TheNiche Posted July 31, 2006 Share Posted July 31, 2006 niche, you tease.Hopefully I'll be able to throw you another bone soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted July 31, 2006 Share Posted July 31, 2006 (edited) it just pains me to see it sit...and sit...and sit. it just keeps getting worse on the inside, and now that there's the reinforced boards on the first-level windows, the rot inside is surely baking into something really disgusting, from the basement up. it's one of those buildings from which you don't want to be down-wind Edited July 31, 2006 by sevfiv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted July 31, 2006 Share Posted July 31, 2006 it just pains me to see it sit...and sit...and sit.it just keeps getting worse on the inside, and now that there's the reinforced boards on the first-level windows, the rot inside is surely baking into something really disgusting, from the basement up. it's one of those buildings from which you don't want to be down-wind The exterior (where bums sleep) smells like a dog recently gave birth. The lobby and 2nd floor aren't as bad as you'd think. No noticable odor, at least...doesn't mean that there isn't mold. Didn't see the basement, but I know that it has flooded and that the sumps weren't functioning at the time... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted July 31, 2006 Share Posted July 31, 2006 The exterior (where bums sleep) smells like a dog recently gave birth.The lobby and 2nd floor aren't as bad as you'd think. No noticable odor, at least...doesn't mean that there isn't mold. Didn't see the basement, but I know that it has flooded and that the sumps weren't functioning at the time...the first floor wasn't terrible (but it did smell), but it had rained recently, which made everything nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 it would be fantastic if it could look like this again (instead of having bad stewardship ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 it would be fantastic if it could look like this again (instead of having bad stewardship ) Wow. Thanks for posting the postcard. To blame it on the owners for 'bad stewardship' is kind of unfair (no matter how much I despise the current owner). The cost of even obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy would be a hellish endeavor, and at the price that the owner wants, it isn't happening anytime soon. Until it is occupied, the best they can even afford to do to be good stewards is to keep the bums out and to check it regularly. You'd be surprised at what their operating costs are, even as it is. Unfortunately, that entails the third-world accoutrement (i.e. barbed wire and such). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 To blame it on the owners for 'bad stewardship' is kind of unfair (no matter how much I despise the current owner). The cost of even obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy would be a hellish endeavor, and at the price that the owner wants, it isn't happening anytime soon. Until it is occupied, the best they can even afford to do to be good stewards is to keep the bums out and to check it regularly. You'd be surprised at what their operating costs are, even as it is.who are the owners? the hcad description isn't very telling.and i think it is completely fair to blame the owners (stewards) of the property (which isn't in great condition, and very much in the abandoned category).if it is not their responsibility to keep it up, then who gets that honor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted August 4, 2006 Share Posted August 4, 2006 who are the owners? the hcad description isn't very telling.and i think it is completely fair to blame the owners (stewards) of the property (which isn't in great condition, and very much in the abandoned category).if it is not their responsibility to keep it up, then who gets that honor?As I recall, the HCAD listing accurately shows the owner's contact info in Bronxville, NY. I don't recall his name, however. But he is a fairly recent owner and purchased it in the condition that it is in.The fact that a building is abandoned has much less to do with the choice of an owner (especially in this case because the owner bought it as a derelict building) and everything to do with the fact that its highest and best uses (office or residential) do not command prices/rents high enough to justify the enormous investment necessary to bring the building back up to par. The floorplans and views aren't very conducive to high-end residential because many views are impeded by the parking garage or solid concrete walls. Also, there are still too many large chuncks of office space in downtown office towers that are of higher quality and with better locations. The parking garage would have to be restriped with fewer spaces, so their parking ratio would also be a limiting factor.The only way in which the owner is being a bad steward is by asking too high a price for it. In that respect, he is an as***** because he's keeping it on the market longer than necessary. In every other respect, however, the 3rd world accoutrement is there largely to prevent bums from infiltrating the building and turning the interior into a true rat hole. I'd have been especially concerned about the possibility of arson if I were him. There's still a fair bit of fire load on many floors.I'm hesitant to apply some sort of arbitrary "stewardship" clause to an already-dubious "social contract". Unless the building actually poses a risk to the public health, I see no reason to force an owner to do something with it that makes no financial sense. Its one thing if the City were to require that he maintain the skin of the building so as to prevent spalling concrete from raining down upon pedestrians below, but "stewardship" ordinances may have unintended consequences. For instance, the building will be rehabbed relatively quickly once the market supports it, but what do you think would happen to the building if the owner's holding costs became excessive in the interim?Wrecking ball. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted August 4, 2006 Share Posted August 4, 2006 The fact that a building is abandoned has much less to do with the choice of an owner (especially in this case because the owner bought it as a derelict building) and everything to do with the fact that its highest and best uses (office or residential) do not command prices/rents high enough to justify the enormous investment necessary to bring the building back up to par. then "HDW 2000 1392 3RD AVE LLC" shouldn't have taken it on by buying it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 then "HDW 2000 1392 3RD AVE LLC" shouldn't have taken it on by buying it I think he's just an investor, nothing more. Got it for a legitimately good price and has been trying to flip it just about ever since. Arbitrage. Its all about the $$$. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted October 26, 2007 Share Posted October 26, 2007 Recalling the lost information from the Lucian Hood III posts, architect Lars Bang had established a firm and Lucian Hood, Jr. later joined it. They had designed the office building in the Rice Village and the Big Doughnut shop, now the Marquies, on Bissonnet, west of Kirby, once shown on this site, and many other buildings and houses.off topic, but did Bang+Hood design the office building on Bolsover in the Village? (green tile, just demolished) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
infinite_jim Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 A resident of 1016main told me an interesting story the other day while we hung out on his balcony. One afternoon, a military helicopter landed on the roof and 4 soldiers or SWAT did a roof sweep and then proceeded to sweep the building. They had assualt rifles but he said no shots were fired, or at least from what he could hear. About 5 minutes later they reappeared on the roof and took off. So we could only speculate that the military/police are occasionally using the building for training excercises and if so, does the property owner know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
memebag Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 So we could only speculate that the military/police are occasionally using the building for training excercises and if so, does the property owner know?More importantly, which nation's military?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 A resident of 1016main told me an interesting story the other day while we hung out on his balcony. One afternoon, a military helicopter landed on the roof and 4 soldiers or SWAT did a roof sweep and then proceeded to sweep the building. They had assualt rifles but he said no shots were fired, or at least from what he could hear. About 5 minutes later they reappeared on the roof and took off. So we could only speculate that the military/police are occasionally using the building for training excercises and if so, does the property owner know? It's just training by one of HPD's SWAT units. The owner gets a little money for it when they use it, and they've been using it for at least a couple years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpaceAge Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 (edited) off topic, but did Bang+Hood design the office building on Bolsover in the Village? (green tile, just demolished)That was the Texas Gas Building at 2472 Bolsover. Lars Bang remembers Alfred Finn as the architect. Stephen Fox called Finn a local yokel once. The building was extremely well built and easily maintained. It should have been worked into the new scheme. It had all the features everyone wants today except the pseudo Mediterranean facade. It had the parking along the front, the sidewalk restaurants and retail on the first floor and offices above. All the floors were beautiful terrazo. I have about 30 photos, including the restrooms, from several years ago. Many architectural firms were located there. Another example of a substantial building with character and integrity replaced with a poorly designed monotonous piece of generic nothingness. Edited November 3, 2007 by SpaceAge 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 I have about 30 photos, including the restrooms, from several years ago. Many architectural firms were located there. Thank you for the reply - as for the photos...new thread? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxmulder Posted November 5, 2007 Share Posted November 5, 2007 It's just training by one of HPD's SWAT units. The owner gets a little money for it when they use it, and they've been using it for at least a couple years.Ah i had a friend who went in to "explore" it a few weeks ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jfre81 Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 Just mindblowing how this building (well, technically a complex with the parking garage and whatnot) that occupies an entire city block just outside the CBD is used for nothing but an occasional SWAT drill.Not worth saving, not worth tearing down. What a catch-22.Squatters breaking into the site of a rich oil fatcat club killed off by the bust in the '80s and drinking their leftover Remy Martin makes an interesting slice of Houston history, at least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 Just mindblowing how this building (well, technically a complex with the parking garage and whatnot) that occupies an entire city block just outside the CBD is used for nothing but an occasional SWAT drill.Not worth saving, not worth tearing down. What a catch-22.Just 3/4 of the block, but yes, it is funny how between having a screwball owner and some difficult floorplates to work with, this thing is in perpetual limbo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
infinite_jim Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 FWIW the magnolia trees off the east side of the bldg are magnificent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robhan Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 I live not far from these buildings and sometimes to me they are eyesores and other times they have potential. Maybe some big bucks type could make them a comination commerical and residental, or hotel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrawnConnery Posted December 28, 2008 Share Posted December 28, 2008 (edited) . Edited December 28, 2008 by PrawnConnery Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted December 28, 2008 Share Posted December 28, 2008 Neat photos - where did you find them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secretsquirrel Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 (edited) ss Edited April 19, 2009 by secretsquirrel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 The Central Square , originally uploaded by Secret5468. The paint continues to peel. Thanks, Secret. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasondm4 Posted July 23, 2010 Share Posted July 23, 2010 Recent pictures of the interior and exterior of the central square building. Enjoy 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted July 23, 2010 Share Posted July 23, 2010 Those are great -- thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan the Man Posted July 23, 2010 Share Posted July 23, 2010 I like the clock in the second photo. Thanks for posting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GovernorAggie Posted July 27, 2010 Share Posted July 27, 2010 Is it just me or do these scenes look Silent Hill-ish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sargento03 Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 <div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><a href=" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2567/4019684078_3773310420.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href=" >The Central Square </a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/secretsquirrel5468/">Secret5468</a>.</span> </div>The paint continues to peel. Thanks, Secret.<div class="blogger-post-footer"> This photo is part of the HAIF photo pool on Flickr. You are welcome to add your photos to the pool for the entire group to see. Visit the pool: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/haif/pool/">HAIF Houston Photo Pool on Flickr</a><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7480774850351202792-5504080587780050903?l=haif-potd.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div> great picture. i hope somebody does something useful w/ this building. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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