we have a very “fend for yourself because nobody else will” mentality? 

Non-transit example… I’ve always been fine with Downtown and recognize that it’s incredibly safe and an incident isn’t likely. (It’s safer IIRC than almost any part of inner loop Houston) But still, South Downtown at night still gives me the creeps, even though I rationally understand that it’s not likely to be an issue. It’s dark and poorly trafficked, so even though the reality is that it’s fine, your brain might be sending you warning signals that it wouldn’t in those more well-lit and traveled areas, so I end up taking more precautions. 

All I say is, I’m personally glad CoH put the kibosh on e-scooter rentals here. I’m usually against gov’t overreach on a lot of things (let’s sunset parking minimums while we’re at it), but this is one they got right IMO- at least with the manner these scooter rentals typically operate, without fixed stations. 

Walking around in Austin on the sidewalks is a nightmare with all the e scooters littering the ground. It looks trashy AF and is a hazard for people who have mobility issues or old people. It’d be another story if they had docking stations like with BCycle, but they don’t, and that was a big appeal I think , since there’s no need to install permanent infrastructure. 
 

On the topic at hand, I’m kinda taken aback by the station suspensions, but maybe Houston’s bike infrastructure just isn’t “mature” enough yet? There are still pretty big gaps even in the loop so I could understand why it would be a tough sell right now. Other cities have robust bike share programs, but they are likely places where you have more cyclists in the first place, and more infrastructure for them that leaves the stations less disconnected. 
 

I do agree we should be installing more bike parking etc. though, for people’s private bikes. It would be really cool to see something like what they have in Tokyo.
Though we’re more security-conscious so that would be a tough sell in the US. We don’t even really do coin lockers anymore :/

Oh snap. Is 2023 the year that we lose not one, but two infamous Houston landmarks?

POST is definitely a magnet. They’ve done an amazing job programming the space so that there’s always something to draw people in. It definitely helps with pedestrian activity around it

One of these days there’ll be a fateful meeting up of HAIFers for sure! 😁

Wow, that reno isn’t half-bad. I’m a little surprised they went with reno vs teardown and rebuild, though. I suppose it’s still cheaper to do it this way, even if they have to redo almost everything inside. 

Awesome article!

The thing that really stuns me is how fast the Uptown/Galleria area sprung out of nothing. In just 50-odd years since it opened, it spurred so much development that it has an absolutely massive skyline that easily rivals DT and the other neighborhoods in Houston, with several IMO iconic buildings. That pic of Williams Tower under construction- I can’t even imagine how flabbergasted people must’ve been to see it climbing up back then!
 

Their portfolio is just so insane. I wonder if we’ll get another Hines-like entity that influences our cityscape like they have?

I really like that brick! I like a good midrise with brick- it can look very nice and classy

3 hours ago, loon said:

 

 

Hi, u/lolunix here. The arches are gone, the drive thrus are gone, and all signage is off the building. It does appear to be going away. 

Welcome to HAIF! 

And to think, I made an offhand joke to my husband about this McDonalds just before you posted that thread on r/Houston! Come to find out later in the day that it’s being fenced off and fixing to be torn down. 

Really crazy that this slipped under the radar. If some big player is really trying to piece land together in the area, I’ll be super curious to see what they intend to do with it.