JJxvi

Williams tower is a different scale and makes the rest of the buildings in the image look much smaller than they really are in that aerial photo.

http://swamplot.com/weingarten-wants-to-turn-streamline-moderne-sears-on-north-shepherd-into-prairie-style-shopping-complex/2015-02-18/

I wouldn't hold my breath on the city adding curbs and gutters in narrow problem streets in the Heights anytime soon, especially with real serious problem areas of the same nature in the West End/Rice Military/Cottage Grove/Washington Corridor

So that roundabout, I assume that is Memorial Dr just east of the loop? And another road will make a short cut north across towards the north section of the memorial loop? If so...excellent.

The site doesn't really seem to have great access which is why I am not sure it will end up being a "destination development."  I'm thinking it will be mostly denser multifamily with a retail component on Washington. I am doubtful of a significant office component mainly because it seems like the most likely site for it would be at the southwest corner adjacent to other nearby office across Waugh but that area has already been redeveloped into multifamily.

I wouldn't expect anything spectacular for most of the site (but Im still hopeful) , but I imagine at the very least that this bodes well for some nice commercial development along Washington

I mean its not even a case of "Just connect it up and you can go from Shepherd to Studewood!"  6th has access to Shepherd but not Durham, its a street that's never going to go anywhere.

A street that goes nowhere is on the Major Thoroughfare Plan?

Everyone has granite counter tops these days, anyone can get hardwood or laminate flooring. Luxury has almost become the norm.

 

Well, everyone except all the poor people that aren't worth mentioning.

Uh oh, I just ordered a lot of PC components from Microcenter. I wonder if they're in the middle of moving some of that crap?

Ooooh! "Estates!"

I would assume that the best use for a parcel this size and in this location would be a large neighborhood shopping center (something like the HEB anchored center at the northwest corner of Bunker Hill and I-10).  Many former chain retail, and even restaurant moved further out 290 beyond pinemont over many years, some of which I think would be better served closer to Oak Forest, Timbergrove, etc.

I assume the main issue would be that it may have too weird of a shape for the best possible visibility and frontage.  Its kind of triangular and the best side to line front the site against is probably Hempstead, the side which faces away from all main avenues of approach.  I'm guessing that connecting up N Post Oak through the site to 18th would probably be the fix in the case of a large retail center.

My recommendation is not driving through Independence Heights, ever.

Ha! I lived at Doux Chene and never knew that about the place. Of course it wasn't exactly trendy in 2001.

Interesting.  It seems like a lot more than 51 acres... but maybe that's just the feeling of an empty parking lot.  

20 or 30 acres of the site became freeway.

LOL at complaints about this.  If this was announced as a 2 tower development from the very beginning people would have shaken with glee on this forum.

Pretty sure this is Pegstar, a company that books shows and runs Free Press Summerfest moving from Fitzgeralds (which is the name of a building/venue) to a new venue. I don't think Pegstar even owns Fitz they were just operating out of that venue.

They should run the light rail that's never going to happen through the center of Uptown Park Blvd

It's mixed use in the same way that Sawyer Heights and Washington Heights developments are mixed use. There is a shopping center with an apartment complex.

Seems like a West Ave style mixed use apt complex would do well in this area on a parcel of this size.

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2014/06/galleria-area-development-site-trades-hand/

High rise?!!! I live within 1000 ft of this thing now!  OMG! Revolt! Traffic! Out of scale! They're ruining the neighborhood!

Its hard for me to see how those single family communities nestled right up to Uptown Park, 4 Oaks Place, and Riverway are going to successfully argue that highrises and big commercial developments are a problem for them.

Reminds me of the AD Players theater

Which reminds me of a Ford dealership!

I like how he threw in the sunset reference to make it crystal clear he isn't concerned about views.