Golyadkin

I suspect nothing specific is planned for that site, and they just colored it in on the map to indicated that they plan to eventually put something there, and the rendering only includes a single-story building because the guy doing the rendering didn't know what to put there and decided to go with the least obtrusive thing he could.

Sorry I've taken so long with another update shot, and sorry about the quality because of the rain, but here's the site as of 2 minutes ago:

They've finished the underground parking and are well into the construction of the first story.

I just tried to line up a picture from Google streetview with the rendering, and this was about as close as I got:

Rendering:

http://assets5.pinimg.com/upload/133489576426675039_ZuFsGpWk.jpg

Streetview:

http://goo.gl/maps/Qw63V

One thing that I didn't notice before and that I hadn't seen mentioned (sorry if it has been and I missed it) is that it appears that this, like the Hilton Americas, will have a skyway connecting to the GRB.

Is there any info out on phase 2? I couldn't find anything on there.

They tore down the south end zone bleachers today. I walked by as they were tearing them apart. One of the most horrible grinding and tearing metal sounds I've ever heard. Although I suppose my emotional connection to the thing made it seem a lot worse to me that it actually was.

And don't forget "materials native to the state." Loosely translated, this means Limestone and Prairie Grasses. Possibly some cacti and maybe a mesquite tree. It will provide an authentic Texas look, as imagined by a San Diego developer and Chicago landscape architect. But maybe, just maybe, they'll surprise us with Thurber bricks and Trumpet vines.

I wouldn't be surprised if they just covered the landscaped areas with bluebonnets and called it a day.

With the construction of the new FB stadium going on at the same time as the light rail, they decided to hold off on closing Cullen. They also plan to do significant renovations to Hofheinz soon, so that could hold it off as well. I would think that the earliest that they will close Cullen would be 2016. If that were the case, we would only have 3 or 4 more years of wear and tear on that street with heavy construction vehicles running down it. Should be in really great shape by that time.

Factoring in the heavy equipment from all of the construction, after several more years and with the state it's in now, it'll be a gravel road by the time they close it.

I knew they have been planning to close Cullen, just not how far down or what exactly would be done with it. Any ideas on a timeline for that? It may explain why they haven't attempted anything even vaguely resembling maintenance on that road for a long time now.

It reached its full height a good two weeks ago. Not sure what took them so long to have the official topping out. The glass has been going up REALLY fast. At the current rate, I'd say the entire structure will be covered before the end of next month.

They still don't seem to have started construction on the garage extension, though.

The only thing about it being so close to parking that is awkward to me is there doesn't appear to be even so much as a covered walkway between them. I just feel like there should be some kind of connection between the two structures for some reason.

I noticed today when I walked by the stadium that someone spray painted some graffiti on the upper walls of both sides.

I hope they take the opportunity with everyone already expecting a bunch of construction issues to just repave Cullen entirely. It's one of the worst roads in the city.

Actually they installed those over a weekend about two weeks before Thanksgiving break. They closed Cullen late Friday afternoon and reopened it Monday morning.

It's not just UH:

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Gunman-flees-after-robbing-Rice-student-at-bus-4058861.php

From a few minutes ago. A lot of glass has gone up. I'm really liking the facade so far:

And from a few days ago:

It's reached its full height, they look to just be installing the mechanical floor at the top.

Patrols have visibly increased in the past few years, and they built those little watch tower things in the parking lots so they are making at least a bit of an effort, but really they need to update security across the whole campus. Working security cameras and more than 1 cop for every 800 students would be nice. I also see "out of order" signs on those little emergency call stations way more than I would like to feel safe.

Hooray! One that isn't on campus! Now Coke won't have a hold over it and I can get my Baja Blast.

Depends on the project. Some places are faster than others. Usually a few weeks of prep, and you'll see the base of the crane set up anywhere from a few days to a few weeks before the crane (or cranes) actually rise.

This is the Whole Foods and the surrounding buildings. The block bounded by San Felipe, Post Oak Blvd., Post Oak Ln., and Blvd Place Dr. in the bottom-right corner of this picture:

And for reference for my pictures, relative to this map, they are being taken from right about...

...............................here: X

Standard construction update shot. They've got a few above-ground pillars in place now.

Please tell me it isn't pointing in that direction. The great thing about Robertson is that it was oriented to see the downtown skyline over the north end of the field. This would have it pointing off toward Memorial Park. That's a GORGEOUS stadium and I absolutely love it, but I was hoping that it would still be oriented to face downtown.

Where'd you get these images?

They put up a map of the new road that I mentioned in an earlier post:

I think you're right about the Insperity Center. The official name of the building seems to be "Bauer Classroom and Business Building."

It was a Cadillac, although I wouldn't say well maintained. It's what started the fire. Hearing the owner talking to the fire investigators, he mentioned that he went to start the car, and there was an explosion and the car caught fire and he couldn't put it out. As far as people or pets, from the conversations he and the investigators and neighbors were having, there were no pets involved and no one was injured.

More pictures are here:

http://s538.photobucket.com/albums/ff345/bppedersen/Post%20Oak%20Fire/

(Because of how Photobucket does mass uploads, the earliest photos are at the end of the album.)

As far as the BLVD Place site goes (see, mods, I'm on topic! Don't delete my post! ), I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on this:

The crane appears to be anchored in the middle of the underground parking area. Are they just going to leave a hole in the building while the structure goes up around it? How are they going to deal with that?

I went to take my weekly update picture of the site (only update is they've added a sign that says "BELLOWS" to one of the cranes and finished some more columns and a section of wall) and noticed a great deal of smoke coming from behind 1300 Post Oak:

Turns out a townhouse on S. Post Oak Ln. @ Post Oak Timber was on fire:

Just drove by, and the first row of glass is going up.