[CALMSP]

south side of downtown sure is going to look different.....and it certainly needs it..way to many parking lots on that side, hopefully all of this will clean it up a little bit and more buildings will soon rise!

[Trae]

http://img477.imageshack.us/img477/2220/discoverygreen2010xi4.jpg

[CALMSP]

Sign must have just been put up.....across the street from the Wet Spot in Midtown.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14048865@N02/1429618419/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14048865@N02/1429618419/

[toxteth o'grady]

Also, it's been leaked that Hanover plans to develop a FIFTY-FIVE story apartment tower as part of the massive project. NICE NICE NICE. A tower that size, even with a flat roof, would rise to around 610 to 670 feet tall.

As always (and as I'm sure the folks in Dallas can attest to) it's not a certainty till they actually move that first shovel of dirt...:banana:

[toxteth o'grady]

http://img477.imageshack.us/img477/2220/discoverygreen2010xi4.jpg

Nicely framed. Discovery Green is going to look good when all these projects are done.:tup:

[toxteth o'grady]

Sign must have just been put up.....across the street from the Wet Spot in Midtown.

Interesting design, but it looks like the building is only 5 levels.

Speaking of which - the Aloft Hotel was described in the HBJ as being 9 levels, but the rendering appears to be only 5. Where are the other 4 levels?:shrug:

[Complex01]

south side of downtown sure is going to look different.....and it certainly needs it..way to many parking lots on that side, hopefully all of this will clean it up a little bit and more buildings will soon rise!


I totally agree. The area will have a whole different feeling in no time soon. One parking lot at a time...

:cool:

[Xeelee]

This is very good progress. We must ensure we do everything we can to have these projects complete.

[Shasta]

According to HAIF, there's a new project in the Midtown Square area just on the other side of the Pierce Elevated from downtown.

Casa di Moderna
http://www.northgatecustomhomes.com/images/com_casamod_img1.jpg

This will be in the same vicinity as Post Midtown Square, The Rise, The Edge, and the new Camden Apartment community. It's also the site of another midrise proposal being marketed by Suzanne Anderson Properties that is apparently selling very well...

[Saddle Man]

/\/\/\/\ Wow! That sure is...something?!

[weatherguru18]

Does anybody have any news on the 25 story apartment building to rise on Memorial? Is it dead? Also (I don't know why I'm asking now) but I'm really tired of looking at the eyesore known as 801 Joseph (I think). It's the 30 story "Days Inn" that is now totally vacent. Why are they preserving this building? It would be cheaper to tear it down and start over. The building is a total loss.

[Xeelee]

^^ It was supposed to undergo an overhaul and a conversion to what they dubbed at the time "The Raider Lofts" or the like...


Not sure where that stands now... but I would assume it's safe to say it's dead.

[CALMSP]

that whole area needs to be cleaned up............the problem is the bus station near by and all the trash that is over there

[weatherguru18]

A new office tower is being planned for the Galleria. The 400,000 sq. ft. building is to be called 4 Oaks Place. I don't have access to the full HBJ, but you can find it on the site.

http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2007/10/01/story3.html

[Shasta]

A new office tower is being planned for the Galleria. The 400,000 sq. ft. building is to be called 4 Oaks Place. I don't have access to the full HBJ, but you can find it on the site.

http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2007/10/01/story3.html

This won't be the only new office building in that immediate vicinity. Last week, the Willie G's property on the other side of Post Oak Blvd. was purchased with initial plans calling for a 300,000 square foot office tower.

As for the Legacy at Memorial 25 story apartment tower near Studemont, I can't imagine it's dead. Legacy spent millions buying the property and plans from another developer just a few short months ago...

[Complex01]

:previous:

I just read the story online. Have to see...

Anyhow here is another rendering of Main Place. It looks very nice. Taken from www.houstonarchitecture.info/haif/index.php?showtopic=11978&st=450

:yes:

http://i12.tinypic.com/4r7a4j8.jpg

[vjhe]

^

Now that is just a lovely building. I love the "skin" of it. So smooth, so sleek.

[PA Pride]

Main Place is fucking sweet. That is an awesome shot of downtown too. Good angle.

[CALMSP]

reminds me of the W hotel in Dallas. Unbelievable pic........can't wait to see this on the skyline!!!

[Xeelee]

So whatever happened to Ballpark Place?

[Shasta]

Here's a rendering for the 23 floor, 266 feet tall proposal for 1717 Bissonnet.

http://www.buckfund.com/nss-folder/1717%20Bissonnet/07018-A401.jpg

Will have street level retail including a space for a restaurant. 5 live/work townhomes on streel level as well. A 5 story attached garage with space for 467 cars. The 6th level will house an amenity deck with pool/spa features. The top 17 floors will house either 226 rental apartments or 187 for sale condos. Exterior will be red brick with cast stone details (per EDI Architecture).

[vjhe]

^

Now, the $64,000 question is, what will the backside of the building look like? Will it be a solid brick wall with little to no windows? :yuck:

[c4smok]

Here's a rendering for the 23 floor, 266 feet tall proposal for 1717 Bissonnet.

http://www.buckfund.com/nss-folder/1717%20Bissonnet/07018-A401.jpg

Will have street level retail including a space for a restaurant. 5 live/work townhomes on streel level as well. A 5 story attached garage with space for 467 cars. The 6th level will house an amenity deck with pool/spa features. The top 17 floors will house either 226 rental apartments or 187 for sale condos. Exterior will be red brick with cast stone details (per EDI Architecture).

This is a very nice building =)

[OfCourse]

Wow. Main Place looks HOT.

The Bissonnet looks great. And yeah, I'm crossing my fingers that the backside isn't a boring wall w/ windows.

[Complex01]

This is a very nice building =)

That is really nice looking building. Good to see they incorporated ground retail into it as well...

:yes:

[CALMSP]

i think this is hte building that the local residents are fighting, and the mayor just joined their side. If I recall, the mayor was quoted as saying he is going to do all possible (legaly) to stop this from being built

[JMancuso]

i would like to see 1717 built...just somewhere else.

[OfCourse]

i think this is hte building that the local residents are fighting, and the mayor just joined their side. If I recall, the mayor was quoted as saying he is going to do all possible (legaly) to stop this from being built

Why would they be fighting it?

[CALMSP]

i think the chronicle article said the residents said it would block their own views......not sure of what though!

[Xeelee]

i think this is hte building that the local residents are fighting, and the mayor just joined their side. If I recall, the mayor was quoted as saying he is going to do all possible (legaly) to stop this from being built

Sounds like we need another mayor...

[Xeelee]

i think the chronicle article said the residents said it would block their own views......not sure of what though!

I take what the comical says with a grain of salt. Have you seen some of what passes for journalism there lately?

[JMancuso]

the barnacle's website had britney losing her kids as more prominent story than the monks in burma. grain of salt indeed.

[Xeelee]

I just read the Comical's report on this tower and the fuss it's making. Looks like the mayer, some attorney, and alot of money are teaming up against the developer.

I'm curious. Where does city council stand on this issue?

[weatherguru18]

Well the worlds tallest building is one step closer to finding it's way to Houston. The financial guru Zaya Younan has been in business since 2002 and owns $1.5 billion dollars in office buildings. He owns many in Texas including the Thanksgiving Tower in Dallas. Now he says that he has ruled out Los Angeles for a place to put it and is currently looking for a location for his office, hotel, condos, school, and museum combo supertall in Houston and Chicago.

The article was published in the Chicago Sun-Times last week.

[CALMSP]

Well the worlds tallest building is one step closer to finding it's way to Houston. The financial guru Zaya Younan has been in business since 2002 and owns $1.5 billion dollars in office buildings. He owns many in Texas including the Thanksgiving Tower in Dallas. Now he says that he has ruled out Los Angeles for a place to put it and is currently looking for a location for his office, hotel, condos, school, and museum combo supertall in Houston and Chicago.

The article was published in the Chicago Sun-Times last week.

this would be great..........we certainly need to take back the title of largest building west of the mississippi............but the country let alone the world would be great!!!

anyone have any news/info regarding the leveling of some buildings on studemont just south of I10 and north of Washington??

[Xeelee]

I agree. It would make a dramatic impact on our skyline.

I've not heard anything from the Washington area. I'll swing by there later today and maybe take some pics since I have my camera today. :)

Chances are, they're going to build more of the same patio homes as are prevalent in the rest of that part of town.

[Trae]

BLVD is under construction. They have fenced of the parking lot.

[JMancuso]

it has been fenced in for months. the area around eatzies.

i'd rather have 2 1,000+ footers than one 2000 foot building which would look really awkward in the skyline

[LouisianaRush]

it has been fenced in for months. the area around eatzies.

i'd rather have 2 1,000+ footers than one 2000 foot building which would look really awkward in the skyline

I agree. A 2000 foot tower in Houston would look out of place. The FAA is not going to let him build it downtown.

[CHAPINM1]

I agree. A 2000 foot tower in Houston would look out of place. The FAA is not going to let him build it downtown.

I'm not dissing Houston by ANY means, but Houston really would need some more tall buildings, especially ones 1,000 feet plus in order to even make a 2,000 foot tower welcome. However; if Houston barely got away with building just barely over 1,000 feet, what makes anyone think that it would, at this point, ready for a 2,000 foot tower?

[Saddle Man]

Why does everyone assume it would be downtown? I bet if it did happen, it'd be far from downtown.

[CHAPINM1]

Why does everyone assume it would be downtown? I bet if it did happen, it'd be far from downtown.

I never thought about that, it would be like the Williams tower (901 feet/64 floors) which is itself outside of the downtown core.

[Texas Tuff]

Building a 2000 plus footer outside of downtown would REALLY look out of place in my opinion. Like it was said above, I think two 1000 or so footers downtown would be better, maybe twin towers of equal or similar height perhaps.

[Saddle Man]

Whatever you say.

[rdavis4559]

Kind of like how the Empire State Building probably looked?

[Texas Tuff]

Kind of like how the Empire State Building probably looked?

That's a good point. If they put it over near the Williams tower (at 901 ft), instead of just out someplace by itself, perhaps it wouldn't stick out so much. No matter where it goes, it would be a great project for Houston to say the least.

[Shasta]

If someone wants to build a 2,000 foot tower in Houston, more power to them.

That said, I am enjoying the infill going in all over Central Houston (downtown, midtown, museum district, med center, upper kirby, allen parkway, greenway, and uptown).

Downtown-

37 story One Park Place (501 feet)
11 story Pavilions Tower
46 story Main Place (630 feet)
31 story Discovery Tower
29 story 6 Houston Center
35-42 story 1500 Smith Street
Brookfield's Gateway Tower project
LaQuinta near the ballpark
20 story 3800 Main
25 story Legacy at Midtown
multiple midrises at Regent Square
30 story 2727 Kirby (405 feet)
multiple midrises at West Ave at River Oaks
29 story Mosaic II (358 feet)
18 story Binz Medcorp
midrise at Venue at Museum District
midrise at BelleVista at River Oaks
25 story Methodist Outpatient Care Center
20 story Texas Children's Feigin Center expansion
15 story Texas Children's Neuro Center
14 story Texas Children's Maternity Center
21 story expansion at MD Anderson Cancer Center
10 story Rice Collaborative Center (202 feet)
13 story Life Science Plaza
midrise dorm at University of Houston's main campus
Prof Bldg at Twelve Oaks Hospital in Greenway
River Oaks District (36, 26, 12, and 10 floors)
26 floor the Titan
24 floor The Cosmopolitan (315 feet)
55 story Hanover Tower as part of BLVD Place
BLVD Place
34 story Turnberry Tower (384 feet)
twin 35 stories Whiteco Development
40 story tower at McCue
twin 30 stories at Post Oak at Richmond
23 story 1717 Bissonnet (266 feet)

[Great_Hizzy]

Ho hum...

;)

[Wattleigh]

Glad to see more and more on the developments here. There's a lot going on that most people arean't aware of. If anyone is from HAIF, I'm ChannelTwoNews over there.

Anyway, what ever became of the hotels proposed for the Memorial City area? If I'm not mistaken there were a Four Points Sheraton & Westin that were announced at the beginning of the year, but nothing since then.

[Shasta]

The Four Points by Sheraton is the conversion of the old Radisson Hotel that already exists. They are well under way on that project. The 2 new builds are a Westin that will contain condos on the top floors and a Sheraton Memorial City. The Westin will be built right next to the Memorial Hermann Tower going up in Memorial City. It might be under construction already but not certain. The Sheraton will rise next to the Baseball USA complex.

[KevinFromTexas]

I took this shot of downtown from US 59 on Saturday 10/6. It looks like One Park Place is up to about the 8th or 9th floor. This is also a good shot showing where Main Place would be, in front of One Shell Center (tan colored tower with the antenna).
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b234/KevinFromTexas/Houston%20Highway%20pics/P1130157EDIT.jpg

[Complex01]

Nice pic. I really like the 59 view of downtown, esp at night...

:yes:

[Xeelee]

If someone wants to build a 2,000 foot tower in Houston, more power to them.

That said, I am enjoying the infill going in all over Central Houston (downtown, midtown, museum district, med center, upper kirby, allen parkway, greenway, and uptown).

Downtown-

37 story One Park Place (501 feet)
11 story Pavilions Tower
46 story Main Place (630 feet)
31 story Discovery Tower
29 story 6 Houston Center
35-42 story 1500 Smith Street
Brookfield's Gateway Tower project
LaQuinta near the ballpark
20 story 3800 Main
25 story Legacy at Midtown
multiple midrises at Regent Square
30 story 2727 Kirby (405 feet)
multiple midrises at West Ave at River Oaks
29 story Mosaic II (358 feet)
18 story Binz Medcorp
midrise at Venue at Museum District
midrise at BelleVista at River Oaks
25 story Methodist Outpatient Care Center
20 story Texas Children's Feigin Center expansion
15 story Texas Children's Neuro Center
14 story Texas Children's Maternity Center
21 story expansion at MD Anderson Cancer Center
10 story Rice Collaborative Center (202 feet)
13 story Life Science Plaza
midrise dorm at University of Houston's main campus
Prof Bldg at Twelve Oaks Hospital in Greenway
River Oaks District (36, 26, 12, and 10 floors)
26 floor the Titan
24 floor The Cosmopolitan (315 feet)
55 story Hanover Tower as part of BLVD Place
BLVD Place
34 story Turnberry Tower (384 feet)
twin 35 stories Whiteco Development
40 story tower at McCue
twin 30 stories at Post Oak at Richmond
23 story 1717 Bissonnet (266 feet)


That's a good list. :)

[CALMSP]

anyone have a link to the "10 story Rice Collaborative Center". I am unaware of this structure.

[Great_Hizzy]

Is the LaQuinta Inn near the ballpark a renovation of an existing building (like the old Ben Milam Square building) or a new, freestanding structure, and if the latter, any idea of where it'll be located?

[Trae]

Glad to see more and more on the developments here. There's a lot going on that most people arean't aware of. If anyone is from HAIF, I'm ChannelTwoNews over there.

Anyway, what ever became of the hotels proposed for the Memorial City area? If I'm not mistaken there were a Four Points Sheraton & Westin that were announced at the beginning of the year, but nothing since then.

If anyone is at HAIF, I'm Trae over there.

Shasta is KinkaidAlum at HAIF.

[Shasta]

anyone have a link to the "10 story Rice Collaborative Center". I am unaware of this structure.

It's the building under construction at the corner of Main and University Blvd.

www.collaborativeresearchcenter.org

[WesternGulf]

Is the LaQuinta Inn near the ballpark a renovation of an existing building (like the old Ben Milam Square building) or a new, freestanding structure, and if the latter, any idea of where it'll be located?

That's what I am wondering. Just hearing a LaQuinta in downtown sounds funny to me anyway. I cannot imagine it being in the same league as the Embassy going up. Whatever it is hopefully we do not get the FM 1960 style hotel like the Holiday Inn Express butting 59.

[c4smok]

http://images.travelnow.com/hotelimages/s/020000/020034A.jpg

Thats the La QUinta in New Orleans downtown

[Trae]

If Houston's looks like that, it won't be bad at all.

[KevinFromTexas]

I've gotten to where I really dislike those types of hotels though. The ones that have a drive in pickup/drop off area at the main entrance. They have a driveway either on one whole side of the building or on two sides like the one above that c4smok posted. Not the most friendly situation for pedestrians.

[Xeelee]

Hey Kevin, good to see you. I agree with you on the pedestrian unfriendliness of those sort of buildings.`

[OfCourse]

Yeah. I've almost gotten flattened several times at hotels like that.

[WesternGulf]

OK, obviously that La Quinta was looking for some type of historical persprective in its architecture that made for a pretty drab building IMO.

[KevinFromTexas]

Hey Kevin, good to see you. I agree with you on the pedestrian unfriendliness of those sort of buildings.`

You too, man. We should all get a forum meet going in Houston sometime. I'm usually there at least every July.

[VivaLFuego]

Hey Houston forumers,
I've started periodic Houston trips for personal and business reasons, so I'm starting to take an interest in developments there.

Quick question: the Bissonnet highrise (1717 Bissonnet I think).....can this actually be stopped? I'd love to see it happen, and i'm very partial to Houston (mostly) for it's general lack of land use planning, so I'm very curious to see how this turns out. It sounds like there is ALOT of clout lined up against this one, but since there's no zoning nor restrictive covenents there shouldn't be any legal issues.

Believe it or not, the outcome will have some impact on whether I'd consider relocating to Houston or at least opening a branch there.

Does anyone have a rendering of the project?

[Wattleigh]

I was downtown today and had time to take a few pix

First, One Park Place...

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01362.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01364.jpg

And the Houston Pavilions project, block by block...

Main/Dallas/Fannin/Polk (The latest to begin construction, with the crane in action)
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01371.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01373.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01374.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01377.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01380.jpg

Fannin/Dallas/San Jacinto/Polk (Pavilions Tower)
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01378.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01379.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01381.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01389.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01391.jpg

San Jacinto/Dallas/Caroline/Polk (The first to top out)
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01390.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01392.jpg

View from the south toward the project
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01393.jpg

[mangle]

Quick question: the Bissonnet highrise (1717 Bissonnet I think).....can this actually be stopped? I'd love to see it happen, and i'm very partial to Houston (mostly) for it's general lack of land use planning, so I'm very curious to see how this turns out. It sounds like there is ALOT of clout lined up against this one, but since there's no zoning nor restrictive covenents there shouldn't be any legal issues.

Believe it or not, the outcome will have some impact on whether I'd consider relocating to Houston or at least opening a branch there.

Does anyone have a rendering of the project?

Swamplot has one here (http://swamplot.com/uproar-update-ashby-highrise/2007-10-01/).

[Boris]

Cool, very comprehensive set of shots Wattleigh. What a beautiful day it was.

[mello]

I too like Viva have begun taking an interest in Houston because I may be relocating there shortly. Ironically I was thinking about moving to Toronto but that has fallen through.

Anyway I have a question: Is the land in between Minute Maid and the wall of downtown highrises going to always be a sea of parking lots? Pardon my ignorance if there are current plans to build towers on that property. I was just looking at some of the found Houston photos in the photo section and noticed a shot of Minute Maid from a downtown highrise and all those parking lots did look quite hideous.

So hopefully something will be going up in that part of downtown. Btw is Minute Maid located on the N,W,E, or South side of DT Houston? Thanks :tup:

[KevinFromTexas]

Thanks for the updates, Wattleigh.

[Shasta]

I too like Viva have begun taking an interest in Houston because I may be relocating there shortly. Ironically I was thinking about moving to Toronto but that has fallen through.

Anyway I have a question: Is the land in between Minute Maid and the wall of downtown highrises going to always be a sea of parking lots? Pardon my ignorance if there are current plans to build towers on that property. I was just looking at some of the found Houston photos in the photo section and noticed a shot of Minute Maid from a downtown highrise and all those parking lots did look quite hideous.

So hopefully something will be going up in that part of downtown. Btw is Minute Maid located on the N,W,E, or South side of DT Houston? Thanks :tup:

I'd describe Minute Maid's location as East-Northeast side of downtown.

[CALMSP]

actually.......there was suppose to be a highrise of condos overlooking the field......which would have been absolutely amazing....but that never developed.

[Complex01]

:previous:

I remember seeing that, actually a rendering as well. I was wandering what ever happend to it. Anyhow there is quite a bit of space for stuff all around that area. Build something, he he...

Nice pics Wattleigh, they look very good.

:yes:

[Great_Hizzy]

Some have argued that the tower would've ruined the view over the left field wall from the stadium. While I personally think that's an exaggeration, I still would've preferred about three to five midrises in that are rather than one 20-30 story tower. In the end, no one really got what they wanted.

[Complex01]

True, but one thing i really dont like about going to Minute Maid is that they always have the freaken roof closed. I want to look out and see the skyline. I know they do it because its hot and humid, and sticky, but i thought that was all part of the experience. Other then that, its fine...

[mello]

One other question, can someone give me a quick breakdown of how many towers over 350 or 400 feet are under construction (not proposed or approved) in downtown Houston right now?

I know that Houston has highrise districts all over the place so when I see the list of buildings uc I don't know which ones are actually in the CBD?

And why didn't condos go in near Minute Maid? Is there not a lot of demand for highrise residential in DT Houston?

[Shasta]

The only tower of that size under construction right now in downtown Houston is One Park Place.

One Park Place is 501 feet tall and 37 floors. It's an apartment tower with ground floor retail being built on the East side of downtown overlooking the new park.

Most of the "new" residential living in downtown proper is in converted loft space. For sale buildings include Commere Towers, Capital Lofts, Franklin Lofts, St Germaine, Hermann Lofts, Byrd Lofts, Bayou Lofts, Kirby Lofts, 2016 Main, Four Seaons Condos (top 5 floors of the hotel), Keystone Lofts, Nabisco Lofts, etc... Rental buildings include Hogg Palace, Post Rice Lofts, Humble Tower Apartments, Club Quarter Apts, Houston House, etc...

That said, most of the residential in the "downtown area" has been on the fringes across the Pierce Elevated (to the South of downtown in Midtown) and across US 59 to the East (old Chinatown/East Side). Thousands of condos (mostly 3-4 level townhomes) and apartments (mostly 3-6 story midrises) have gone up over the last 5 to 10 years.

[CHAPINM1]

At 501 feet, One Park Place will be EXACTLY half the height of Houston's current tallest which is the JPMorgan Chase Tower which is 1,002 feet. ;)

[Shasta]

Here's a rendering for Simmons Vedder's apartment community at Old Spanish Trail @ Kirby near the TMC. This mixed-use project will replace big box stores and surface parking with ground level retail, 3 floors of apartments, and a garage.
http://www.simmonsvedder.com/projects/kost/photos/1.jpg

[CALMSP]

looks good...........this would be perfect for the open lot on Main Street in midtown. :)

[Xeelee]

looks good...........this would be perfect for the open lot on Main Street in midtown. :)

I agree.

[Cuzco1]

It's beautiful! All the new projects in Midtown just impress me and most of them are for the upper-class, it appears.

*this is Triton from HAIF and Micah from Simtropolis*

[Wattleigh]

Was around town again yesterday before the big chill :)

I was told they raised this crane on the site of One Park Place a few hours after I took these pics.

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01535.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01536.jpg

And a couple back toward the building itself

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/OPP102107A.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/OPP102107B.jpg

Also, a few other projects around town... Mosaic I looks to be finished from the outside. The fence has been taken back from the sidewalk along the retail area and base which front Almeda Road. Much of the work seems to be interior now, and a number of the doors are slid open to the balconies during work days. Looks neat.

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/Mosaic1102107A.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/Mosaic1102107B.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/Mosaic1102107C.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/Mosaic1102107D.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/Mosaic1102107E.jpg

Mosaic II has begun more recently just next door...

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/Mosaic2102107A.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/Mosaic2102107B.jpg

2727 Kirby is under construction, surprisingly enough :P
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/2727102107.jpg

As is the first part of West Ave, just across the street
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/WestAve102107.jpg

[Complex01]

:previous:

Good updates. I do like the Mosiac, it looks awesome. Thanxs for sharing...

:yes:

[Xeelee]

Looks good... I took some pics from around town the other weekend too... Trying to load them soon.

[Great_Hizzy]

Cool shots! I'm really anticipating the completion of 2727 Kirby and West Avenue.

[rdavis4559]

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/IMG00232.jpg

[c4smok]

http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5236474.html

State of Texas set to Restore 3 miles of Galveston Beach.. Biggest Project like this in Texas History...

GALVESTON — Cars may once again be able to drive off the end of the seawall and onto 200-foot wide beaches once a $13.5 million beach restoration project to be announced today is completed.

The plan to widen three miles of eroded beaches west of the seawall with more than 1 million cubic feet of sand is the largest ever undertaken by Texas General Land Office, spokesman Jim Suydam said Monday.

A similar $5.75 million project will restore erosion-ravaged beaches in nearby Surfside, Brazoria County, Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson will announce here today during a three-day meeting of the American Shore & Beach Preservation Association.

[Shasta]

Excellent construction pics! Thanks.

DNA Westway II just broke ground.
http://www.dnaco.com/images/DNA-WWII_wc.jpg

4425 West Sam Houston Pkwy at Clay Road
10 floors
240,000 square feet
Kirksey Architects
seeking LEED certification

[WesternGulf]

Nice pics Wattleigh. Not pictured in here, but I like how HP opens up on the sidewalk with the curve. I cannot wait to see how the project will change the streetscape along Dallas and Polk.

[Trae]

I am really glad that METRO decided to vote on putting light rail on all of the new lines.

[toxteth o'grady]

"Was around town again yesterday before the big chill"

Looks like things have picked up in the two months since I was last in town.

[KevinFromTexas]

The Mosaic looks awesome. That base is slick.

Cool shot of this crane. For anyone wondering how cranes are raised, that red structure around the shaft of the crane is the jack. If you look closely you can see one of the hydraulic pistons that raises it. That structure can move up and down the shaft. When they want to raise the crane, this jack crawls up the shaft to the top of the crane. It lifts up the top of the crane, including the boom (part that swings around). The jack also includes a tray that slides out. New sections of shaft are hoisted onto the tray by using the crane's hook. The new section is bolted into place and the jack raises up another level. They keep doing that until they get the height they need.
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/Mosaic2102107B.jpg

[Great_Hizzy]

Yeah, you don't really get an appreciation of the beauty and sleekness of the entire project until you see it develop in person. It really is coming along. The best views of it, IMO, is from the east in Riverside Terrace and looking west towards the TMC skyline.

[Wattleigh]

I'm not sure if I've caught Mosaic from that angle, but I'd like to at some point. It is neat to see it juxtaposed against the DT skyline if you're driving up Almeda, or from the park as it looms over the trees.

The second crane is up at One Park Place now.

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/OPP102307.jpg

Is it just me, or does it look like they've finished the first part of the podium and are getting ready to focus on the narrower, residential portion of the tower? I know they've started on the rest of the base (closer to 4 Houston Center) recently as well.

[Wattleigh]

Here are a couple of Life Science Plaza along W. Holcombe in the Medical Center that I took within the past 2 weeks

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/LSP101407A.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/LSP101407B.jpg

[c4smok]

hey can you post video here?

[rdavis4559]

I was over at 9 Greenway Plaza earlier today... I took this picture from the 30th floor. Anyone know what all that land was cleared for?
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/IMG00236.jpg

[JMancuso]

^ it was the HISD administration buildings and an elementary school. they were demo'ed to make way for a costco.