Ross Posted August 2, 2019 Share Posted August 2, 2019 2 hours ago, mollusk said: Yikes - closed for two or three months... as if Galleria and Memorial City weren't already packed enough. If they would only open one downtown... There's always Android. Come to the dark side... 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highrise Tower Posted August 10, 2019 Share Posted August 10, 2019 Here's the Apple store remodel. 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gene Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 thankfully that is just the temporary covering so you cant see inside!!! the new stores definitely look more "homey" with trees, plants etc...which i think will work for this mostly glass building. ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gene Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 (edited) Just got an email from Apple:"Visit Apple Highland Village at our new location, opening on September 20 at 8:00 a.m. " FYI! (although not a new location but a newly designed store as we know!) Edited September 16, 2019 by gene 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highrise Tower Posted September 18, 2019 Share Posted September 18, 2019 Houston City Council approves creation of Highland Village management district https://communityimpact.com/houston/heights-river-oaks-montrose/city-county/2019/09/18/highland-village-management-district/ Quote Houston businessman Haidar Barbouti already owns all the commercial property in the shopping center on Westheimer Road in between Drexel Road and the Union Pacific Railroad line, known collectively as Highland Village. Now he plans to transform the public infrastructure along that strip too. In 2017, the Texas Legislature designated Highland Village a management district, which is a special government entity that can issue bonds that are paid back through an assessment, or fee, applied to commercial properties within its boundaries. Management districts can also implement services such as landscaping and maintenance, adopt branding and offer other services. After receiving the state’s designation, a management district in Houston must receive approval from the city before gaining the authority to issue bonds. Houston City Council voted to authorize the district Sept. 18. Over the last two years, various consultants have worked with a state-appointed board of managers to develop a plan for improvements within the district, said David Hawes, senior partner of Hawes, Hill and Associates, a firm that consults with management districts and other economic development entities. A draft plan for the district includes improvements to Westheimer Road and the sidewalks along it as well as a plan to reposition parking within the shopping center to create a more dense, walkable area, Hawes said. “The big issue is mobility here,” he said. “Over the years, they’re going to go vertical with this development and the primary concern is in public safety and vehicular mobility in and around that area.” In other management districts, 50 percent of commercial property owners within the boundaries of the district must approve approve of the district’s service plan and its accompanying tax assessment, Texas local government code states. In this case however, Barbouti is the only property owner within the district’s boundaries, meaning he will need to put plans through a public comment period and can apply amendments based on comments. However, he does not have to coordinate with other commercial property owners to get the plans approved. 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cspwal Posted September 19, 2019 Share Posted September 19, 2019 I wonder what he's planning - you don't go through all those legal hoops for fun. A start would be a pedestrian crossing near the train tracks - since that's where the garage is, I see people trying to cross there all the time 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highrise Tower Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 The mentioning of going vertical, would he be trying to match ROSC with their The Driscoll? Looking forward to this. The planned streetscape improvements will go a long way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gene Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 Apple Highland Village opens TODAY! There was already a huge line out front at 8am! iPhone 11 is available today! 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 My contract expires next month and would love to get the new iPhone 11 Pro with the nicer camera so I can take better pics for HAIF. 😍📷💸 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highrise Tower Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 Andes Café owner plans new Highland Village restaurant https://m.chron.com/entertainment/restaurants-bars/article/Andes-Cafe-owner-plans-new-Highland-Village-14485664.php Highland Village may soon be dining to a multi-cultural Latin beat thanks to chef David Guerrero. The owner of Andes Café in EaDo has announced plans to take over the space of the current Drexel House, 3974 Westheimer, to create an upscale pan-Latin restaurant sampling flavors from throughout South America and incorporation Mexican dishes as well. Think of it, he said, as Andes Café but "a lot more elevated." The restaurant, which will be called Alma, could be open by end of November, he said. Houston foodies will recall that Alma – Spanish for "soul" – was the name Guerrero chose for his short-lived modern Peruvian restaurant in the Energy Corridor that he opened in 2012 after downtown's Samba Grille, where he worked as executive chef, abruptly closed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gene Posted October 7, 2019 Share Posted October 7, 2019 (edited) Was at Highland Village this weekend...they already have the dang Christmas decorations up! DOH! but in other news, the Apple store looks amazing inside with the large screen wall (on one side)/mirror (on the other side) divider and the trees! OH and Z Gallerie closed a few weeks ago but the new owners of the company decided to open the Highland Village location back up so its back to normal at the Z! They just need to put the outside sign back up! Edited October 7, 2019 by gene 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highrise Tower Posted January 18, 2020 Share Posted January 18, 2020 Smith & Wollensky is fenced off. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted January 19, 2020 Share Posted January 19, 2020 That's one of the more unique construction fences I've seen. Someone is willing to pay extra for that over chain link with green cloth 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LBC2HTX Posted January 19, 2020 Share Posted January 19, 2020 Bold prediction.... Ocean 48 (steak 48 sister restaurant) going in here. Houston needs a Nike store though. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monarch Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 6 hours ago, LBC2HTX said: Bold prediction.... Ocean 48 (steak 48 sister restaurant) going in here. Houston needs a Nike store though. ^^^ @LBC2HTX i knew that OCEAN 48 was indeed forthcoming. however, i was thinking that it was primed for another section of ROD. nonetheless, it shall require prime real estate in basically a "SHOWCASE" area. i am certain that the food/service shall be exceptional as well as the prices. additionally, in regards to THE NIKE STORE, i simply cannot understand why a large city such as houston, has not long since harbored one of these popular and swagalicious chain stores. actually, i think that a NIKE STORE in the BLVD PLACE district would be a powerhouse. this particular boutique, shall need to reside in a heavily populated shopping area where everyone can see it... in order for it to remain sustainable. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LBC2HTX Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 I view a Nike store the same as Apple stores. They're a destination shopping experience in and of themselves that people are willing to travel for and would increase traffic for adjacent tenants. ROD has a lot of prime spaces that are vacant (see the former Tom Ford space), but they seem to have a leasing strategy/team that is struggling to compete with HV and The Galleria. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gene Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 man i am glad they are doing something with the Smith & Wollensky building!!! That place is an eye sore...EVEN when it was open! haha! (to me it looked like a Bennigans or some badly designed Irish Pub) and being such a prominent space/part of Highland Village it's good to see they are finally doing something...it was sad to see it sitting there abandoned so long 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highrise Tower Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 Smith & Wollensky demolition permit issued. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gene Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 wow demolition of the whole building?! well i guess that is good...thought it was just going to be a major renovation but not THIS major!!! haha 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 On 1/20/2020 at 9:54 AM, gene said: man i am glad they are doing something with the Smith & Wollensky building!!! That place is an eye sore...EVEN when it was open! haha! (to me it looked like a Bennigans or some badly designed Irish Pub) and being such a prominent space/part of Highland Village it's good to see they are finally doing something...it was sad to see it sitting there abandoned so long It actually looks (looked) like the original Smith & Wollensky in NYC. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crock Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 i loved that building 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skooljunkie Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 A beige CVS would fit in well here. 1 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highrise Tower Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 1 hour ago, gene said: wow demolition of the whole building?! well i guess that is good...thought it was just going to be a major renovation but not THIS major!!! haha New building will be 4 stories. Making it the tallest HV building. A crew member told me 5 stories. I went to the HV office to double check. I was told 4 stories by a staff member. Demolition should start late next week. Gutting the interior right now. Pictures: Nice tile 8 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gene Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 Wowsa! Thanks for the great info and photos @ekdrm2d1!!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pablog Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 I want all of Highland Village demoed and rebuilt up to the sidewalk. Could be a very walkable area, but the parking in front ruins it. 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 4 hours ago, pablog said: I want all of Highland Village demoed and rebuilt up to the sidewalk. Could be a very walkable area, but the parking in front ruins it. Never had a problem walking in HV, from one end to the other on both sides. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmac Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 21 minutes ago, Ross said: Never had a problem walking in HV, from one end to the other on both sides. Well, I mean, if you're gonna go all "there's sidewalks all the way around" on us, sure. But, but, but... walkability! At least there's some GFR. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pablog Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 I mean it is walkable haha, but it’s not as enjoyable as it could be if the building went up to the sidewalk. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 3 hours ago, pablog said: I mean it is walkable haha, but it’s not as enjoyable as it could be if the building went up to the sidewalk. The building does go right up to the sidewalk. Plus, there's another sidewalk along the road. Surely you aren't advocating reducing the amount of sidewalk by half? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted January 25, 2020 Share Posted January 25, 2020 12 hours ago, august948 said: The building does go right up to the sidewalk. Plus, there's another sidewalk along the road. Surely you aren't advocating reducing the amount of sidewalk by half? If you go a little to the left of what's visible in this picture, you would see another building behind this one, separated by a driveway with parked cars on each side. IDK if it's the clientele or what, but navigating HV's parking lots on foot takes Frogger to a new level. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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