lockmat

51 minutes ago, KinkaidAlum said:

The McDonald's was taken down for a proposed apartment/condo tower called The Shamrock. 

Is the a picture pre and post Shamrock available?

This video gives a really good overview of this project. They're talking about this project as redefining Houston.

2 minutes ago, quietstorm said:

I would agree. The grass on the Miller Outdoor Theater hill seems to be "stronger". Seems as if there could be a different type of grass used that could better withstand the wear. The green areas around Chicago's Millennium Park and Central Park in NYC seem to do much better. We can do better as well.

Good observation. I'm not sure Miller has the same amount of traffic as DG but I still agree with you. Is Miller's grass st. augustine? I'm not a grass expert but the grass in DG is better for looking at and not so much traffic. It's too fine and soft. Its not as pretty but I think they'll eventually have to go to St. augustine. 

Has this been posted?

Description: 
The Maker District is a collection of existing light industrial / distribution buildings intended for redevelopment as artist spaces within the emerging Washington Avenue Arts District. The conceptual master plan seeks to maintain the authentic qualities of this industrial landscape and create a clear brand identity through select interventions. The plan establishes a framework for a district that offers makers and artists the tools and inspiration to reach their potential while creating a citywide arts-based destination. The plan speaks to the markers, the creative class, to those who make the content that fuels our consumer economy. The plan envisions a mix of uses, from creative space for makers to housing, retail, entertainment, arts education, wellness and an urban farm with market. Social spaces encourage interaction, the exchange of ideas; the plan shapes key spaces, like Artist Alley, for this purpose. Through minimal expenditure the plan creates a connected campus with a clear brand identity, a campus that can be realized in a phased manner over time. The result is a cohesive, smart, functional and affordable arts-based district.

Role: Conceptual Master Planning

Clients: The Deal Companies, Western General, Lovett Commercial

Collaborators: Studio Red Architects

Date Complete: 2015

Area: 36 acres (14.57 hectares)

http://www.terrain-studio.com/projects/the-maker-disctrict

1 hour ago, rayjay said:

I don't know if the same is true in real life, but from the looks of the pictures this building is massive! 

It's huge in person, too.

3 hours ago, UtterlyUrban said:

Wonderfully informative video.  Thank you for posting!

Of course! That's only one video out of a series of about 20! They're all really good, too.

More changes are coming to DG. According to the video below, where this rendering comes from, they're looking to make the northwest corner more open to people entering the park from that direction.

Also, for those who haven't been in a while (like myself), they added a raised deck with small metal tables and chairs along the southern edge of the great lawn. Apparently that area was heavily used and the grass couldn't sustain the traffic. Guess that means they're getting rid of the rest of the great lawn (sarcasm)

On 11/18/2013 at 11:34 PM, Urbannizer said:

Renderings of the plans for the Allen Center complex, thanks to TowerSpotter:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.odell.com/portfolio/category/on-the-boards-2/

I like the new plan better. I hope they still plan on making changes to three allen center, too.

Incredible project. I'm surprised nobody is commenting on this.

I know the term game changer has been used on this forum quite a bit on HAIF, but this could be another case, at least for downtown or this side of downtown. The East side has DG and the north Market Square. This along with Exxon's urban campus could be a good anchor for this area.

The fact they're defining this as a "public" park and allowing the surrounding employees to use the space is a big deal. Hopefully this leads the way in terms of landscape architecture for future downtown and other urban developments. I don't think every development needs a green space but for a campus of this size downtown it brings a lot of value.

The only downside is that besides the warm bodies the Hyatt-Regency across the street provides, it makes for a deplorable structural and visually interactive neighbor. I wouldn't mind seeing them tear that thing down one day.

This goes perfect with a video I just watched...Houston, Leading with Landscape.

Anyone work on this side of downtown?

I unintentionally started watching this video, but of course the topic caught my attention. After a few minutes, the focus moves to Houston. Just thought you guys might enjoy it.

Good find but disappointed to learn this is only exists because of a design competition.

We missed some other important quotes from the article! Self funding and commencing in November!:

In Houston, Mr Russo said, there are good profits to be made. "There's no zoning at all like there is in Melbourne. You go through a planning authority but it's pretty straightforward. I bought my first site in January and will commence construction in November."

 

Read more: http://www.afr.com/real-estate/joe-russo-buys-in-houston-as-melbourne-opportunities-run-dry-20160317-gnlfqw#ixzz47dPcQBid 
Follow us: @FinancialReview on Twitter | financialreview on Facebook

18 hours ago, H-Town Man said:

"Caydon's experience in building successful apartment developments

in strategic locations in Melbourne makes them the ideal developer

for these projects."

 

Ummm... I guess. Kind of a strange sentence. Hope we're not being played like those three buildings in south downtown, Sky, Rise, and Edge, or whatever they were. Huey, Duey, and Louie.

 

So far I don't see any reason to believe it's not legit. The information we have is not from a developer website but from two independent news sources.

1 hour ago, Montrose1100 said:

As much as I love being sassy, I can't decide if it's Vegas or Tampa (combination)?

 

edit: I suppose if it were a darker brick I wouldn't dislike it so much.

Have you had a chance yet to see it in person? To me, the stone looks much better.

Swamplot posted the above photo. http://swamplot.com/digging-into-the-downtown-tunnel-tussle-that-spurred-the-hines-hearst-lawsuit/2016-04-28/

A couple of things:

1) Do you guys think the entrance to the new tunnel gives away the orientation? It seems most are at the front of a building.

2) If they want to build a tunnel, doesn't that pretty much confirm this will mostly be an office tower?

3) Swamplot reported in their follow-up article that Hines repeatedly told Linbeck they would be demolishing the building. If Linbeck is right that they had access to it, how does repeatedly telling Linbeck you're breaching the contract make it right?

4) I think in the long run, Linbeck will eventually have access to the tunnel once Hines builds, they just might have to wait until they do or if they decide to build first they'll have to pinky promise their tenants they 'll eventually have access.

5)Lastly, the tunnel access on Hines' site pretty much guarantees they'll have an office component too. The tunnels is part of what makes a downtown Houston building class A.It would be a waste not to incorporate it.

Zoysia is lesser known and more expensive but looks and feels 10x better and performs as good or better than St. Augustine. There is a place south of Houston that sells it and has some good videos on their website.

look into it.

how long was it out?

On 4/14/2016 at 7:22 PM, KinkaidAlum said:

That's not Tanglewood. I hate it when maps are blatantly wrong.

Maybe it was purposefully blatantly wrong? #marketing

Half of my urban dream has come true now that I work downtown (the other is to live there).  So now I walk across Dallas on the far east side twice a day and love to look down and see these improvements. The construction and light poles make the street feel open and welcoming. The trees they chose to line the street with fit well, too. I'm happy they didn't go with oaks.

fyi, this project, along with the other two downtown Houston projects they had listed are no longer on the website. Looks like they edited that page to show only they're serious projects because there were a lot more listed before. edit: guess they're not listed on their website but they're in the annual report (2nd link)

http://www.brookfieldofficeproperties.com/content/portfolio/all_developments-8943.html

http://brookfieldofficeproperties.com/_Global/25/img/content/AnnualReports/BPO%202015%20Annual%20Report.pdf

Also, were we aware Pickard Chilton was the architect?

http://cosentini.com/images/Project-Sheets/Headquarters-Experience.pdf

18 hours ago, Discography 114 said:

Forgive my ignorance. Does filing a plat (whatever that is) mean that it is likely to be built? If anyone feels like taking a guess, about what percentage of buildings get built after a plat has been filed. Oh, and one more important question: what is a plat?

Thank you.

I'd love for fellow HAIFers to chime in on this, but I think when they file it's a very good chance it gets built. I would say at least 75%? And a plat is just a defined piece of land. Maybe lot and plat may be synonyms? At least you could probably think of it in that way.

I like it, but is there a secret height restriction of 30 stories in the Galliera area?

I'm perplexed by this statement. He said it's the last piece of the puzzle but it will "continue to densify?" Obviously we know it will densify with this addition, so he must be speaking of development after this project, right?

Quote

"This tower is the last piece of the puzzle," Contis said. "The property will continue to densify, as there is a lot of demand for luxury condos and hotels."

Also, I could count about 40 floors when I zoomed in so I don't think we should hold our breathe on this design. They could probably keep it, but if they're going to cut 10-20 floors, I kind of doubt it. Plus, the planned groundbreaking is almost two years away which is way too much time for them not to change their minds.

On 4/4/2016 at 8:54 PM, art vandelay said:

Now if we could just get a rail line to connect downtown with one of the airports, would be a huge boost for hosting events.

Uber is our public transportation. I think most visitors would rather use it from the airport than a train that takes twice as long.

On 4/3/2016 at 9:25 AM, astros148 said:

as a downtown resident jesus IT FELT ALIVE! Downtown has so much damn potential, Kendrick lamar murdered it yesterday.  check out the crowd for his performance

 

http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/live-stream-kendrick-lamars-performance-at-march-madness-music-festival-new-video.37165.html

 

Downtown needs more events like this please!

Here's a question for people living downtown: Do you want downtown to be more like Times Square or simply a busy neighborhood?Of course, it could be both, but I don't think I'd want to live closer than three of four blocks from Times Square.