East River: Mixed-Use Development By Midway

[samagon]

On 12/23/2022 at 12:04 PM, JClark54 said:

This must be a joke comment. 

Freight rail activity in the east end is not a minor inconvenience. I'm not a train hater, but I understand how it affects the area. 

Train blockages can profoundly impact traffic during peak periods or situations where numerous lines are blocked for hours at the same time.

The Galveston subdivision was blocked for 15 hours or greater three times in the last six months. The east belt was blocked for 23 hours by a single train this year. Prolonged blockages have been shown to keep kids from getting to school, and HFD wrote to the FRA that train blockages have caused emergency response times to jump from the stated goal of 10 minutes or less to 45 minutes or more 1,500 times this year -- through the third quarter 2022. 

 

How can this be, trains aren't supposed to block a crossing for more than an hour at a time, surely the railroads aren't breaking this rule that they are supposed to police themselves on! And surely, even if they are following the rules, the hour they are allowed is acceptable!

That's a bit of sarcasm. 

I'm also not anti rail. There needs to be a better solution. There's not much hope of any real solution considering the state of our government. People who move here just need to accept what it is and learn to navigate around. 

[toxtethogrady]

On 12/22/2022 at 3:47 PM, Urbannizer said:

They should reach out to Trader Joe’s. I can see that doing well here.

Them, Aldi, Lidl. Maybe even LA Market...

[004n063]

2 hours ago, toxtethogrady said:

Them, Aldi, Lidl. Maybe even LA Market...

La Michoacana + a full-time farmer's market would be pretty killer

[s3mh]

There are now big signs up in the median on Waco SB that say that the train may stop for hours on the tracks and to call the railroad company if there are problems.  

[Tone2002]

On 12/22/2022 at 6:04 PM, JBTX said:

$100k/median household income, yes. As much as I love it here in East End we are definitely not the TJ target area.

Then who are these people who keep buying these 400K and up townhomes in the area that are building constantly. . j/k

[MexAmerican_Moose]

what if "things" started happening to the stopped trains? won't elaborate further

https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvn7nw/train-robberies-are-back

Edited December 28, 2022 by MexAmerican_Moose

[JBTX]

1 hour ago, MexAmerican_Moose said:

what if "things" started happening to the stopped trains? won't elaborate further

https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvn7nw/train-robberies-are-back

In my 8 years here I've noticed that most are empty.

[JClark54]

23 hours ago, MexAmerican_Moose said:

what if "things" started happening to the stopped trains? won't elaborate further

https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvn7nw/train-robberies-are-back

Apologies for derailing the thread. It wasn't intentional.

I doubt the railroads are worried about customer product stolen from trains. It appears they build in protections for these scenarios into contracts. 

I came across a unique tidbit while watching the STB's public hearing on UP's growing use of embargoes, a mechanism railroads can use to temporarily reduce or completely halt service. They're typically enacted as a result of track washouts or weather-related issues.  UP has upped embargoes from 27 in 2017 to 886 through Oct. 2022, a period coinciding with its well-documented attempts to cut personnel levels.

A West Virginia coal producer VP testified that UP "lost" a 100-car consist of coal. The cars were filled at the mine site and moved on, but they had not yet reached their onward destination by testimony time. The STB chair asked about recourse, and the shipper stated its contractural language is such that UP is minimally liable for lost or damaged product. Theoretically, they could go elsewhere as a result of this preceived poor service, but the trackage rights in the area are such that UP is a virtual monopoly and moving coal by truck would make it much more expensive for end-users, putting coal at an economic disadvantage over other energy sources. So UP holds all the cards. 

Edited December 29, 2022 by JClark54

[79ta]

21 hours ago, JClark54 said:

I doubt the railroads are worried about customer product stolen from trains. It appears they build in protections for these scenarios into contracts. 

I'd say you're right. Jesse, Walt, and Todd got away with hundreds of gallons of methylamine....

[hindesky]

If you look closely the parking garage has nubs on the walls to make it even larger. I think it will double it's size.

Once again I smell the raw sewage. 🤢

 

Can't see them in this pic but this is covered in rows of small white flagging.

[Naviguessor]

16 hours ago, hindesky said:

Once again I smell the raw sewage.

Dude.  Move up or down the street a little.  It's just right there.   GREAT drone pics, btw.  Keep 'em coming. Happy New Year!

[hindesky]

[cityliving]

[BEES?!]

Seeing it from above, sometimes I’m blown away at all the (attached or otherwise) townhomes we have now. It really wasn’t that long ago that we started building that type of housing in town, so seeing how ubiquitous they’ve become is pretty interesting.

[samagon]

I have never noticed on my drives by the place (probably because I'm only ever looking East as I drive on Jensen, but on the west side of Jensen, next to the Bayou they are turning dirt there too. 

is that the city doing work to extend a path along the bayou, or part of another project?

Edited January 6, 2023 by samagon

[Naviguessor]

 

[HoustonMidtown]

https://flic.kr/p/2oabq6i

 

 

Edited January 7, 2023 by HoustonMidtown

[cityliving]

[DotCom]

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2023/01/09/midway-the-studios-at-east-river-office-buildings.html

Midway adding for-sale office buildings in East River mixed-use development

Houston-based Midway has released new details on the next phase of its East River mixed-use development near downtown.

Construction of The Studios at East River, a for-sale office component consisting of three 10,000-square-foot buildings, is underway and is scheduled to be completed in June. Midway is also planning additional buildings as part of future expansion phases.

Edited January 12, 2023 by editor
Edited due to copyright. Remember to summarize and link. Don't copy and paste.

[wilcal]

6 minutes ago, DotCom said:

Teal, which provides a cloud-based system for delivering hot water to buildings without water heaters.

I wonder how they get it to rain hot water 🤔

[IntheKnowHouston]

Sometime between November and now, Midway released an updated retail leasing brochure.

The latest brochure includes previously announced all-day cafe and coffee shop El Condor. Also included is a new tenant: nail salon Sugar Polish Nail Bar.


https://global-uploads.webflow.com/60fabed9899a525885269ae4/639ba229c658fc4ed3b7f006_221215 East River Retail-compressed.pdf


Link to the leasing brochure for offices at East River:
https://global-uploads.webflow.com/60fabed9899a525885269ae4/639ba29cec0691cb8d4c0580_221215 East River Office-compressed.pdf



Below are links to the previous brochures:

https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/27030-east-river-mixed-use-development-by-midway/?do=findComment&comment=649343

https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/27030-east-river-mixed-use-development-by-midway/?do=findComment&comment=653636

 

 

 

Edited January 18, 2023 by IntheKnowHouston

[IntheKnowHouston]

On 4/19/2022 at 6:27 AM, IntheKnowHouston said:

The retail guide also includes an updated list of retail tenants. Tomi, Broham, Lick Honest Ice Creams, Urbn Dental, and The Astorian are listed.

There are also photos indicating a cafe and coffee shop. I'm assuming one or both are for El Condor. The NYC-based all day cafe and coffee shop recently leased a unit at East River. It will probably be included in the next updated retail guide.

https://global-uploads.webflow.com/60fabed9899a525885269ae4/624b713da0ab0dd6796c67fe_220404 East River Retail.pdf

The latest retail leasing brochure for Midway's mixed-use East River includes a merchandising plan sans the name of possible tenants. It's linked in the prior post.

The merchandising plans was not part of East River's previous retail brochure (link to the last one).

At least two of the images in the merchandising plan were included in earlier leasing materials. The photo in the upper left hand corner with the overhead table shot is one.

However, the other images appear to be new additions to the leasing materials. 

The merchandising plans seems to indicate Midway is seeking, is in talks, or has signed on the following type of businesses:
 

• childcare center
• Japanese / sushi restaurant
• mini golf or indoor golf venue

That's everything I can make out.

Additional retail concepts possibly in the works for East River are pictured next to the corresponding buildings. Some of those include:
 

• a bakery
• cocktail bar
• a barber shop / hair salon
• women's clothing boutique
• men's clothing boutique

 

[DotCom]

More details on The Studios buildings.  OJB plans to move into their new building by June.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/OJB-Landscape-Architecture-Office-East-River-17713091.php

Midway sells first of three East River office buildings to project's landscape architect

The buildings on Clinton Drive are designed for businesses seeking to own offices rather than rent.

OJB Landscape Architecture will move from downtown’s Pennzoil Place to a new headquarters in the East River mixed-use development by Midway.

The relocation will enable the company to not only own its building but provide the firm’s 30 or so local employees an opportunity to commute by bicycle along the trails of Buffalo Bayou, walk to restaurants and events, or sit under one of the hundreds of mature trees saved by Midway to incorporate into the 150-acre development taking shape on the old Brown & Root industrial site east of downtown.

“We’ve done all these amazing spaces around the country,” said Chip Trageser, partner at OJB. “This is an opportunity to be in one of those spaces.”

OJB, which is leading the site and landscape design of East River, has agreed to purchase the first of three recently unveiled buildings called the Studios at East River. The freestanding industrial-style buildings, spanning 10,000 square feet across two stories, are under construction on Clinton Drive along the development’s northern boundary.

“They feel like east Houston,” said Brad Freels, chairman of Midway. “What we’re trying to do is attract companies that would like to own their own facility instead of being a tenant.”

Depending on how they are finished, the customizable buildings can cost upward of $500 per square foot, or about $5 million, Freels said. The buildings have minimal interior build out, four restrooms, a kitchen, an elevator, about five dedicated surface parking spaces plus access to an adjacent garage. Buyers can take advantage of tax incentives because the project is in an Opportunity Zone, Freels said.

“We’re testing the waters with three,” Freels said. “We can do a lot, if there’s demand for it.”

 

OJB plans to occupy about 6,500 square feet, about the same amount of space it leases in Pennzoil Place, and will offer ground-floor space for lease to retail or other tenants, Trageser said. Move-in is planned in June, as other businesses begin occupying buildings in the 26-acre first phase of East River, including two office buildings, a parking garage, a multifamily project and retail.

OJB’s move to East River builds on a relationship extending back almost 25 years, Freels said. OJB, which has five offices and 105 employees across the country, has worked with Midway on projects such as CityCentre, Levy Park, Kings Harbor in Kingwood and Aggie Park at Texas A&M University. OJB is working on the Watermark District at Woodcreek, Midway's upcoming redevelopment of the 70-acre former ConocoPhillips campus in the Energy Corridor.

East River is designed to be walkable, with narrow two-way streets that can be easily crossed, bike lanes on some streets, central green spaces and views from the buildings to the bayou and downtown, Trageser said. The entire project represents an area equivalent to 68 downtown blocks.

“They really understand how people interact with the environment,” Freels said. “We have buildings that may have office above retail or hotel above something. It's just that first 14 feet of vertical space that people recognize and engage and related to. They’re very good about getting that part right.”

Katherine Feser

Jan. 13, 2023

[hindesky]

[004n063]

36 minutes ago, hindesky said:

Zooming in on the left side, I'm wondering about trail clearance under the Jensen bridge. Will the bridge be replaced as a part of this project? Or will the trail cross at grade? Or some other solution?

 

Or will we all just be ducking like with some of those Brays bridges in southwest?

[htxliving]

i don’t think the bridge can be changed. they had plans to rebuild the bridge and it was changed to a “historic bridge” so there can not be changes to the integrity of it. 

[hindesky]

7 minutes ago, 004n063 said:

Zooming in on the left side, I'm wondering about trail clearance under the Jensen bridge. Will the bridge be replaced as a part of this project? Or will the trail cross at grade? Or some other solution?

 

Or will we all just be ducking like with some of those Brays bridges in southwest?

I found a Bike Tag there once, as I recall the trail goes under part of the bridge although I didn't go beyond where I took the pic. The trail is littered with trash and glass.

[004n063]

20 minutes ago, hindesky said:

I found a Bike Tag there once, as I recall the trail goes under part of the bridge although I didn't go beyond where I took the pic. The trail is littered with trash and glass.

Yeah, it's always dipped under a bit. Was just figuring they'd want a more improved connection for ER.

[hindesky]

[I'm Not a Robot]

On 1/10/2023 at 10:03 AM, IntheKnowHouston said:

 

 

 

 

 

I find it curious that the building in the northwest corner in the first photo is not in most of their layouts, but from what we do know it's likely that that the buildings to the right of that building are the build to own spots, which are also missing from most layouts. I may just be full of optimism, but if there were going to be a grocery store it would need to be accessible to major streets for ease of access. I'm guessing they are either saving that location for when HEB or another major grocery chain steps up or with the highest level of hope, they are keeping it under wraps and they will deliver the grocery store during the first phase.