DrLan34

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2015/07/historic-midtown-building-to-be-redeveloped-for-veterans/

"If the Commission grants the variance request, the applicant will be able to save a historical building and put more of the non-profit organization’s funding towards actual service provision instead of unnecessary demolition and reconstruction costs. Note that while the existing structure slightly encroaches in to the right-of-way, the variance would allow the applicant to construct the third story expansion with a zero-foot building setback and no visibility triangle offset."

http://fuelfix.com/blog/2015/07/28/chevron-to-cut-1500-jobs-including-almost-1000-in-houston/#34195101=0

Chevron to cut 950 jobs in Houston, 1,500 companywide

Chevron previously had nixed employee growth plans for Houston and halted plans in late 2013 to build a 50-story downtown office tower. Chevron had previously said the tower was being delayed until at least 2016.

“Chevron does not anticipate final approvals for a new office building in Houston in the near term,” Ritchie added. “We remain committed to the new building, however we continue to exercise strong capital discipline when assessing and prioritizing investments.

Sorry, not specific to this thread but lots coming to TMC...  The Methodist Hospital Tower looks pretty cool.

https://www.bisnow.com/houston/news/healthcare/four-hospital-systems-investing-billions-into-houston-48242

Expected to break ground in November.

Good sign with the porta potties.

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2015/07/old-coffee-building-in-eado-to-be-restored/

Not sure if there is already a thread on this...

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/columnists/sarnoff/article/Midtown-poised-for-first-new-office-tower-in-6402458.php?t=92d854b045&cmpid=twitter-premium

The Midtown building will have a hotel-style lobby, extensive landscaping and a covered colonnade that will provide shelter to pedestrians on all four sides. It will have about 15,000 square feet of ground-floor retail fronting Milam and Rosalie streets.

https://www.bisnow.com/houston/news/healthcare/four-hospital-systems-investing-billions-into-houston-48242

The $540M Methodist Hospital Tower looks pretty cool. 

http://blog.chron.com/foodchronicles/2015/07/izakaya-could-open-as-early-as-this-week/

"Izakaya could open as early as this week"

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I forget who asked about the infrastructure improvements planned for midtown but this was just posted by trymahjong as a separate thread. 

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Posted Friday, July 17, 2015 at 4:47 PM

The building at the corner of Main & Ruth St. will be renovated into lofts.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/morning_call/2015/07/new-aloft-hotels-coming-to-houston.html

"As Houston Business Journal previously reported, one of the new hotels will be the Aloft Houston Downtown. The historic Stowers Furniture Building at 820 Fannin St. will be redeveloped into a 165-room hotel with 2,000 square feet of meeting space. It is expected to open in June 2016."

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2015/07/aloft-plans-three-houston-area-hotels-by-2018-six-more-across-texas/#34275101=0

Aloft Houston Downtown: A renovation of the Stowers Building at 820 Fannin will feature 165 rooms and 2,000 square feet of meeting space. The hotel is expected to open in 2016.

Crane going up

Crane going up

https://www.bisnow.com/houston/news/deal-sheet/this-weeks-houston-deal-sheet-47690

CBRE’s Aron Will and Austin Sacco secured $50M in construction financing for The Village of River Oaks, a 195-unit, Class-A senior housing community. The floating rate loan through a regional bank includes a six-year term with two years of interest-only and an all-in interest rate of 2.18%. The community is being built by Bridgewood Property Co and Harrison Real Estate Capital and is the first senior housing project built in River Oaks. Aron says it was a challenging deal but will be one of the highest-quality senior housing assets in the state.

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/morning_call/2015/07/construction-starts-up-on-pizzeria-in-downtown.html

Construction starts up on pizzeria in downtown luxury apartment

Construction is about to start on the first Houston location for Athens-based Your Pie, a fast-casual pizzeria that hopes to capitalize on downtown’s growing residential base. Leading the development are two Houston businesswomen with around 30 years combined experienced in advertising, marketing and real estate.

I thought Search was moving. Why would healthcare for the homeless expand the current location on fannin??

Healthcare for the Homeless is expanding to a new location entirely that is in the CBD next to Papa's BBQ.  

Right now, 5 residential floors can be done with wood as long as there are metal i-beams throughout the structure providing core support.

Typically, 6 residential floors or more require steel frames.

Crane base installed

freshii and FLUFF bake-bar are now open.

Glass kiosk looks good

I saw another set of soil samples being taken this morning. 

Soil tests