phillip_white Posted September 8, 2016 Share Posted September 8, 2016 Updated renderings. See the Rev 5 variance request for details of the changes. At least these guys are trying to compromise, unlike those monsters over at White Oak Music Hall. 160907 McGowen_Variance Request_REV 5.pdf 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cspwal Posted September 8, 2016 Share Posted September 8, 2016 Why does this remind me of those old apartments in south midtown, next to 59 and the spur 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naviguessor Posted September 8, 2016 Share Posted September 8, 2016 I rather like it. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted September 8, 2016 Share Posted September 8, 2016 13 minutes ago, Naviguessor said: I rather like it. There was a BBC article about the UK's ugliest buildings and while I agree about the "Walkie Talkie", most of them were larger residential buildings with this kind of flare. I'm happy to see a resurgence of the style. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cspwal Posted September 8, 2016 Share Posted September 8, 2016 I do like the design, it just reminds me of those apartments. Its a simple design that, well executed, should hold up better than the stucco apartments 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted September 8, 2016 Share Posted September 8, 2016 Urban Renewal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corbs315 Posted September 14, 2016 Share Posted September 14, 2016 Application has been withdrawn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diaspora Posted September 14, 2016 Share Posted September 14, 2016 They modified their ground floor design slightly prior to withdrawal. The question is whether they come back with a different proposal or put the dirt back on the market. Can anyone recommend a marketing/surveying entity to build a profile of Midtown -- residents/owners/income/expenditures, whatever -- to help developers fit their projects into the urban field consonant with community strengths? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diaspora Posted December 13, 2016 Share Posted December 13, 2016 This Thursday at 4:00 pm in the Midtown Management Building at 410 Pierce, 3rd floor (doors on Bagby) the ATMA folks will be presenting their modified design for 1403 McGowen for public comment. Present for this discussion will be the architects (Humphreys), designers (Knudson), developer and owners. This forum is the monthly meeting of the Midtown Management District's Urban Planning Committee and is open to the public. If you have a general interest, have something you would like to contribute, are interested in development in Midtown, or are just curious about the process, please find your way to this meeting. As of yet, the developers of this parcel have not resubmitted their variance request to the City, so this is an effort to shop the modified design and gauge public reception. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted December 22, 2016 Share Posted December 22, 2016 On 12/13/2016 at 11:05 AM, Diaspora said: This Thursday at 4:00 pm in the Midtown Management Building at 410 Pierce, 3rd floor (doors on Bagby) the ATMA folks will be presenting their modified design for 1403 McGowen for public comment. Present for this discussion will be the architects (Humphreys), designers (Knudson), developer and owners. This forum is the monthly meeting of the Midtown Management District's Urban Planning Committee and is open to the public. If you have a general interest, have something you would like to contribute, are interested in development in Midtown, or are just curious about the process, please find your way to this meeting. As of yet, the developers of this parcel have not resubmitted their variance request to the City, so this is an effort to shop the modified design and gauge public reception. So how'd the meeting go? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted December 28, 2016 Share Posted December 28, 2016 This one's back on the agenda. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diaspora Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 The proposed development with some changes will be presented to the Planning Commission this Thursday, January 5. The developer made some concessions by introducing office space on the first floor and opening the McGowen face of the building to pedestrian traffic. There will also be a bcycle station at this location on McGowen. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 On 9/8/2016 at 9:18 AM, cspwal said: Why does this remind me of those old apartments in south midtown, next to 59 and the spur These are actually nice. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 It is a nice design. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 Houston Planning Commission Approves 8-Story Midtown Midrise Houston (Harris Co.) - Allied Orion Group won approval to construct an eight-story mid-rise condominium in Houston's bustling Midtown. The project presented Jan. 19 will have a three-story parking garage and a total of 142 parking spaces. There will be five stories of condominium units above the garage. The front of the building will face McGowen Street and is between Austin and LaBranch Streets. The proposed structure totals 81,773 square feet. Along McGowen, Allied Orion requested a 5-foot building line for the first two floors for 110 feet, a 1-foot building line for 140 feet, and a 1-foot building line for the third floor to the roof versus the standard 10 feet. Along Austin, the ask was for an 8-foot line at ground level and a zero line above the garage. For LaBranch, the request was for a zero line from ground up. This was previously recorded as La Plaza de Midtown subdivision plat, but that building was never constructed. The parking entrance will be on Austin. Other than parking, a portion of the ground level will be set aside for offices. However, there may also be some retail. Dan Barnum, a member of the Midtown Alliance planning committee and an architect, spoke in support of the project. "I'm also one of the instigators of redevelopment of Midtown of almost 20 years ago," Barnum said. "This is the kind of project we foresaqw for Midtown. "It is what we've been hoping for along McGowen. The only change we ask of the developer is some retail space on the ground floor, because there is a demand for that, and they are looking at that." Allied Orion also requested a variance for a smaller loading area on the grounds that these will be owner-occupied condos and there will not be as much need for moving trucks as there is in a rental apartment community. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmitch94 Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 I like seeing the pressure for retail being put on these developers. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 I was in shock to see that the planning commission actually made that request... Houston is changing for the better guys! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobruss Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 That is great news. Maybe they are finally waking up. Something else thats probably even more significant about this project is its location on the East side of Main. So everyone thats been complaining about the lack of development on the east side of Main should be happy to hear about this project. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 Is the Planning Commission going to pay the developer if the retail doesn't get any occupants? Or does the owner just have to eat the cost of the ugly empty space. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillip_white Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 32 minutes ago, Ross said: Is the Planning Commission going to pay the developer if the retail doesn't get any occupants? Or does the owner just have to eat the cost of the ugly empty space. They had the option to put retail, office, or housing units on the ground floor. It appears they believe retail is the most marketable. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobruss Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 Yeah just like Post property had to look at a bunch of ugly empty space. Oh thats right they've been full since it opened and its probably one of the most successful parts of midtown. If the developer creates a project that makes retail a positive space and not just an after thought i think it will be filled quickly. More and more of the empty spaces downtown are starting to be leased and as more people move in more of the retail and service oriented businesses will follow. I dont know how many times I have to say this until it starts sinking in, but unless retail space is developed into these block filling developments there won't be any reason to get out and walk six blocks to get to a store. I'm speaking to the future and the creation of a successful midtown on a broad sense. Once blocks and blocks of development are developed without room for retail then what do you do. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 12 hours ago, bobruss said: Yeah just like Post property had to look at a bunch of ugly empty space. Oh thats right they've been full since it opened and its probably one of the most successful parts of midtown. If the developer creates a project that makes retail a positive space and not just an after thought i think it will be filled quickly. More and more of the empty spaces downtown are starting to be leased and as more people move in more of the retail and service oriented businesses will follow. I dont know how many times I have to say this until it starts sinking in, but unless retail space is developed into these block filling developments there won't be any reason to get out and walk six blocks to get to a store. I'm speaking to the future and the creation of a successful midtown on a broad sense. Once blocks and blocks of development are developed without room for retail then what do you do. Retail isn't required on every block - perhaps one out of 16 or 20 would suffice. After all, how many convenience stores and small restaurant, etc are necessary for an area the size of Midtown? Post was successful because there wasn't any competition. If there had been other GFR, Post likely would not have built as much as they did. I trust the developers to determine whether GFR is economic, but the density is not there now, or likely ever, to support GFR in every development. Especially with the amount of stand alone establishments in Midtown. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 13 hours ago, phillip_white said: They had the option to put retail, office, or housing units on the ground floor. It appears they believe retail is the most marketable. That decision was made under duress - "which one of these awful options is the least bad for me" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobruss Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 44 minutes ago, Ross said: Retail isn't required on every block - perhaps one out of 16 or 20 would suffice. After all, how many convenience stores and small restaurant, etc are necessary for an area the size of Midtown? Post was successful because there wasn't any competition. If there had been other GFR, Post likely would not have built as much as they did. I trust the developers to determine whether GFR is economic, but the density is not there now, or likely ever, to support GFR in every development. Especially with the amount of stand alone establishments in Midtown. Thats funny cause when your in the suburbs or just about anywhere you drive in Houston there is retail from corner to corner on every street. What makes downtown and Midtown any different. The difference is that with all of the people living in much denser neighborhoods it would be much better for everyone to be able to walk to these stores or service related businesses instead of getting in a car. Just curious Ross, but what do you do for a living that you're so against developing retail and promoting urban density. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 18 minutes ago, bobruss said: Thats funny cause when your in the suburbs or just about anywhere you drive in Houston there is retail from corner to corner on every street. What makes downtown and Midtown any different. The difference is that with all of the people living in much denser neighborhoods it would be much better for everyone to be able to walk to these stores or service related businesses instead of getting in a car. Just curious Ross, but what do you do for a living that you're so against developing retail and promoting urban density. Not that it's relevant, but I am a financial systems analyst with an accounting degree. My views have nothing to do with being against developing retail or promoting density, and everything to do with not forcing property owners to build something they consider non-economic. If a property owner thinks GFR/offices/etc is a good idea, that's great, and he should build it. There's no retail in my subdivision, which is inside the loop, nor is there retail in any of the residential areas in any of the suburbs. The retail is concentrated on certain streets, with enough retail density to make it easy to get all your shopping done without going to too many different places. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted February 13, 2017 Share Posted February 13, 2017 Yeah but every city enforces a degree of development it feels is needed for an area to have future potential growth. This is basically what the city is starting to enforce. They want to build out Midtown quickly but with lots of options for more retail in the future. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted November 30, 2017 Share Posted November 30, 2017 Set to break ground before the year ends according to this brochure (listed at Midtown Metropole). https://issuu.com/dcpartners/docs/dc_partners_brochure__for_print_ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terra002 Posted December 1, 2017 Share Posted December 1, 2017 where is this going to be built? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarathonMan Posted December 2, 2017 Share Posted December 2, 2017 4 hours ago, terra002 said: where is this going to be built? McGowan between Austin and Caroline. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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