midtown_resident Posted September 17, 2004 Share Posted September 17, 2004 I called the Collective yesterday and asked about the happenings on that large project that was publicized a year ago. They told me the project is still on schedule...and invited me over to take a look at the sketches, plans and related. I'm heading over there this afternoon...send me your questions! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talbot Posted September 17, 2004 Share Posted September 17, 2004 cool! tell us what the plans are when you get back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
largeTEXAS Posted September 17, 2004 Share Posted September 17, 2004 Who's the architect? What else have they done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midtown_resident Posted September 18, 2004 Author Share Posted September 18, 2004 Here's some scoop from my visit...I met with the Executive Director of the Artists' Collective. They going to be building a seven story structure that will pretty much occupy the remaining portion of the block bound by Elgin/LaBranch/Rosalie/Crawford. This project will be a mixed use structure that has 56 condo units prices from 150k up to the mid 400s. Since they are a non-profit organization, they are committing a substantial portion of the profit from this development to helping first time home buyers with down payments. The structure will also house a large parking garage (completely enclosed). The bottom level will be retail...and the art gallery will be at street level as well. The vision seems to be a combination book/coffee store at the corner of Elgin/Crawford.What's impressive is that they are building this - and they are going to be there...i.e. they are not moving on. The outside will feature community art that is being preserved from the current structure. Today, I saw that they were taking soil samples for foundation studies. These people are doing something pretty amazing. It looks great.I don't know who the architects are...although maybe i can find out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midtown_resident Posted September 18, 2004 Author Share Posted September 18, 2004 Oh yeah...groundbreaking is set for March 2005. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talbot Posted September 18, 2004 Share Posted September 18, 2004 Cool, they sound like they actually care. And the mixed use with retail and an art gallery sounds cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midtown_resident Posted September 18, 2004 Author Share Posted September 18, 2004 the prices seem pretty reasonable...i'm impressed with their desire to help first time home buyers...that's pretty amazing.these guys aren't like the typical developer who is moving from project to project...sounds to me like this is the project of their lives...and they're going to remain there, thus making the results all that more important to them...nice people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talbot Posted September 18, 2004 Share Posted September 18, 2004 you know where I can find a rendering? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UrbaNerd Posted September 18, 2004 Share Posted September 18, 2004 WOOT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
largeTEXAS Posted September 18, 2004 Share Posted September 18, 2004 Great news! Glad to hear this will be a mixed-use project. Midtown is catching the mixed-use bug, I love it. Let's keep it going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midtown_resident Posted September 18, 2004 Author Share Posted September 18, 2004 Talbot...All of the renderings that were shown to me were on paper...and the sheets that were shown to me did not have a firms name on it. So I'm not sure where to find a rendering online... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UrbaNerd Posted September 18, 2004 Share Posted September 18, 2004 Can you describe them? Facade material? etc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midtown_resident Posted September 18, 2004 Author Share Posted September 18, 2004 The front of the bldg looks to be brick...although i'm not sure what color/shade...given that i saw a b/w scaled sketch. Also...around the bldg...and the second story level is steel sculpted artwork...and i believe the existing stucco that's on the bldg today is to be preserved and applied to the same. The rear of the bldg has a fully enclosed parking garage....Street level at the corner of elgin/crawford features a two story retail space...which would ideally be a bookstore/coffeshop. Retail spaces are floor to ceiling glass. The west side of the bldg (closest to the corner of LaBranch/Elgin) will feature the art gallery...which occupies two stories...Sorry i can't tell you much more about the materials and such...i don't have an architects eye! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talbot Posted September 18, 2004 Share Posted September 18, 2004 it sounds like a nice building. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midtown_resident Posted September 22, 2004 Author Share Posted September 22, 2004 For the last five days, I've noticed trucks on various locations of the block drilling for soil samples...and surveyors all over the place. Can't wait for this thing to commence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2112 Posted September 29, 2004 Share Posted September 29, 2004 For the last five days, I've noticed trucks on various locations of the block drilling for soil samples...and surveyors all over the place. Can't wait for this thing to commence.<{POST_SNAPBACK}>That makes me so happy. I can imagine our Midtown being Houston's own little SOHO or something like that, with small retail, galleries, restaurants, pubs, etc. All within a dense carpet of 4 to 20 story residential buildings that but up to the streets, with nice sidewalks and such. Something you can walk around and visit some shops or go out for dinner. I dont live in Midtown, and I probably never will, since I dont make that kind of money. But I love what it does for my city, and I would feel proud to visit Midtown, to show it off to visitors, as an alternative to the high-energy of downtown's historic entertainment district. I cant wait to see it turn into something nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midtown_resident Posted September 29, 2004 Author Share Posted September 29, 2004 I do believe that this project presents one of the best plans that i've come across in Midtown...I believe this primarily because the people who are doing this are NOT developers or real estate investors...they are not speculators...they are going to own, operate and run their gallery, art community and such from this structure...so it will have character. Character is lacking from a lot of the new construrction in midtown...sadly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MontroseNeighborhoodCafe Posted July 17, 2005 Share Posted July 17, 2005 http://images.chron.com/content/news/photos/05/07/17/cac.jpg A RAZE AND A PROMOTION: This is an artist's rendering of the seven-story, $22 million project at 1515 Elgin, which will include retail space and 62 residential units, as well as 8,500 square feet for exhibition space and offices. July 15, 2005, 11:28AM The Collective imagination In Midtown, an art nonprofit dreams big, 100,000-square-foot big By PATRICIA C. JOHNSON Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Houston Chronicle Article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talbot Posted July 17, 2005 Share Posted July 17, 2005 Thanks for the article and rendering. I can't wait until this is built. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YakuzaIce Posted July 18, 2005 Share Posted July 18, 2005 Yeah I can't wait till this is built either.Here is the original threadhttp://www.houstonarchitecture.info/haif/i...3&hl=collective Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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