DrLan34

The facebook page says it will open in about a month and a half?

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Majorca-Bistro-and-Tapas/178687525488583

I was told that this place will indeed be Red Door remodeled.

The new townhomes going in at W Webster and Mason (near Taft and Grey)... Looks like they will have some pretty nice rooftop decks.

http://members.har.com/Sites/NINO/dispDetail.cfm?mlnum=64809428

office space is 100% leased... this place is kickin ***

http://www.bisnow.com/houston_commercial_real_estate_news_story.php?p=14343

There's a flattering piece in the Chronicle on green design and changes in highrise development that's more or less exclusively about BG Group Place.

http://www.chron.com...ay/7522028.html

Nice article... I like this part...

"Now it's the first part of his sales pitch, the thing that new clients ask about. BG Place is now 60 percent occupied - impressive, in this economy - and Mooz expects soon to announce new tenants, including a ground-level retail operation. He also points fondly to Lot 59, a nearby block of Main Street now used as a parking lot. Hines intends to build there next, he says - an office building much like this one, because that's what tenants want."

Retail will naturally come when the density demands it. I love mixed use as well but this development is infinitely better than the tavern (not knockin the bar but I prefer higher density development).

It's a proposed newer model car that can turn on a dime.

My only major concern about this development is how are they going to handle the traffic situation there.

People coming onto bagby from 45 have a tendency to just zoom by. I've seen more than a few accidents there with cars, add a few more pedestrians to the mix and you got a recipe for disaster.

They shold add some flashing lights like they have around schools.

Here's what's going there:

http://swamplot.com/...-21/#more-28023

great news, thanks for posting

I am looking forward to this development and the adjacent garage as some good infill for Midtown, but doesn't the old Scout building retro-fit look a little strange? Maybe even tacky? Judging by the renderings, the old and new components of this building don't mesh.

Maybe some architecture buffs out there can help explain otherwise, but I just don't get it.

I agree, it looks a little strange but I'm hoping that the real product will blend together a little better than it does in the rendering. I like the parking garage though.

http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/17061521/1911-Bagby-Houston-TX/

"Description

Scouts Square is Midtown's newest development. 1911 Bagby will consist of a basement bar/club, 1st floor Moor's Restaurant, 2nd floor banquet space and 3 floor office. Unique opportunity to build to suit your specifications located on 3rd floor. Est 10,000 sqft and can be divisble. Across the street will be 10,000 sqft restaurant, Blackfinn American Saloon, and a parking garage directly above. Please refer to the renderings.

Prime Location in the heart of Midtown. Corner of Bagby and Pierce across from New Edge Condominiums & The Rise. Parking garage located across the street and Accessible from major freeways: I-45, I-10, SH 288, Hwy 59."

That's not entirely true. He has given HAIF (and gave me photo credit) for the Hess turbine thingie.

Which reminds me.....any word on the missing turbines?

not yet, i've been looking for updates as well. Most of the contractors are working on the inside of the building so i haven't had a chance to ask anyone

Good question regarding where the second phase will be built? Do they own more land, and where? because it doesn't appear anything else can be built next to the garage or the boy scout building. Maybe they'll fit a few apts north of the boy scout building, but additional parking too and retail?

Should this be moved to going up? Not sure what the rule is with that.

i would say yes, 7 story parking garage with retail seems substantial enough along with whatever other buildings may come

more information and new renderings

http://blogs.chron.com/primeproperty/2011/03/a_look_inside_scouts_square_co.html

Wow, no offense meant to Editor, but is HAIF dying? An announcement that a big project like this is breaking ground in an area like the galleria and nobody is talking about it? What is going on? A few years ago this topic would have already been on it's second or third page.

ha, i'm definitely pumped about this development, especially because my office is on Post Oak. However, I would really like to see some mixed use IN downtown or closer to downtown, like Regent Square. With the rails being delayed, this area will need tons of mixed use to become somewhat walkable. However, if this thing went up in downtown, which is already walkable, it would be much more interesting, to me at least.

The number for sale seems to continue to rise. Do you think it's more of the state of the market in the sense townhomes are usually somewhat transitional, and it's tough to get out of them in a bad market? Or are people giving up on the neighborhood in the sense it doesn't seem to be progressing? I guess I'm just venting cause it's discouraging.

On that note we could use a nice, friendly Irish pub on the southeast side.

They are just completing 6 new townhomes on Genesee near Gray but they all have for lease signs in front of them. Just down the block next to Juan Mon's they have started construction on what seems to be 6 new townhomes. still building.

went yesterday, got the half pound fajita combo. excellent.

from an e-mail i got

"VIP MEMBERSHIPS

SCOTT GERTNER’S AT HOUSTON PAVILIONS

Of course, you are all VIPs to me, but if you really want to slip by the velvet rope, get your 2011 VIP Diamond Membership to Scott Gertner’s at Houston Pavilions. You get a $200 discount from the yearly $1,000 fee if you purchase one before April 15th. As a VIP Diamond Member, you will never wait in line, you will get VIP table reservations and VIP rooftop cabana reservations. You also get access to the VIP Lounge and Balcony. And, there’s more...advance notice of all upcoming specials and events and a VIP invitation to the grand opening party! Scott Gertner’s at Houston Pavilions opens this spring/summer!

THE 411: Scott Gertner’s at Houston Pavilions is located on the third floor above center court. 713.303.4839. For VIP memberships, contact Cindy Gertner at cgertner@aol.com. scottgertner.com"

I can't wait for the day for someone to announce an awesome proposal on April 1, leading people to think it's april fools only to be a real project!

http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/03-30-11-wrestling-rescues-the-dome/

wrestling? i dont know if this is april fools or not

Not sure what to make of the vague description but it seems like Midtown will be getting a new bar in about 9 months...

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/2011/04/openings_closings_28.php

http://swamplot.com/a-midtown-beer-bar-is-born/2011-04-01/

I was at Pub Fiction yesterday for happy hour and the renovations look nice! They have expanded the seating inside and out.

I spoke with one of the bartenders and he said they have no plans to leave that location. The bar they are building next to Howl at the Moon will be a different concept.

great news... so we have a better pub and a new style bar going in next door. solid.

http://www.coydavidson.com/2011/02/11/top-10-most-expensive-us-office-markets/

Houston, 7th most expensive CBD

someone's trying to get downtown going again...

http://www.centralhouston.org/Home/Programs/PlanningandDevelopment/

"Programs : Planning and Development

Central Houston leads or assists in comprehensive planning advocacy, working closely with the Houston Downtown Management District, City of Houston, METRO, Harris County and area development associations. The following are planned or anticipated downtown or downtown-adjacent projects. Projects are closely aligned with implementation goals of the 2004 Houston Downtown Development Framework.

• Development – Dynamo Stadium. Support role to stadium design and construction development, including LRT construction and operations, access from East End, and prospective mixed-use development south of Stadium.
• Development – Regional Tourism Center | Reconfigure Avenida de las Americas. Support role to the City of Houston for a reconfigured block between GRB Convention Center and Minute Maid Park, to house a Regional Tourism Center including relocation of the two historic houses. North- & south-bound lanes to be reduced from four- to two-lanes at 600 block of AdlA, with 700 block used for lane transitions.
• Development – 806 Main Street Hotel. Collaborating with developer, City and METRO to review proposed hotel and LRT operations at Rusk and Main. Investigating street design options to assist with hotel traffic.
• Downtown High School. Participate in confidential negotiations with HISD Trustees and Administration to identify downtown site for HSPVA.
• Development – Convention Hotel and International Zone. Support role to private development for hotel and mixed-use development east of GRB Convention Center and SH-59 at Polk and Chartres streets.
• Development – Convention Center Hotel | Block 99. Support role in ongoing conversations for future hotel development, particularly in regards to LRT construction and GRB Convention Center plans for expansion.
• Residential & Mixed-Use Planning – Warehouse District, Northeast Quadrant and Southeast Quadrant. Prepare “neighborhood sketch plans” to initiate activity and inform comprehensive downtown master planning or guidelines for a refreshed framework, integrating the projects with related projects such as the H-GAC Livable Centers study.
• Master Planning - UH Downtown. Support the University’s planning efforts in their development of master plan; collaborate with University’s planning team to provide information for future expansion.
• Master Planning – Mixed-use Retail Core Area. Project in the first half of 2011 to develop conceptual design to re-vitalize downtown’s Shopping District.
• Master Planning – George R. Brown Convention Center | 25-Year Planning. For the City, lead master planning project with Gensler to develop master planning documents for future expansion of GRB.
• Master Planning – Downtown | East Downtown Livable Centers. Work with numerous entities and the design consultancy team for a nine-month master planning transit-oriented development project of 168-block area bounded by Preston, St. Charles, Pease and Austin. Coordinate multiple projects and consultants within study area.
• Bayou Improvements – Austin Street Portal Repairs and Maintenance. At blocks 6 and 7, substantial repairs to a guardrail separating surface parking and Buffalo Bayou. Guardrail was damaged during a drunk driver incident in November 2009.
• Bayou Improvements – Buffalo Bayou North Channelization. Participating as a stakeholder in the Buffalo Bayou Partnership’s Master Plan and working with the Harris County Flood Control District, long term planning for channeling the bayou including street, bridge and bayou path improvements. Short-term coordination with HCFCD and downtown businesses to assist with cost benefit analysis of channelization.
• Bayou Improvements – Sesquicentennial Park to Travis Portal. Engineering design project to suspend a bayou path bridge from street bridge as the link along a discontinuous portion of the hike and bike trail.
• Bayou Improvements – International Coffee Building. Serving as the funding recipient for TXDOT providing match grant to Buffalo Bayou Partnership for historic renovation to the ICB.
• Tranquility Park. Provide ongoing stakeholder involvement for future redevelopment of Tranquility Park, based on 2008 conceptual planning. Collaborate as a leading stakeholder with Parks & Recreation in all phases of future work.
• Jones Plaza. Provide ongoing stakeholder involvement for future re-development of Jones Plaza, based on 2010 Visioning Meeting as led by Gensler for Convention & Entertainment Facilities.
• Pocket Parks & Pets. Identify parcels and ownership who may consider development of pocket and / or pet parks distributed throughout district; goal is to provide more neighborhood park amenities to downtown residents.
• Lighting Improvements – LED Street Lighting Pilot. After testing fixture performance and evaluating economics during a pilot phase, make a recommendation to Board for phased upgrading to street lights on certain thoroughfares.
• Lighting Improvements – Main Street OCS Pole Lighting Pilot. Based on past performance and low-level lighting output of “sail” fixtures along Main Street, south of Texas, select with CenterPoint new street lights to be mounted to METRO OCS poles.
• Lighting Improvements – Theater Pole Relocation to Northwest Quadrant. Based on development of area south of Minute Maid Park and due to METRO | LRT construction on Capitol & Rusk, existing theater pole street lighting to be removed and relocated to new areas to be identified in areas north of Texas Street.
• Lamar Street Pedestrian Lighting Pilot. As a test pattern, install 10-12 light fixtures on south side of Lamar from Crawford to Austin. Based on fixture performance, develop plans for pedestrian lighting particularly within the “Z-Corridor” linking Convention Center, hotels, retail, Main Street and Historic District.
• Sidewalk Improvements – Travis to Fannin from Clay to Jefferson. Support and overview of current project design and anticipated construction in expending currently allocated TIRZ funds.
• Sidewalk Improvements – Southeast Quadrant. Support and overview a project to design and construct sidewalk and related amenities (landscape, lighting) per downtown guidelines. Coordinate improvements with property owners. Leverage right-of-way design for future developments.
• METRO | LRT – Capitol & Rusk Streets (plus Hamilton, Texas and Buffalo Bayou). Ongoing stakeholder leadership on the downtown segments of Southeast Line, including tree mitigation coordination, station and transfer station design, garage access, owner representation, and construction coordination.
• Street Improvements – Crosswalk and Intersection Paver Repairs and Maintenance. With long-term maintenance issues related to 2004 construction on downtown transit streets, particularly at intersections surrounding Main Street Square, work with engineering consultant to develop and test alternative installations of pavers within roadway.
• Street Improvements – Dallas from Crawford to Caroline. Streetscape modifications including wider sidewalk at south side of Dallas, new landscaping, new pedestrian lighting, new street lighting, underground electrical utilities from current overhead; continuation of previous street improvements from Bagby to Caroline linking hotels with Convention Center.
• Bike Share Program. Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) pilot project to develop a public bike share program based on downtown’s density. Following testing phase, program to be implemented in other areas of Houston region.
• Neighborhood Connections – Elysian Viaduct New Bridge and Roadway. Continue design studies related to Elysian Viaduct and connections between downtown and near northside.
• Neighborhood Connections – Hike & Bike Trails / East Downtown to Buffalo Bayou. Collaborate with adjacent management districts and Buffalo Bayou Partnership to improve recreational and modality connections through downtown; integrate with HARC bike share program.
• Wayfinding Improvements. At street level, comprehensive upgrade to primary, secondary and street-level kiosks signage, including lighting and painting maintenance. Planning for an additional 30 kiosks to supplement the current 20 kiosks. Coordinate wayfinding improvements with adjacent districts. At tunnel level, as-needed updates to tunnel signage to incorporate new developments and tunnel connections. Comprehensive upgrade to tunnel map kiosks."

Has Scott Gertner's opened up yet?

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/houston-pavilions-adds-new-entertainment-venue-111601049.html

http://swamplot.com/hanover-at-rice-village-whats-going-up-over-bolsover/2011-03-29/#more-27144

pretty good article from swamplot with some renderings

There's also this article from Swamplot with some interior photos:

http://swamplot.com/a-bigger-and-fancier-mais-restaurant-reopens-april-16th/2011-03-18/