HOUSTON | Development Thread II - Page 403

toxteth o'grady · #**8041** Posted **Nov 15, 2014, 4:32 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urbannizer

HSPVA: New renderings of the final design.

A note I received from the Friends of HSPVA says groundbreaking is December 14 (at 2pm). Anyone want to see the Mayor and the School Board stick shovels in a sandbox?

toxteth o'grady · #**8042** Posted **Nov 17, 2014, 7:33 PM**

I am always amused by articles that talk about the boom slowing, for two reasons. First they are saying job creation will slow to 90,000 a year, which is higher than it was five years ago. Second, they always revise the predictions upward; last year at this time, they said job growth would "slow" to 70,000 a year. Office absorption will "only" be 14 million sf in two years ("only" because 20 million sf of new office space will be completed in that time frame). I guess that's like saying Ben Stein is "only" on the rubber chicken circuit for the speaking fees (and he "only" lost his hair within the last decade).

HOUSTON'S BOOM BEGINS TO FIZZLE

Urbannizer · #**8043** Posted **Nov 18, 2014, 2:23 AM**

Menil Drawing Institute: Moar renderings, construction begins in January. A residential high-rise by Hines is also planned for Menil.

Urbannizer · #**8044** Posted **Nov 18, 2014, 3:39 AM**

Some updates over the past few days:

Elan Heights: Photo by Triton

Hardy Yards: Activity going on.

The Hudson: Photo by larrydierker

Broadstone Midtown Phase II:

Lakes on Post Oak: Rumor is that this is multifamily with retail, but may also include hotel/condo and office.

toxteth o'grady · #**8045** Posted **Nov 18, 2014, 4:22 PM**

Transwestern says it's still hot here. Office absorption of 4.8 million sf in nine months - more than all of last year.

Report: Houston's office market a national leader

JManc · #**8046** Posted **Nov 18, 2014, 6:29 PM**

My favorite store in Houston knocked down...Microcenter. I know they built a new one...in a horrible spot by the old one wreaked of nostalgia. I bet their were boxes of Windows 95 disks in boxes in the back along with a few Bondi-blue iMacs...

toxteth o'grady · #**8047** Posted **Nov 18, 2014, 8:26 PM**

I'm sure there were even a few 256k floppies in 5 1/4" sleeves.

shakman · #**8048** Posted **Nov 18, 2014, 9:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by toxteth o'grady

I'm sure there were even a few 256k floppies in 5 1/4" sleeves.

Along with the Commodore 64.

toxteth o'grady · #**8049** Posted **Nov 19, 2014, 9:05 PM**

I'm pretty sure I saw a picture of this one once before. LaCenterra IV, on the Grand Parkway; BisNow says it's expecting a Q2 2015 lift-off:

toxteth o'grady · #**8050** Posted **Nov 19, 2014, 9:35 PM**

An article about possible wage hikes coming to more of the country produced the following highlight that may explain a lot of what's slowing down projects in the market:

"...At Houston-based Camden Property Trust (CPT), one of the biggest U.S. apartment owners, half of 14 projects under construction or being leased for the first time are as much as six months behind schedule because “we don’t have enough workers,” Chief Executive Officer Ric Campo said. Competitors are so brazen that recruiters will venture onto Camden work sites, he said.

“We have had situations where people have pulled up and said ‘Hey, I’ll pay you $100 cash right now if you come to my job,’” Campo said. He estimated that labor costs are helping boost building expense 5 percent to 15 percent.

Signing Bonuses

Jockeying for Houston workers goes beyond energy, according toRay Perryman, president of Waco, Texas-based economic consultant Perryman Group. Construction and even restaurant employees have received signing bonuses, he said by e-mail..."

Wages to Rise on Signs of Improving U.S. Job Market

Urbannizer · #**8051** Posted **Nov 19, 2014, 9:47 PM**

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/b...-research.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by HBJ

TMC outlines potential plans for new research campus

The Texas Medical Center has made plenty of headlines over the past year for its ambitious goals, incredible expansion and new leadership.

But if you ask Dr. Robert Robbins, president and CEO of the TMC, it's just getting started.

At the State of the TMC event Nov. 18, Robbins outlined strategies that target several key areas of health care, including health policy, commercialization of research and genomic advances that could streamline everyday health care.

Robbins discussed plans for a new research campus that lies south of the Texas Medical Center campus today. The plan is still a long way from fruition, but it could give member institutions space to collaborate and work together. Plans still have to be approved by the Texas Medical Center board before anything can move forward, but that's the next big thing Robbins plans to push for, he told Houston Business Journal.

The new campus will be located on a parking lot near the Baylor College of Medicine's new McNair campus along Old Spanish Trail.

"This could be a real epicenter to transform that parking lot into a translational research campus that would be the city center for the Texas Medical Center," Robbins said.

Urbannizer · #**8052** Posted **Nov 19, 2014, 10:52 PM**

Construction boom expanding into the TMC:

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/m...er-in-the.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by HBJ

Texas Children's Hospital to expand building in the heart of Houston

Texas Children's Hospital's board of trustees recently approved plans to build a 19-story tower on top of a six-story facility next to the Texas Children's Pavilion for Women in the Texas Medical Center.

The 25-floor tower is expected to be complete in 2018. The expansion will add a 130-bed intensive care unit, new operating rooms and will house the Texas Children's Heart Center, which will move into the new tower from its current location at 6621 Fannin St., said Jenn Jacome, Texas Children's Hospital spokeswoman.

How much square footage the expansion will add was not immediately available.

"These programs are at the core of our mission to create a healthier future for children throughout our broad community and will ensure the best possible outcomes for some of the nation's sickest children," said Mark Wallace, president and CEO of Texas Children's Hospital. "The expansion will help us deliver on our promise to make Texas Children's the best possible place to give and receive care."

The plans also include renovating the emergency center and other areas of the hospital's West Tower.

toxteth o'grady · #**8053** Posted **Nov 20, 2014, 2:22 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urbannizer

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/b...-research.html

Robbins is certainly thinking big, which I like, even though it's not going to happen soon. How much money to build this?

TexasPlaya · #**8054** Posted **Nov 20, 2014, 3:35 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urbannizer

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/b...-research.html

Good news. I would imagine the southern portion of the TMC would be a prime area for redevelopment for various type of life science companies. I believe an Astrodome public park would be a good catalyst to redevelop S. Main that would hopefully renovate or add new hotels, residential, and retail in the area. I like the the green space in the render above, it looks like a bridge over Braes Bayou connects it the the main campuses.

N90 · #**8055** Posted **Nov 20, 2014, 4:06 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasPlaya

Good news. I would imagine the southern portion of the TMC would be a prime area for redevelopment for various type of life science companies. I believe an Astrodome public park would be a good catalyst to redevelop S. Main that would hopefully renovate or add new hotels, residential, and retail in the area. I like the the green space in the render above, it looks like a bridge over Braes Bayou connects it the the main campuses.

Plus it's being built on one of the largest parking lots in the loop Houston. Just south of the bayou from the current TMC campus.

Urbannizer · #**8056** Posted **Nov 20, 2014, 7:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Houston Chronicle

City's possible Midtown property sale could boost 'superblock,' redevelopment

The long-awaited transformation of an empty Midtown block into a vibrant blend of retail, residential and park space could get a boost from the possible sale of a nearly 50-year-old building nearby.

PM Realty Group confirmed this week that it is under contract with the Midtown Redevelopment Authority to purchase property at 3300 Main, and City Council on Wednesday cleared the way for that sale by waiving the city's deed restriction on the site. The funds from the sale will go to improvements in the Midtown neighborhood, sandwiched between downtown and the Museum District.

PM Realty Group would not elaborate on its plans for the site, and the Midtown Authority officials redirected calls to a public relations firm, which did not respond to questions Wednesday.

Full article: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news...5905207.php#/0