cloud713 Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 That's ridiculous.. Are they worried about security issues or something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avossos Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 That's ridiculous.. Are they worried about security issues or something?I had a community meeting last night, many of whom are very involved with city council. The police chief has been adamant supposedly about it not functioning correctly in a high rise. Also he is outspoken how much their current situation is hindering their operations 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
por favor gracias Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 (edited) LOL. Yeah, Houston has really been held back over the years. If that's what you got from my comment, you misinterpreted it. I was talking more about quality of life/better city planning than growth itself (if that's what you're talking about). Edited February 17, 2015 by por favor gracias Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillip_white Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 Where else will they mount the bat signal??? The police chief has been adamant supposedly about it not functioning correctly in a high rise. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toxtethogrady Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 The building is great for courts and administrative offices. I suspect the police are going to insist on a structure in a separate block in which to locate all their vehicles. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 It's not like there aren't any vacant blocks around ExxonMobil for a separate police facility.. Heh. It seems that it would still be more cost effective leasing Exxon and building a separate police HQ next door vs rebuilding everything at the Justice site or whatever? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timoric Posted February 18, 2015 Share Posted February 18, 2015 (edited) - Edited July 8, 2019 by Timoric 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted February 18, 2015 Share Posted February 18, 2015 I was thinking, all the old malls would be kind of cool conversions to government buildings. I mean, the bureaucrats could get a walk in, and the citizens could go to the ABCs of Government as a one-stop shop for all the services they need, DMV, WIC, Social Security, VA, etc. Wouldn't the Police like a Northline Mall type place for example? This is already a thing. Close to home, many of the Brazoria County offices are in what was once a Walmart. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmellyHoustonian Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 I think a block away in downtown might as well be a mile. This thing is far enough from the residentials.Then again, Exxon is surrounded on about 7 sides by empty or partially empty blocks. Residential could almost encircle it.I would however be more concerned with the residential on San Jacinto and St Joseph being so close to the sketchy activity under pierce and south of that. There are three new residential projects that will be within a block or two of this development (Skyhouse 1 & 2, and Alliance). I don't know, I just don't find courthouses to be helpful to growth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UtterlyUrban Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 There are three new residential projects that will be within a block or two of this development (Skyhouse 1 & 2, and Alliance). I don't know, I just don't find courthouses to be helpful to growth.We are talking about municipal courts here, correct?Not state or federal, correct? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avossos Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 We are talking about municipal courts here, correct?Not state or federal, correct?Right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UtterlyUrban Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 (edited) RightOk, so it's speeding tickets, parking tickets, noise ordinance violations, and maybe a business license issue or two.I guess I don't share the prior poster's view that this would be detrimental to the potential residential neighborhood that should be coming to the area. This is especially true if one considers that there will be about a billion cops coming and going constantly, 24 hours a day. That would actually make the entire area even more safe than it already is.Market square is only a few blocks from the current (state and federal?) court complex downtown. Where the accused murderers and rapists and druggies and robbers head to trial. Market square seems to be doing just fine from a residential point of view and it doesn't seem to be affecting the whole "quality hill" area which is just to the east near minute maid...... Edited February 19, 2015 by UtterlyUrban 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 Right? The police presence will make it way safer than that area ever was. All the homeless will go running back to midtown (we really need to figure out a solution for them). Seriously.. If the city moves into this property its a win win for everyone here at HAIF. 800 Bell is saved, a huge vacant space is taken off the market, and the Justice a Complex would likely be up for redevelopment.. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DNAguy Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 The municipal courts would also be closer to Metro Rail and the Metro headquarters which would mean that it would be far, far more accessible to those w/out automobiles. That's a huge plus IMHO. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 While having access to mass transit is generally A Good Thing, I don't think it's much of a factor with the municipal courts. The overwhelming majority of what they do is traffic offenses, with the occasional slime in the ice machine ticket thrown in for grins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate99 Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 While having access to mass transit is generally A Good Thing, I don't think it's much of a factor with the municipal courts. The overwhelming majority of what they do is traffic offenses, with the occasional slime in the ice machine ticket thrown in for grins. Mass transit or no, a central location would be appreciated by prospective jurors that otherwise have to schlep a three hour round trip out to (damned near) Alief and back to Kingwood. I could have served jury duty in Lufkin with a shorter overall time commitment. Not that I'm bitter about the whole annexation thing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonIsHome Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 While having access to mass transit is generally A Good Thing, I don't think it's much of a factor with the municipal courts. The overwhelming majority of what they do is traffic offenses, with the occasional slime in the ice machine ticket thrown in for grins.Worn parking being a b.... for many, being in a centralized location with many transit options is a major factor.With many buildings being added constantly, simply adding spaces isn't reasonable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Questions-surround-mayor-s-lease-proposal-6115710.php 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avossos Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 so whats going to happen? sounding less and less likely... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparrow Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 One would think selling off the current, valuable property west of Downtown would offset a large portion of the costs of a move to the Exxon building. I thought that was a given assumption. Surely the market value of that piece of land would be considered for the financial viability of a move to 800 Bell. Selling the property will increase tax revenue as it puts land back on the tax rolls. The numbers from the above referenced article come in short of $900M over the estimated 30 year lease--significantly lower than the estimated $1B+ cost to rebuild on the current property. Seems like a no brainer to me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toxtethogrady Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 Especially since $900 million spread out over 30 years amortizes for a lot less than $1 billion invested up front. The only question would be how much lease space the city really needs for its judicial and police functions, as 800K is a lot of space to fill. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UtterlyUrban Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 Let's keep in mind that if we were really doing an actual comparison, there is a third alternative: purpose build and lease.The city is doing the classic: "it will cost us a billion in taxes to build a new facility or we can lease an existing building that the cops don't like downtown." It is a bit of a strong arm tactic and really not an economic analysis.To do a solid analysis, the city should get quotes from a developer to build exactly the structure(s) that it needs need from scratch and enter into a 30 year lease with him/her.Now you can compare door number 1 with door number 2 and door number 3.But, I really don't think that the Mayor's current proposal is about finances. It's about politics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tangledwoods Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 To do a solid analysis, the city should get quotes from a developer to build exactly the structure(s) that it needs need from scratch and enter into a 30 year lease with him/her. the city is already evaluating options for a purpose built facility lease back. In this case it is a PPP (public private partnership). Skanska along with a few other firms have proposals in to the city. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toxtethogrady Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Somebody in the Chronicle claimed to be shocked, SHOCKED that the lease terms were $25 million a year. I was shocked that it was less than the $35 million quoted initially. Cheapest solution I can imagine, and it doesn't add to the vacancy rate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timoric Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 (edited) - Edited July 8, 2019 by Timoric 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 i think it might be considered Class B due to lack of tunnel/skybridge connection? but yeah. the vacancy is a HUGE point that can't be overlooked.. and the tower is 1.2 million sq ft. not 800k. the city taking over this building would be a huge boon for most of us HAIFers. as i pointed out before, 1.2 million sq ft off the market, so hopefully some new towers could go forward. 18 acres right across 45 from downtown that could be up for redevelopment or turned into additional Buffalo Bayou park land. and last but not least, this iconic mid century modern design would be saved. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 Any news on this? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post largeTEXAS Posted May 14, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted May 14, 2015 Found the old 1962 leasing catalogue for the building. Thought some of you might find it interesting. It was definitely the future back then! Sorry for the bad photos and even worse background. 20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naviguessor Posted May 14, 2015 Share Posted May 14, 2015 From every realty program I have ever seen: "I love the granite." Really Cool Brochure. Love it. Thank you for that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astros148 Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 Whats the news on this? Anyone know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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