HOUSTON | Development Thread II

[JManc]

yeah the parking there is atrocious.

[AviationGuy]

^
I love that part of town, it feels very much like a part of LA, the people too mostly all seem like uppity douchebags like youd find in certain parts of LA also.

I've never heard of Highland Village. What all is there?

Edit: Just research it. I've actually been to the Central Market (about 5 years ago). I remember the palm lined street being very nice looking. River Oaks Shopping Center on W. Gray is similar regarding the palms along W. Gray. I think shopping areas should make more use of palms.

[photoLith]

^
Kinda relates, but I've heard rumours that they are planning on tearing down the historic river oaks theatre down there after the current owners lease is up in a couple years :( This also comes right after the anhialated the amazing art deco interior of the Alabama theatre.

[Wattleigh]

Swamplot says a new Phillips 66 HQ will be built...

http://swamplot.com/phillips-66-will-build-a-new-headquarters-in-houston/2012-03-20/

ConocoPhillips refining offshoot Phillips 66 will build a new headquarters facility no more than 10 miles away from the company’s current location, “within the I-10 and Beltway 8 corridors,” according to an email sent to employees this morning. The company had already indicated that Phillips 66 employees would leave the company’s iconic current facility at Dairy Ashford and Eldridge, but the announcement that the oil company’s headquarters will be built from scratch is new.

[JoninATX]

Granite Properties to build new Westchase office tower

http://assets.bizjournals.com/houston/news/GraniteBriarparkGreen-rendering-web.jpg?v=1

Houston Business Journal Date: Monday, March 19, 2012, 2:54pm CDT - Last Modified: Monday, March 19, 2012, 3:45pm CDT

Granite Properties will break ground within the next 60 days on a speculative office building in Houston's Westchase submarket, the commercial real estate investment and management company said Monday.

Granite Briarpark Green, a 300,000-square-foot, 12-story, Class A office building, will be located at 3141 Briarpark Drive. Situated on a 4-acre site, the building will be adjacent to the existing Briarpark Green building owned by PGAL Architects.

PGAL will design the new building, and Hoar Construction has been chosen as general contractor. Dallas-based Granite estimates construction will take 14 months. The project is aiming for LEED Gold certification and will incorporate water-conserving fixtures and landscaping, optimized energy performance and on-site recycling.

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2012/03/19/granite-to-build-new-development-in.html?s=image_gallery

[photoLith]

Just rode my bike passed the Texas children's hospital pavilion for women and today's their grand opening.

[photoLith]

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/45828182.jpg

I ran out of room on my computer for pictures so for the foreseeable future all my updates will be shitty iPhone pictures. Anyways, here's the north bound light rail line elevated extension from today.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/2cc104fc.jpg

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/6c173c26.jpg

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/d090d46a.jpg

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/13a95bd2.jpg

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/b7242ebd.jpg
For all the shit infill going on in Houston I have to say the heights has some really nice infill going in everywhere.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/d32eea91.jpg
New lofts in the heights at the corner of studewood and 11 1/2 streets.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/67d5c05d.jpg
Some more new lofts under construction at the corner of sawyer and Washington avenue.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/9c24fa44.jpg
They just finished restoring this beautiful fire station along Washington avenue.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/41cb99e7.jpg
Some more new stuff in mid town.

[mfastx]

Looks great! Those pictures are not shitty at all, lol.

[AviationGuy]

Looks great! Those pictures are not shitty at all, lol.

I think a lot of the new infill is very sharp looking. Lots of midrise going in. I've seen a few complexes, though, that look more like shitty low rise apartments, and I think that's what Photolith was commenting on. But overall there's a lot to be proud of and it just gets better and better.

General comment: With the new line being built going east of downtown, there's no telling what kind of development will eventually happen in that area. Anyone heard about prospects for that part of Houston? Seems like there would be a great deal of excitement.

[photoLith]

I don't expect much considering the light rail really hasn't been too much of a boon to development yet. I mean the area it runs through in mid town is still a bunch of empty lots.

[GrimReaper]

So, why do you need light rails on the wards?

[photoLith]

So that nobody will pay for their tickets and just ride the rails for free.

[JoninATX]

Council approves 20-story building on beach

By Amanda Casanova The Daily News

Published March 24, 2012

GALVESTON — After about three hours of sometimes contentious discussion Thursday, the city council approved a specific-use permit for a multistory housing development on East Beach.

The beach-front project still will need a series of state and city permits and land-use approvals to build apartment units south of the seawall.

The $40 million to $50 million building, 601-627 Ave. L, has drawn criticism since the city’s zoning board of adjustment approved a height variance for the proposed development from 55 feet to 269 feet in January.

Development in the seawall zone only allows buildings up to 55 feet and requires a specific-use permit to operate apartments in the area.

Earlier this month, the planning commission approved the apartments in the seawall development zone, but the building still needed approval from the city council.

Residents at the meeting Thursday said they were worried the multistory building would block Gulf views, while others said the development of the high-end apartments would pump needed tax dollars into the city’s economy.

http://galvestondailynews.com/story/301802

[JoninATX]

Houston No. 1 relocation center, report says

Houston Business Journal Date: Monday, March 26, 2012, 6:32am CDT

Houston is the No. 1 U.S. destination city to relocate to for the third year in a row, a report from U-Haul International Inc. shows.

The report, titled "The 2011 Top 50 U.S. Destination Cities," ranks destinations for movers traveling more than 50 miles, U-Haul said in a statement. Data was compiled from more than 1.6 million U-Haul truck transactions in 2011.

Dallas and Austin also made the top 25 cities, and Plano and Fort Worth made the top 50.

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/morning_call/2012/03/houston-no-1-relocation-center.html

[photoLith]

Some more updates and tons of crane porn from today. It almost feels like 2009 again.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/1dfdc108.jpg

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/d597e66b.jpg
The same project from the billboard above which is basically on the same lot as the bbva tower in the galleria.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ad0d31e2.jpg
Gables

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/fb48e72e.jpg
Gables on San felipe across from the t h rogers school

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/76649185.jpg
New apartments on brownway street across from the Marriott by the galleria.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/c6fdfd48.jpg
Same project as above. Now they just need to tear down that shit Walgreens and really make the place feel urban.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/a8b5c1b5.jpg
3009 post oak blvd, the 18 some odd story office building which is right across from the transco tower.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/1f233851.jpg
High street apartments on westheimer and west lane drive.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/1fd8a76e.jpg
Bbva from the Marriott

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/eb4d1e5d.jpg

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/963a785b.jpg
Bonus shot of Williams tower from the Marriott.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/5fe66eb3.jpg
Bbva

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/f0679a74.jpg
You can see bbva's cranes in the skyline.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/c59dcf38.jpg

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/b2bbb262.jpg
The new apple store on westheimer.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/b8df6fd7.jpg

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/2f23d7c3.jpg
This development is filling in the last few vacant lots around the Camden apartments in old freedmans town. And unlike the tin sided buildings that are all too common in this area, this development will actually be traditionally urban looking.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/0b73f711.jpg
This 1870s house is one of the few remaining houses in freedmans towns and it's currently under restoration to be turned into a museum. I believe this house is Rutherford B Yates brothers house, one of Houstons first black pastors.

Heres an interesting read on the history of Freedmans Town, http://www.isocracytx.net/hp-org/FTAbrief.html

[BrandonJXN]

No one got around to doing it the first time I asked so I'll try again: Can someone give a rundown on what's being developed in Houston?

[Wattleigh]

The official opening for the TCH Maternity Center was today, and there's been a fair amount of attention paid to it locally.

Hospital President & CEO Mark Wallace discusses the center in his latest blog post. (http://www.texaschildrensblog.org/2012/03/texas-childrens-pavilion-for-women-officially-opens-inpatient-services/) (w/video)

The Houston Business Journal (http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2012/03/26/texas-childrens-hospital-opens.html) provides a capsule version of the post and some brief bits on the project in general. (w/slideshow)

The Chronicle (http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Texas-Children-s-expanding-into-services-for-women-3433844.php) takes a look at the hospital and what it will mean in terms of added services for both mothers and their children.

[Wattleigh]

Wile Interests, Stream Realty building new office space


Houston Business Journal by Jennifer Dawson, Reporter

Date: Monday, March 26, 2012, 2:51pm CDT

Jennifer Dawson
Reporter - Houston Business Journal

An affiliate of Wile Interests Inc. that bought acreage in west Houston in 2008 for an office development is finally pulling the trigger on the project, which it will build with Stream Realty Partners LP


The partners will break ground by the end of the year on a 250,000-square-foot, Class A office building in the Energy Corridor. The project will be constructed on a 12-acre site at the southeast corner of Interstate 10 and Greenhouse Road.

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/breaking-ground/2012/03/wile-interests-stream-realty-partners.html

[East7thStreet]

No one got around to doing it the first time I asked so I'll try again: Can someone give a rundown on what's being developed in Houston?

Probably too much for one person to summarize but if you check out the Houston section of this forum there is some info, as well as the main Houston architecture site at http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/forum/7-going-up/

[kingkirbythe....]

Damn that Apple Store is good looking.

[shakman]

Swamplot says a new Phillips 66 HQ will be built...

http://swamplot.com/phillips-66-will-build-a-new-headquarters-in-houston/2012-03-20/

.

I just read about this in the Houston Business Journal. I was praying for a skyscraper Downtown.

[Bailey]

No one got around to doing it the first time I asked so I'll try again: Can someone give a rundown on what's being developed in Houston?


ThreeHundred,
Quick Update:
-A number of Energy companies are expanding or building new campuses.
-Inner loop mutli-family housing is insane right now which will add infill and make the inner loop ore dense.
-3 light rail lines are under construction
-The Houston dynamo Stadium is set to open in a month or 2.
-The Med Center has a number of cranes and a number of buildings under construction right now.
-The University of Houston is going through a Building Boom the last decade and there are no signs of slowing down any time soon. A new 40-50,000 stadium will begin after the end of this football season.
-Uptown is seeing a healthy mix of residential and office construction right now.
-There are talks of up to 3 new downtown towers, Regent Square is allegedly back on track, and other proposals are starting to surface.

In suburbia, the Woodlands continues with its town center and single family housing seems to be doing well.

I'm sure I missed some stuff but the city is moving along!

[photoLith]

Just to let you guys know I have a massive update with photos from today on the last page.

[AviationGuy]

ThreeHundred,
Quick Update:
-A number of Energy companies are expanding or building new campuses.
-Inner loop mutli-family housing is insane right now which will add infill and make the inner loop ore dense.
-3 light rail lines are under construction
-The Houston dynamo Stadium is set to open in a month or 2.
-The Med Center has a number of cranes and a number of buildings under construction right now.
-The University of Houston is going through a Building Boom the last decade and there are no signs of slowing down any time soon. A new 40-50,000 stadium will begin after the end of this football season.
-Uptown is seeing a healthy mix of residential and office construction right now.
-There are talks of up to 3 new downtown towers, Regent Square is allegedly back on track, and other proposals are starting to surface.

In suburbia, the Woodlands continues with its town center and single family housing seems to be doing well.

I'm sure I missed some stuff but the city is moving along!

What rail lines are being built now (aside from the one on the east side)? I have yet to ride the first line (from downtown to Reliant). One of these days, though.

[photoLith]

^
Future expansions and whats under construction now is on the bottom of this wikipedia page.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/METRORail

[Wattleigh]

More in store for The Woodlands?

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/breaking-ground/2012/03/howard-hughes-huntsman-consider.html


Howard Hughes, Huntsman consider construction in The Woodlands
Houston Business Journal by Jennifer Dawson, Reporter
Date: Monday, March 19, 2012, 11:27am CDT


This is starting to sound familiar. Another month goes by, another big construction project is being considered in The Woodlands.

Less than 30 days since The Howard Hughes Corp. unveiled plans for up to three office buildings with 1 million square feet, the developer is now working with Huntsman Corp. Huntsman Corp. Latest from The Business Journals Follow this company on a possible Class A facility.

Huntsman (NYSE: HUN) will conduct a feasibility study on an office building in partnership with Dallas-based Howard Hughes (NYSE: HHC), owner of 4,300 acres of undeveloped land in The Woodlands

[photoLith]

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/3de48fd5.jpg
They are finally restoring this historic building downtown on fannin to be turned into lofts.

[Cory]

^^Beautiful! It's about time.

[JoninATX]

:previous: Awesome. It's going to look nice once it's completed.

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/files/legacy/wilson.jpg

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2011/04/makeover-for-historic-downtown-building/

[lockmat]

some 3 Waterway Square construction pics: http://goo.gl/t7yyd

[photoLith]

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/9863e075.jpg
New light rail lines laid by the soccer stadium.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/838640f3.jpg

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/b8e4bba4.jpg

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ef74f767.jpg

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/4e659238.jpg

More construction down Scott street.
http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/7655cb3f.jpg

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/7c454de7.jpg

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/d45a62ca.jpg
Southeast line at university of Houston.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/c4194505.jpg
Harrisburg blvd expansion near the coffee plant.

[Reverberation]

http://www.kirksey.com/files/project/images/project-image-1292953803.116657541.jpg
http://www.kirksey.com/project/midtown_mixed_use

I found this on Kirksey's website. It looks like it's next to Wheeler Station in Midtown. Otherwise hearing about some of the developments elsewhere in the metro, Houston is about to see a serious construction boom.

[JoninATX]

Nice, reminds me of the early concept of vision Dallas. I hope it gets built.

[Dariusb]

Houston is on fiyah!

[JoninATX]

Is Houston adding more trains for the new lines as well?

[lockmat]

[http://www.kirksey.com/project/midtown_mixed_use

I found this on Kirksey's website. It looks like it's next to Wheeler Station in Midtown. Otherwise hearing about some of the developments elsewhere in the metro, Houston is about to see a serious construction boom.

That rendering is a few years old unfortunately. Hope it comes to fruition, but it seems more like a conceptual plan.

[photoLith]

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/321742da.jpg

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/2d35488d.jpg

The new cancer research centre in the medical centre. I believe this one will be about 18 stories tall when done.

And jonin they will be adding a whole crapload of new cars. They already bought some new ones for the end of this year just for the red line. But most of the lines under construction right now won't be completed until the end of 2014 or early 2015.

[photoLith]

I was reading on swamplot that the old Alabama theatre is getting turned into a trader joes grocery store pretty soon. So that's good news considering there was once talk of tearing the whole thing down, although they unfortunately destroyed the incredible art deco interior, but at least the facade remains.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/b7b26d0d.jpg
From swamplot.com

[weatherguru18]

BEHOLD! Hines to announce NEW SKYSCRAPER on April 4th! (I presume it's a skyscraper).

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/print-edition/2012/03/30/latest-hines-project-in-houston-gets.html


Hines, the homegrown mega-developer of office buildings and all things related to commercial real estate, plans to announce its newest Houston project April 4 at the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors’ Commercial Expo 2012.

Could it be a new downtown skyscraper? Possibly. Houston-based Hines is on the record saying the surface parking lot it has owned for years on the downtown block bounded by Main, Texas, Fannin and Capitol is being held for future development. Hines exec Mark Cover told me a year ago that a project at the site was not imminent when rumors to that effect began ...

Can't finish article. I'm not a subscriber. Does anybody have a subscription to finish telling us what the article says?!?!?!?!

[YakuzaIce]

I guess that probably heralds the end for Texas Tower. It would be nice if they could somehow find a use for it.

[mfastx]

In the light rail construction images above, does anyone know what that third rail is going to be used for? I thought this was a fully double-tracked line.

[photoLith]

I had no idea what that was for when I saw it. There's a third rail and then just 30 ft away there's only two lines. It doesn't make much sense but I guess well see what it's for in a few months once that section gets completed.

[YakuzaIce]

While trying to figure out what the third set of tracks might be, I realized there is a 1.75 mile stretch of light rail track running along Holmes at the southern end of the red line. I'm guessing it is some sort of test track. It also makes me wonder why there is a large swath of undeveloped land around there.

Perhaps the third line is something similar? There are freight ROWs right next to where those pictures were taken, but I can't really see there being room for a light rail track to run along them. Perhaps a light rail depot between the purple and green lines? But again I can't really see where they would put it.

Maybe there will be some trains that only run the downtown leg and that is where they switch tracks? Who knows.

[photoLith]

^
A test track? They have test tracks where they house the trains down south of the astrodome. But that third track doesn't merge with the other two because there's no room and I saw no evidence of them merging that line. It's a conundrum.

[mfastx]

It could be just a pocket track to store certain trains that aren't in service during non-peak hours. In Boston there is a little pocket track similar to what is being built in Houston:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Blandford_pocket_track.JPG/640px-Blandford_pocket_track.JPG
Source (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Blandford_pocket_track.JPG)

The train in the picture is just sitting there and not in service. I've noticed that these trains just sit for a few hours then return to service.

[weatherguru18]

There's been some speculation that maybe this baby will be resurrected. Too good to be true, IMO.

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/5905/houston1tt8.jpg

[JoninATX]

Could be, or what about the proposed 6,864 ft. Houston tower?

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/OldScans/200Story.jpg

I think America needs to reclaim the tallest building, and that my friends needs to be in Houston. Ground breaking should began fairly soon. :D

[photoLith]

There's been some speculation that maybe this baby will be resurrected. Too good to be true, IMO.

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/5905/houston1tt8.jpg

Sorry mang, that aint going to happen. This tower that will supposedly be revealed on the 4th of this month will probably be around the same height if not a little shorter than MainPlace. Although, it would be super kick ass for this to get built.

[GrimReaper]

Could be, or what about the proposed 6,864 ft. Houston tower?

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w208/houtosme/OldScans/200Story.jpg

I think America needs to reclaim the tallest building, and that my friends needs to be in Houston. Ground breaking should began fairly soon. :DFAA wouldn't allowed it because of Hobby Airport is so close to Downtown. Newark Liberty Airport, JFK and LaGuardia is so close to Manhattan as well which is I don't understand why Houston can't have 100+ story building.

[photoLith]

That building would have destroyed the grid of downtown. Could you imagine the traffic flow if all those lanes were cut off?

[JoninATX]

Lol yeah, but could you imagine.

[Tumbleweed_Tx]

That building would have destroyed the grid of downtown. Could you imagine the traffic flow if all those lanes were cut off?

ever try going from anywhere in the central part of downtown to the East End? The GRB and Minute Maid get in the way

[kingkirbythe....]

FAA wouldn't allowed it because of Hobby Airport is so close to Downtown. Newark Liberty Airport, JFK and LaGuardia is so close to Manhattan as well which is I don't understand why Houston can't have 100+ story building.

Flight paths.

[weatherguru18]

That's a ''has been'' issue. Flight paths go around downtown, not over it. I really don't see anything other than economics getting in the way of building a 100+ story building in Houston.

[dgpatel]

I have read somewhere that with land so cheap in Houston (relative to NY, LA, Chicago), it is a lot more convenient to build either a campus of smaller buildings or a plaza of shorter buildings, rather than building up higher. Skyscrapers are very inefficient in design with just about every regard other than the land they occupy (and of course other than making the city look badass). It makes economic sense to build up in those other cities because land is so expensive, but Houston is a different story.

I can't remember where I read this, but I will try to locate a source.

Unfortunately that can mean the end to super tall buildings in Houston :(. April 4, please prove me wrong!

[lockmat]

Heights Walmart construction pics: http://goo.gl/08Sym

1111 Studewood pics: http://goo.gl/lEJLZ

[weatherguru18]

I have read somewhere that with land so cheap in Houston (relative to NY, LA, Chicago), it is a lot more convenient to build either a campus of smaller buildings or a plaza of shorter buildings, rather than building up higher. Skyscrapers are very inefficient in design with just about every regard other than the land they occupy (and of course other than making the city look badass). It makes economic sense to build up in those other cities because land is so expensive, but Houston is a different story.

I can't remember where I read this, but I will try to locate a source.

Unfortunately that can mean the end to super tall buildings in Houston :(. April 4, please prove me wrong!

I'd argue that as prices go up on commodities, people will want to live and work as close together as possible. Plopping down a campus-like structure inside the loop is pretty much impossible so going up is the only option. The day of the suburb is kinda on its way out I think. Only suburbs like The Woodlands, Sugar Land or Katy will thrive because they are well established and have big business.

[J-a-x]

I hope this isn't too off topic but I wanted to share this new webcam I set up on my roof (http://www.jackson-myers.com/Webcam/). There isn't much going on now, but once there is another large tower being constructed downtown, you can use this cam to watch it.

http://www.jackson-myers.com/Webcam/webcam.jpg
http://www.jackson-myers.com/Webcam/

[photoLith]

Yeah the day of the suburb is gone until we get cheap energy again with solar or hydrogen, then it will be the 1950s all over again with people moving as far away from the city as possible.

[AviationGuy]

I hope this isn't too off topic but I wanted to share this new webcam I set up on my roof (http://www.jackson-myers.com/Webcam/). There isn't much going on now, but once there is another large tower being constructed downtown, you can use this cam to watch it.

http://www.jackson-myers.com/Webcam/webcam.jpg
http://www.jackson-myers.com/Webcam/

That's gotta be one of the best time lapses I've ever seen.

[J-a-x]

That's gotta be one of the best time lapses I've ever seen.

Thanks!

[llamaorama]

I remember vividly when the test track along Holmes Rd. was being used to test the then-new LRV's. Apparently before they can be used each new unit needed to rack up a certain amount of mileage to work out the bugs. Because of it's length the trains got up to 55 or 60 mph. I don't think they've ever hauled ass like that again. Also there was a grade crossing on the line. A few months into the testing the very first crash happened when an idiot in a car drove around the gates.

I remember this actually made it as a joke on the Jimmy Kimmel Super Bowl 2004 special. Houston's drivers are so awful that it's brand new train going to it's new football stadium has already been smashed up.

I don't know it's current fate. If they get new cars will they use it again? I thought I heard the Union Pacific was going to buy it and link it up to their tracks for use as a siding, but it's still got the temporary overhead wires I think and doesn't connect.

Personally, I wonder why Metro never considered a southwest Houston LRT line. I guess it would only serve suburban sprawl and not get adequate ridership, but then again it would both serve some rather low income areas with captive ridership and could have hit some kind of Sugarland TOD thing if that was ever in the cards. Guess not.

[weatherguru18]

Today is the big day. Hines to reveal a dazzling new project downtown today sometime after 4pm. Rumor has it that the new project will stand close to 50 stories.

[Dale]

Sounds like a 700+ footer to me.

[photoLith]

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/0c3e29d7.jpg
The gables at tanglewood

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/ca811ba6.jpg
Bbva

[lockmat]

BBVA Post Oak pics: http://goo.gl/zpk0t

2525 McCue apts pics: http://goo.gl/qEUS0

[Dale]

Mr. Hines ? Hello ?

[lockmat]

Skanska pics http://goo.gl/WAukx

[mfastx]

Personally, I wonder why Metro never considered a southwest Houston LRT line. I guess it would only serve suburban sprawl and not get adequate ridership, but then again it would both serve some rather low income areas with captive ridership and could have hit some kind of Sugarland TOD thing if that was ever in the cards. Guess not.

METRO has plans for a southwest extension of the redline.

The plans are to run the rail along US 90. (http://www.ridemetro.org/CurrentProjects/90A-Southwest_RailCorridor.aspx)

[lockmat]

The Pearl @ Greenway pics: http://goo.gl/XV2qK

[Dale]

Today is the big day. Hines to reveal a dazzling new project downtown today sometime after 4pm. Rumor has it that the new project will stand close to 50 stories.

Well ?

[weatherguru18]

From what I understand:

It's 48 stories tall. 36 office floors on top of 12 parking floors. Glass curtain wall.

[Dale]

Well, where is it ? This was supposed to be the big day.

Anyway, 36 + 12 would be disappointing. We were expecting 50 stories.

[weatherguru18]

Well, where is it ? This was supposed to be the big day.

Anyway, 36 + 12 would be disappointing. We were expecting 50 stories.

Dude, you need to chill. The building was only unveiled like an hour ago. Geez. Give it some time.

[JManc]

Looks like ExxonMobile wants to give its downtown building to the city which would be an epic fail...

http://swamplot.com/exxonmobils-humble-gift-to-the-city/2012-04-04/

as for the new hines building. if its 48 floors instead of 50, who cares? wouldn't even notice from the street or skyline anyway.

[Dale]

Dude, you need to chill. The building was only unveiled like an hour ago. Geez. Give it some time.

Couldn't have been too 'splashy' an announcement. Nobody has seen it. :haha:

[Dale]

Looks like ExxonMobile wants to give its downtown building to the city which would be an epic fail...

http://swamplot.com/exxonmobils-humble-gift-to-the-city/2012-04-04/

as for the new hines building. if its 48 floors instead of 50, who cares? wouldn't even notice from the street or skyline anyway.

Exactly, the 'splashy announcement' turns out to be filler.

[photoLith]

^
Dude man you need to stop freaking over this. We don't know hardly any details, no renders or anything. A 48 story tower is pretty damn good in my book and will fill in one of the last shit lots in that area. It will probably be around 630ft which is pretty tall. The day of 800 footers or more in Houston is over for a long time so don't worry about it.

[Dale]

^
Dude man you need to stop freaking over this. We don't know hardly any details, no renders or anything. A 48 story tower is pretty damn good in my book and will fill in one of the last shit lots in that area. It will probably be around 630ft which is pretty tall. The day of 800 footers or more in Houston is over for a long time so don't worry about it.

Will you people please stop freaking out telling me to stop freaking out ?

Many thanks.

[JoninATX]

We are all just excited to hear a new tall skyscraper being planned downtown, heck it got me excited. :)

[JManc]

im more interested in good architectural than height. a 48 story building will definitely make a presence in the skyline so lets hope for a good design and not another modernist box.

[vjhe]

^
I'm with Jmancuso on that. A quality design is what I most desire for Houston at this point. We need a design to break the stranglehold that seems to have the city by the throat....... maybe this new Hines development will do it. ;-)

[johnme]

I hope this is not the only development announcement from last nights meeting. I was hoping for a downtown tower. http://www.chron.com/business/article/Hines-takes-on-sprawling-industrial-complex-3460224.php

[weatherguru18]

Yes, I think we got totally f**ked over by this project. What a freakin' yawner and a total waste of my time. Damn...

[photoLith]

Well aint that just super exciting, ugh.

[lockmat]

Elan at Avenue R pics: http://goo.gl/wC8FP

[photoLith]

Bullet Train From Dallas to Houston?
Officials in Japan and South Korea are telling Houston-area Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee that they are interested in helping Texas build a high-speed rail line between Houston and Dallas. 

The Houston Democrat said the foreign officials described their interest to her during an official congressional visit to Japan, South Korea and China. 

“This is absolutely the right direction America should be moving toward,” said Jackson Lee, who traveled between Osaka and Tokyo on Japan’s world famous high speed rail system. 

“We should be looking at high-speed rail that can provide clean, safe and efficient transportation that can move people from one destination to another,” the lawmaker said in a statement issued by her office.
http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2012/04/congresswoman-sheila-jackson-lee-pressing-for-bullet-train-between-houston-and-dallas/

[GrimReaper]

Bullet Train From Dallas to Houston?

http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2012/04/congresswoman-sheila-jackson-lee-pressing-for-bullet-train-between-houston-and-dallas/Good, we need trains because I-45 is friggin ridiculous.

[JManc]

unfortunately, they went to sheila jackson lee. no one in congress takes her seriously.

[lockmat]

Hanover West Gray pics http://goo.gl/sQUmT

Broadstone on West Dallas pics http://goo.gl/UEwcW

[lockmat]

Bullet Train From Dallas to Houston?

http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2012/04/congresswoman-sheila-jackson-lee-pressing-for-bullet-train-between-houston-and-dallas/

A company should not be telling the customer that they need something. If done, it should be because the customer goes to the company and requests it because it's needed. Not saying it's not, I'm just sayin.

[patriotizzy]

A company should not be telling the customer that they need something. If done, it should be because the customer goes to the company and requests it because it's needed. Not saying it's not, I'm just sayin.

Sometimes people are used to one thing only, like widening highways and roads, and they need someone else to show them an alternative, like a bullet train. It can be a good thing at times, and in my opinion, bullet trains can only be good for the future of transportation.

[Tumbleweed_Tx]

beating this dead horse one more time...

1) you drive 30-45 minutes to the train station, park your car, and pray someone doesn't break in to it because train stations aren't in the good parts of town thanks to NIMBYs.

2) you ride the train, which takes 2 to 3 hours, depending on the number of stops.

3) you get to the train station, then take a cab somewhere to rent a car, since you can't get anywhere in TX without a car.

you might as well drive yourself.
that's why all the passenger train companies went bankrupt in the 60's.

[Double L]

A company should not be telling the customer that they need something. If done, it should be because the customer goes to the company and requests it because it's needed. Not saying it's not, I'm just sayin.

Well forget your iPods and iPads; if no one suggested to Steve Jobs that he should make a touch screen computer you can hold in your hands then it shouldn't be done.

[photoLith]

HISD to Preserve Art Deco landmark

Houston Independent School District trustees have voted to fund the renovation of the Settegast Estate Building (1938) as part of the new Carnegie Vanguard High School (CVHS) for gifted and talented students. According the CVHS PTO President Peggy Sue Gay, the building will serve as the high school’s art annex and include a 130-seat theater, art room and photo lab.

Architects Moore & Lloyd designed the building at 242-256 West Gray Avenue as an investment property for the Settegast Estate. The structure’s large, stepped turret anchors a pivot point on West Gray and is visible from Montrose Boulevard. Houston’s Orange Crush bottling plant occupied part of the building through the 1950s.

http://www.preservationhouston.org/news/?p=88

Here's a photo of it that I just took.
http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/90670a2a.jpg

Bbva
http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/1094a133.jpg

[mfastx]

beating this dead horse one more time...

1) you drive 30-45 minutes to the train station, park your car, and pray someone doesn't break in to it because train stations aren't in the good parts of town thanks to NIMBYs.

2) you ride the train, which takes 2 to 3 hours, depending on the number of stops.

3) you get to the train station, then take a cab somewhere to rent a car, since you can't get anywhere in TX without a car.

you might as well drive yourself.
that's why all the passenger train companies went bankrupt in the 60's.

Then why is there so much air traffic between Houston and Dallas? Isn't it the same thing?

Drive 30-45 minutes to the airport and park your car for over $50 a night.

Arrive at least an hour before takeoff to go through security.

Then get a taxi or rent a car to your final destination. Takes maybe 15-30 minutes less? I think that plenty of people would be willing to sacrifice that time for more convenience.

And why do you assume that parking will be like the current Amtrak Station? In a new HSR station, you won't have to "pray that your car won't get broken into."

[photoLith]

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/873f8f77.jpg
Photo by me

On the top left you can see the crane from the new islamic guys name pancreatic cancer research center.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/photolitherland/5861c1ea.jpg
Rice village

[Private Dick]

Amazing how big that medical center area is... and how much it has grown in the last 10 years

[kingkirbythe....]

http://www.chron.com/business/article/20-story-tower-planned-for-Energy-Corridor-3476117.php

20-story tower planned for Energy Corridor
By Nancy Sarnoff
Published 10:38 p.m., Wednesday, April 11, 2012

A high-end office development is being planned in the Energy Corridor, potentially adding 1.5 million square feet of space to this part of west Houston, where oil and gas companies dominate the corporate landscape.

[kingkirbythe....]

double post