houstontexasjack Posted September 25, 2015 Share Posted September 25, 2015 http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Parker-halts-plans-to-turn-Exxon-tower-into-6529279.php Mayor Parker is passing on moving forward into redeveloping this into a municipal courts complex. Her statement implies that she does not wish to bind the "next administration" to this redevelopment, suggesting that she wishes redevelopment of the municipal courts complex to become an issue to be addressed by candidates prior to the next election. This idea may not thus be completely dead, but we will have to see what the candidates say as the election approaches. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avossos Posted September 25, 2015 Share Posted September 25, 2015 http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Parker-halts-plans-to-turn-Exxon-tower-into-6529279.phpMayor Parker is passing on moving forward into redeveloping this into a municipal courts complex. Her statement implies that she does not wish to bind the "next administration" to this redevelopment, suggesting that she wishes redevelopment of the municipal courts complex to become an issue to be addressed by candidates prior to the next election. This idea may not thus be completely dead, but we will have to see what the candidates say as the election approaches.Wow... That is a huge downer... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monarch Posted September 25, 2015 Share Posted September 25, 2015 ^^^ passing the buck? i have always thought mayor parker was much more of an intellect than this.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naviguessor Posted September 25, 2015 Share Posted September 25, 2015 It makes sense. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFootsSocks Posted September 25, 2015 Share Posted September 25, 2015 It's a good move; if a Democrat wins and this turns out to be a costly development, Conservatives have the perfect weapon to use against "liberal spending" at the next election.If they push forward and a Republican wins, then there's a good chance this will get cut.That way, if a Democrat wins (likely, this is still Texas but it's also Houston), they can push forward with this in the 3 years allocated to them under their term. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avossos Posted September 25, 2015 Share Posted September 25, 2015 It's a good move; if a Democrat wins and this turns out to be a costly development, Conservatives have the perfect weapon to use against "liberal spending" at the next election.If they push forward and a Republican wins, then there's a good chance this will get cut.That way, if a Democrat wins (likely, this is still Texas but it's also Houston), they can push forward with this in the 3 years allocated to them under their term.This can't just be cut. The courts are in horrible shape. It is embarrassing and inefficient. A change must be made and this will force the hand of anyone in power. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFootsSocks Posted September 25, 2015 Share Posted September 25, 2015 Yeah but the hot takes we'll see during election time; "liberals push $300 million throne on taxpayers, roads remain in awful condition"It doesn't matter that the courts are also in bad shape; Houstonians are focused more on driving and traffic and horrible road conditions. It doesn't matter that they are two separate issues; people see "$300 million boondoggle" and immediately complain about where that money could be better spent.Btw, I'm only using roads as an example of a "bigger issue", not as an absolute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shasta Posted September 25, 2015 Share Posted September 25, 2015 Where do the candidates stand on this issue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFootsSocks Posted September 25, 2015 Share Posted September 25, 2015 I haven't heard anything, but I'm sure we'd see something if Mayor Parker pushed ahead with it right before the election. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFootsSocks Posted September 25, 2015 Share Posted September 25, 2015 I mean, just look at the comments on the chron article. People are pissed for spending just a measly (in terms of government spending) $3.2 million on the (absolutely necessary) consulting for a new place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Urbannizer Posted October 9, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted October 9, 2015 Shorenstein will move forward with their plans to redevelop the building. New construction timeline: Jan. 2016 Start Date - December 2017 Completion. 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timoric Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 (edited) - Edited July 9, 2019 by Timoric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 Excellent news! External redo or no? Seems like there were two ways to go. Big internal/external redo. If the city's court and police operations were moved here the building would've stayed as is. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 Big internal/external redo. If the city's court and police operations were moved here the building would've stayed as is. What a shame. I like the renderings, but what they are destroying underneath is heartbreaking. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avossos Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 I liked the building as it stands. I'm so disappointed in the city and Parker for this going no where 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 What a shame. I like the renderings, but what they are destroying underneath is heartbreaking.They aren't destroying much. I did some work a while back on this building, and it's like stepping in to a basement it's so closed in. I'm excited for the redevelopment because this building is a bit of an eyesore to the south view of downtown. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
largeTEXAS Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 Big internal/external redo. If the city's court and police operations were moved here the building would've stayed as is. Another bland, personality-less re-skinning. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 They aren't destroying much. I did some work a while back on this building, and it's like stepping in to a basement it's so closed in. I'm excited for the redevelopment because this building is a bit of an eyesore to the south view of downtown.I've never been inside, so I'm not emotionally invested with the interior. I really like the plaza redevelopment.The exterior is a different story. Even if you don't like the building surely you can appreciate diversity in the skyline... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
towerjunkie Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 They better have a machine making rubber versions of the old building! We need mementos darn it! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UtterlyUrban Posted October 10, 2015 Share Posted October 10, 2015 I like the existing exterior better. It's unique, to my eye. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quietstorm Posted October 10, 2015 Share Posted October 10, 2015 My mother worked here for 30 years. I remember one of the security guards taking me to see the Petroleum Club and going outside to the top of the building when I was a child. It seemed so tall! This was the early 70's and I believe it was one of the tallest buildings in DT then. I have mixed feelings. Although the building is certainly among the older towers in Houston--coming before the 80's boom; it brings a bit of mid-century modern nostalgia and architectural "history" to our otherwise relatively "new" DT. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cspwal Posted October 10, 2015 Share Posted October 10, 2015 It's offset from the main cluster of downtown, so that helps with the views as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 http://swamplot.com/descend-into-the-new-tunnel-concourse-planned-beneath-the-former-exxonmobil-tower-downtown/2015-12-22/ PERMITS WERE ISSUED yesterday for construction of a new tunnel concoursebelow 800 Bell St. — the Louisiana tunnel will be tied into the new digs planned beneath the former ExxonMobil building, at the corner of Bell and Milam downtown. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate99 Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 That's a deep dark corner of the tunnel system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 http://swamplot.com/descend-into-the-new-tunnel-concourse-planned-beneath-the-former-exxonmobil-tower-downtown/2015-12-22/ It would be fantastic if they started building the sunken concourse/tunnel connection, attracting a lead tenant before renovations were started on the facade, saving the towers design AND getting the getting desired tunnel connection.. Heh. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonIsHome Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 (edited) Nooooooo, they are taking it from unique to ordinary. There is nothing of an eyesore about it. You guys need to beef up your vocabulary. Edited December 23, 2015 by HoustonIsHome 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timoric Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 (edited) - Edited July 10, 2019 by Timoric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 I think it will look better in the same way Mickey Leeland looks better nearby. That side of downtown is a wall of plain buildings (esp from Galleria pics) and glass will probably look better IMO, I actually hope some other Leeland sized buildings (The Allen Buildings) and the empty Days Inn nearby do facade renovations too. Houston can look better both by building new and renovating old like redo on the building with the table top with round hole in the top.The only buildings that need to be redone are anything American Liberty has put up. Stop erasing history! same mentality in the 70's when they were renovating historic facades to make them modern, destroying their charm in the process.That's fine if you want glossy towers, but there are plenty of empty blocks near by. Don't you think a variety of styles is more pleasing visually? 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timoric Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 (edited) - Edited July 10, 2019 by Timoric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 I think being a child of the 80s has me hooked on glass buildings pretty much.I was born in 1989 but you don't see me clinging to the watering down of postmodernism. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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