fernz

I'm all about the school coming to Downtown, the mix of uses, the nice geometric interplay...but the design is still kind of bland. It's ironic for a school for visual arts.

Does anyone know if the proposed makeover of Avenue of the Americas into a more pedestrian friendly street was approved?

LOL!

Probably post-tensioning cables.

So, what do we think these towers are? Tall Residental, short Office?

I would say the round one is apartments, because of the balconies. The short one could be boutique office, to compete with Hines' tower.

Where's the parking?

I could understand that vibe, but I would say it's too early to have a "confident vibe." I think it's because we're unfamiliar with the developer and it actually looks very nice and it's not the usual Houston design, which is a good thing. Many have had their hopes brought down with similar renderings.

But this area is hot, so that might actually bring some confidence.

You're right, I think I get that vibe bc I'm not familiar with the developer - and the developer does not have much experience with the Houston market, I think. But also because the design is a bit superfluous (not in a bad way), like it would be too expensive to build and turn a profit. I don't know, it's just a feeling. But like I said, I really like it and I hope I'm wrong.

Really nice!

I don't know why, but I have a bad feeling about this one. I feel it either isn't going to happen, or will be severly scaled down, sort of like BLVD place. I hope I'm wrong though, I really like this.

maybe we need to move this topic to the Crater Houston forum...

This is one of my favorite developments going on right now.

That is a reasonable explanation to why they are doing it this way. Still seems like a lot of money to be spending for a tower that may not happen... It leads me to believe that this one will in fact, go up. I've said this before, but it seems like the new standard is to build a project with or without the tenants - with the expectation they will come - or else the project may never happen.

Seems to be happening - "if you build it, they will come"

1. 609 Main - Hines (Summer 2014)

2. 6 Houston Center - Cresant (Summer 2014)

3. Capitol Tower - Shanska (Early 2015)

4. Chevron Tower 3 - ? (Mid 2015)

Waiting on a lead tenant - "the tenant that never came due to too many options UC"

1. 5 Allen Center

2. International Tower

You really think Chevron Tower 3 does not have a tenant??

Is that an amenities deck on the north west corner?

  that would be my guess

I really like the entrance, looks very elegant. People make a decision to lease based on the entrance, the lobby/clubhouse and the pool area - of course if it's at the right price. People put a great deal of importance on the ability to impress visitors.

From ZC's website.

Wow, someone spent some serious time Photoshoping these pictures to remove all the poles and wires in the intersection and both streets...seems a bit like deceptive advertizing.

Much better picture; thanks Urbannizer. This is good-looking building.

I do like the density as well; especially when coupled with Hines' tower.

Thank you sky-guy. The base of the building certainly turned out worse than the rendering.

Yup... Reality didn't so much kick in for Embassy Suites, it slapped each and every one of us across the face

Great example. Also, I don't have pictures, but remember the renderings for the cosmopolitan?

Yes, it is preliminary. But preliminary, conceptual designs should be aspirational. When they get developed, reality kicks in and takes the magic away. This one doesn't have any magic to begin with.

I like the infill. Don't like the look. Looks like a gigantic excel spreadsheet. 

 

Nonetheless, build build build!

Seriously?

This will be the best looking strip center in Houston; by far.

I agree 100% with montrose1100. This will stick out like a sore thumb when coming into town on 45s. Couldnt be a worse location. Hate the building. it's going to look awkward as hell.

Agree as well. Looks as bad as Hanover's Post Oak tower did when it was built over 10 years ago.

I agree 100% with montrose1100. This will stick out like a sore thumb when coming into town on 45s. Couldnt be a worse location. Hate the building. it's going to look awkward as hell.

Agree as well. Looks as bad as Hanover's Post Oak tower did when it was built over 10 years ago.

In the GreenStreet Redevelopment thread Tumbleweed_Tx posted a photo of a Preview Center.

http://greenstreetdowntown.com/directory/skyhouse-houston

They also had one (pictured here) in Austin that opened about 3 to 4 months prior to move-in.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/8/prweb11015374.htm

Any thoughts, is this aggressive or know of any other for lease properties with off-site preview centers?

I had only seen this in condos before

A jail is used for temporary detention. A prison is used for people serving long term sentences. There's certainly an advantage to having the jail so close to the courthouse, but I would think that, as others have noted, the value of the land is going to get high enough at some point, that it's going to make sense to move it.

Thanks for clarifying. I would assume that as long as the courthouses remain in downtown, so will the jail.

2014 03 08:

There's barely been any progress in two weeks...

I really love the way it's lit up at night. BLVD Place is one of the very few contemporary pieces we have going up.

I would say everything being built right now is contemporary...