Subdude

I think the DFW area owes a big hats-off to the taxpayers of Arlington for shelling out for stadium after stadium.  

Great post.  It seems to me that Houston should be perfect for fostering start-ups.  I would think there would be a lot of potential in the medical services field.  

Great news.  I think the timing is right.  The Houston economy seems to be starting to pick up again, and this building will hopefully catch the market on the upswing.  

7 hours ago, cspwal said:

Roma's pizza used to be a place called the Pink Pussycat? Fascinating

Yes, there was a big sign of a Pink Pussycat hanging in front.  

Off topic posts deleted.

11 hours ago, ChannelTwoNews said:

Found the filing for this one's height in the 1982 FAA archives. 

https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external/searchAction.jsp?action=displayOECase&oeCaseID=247374&row=4

 

Off topic: That FAA database is fantastic for tracking down heights for a number of older unbuilt proposals that I had previously created for Emporis with the help of the Post's archives over the past decade, but it also raises more questions on some things. For example: Based on the coordinates tied to this proposal from the same year, there once was a 910 foot, 64 story tower planned for East Downtown at McKinney at Ennis, near a segment of the current MetroRail Purple Line that runs parallel to a section of the Columbia Tap Trail. Can't recall digging up anything on that via the Post previously... anyone?

 

 

That's fascinating, although I find it hard to believe there was ever a serious proposal for that location.  The first unbuilt one that springs to mind for that location is the Campeau Tower, but that would have been in south downtown. 

Sears exists more as a real estate holding company that happens to have a lot of empty Sears and Kmart stores occupying the real estate.  I don't think they are really that interested in operating retail and much as unloading the real estate.  At some point the Midtown location will be sold for some other use.  

19 hours ago, nativehoustonion said:

Capital Tower under construction in H-Town! 

Stop trying to derail the thread.  Keep it on topic.  

News like this gets me a lot more excited about this project.

I always liked Town & Country mall.  It was my "go to" mall for a long time, mainly because it was never very crowded and it was quick to get in and out.  They had an Abercrmobie & Fitch, on the south axis I think, back when it was an outdoor equipment store.  

14 hours ago, Wildcat51 said:

TCB didn't fail. The others that you mentioned did, however. 

That is true.  They were acquired by Chemical Bank.  If that hadn't happened though I suspect their fate would have been the same as the others. Someone correct me if I'm wrong on this, but I think that Bank of the Southwest, First City and TCB ended up as part of today's Chase Bank, InterFirst and Republic ended up within Bank of America, and Allied part of Wells Fargo.  

7 hours ago, intencity77 said:

 

Actually before Mervyns it was a Lord & Taylor. 

Thank you both.  

I thought the original Foley's structure was demolished.

Visible Changes has been there as far back as I can remember, although it used to be in a different location, across the main concourse from the little shop that sold corn-dogs and lemonade. 

What was originally on the far west (Gessner) end of the mall (between Sears and Montgomery Wards)?

Note duplicate topics merged

Plus the lovely West Building in the background!

16 hours ago, houstontexasjack said:

 

You'll have the 10-story parking garage for One Market Square one block north of here to fill in the space.

Maybe this can develop into downtown's Parking District North.

Yea!

4 hours ago, Luminare said:

My guess is the "renovation" of the interior is simply to keep the building online for extended use until more deals are done with the property in the future or some master plan is drafted for this site. No way they will keep this aging relic standing for long or in whatever master plan they come up with. Would be cheaper to tear it down than to "restore" or "reconfigure" or whatever "re" one could come up with.

You are probably right.  Second-tier malls like this are a dying breed.  I don't know about potential for mixed use, but I could picture a large apartment complex on the site. 

20 hours ago, dml423 said:

I actually meant to put this here a while ago bc it was discussed at the church in January. They are currently at 1010 Lamar (just rent the space) on Sundays. I think this will be a great add for that area of downtown!

Interesting.  Originally they were catty-corner on the First City Tower block.  

Note merged dupe topics.

I have to admit it is a great location.  Being in walking proximity of all that retail, River Oaks Theater and Kroger is going to be a big draw. 

Removed in the topic about redevelopment into a Sheraton, since there isn't any appreciable progress or news about that.  

It seems a bit disproportionate citing it for graffiti when the entire structure is such an eyesore.  Nothing ever came of the Sheraton rumor?

If you look at the explosion of retail for the "upscale and wealthy" lately (River Oaks District, Galleria expansion, Kirby Collection, Rice Village redevelopment etc etc) it is hard to see how much demand there could be for yet another retail destination for the upscale and wealthy.  Or maybe they feel they don't have enough choices, and I'm just blind to it.