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DrLan34

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Posts posted by DrLan34

    Farrago World Cuisine At 318 W. Gray St.

    in Midtown

    Posted · Edited by DrLan34

    Chef of recently closed restaurant to lead new Midtown concept

     

    The yet unnamed concept will be an izakaya — a Japanese version of tapas, offering a relaxed atmosphere where people can meet up, grab a drink and share small plates — located at 318 Gray at Bagby, which is the space formerly occupied by Farrago.

     

    http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/morning_call/2014/09/chef-of-recently-closed-restaurant-to-lead-new.html

    • Like 1

    Trebly Park At 1515 Fannin St.

    in Downtown

    Posted · Edited by DrLan34

    http://www.bisnow.com/commercial-real-estate/houston/2796-up-close-with-mark-raines/

     

    Southern Downtown's New Public Realm Plan

     

    66002_1410467194_CentralHoustonTeam1-med

     

    Revitalizing Downtown isn't just accomplished with mega office developments and high-rise luxury apartments. Asakura Robinson hit the streets of Southern Downtown to discover ways the space between buildings can have a major impact on the area. The result: the Southern Downtown/CBD Public Realm Plan. The Downtown Houston Management District's Angie Bertinot (center, between colleages Laura Van Ness andBob Eury) tells us the area actually has a number of interesting spaces, small plazas, public art, and green space that aren't well activated. But it also has many barriers, blank walls, vacant lots, and (most importantly, Asakura Robinson believes) a lot of uniformity.

     

    66002_1410373764_PublicRealmPlan-medium.
     

    The Public Realm Plan includes six strategies.

     

    1) Mix it up a little—classify streets by predominant mode of travel and making improvements accordingly. Some roads might get separated bike lanes, and pedestrian-heavy routes might get more benches. Angie tells us one street is already getting updated—the District's Main Street Improvement project stretches down to Pierce and will begin early next year.

     

    2) Program and design distinctive parks and open spaces. That includes developing a new park around the area of most residential development (Angie says it's still in early planning), and improving programmatic elements at existing spaces.

     

    3) Beautify private corporate plazas. Asakura Robinson created a set of voluntary design guidelines to help architects and property managers get the most out of their public-private spaces.

     

    4) Address vacant lots and blank walls. This is especially important in streets designated as pedestrian-priority, and includes landscaping, green walls, and public art to make the area livelier.

     

    5) Connect beyond the borders. There's activity in the Fourth Ward, Midtown, and EaDo, but southern Downtown is cut off from it all.

     

    6) Get something going in the far southeastern corner of Downtown, which has yet to see development pressures like the rest of the CBD. The Public Realm Plan calls for temporary but productive land use in the meantime—like urban farming or public art—that would improve the perception of the area until development becomes more practical

     

    • Like 4

    George R. Brown Convention Center Redevelopment, Office Building & W Hotel

    in Going Up!

    Posted · Edited by DrLan34

    http://www.bisnow.com/commercial-real-estate/houston/2734-multifamily-monday-aras-three-big-deal-sweet-spots/

     

    Griffin Partners' Development Update  

     

    Even though son Edward is on board as president, Griffin Partners founder Fred Griffin doesn't want to retire anytime soon. (There's only so much golf one can play in Houston heat during the summertime). Since he started the company in 1980, Griffin Partners has developed over 4M SF, and has owned over 10M SF, with 110 professionals tackling over 200 Houston development and advisory assignments annually. Current projects include serving as development manager for the redevelopment of the George R. Brown convention center, as well as building a 1,900-car garage topped with an office building and hotel. For more info on our sponsor, click here.

     

     

    SoDo On Main: Multifamily At 1625 Main St.

    in Downtown

    Posted

     

    This sounds like the description for SkyHouse Main, but Bidclerk has the start date listed as October/November 2014.

     

    https://www.bidclerk.com/project/2917927.html

     

    Quote

    Site work and new construction of a multi-residential development in Houston. Completed working plans call for the construction of a new 24-story, 338-unit, approximately 325,100-square-foot apartment building with a design/build pre-cast parking de...
     

    This seems to match the timeline and description I was told. This sounds like SkyHouse Main to me too.

     

    From what I heard, this will be another skyhouse, similar in design and height. It supposedly will start somewhat soon. Please take this with a grain of salt, not confirmed, but sounds promising... I know lockmat said he thought the next skyhouse was years out, not sure what to make of that and the info I just got.

     

     

    Stowers Building To Become An Aloft Hotel At 820 Fannin St.

    in Downtown

    Posted · Edited by DrLan34

    While you may have posted this today, is this article not dated from to his past April? Not long after this, the project was removed from the downtown development map. May still be a real project or it may be dead. I don't know.

     

    You're right, it is from April, but urbannizer said the project was mentioned at a recent Downtown Redevelopment Authority meeting so I think we are good.

     

    http://www.mainstreettirz.com/home.html 

    SoDo On Main: Multifamily At 1625 Main St.

    in Downtown

    Posted · Edited by DrLan34

    From what I heard, this will be another skyhouse, similar in design and height. It supposedly will start somewhat soon. Please take this with a grain of salt, not confirmed, but sounds promising... I know lockmat said he thought the next skyhouse was years out, not sure what to make of that and the info I just got.

     

    The attached is from the Development List for Buildings in Houston - March 2014 Thread

     

    "I just spoke with a manager at Skyhouse 1, who confirmed that Skyhouse 2 downtown is in the works. In fact, she mentioned that they received permitting last week, and it is projected to break ground mid-2015 and be completed sometime in 2016. Lets keep our fingers crossed."

     

    - Grizzly46

    • Like 1

    Broadstone Skyline: Multifamily At 707 Saulnier St.

    in Downtown

    Posted · Edited by DrLan34

    Construction is currently scheduled to start on September 8th.

     

    http://swamplot.com/the-2-new-apartment-buildings-just-west-of-downtown-that-alliance-residential-hasnt-even-announced-but-is-about-to-start-building/2014-08-27/

     

    TWO SEPARATE APARTMENT buildings, one 8 stories tall and the other 5, will be going up at the far east end of the Fourth Ward, just over the Gulf Fwy. from Downtown. The building bounded by Saulnier, Crosby, Heiner, and Robin will cover the entire 1.136-acre block, which is currently a surface parking lot(see photo above), and bear an address of 707 Saulnier St. The (presumably taller) building one block to the south, labeled 707 Robin St., will take up the vacant two-thirds-of-an-acre L-shaped portion of the block bounded by Robin, Crosby, Heiner, and Andrews.

     

    Developer Alliance Residential (the same company behind the Broadstonecomplexes at Main St. and West Alabama in Midtown and next to the new SkyHouse downtown, as well as other complexes in the Houston area) doesn’t appear to have announced the project publicly, except to let neighbors know that construction will begin on September 8th and will shut down portions of the surrounding streets for the duration of construction, which is expected to last through October 2016.

    • Like 1

    Midtown Restaurant And Bar Scene - More Coming

    in Midtown

    Posted

    Snapped this today and talked to one of the guys behind the project. The conceptual renderings he showed me look amazing, but this will be a really cool project even if it's half as nice as what's planned.

     

    edit: Sorry for taking this picture with a potato... (2301 Main St. - Suede Lounge, LP)

     

    attachicon.gif2014-08-15 16.51.41.jpg

     

    Looks like it use to be downtown at 1000 Prairie

     

    http://www.chron.com/entertainment/restaurants-bars/gallery/Houston-bars-that-have-closed-84593/photo-6216570.php 

    Midtown Streetscape Improvements

    in Midtown

    Posted · Edited by DrLan34

    http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/bellaire/news/article/Work-on-third-Midtown-park-set-for-finish-in-the-5684171.php

     

    "...In addition to green space improvements, the district reported on upcoming construction work slated for Caroline Street. The Midtown Redevelopment Authority is funding the $9 million project with help from a $4 million Texas Department of Transportation grant.

     

    The work will include complete roadway reconstruction with new concrete pavement and public utility upgrades along Caroline from Pierce to Holman streets. There will also be sidewalk improvements including new landscaping and a designated bike lane.

     

    Large, an avid cyclist, said the proposed bike path will be marked with green paint and will be the first such bike route in Houston.

     

    Marshall said the project is set to be put out for bid in December or January with construction to follow later next year."

    SkyHouse Houston II: Multifamily At 1044 Jefferson St.

    in Downtown

    Posted

    What metrics should be used on:

    1. Rentals

    2. Condos

     

    For example, do you say rentals will be successful if in 6 months they are 60 percent full and 90 percent full in 12 months? Or due to various prices for different floor plans another metric is used?

     

    I would like to learn how this stuff is calculated so I can make a mental note of which towers are successful and which are not.

     

    Also, is there a retailer(s) open in Skyhouse on the bottom or will there be? Just curious would like to hear how this much vaunted ground floor retail performs once it comes on line in a few dozen examples being completed soon.

     

    I talked to a 30 something dude at the Dog Park yesterday about Texas, he was down for some training all summer in Houston and mentioned just doing a good walk for 20 minutes and he was always soaked by the time he arrived at his destination - a real problem with work clothes. I guess if I walk in DC from Metro Center to say the W Hotel Roof bar, that isn't a problem with urban canyons, trees, and shade to hide in all over the place.

     

    We need to be strategic with our sidewalks, landscaping, and building overhangs to provide the best amount of shade - particularly downtown.  When walking in the heart of downtown, the shade from all the surrounding buildings really helps.

     

    No GFR yet as I just walked by yesterday.  I am interested to know if anything is planned as well...

    GreenStreet: Mixed-Use Development At 1201 Fannin St.

    in Downtown

    Posted

    http://www.bisnow.com/commercial-real-estate/houston/2520-the-future-of-downtown/

     

    "GreenStreet is nearing the end of its renovations—the team tells us the last finishing details are the large fountains that will anchor each side of the property (Main/Dallas and Caroline/Dallas). The Lawn is complete—pictured, it will soon house events like outdoor movies. Midway also plans to break ground on the stylish Hotel Alessandra (225 keys, 25 stories) this fall."

    SkyHouse Houston II: Multifamily At 1044 Jefferson St.

    in Downtown

    Posted · Edited by DrLan34

    I want to know how well this fills up. Fast might mean more stuff for DT.

     

    http://www.bisnow.com/commercial-real-estate/houston/2520-the-future-of-downtown/

     

    "SkyHouse Houston's construction cam in 1301 Fannin caught this happenin' corner. Residents started moving into SkyHouse last month—we don't see anyone on that rooftop tennis court just yet, but Novare tells us it's ahead of schedule on leasing and meeting rent projections. (We hear it's asking about $2.50/SF.)" 

    • Like 1
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