Mab
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From Adventure Pointe Facebook page
Can't find the brochure on transwestern website can somebody find it?
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The new owner of the former Rice Hotel is launching a major renovation project at the building, intending to give it a more modern look as developers start or prepare to break ground on gleaming residential towers around it.
Renderings for what has been recently rebranded as "The Rice" show a redesigned lobby with sleek new furniture in earthy tones beneath a contemporary chandelier glowing in the two-story space.
"The entrance and lobby space will be totally reinvented," Clay Hicks, managing director of real estate for property manager Greystar, said in an email.
The 308 units will be transformed, as well.
Kitchens will get islands, marble countertops, tile backsplashes and stainless steel appliances. Bathrooms will have frameless glass showers, dual marble sinks, tile floors and linen closets. Each unit will ultimately have new paint, light fixtures and full-size washer and dryers.
Valet parking for the residents will be a new service that will be introduced next month, Hicks said.
The upgrades are being made amid a boom in downtown residential construction.
Aiming to bring more vibrancy to the urban core, the city has been offering developers up to $15,000 for each unit they build in a multifamily complex of at least 10 units. The idea behind the incentive was that it would reduce the financial hurdles of developing in the central business district.
A dozen residential projects - amounting to more than 3,800 units - are now planned or under way.
They include two towers off Market Square Park, a pair of twin buildings branded as SkyHouse on the southern end of downtown, and the renovation and addition at the old Texaco building.
At The Rice, the lobby and common area renovations are expected to be completed by next spring, and interior unit renovations will begin before the end of the year.
The Page architecture firm designed the renovations for the owner, Dallas-based Crow Holdings Capital Partners, which acquired the building earlier this year from Post Properties.
Marissa Yu, a principal at Page, said the goal of the design project was to make the space feel more modern and bright while respecting the historic character of the building.
She described the new chandelier, a custom-made Plexiglass piece that will replace a stained-glass element that resembles a skylight, as "a metaphorical representation of what was there before, but interpreted in a new way."
Hicks said the apartments will be upgraded as they turn over. He declined to provide a project cost, saying the full scope of the renovation project is still being finalized.
Rents on the remodeled units, Hicks said, will be commensurate with other high-end downtown apartments.
Rents have risen sharply across Houston as job growth has bolstered demand.
As one of the strongest apartment markets in the country, the Houston-area vacancy rate was 5.1 percent at the end of June, according to data from CBRE.
The average rent was $939, up almost 5 percent from a year earlier.
Downtown units are generally much higher.
Jay Simmons pays $1,550 a month for his one-bedroom unit in The Rice. His apartment has not yet been renovated.
He hopes he doesn't see a big increase, but he knows rents are rising all over the inner city.
"I'm not going to find an $800 apartment like I did two years ago," said Simmons, 28.
The historic Rice building, originally a 1,000-room hotel, was constructed in 1913 on the site of the former Texas State Capitol building before the Legislature moved to Austin. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
At 909 Texas, between Main and Travis, the building is well known for being the place President John F. Kennedy spent time the day before he was assassinated in Dallas in 1963.
The hotel closed in 1977 and sat vacant until developer Randall Davis and Post Properties, in partnership with the city of Houston, took on the redevelopment of the 18-story building in the late 1990s.
It contains studios, one- and two-bedroom lofts and penthouses ranging from 485 to 2,452 square feet. It has a basement swimming pool and a fitness center that will move to the second floor.
When Post Properties put the building up for sale around the beginning of this year, the company said the property was about 95 percent leased and the average unit rented for just under $1,700 per month.
Over the years, Post had made improvements to the building's exterior and common areas to freshen up the space, but the units have not had any major renovations since the project opened.
The building's first floor houses restaurants and bars.
The operator of Sambuca, a longtime tenant, has leased the former State Bar space on the second floor of the property and plans to open a new concept there, a bar called Lawless.
Simmons, who has lived in The Rice about four months, said he moved downtown in part because of all the new bars and restaurants that have recently opened.
When he's not traveling for his job in chemical sales, he works from home. He likes the lifestyle and doesn't plan on moving from downtown any time soon, even if it gets more expensive where he lives now.
"It would be disappointing if rents go up," he said, but with all the residential units going up, my hope is that I'd be able to find something else."
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http://youtu.be/_Qp9FBl9fuM?t=3m31s
Ground breaking Nov 12
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Better quality pictures
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A general contractor has yet to be named, but the other players are in place for a major new office project in the Energy Corridor, which is slated to break ground in the fall of 2015.
In a joint venture, Houston-based Midway Cos. and Chicago-based LaSalle Investment Management will develop 6.41 acres in CityCentre that will include 740,000 square feet of additional office space built to LEED Gold standards. The two new office towers will be located north of CityCentre Five, a 15-story project under constructionat 825 Town & Country Way. Both towers will be 16 stories with nine levels of parking, as well as a roof-top terrace on the fourth floor of both buildings.
Colvill Office Properties is marketing the space.
Munoz + Albin Architecture is the project architect, and Kirksey is the architect of record. Both are based in Houston. No financing was taken for the project, which will debt free. Colvill Office Properties is marketing the space.
“We have had tremendous success. Our current office products are almost 100 percent leased. We think the success is the prime location and the lifestyle they offer here at CityCentre, which has restaurants, hotels, conference space and retail. People want to live their day-to-day lives amongst great amenities,” said Shon Link, executive vice president of development for Midway Cos.
CityCentre Four became fully leased over the summer when Laredo Energy, a Houston-based natural gas company, signed on for the remaining 11,574 square feet of space in the building.
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To better compete in Houston’s active downtown office market, Cameron Management is renovating two of its historic properties.
Renovations are underway for 1001 McKinney and the Esperson Building, which the Houston-based company owns and leases. It also manages Esperson. Hines manages McKinney.
Renovations at McKinney, a 24-floor office tower built in 1947, include a new awning along the main entrance, a new conference facility and enhancements to the lobby. The $3 million renovation is slated for completion in nine months. It is 83-percent leased by tenants such as Clean Line Energy Partners and Thorp Petroleum Corp. Ken R. Harry Associates is the architect, and D.E. Harvey is the general contractor. Both are based in Houston.
“These buildings give tenants the opportunity to still be downtown, but with lower prices,” Dougal Cameron, president of Houston-based Cameron Management, said. “But it’s important that we keep them up to date.”
He said space in these older buildings rents for about $35 per square foot, compared to many of the new trophy buildings, which can rent for $50 per square foot and more.
Cameron’s Esperson building on Travis Street will see $20 million worth of renovations, a five-year project that started in 2012. It was built in 1927. The project includes new sprinkler systems, updates to the lobby, new escalators and new meeting space for tenants. Houston-based Page is the architect for the project. Cameron is overseeing the construction. The building is currently 65 percent leased to tenants such as the Houston Symphony.
Another iconic downtown building, Pennzoil Place, is going through an extensive $16 million renovation.
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Midway Cos. announced Monday a major expansion for its mixed-use CityCentre project that will include two new office towers, a high-rise multifamily building and new shops and restaurants.
Through a partnership with LaSalle Investment Management, Midway is set to begin marketing the office component of a 6.4-acre extension that will bring the northern border of CityCentre to Interstate 1o. The new buildings, which will be leased by Colvill Office Properties, will include a total of 740,000 square feet.
In addition, a residential building, 22,400 square feet of retail space and a one-acre greenspace has been designed for the project.
The new office buildings, CityCentre Towers 1 and 2, will rise 16 stories and include nine levels of parking. Floor plates will average around 26,000 square feet.
A 13-story multifamily building with 270 units is set to include one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans. The building will have a rooftop amenity deck with a swimming pool.
In a press release, Midway described the project’s new greenspace element and common areas:
Designed to anchor both the office and residential components, exceptional green spaces with two, signature water elements are envisioned to support corporate events, product launches plus customer appreciation and community initiatives. The park will create a distinctive environment and centerpiece for this section of CITYCENTRE and will be ringed by street-front retail venues and restaurants with expansive patios, which have become a hallmark for the district.http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2014/09/citycentre-embarks-on-major-expansion/
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Since its creation in 2006, the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation has been gathering and cataloging historic artifacts left behind by the Imperial Sugar Company. The artifacts line the shelves of the foundation’s temporary museum space at 198 Kempner Street, but the museum has now found a permanent home.
Sugar Land City Council approved the final location for the Sugar Land Heritage Museum at the Sept. 16 meeting. Council determined the museum will occupy about 12,600 square feet on the second floor of the former container warehouse near the eight-story Char House within the Imperial Sugar Land redevelopment.
“The museum will present how Sugar Land grew from a small company town into one of the best places in America to live and work,” said Dennis Parmer, executive director of the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation. “It will be a must-see for any one living in or visiting Sugar Land.”
The museum, which will be built above the future Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center, will showcase several exhibits categorized by the city’s timeline. The “Pre-1821” exhibit will highlight the area once inhabited by the Karankawa Indians; the “1821-1836” exhibit will show the first settlements formed; the “Plantation Era” will cover Sugar Land during the Civil War; the “Company Town Era” will display the growth of the Imperial Sugar Company; and the “Modern Era” will present Sugar Land as it is today, according to the foundation’s plans.
The Johnson Development Corporation, the developer behind Imperial Sugar Land, has an office on the site as well. Imperial Sugar Land’s General Manager, Shay Shafie, said the Heritage Museum is an important part of the master-planned community’s future growth.
“Our goal all along has been to create a new community that preserves the rich heritage and tradition of Sugar Land,” he said.
The museum is slated to open in early 2017, Parmer said. In the meantime, the current space will remain open to the public on Saturdays from 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
The Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center, which is expected to break ground in the first quarter of 2015, will take up the first floor of the warehouse. The 10,000 square-foot venue is slated to open in 2016 and will feature six exhibits and an outdoor space.
“I see a lot of good synergy that can happen here,” Parmer said.
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New Rendering
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http://www.newquest.com/Content/properties/399/WES-SP03.pdf
Walgreens is moving in the old fresh market space which probably means that the walgreens next to highland village is relocating
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Cameron Management on Thursday afternoon showed off the progress of the first phase of a major renovation program at the historic 1001 McKinney building.Building tenants, commercial real estate brokers and other guests gathered in the two-story lobby of the 24-story building, which was built in 1947 to house the City National Bank.
The building is getting $3 million of renovation work in the first phase, which consists of a new art deco inspired awning for the main entrance, a new conference facility, and lobby enhancements. Ken R. Harry Associates is the project architect.
“We conducted interviews and focus groups with key office brokers, and with existing and prospective tenants to ensure that the final product of this effort would respond to market preferences and trends,” Dougal Cameron, CEO of Cameron Management, said in an announcement.
A new entry into Morton’s Steakhouse, which co-hosted the reception, has been well received by tenants. Previously, the building was accessible only from the street.
Cameron Management handles leasing of the building, while Hines is managing the property and working with the owners on the renovations.
Deals are in the works for more than 200,000 square feet of space at Cameron Management’s 1001 McKinney Building and the nearby Esperson Building, Michael Ross, leasing representative for Cameron Management, said at the reception.
1001 McKinney, located at Main Street along the Metro rail line, is currently 85 percent leased.
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A Houston developer completed its acquisition of the 112-acre property at the former Camp Strake in Conroe where it plans to build a shopping, dining and entertainment destination spanning 750,000 square feet.
Houston’s Johnson Development sold the tract of land, at the corner of Loop 336 and Interstate-45, to Houston-based Fidelis Realty Partners. It represents the first major sale of the 2,046-acre mixed-use master-planned development. A range of residential options, from single-family homes to urban living designs, also are being considered for the rest of the land.
“The opportunity to create a regional shopping experience at such a prominent location was very appealing,” said Lynn Davis, principal and chief marketing officer of Fidelis Realty Partners, in a statement.
The Fidelis project is scheduled to open by early 2017 and construction will begin in late 2016.
“This project will provide a tremendous economic boost for the area,” Conroe Mayor Webb Melder said in a statement.
Johnson Development purchased the former Camp Strake property in late 2013. Plans on the site also call for an open-air, mixed-use town center adjacent to the regional shopping area under development by Fidelis, said Doug Goff, Johnson’s chief operating officer.
“We’re taking a look at a number of options right now, all with the goal of creating a premier regional destination amidst a lush, natural setting,” he said in a statement.
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"We will probably build another hotel there, but there is no guarantee yet," Massad said. "We will just wait and see what the market needs. Downtown might need more office space at that point or a parking garage. Who knows? ... It's hard to predict that far in advance. We will hold our cards and see what happens in the future."-
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From Six Flag Houston forum post by structured_txguy
I'm hesitant to outline all of what Mr. Galland reviewed this afternoon about Grand Texas Sports and Entertainment District, but I'll note the few things about which most of us would ask:
1. There are in fact more than a few closings for the property taking place this week and next, so a good bit of movement on-site should be seen very soon. The RV Park closed yesterday (9/17).
2. One of the hotels on-site is to be an Embassy Suites, considered the "full-service" hotel.
3. A rendering of the fully-phased-out Big Rivers water park was shown. It seemed gigantic and well-outfitted. A sense of any theme to any buildings, however, was difficult to discern in plan.
4. And yes, the big roller coaster, to be called "Timber," appears to be a full remix of Silver Dollar City's "Outlaw Run" (which Mr. Galland and research team did go and ride and did name by name at the presentation). So it was confirmed this is an RMC creation for Grand Texas
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Update from there facebook page
Thank you everyone for your patience!
We just closed on the RV Resort and Campground site at Grand Texas. This will be the premier RV destination in Houston.
Unfortunately, the loan required that we cease construction until it funded which is why the site has been so quiet lately. Thanks to Members Choice Credit Union's successful closing on the RV Resort and Campground we are able to begin infrastructure improvements once more!
We're one step closer to Opening Day! -
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American Liberty Hospitality, a Houston-based company building two Hilton-branded properties along Crawford between Capitol and Rusk, purchased an adjacent property along La Branch between Capitol and Rusk for another new hotel. No decisions have been made on the brand for that property, said Nick Massad, president of CEO of the group-
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http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2014/09/major-mall-hits-the-market/
The owner of Northwest Mall, the regional shopping center tucked behind the massive roadway construction project at U.S. 290 and the 610 Loop, is selling the 52-acre property.
The site is ideally suited for a hotel, multifamily, office and retail development, said Rusty Tamlyn, senior managing director of HFF, which has the listing.
All of the tenants in thee 800,000-square-foot mall can be moved within a short timeframe, Tamlyn said.
Price expectations are in the $38 per square foot range or $86 million for the entire property. The owner would consider breaking up the site into multiple pieces.
Houston-based Levcor bought the property from Glimcher Realty Trust in 2007 with plans to renovate the site and potentially turn it into a mixed-use center.
Here are better quality pictures 
BLVD Place Mixed-Use: 1700 Post Oak Blvd.
in Uptown and Galleria Area
Posted
http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2014/10/verizon-destination-store-to-open-in-blvd-place/