HOUSTON | Development Thread II - Page 92

Xeelee · #**1821** Posted **Mar 18, 2008, 3:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdavis4559

Ashby high-rise set to go forward as planned
Developers say the city's inaction led them to begin permits process

By MIKE SNYDER
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle
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TOWER PLANS ARE REVISED

Some key differences between the original Ashby high-rise plan and a new proposal:

Residential units

• Original : 232 apartments or 187 condominiums.
• Revised : 130 condo units in the tower, plus four detached townhouses on Ashby.

Height

• Original : 23 stories, including five parking levels above grade.
• Revised : 22 stories, with two underground parking levels and four above grade.

Design

• Original : two-tower design.
• Revised: single tower with smaller footprint.

The developers of the controversial Ashby high-rise said Monday they are moving forward with their long-delayed permit applications because city officials haven't responded to their compromise offer to build a smaller development.

The decision by developers Matthew Morgan and Kevin Kirton of Buckhead Investment Partners revives their original 23-story project that has been on hold since November, when the developers agreed to delay seeking permits after an outcry from surrounding neighborhoods led to discussions of new development regulations at City Hall.

Morgan and Kirton said their revised proposal calls for a 22-story building with a smaller footprint and fewer residential units — changes they said would eliminate any possibility the project would cause unacceptable traffic congestion.

The developers said they submitted this idea to city officials three weeks ago but had received no reply.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...n/5627792.html

Good news at last!

Complex01 · #**1822** Posted **Mar 18, 2008, 3:22 PM**

We must not forget, that because a building is listed at 1500 feet or any other height doesn’t mean that it has office space all the way through. Throw in a spire and we can reach any height. I am not trying to bash any projects out there with spires, I do like them, but they are just glorified height…...

rdavis4559 · #**1823** Posted **Mar 18, 2008, 3:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Complex01

We must not forget, that because a building is listed at 1500 feet or any other height doesn’t mean that it has office space all the way through. Throw in a spire and we can reach any height. I am not trying to bash any projects out there with spires, I do like them, but they are just glorified height…...

I raised this point in the Nashville Signature Tower Thread, since the tower is small compared to Chase or Wells Fargo but surpassed them in height because of the spire. I had a lot of people get pretty angry about that...

rdavis4559 · #**1824** Posted **Mar 18, 2008, 3:54 PM**

Check out this post from HAIF

"Houston was officially selected as one of the milestone sites on the historic World Sky Race.

The World Sky Race will be a series of sixteen races for lighter-than-air craft that will compete for the fastest time around the world for their class of craft. Starting the race series at the Greenwich Prime Meridian in London, the World Sky Race will include stops at the Roman Coliseum, the Great Pyramids, Taj Mahal, Great Wall of China, Golden Gate Bridge and NASA Johnson Space Center."

http://www.houstonarchitecture.info/...howtopic=15356

Xeelee · #**1825** Posted **Mar 18, 2008, 5:58 PM**

Looks like it's time for another hotel. Or another really tall building with an observation deck.

Complex01 · #**1826** Posted **Mar 18, 2008, 8:01 PM**

Or one with a giant Spire...

photoLith · #**1827** Posted **Mar 19, 2008, 3:53 AM**

Wow one of 16 places, I cant believe its in there with the pyramids and other amazing places, man, Houston is awesome!

Wattleigh · #**1828** Posted **Mar 20, 2008, 11:59 PM**

Just some photo updates on a few sites, all taken over the past few days.

One Park Place (Now on the 24th of 37 Floors)

West Ave. Along Kirby

Rice Collaborative Research Center

Methodist Outpatient Tower (Now on the 13th of 25 floors)

TCH Maternity Center Site

Memorial City Condo Project

Xeelee · #**1829** Posted **Mar 21, 2008, 1:54 PM**

Nice pics. Thanks for posting.

toxteth o'grady · #**1830** Posted **Mar 22, 2008, 12:46 AM**

And those three new office towers downtown have yet to get their cranes...

Trae · #**1831** Posted **Mar 22, 2008, 1:36 AM**

Shouldn't be long for MainPlace. I'm guessing within the next two weeks or so for Discovery Tower.

Trae · #**1832** Posted **Mar 23, 2008, 1:47 AM**

HP update courtesy of MidtownUser at HAIF:

photoLith · #**1833** Posted **Mar 23, 2008, 5:04 AM**

Man that cladding is god awful, are they going to change that hopefully? I doubt it.

toxteth o'grady · #**1834** Posted **Mar 23, 2008, 5:40 PM**

It's supposed to be Fabulous Fifties Art Deco. I think I have an old credenza that looks like that...

latennisguy · #**1835** Posted **Mar 24, 2008, 1:30 AM**

that really is horrible looking cladding.

Rice Collaborative Research Center from today:

rdavis4559 · #**1836** Posted **Mar 25, 2008, 8:39 AM**

1) From HAIF - 'Boris and Max do Houston' - Some good shots of DT construction sites from Wells Fargo Plaza and Chase Tower:
http://www.houstonarchitecture.info/...howtopic=15400

2) "Houston mayor plans 10 'bubbles' of free WiFi"
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...n/5645574.html

3) "Growth continues in Town Center area
Mix of business, residential plans are announced in Woodlands
Town Center is growing again, with plans to add a hi-rise condominium tower, a hotel, an office building, a 2,000-space parking garage and new parks in the near future."
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...s/5644653.html

CALMSP · #**1837** Posted **Mar 25, 2008, 1:52 PM**

whats the deal with W.F.P. not allowing photos??

TexasPlaya · #**1838** Posted **Mar 25, 2008, 4:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CALMSP

whats the deal with W.F.P. not allowing photos??

Probably because it is or is among Houston's tallest building(s), which could be seen a potential terrorist threat.

weatherguru18 · #**1839** Posted **Mar 25, 2008, 5:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdavis4559

1) From HAIF - 'Boris and Max do Houston' - Some good shots of DT construction sites from Wells Fargo Plaza and Chase Tower:
http://www.houstonarchitecture.info/...howtopic=15400

2) "Houston mayor plans 10 'bubbles' of free WiFi"
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...n/5645574.html

3) "Growth continues in Town Center area
Mix of business, residential plans are announced in Woodlands
Town Center is growing again, with plans to add a hi-rise condominium tower, a hotel, an office building, a 2,000-space parking garage and new parks in the near future."
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...s/5644653.html

Yeah, the Condominium Tower is supposed to be 20+ stories!

KevinFromTexas · #**1840** Posted **Mar 25, 2008, 6:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasPlaya

Probably because it is or is among Houston's tallest building(s), which could be seen a potential terrorist threat.

Well then why bother having an observation deck at all? Seems like a waste of space. They have a public observation deck, but don't allow photos? I hope admission to the top is free. And Wells Fargo Tower is Houston's, and Texas' 2nd tallest.