tigereye Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 Does this count as demo work lol (j/k) https://twitter.com/thachadwick/status/583686807042162690 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 While I appreciateyour sentiment, the answer is "yes".....The old retail building was already repurposed "once" as a parking garage. The fact that it can't be repurposed twice is really the shame of it. What's makes it worse is that there are at least two sites I can think of within a one-block radius that I would rather see redeveloped - the blank parking garage looking at the fountains at Main Street Square, and the convenience store adjacent. The driveway in front of SpringHill Suites also begs for a higher and better use at some point. But this block has all the attention because it's the entrance to the vaunted Dallas Street retail corridor. The problem is, say you get this building done, what does the rest of your retail corridor look like? You still have at least two more blocks of dead zone running east on the north side of Dallas, and GreenStreet on the south side is not exactly a great pedestrian stretch either. Annise Parker is a pretty big proponent of historic buildings, which makes me think that if she's willing to let this one go, it must be like Nate said pretty hard to make the economics work to redevelop. Unless you focus on one of those other blocks and wait for circumstances to change. This was the best midcentury retail building on Main. Not as close to people's hearts as Foley's but more handsome and catering to a more selective clientele. It has a weight and solidity to it that makes you think of lofty mid-century postwar dreams of building a grand, secure, enduring city. None of today's ephemeral all-glass decadence. But if you can't find the right user, what do you do? 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Urbannizer Posted June 17, 2015 Author Popular Post Share Posted June 17, 2015 http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/Downtown-retail-plan-attracts-potential-developers-6331095.php#photo-8161660 A half dozen groups interested in improving downtown Houston's retail options submitted initial proposals to redevelop the former Sakowitz department store building on Main Street, officials said Tuesday. The responses from the six groups, which the authority declined to name, are based on a formal request issued earlier this year seeking developers that could demonstrate financial capability, experience and the ability to secure national retailers. The objective outlined in the request is to create a mixed-use project including some 90,000 square feet of retail space along with residential units or a hotel. The project, which would also include parking, would involve redeveloping 1111 Main and incorporate space in the adjacent 1010 Lamar building. The Main Street building is now being used as a parking garage.The six responses to the request have been reviewed and a committee has identified a shortlist of groups that have been asked to provide additional information before a final decision is made.The deadline for the final submissions is Aug. 10, and a deal could be finalized early next year. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nole23 Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 Thanks for posting. I'm very interested in seeing what will go here and what they will do with the food store. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astros148 Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 Imagine if they made a super tall ala chicago style. Incorporate mixed retail first 3 floors, have some commercial offfices, then make a hotel + condos 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 Imagine if they made a super tall ala chicago style. Incorporate mixed retail first 3 floors, have some commercial offfices, then make a hotel + condosLol, you read my mind.. I sketched up exactly that on sketch up a while back. Oh it would be glorious... And a perfect anchor to the retail district. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 Imagine if they made a super tall ala chicago style. Incorporate mixed retail first 3 floors, have some commercial offfices, then make a hotel + condos lol 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 lolHey, we can dream.. Right? Heh 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 The fact that developers are interested is great news! It shows that a little city planning and guidance can do a lot for this city. I'm already drawn to downtown weekly because I love the feel of the city. I will prob be there even more often if they start to establish retail. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monarch Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 everyone now knows that this particular sakowitz block, is probably the most anticipated and magnificent block in all of the TEXAS! developers have no choice but to go BIG here. anything less, is an insult to main street.... 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate99 Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 The fact that developers are interested is great news! It shows that a little city planning and guidance can do a lot for this city. Planning and incentives. It's always interesting to see how much of a bump makes the difference between a developer putting skin in the game versus not. I haven't seen what is involved here, but I'd bet those particulars are in the specific proposals. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 And it's gonna take moneyA whole lot of public moneyIt's gonna take plenty of moneyTo do it right... Paraphrasing George Harrison. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astros148 Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 Lol, you read my mind.. I sketched up exactly that on sketch up a while back. Oh it would be glorious... And a perfect anchor to the retail district. can you post the sketch again? lol why do we always think small in houston? we can dream big right? Are you telling me such a idea wouldnt be a hit? The Marriott down the street is doing really good, was just in there the other day And it's gonna take moneyA whole lot of public moneyIt's gonna take plenty of moneyTo do it right... Paraphrasing George Harrison. money talks, bs walks. get it done houston! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdog08 Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 (edited) We already have a lot of apartments under construction downtown, I wouldn't mind if this way waited a year or two. TMC is undergoing another boom which has been coinciding with the oil slump (cheaper construction costs) which will be creating quite a few centrally located jobs. However, we got a lot of units coming along for 2015 that will probably catch up to the amount of high paying jobs needed support inner loop apartments. I see a bright future, but multifamily will probably have a brief pause in my amateur opinion. Edited June 22, 2015 by kdog08 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted July 7, 2015 Author Share Posted July 7, 2015 Downtown RE Update 2Q 2015 The Downtown Redevelopment Authority issued an RFQ seeking a developer to redevelop 1111 Main and 1010 Lamar into a development consisting of the existing office building plus new retail, parking and residential and/or hotel. The DRA received six responses, and three have been shortlisted, with final proposals due August 10. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Urbannizer Posted September 8, 2015 Author Popular Post Share Posted September 8, 2015 http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2015/09/city-has-shortlist-for-downtown-redevelopment-project/ Downtown officials have narrowed down the list of developers they are looking at to redo downtown’s former Sakowitz building and an adjacent property to three, the latest step in a plan to add more retail options to the city center. The Downtown Redevelopment Authority hopes to facilitate an agreement between the owner of 1111 Main and 1010 Lamar and a developer that would result in a mixed-use project with some 90,000 square feet of retail space along with residential units or a hotel.A half dozen groups, which the authority declined to name, submitted initial proposals early this summer. Each of the three groups on the shortlist has been asked to provide additional information, which is expected to come in by Sept. 15, Ryan Leach, executive director of the Downtown Redevelopment Authority, said at a monthly board meeting Tuesday.“If all goes well … we are hoping we can get that paper work wrapped up before the end of the year and have the project started as soon as possible thereafter,” he said. 16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monarch Posted September 8, 2015 Share Posted September 8, 2015 ^^^ superb news! i cannot wait to learn just who is actually chosen, and reference some renderings thereafter.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigereye Posted September 8, 2015 Share Posted September 8, 2015 (edited) FWIW - crackhead corner store has been doing some updates lately. New exterior tile work recently completed, signage was removed today at lunch time. I guess this place may survive. Guess the city wants as much retail as it can get. https://twitter.com/thachadwick/status/641371802665533440Also - I'm gonna guess this will have an aggressive timeframe if they expect to complete before the Super Bowl. 17 months and counting... Edited September 8, 2015 by tigereye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fkp5 Posted September 8, 2015 Share Posted September 8, 2015 I sure hope the corner store doesn't survive. It's definitely one of the most unpleasant places to walk by in downtown. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pragmatist Posted September 8, 2015 Share Posted September 8, 2015 Indeed, great news. The crackhead corner store could be incorporated into the 1111 Main redevelopment...nice spot for a SHAKE SHACK. However, 90K sqft. is small for a big city DT retail store....that would be a rather small Macy's/Nordstrom/Saks. Let's hope it's not another DT inadequate/mediocre retail flop. That size would be akin to something along the lines of a City Target. Not massive, but decent in size. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sky-guy Posted September 8, 2015 Share Posted September 8, 2015 That size would be akin to something along the lines of a City Target. Not massive, but decent in size. My thoughts exactly: 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toxtethogrady Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Now THIS is the grocery that needs to become a first floor tenant. http://valhallamovement.com/link/this-zero-waste-grocery-store-has-no-packaging-plastic-or-big-name-brands/ 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryDierker Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Sure hope the retail at this location is something other than a target. downtown shopping district should be something of a destination, not a place to grab some TP and pantene on your way home from work. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moore713 Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 The new hotel on Dallas will also have GFR retail. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sky-guy Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Sure hope the retail at this location is something other than a target. downtown shopping district should be something of a destination, not a place to grab some TP and pantene on your way home from work. With all of the new residential development in Downtown, a target would do really well. Whee else can someone buy some TP and Pantene in downtown? People living in DT, shouldn't have to leave DT to buy basic necessities. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryDierker Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 With all of the new residential development in Downtown, a target would do really well. Whee else can someone buy some TP and Pantene in downtown? People living in DT, shouldn't have to leave DT to buy basic necessities. I don't disagree with anything you said, just the location. This location needs to be something special if it's to be the linchpin of the shopping district. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nole23 Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Let's not forget that there is an urban CVS two blocks from this site downtown where residents can get all of their toiletry needs 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downtownian Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Let's not forget that there is an urban CVS two blocks from this site downtown where residents can get all of their toiletry needs I'll stop by the CVS on my walk home from work when I need things urgently but generally I just use Amazon Prime. I've gotten really good at bulk ordering and I always have two day lead time for items. I only travel outside of downtown for clothing (need to ensure fit) and books / vinyl records (like to support local book / record stores). Everything else ("necessities", electronics, food - Instacart or Favor app), I get delivered. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigereye Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 (edited) Let's not forget that there is an urban CVS two blocks from this site downtown where residents can get all of their toiletry needs Since its conveniently located for me, I do go to that CVS for a variety of reasons and needs. Heck so much, I even got a CVS card recently lol But if City Target opened up at 1111 Main, CVS may lose some of my business. Urban CVS has some things but due to its space constraints, it can't jam everything in that small store. By comparison, a 90,000 sq ft City Target will likely provide way more goods than the current mini-CVS. Edited September 9, 2015 by tigereye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cspwal Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 What would be nice is a small book store in downtown...Brown Book Shop is nice for technical books but lacks any variety 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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