[Wattleigh]

That's not much of a tower... More like a lowrise... at best. But it's better than nothing... and for this location I don't think that's saying much.

When did approximately 200 feet become a lowrise? The Floor to floor heights and the amount of feet between floors guarantee this is the case...

[Xeelee]

When did approximately 200 feet become a lowrise? The Floor to floor heights and the amount of feet between floors guarantee this is the case...

Hrm... 200 feet is not bad. From the images it appeared to me that it was about 5 floors at most. Unless you saw different ones. :happysad:

[Wattleigh]

Hrm... 200 feet is not bad. From the images it appeared to me that it was about 5 floors at most. Unless you saw different ones. :happysad:

Are you talking about Highland Tower? That's 15 floors. I recalculated the heights (ceiling to ceiling in standard/summit/penthouse residences & 8" slab between floors) and it comes to 162 Feet. That's minus any mechanical penthouse or anything, but it is relatively substantial for the area around that parcel


If the River Oaks Place development adjacent is fulfilled that's a few more 20 & 30 story buildings included as well.

High Street was designed to be a smaller-scale development, thus the lower heights and as Shasta mentioned, it would maintain some design continuity with Highland Village nearby.

[Wattleigh]

After about a month or so of traditional wrecking-ball type demolition, the implosion of the old Crowne Plaza hotel in the Med Center will occur this Sunday (11/11).

See this link...
http://www.texmedctr.tmc.edu/root/en/Visiting/Transportation/TransportationAlerts/Closure+of+Fannin+and+Main+for+Crowne+Plaza+Implosion.htm

It and the nearby bank (still standing, but soon to be gone) are being taken out to make way for the Texas Children's Hospital Maternity Center (http://www.texaschildrenshospital.org/Web/2010/03Maternity.htm).

I plan on trying to find some way to get a shot or two. The section of Travis that runs by the Hilton seems promising and is unobscured, save for the lightpoles in the new parking lot. All this barring I'm up early enough anyway ;)

[Xeelee]

After about a month or so of traditional wrecking-ball type demolition, the implosion of the old Crowne Plaza hotel in the Med Center will occur this Sunday (11/11).

See this link...
http://www.texmedctr.tmc.edu/root/en/Visiting/Transportation/TransportationAlerts/Closure+of+Fannin+and+Main+for+Crowne+Plaza+Implosion.htm

It and the nearby bank (still standing, but soon to be gone) are being taken out to make way for the Texas Children's Hospital Maternity Center (http://www.texaschildrenshospital.org/Web/2010/03Maternity.htm).

I plan on trying to find some way to get a shot or two. The section of Travis that runs by the Hilton seems promising and is unobscured, save for the lightpoles in the new parking lot. All this barring I'm up early enough anyway ;)



That's cool. :) What time is this scheduled to happen? I want to be there... :)

[Wattleigh]

That's cool. :) What time is this scheduled to happen? I want to be there... :)

The info in the link says they're going to close things off at 6:30 and do the actual implosion at 7:10. Hope it's enough time to get some good spots for viewing! :D

[Wattleigh]

Good news on the proposed pair of 30-story condo towers by Boymelgreen planned for uptown. A St. Louis area company named Vertegy will be assisting in creating the sustainable design for the buildings. They look to be into doing LEED Certified projects to boot.

See their website (http://www.vertegyconsultants.com/).

And the article from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch...
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/columnists.nsf/joewhittington/story/BAAB66BA379D9A668625738D00100715?OpenDocument (http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/columnists.nsf/joewhittington/story/BAAB66BA379D9A668625738D00100715?OpenDocument)

[toxteth o'grady]

Titan at post oak

Looks like a hypodermic.

[WesternGulf]

Looks like a hypodermic.

I get a Capitol Records vibe from it.

[Xeelee]

Good news on the proposed pair of 30-story condo towers by Boymelgreen planned for uptown. A St. Louis area company named Vertegy will be assisting in creating the sustainable design for the buildings. They look to be into doing LEED Certified projects to boot.

See their website (http://www.vertegyconsultants.com/).

And the article from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch...
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/columnists.nsf/joewhittington/story/BAAB66BA379D9A668625738D00100715?OpenDocument (http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/columnists.nsf/joewhittington/story/BAAB66BA379D9A668625738D00100715?OpenDocument)

It looks like they would have a nice design and feel. Is it me or do I always think this sort of thing would look better in midtown?

[c4smok]

anybody havea a list of all green or LEED projects going on in HOuston?

[Trae]

We need some more highrises in the Midtown area. I would like to have Houston's Downtown skyline extend further south in Midtown.

[Complex01]

:previous:

I agree there are a lot of places that surely we can do with out. Still there are plenty of spaces in downtown that are just waiting to be utilized. Its all a matter of time i say...

:yes:

[CALMSP]

midtown desperatly needs more high-rises!!! This will make our downtown skyline that much more impressive if we could connect them all. At times our skyline looks small b/c you cant see all of the building from certain angles!!

[Xeelee]

midtown desperatly needs more high-rises!!! This will make our downtown skyline that much more impressive if we could connect them all. At times our skyline looks small b/c you cant see all of the building from certain angles!!

Surely there must be something we can do.

[Johnland]

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

What part of Houston is this? I know it's not downtown..that's pretty recognizable. This thread has really opened my eyes to the sheer enormity of this city. It's absolutley amazing. I had no idea there were highrise districts scattered around the metro. But one question, do you Houstonians find the driving to be daunting?

[CALMSP]

Greenway Plaza is Lakewood Church if you know where that is..........situated b/t downtown and the Galleria.

As far as the driving.............doesnt bother me to much as I take the subway all over town for all my needs :)

[Wattleigh]

What part of Houston is this? I know it's not downtown..that's pretty recognizable. This thread has really opened my eyes to the sheer enormity of this city. It's absolutley amazing. I had no idea there were highrise districts scattered around the metro. But one question, do you Houstonians find the driving to be daunting?

It's pretty much in the center of Greenway Plaza, just inside the southwest corner of the loop looking out toward the Uptown/Galleria skyline which is just outside the loop. What you can't see are the skylines of Westchase, Greenspoint, The Medical Center, Downtown and in a few other locales near where this shot was taken. I think the far horizon is actually the buildings of the Energy Corridor (Specifically Westlake Park, near the intersection of I-10 & TX-6) which is starting to grow a skyline of it's own as of late.

Driving isn't really a big deal at this point. It's just... eh. Considering I have to commute a fair distance in either place I live (Southern Maine or Greater Houston), I'm just nonplussed on the issue.

Also, based on where construction is on Memorial Hermann's Memorial City area tower, it looks like they may be starting work on the much-discussed crown. The bottom of it anyway. I took the shot earlier this morning...

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01737.jpg

[Johnland]

It's pretty much in the center of Greenway Plaza, just inside the southwest corner of the loop looking out toward the Uptown/Galleria skyline which is just outside the loop. What you can't see are the skylines of Westchase, Greenspoint, The Medical Center, Downtown and in a few other locales near where this shot was taken. I think the far horizon is actually the buildings of the Energy Corridor (Specifically Westlake Park, near the intersection of I-10 & TX-6) which is starting to grow a skyline of it's own as of late.

Driving isn't really a big deal at this point. It's just... eh. Considering I have to commute a fair distance in either place I live (Southern Maine or Greater Houston), I'm just nonplussed on the issue.

Also, based on where construction is on Memorial Hermann's Memorial City area tower, it looks like they may be starting work on the much-discussed crown. The bottom of it anyway. I took the shot earlier this morning...

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01737.jpg

So that is just one of many urban concentrations within metro Houston. Wow. Again, I just thought Houston was the downtown you see on TV. I never realized all these other urban cores existed. Houston just makes Tampa look like a crossroads. Houston is just awsome.

[CALMSP]

yes, you can say we almost have 5 or 6 "downtowns" in the metro Houston area!!

[rdavis4559]

these photos dont do enough justice when you've seen all of this in real life.... but they should help you get an idea about the many cores of houston. also, i couldnt find very many good pictures. feel free to add to this.

http://www.parktowershouston.com/images/main_photo.jpg
http://www.esl.rice.edu/images/esl/City-Skyline.jpg
http://www.encyclopedia-online.info/wiki/images/8/82/Uptown_Houston_Skyline.jpg
http://www.swhoustonapartments.com/images/Houston_Skyline.jpg
http://www.greaterhoustonclma.com/graphics/site/sc_622005s_Houston_skyline.jpg
http://www.houstonapartmentliving.com/houston_skyline_HAL.gif
http://www.cincystreet.com/images/houston_skyline.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/25/104054655_d0e3ad1596_o.jpg
http://www.pritzkerprize.com/johnson/Hist042.jpg
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m68/mphifer254/486963715_bf45b59901.jpg
http://www.texasfreeway.com/Houston/photos/59sw/images/59s_at_westpark_wide%20panorama_8-sept-2001_lres.jpg
http://www.wjta.org/690709-R1-050-23A.jpg
http://www.houstonfreeways.com/modern/images/westpark_tollway/westpark_2003-08-03_SW_fwy_B_2048.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2d/GreenspointFitness.jpg
http://www.hines.com/toolkit_images/Project%20Photos/Greenspoint%20Plaza/Greenspoint%20Plaza%20Day_lres_web.jpg
http://www.visitusa.com/texas/images/houstonpic.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/popryshek/Houston_Downtown_smallsize_watermerk.jpg
http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/1975047.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF1939057D9939C83F106678CE9A3F9AD59F85A5397277B4DC33E
http://atofms.ucsd.edu/FieldStudy_files/Pics%20Andy%20Found/houston_downtown_viewa.gif
http://www.txrealestatecafe.com/central-houston-real-estate/images/features/FeatureCentral1.jpg
http://www.texasfreeway.com/Houston/schematics/westpark/images/westpark_looking_n_at_bw8_B_7-sept-01_hres.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/111/316906089_62af8fd1c5_b.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/70/277939154_017cbcb57b_o.jpg
http://www.north-houston.com/developers/images/HoustonFull-Aerial-MedicalCenter.jpg
http://tellepsen.com/images/largepictures4popups/ParkingGarages/EdloeStreetGarage.jpg
http://www.photohouston.com/houston_landmarks_2/greenway-plaza-B22-16.jpg
http://www.onlyinhouston.org/attachments/wysiwyg/50/HoustonSkyline-1.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/artichoke/image/3946492.jpg
http://www.rent.com/media/property/757/757680_w.jpg
http://www.photohouston.com/houston_landmarks_2/greenway-plaza-B22-13.jpg
http://www.utexas.edu/research/ceer/texaqs/images/hazy_downtown_view.jpg
http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/00/17/85/27/room-1420-view.jpg
http://z.about.com/d/houston/1/5/e/-/-/-/PC030150.JPG
http://z.about.com/d/houston/1/5/g/-/-/-/PC030159.JPG
http://www.citynoise.org/upload/18180.jpg
http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/museumimages/thumbnail1.php/7oau200710093310arc_pht.jpg


and of course the pic i took, which is posted above

[Wattleigh]

2727 Kirby is coming along well, and here is a photo I took from earlier this morning.

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/2727Kirby111107.jpg

Kinda surprised that it didn't have an entry on the "Highrise Construction" thread, but I'll start one later this evening.

In case you were wondering, West Ave. (just across the street) is really coming along. It's already up to 5 of it's 7 floors in the first structure and on the 3rd of 7 in the building adjacent to that.

[Johnland]

these photos dont do enough justice when you've seen all of this in real life.... but they should help you get an idea about the many cores of houston. also, i couldnt find very many good pictures. feel free to add to this.

http://www.parktowershouston.com/images/main_photo.jpg
http://www.esl.rice.edu/images/esl/City-Skyline.jpg
http://www.encyclopedia-online.info/wiki/images/8/82/Uptown_Houston_Skyline.jpg
http://www.swhoustonapartments.com/images/Houston_Skyline.jpg
http://www.greaterhoustonclma.com/graphics/site/sc_622005s_Houston_skyline.jpg
http://www.houstonapartmentliving.com/houston_skyline_HAL.gif
http://www.cincystreet.com/images/houston_skyline.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/25/104054655_d0e3ad1596_o.jpg
http://www.pritzkerprize.com/johnson/Hist042.jpg
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m68/mphifer254/486963715_bf45b59901.jpg
http://www.texasfreeway.com/Houston/photos/59sw/images/59s_at_westpark_wide%20panorama_8-sept-2001_lres.jpg
http://www.wjta.org/690709-R1-050-23A.jpg
http://www.houstonfreeways.com/modern/images/westpark_tollway/westpark_2003-08-03_SW_fwy_B_2048.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2d/GreenspointFitness.jpg
http://www.hines.com/toolkit_images/Project%20Photos/Greenspoint%20Plaza/Greenspoint%20Plaza%20Day_lres_web.jpg
http://www.visitusa.com/texas/images/houstonpic.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/popryshek/Houston_Downtown_smallsize_watermerk.jpg
http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/1975047.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF1939057D9939C83F106678CE9A3F9AD59F85A5397277B4DC33E
http://atofms.ucsd.edu/FieldStudy_files/Pics%20Andy%20Found/houston_downtown_viewa.gif
http://www.txrealestatecafe.com/central-houston-real-estate/images/features/FeatureCentral1.jpg
http://www.texasfreeway.com/Houston/schematics/westpark/images/westpark_looking_n_at_bw8_B_7-sept-01_hres.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/111/316906089_62af8fd1c5_b.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/70/277939154_017cbcb57b_o.jpg
http://www.north-houston.com/developers/images/HoustonFull-Aerial-MedicalCenter.jpg
http://tellepsen.com/images/largepictures4popups/ParkingGarages/EdloeStreetGarage.jpg
http://www.photohouston.com/houston_landmarks_2/greenway-plaza-B22-16.jpg
http://www.onlyinhouston.org/attachments/wysiwyg/50/HoustonSkyline-1.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/artichoke/image/3946492.jpg
http://www.rent.com/media/property/757/757680_w.jpg
http://www.photohouston.com/houston_landmarks_2/greenway-plaza-B22-13.jpg
http://www.utexas.edu/research/ceer/texaqs/images/hazy_downtown_view.jpg
http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/00/17/85/27/room-1420-view.jpg
http://z.about.com/d/houston/1/5/e/-/-/-/PC030150.JPG
http://z.about.com/d/houston/1/5/g/-/-/-/PC030159.JPG
http://www.citynoise.org/upload/18180.jpg
http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/museumimages/thumbnail1.php/7oau200710093310arc_pht.jpg


and of course the pic i took, which is posted above

Just stunning is all I can say. Thanks so much for the photos.

Out of all the major concentrations, which one do you like best, and which one is considered by locals to be the best overall? Is it Downtown, or one of the other highrise districts?

Which one is growing the fastest right now?

Tampa is growing, but we haven't had much in the way of highrises except a few residential towers 30 stories each. We had a Trump Tower planned, but it's pretty much dead. The billboard is still up, but covered with weeds and vines.

[toxteth o'grady]

The fastest growing at the moment is the Medical Center, based on what I saw last August. Perhaps a dozen projects are going up in and around the Center, with ten stories being the shortest structure.

Lots of proposals. We see which ones get built first.:cheers:

[Bailey]

Just stunning is all I can say. Thanks so much for the photos.

Out of all the major concentrations, which one do you like best, and which one is considered by locals to be the best overall? Is it Downtown, or one of the other highrise districts?

Which one is growing the fastest right now?

Tampa is growing, but we haven't had much in the way of highrises except a few residential towers 30 stories each. We had a Trump Tower planned, but it's pretty much dead. The billboard is still up, but covered with weeds and vines.

Johnland- check out this thread for some more pictures around Houston
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=132240

[rdavis4559]

I think my favorite has always been downtown, but the Galleria is a lot more active on the weekends.

[Wattleigh]

I think my favorite has always been downtown, but the Galleria is a lot more active on the weekends.

I generally agree. The med center is genuinely impressive as well for the fact that not only is it dense, with regard to other parts of the city, but many of the buildings are engineered to handle at least double their height should the need arise. So the potential for a taller skyline there and almost certain approval of any project in that area gain my attention.

The spaces to watch for an increasing number of projects are on the west side. Westchase and surrounding areas specifically for the virtue that the vacancy rate for offices is very low, land is available, and they're looking to make the Westchase district more of a community-oriented area rather than just some place to drive to work to. Add all of that to the influx of various asian companies and developments nearby and big things could be coming relatively soon.

[Johnland]

Johnland- check out this thread for some more pictures around Houston
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=132240

Bailey, thanks for the additional pics. I don't know why, but I am just loving Houston. As I said earlier, I always just thought it was the downtown highrises. Had nooo idea it was so much more. I find the cityscape really intriguing. The way the highrises march across that flat land to the horizon shows just how strong the economy must be there. My God... that is one thriving metropolis.

[pm91]

i heard on the news today that if the med center was a city, it would have the 17th biggest skyline (size or area, im not sure) in the country. and growing.. really impressive.

[toxteth o'grady]

The shot of downtown floating above the clouds is impressive - like Oz. Houston is one of those cities that looks good in the rain...

[toxteth o'grady]

i heard on the news today that if the med center was a city, it would have the 17th biggest skyline (size or area, im not sure) in the country

I've heard similar comments about the Galleria.

I still wish I'd had a camera when I was on the northbound 288 ramp coming from the west on 610. That's an unrivaled view.:worship:

[CALMSP]

I've heard similar comments about the Galleria.

I still wish I'd had a camera when I was on the northbound 288 ramp coming from the west on 610. That's an unrivaled view.:worship:

absolutely.....:tup: ......best view in the city!!

[Xeelee]

I used to have some shots from 610 and 225 right during a lull in Allison... anyone happen to save those?

[WesternGulf]

Here are some construction pics I took this weekend in downtown:

One Park Place
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/3618/2002621360b94c83c6e8bsm9.jpg

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/4236/20026237302bbff68af4bnz0.jpg

Houston Pavilions:

Houston House looks sexy doesn't she? ;)
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/2059/200182806734d5b4fc3bbnl1.jpg

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/765/2002627748790b5fb553bxh6.jpg

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/2332/2001833783e24f58673absp1.jpg

[Xeelee]

nice... i like.

[Xeelee]

Here are some when I was out and about on Saturday.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/xeelee/P3170040.jpg

[Xeelee]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/xeelee/P3170006.jpg

[Wattleigh]

Now those are floodlights, WesternGulf! :tup: I remember I had to turn up the light level in the same way when I was trying to get a shot of Houston House at night within the past year... Great to see the construction spots at night though.

Also, where was that photo of the Med Center taken from Xeelee? I'd guess it was one of the office buildings/garages near Kirby & 59...

[Wattleigh]

West Ave. is really coming along as well. This is a photo from Sunday morning
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/WestAve111107.jpg

[Xeelee]

Now those are floodlights, WesternGulf! :tup: I remember I had to turn up the light level in the same way when I was trying to get a shot of Houston House at night within the past year... Great to see the construction spots at night though.

Also, where was that photo of the Med Center taken from Xeelee? I'd guess it was one of the office buildings/garages near Kirby & 59...

Yes. I took them when I was out riding around town. The air felt good flowing through my hair.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/xeelee/P3170001.jpg

[Xeelee]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/xeelee/P3170038.jpg

[Xeelee]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/xeelee/P3170041.jpg

[Xeelee]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/xeelee/P3170033.jpg

[Johnland]

Here are some when I was out and about on Saturday.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/xeelee/P3170040.jpg

Now which area is this? Is this the Medical District? I've seen that really tall, dark building several times now. I'm assuming that's a residential tower. Actually, I'm asking about the really tall building on the left in the photo just above this one.

[Wattleigh]

Now which area is this? Is this the Medical District? I've seen that really tall, dark building several times now. I'm assuming that's a residential tower. Actually, I'm asking about the really tall building on the left in the photo just above this one.

Yes, that's the Medical Center (http://www.texmedctr.tmc.edu/root/en), and the building to the far left is Memorial Hermann Medical Plaza (http://www.memorialhermannmedicalplaza.com/), which is a medical office tower with an 11-story garage in it's base. It was completed at the end of last year. Some decent places to get a quick bite to eat there as well...

Kinda odd to see the old Crowne Plaza in the mix as well since it was gone the next day.

[Xeelee]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/xeelee/P3170021.jpg

[Complex01]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/xeelee/P3170021.jpg


Nice pics Xeelee. Looking awesome. Thanxs for posting...

:yes:

[Johnland]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/xeelee/P3170021.jpg

Is this downtown or another area?

[rjldll]

here's some pics I took one afternoon, while riding my bike around downtown Houston last month
http://www.flickr.com/photos/20857905@N03/?saved=1

[Wattleigh]

Is this downtown or another area?

Yes, that's DT from the southwest.

[Wattleigh]

Getting closer and closer to having another stadium around the Downtown area, this time for the Dynamo.

http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/khou071114_tj_dynamostadium.2df32e2.html

[rdavis4559]

Here are some pics I've taken over the last couple of years:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/H01.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/H02.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/H03.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/H04.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/H05.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/H06.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/H07.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/H08.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/H09.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/H10.jpg

[Complex01]

:previous:

Nice pics. Man I cant wait for Main Place to start rising. It will be curious as to where you will be able to see it, depending on which way you are coming into town...

:yes:

[Xeelee]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/xeelee/P3170022.jpg

[Xeelee]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/xeelee/P3170023.jpg

[Xeelee]

Can someone "paste" them together?

[vjhe]

Anyone know anything about a major announcement in the medical center on next week?

[Xeelee]

I've not heard of anything... let me check.

[CALMSP]

http://flickr.com/photos/14048865@N02/2035910640/

[Wattleigh]

I figured I'd pitch in a few random photos, taken recently.

The Med Center from across Lake McGovern in Hermann Park
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/MedCtrLake.jpg

And a couple from the reflecting pond in the park
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HermannPark1.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HermannPark2.jpg

And an iffy attempt at putting Xeelee's pics together... haha
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/DTpanorama.jpg

[Xeelee]

Anyone know anything about a major announcement in the medical center on next week?

I can't find anything about it. Where did you hear this?

[Xeelee]

Nice work Wattleigh. :)

[Complex01]

:previous:

I agree nice job. But what is this news, i want to know...

:yes:

[rdavis4559]

I walked around downtown during lunch today and took these pictures, including construction shots of Discovery Green, One Park Place, and the Pavilions, plus some general shots
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/11-16-2007_01.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/11-16-2007_02.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/11-16-2007_03.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/11-16-2007_04.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/11-16-2007_05.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/11-16-2007_06.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/11-16-2007_07.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/11-16-2007_08.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/11-16-2007_09.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/11-16-2007_10.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/11-16-2007_11.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/11-16-2007_12.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/11-16-2007_13.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/11-16-2007_14.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/11-16-2007_15.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/11-16-2007_16.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/11-16-2007_17.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/11-16-2007_18.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/11-16-2007_19.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/11-16-2007_20.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/11-16-2007_21.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/11-16-2007_22.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/11-16-2007_23.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/11-16-2007_24.jpg
Here are some workers putting lights on the City Hall Christmas Tree
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/11-16-2007_25.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/11-16-2007_26.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/11-16-2007_27.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/11-16-2007_28.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/11-16-2007_29.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/11-16-2007_30.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/11-16-2007_31.jpg

[Shasta]

The Meninger Clinic is going to move from West Houston to an area closer to the Med Center (I think Main at South Post Oak). They plan on building a 280,000 + square foot new campus with around 150 beds. Maybe that's the news?

The only other thing I can think of is maybe Methodist Hospital is getting ready to release a rendering for their new "north campus" facility? That thing is supposed to be HUGE.

[Wattleigh]

One Park Place is really taking off! I mean, I was there only last Sunday morning and only portions of that current top level were in place and just a few days later that level is complete.

There's an article on the new Menninger Clinic in today's Business Journal
http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2007/11/19/story5.html

With a rendering here (contrasting the current west campus with the new one on the bottom.)

http://cll.bizjournals.com/story_image/102853-400-0.jpg?rev=2

I'm interested in seeing more on the new Methodist Hospital as well whenever that emerges.

[Complex01]

Great pics RD, looking fine. I will be downtown tommorw so i will walk around and take in all these new progress...

:yes:

[WesternGulf]

I wonder if the Pavilions is suppose to have large billboadrs on the exterior. Alot of the walls look blank. What is that weird material?

[Johnland]

[QUOTE=Wattleigh;3170716]I figured I'd pitch in a few random photos, taken recently.

The Med Center from across Lake McGovern in Hermann Park
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/MedCtrLake.jpg

The building with the interesting top is great. There's nothing even close to this type of archicture in Tampa. We have the most abysmal skyline. The more I see on this thread, the more I appreciate Houston. It is clear this city has a much stronger sense of self than I ever would've given it credit. To be honest, to me, Texas was just a vast, open plain out West. I have never been there, except once when I changed planes in Houston. But I'm seeing a depth to the metropolis that is impressive. I don't know why Tampa can't be more urban. There just is absolutely no archicture here. All the buildings are dull, mindless exercises in post-modern crap at best, and meaningless vernacular at worst. Maybe it's a Florida thing. Maybe it's because Tampa is so very small compared to Houston. Maybe it will just take more time and history to happen here.

[Bailey]

Looks like they still have a ways to go on Discovery Green before it is anywhere near finished.

[Wattleigh]

Looks like they still have a ways to go on Discovery Green before it is anywhere near finished.

Not really... They're finishing up building out the pathways and are already putting down the grass in portions. Shouldn't be too much longer.

[Bailey]

i heard on the news today that if the med center was a city, it would have the 17th biggest skyline (size or area, im not sure) in the country. and growing.. really impressive.

pm, do you know where I can find an actual list for the biggest business districts/skylines in the US?

[Johnland]

On AOL News today, it said that Houston's population grew by 1,000,000 since 2000. Amazing growth.

[Wattleigh]

On AOL News today, it said that Houston's population grew by 1,000,000 since 2000. Amazing growth.

While it is true that both the city proper and the area are adding people quickly, I'm not sure about the 1M figure. Seems a bit out there...

After doing a search, I couldn't find anything on "AOL News" that referenced that either.

[Bailey]

City Buildings Highrises
1 New York City 4,882 4,556

2 Toronto 1,991 1,741

3 Chicago 1,069 1,067

4 Tokyo 1,037 1,002

5 Vancouver 735 579

6 Montréal 666 574

7 Los Angeles 594 553

8 Mexico 542 530

9 Greater London 556 513

10 Hong Kong 514 505

11 Ottawa 434 371

12 Sydney 393 369

13 Buenos Aires 359 342

14 Shanghai 347 341



32 Houston 186 186



According to the Cities page, Houston is listed at #32 in the world for having 186 buildings of which 186 are considered highrises. Does this seem right and how did they calculate that? Is this the whole city or just downtown? I'm thinking we definitely have more than 186 semi-tall buildings?

[c4smok]

yeah thats always been wrong =P

Emporis says 334 completed, but I am not even sure that is correct...

Buildings in Houston are hard to count since they build everywhere... and anywhere lol

[Johnland]

From AOL News today regarding the best places to live. The AOL item was based on Forbes Magazine data:

5. Houston
One of the country's fastest-growing cities, Houston has added nearly 1 million new people since 2000. Housing affordability and a strong job market seem enough to lure people from all over the country. The city has invested millions over the last five years in expanding infrastructure by adding trains, bolstering the downtown business district and funding the arts, which has helped to centralize--to an extent--the city, which has always been more famous for sprawl and oil. It also helps that on an everyday cost basis, among the cities we studied, Houston is the cheapest place to live.

[KevinFromTexas]

Emporis is a more accurate source on building data for just about any city. Last time I looked there were 1,006 buildings listed for the city, 455 of those were highrises of all status types.

[rdavis4559]

Straight from the government at www.census.gov:
From April 1, 2000, to July 1, 2006, Houston added 825,000 people. That is 5 1/2 months ago, so you tell me if we've added 175,000 in that span of time.

http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/009865.html

This is interesting:
http://www.westhouston.org/greater_west_houston.htm

[rdavis4559]

i had no idea all of this was being built. it is at 249 and louetta. my camera phone doesn't do it justice, and though im not saying its utterly magnificent, it is pretty nice for that area. behind me is a brand new HEB that is very upscale and rivals central market and whole foods combined.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/10-17-07_01.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/10-17-07_02.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/10-17-07_03.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/10-17-07_04.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/rdavis4559/10-17-07_05.jpg

[Trae]

That's Vintage Park.

[JMancuso]

Straight from the government at www.census.gov:
From April 1, 2000, to July 1, 2006, Houston added 825,000 people. That is 5 1/2 months ago, so you tell me if we've added 175,000 in that span of time.

825,000/ 6 years = 137,500 people/ year so 175,000 more in a year and a half does seem feasible.

[rdavis4559]

That's Vintage Park.

Thanks.

Here are some construction and aerial shots from their website:
http://www.vintageparkhouston.com/siteplan.php?siteplan=construction
http://www.vintageparkhouston.com/siteplan.php?siteplan=aerial

Check this out:
http://www.vintageparkhouston.com/storesandmore.php?store=demographics

[cityguy]

I just hate theme shopping plazas.

[rdavis4559]

As long as the theme is better than a standalone warehouse-looking store or a bland nondescript strip center then I'm all for it

[toxteth o'grady]

Getting closer and closer to having another stadium around the Downtown area, this time for the Dynamo.

http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/khou071114_tj_dynamostadium.2df32e2.html

With two championships in two years in Houston, they've earned it.:cheers:

[toxteth o'grady]

While it is true that both the city proper and the area are adding people quickly, I'm not sure about the 1M figure. Seems a bit out there....

My guess is it's low. Believe it or not.

DFW, Atlanta and Phoenix are also adding population at rate far in excess of 100,000 a year. Houston is just matching them stride for stride...:cool:

[toxteth o'grady]

The AOL item was based on Forbes Magazine data:

5. Houston
One of the country's fastest-growing cities, Houston has added nearly 1 million new people since 2000.

And 180,000 of them arrived between July 2006 and July 2007, according to the Census Bureau.

Last year, the City proper added about 32,000. In 30 years' time there could be more people inside Houston's city limits than there are in Chicago.

And San Antonio's larger than Dallas.

[Wattleigh]

With two championships in two years in Houston, they've earned it.:cheers:

Yeah, one of the players seemed to kinda go into a bit of an improptu nudge to Mayor White for that as part of the reward, during one of the postgame interviews I heard just a few minutes after. :tup:

Hope that actually comes through!

[Trae]

My guess is it's low. Believe it or not.

DFW, Atlanta and Phoenix are also adding population at rate far in excess of 100,000 a year. Houston is just matching them stride for stride...:cool:

Houston is actually growing quite a bit faster than the Phoenix metro. Atlanta and Dallas are the only ones that are ahead, but not by much.

[pm91]

hey bailey, i think i heard the news on channel 11. but idont know where they got the stats that it would be the 17th largest.

[rdavis4559]

Without going into the whole Houston v. Dallas thing, I do think it is unfair that most statistics about Dallas actually include Fort Worth as well. They are far enough apart, and I'm sure that if you just included the Dallas metro area without including Fort Worth, Houston's growth would be equal to or higher than that of Dallas.

[Complex01]

:previous:

That is very true.

Anyhow I passed by Vintage Park 2 week's ago on my way to Austin, it does not look to bad. It is just really out there, but it does look better then a lot of stuff that is just thrown together...

[rdavis4559]

"Phoenix Tower getting new skin

The Phoenix Tower is undergoing a major exterior renovation to improve its look and energy efficiency.

Horizontal rows of glass panels between each floor of the all-glass office building are being replaced with silver bands.... "

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2007/11/19/daily3.html?ana=from_rss

[Wattleigh]

"Phoenix Tower getting new skin

The Phoenix Tower is undergoing a major exterior renovation to improve its look and energy efficiency.

Horizontal rows of glass panels between each floor of the all-glass office building are being replaced with silver bands.... "

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2007/11/19/daily3.html?ana=from_rss

They've been in the process of doing that over the past month or two. It's really interesting to see each band appear between the levels since they appear to be working from both top and bottom at times. Finally saw it from a distance yesterday and it definitely does stand out.

[Wattleigh]

A few photos I took Sunday afternoon of the ongoing demolition of the West Building. This will be part of the block that is cleared for MainPlace.

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01828.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01829.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01830.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01832.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HouConstruction/DSC01831.jpg

[rdavis4559]

I'm glad to see that going down... the whole area has a bad smell. Also, I have to find a different route when walking toward the bus stop during deconstruction because the dust from that work is so bad.

[Xeelee]

"Phoenix Tower getting new skin

The Phoenix Tower is undergoing a major exterior renovation to improve its look and energy efficiency.

Horizontal rows of glass panels between each floor of the all-glass office building are being replaced with silver bands.... "

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2007/11/19/daily3.html?ana=from_rss

I didnt notice anything....

[Xeelee]

Yeah I dont really see a difference... perhaps they are working on the other side of the tower?

WAMU has vacated their space there. They moved all their small business operations to San Antonio. Some huge building with lots of square feet of space. :hell: :hell: :hell: :hell:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/xeelee/P3170036.jpg

[Wattleigh]

Yeah I dont really see a difference... perhaps they are working on the other side of the tower?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/xeelee/P3170036.jpg

You can see it on the north and south sides of the tower... It's even in a portion of your photo.

Add that and the fact they installed a landscaped Jack Nicklaus putting green atop the garage for tenants, and they're primed to be attractive to interested parties. Lots of places would kill for a Greenway/ UK area address.