Lotus Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 .........i'd still like a design committee for specific areas of town, like downtown, but nothing specifically authoritarian. If not specifically authoritarian then suggestarian, perhaps? I think design committees belong in historic districts to protect and guide reuse of old structures, but not as a panel of taste experts imposing theirs on those who create professionally. Besides, Houston already resembles a city "designed by committee". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 lights are on at the top of the building but the E's aren't on there yetuh.... what? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KinkaidAlum Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 I'd argue that if a project seeks public funding, which the ES Hotel did, then it should have to go through a design review process. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 If not specifically authoritarian then suggestarian, perhaps? I think design committees belong in historic districts to protect and guide reuse of old structures, but not as a panel of taste experts imposing theirs on those who create professionally. Besides, Houston already resembles a city "designed by committee". I've lived places where the planning board has oversight of design, but effectively only to the extent to ensure that proposals aren't drastically out of scale or clash with existing neighborhoods. In the case of Embassy Suites, there would have to be a delegation to allow them to stop construction on the grounds of sheer ugliness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 I've lived places where the planning board has oversight of design, but effectively only to the extent to ensure that proposals aren't drastically out of scale or clash with existing neighborhoods. In the case of Embassy Suites, there would have to be a delegation to allow them to stop construction on the grounds of sheer ugliness.It's not impossible. I recall one case in Mesa, AZ where the board delayed the permitting process for a month on the basis of that the color of the trim on a retail center needed to be a darker shade of red. I don't know if you've ever been to Mesa, but there's certainly not a neighborhood pattern entailing dark red accents. The decision was purely aesthetic on the face of it, although the thought had struck me that it might have been politically-motivated on some level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asubrt Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 Opens today...http://blogs.chron.com/primeproperty/2011/02/downtown_hotel_opens_today.html 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatesdisastr Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 (edited) Opens today...http://blogs.chron.c...pens_today.htmlYippee! Lets all Jump for Joy! Edited February 21, 2011 by fatesdisastr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted February 21, 2011 Author Share Posted February 21, 2011 (edited) Yippee! Lets all Jump for Joy!I do admit, the rooftop pool does seem kinda' nice. I bet it offers some kick ass views!Edit: contest/bets on who is going to be the first HAIFer to post a photo from the roof of downtown/DG? Edited February 21, 2011 by ricco67 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livincinco Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 Opens today...http://blogs.chron.c...pens_today.htmlDoes this mean that we came move this from "Going Up!" into "Beaten to Death"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 How soon can we tear it down? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jax Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Sorry for the less than perfect image quality. I was at an amazing vantage point but it was getting dark AND foggy/hazy when I took this. The Embassy Suites looks so tiny sandwiched between Disco Tower and One Park Place. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
totheskies Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 (edited) Embassy Suites Downtown is now open. I walked into it last night. The attendant said they opened last week. the little side area is still under construction though. Not sure what is going to be there. The interior was nice, but wholly unimpressive. It doesn't look like a "typical" Embassy Suites... no large open area in the middle, no spacious patios or anything like that. Edited March 2, 2011 by totheskies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jax Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 I think the space under construction might be a restaurant. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonfella Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 On the bright side, we've got another downtown hotel. Hopefully, the plans for a new hotel across 59 will happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 i hope so... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 I heard on the radio that they've already paid to be "the official hotel of the Houston Rockets." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 If I where a Rocket... and even THAT would be shameful enough for me... I would publicly deny that due to the "poor architectural buff reviews..." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 If I where a Rocket... and even THAT would be shameful enough for me... I would publicly deny that due to the "poor architectural buff reviews..."You may not be a rocket, but your deffinately on the moon. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 You may not be a rocket, but your deffinately on the moon.k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrLan34 Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 saw something interesting on the site... been out of town so i don't know if this is open, has a potential tenant lined up or what"The Embassy Suites Houston-Downtown is a 262 two-room all-suite urban high-rise hotel, overlooking Discovery Green Park and is adjacent to the Houston Rockets' Toyota Center. The hotel is also conveniently just steps away from the George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston Astros’ Minute Maid Park, the Houston Pavilions, Park Shops and within minutes of the 2nd largest theater district in the U.S..Embassy Suites Houston-Downtown is located in downtown Houston’s Central Business District and features: 100% Non-Smoking HotelLobby Atrium and Water FeaturesRoofscape Pool and Spa24 Hour Fitness Center by PreCor®FREE Cooked-to-order BreakfastNightly Manager’s ReceptionOn-site Valet ParkingCourtesy Shuttle to downtown destinations24 Hour Embassy BusinessLink Business Center with Quick Charge StationGift shop with fully stocked pantry itemsRestaurant/Bar on-site with street entry level In-Suite DiningDigital Concierge6,000 Sq feet of flexible function spaceOn-premise CateringFamily friendly activities/entertainment on weekendsDestination Management Concierge Services" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 Hrm... bet you livincinco's sanity that the bar will be called something along the lines of "O'toole's" or "Remmington's". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livincinco Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 Hrm... bet you livincinco's sanity that the bar will be called something along the lines of "O'toole's" or "Remmington's". I have no sanity left for you to bet. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roadrunner Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Wow so they put in a surface parking lot on the portion of the lot facing the park. What an awful development and a waste of a prime block. The lot is too small to build anything else. It is embarrassing (but not surprising) that the city decided to support this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Wow so they put in a surface parking lot on the portion of the lot facing the park. What an awful development and a waste of a prime block. The lot is too small to build anything else. It is embarrassing (but not surprising) that the city decided to support this. I thought we all concluded a long time ago that the adjacent pieces of land were owned by someone else and that something could be built there still? Does it not look realistic now? We need measurements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Ugh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatesdisastr Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 (edited) This thread needs to sink to the pile of dead threads already. Tired if seeing it Edited March 31, 2011 by fatesdisastr 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 I was wondering when we were going to tear this thing down. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arternative Posted April 1, 2011 Share Posted April 1, 2011 I was wondering when we were going to tear this thing down.You are talking about your HAIF account, right? You can't possibly be talking about new construction. That's just the way I interpret things sometimes. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted April 1, 2011 Share Posted April 1, 2011 You are talking about your HAIF account, right? You can't possibly be talking about new construction. That's just the way I interpret things sometimes.Gary? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Posted April 2, 2011 Share Posted April 2, 2011 Gary?No, just another one of your fans I suppose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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