travelguy_73

That little shopping center is in dire need of a refresh, so hopefully them vacating it is an opportunity to do just that.

Looking at Google maps, there are four lots on that block.  The Swamplot article says three are part of the deal, so I'll speculate that the one in the picture is not part of the package (the others don't appear to be as desireable), it is the most photogenic.

So has anyone seen a press release announcing more than just a single tenant?  I would think at this point that they have to be getting a little nervous at the lack of leasing.  Of course they could have 5 deals in the works, but given the progress of the building, I would have expected more tenant updates.

It's been interesting watching the progress between this and WaterWall Place a block away.  WWP seems to be going up considerably fast, and floor-by-floor, garage included.  In contrast, 3100 focused on getting the garage (100%?) complete before even pouring the foundation for the residential.  There also appeared to be a week (at least) where nothing was being done at 3100.  So it's hard to tell which one will be finished first, but it's looking like WWP will have the honors.

At the same time, whether it is developed next year or next decade, won't it bring more investment to the east side of town in anticipation?

Look at Midtown. Lots of land being held...and has been held for a long time...all in anticipation. The problem with anticipation is there needs to be a critical mass of action to get the investors to start on their own projects. Otherwise it's like a game of chicken.

And under contract and sold are very different things. Land buys aren't the slam dunk with lenders they used to be, plus you have to convince them that your development plan makes senseNow if someone was coming in with all cash to buy and develop, that's another story, but really that's not going to happen on this scale.

I agree that if the sale goes through, it's probably for a long-term purpose, maybe even just a land-hold strategy. Or maybe the city will throw money at it and accelerate development.

This project seems to be moving fast. At least compared to 3100 Post Oak right around the corner which started 2-3 months before this. That project just now has some foundation work visible, while this one has what looks like parking structures already appearing above ground level and a lot of the foundation work done.

3100 Post Oak appears to have spent a lot of time adjusting the size of the lake on the property and putting in retaining walls, and so now it will be interesting to see each project compete to completion.

what would you like to see around the edges of the park in the way of amenities for park goers?

More casual and family-friendly eateries are the main items that come to mind, not places buried in the Hilton, Embassy Suites, etc. We like to meet there for kid play dates, and get tired of the very few choices (Lake House, Phoenecia) that keep weekend hours and are a quick walk. I'd like to see more human-scale projects around the park, not just large buildings (and yes. I understand how the economics of it work).

While I like the idea of expanded convention business, I wish that Discovery Green wasn't going to be completely fenced in by large buildings, with little in the way of amenities for park-goers.

The main pond has been drained, coincidence?

Discovery Tower did. It was almost finished by the time Hess signed up.

That may be, but you have to look at the capital environment Discovery Tower (and MainPlace for that matter) was developed in. I'm talking current day, not 2008.

Say a major tenant was in the market for space, it wouldnt be likely that all 3 sites mentioned would develope at the same time right? Unless we have another Hess situation with Mainplace?

I wouldn't think so, unless more than one was self-financed (e.g., Skanska on Post Oak). Developers have spent a lot of time and money over the past few years leasing up buildings that were built partially-or-fully spec. So there is caution to not repeat the issues of the recent past.

Just guessing, but I would think that unless a tenant signs up for something approaching 50% of the space, a project wouldn't proceed.

So it appears to have lost 2 levels (of office space or parking, not sure) between the first scheme and now. Not a large building, but good scale for that site.

I agree -- I love the current CC but the refreshed front end is a miss......similar to my feelings for the new A5/S5 (and to a lesser degree, the A4/S4) refresh....don't like it at all.....has Audi/VW fired their good designers and hired some "new" ones ?

My feeling is that sometimes the manufacturers achieve near perfection with a particular design. Because they need to refresh it after a few years, they "refine" it to the point that they actually undo some of the great things about the original. Back in the day, when Honda had great designs, they were guilty of this as well. Updated wheels and lights usually looked tacked on and not nearly as nice as what they started with.

I have a 2009 CC V6, and that refresh is a miss. I like the LED tailamps and wheels, but the front end is taking one of the best parts of the CC and taking all the character out of it. I figured that front end was coming when the Passat was introduced with it, but *sigh* it makes me sad. But happy I have mine!

Yeah, the liberal AND the conservative whiners make me want to slit throats.

I still hoped for just the base only option, but I'm willing to bet in a few years after it is finished they will regret the option they picked..

The auto traffic no longer being held hostage to the train sitting on the tracks? Unless they can't get the drainage right, very few residents will regret it. I wish my nearest rail crossing was grade-separated!

Pseudo-subway, sounds cool, and is better for the community, isn't it? But, looks like not too many people are happy about additional funds provided by the CoH.

Chron Article: http://blog.chron.co...-end-rail-line/

The typical Chron comments...

You're correct that location is over by Wayside. Found out recently that they're going to go under the tracks between Delano and Dowling streets. That irritates me, as I thought a Rail bridge would have awesome views of downtown, but whatever.

I agree, but there is a dollar store, a small strip mall, and a couple of other small businesses that would take a massive hit. Not a big loss, but would be devastating if *I* was the owner of that shop.

Those shops are over there right now, but as the area improves it would be nice to have a habitable place for future businesses. My understanding is that this is the main issue--creation of a psychological dead zone.

I was actually never opposed to having the light rail line (alone) go over the train tracks, and in fact like the idea of having rail completely elevated (stops and all) in some areas where auto traffic is dense. A single elevated line in that particular area would be minimally intrusive, unlike a massive bridge where ALL traffic goes over the line (the worst option). Other cities with elevated light rail seem to handle it just fine. However, while I'm not a community activist by any means, I think that the all under, if drained properly, will be more pleasing with the added benefit of giving auto traffic a continous flow regardless of the train. As those of us in the area know, trains stop on the tracks, or go so slow as to effectively be stopped, and this will fix that. I also think that the area "activists" also needed to flex their collective muscle and show that the area deserves better than the cheapest option. After the neglect the east end has seen, sometimes what gets people worked up isn't always what outsiders find rational.

I'm not sure why the delay of the final line of a year gets anyone worked up, either. Rome wasn't built in a day. let's not let our impatience get the better of us.

Just heard from my little birdie as far as the East line bridge.

It seems like they are leaning towards "All under". The result of this decision will be:

1: Delaying of the COMPLETE line for one year.

2: Funds for 3 city projects in the north side of town will be postponed until additional funds can be done.

3: At least one metro upgrade will be pushed back a couple of years.

I'm about to write to Metro to ask them for some sense and go forward with the BASE version of the project (rail only bridge). I'm hoping anyone else that lives in that part of town would do the same.

I believe "all under" is exactly what people in the area want. I'm confused why you think people in the area would now go for the base version.

I think its clear what happened to them in the past, but John Hess was adamant that they are to never return unless the builder can guarantee 100% this would never happen again. Last I heard, they are being re-engineered and will return, but I have nothing official, just whispers.

Safety aside, I also wonder about the noise and vibration that is transmitted to the top floor of the building. When those turbines get going, they get LOUD.

looks like it's more for pedestrians than cars, oooo, how urban of them ;P

I agree, it is much more human in scale. However, it's a relatively thin strip of land and so those posts are in the area they appear to be paving. Which will leave very little actual walking space (plus there is a sidewalk on the other side that doesn't get used, so why have two that don't get used?

Here is a picture of one of the, well, I'm not sure what it is, they are installing on McCue next to the Williams Tower garage. I think they are streetlights, but they are really low and there are a bunch of them (are they solar?). You can see the Uptown shiny silver lights across the street, so I don't get it.

They ripped out the grass and appear to be laying a paver sidewalk. Does anyone know if the TIRZ here still exists, and if so, why? Seems like whatever purpose it served has been realized.

They've been working on Post Oak and Hidaldo for a few weeks now. I'd be surprised if it wasn't coincidental.

I think the work on Alabama and McCue is what is being referred to, not that on Post Oak.

Walked by earlier today, they appear to be moving some dirt around already?

Doesn't look to be related, and actually, not quite sure what is going on there. Appears to be sidewalk and street light work by Uptown District. Wonder if the timing is just coincidental? Would be a shame for construction to destroy whatever they are doing!

Weren't they planning on expanding? Has this already happened ?

Haven't been there in a few years.. great stuff though.

I don't think they planned to expand their interior space. They bought the building next door last year, demolished it, and put in a parking lot. Where the parking lot used to be is now a large patio area. I had hoped they would flip it around and put the patio on the "quieter" side (farther from the intersection), but one of the employees said the city parking requirements necessitated how they layed it all out (even though there is plenty of street parking, city regs strike again). I have been to Mandola's probably half-a-dozen times since moving over here, and like it more and more. It's got a real neighborhood feel, and a couple of the employees there actually remember us (we had to go to Dry Creek at least two dozen times to get the same "friendly" treatment), and it is funny to hear the banter between long-time customers and employees. I love that we can walk there!

On the downside, I would like to see more interesting food options, it is too heavily focused on "deli" for my taste (though I love their Chicken Mandola po-boy and their carrot cake is better than House of Pies). I heard they were going to add pizza, which would make me very happy as we spend way too much at Star.

They seriously need to get the word out on the change in hours. Other than the sign out front, I wouldn't have known! Maybe they are just working out the kinks first, who knows.