DrLan34 Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 That's a coin toss on that one.I think it would have gotten lost in downtown, especially considering HP, here it stands out, and caters to the RO crowd.The architecture on this thing far exceeded my early expectations. At night the exterior lighting is amazing.When does the first retail portions open? I'm anxious to check some of the restaurants out when they come to be.that's a good point but i'm just longing for some (more) residential/retail downtown like I think we all are! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capnmcbarnacle Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 I wish Jalapeno's was one of them. I really miss their brunch.I miss the Fajita Tower... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 Flickr Notsouh Photography 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 Flickr Notsouh PhotographyAny chance other developers start to catch on and get the idea???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Great Hizzy! Posted August 29, 2009 Share Posted August 29, 2009 Any chance other developers start to catch on and get the idea????One can only hope. Those are some gorgeous sightlines. The design elements and shapes, particularly along the rooflines, represent a nice change of pace for Houston. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highway6 Posted August 29, 2009 Share Posted August 29, 2009 Trust me.. you don't want other developers emulating this developer. There are some ate up aspects to this project that I wish I could share.From a design standpoint.. its okay.. but that praise should be directed towards whatever architect they hired. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UrbaNerd Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 There's still phase II to make up for that, but that's probably not coming anytime soon... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 Any chance other developers start to catch on and get the idea????Don't know but the developers of Regent Square has the idea and more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roadrunner Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 Who will be the future retail tenants in this development? And when is that buildout supposed to happen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shasta Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 Don't know but the developers of Regent Square has the idea and more.Yeah...but these developers managed to get it built. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 Yeah...but these developers managed to get it built...and regent square may be built. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Friend of mine just moved in a few weeks ago and I was quite impressed with it, I was a bit taken aback by how the walkways and some of the interior designs. Was only able to get this one shot so far from the parking lot inside, but I'll see what I can get next time. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UrbaNerd Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 I actually took some pics about two weeks ago, but am having issues with imageshack. How can I upload to HAIF, anyway? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff8201 Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 Are the restaurants / retail still slated to start opening in March? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UrbaNerd Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 Ok, I finally got Imageshack to work properly! I didn't want to use up too much of HAIF's bandwith and all. Anyway, I took these pics sometime around New Years.Still quite empty, but they were putting the finishing touches on everything. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
citykid09 Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 (edited) WOW! I can't believe this is in Houston! +1 for you! Edited January 15, 2010 by citykid09 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
citizen4rmptown Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 Looks empty, but those storefronts have soooo much potential, so this thing will look H-O-T with all the retail, restaurants, etc. Who has leased space? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff8201 Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 (edited) According to this article in the Houston Chronicle one more lease will be filled by Tootsies, 34,000 sq ft of it on the ground level opening in about a year. They're hoping a monkey see monkey do effect with filling the rest of the retail space following Tootsies.After nearly three decades as a Highland Village institution, Tootsies is relocating to West Ave, the new mixed-use development at the southwest corner of Westheimer and Kirby. The Tootsies announcement marks the first major retail lease at West Ave, whose shop space has sat partially leased yet vacant amid a national recession where many national retailers stopped expanding and others couldn't get financing to open new stores. A high-end boutique like Tootsies is likely to get the attention of other fashion boutiques and provide an energy boost to the project, which has nearly 200,000 square feet of retail space and almost 400 upscale apartments. “It already has turned the heads of other prospective retailers,” said David Fitch, president and CEO of Atlanta-based Gables Residential, which is developing West Ave with Northwestern Mutual. While the tenant roster has changed over the past year or so, about 40 percent of the retail space is leased, according to Gables. The first tenants will open this summer. Tenants include Zaika, an Indian cafe from Houston restaurateur Anita Jaisinghani of Indika; Cru, a wine bar and cafe; Eddie V's, an Austin-based seafood, steak, and live music concept; Rome, a day spa and salon; and a new restaurant and lounge concept by Ad West, a group known for operating The Drake and Red Door in Houston. When Tootsies opens in its new digs a year from now, it will be leaving Highland Village, a prominent outdoor shopping center that runs along both sides of Westheimer near Weslayan. But the vacancy shouldn't be difficult to fill, local retail experts said. “When most retailers come to Houston looking for street retail, that's the first place they want to be,” said Blake Tartt III president of New Regional Planning.Highland Village CEO Haidar Barbouti said the old Tootsies building will be demolished and 100,000 square feet of multi-level retail space with underground parking will be developed in its place. “With Tootsies' departure, we are excited to announce the next phase in the modernization and expansion of Highland Village,” Barbouti said. In its new home, Tootsies will occupy 34,000 square feet on West Ave's ground level at Westheimer and Kirby. Architecture firm Gensler is designing the space, which will be under construction this summer. The new Tootsies location will provide more room to house the store's fashions, owner Mickey Rosmarin said. “By moving to West Ave, Tootsies will offer shoppers a fresh retail experience.” The deal with Tootsies has been in the works for a while.Fitch wouldn't discuss the terms of the lease. In today's economy, some landlords have to get aggressive to fill their empty spaces. Many retailers stopped expanding when the country went into a recession and perks like free rent and build-out allowances have grown. “The financial responsibility of landlords has increased,” said Fitch, adding that tenants that sign onto projects early on typically get more favorable deals. While Fitch said it's taken longer to finalize deals with retailers, the apartments at West Ave have leased faster than the company expected. The residential component is 70 percent leased for rents that average $2 per square foot, though the company is offering concessions. “From a financial modeling standpoint, the project looks similar as originally conceived,” said Fitch, who declined to reveal the project's development cost. Construction on West Ave is nearly complete. Designed by Looney Ricks Kiss, the first two floors of the seven-story brick, stucco and cast stone development include two floors of retail space comprising 190,000 square feet for more than 50 storefronts and underground parking. The top levels have 389 high-end apartments ranging in price from $1,400 to more than $3,000 per month. “It's truly going to be the first urban project like this,” said Nick Hernandez of Page Partners, which is leasing the retail space.One falsehood I see in this article is they mention underground parking... there is a massive parking garage... but nothing underground. Minor details.On a side note...For now it seems that the Phase II expansion is on hold for obvious reasons... but I'm wondering, as discussed earlier on this thread, what will become of the Chuy's property? Personally I'm most excited for the new restaurants seeing as how they are practically within walking distance from me. Edited January 23, 2010 by Geoff8201 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KinkaidAlum Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 Landing Tootsies is huge. There are generations of uppity women who shop there exclusively. I could see several other retailers tag along after this announcement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lastnameever Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 One falsehood I see in this article is they mention underground parking... there is a massive parking garage... but nothing underground. Minor details.Actually, the majority of the retail parking is underground beneath the Kirby/Kipling building and the building behind it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highway6 Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 It's about time Tootsies signed a lease. They have been dragging their heels for a year, antsy that nobody else was signing.... And this was causing a rippling effect because so many planned tenants were waiting to sign until they knew the pseudo anchor Tootsies had signed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff8201 Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Actually, the majority of the retail parking is underground beneath the Kirby/Kipling building and the building behind it. Ah, I stand corrected. I didn't recall any underground work when they first started, but you are right. I took another look, even the master plan for the first level on the West Ave. website indicates the retail parking goes down to basement level(s). That's good, can never have too much parking, kinda makes it more Galleriaesque in that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crunchtastic Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 Landing Tootsies is huge. There are generations of uppity women who shop there exclusively. I could see several other retailers tag along after this announcement.Agree, but this goes back to the idea of high-end retail saturation. All Tootsies is doing is moving a mile or so down the road--not adding a second store, and leaving a large hole in Highland Village in the process. Between Highland Village, West Ave and the eventual Regent Square, how much growth can we reasonably expect? I'm not seeing a net gain, just empty older space. Even wealthy people can only do so much shopping in a 5 mile radius. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdog08 Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 Not to mention the number of major apartment complexes that are/have opened in the vicinity of West Ave, I can think of 5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff8201 Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 There's going to be an event Tuesday April 13th that I'm definitely going to attend. Here's the link for those who are interested:Houston Menu of Menus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 So are there any stores open here yet? Are they even done with construction? It's been a long time since I've been by. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff8201 Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 (edited) So are there any stores open here yet? Are they even done with construction? It's been a long time since I've been by.Hmm, well I guess those are valid questions...I don't think yet officially.Yes, with exception of the store and restaurant interiors. The exterior IMO looks amazing, especially at night, it makes this intersection and this section of Kirby something to behold.Residents have been moving in, I have a good view of the garage and its looking much fuller.After this event I'll post what I see, I wonder where this Menu of Menu thing is actually going to take place within West Ave... still empty retail area perhaps? Guess I'll find out.EDIT: From the West Ave site:Coming Soon- May 2010 • Rome - romedayspa.com Coming Soon – Fall 2010 • Zaika – indikausa.com • Cru – cruawinebar.com • Eddie V’s – eddiev.com • Ad West Coming Soon – January 2011• Tootsies – tootsies.com Edited April 10, 2010 by Geoff8201 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 EDIT: From the West Ave site:Coming Soon- May 2010 • Rome - romedayspa.com Coming Soon – Fall 2010 • Zaika – indikausa.com • Cru – cruawinebar.com • Eddie V’s – eddiev.com • Ad West Coming Soon – January 2011• Tootsies – tootsies.comYikes, and their website says there are 50 store fronts. So in year, they will still have 44 empty retail spaces? no bueno Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
totheskies Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 Yikes, and their website says there are 50 store fronts. So in year, they will still have 44 empty retail spaces? no buenoDon't think so. Unlike Houston Pavilions (downtown is still considered a deadzone for the serious retail shopper), West Ave is right across the street from River Oaks, and only a few miles from Rice Village, Highland Village and The Galleria. This is prime retail space for sure. Also, I think enough Houstonians have been to Dallas and been jealous of how nicely the uptown developments have come together there. They want spaces like that in central Houston. Now we finally have one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted April 11, 2010 Share Posted April 11, 2010 Don't think so. Unlike Houston Pavilions (downtown is still considered a deadzone for the serious retail shopper), West Ave is right across the street from River Oaks, and only a few miles from Rice Village, Highland Village and The Galleria. This is prime retail space for sure. Also, I think enough Houstonians have been to Dallas and been jealous of how nicely the uptown developments have come together there. They want spaces like that in central Houston. Now we finally have one.You're thought is that even though there's only been a few retail announcements that they're gonna be picking up real soon?With all the stuff Obama has been doing with taxes etc, I've heard rumblings that we could go into another mini dip recession. Of course that's just one school of thought, but who knows. I'd still be very cautiously optimistic that we're coming out of the recession. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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