Texasota

Except does the building really have anything to do with Bucees success? Their strengths seems to be their selection of snacks, their reliable cleanliness, and, ultimately, their branding. The *only* way in which the actual building matters is in the extent to which they keep it clean.

Flakey Lato?

seems like the most likely choice

Sure and such buildings are generally designated as national landmarks. Seems like a stretch to me to put this building at that level.

Pennzoil Place earned Johnson a Pritzker. The three most architecturally significant buildings in houston are probably the Menil, MFAH, and Pennzoil.

Landmark designation tends to happen *after* 50 or years, though exceptions are made. Pennzoil is less than 40 years old.

Is Ross trolling?

Replacing that facade will result in at least *some* public outcry. That's a classic modern tower, and one of Johnson's better buildings. 

It's definitely borderline satire, but I'm definitely excited to try their "farm-to-table" thai

Oh I'm very glad this is an historic district. Hines itself is very guilty of wiping out historic buildings without regard. Honestly I would say 609 Main is a decent example.

If, for the sake of argument, HAHC denies or defers it, that will delay it a maximum of 6 weeks. it will easily pass planning commission on appeal.

I sincerely doubt it will get that far though. This is a many-multi-million dollar project. HAHC is as subject to political pressure as anyone.

This isn't an $800,000 house in the Heights. This is a massive, expensive, important project downtown. Even if the commission ends up having some problems with it, I don't see them stopping it.

Since this is in an historic district, Hines has to go through the commission before they can get permitted.

Next commission hearing is September 12:

http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/Commissions/commiss_hahc.html

boo authentication required

Yes. Clearly you never go out for Mexican food.

It's such a beautiful old building; theres got to be a restaurant or something that would take that ground floor

Ugh, what a Heightsian response. They're renovating the building, so any visibility issues would already be present, but basically cannot exist on that corner of the intersection as skwatra described.

spelt?

oh ok. nice. thats a big piece of vacant land

which corner? where the body shop is?

...for what?

with ground floor retail!

No reason for Midtown not to at least move forward with the park portion of the superblock. They own the land (after the land transfer with Camden)

Hines is just building in the vacant part of the block. That block is inside the historic district, so none of those buildings are going anywhere

Would you prefer bare concrete?

What? That section of 59 is the prettiest freeway in the city. The vines are fantastic.

Seriously doubt that strip center (on Westheimer) is long for this world.

cautiously optimistic...