EastMidtowner

i went to a PIP meeting last night and just about every sentence by the capt began with "i know you won't like to hear this but"

What is PIP and what did the captain say?

AMLI Residential of Chicago sold the AMLI Midtown, a 419-unit apartment property, to a joint venture betweeen Stonepost Properties of New Jersey and CMS of Philadelphia. Apartment Realty Advisors brokered the deal.

should be interesting to see what is happening a yr or so from now.

It has already changed names right? I thought I saw a sign for "Metro Midtown" or something over the old Amli Midtown sign. The sign said they are luxury apartments...that might be a stretch unless they've been remodelled since the last time I was in one.

Christus Health bought the entire block in December.

Any idea what Christus Health is going to do on that block?

I can't believe they're tearing down that building. It's not a very old building. I wonder what's going in there... anyone know? It was for sale for a while... guess it sold?

even the ones not owned by METRO? i'm headed to afternoon jury duty shortly, i'll have to check it out!

They'll probably head to the hustler section of midtown off of mcgowan

Yes they're fencing off everything with nice black wrought iron fences... I can't wait for it to be done!

It looks like they are fencing off all the areas under the Pierce Elevated where the homeless hang out. Hopefully that will clean up that area but I wonder where the bums will go. I hate driving by Pierce and LaBranch on Sunday...it's always packed with bums.

Yes, it is getting overbuilt, at least in terms of townhomes. I'm afraid it's going to be another townhome ghetto. 30 townhomes seems like way too many for that block.

What exactly is a "townhome ghetto"? Where can I find one?

Its going to be 30 townhomes by Waterhill priced in the low to mid 300's.

(im speaking to the shoe warehouse).

Cool how did you find that out?

Any movement on the Octerbeck building on the adjacent? That place looks terrible.

That building is now a self-storage place called Neartown Mini Storage. I have no idea why it's called Neartown since it's in Midtown but it's better than a vacant building. That block has really been cleaned up.

Yeah the whole block looks so much better with that building gone. We'll see what happens with the land. Is there some City of Houston website that might list permits or applications for the land?

They are finally starting to tear down the old shoe warehouse building on the corner of Jackson/McGowen/Chenevert. Does anyone know what's going in there? There was a rumor a long time ago about a mid-rise going in there.

You must be in a different town or something, and must not read the papers much ? Apartments are good for Midtown and a block-buster video and marble slab. In response to your question my response would be that there are probably not many that would open in Midtown over downtown in the first place because it was not an option as is the case at Pavilions and all the tenants there. However, there might be a few that aren't happy with the decision that might have to live with it. Pavilions is going to short-circuit the retail in Midtown, stay tuned. write it down.

Read the papers much? I've read the papers. 12 Spot, Mercury Room, MBar have all closed downtown. I work in the Park Shops and it's embarassing pointing tourists toward "the mall." Have you been in "the mall" in Park Shops. LOL.

Oh and so you do either live Downtown or have a business Downtown. I found this post by you on the downtown forum.

[quote what:

Obviously, Downtown is soon to be "Once Again" the new and this time lasting hotspot. Midtown as you might know was a ghetto and has come a long way as downtowns neighborhood. It is going to settle back into the shadow of downtown, as it should and sophisticated operators will select downtown for real business. ]

http://www.houstonarchitecture.info/haif/i...st&p=151717

Instead of bashing Midtown because it's suceeding and Downtown is not, why don't you go recruit some retail for Downtown?

I have noticed fewer businesses making poor long term decisions about opening their businesses in Midtown lately and selecting to make more of a long term choice for their business in downtown now that it is starting to come back strong.

Sounds like either 1) you're a business owner in downtown or 2) a resident in downtown.

Downtown is not coming back strong. Quite a number of bars/clubs have closed in the past several months alone. Have you been dowtown after 5pm on a weekday or on weekends? As for businesses not opening in Midtown and choosing downtown instead, I don't think that's the case. A new piano bar is going in on Hadley and Lousiana. A new seafood restaurant is going in on McGowen and Travis. I believe Camden apartments and retail is going in on that SuperBlock on Main. What businesses do you know of that have decided not to open in Midtown and instead open in downtown?

Oh ok... I thought the sign said "Roof" but maybe it said "Reef." Seafood restaurant in Midtown? Hmm....will be interesting to see how that does.

Anyone know what's going in on McGowen and Travis where the noodle shop used to be? The sign says The Roof.... is that whole corner going to be one huge club? That's a prime location if the Camden SuperBlock gets developed.

I just noticed the signs. They could have been there all along except they weren't faded so I thought they were new.

I had not seen the signs before... not sure how long they've been there. I wonder if they're going to start building anytime soon.

I wonder how Capital One is doing....I never see people in the drive through. I hope Midtowners are boycotting that place. I still can't believe they took practically a whole block for a bank.

I saw signs up by the SuperBlock on Main and McGowen...it looks like they're going to start building residential and retail. I wonder what's going in there. Anyone have more info on the SuperBlock?