Mab

Quote

Slusky in 2012 bought 25 acres fronting I-45, south of Tanger Outlets, and caused a stir when he announced in March 2013 plans for the Texas City venture. Initially, he was going to call it Playland Park, but renamed it Adventure Pointe.

The park’s main historical reference will be the trains, which are fully refurbished. The track will rotate eight different trains. The remainder will be on display in a roundhouse that guests can tour to learn about the mechanics and history of steam engines.

Trains are his hobby, Slusky said.

“I don’t play golf,” he said.

The first phase of the park will include a carousel, a pirate village with a Jean Lafitte’s ship attraction, a Land of Oz area, a venue for live entertainment and interactive games.

Slusky has acquired the 1958 Allen Herschell Grand Carousel. It has 60 horses and two chariots. He’s upgrading the carousel with LED lighting — about 600 light bulbs. The carousel also is being stored in his Alvin warehouse.

Adventure Pointe also will feature banquet spaces for conferences, weddings, civic and company outings, among others, and boast a year-round ice-skating rink made with eco-friendly synthetic ice technology, said Terri Lera, who, with Katie Hurley, owns design-build firm Fineas + Clover, which Slusky hired to design and oversee construction of the park.

Developing a theme park is neither easy nor quick nor inexpensive.

“I knew it would be a challenge, but I’ve never been shy about taking on a challenge,” he said.

Although Slusky wouldn’t mind attracting sponsors for some attractions — including possibly a roller coaster down the line — he’s the sole stakeholder, financing the project himself.

“I want to say I developed this myself,” said Slusky, who declined to disclose his financial investment in Adventure Pointe.

Area residents and theme park enthusiasts have been eagerly awaiting signs of development at the Adventure Pointe site.

Some observers worry there hasn’t been a lot of work at the site.

But crews have completed public infrastructure work, including waterlines, sanitary sewer, detention and general construction, Lera said.

Now, Adventure Pointe is working to submit plans to the city for private infrastructure work needed to support the theme park and attractions, she said.

Adventure Pointe intends to submit plans to Texas City officials in coming weeks, Lera said.

When those plans are approved and the work is complete, then people will begin seeing Adventure Pointe rise, Lera said.

Over the past several years, the team of experts Slusky assembled to develop Adventure Pointe has visited other theme parks, attended International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions conventions and has designed and redesigned the park to accommodate both enthusiasts and casual visitors, especially families.

The team spent many hours poring over and perfecting plans and considering story lines for themed areas. Adventure Pointe won’t be a roadside carnival with a few rides. It will be tightly themed, Lera said.

Slusky believes Adventure Pointe will put Texas City on the map, luring people from all over the Houston region.

The development would greatly add to the city’s strategic plan, Mayor Matt Doyle said.

“We’re looking forward to it,” Doyle said. “Every time we do strategic planning, the young people ask for more things to do. This will certainly give them more things to do and it will be nice to have a place where families can go to spend the day together.”

Slusky plans to open Adventure Pointe in the spring or early summer of 2017.

http://www.galvnews.com/business/article_a0e356e0-fe96-5c95-b882-50502e65d536.html?mode=story

look like the name will be Sawyer Heights Merchants District 

http://www.edge-re.com/Properties/Houston/~WestheimerMontrose/WestheimerMontrose.pdf

http://www.edge-re.com/Properties/Houston/~WGrayStDunlavySt/WGrayStDunlavySt.pdf

Panera Bread....

http://www.braunenterprises.com/files/flyer_343a96b2-872c-0b6b-dd4d-566f479fc753_1815Washington%20(2).pdf

http://www.propertycommerce.com/flyers/flyer-hbu.pdf

 

With the help of Houston-based retail partner Property Commerce, HBU has since signed retail leases with Salata, FedEx, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Sprint, Jimmy John’s, Shipley’s Donuts, Firehouse Subs, LifeWay, and Minuti Coffee.

 

The Pillars at HBU includes a new entry road connecting the campus to Southwest Freeway, an iconic entry tower, retail, office space, a hotel, enhanced parking, and an arena and event center

http://www.hbu.edu/HBU/media/HBU/publications/hbunews/201603-ThePillars.pdf

page 13-14

 

The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts’ new building project received a long-awaited Notice to Proceed from HISD last week, which gives the construction manager at risk (CMAR) the needed go-ahead to mobilize on the site and starts the clock ticking on the 31-month construction timeline.

This is music to the ears of HSPVA stakeholders, as the project has been delayed for about a year while the project team worked through a variety of issues to bring the project within its allotted budget.

“HSPVA is a magical school, and we are excited that we’ve finally gotten the details hammered out to enable us to move forward,” said Scott Allen, principal of the fine arts magnet school. “Although the school isn’t getting everything on our wish list, we’re thrilled with the design and the creative environment Gensler has created for our young artists.”

Designed by architecture firm Gensler, the new 168,000-square-foot building will be located in downtown Houston between Caroline and Austin streets near the city’s renowned arts and theater district. The building’s main entrance will be on Austin and feature dramatic double-high glass windows and a wide stairwell.

The facility will also include an 800-seat main theatre with a balcony, dance and music studios, and art galleries. The building will rise five stories above ground and contain two levels of underground parking, a modern outdoor dining area on the first level, and outdoor roof terrace located near the library.

More information on the HSPVA project

Construction on the new $80 million project is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2018.

HSPVA is one of 40 schools being rebuilt or renovated as part of HISD’s $1.89 billion bond program. The program also includes work that will benefit students across the district, including $100 million in technology upgrades, $44.7 million to replace regional fieldhouses and improve athletics facilities, $35 million to renovate middle school restrooms, and $17.3 million for safety and security improvements.

http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2016/02/22/hspva-gets-go-ahead-on-new-building/ 

Very early renderings of the renovated hofheinz pavilion

http://www.scout.com/college/houston/forums/2804-uh-football/14575085-hunter-s-presentation-to-the-board-of-regents-today 

also 

 

 

BIG News in H-Town - The University of Houston Board of Regents gave approval Thursday for the Houston Department of Athletics to move forward with the design of an indoor football facility

https://youtu.be/sOj5HVOFru4

http://www.premierregionalcenter.com/premierregionalcenter-english/wp-content/themes/premierregionalcenter/pdf/City_View_Terrace_English.pdf 

From the City View Terrace forum I noticed on slide 18 that they are planning to build a 300 room hotel that will cost $60 million dollars 

http://www.houstonfirst.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=ajI8RoMbnCg%3d&tabid=598&portalid=3&mid=1790 

here is the master plan

 

http://www.hkatexas.com/2015/02/updates-on-kings-creek-the-edible-forest/Updated1/25/16  – According to Council member Dave Martin the Kings Creek project on Sorters McClellan Rd near 59 will not be build because of the downturn in the economy.

New Caney ISD has purchased the property. – Source, The Tribune

http://www.hkatexas.com/2015/02/updates-on-kings-creek-the-edible-forest/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeBYHKd97FM 

Video tour of the new Guy v Lewis development center 

What a fantastic facility for UH athletics. In couple of years UH basketball will be very good with coach sampson and the new facilities.

http://www.liveatcircuit.com/

 

Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, a relatively new brand with a long history, is consolidating its local offices into a high-profile urban space in Uptown.

New York-based NGKF has leased 38,582 square feet for a regional headquarters in 2 BLVD Place at 1700 Post Oak Blvd. at San Felipe near The Galleria. The company will take up the bulk of the office space in the building, which also houses North Italia restaurant and a Verizon retail store, and is part of the BLVD Place mixed-use development."It's an opportunity for us to introduce the brand to the community and put all of our resources and people together," said Neal Golden, vice chairman of NGKF. "It's just a first step in the expansion and the growth of the Newmark brand in Texas."

The move will bring together nearly 100 employees from NGKF's local offices, including brokers from ARA Newmark, the national apartment brokerage firm acquired by NGKF's parent company, BGC Partners, in December 2014.

"We now offer a distinct advantage for our multihousing clients with ARA Newmark's direct ability to tap into the global debt, equity and investment markets," Matthew Rotan, vice chairman of ARA Newmark, said in an announcement. "Perfecting our service model to provide investment sales strategies and services, as well as facilitating private and institutional debt and equity assignments throughout the client transaction process, is our ultimate goal."NGKF, which traces its roots back to 1929, is among the biggest commercial real estate brokerage firms, along with CBRE Group, JLL, Cushman & Wakefield and Colliers International, according to a recent ranking by the National Real Estate Investor publication based on global transaction value. The company, which aligned with Knight Frank of London in 2006, provides a full range of commercial real estate services to tenants, landlords, investors and developers. Grubb was added to the company name after BGC Partners acquired the assets of commercial real estate firm Grubb & Ellis in 2012.

NGKF has been expanding in major cities in the U.S. and Texas, and the new Houston office offers the benefits of a "24-7 environment" with places to live, work and play, Golden said. Being in one building allows NGKF to provide better service to its clients, and the space allows room for growth.

Employees recently moved into the new BLVD Place office after relocating from nearby buildings on Post Oak Boulevard and on San Felipe. The second floor of the office, which will be the main entrance, is still being finished with completion planned in March.

Other parts of the BLVD Place complex include a flagship Whole Foods Market, a Frost Bank regional headquarters, and the 30-story Hanover Post Oak apartment building.

"We are pleased that NGKF selected our development because of their extensive knowledge and experience with commercial properties," said Ed Wulfe, chairman and CEO of Wulfe & Co., the managing partner of the development.

With the deal, BLVD Place is 98 percent leased. There is room for additional buildings, but no timetable for construction yet.

"We have future plans to expand with approximately 135,000 square feet of office retail and restaurant space, similar to the existing buildings," Wulfe said.

Lispah Hogan, executive managing director of NGKF, represented her firm in the lease. Marilyn Guion and Connor Saxe of Colvill Office Properties and Elise Weatherall of Wulfe & Co. represented the landlord. BLVD Place is owned by a fund managed by Bailard of Foster City, Calif., and advised by Stockbridge Capital Group of San Francisco.

NGKF and its London-based partner Knight Frank operate more than 370 office worldwide with 12,800 professionals.

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/Deal-of-the-Week-Real-estate-broker-consolidates-6778583.php

 

 

11^th Street Commons is a 17 acre development on the western boundary of Timbergrove Manor in Houston. The project includes a 40,000 SF office building and 70,000 SF of industrial buildings occupied by Air Liquide. The site is also comprised of 8 acres slated for residential redevelopment.

http://www.ancorian.com/project/11th-street-commons/

I would love hines to be the developer but I wouldn't be surprised if the city picked Midway. With Greenstreet being next door it would be a perfect opportunity to expand Greenstreet.

http://www.newquest.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/2723-Yale-Crossing.pdf

—8,910 SF Proposed Retail Building —Prime Restaurant Opportunity

—Located in the heart of Heights Community

—High population and strong incomes servicing the market

There also Yale Square but no renderings 

http://www.newquest.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/2702-Yale-Square-Pad.pdf