The Pragmatist

Some pictures from a few minutes ago. It looks like a fun time to be driving on Weslayan.

Or maybe they shoudl just turn it into a surface parking lot.

I didn't go so far as to say that, but I still think it would make an excellent park area. Granted, the lot being redeveloped as a building for Hilcorp works for me just as well.

For whatever reason, I like it without a building there. If this were a park, it would be pretty cool.

If buildings go up around MMP, would they still be getting skyline views as the skyline is just moving closer to the park?  

For whatever reason, this reminds me of the buildings at the intersection of 290 and 610.

I lost all of my rims and tires two Saturdays ago inside of my condo complex's gated garage.  They jacked the truck up into the pipe running above it in the garage and damaged the roof too.  With the truck in the shop and an awesome deductible to be paid, I am getting wheel locks to possibly deter them on that front.

I'm going to stand by it.  The buildings remind me of the Health & Biomedical Sciences Building, Calhoun Lofts, the Science Teaching Laboratory building, a little of Cougar Village and also Cougar Place.  They all tend to be hulking, 4-7 story rectangular buildings with neutral coloration and large sections of large-pane glass and metal trim.  I'm not speaking as an architect, but a casual observer.  This is what these buildings remind me of.  We'll see what it all looks like when the Exxon complex comes together.  The difference looks to be more glass siding at Exxon, and a commie-block/housing project vibe to the complex.

In all honesty, the bulk of the campus buildings look like most of the newer buildings being built on the UH campus, with the exception being that floating gateway section.  In all honesty, being nestled in the trees wouldn't be that bad to me.  That said, I also enjoy Chevron's approach as well.

Whats the name of that small building in the middle. I know they're lofts but I forgot their name. They seem to have done well these past few years, even though the south side of downtown doesn't have much  going on around it.

That's one is the Beaconsfield, I believe.

Here you go, Urbannizer.  These are from today.

I'll take a walk over there on Thursday or Friday, Urbannizer.

Had I noticed that there had been relatively recent updates, I wouldn't have taken any pictures today. lol

Update from today from similar angles:

Wait, shouldn't we hate all things Dallas?  I propose shifting this plan one block over onto Polk.

I'm not sure if there is an answer in this thread, but there may be:

http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/10821-help-me-improve-downtown-skyscraper-lighting/?hl=%20building%20%20lights

I remember them having a long discussion about lights in downtown.

I guess we could just have Jean Michel Jarre come back to town to get downtown lit up again.

The Museum was accepting submissions from several architecture firms to design a new addition.

http://houston.culturemap.com/news/home_design/07-10-11-the-museum-of-fine-arts-starchitect-design-competition-is-bold/

They made a decision in 2012 to go with Steven Holl Architects.

http://www.chron.com/default/article/MFAH-hires-Steven-Holl-Architects-to-design-2972381.php

Montrose: huh?

He's talking about the quote in your signature, I believe.

Yes, not to mention that there are 3 major airports in the NYC area that are about the same distance as Hobby is to downtown that form a triangle around Manhattan.  It doesn't seem as if that has really stopped vertical development in that city.

Looks like the tenants are mostly boutique stores for people with too much money. 

I think the first two words of the title would have given that much away.

could someone please specify what block this is going on? i know its the "old YMCA block", but not sure which one that is.

i just looked at the map. i see where the new YMCA is but im not sure if thats the same block. i was hoping the new tower would be able to be connected into the ring skywalk, but it doesnt appear as though thats possible unless they were to build it on top of the parking garage. i had been thinking how neat it would be to have the three towers clustered together with two more ring skybridges, one halfway up the buildings, and another at the top of the buildings, to better interconnect the buildings so workers didnt have to take the elevator all the way down to ground level and then back up to get around "campus".

Here's a Google Street view of the block.

http://goo.gl/maps/6SYq2

Of course, that has the old YMCA building still up on it.  Obviously, it has since been cleared.

The Richards/Bush/Bush/Perry/Reagan/Clinton/Jackson-Lee/Houston/Culberson/Obama/Carter/Green/Green/Brown/White/Paul/Strayhorn/Leeland/Hutchison/Bentsen/Johnson Terminal of the Intercontinental Airport of Houston

I saw this while clicking through the Chronicle.  Forgive me if it has been posted elsewhere.

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2013/05/aging-apartment-complex-near-downtown-to-be-replaced-with-luxury-building/?cmpid=hpfsln

*Changed link to the updated story.

https://www.facebook.com/GRBHouston/photos_stream

Storm water pollution prevention plan