[Xeelee]

Looks like Radack is at it again.

[Xeelee]

From HAIF this morning:
Katy prairie someday may be an angler's paradise
Commissioner must find money to excavate five Astrodomes of dirt.

Out on prairie as flat as a polished dining room table, where he has no river or even rivulet to dam, Commissioner Steve Radack intends to dig a hole and build a 500-acre lake that will teem with sportfish and lure anglers from afar.

Radack has defied nature before — his Precinct 3 is building a nearly 50-foot-high soap box derby hill in equally flat Hockley. But the proposed lake dwarfs the soap box derby in scope and cost, the way a trophy bass does a minnow.

http://www.houstonarchitecture.info/haif/index.php?showtopic=15670


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

With all the lakes in Texas and this joker wants to build a lake in Katy. Let him pay for it then.

[Great_Hizzy]

I wonder what he's getting out of it. More incentive to push the time table on the NW section of the Grand Parkway, which may bring development towards his own financial interests?

Or is he really that concerned about nature? Hmm...

[toxteth o'grady]

My HouBiz, which is always a week late getting to me, says KBR is building an 8-building, 900,000 sf campus in the Katy Freeway corridor. It's going to be all low-rises, though. Pity - it could have been 40 stories if they'd gone vertical...:cheers:

[Complex01]

Discovery Green was super packed today. Lots of people all over the place. It was great to see the activity...

:yes:

[Trae]

My HouBiz, which is always a week late getting to me, says KBR is building an 8-building, 900,000 sf campus in the Katy Freeway corridor. It's going to be all low-rises, though. Pity - it could have been 40 stories if they'd gone vertical...:cheers:

Yeah I read that. Katy is starting to form its own nice little skyline. The section of Katy Freeway from around Gessner to Grand Parkway is seeing new lowrises and midrises going up.

[Great_Hizzy]

It's having quite the affect on traffic, however--and I mean in addition to construction on the freeway itself. Still... there are miles of construction cranes along the corridor with obviously more to come.

[Trae]

Yeah, traffic is both ways on the Katy nowadays.

[CALMSP]

would be nice to follow the look of DXB with the highrises lined up right along the freeway!!!

[Xeelee]

Traffic out there is horrendous. !!

[latennisguy]

from a couple days ago (forgot to post them)

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b43/samceb/PHOT0024.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b43/samceb/PHOT0023.jpg

[Xeelee]

would be nice to follow the look of DXB with the highrises lined up right along the freeway!!!

DXB = Wilshire in LA ?

[Complex01]

Hello people. I talked to a rep for the Discovery Tower. We now have a height for the tower...

482 feet...

Not bad, it will be taller then 5 Houston Center, and just a bit shy of One Park Place. Still a good height for the area...

:yes:

[Xeelee]

This is good news. :)

[JMancuso]

that part of downtown is shaping up.

[KevinFromTexas]

Not bad. That's about what I had thought it would be. I really like the design. At that height, I think that makes it the tallest built in downtown since 1000 Main in 2003 (518 feet).

[Trae]

^^Actually, MainPlace is 630 feet.

[KevinFromTexas]

I knew that. I forgot about it for some odd reason, and it's actually my favorite of all the new towers. :koko:

[Great_Hizzy]

Flick my Bic, baby!

;)

[Complex01]

LOL, that is funny...

:haha:

[WesternGulf]

that part of downtown is shaping up.

Anyone remember this post a few years ago on HAIF: ;)

what's wrong with market square? i agree, that DT park [Discovey Green] is way overblown.

[Xeelee]

Anyone remember this post a few years ago on HAIF: ;)

lol

[toxteth o'grady]

Has anybody been watching the city compilations page over the past month? Houston and Dallas have basically been playing up-the-ante; first the DFW building count was boosted from 120 to 290 by the addition of a number of 10-story buildings that hadn't been in the inventory before, then Houston's inventory was boosted to 310. Now I see Dallas is up to 320 and Houston's up to 340.

Incidentally, there are 26 buildings listed as under construction in Houston, but three on the list are duplicates. I expect a correction will be made shortly...

[JMancuso]

Anyone remember this post a few years ago on HAIF: ;)

my original HAIF comment still stands; at the time, the hype about discovery green was overblown...liking it to the next millennium park in chicago or central park in manhattan. the jury is still out, IMO, as to how the park will turn out but the development around that area of downtown is promising.

[rdavis4559]

my original HAIF comment still stands; at the time, the hype about discovery green was overblown...liking it to the next millennium park in chicago or central park in manhattan. the jury is still out, IMO, as to how the park will turn out but the development around that area of downtown is promising.

It is a nice park but I agree, at least in terms of acreage the park is smaller than Millenium Park by a decent measure and Central Park by far, with much less in terms of facilities.

[WesternGulf]

I do not think this has been posted before but here is a different rendering, although it should be no surprises as far as the design, of Discovery Tower. Notice the One Park Place reflection.

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/8812/016gy6.jpg

[rdavis4559]

I've seen that render somewhere before, I think on this thread.

[Complex01]

I have yet to see that rendering. Discovery Tower looks much more detailed. I like it more and more every day. It looks awesome...

:wizard:

[rdavis4559]

The inlets up at the top look like a deck but I think that is where the wind turbines are to be installed.

[Wattleigh]

I do not think this has been posted before but here is a different rendering, although it should be no surprises as far as the design, of Discovery Tower. Notice the One Park Place reflection.

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/8812/016gy6.jpg

It does seem a bit different from the rendering that's been running in the print ads, seen from the same angle. I'm thinking it may be an older one since the earlier renderings showed the windfarm not as tall as it appears now. There's also an indentation on the top of the southeast side that appeared in previous ones but has been excluded lately.

I've posted this version in a few threads in the past. This one is from the print ads that run most weeks in the Business Journal.

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/DTadrendering.jpg

[rdavis4559]

I recommend all of you guys read these pdfs on the DT Houston Office market from houstondowntown.com

http://www.houstondowntown.com/Home/Business/DoingBusiness/Office/OfficeMarketReports/

[Von]

what are those two buildings' shadows behind Discovery Tower???

[Xeelee]

what are those two buildings' shadows behind Discovery Tower???

Chances are they likely added those towers to "fill in" the background a little. I would say they do not exist.

[Wattleigh]

Chances are they likely added those towers to "fill in" the background a little. I would say they do not exist.

Those would be the sites to be filled by Discovery Tower's parking garage (where the DT construction trailers/parking lot currently exist) & the La Quinta hotel.

Funny that a number of the pre-existing buildings that should be in the background aren't.

[Xeelee]

Those would be the sites to be filled by Discovery Tower's parking garage (where the DT construction trailers/parking lot currently exist) & the La Quinta hotel.

Funny that a number of the pre-existing buildings that should be in the background aren't.

Those buildings look like they're several blocks away... :happysad: Would they build the parking garage for Discovery Tower that far away?

[Complex01]

We need something new to come along already. I want to see more...

:yes:

[Xeelee]

We need something new to come along already. I want to see more...

:yes:

Sorry to say but don't hold your breath... The way things are now it might be wiser to build small. And that means way out. Like... past katy or something.

[rdavis4559]

The economy may not be at its best right now but Houston's economy and growth prospects are better than most other places in the US. The continually lowering interest rates are great for building too, though I'm not sure how these facts will tie in the the overall lack of liquidity the economy has been suffering.

[Wattleigh]

Those buildings look like they're several blocks away... :happysad: Would they build the parking garage for Discovery Tower that far away?

They're only two blocks behind the tower. The Parking garage on the closest and the hotel on the one behind that.

[Wattleigh]

Since the weather should be cooperative this weekend, I'll be out and about doing a project roundup on a bunch of the sites outside of DT (since I saw that Complex01 was gonna tackle that). Here's a short list of the places in mind...

-Memorial Heights/Washington Ave. (Memorial Hills, Legacy at Memorial)
-TMC & Museum District (Various Sites)
-Greenway/UK (2727, West Ave., Belle Meade)
-Memorial/Town & Country (Memorial Hermann Gateway, CityCentre)
-Energy Corridor (Multiple project sites)

I'm sure I'm missing a few. Any others to pitch?

[Cuzco1]

Is Houston's boom over or what? :(

[TexasBoi]

Is Houston's boom over or what? :(

looks like it's just getting started.

[Xeelee]

They're only two blocks behind the tower. The Parking garage on the closest and the hotel on the one behind that.

They usually build a building's parking garage attached to the building itself or somehow physically connected to the building it serves.

Take the on-hold proposal of 6 Houston Center. It has its own parking garage attached to it on the same block. Is there a skybridge/tunnel/peoplemover connecting Discovery Tower with its parking garage 2 blocks away?

This arrangement seems odd to me but then again that's just me... :happysad:

:cheers:

[Cuzco1]

looks like it's just getting started.

But it seems like there aren't any new proposals anymore.

[rdavis4559]

They usually build a building's parking garage attached to the building itself or somehow physically connected to the building it serves.

Take the on-hold proposal of 6 Houston Center. It has its own parking garage attached to it on the same block. Is there a skybridge/tunnel/peoplemover connecting Discovery Tower with its parking garage 2 blocks away?

This arrangement seems odd to me but then again that's just me... :happysad:

:cheers:

There are a lot of buildings without a corresponding garage that they themselves develop. There is a decent number of surface lots in the area and they may in fact just want to let a private developer build a garage separate from their own construction plans.

[Wattleigh]

They usually build a building's parking garage attached to the building itself or somehow physically connected to the building it serves.

Take the on-hold proposal of 6 Houston Center. It has its own parking garage attached to it on the same block. Is there a skybridge/tunnel/peoplemover connecting Discovery Tower with its parking garage 2 blocks away?

This arrangement seems odd to me but then again that's just me... :happysad:

:cheers:

Discovery Tower's garage wouldn't be 2 blocks away. It would be across the street on the Walker/Crawford/Rusk/La Branch Block. That's where the construction trailers and a lot of the smaller equipment for the office building site is at the moment.

As for 6HC, it's not on-hold, from what I've understood. The groundbreaking has been moved to this month.

[Complex01]

Since the weather should be cooperative this weekend, I'll be out and about doing a project roundup on a bunch of the sites outside of DT (since I saw that Complex01 was gonna tackle that). Here's a short list of the places in mind...

-Memorial Heights/Washington Ave. (Memorial Hills, Legacy at Memorial)
-TMC & Museum District (Various Sites)
-Greenway/UK (2727, West Ave., Belle Meade)
-Memorial/Town & Country (Memorial Hermann Gateway, CityCentre)
-Energy Corridor (Multiple project sites)

I'm sure I'm missing a few. Any others to pitch?

Nice. I am very much looking forward to getting out this weekend. You might just see me ride by...

:yes:

[Xeelee]

Nice. I am very much looking forward to getting out this weekend. You might just see me ride by...

:yes:

Try to wear a shirt this time, eh?:koko:

[Complex01]

:previous:

LOL, okay why wouldnt i be wearing a shirt...

[Complex01]

Another great day in Houston. Some pics from the projects around DownTown. Enjoy...

One Park Place...

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/am4ever7/pp0508b.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/am4ever7/PP0508.jpg

Discovey Tower...

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/am4ever7/dt0508a.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/am4ever7/dt0508b.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/am4ever7/dt0508c.jpg

The tower will look great as it will start to rise from this view...
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/am4ever7/DT0508.jpg

Main Place...

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/am4ever7/mp0508.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/am4ever7/mp0508b.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/am4ever7/mp0508c.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/am4ever7/mp0508d.jpg

:yes:

[JMancuso]

i haven't been to downtown since they knocked all those buildings down to make way for MP.

[KevinFromTexas]

Nice pics, Complex01. One Park Place reminds me a bit of Altavida in Austin, at least at this point. Both are apartment buildings. One Park Place will be almost 100 feet taller though.

Altavida in Austin. Photo taken by priller here on the forum.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2041/2465834453_b090bb95c1_o.jpg

[Complex01]

i haven't been to downtown since they knocked all those buildings down to make way for MP.

You should go soon, cause once it starts to rise then it will feel and look very different all over again. Witness today for tomorrow will not be the same...

:yes:

[Xeelee]

i haven't been to downtown since they knocked all those buildings down to make way for MP.

Where have you been?


Nice pics of a nice weekend. :)

[Boris]

Thx for the update Complex. I also haven't been DT for a few weeks now. Hope to get down in the area for the 2008's art car parade. Hope to get some funky shots.

[Wattleigh]

I posted this on HAIF earlier, but I wanted to see if anyone here knew as well...

Was a bit curious about a project that has been discussed in the past in various places regarding Hines' plans for a tower for the 600 Block of Main Street. Since many of us are thinking the Houston City Centre project was a bit of a pipe dream and had little if any info, this one seems a bit more legit. It would, as you might guess, be in the same location... better known to many as the spot the Shamrock Tower debacle occured on.

At any rate, I stumbled across this page (http://www.wylieassociates.com/?sec=projects&sec2=LEED&project=042) with the rendering included, I was wondering if anyone had additional info on it.

It looks like there's 26 or 27 floors above the garage. I'm just ballparking it but maybe 35 floors on this one? It's a bit short for my tastes, but meh. I appreciate the attempt at infill, especially along Main Street.

http://www.wylieassociates.com/images/projects/full/042.jpg

[Wattleigh]

:previous:

Well, at least it's a legit project. :)

In the planning stages, but it was confirmed on HAIF. It is a proposal backed by Hines so there's a bit more certainty to this one. Wouldn't hurt if it were taller, but again, that's just one man's opinion ;)

At that size, it can halfway blend in with a few of the older highrises near the historic district, but still make a statement with it's slight height advantage and more modern design.

Plus, it should be yet another tower you'll be able to see rise from Discovery Green!

[Xeelee]

Not too bad... could be flashier though, but it's something.

I take it then that the Houston City Centre is... dead?

[WesternGulf]

Not too bad... could be flashier though, but it's something.

I take it then that the Houston City Centre is... dead?
It actually looks very similar to City Centre just a lot shorter. I believe everyone on here was expecting atleast an 800 footer. Not a bad design though still. Goes well with the Main Place design and will be exciting to see those two modern towers rising from those historic buildings. Will be a nice contrast.

[Texas Tuff]

I hate to hear that City Centre is gone as well but I do at least like the design of the new tower above.

[Complex01]

The design is fine, it just should be taller. There is plenty of room for it. Also as other people have said, it would be great to have a residential component to it, not just another tower, even though more office towers is good. Anyhow good to see other stuff out there. Who knows what it will end up being.

Nice find btw...

:cool:

[c4smok]

hmm has this been posted?

http://www.zieglercooper.com/images/proj709.jpg

1600 West Loop South

The 500,000 s.f. 20-story building

http://www.zieglercooper.com/projects.asp?indid=42&projid=75

[Great_Hizzy]

That's the proposed tower at the corner of Post Oak and the West Loop (southbound), correct?

[c4smok]

Hmm well its a bit further down
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=1600+West+Loop+South&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=44.204685,98.085938&ie=UTF8&ll=29.751422,-95.455549&spn=0.005943,0.011973&z=17&iwloc=addr

[Saddle Man]

City Center was always a fantasy.

[Xeelee]

City Center was always a fantasy.

Argh!

[Great_Hizzy]

Hmm well its a bit further down
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=1600+West+Loop+South&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=44.204685,98.085938&ie=UTF8&ll=29.751422,-95.455549&spn=0.005943,0.011973&z=17&iwloc=addr


Nah, that's about where I meant. We're all on the same page.

[Complex01]

http://www.wylieassociates.com/images/projects/full/042.jpg

They took the rendering down. Craziness, just craziness...

:shrug:

[Xeelee]

They took the rendering down. Craziness, just craziness...

:shrug:

Relax. I have a copy (I think)... let me check. I usually snag any and all images of any proposals/renderings and such...

[Complex01]

They just posted it on Swamplot (http://swamplot.com/the-secret-new-downtown-tower-hidden-on-the-web/2008-05-08/#more-1941). Rendering in all...

[rdavis4559]

I don't think this render of Discovery Tower has been posted:

http://www.loopnet.com/Attachments/5/5/D/xy_55DC10F3-BB4C-41AA-AD77-3BB82DB751D6__.JPG

http://www.loopnet.com/xNet/Looplink/Profile/Profile.aspx?stid=cbre7&LID=15526007&LL=true

[Xeelee]

I don't think this render of Discovery Tower has been posted:

http://www.loopnet.com/Attachments/5/5/D/xy_55DC10F3-BB4C-41AA-AD77-3BB82DB751D6__.JPG

http://www.loopnet.com/xNet/Looplink/Profile/Profile.aspx?stid=cbre7&LID=15526007&LL=true

I think it's the same thing... do you see anything different about it?

[Wattleigh]

They took the rendering down. Craziness, just craziness...

:shrug:

Luckily, I saved the one on Wylie's site before the page was deleted. Yay for foresight!

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/HinesNorthTower.jpg

[Complex01]

Good for you. Saving that stuff. It helps...

:tup:

[Xeelee]

Good for you. Saving that stuff. It helps...

:tup:

Yes. We must not let them get away. Who do they think they are? Taunting us like that... For this they will feel our wrath.

[rdavis4559]

I think it's the same thing... do you see anything different about it?

I don't see anything different about it but I never saw it from such a low angle.

[c4smok]

http://www.powersbrown.com/projects/urban/images/DTgr12.gif
http://www.powersbrown.com/projects/urban/downtown.htm

looks like this was a vision..

http://www.powersbrown.com/projects/urban/images/DTgr13.gif
http://www.powersbrown.com/projects/urban/images/DTgr11.gif


was posted up on TheHaif.com

http://www.powersbrown.com/projects/urban/images/DT01.gif

*looks old...

[Cuzco1]

Page 100!

The last photo is very old. Discovery Green is there now.

[Trae]

I don't know. The last pic looks kind of realistic (like it can still happen).

[Complex01]

There is still lots of room in downtown to put something like this in. Every time i go downtown i am like, there is a lot, there is a lot, and another lot. I dont think room is an issue, its just getting someone to invest and start something up...


:yes:

[Complex01]

On another project they are starting to raise the crane at the Legacy at Memorial & Studemont. I saw it as i drove by this morning. Cant wait to see it up...


:tup:

[Xeelee]

I don't see anything different about it but I never saw it from such a low angle.

Ah...:cheers:

[Xeelee]

http://www.powersbrown.com/projects/urban/images/DTgr12.gif
http://www.powersbrown.com/projects/urban/downtown.htm

looks like this was a vision..

http://www.powersbrown.com/projects/urban/images/DTgr13.gif
http://www.powersbrown.com/projects/urban/images/DTgr11.gif


was posted up on TheHaif.com

http://www.powersbrown.com/projects/urban/images/DT01.gif

*looks old...



These remind me of the projects involved for the Main Street Corridor Master Plan a few years back.

[Double L]

It looks like most of the development is occuring in the areas around The Texas Medical Center and the area around Discovery Green, with another major hub within Uptown.

Very cool.

[Complex01]

I was searing the web and we have some updates on Regent Square. (Which i am glad, i really like this project).

Today from Swamplot (http://swamplot.com/going-straight-regent-square-follows-a-new-path/2008-05-13/#more-1979).

"This new drawing provides a sneak peek of the latest plans for Regent Square in North Montrose."

The article also goes on to say that The 2 shadows are the condo towers and the apartments will be 5 and 8 stories in multiple buildings.

I did check their website and it has not been updated. However i pass by the site quite often, no dirt is moving, but hopefully that will change with this new stuff.


http://swamplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/regent-sq-axo-close-center.jpg

http://swamplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/regent-sq-axo-close-right.jpg

[Xeelee]

looks nice.

[Saddle Man]

This new plan is not nearly as impressive.

[Trae]

Doesn't look that different.

[Great_Hizzy]

I don't know if the new design is better but the new rendering doesn't seem to deliver as much of an impact. Still the frontprint and scope of the project are impressive.

[Trae]

I would wait for some color renderings and more in depth renderings like the earlier ones.

[Saddle Man]

The new streets are totally different. Look at the Swamplot link. You'll see it.

[Complex01]

I would wait for some color renderings and more in depth renderings like the earlier ones.

Yes, i would also like to see the condo buildings filled in. I wander what the colors will be. The renderings are that, just renderings. It can still be great...

:cool:

[Double L]

Does anybody have any information on the new construction occuring just west of the downtown Doubletree hotel that is next to Texaco Heritage plaza?

[CALMSP]

it appears like just a simple parking garage.

[Great_Hizzy]

No more, no less.

[Xeelee]

Yet another blighted building to mar the skyline... grate.

[Double L]

Do we have any renderings? Do we know how tall it will be?

[CALMSP]

well, looking out the window right now, its already at a good 5 levels.

[Complex01]

Do we have any renderings? Do we know how tall it will be?


From the Chronicle..


http://images.chron.com/photos/2007/04/11/11149485/600xPopupGallery.jpg

[CALMSP]

what a lovely pic :yuck:

even the people on the street are like.........what the $#^&???