PuroAztlan Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 Anyone know how old this monstrosity of an eyesore parking garage is? And has anybody been in the racquetball club on the 6th floor? I remember seeing this as a kid in the 80's riding on the pierce elevated and think how odd it was there was a "racquetball club" in a parking garage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barracuda Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 No idea when it was built, but I've always wondered about it too. There you have one of the best views of downtown spoiled by a monstrous, hideous parking garage right in front. And are those A/C condensing units to the right of the garage? They're huge!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PuroAztlan Posted February 25, 2008 Author Share Posted February 25, 2008 No idea when it was built, but I've always wondered about it too. There you have one of the best views of downtown spoiled by a monstrous, hideous parking garage right in front. And are those A/C condensing units to the right of the garage? They're huge!!I know right??!! I like looking at them on cold mornings though when they have huge plumes of steam coming out of them, very soothing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 I think it was built 1979/1980ish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mls1202 Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 Check out the link below to the Downtown Club. There is a virtual tour that you can take of The Met, which is the fitness center on top of the parking garage. It looks pretty nice, much better than I would have expected. Anyone have any ideas what the membership fees are like? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T 2 THA C Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 I always wondered about this building. I have always thought it was just a parking garage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelguy_73 Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 The Met (aka, The Downtown Club) was discussed here http://www.houstonarchitecture.info/haif/i...&hl=fitnessI have been a member of the Met for a number of years. As gyms go, this is one of the nicest inside the loop (indoor tennis courts, squash, racquetball, basketball, all the usual classes, and large cardio and weight training areas, not to mention the spa and restaurant). It can be a bit pricey, but is geared toward the downtown professional and so they have a number of corporate deals to get the price down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanith27 Posted March 24, 2008 Share Posted March 24, 2008 I was at the 24 in the Galleria area until moving to a downtown job this past fall. My company offers a reduced membership to the Met/Downtown Club so I opted for that. When I filled out the membership app, I noticed they had some wicked initiation costs. Not sure how those work though, as my corporate membership had those waived. The facility is nice and has many different pay scales for those who may not want everything they have to offer. I pay just over $200 per month and that gives me full access to everything, a private locker, free breakfast buffets each morning and Houston Society membership. There is a large social component to all of this as well, plus the benefit of using other nationwide network gyms and country clubs.Another cool thing are the professional events they have there on occasion. Theres a national womans squash invitational coming up which should be wild. Plus, in the past few months, the indoor tennis courts have been used as practice for the Seattle Supersonics and the Harlem Globetrotters, which members were encouraged to come and watch.But, I agree, from the outside it's pretty fugly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelguy_73 Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 I'm not sure who pays the sky high initiation fee. I have yet to run across anyone who doesn't have some sort of corporate deal with them. I pay just under $200 a month for everything but tennis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sifuwong Posted March 26, 2008 Share Posted March 26, 2008 I just wonder how many really go there to get a good workout or to enjoy the perks of the stuff you guys mentioned. For me, when i go to a gym, i don't care for buffet, social activities, etc. I want a gym that is just good old fashioned workout with functioning fitness equipment to use. I could care less for that extra stuff or gawking at women/men like i see alot of people do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelguy_73 Posted March 26, 2008 Share Posted March 26, 2008 I just wonder how many really go there to get a good workout or to enjoy the perks of the stuff you guys mentioned. For me, when i go to a gym, i don't care for buffet, social activities, etc. I want a gym that is just good old fashioned workout with functioning fitness equipment to use. I could care less for that extra stuff or gawking at women/men like i see alot of people do.There are a lot of older people who are there for the tennis and socializing, while I think most of the younger people skip that stuff and go straight for the fitness.The place is on three levels: The bar, huge fitness center, classrooms, and courts are all on the second (main) level. The restaurant, Bella Rinova spa, and women's locker room is on the third level, and the men's is split between the main level and the first level. It is set up such that the socializing and working out groups don't mix at all, which is nice (I don't want to watch the martini night crowd while I'm stuck with water on an elliptical). You can watch tennis from the restaurant balcony, but that's about as close as the different groups get to each other.We work out four mornings a week, and like to hit the breakfast buffet once a week. It's all pretty healthy and good quality. I have had lunch there a few times, and it was pretty good. I wouldn't pay extra for it, but my company covers my membership, so having the meals is a nice perk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted November 14, 2008 Share Posted November 14, 2008 Could an office tower be added to the top of it?...Located in the heart of the Allen Center /Cullen Center complex, the Allen Center Garage could accommodate an office building above it. The site fronts on historic Antioch Park and would have unobstructed views to the west.http://www.brookfieldproperties.com/proper...development.cfmAnyone know if that was there before? i don't remember it being there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasVines Posted November 14, 2008 Share Posted November 14, 2008 $200 a month seemed steep until the free breakfast was mentioned.....they would lose money on that with me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHiPs Posted November 14, 2008 Share Posted November 14, 2008 I always wondered about this building. I have always thought it was just a parking garage. my brother worked for The Met (2001?-2005?)...It's actually nice inside...got a chance to play B-Ball and work out after my brother's shift ended (12am)...had the whole gym to myself..hehe..(wait, forget I said that) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted November 14, 2008 Share Posted November 14, 2008 Could an office tower be added to the top of it?...http://www.brookfieldproperties.com/proper...development.cfmAnyone know if that was there before? i don't remember it being thereNobody knows anything about this? I probably should have started a new thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 Nobody knows anything about this? I probably should have started a new thread.Not sure what your question is... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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