htownproud

Does anyone know what the deal with Tranquility Park is?  There hasn't been water in the fountains for 3 years and now the fountains look like some sort of black mold is taking them over.  The City's park website just says closed until further notice.  I'm very appreciative of all the money going into creating new parks nearby, but it seems like we could get these fountains working again for far less than the cost to build new parks.  

Great find.  The corner of N Braeswood and Main needs something on it.  

Two other places it could go--although I doubt it would go to these places even more so than "Regent Square"--would be the corner of Kirby and 59 and the supposed 60-story hotel on Main in the med center.  Personally, I think the most likely spots are ROD or MD.  if MD is out, then my guess is ROD.  

The chevron station to the north of the Mann Eye Institute has become a homeless hangout at all hours of the day (can't imagine why the station allows this, but they do).  Good call by the "neighbors" protesting this new development.  Perhaps instead, the greyhound station will relocate to this property.  Would serve the "neighbors" right.  

I've got to give it to these guys, they have perhaps the worst timing of all time.  They should have built this in 2005/6 when it was first announced.  

As an aside, the last picture has the med center in the background looking from the east.  

My guess is that it will be a Central Market with the Montrose HEB so close.  

26 minutes ago, enriquewx91 said:

Looks like BG Group Place will need a new name 

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2016/05/09/exclusive-namesake-tenant-to-vacate-downtown.html

That's too bad.  This will leave another big vacancy downtown . . . .

I hope they wait to knock any buildings down until this project is a firm go with all financing.  The project sounds great, but seems a bit ambitious in the current market, so would hate to have another empty lot along the rail line if it fails through.   

the "desperately needed parking"? perhaps the author hasn't seen the surface parking covering the entire west side of the campus.  rice does many things right, but the west side of campus and deciding to erect a massive parking lot in this location are not one of them.  

26 minutes ago, Texasota said:

I also think that the argument for abandoning a street that dead ends into a major street really only makes sense in the context of cars and buses. If you're on a bike or walking, having a cut-through to a major street like Main can be really valuable.

But can't a bike or a walker use the private street?  (For that matter, so can a car.)  Based on the renderings, this isn't going to be gated street.  The developer just wants a grander driveway for the circle drive.  

What is the neighborhood's objection to closing the street, other than they just don't want this built?

You can see the welded industrial art that is shown in the initial renderings. 

The Wendy's just under the freeway across the street from the Sears is now closed and boarded up.  The spray paint on the new ply wood ads to that area's charm that the final four crowds will get to see on the light rail to the stadium.  

Is there evidence somewhere that Texas is suffering a brain drain?

You need look no farther than most of the comments in this thread.

This thread was started 9 years ago. I will believe it when I see it.

International air and seaports have little to do with research. I'm thinking it has more to do with the brain power of TMC.

Like all these "valleys" innovation tend to come in clusters, and TMC is the strongest congregation of mental will in Texas and maybe the entire south.

If an excuse for the location needs to be had then that would be it.

This gets back to my concern with this project.  What does the proposed campus mean for TMC3 and UT's participation in same?  A turf war between two state schools should not be the deciding factor on whether this goes forward.    

7200 Main is owned by the people behind Springwood Village/CityPlace.

Thanks! I'm was admittedly confused by the similar names. Sorry for confusing the matter!

I think the huge site at 7200 Main is owned by Midway, and the renderings show something similar to what cloud713's is predicting.

I thought earlier in this thread someone said that the developer here is that same one that is currently building two W's elsewhere in the country . . .

Don't forget the new Debakey will likely not be complete by then either (and the Memorial expansion is now visable from Herman Park)

Just within relative proximity to NRG you will have:

Texas Children's expansion

Medistar Hotel / Greystar apartments

HCC new building on Pressler

New Residence Inn on Kirby (if it ever breaks ground)

Baylor College of Medicine Expansion

As well as Memorial Hermann and Methodist expansions within TMC - I don't know as much about those and they aren't as visible from outside TMC (just yet).

I'm guessing 7200 Main (or Main Place @ Greenbriar or whatever it is named) won't have anything going on by that time, but I certainly hope so

I have a suspicion this will be an empty lot for years, like the stain on the city scape that regent square has become. At least here, they have the market as an excuse for not building.

KinkaidAlum I think you've out played your hand. Give it up. No one ever said this was about value. This was about the most prestigious public university in the state setting up a research campus in the biggesti city in the state. You've tried to twist and turn it but in the end reality prevails. Just hang it up. Wisdom and money prevails.

Please read the article: "McRaven, facing opposition to the project from University of Houston officials and some lawmakers, on Wednesday told a legislative committee that the price, which includes debt service, is a good deal. . . 'You're looking at undeveloped property 3.5 miles from the Texas Medical Center and we got it below market price,' McRaven said."

It looks like the exterior has changed slightly, but is it me or is the grayed out building behind it (presumably the "Ascent Med Center") now shorter?

 

Agreed.  Much shorter.  

I think midtown can make this work because everyone working downtown and living in Bellaire, West U, Meyerland, and Sugarland will drive by this store on their way home everyday.

Interesting. I get that it's in district d, but I'm surprised it isn't district c that is complaining. District d has trash dumps and the astrodome in it -- seems like their resources would be better spent addressing those issues.

From SE corner of the zoo