fernz

When I drove by yesterday, it appeared that Hanover has topped out. Does anyone know for sure?

I thought they still had about 10 more floors to go.

Stupid question.... Is this Mid Main project apart of the Superblock initiative from years ago?

Yes, different lot.

Agreed.

Pound for pound this has to be the most architecturally stunning highrise project in Houston. International tower and 609 Main could round out the top tier.

you all seem to forget this is a Randall Davis project; it will most likely turn out looking cheap.

Wow! This is really unattractive.

Agree. Different isn't always better. I do like all the retail though.

Again, the project on the renderings is on the North side of Westheimer.

Get excited...

I'm glad for the infill in Midtown, but I can hardly get excited over that design

hmmmm...

Where does your quote come from?

I don't think this is going in the plot referenced by cfewell22. This is going on the North side of Westheimer.

I for one am happy that the rendering floating around of that epsilon/W hotel was not for a real project. Maybe we can get something really cool on the 2 remaining lots.

Maybe I stand alone, but I don't have any problem whatsoever with townhomes here (gated or not). If it wasn't for the high end townhomes that turned this area around then we would not be even discussing a "Westcreek" or a "River Oaks District".

 

Retail follows rooftops and luxury retail follows luxury rooftops. How soon we forget that this area was all Target parking lot and 50-60 year old (albeit well-maintained) apartments just a few years ago. My point is the townhomes got the ball rolling, now we're all "ooh, nasty gated townhomes". Personally, I appreciate the diverse residential offerings here. Everyone does not prefer to live in a high-rise or midrise with the concierge all in your business and neighbors complaining that the base in your speakers are vibrating their walls.

 

I love the uniqueness of a lot of Houston's townhomes. We are a spread out metropolis, even within the loop. If every new residential building was a 300-unit highrise, it would take forever to build this place out.

that is a good point

why do they have the SkyHouse site listed as "townhome development"?

wait NVM.. i just noticed there are two plots on the Building D site.. are they seriously going to put townhouses in WestCreek? thats not urban at all.. where are the hotels?

i was excited about Westcreek.. but now it seems like a mish mash of developments that wont form one singular cohesive development. kind of a bummer.. hopefully that W comes and the office component is nice and tall.

Townhomes are not urban all? Why do you think they're called "town" homes? Every dense, walkable city has blocks and blocks of townhomes, including NYC, DC, Paris, San Francisco...

Shell just completed two 12-story budings in the Energy Corridor. Would they be relocating employees there?

It does look very much like the Hines market square tower. Does anyone know who is the architect for this one?

It's not like these developers are thinking centuries ahead. in 30-40 years they could be replaced by something bigger.

The earliest examples of this style of development I can think of are Hanover's Sabine Lofts and Lofts at the Ballpark, they are about 15yrs old now and still in good shape. In fact, the ballpark lofts sold a few years ago - for the second time - at what was considered a pretty good price. As long as they are well maintained, sell every ten years or so, and the new owners keep updating, there is no reason they can't be in good shape in 40 years. Quality of construction and materials matters though. Post's Midtown Lofts had a bunch of issues with the EIFS getting water in - in that case they seem to have been properly remedied, but it may mean fewer updates in later years...

While I was getting gas today...

 

 

 

Great pictures, thanks for posting!

I'm really liking this tower.

Is there already a thread for this project? The article says it will be a $1 Billion mixed use project just east of BP and could include hotel, apartments, office and retail.

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/Exclusive-Big-real-estate-project-headed-for-5149772.php

The Bizjournals story most likely was referring to Hines project at Westheimer and Shepherd (old Cafe Adobe site).

 

Technically not what I would call the Galleria area but that term has been used more loosely than "River Oaks" for decades. I had friends in college who had an apartment in the Gulfton/Bellaire/Hillcroft vicinity and would always say "Galleria Area".

Good point; thanks for clarifying.

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/2014/01/multifamily-development-continues-to.html

The story mentions that Hines has another development in the Galleria. Does anybody know anything about that?

There is no cohesiveness in development in Houston like you see in other cities.

No zoning also means no planning; since it can't get enforced. Cohesiveness doesn't happen by itself.

Did you look at the elevations? It's basically the old apartments, except with a strip mall stuck underneath them. Residential density is only coincidentally improved because the new apartments are smaller.

Does anyone know the before and after unit count?

Darn tapatalk didn't submit my message...

I didn't mean to project the status of the building, only that it's a W hotel since Urbanizer thought it was not.

Also, I'm surprised people don't like it. The west side needs work but the east side and overall shape is pretty cool to me.

Thanks, that makes sense. 

Found out it is a W Hotel.

http://www.pcg-us.com/portfolio/renderings/8-portfolio/13-commercial-mixed-use.html

This could still be just a rendering for a proposal that went nowhere. Do you have any info that confirms this project?

This isn't a problem of budget, rather a problem of cash flow.  This project is critical to the future of their operations, they will likely start sooner than one they announced.  In the meantime look on the bright side, this does allow time for redesign!!!

I can imagine when the RE team goes in front of the capex committee to request additional funds for the redesign: "I know we are billions of dollars over budget on other projects, but we really need more money on this one, the haifers don't like the design!" 

I dont necessarily like it, but it will fit well whithin its context. It does look better than the original drawings though.

Looks like a retirement home, not an office building