midtown_resident

labranch runs south.

The front of the bldg looks to be brick...although i'm not sure what color/shade...given that i saw a b/w scaled sketch. Also...around the bldg...and the second story level is steel sculpted artwork...and i believe the existing stucco that's on the bldg today is to be preserved and applied to the same. The rear of the bldg has a fully enclosed parking garage.... Street level at the corner of elgin/crawford features a two story retail space...which would ideally be a bookstore/coffeshop. Retail spaces are floor to ceiling glass. The west side of the bldg (closest to the corner of LaBranch/Elgin) will feature the art gallery...which occupies two stories... Sorry i can't tell you much more about the materials and such...i don't have an architects eye!

Talbot... All of the renderings that were shown to me were on paper...and the sheets that were shown to me did not have a firms name on it. So I'm not sure where to find a rendering online...

the prices seem pretty reasonable...i'm impressed with their desire to help first time home buyers...that's pretty amazing. these guys aren't like the typical developer who is moving from project to project...sounds to me like this is the project of their lives...and they're going to remain there, thus making the results all that more important to them... nice people.

Oh yeah...groundbreaking is set for March 2005.

Here's some scoop from my visit... I met with the Executive Director of the Artists' Collective. They going to be building a seven story structure that will pretty much occupy the remaining portion of the block bound by Elgin/LaBranch/Rosalie/Crawford. This project will be a mixed use structure that has 56 condo units prices from 150k up to the mid 400s. Since they are a non-profit organization, they are committing a substantial portion of the profit from this development to helping first time home buyers with down payments. The structure will also house a large parking garage (completely enclosed). The bottom level will be retail...and the art gallery will be at street level as well. The vision seems to be a combination book/coffee store at the corner of Elgin/Crawford. What's impressive is that they are building this - and they are going to be there...i.e. they are not moving on. The outside will feature community art that is being preserved from the current structure. Today, I saw that they were taking soil samples for foundation studies. These people are doing something pretty amazing. It looks great. I don't know who the architects are...although maybe i can find out.

H_R...it's good to see you back... Thanks for the data on all these projects...

Thanks TGH... Shay McElroy's is indeed the place. Very laid back...I enjoy grabbing a cigar from across the street and relaxing on their sidewalk patio at Shay's...on a friday night it's usually pretty good people watching...

My favorite is the Flying Saucer. Casual...good crowd...and tons of beer selections from around the world. http://www.beerknurd.com - check out that selection! i've also enjoyed the new irish pub (maybe not so new anymore) on Main in the Rice Lofts bldg...don't remember the name of it off hand. Across the street from it is another irish pub, Slainte.

if that plaza faces the intersection of alabama/main, it'll be real nice. that area is really sizing up nicely. i hope those other mixed use projects come to fruition down by holman/alabama.

The Main St location sounds like the SW corner of Main/Alabama...

That's a great article...thanks for sharing. It's always cool to see someone from the outside see our city as more than sprawl...

I called the Collective yesterday and asked about the happenings on that large project that was publicized a year ago. They told me the project is still on schedule...and invited me over to take a look at the sketches, plans and related. I'm heading over there this afternoon...send me your questions!

Subdude...dissappointing indeed...but I should add that patience is needed. None of these areas can be turned around so quickly...nor will an instant result provide for longevity. I'm sure in due time, the area will meet our hopes... Escaping the heat is great for the summer....but let's face it...from October through April, there are many days, where we can boast of nice weather for outdoors activities. We need to take advantage of that. Our summer correlates to the winters of the north...i.e. this is the time when we avoid outdoors activities. I'm sure the outdoor cafes up north don't see as much activity during the months of november through february....

I think the moment someone puts up a restaurant with a 'cafe' style option outdoors in that Main Street plaza area, you'll see a marked difference. Cultural and popular centers don't evolve from tons of urban planning...they happen when people have a reason to go somewhere. Of course, it's still early, w/o the residents taking root. Ideally, I'd like to see the plaza area of main st become more like Taco Milagro on Kirby/Westheimer at happy hour time. The tunnel services 9-5ers and that's about it. The moment people have more reason to be downtown outside of those hours, you'll see more street level retail. For all of this to happen: 1. We need a stronger economy downtown 2. Residential projects must be inviting to ALL walks of life - not just those that can afford a $500,000 condo. 3. Street level must take advantage of the outdoors factor - take advantage of the folks that want to escape the imprisonment of the tunnel. This will happen...

ricco...there are only a couple of places where i can pick up my favorite butera. i'm not sure when i last went by there...but since i work two blocks down, i figured it a convenient stop. more times than not however, he's closed... when he is open, i like to stock up...but w/o a good humidor at home, i rely on his!

I stopped in the CVS a week ago and it was pretty packed...about 9:00 am on a weekday. Of course it had just opened...so I'm sure that was a factor. It will surely oust the local convenience store...over time. I think a lot of us complain about CVS and their never ending quest to conquer the world...or at least Houston. However, it's good to see corp america looking at Main Street plaza. It's a step in the right direction. As for McCoy's...I don't get them. They never seem to be open when I want to get a cigar...which usually around happy hour time to late evening. There have been at least 10 times that I've gone by there to grab a smoke, with no luck, and every time I think to myself "why isn't this guy open right now...everyone else is."

not so fast...the civility ordinance may have been passed...but i still see bums sleeping on newly installed benches in midtown. downtown is horrendous still... this problem can't be addressed by packing them up and moving them along...you can't cure a systemic disease with medication that only treats symptons... $0.02

That corner is rapidly developing...the Deco Diner and The Edge are solid additions to the area. I wonder what's gonna happen to that Scouts bldg...

The auto shop now has a sign up in front with a rendition of the upcoming new bldg...THE EDGE.

When I lived in the Hogg Palace...they used to show occupied units...but that was usually becuase none of the units were identical...and occupancy was very high, so there were no 'models' to show.

i've noticed the same thing...bw3 is a BIG draw.