Pumapayam

I couldn't read the entire article because it was behind a paywall -- I knew he didn't have funding from the part of the article that I could read but if you don't have funding OR a site picked out why even announce the damn thing! And why on heaven's earth would you produce renderings showing your tower placed on someone else's property

Maybe Pumapayam is right about Randall Davis...

Likely a thread to be moved to the Astoria, but RD does all this stuff to build interest and get a percent of presales done, so once he meets his quota, he can get approved for financing for construction.

Presentation is key.

When he promoted the Titan, he had to return all the deposits when it was cancelled, so it's a gamble, but if enough people commit, it will happen.

Isn't the new highrise he is referencing in the email about Astoria? That's what I gathered.

Yup, the "new highrise" is the Astoria. So the success of that might be enough to bring the Titan back to the table.

agreed. the blank walls are horrible.

The Greek god posters on foam board pedestals don't scream classy and chic?

So there is still a chance for him to bring back The Titan.

I would assume that the success of the Astoria would play a huge role in that, the "new highrise" he reference in my email. Twice now he avoids saying "no". McDonald's back then was even willing to sell the property.

It would be a waste since you know that have the architectural plans ready to go.

On a brighter note -- Big thumbs up for Randall Davis being honest and talking to the newspaper about it in a frank and open way. Most companies just put out press releases with non-speak like, "We're re-aligning our strategic focus," or some such similar crap. RD should get a lot of respect for being candid on what so many developers see as a touchy subject.

Sent a note last week based on this comment from Nancy's article on the cancellation of the Titan where he stated the following back in late 2008.

“In the last four or five months, I haven’t had any sales as the world stood still,” he said. “Since I can’t get a loan, I’m forced to temporarily cancel the property. I hope to resurrect it again .”

I did get a message from Randall Davis regarding the Titan when I hit up the old page for an info update considering it was left open ended and we were surprised with a similar project of significance last week just across the street.

Payam,

Please read the note below from Randall…Thank you.

Payam,

Nothing is easy these days, I am trying my best to start a new Hi-Rise in a difficult financing and sales environment. My crystal ball is broken however.

Best-

Randall

I hope this project (if built), will look closer to the rendering, unlike his other projects. Cosmopolitian came out cheaper looking, a huge disapointment in my book.

The Cosmo was a lot less detailed and had cleaner line.

I dunno, I am indifferent to the statues he uses.

What's your issue with Randall Davis? Sure he had a couple proposed projects that did not happen. Show me a developer for whom that is not the case. You listed two that did not happen. How about a list of his projects that have happened? Here's a

I listed the most recent two that I can think of in Houston that were cancelled back to back.

Everything else is pre-2008 was built.

LOL...there was an episode on the Golden Girls where they sang a song about Miami. The song began with ''I have to say what I feel" which is how I opened up my previous statement. I guess if you were avid watchers of the show like I am/was, then you'd know instantly what I was talking about.

You were really in the mood just to sneak in a Golden Girls reference.

Hey, the subject is it should be change from 23 stories to 24 stories. . .#justsaying

I'm sure if Randall gets his project off the ground, we can say good bye to the originally planned resi tower on Skylark and Post Oak Lane.

Sounds like there is a demand, considering how close it was just 3 years ago that the Titan was cancelled. He always said that if things picked up, he would like to get that back on the schedule again and bring back the TItan.

The condo on Skylark could still co-exist. It's like a second construction boom we had from the early 2000's.

So potentially, we could have 5 cranes in the Uptown area at once.

Full scale website up! You can see it up close for those that want to see detail!

http://goo.gl/IBI0T

I like it too, it's like "The Titan" knocked up "The Cosmopolitan" before he croaked and this is her baby girl.

Titan was 25 stories.

Cosmo is 21 stories.

so Astoria will be 24 stories.

I have to say what I feel (reminds me of that song from the Golden Girls---yes, I watch that show.

The Astoria and Golden Girls theme song. . .please explain.

...grabs popcorn.

They haven't even purchased the land yet.

That land is smack in the middle of some existing proposals from BLVD place too. I guess I take the rendering too seriously.

From the today's edition of the Houston Business Journal (Jan. 27th)

Great rendering, but will this actually happen.

I am having a deja vu moment and it smell like The Titan.

This announcement in the HBJ this morning that Randall Davis "hopes" to secure financing for a his Astoria condo tower which sits on Ed Wulfe's property speaks volume about the status and future of BLVD Place. http://www.bizjourna...-rising-on.html

Ah, Randall Davis, can we trust him. . . The Titan...fail...Sonoma...fail.

Now he expects us to believe him that Astoria will go forth.

I vote no, only because Randall Davis name is attached to this.

Commence with your posting of a Debbie Downer photo.

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.

It actually grew, from the thread history it went from 14 stories, to 19, and finally now to 20.

Where did you get that from?

I like that they still have these renderings at their website. Gives me hope that this project could still amount to something spectacular as soon as the money starts rolling again.

Considering that made the effort to create a parking garage, they should have taken advantage of the Post Oak side and pulled the stores up to the street with a common sidewalk. I thought they have variances they could get for this.

Am I restricted from this thread? I've written out three diplomatically-worded responses to the post deletions, and it seems that all of them have been deleted. Do I need to start a new thread about this?

I would blame it on SOPA and PIPA Niche, and yes, you can start a new thread, as I am sure your response, and mine will get deleted.

Definitely off topic

I

So actually, I mispoke, I haven't interacted with CM in about a year, but when I did I pushed for galleria rides. Yeah, I support the theory of CM, and want to see people in cars be more conscientious, but I won't participate in those large rides.

For those that don't know exactly what you are referring too, can you expand. Are you talking about transportation between galleria and downtown?

"Starting in the 2012 season, more than 5,000 seats at Minute Maid Park will have lower prices than in 2011. Adult ticket prices in the outfield deck will be reduced from $7 to $5, and children’s tickets will be $1.

Field box prices will drop from $41 to $29, and seats in a new club level will cost $35, including food credits, down from $46."

http://www.bizjourna...-fans-with.html

Hopefully we can get more fans in the seats, people in downtown and continue to attract more developments in the area.

And then it will go up again by 2013.

They were $5 not to long ago, maybe 2008.

Oh well.

I can't tell from bing's birds eye view, but is the WAMU building the one directly south of the tower/garage? It looks like it has some drive-throughs.

Thanks

How's this for closure on an old thread.

Old news, but for the sake of ending it, the half build WAMU was completed and turned into a People's Trust Credit Union.

Last night, the parking at the Galleria location is already getting bad again after the New Year Resolution minions died off. I had to park over down by Aaron Brothers...it was 7:00 p.m. and it was that full, which is typically when the after work crowd leaves.

I am guessing, some people got a head start and changed their routine by avoiding Post Oak.

Again, their last day is this Friday.

I hope they build another gym in the area, or else it will be a long wait for machines.

Don't worry, NBC Sports will chase off those annoying, drugged up, smelly pan handlers. They will probably have to delocate to the Galleria parking garage to set up camp.

I noticed they only mentioned covering Rockets and Astros games when the move into the HP...surprised they left out Dynamos.

Nick_G,

I really appreciate your commitment to staying active and involved in both this forum and your neighborhood.

I agree with Texasota, and very happy that the more senior/veteran members are not running Nick_G off. He remind me of me back in the day. . . You will figure out that people on here are very polarizing about their neighborhoods and debates can get colorful.

On topic.

As long as the HP can manage to keep it's anchor stores, and hang in there until those latest and greatest convention hotel come to fruition and the pair of rail lines get complete within the next two years, it will get better. The completion of the Dynamo Stadium will have minimal effect. This is about as bad as it will get.

HP can only go up from here.

Is this going to be taller than the JW Marriott next door?

Considering it will have access the light rail, I am surprised they are going for the strip mall look.

I agree with Pleak, very underwhelming.

Nice find DrLan. That is an amazingly small plot of land. But they did good if that what they plan to build. Efficient.