infinite_jim

Project completion.

Old pic

^Whitney Bank bldg blocking view of downtown. 

I can't read the article, but the solar panels were done early last summer in 2014.

The debate about why certain sections are elevated and others are trenched is missing the logic derived from the existing conditions (and future alignment ROW) of the adjaceny impacts in order to get approval past the Federal EIS process; which is why it appears that the alignments at first glance look to favor some parts of town but one must look at a whole slew of issues (like where dense conglomerations of people actually live/work) but essentially, the geometry of the general layout of the city, a southwest oriented grid is going to generally favor southwest orientated sites versus those on the edge of this grid (or those areas impeded by grid disruptions). TXDOT (and the FHWA) have a fiscal responsibility not to waste time/money on amended proposals that won't fly through EIS (like expanding the Pierce Elevated over Pierce St.). This current proposal (even slightly modified) has a very good chance of getting approval without busting the tentative budget by not following such suggestions like extra entrances/exits, showy flyovers, expanded/tiered through lanes, fully interconnected sub-networks of managed lanes, or acrobatic splicing of cross streets through interchanges that would surely increase the project scope and complexity. Not to burst anyone's bubble and you really should submit a comment to TXDOT by 05/15/2015 but this is pretty much where the freeway re-alignments are going.

Edit:

As for the Pierce Elevated ROW, I'm not quite yet ready to reveal my position on the matter.

better pic

^Much like the Main St. side of 1111 Travis St., I'm sure the perimeter beam stub-outs will get tied & formed when the basement walls reach that height (maybe sidewalk grade?). Be sure to look for them on the north side of the tower as that's where it will tie into the garage too. 2929 Wesleyan had some funky stub-outs on it's podium as well.

They were probably doing drainage work

yep, looks like their digging to get some caissons into the ground for the retaining walls.

^This is an pic from a couple weeks ago; the mast climbers have been taken down from the south face.

^the new windows awaiting installation

 Yea they've been building it for a few days now too. It is interesting that they own this property (or maybe leasing?)... makes me wonder what we'll see here someday.

This used to be my local bodyshop for when the wife would give the car a little "parking garage column rash." They (Downtown Body Shop) moved a couple years ago to around Scott St. @ I-45. 

 

It looks like the body shop just leased the property, as the ownership has remained current.