HOUSTON | Development Thread II

[photoLith]

^
Yes, unfortunately the foundation had settled poorly and big cracks had formed in it pretty much screwing the building. But most of the old buildings in Houston have been destroyed needlessly.

[glowrock]

Those are simply amazing photos, PhotoLith! Too bad they are now a sad reminder of what was once a wonderful old tower...

That being said, I do understand that sometimes, no matter how beautiful a historic structure might be, structural problems can forcefully render them into demolition. In this case, that does appear to be the situation, unfortunately.

Aaron (Glowrock)

[Double L]

Originally Posted by AviationGuy

You can't be serious. The old Prudential Building, with the Rock of Gibraltar emblem, was a gorgeous structure in its prime.

As an aside, I saw on the news today that the main reason the building was demolished was that the foundation was failing, and it would have been prohibitively expensive to repair it, if possible at all.

You're talking about this?


http://www.houstontx.gov/histpres/ar...ntial_Bldg.jpg

Demo it.

[blacktrojan3921]

Originally Posted by AviationGuy

You just characterized a large part of the U.S. Perhaps it's not that way in Canada.

Don't be so sure :9 The historic Gordon Block just on the north end of Victoria Park in my city may be slated for demolition since it's next to a set of three towers called McCallum Hill centre, but who knows they might keep the exterior for a future high-rise office plex.

http://www.prairiedogmag.com/?p=31744

[JManc]

Originally Posted by Double L

You're talking about this?


http://www.houstontx.gov/histpres/ar...ntial_Bldg.jpg

Demo it.

yes, because a parking lot is going to prove to be far more aesthetically appealing than that building ever could.

[Double L]

A new more modern building will be built at some point.

[JoninATX]

Originally Posted by JManc

yes, because a parking lot is going to prove to be far more aesthetically appealing than that building ever could.

The news said they already have plans to build something on the site. But I still think it could have been renovated.

[photoLith]

^
It could be a decade before anything is built there.

[pacarlson]

I loved that beautiful building. My dad worked in it from 1957 through 1969. He took me to his office several times when I was a kid. It was built to last, except for the foundation I guess.

[AviationGuy]

Originally Posted by Double L

You're talking about this?


http://www.houstontx.gov/histpres/ar...ntial_Bldg.jpg

Demo it.

This photo was taken after the Rock of Gibraltar emblem was removed, and after the trees and other vegetation on the setback were gone. There were also large flags at the top. At one time the overall package was very good looking.

[TexasPlaya]

Originally Posted by JManc

yes, because a parking lot is going to prove to be far more aesthetically appealing than that building ever could.

Yes, non profit member institutions of the TMC should pay an exorbitant amount of money in bringing this building up to code in order for something aesthetically pleasing.

[JoninATX]

Goodbye Post Oak health club. Hello office tower?

The 24 Hour Fitness at 1550 Post Oak Blvd. is closing permanently on January 27, according to a club employee who referred our inquiry to the corporate office.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise to those who follow commercial real estate. There have been plans in the works for some time for a new office building on the site.

If it happens soon, it would be the third new tower to break ground in the Galleria area the past year.

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/...-office-tower/

[JoninATX]

City to plant 25,000 new trees for Arbor Day

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The Houston landscape has changed dramatically in the past few months because of the drought, but now there's an effort to plant 25,000 trees in one day.

Four parks are being targeted -- Memorial, Hermann, MacGregor and Mason. They've lost thousands of trees and could lose more if we don't get more rain.

Dead trees have cut down from one Houston park to another.

"I don't like it. I like more trees," said resident Willie Bailey.

He and generations of his family have played at MacGregor Park, but tree stumps have replaced where lush urban forests used to be.

"I remember when I was young there was trees; that really attracted me to the park," Bailey said.

Because of the drought, city foresters estimate 11,000 dead trees have already been removed. Even as that process continues, the city of Houston is making big plans to replace the lost canopy.

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?se...cal&id=8492011

[TexasPlaya]

Originally Posted by JoninATX

City to plant 25,000 new trees for Arbor Day



http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?se...cal&id=8492011

Great news, glad they are hitting the major parks. But we certainly got rain this Monday, quite a bit too much as it caused massive flooding throughout the city. At the least, the ground got a very thorough soaking.

[BevoLJ]

Originally Posted by JoninATX

City to plant 25,000 new trees for Arbor Day



http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?se...cal&id=8492011

That is great. Good for Houston!

I read that 35% of the trees in the entire state of Texas are expected to have died due to the drought the past year or two.

[weatherguru18]

No way it's that many. Texas Forest Service estimates up to 10%...or 500 million trees. It is hard to say until the Spring comes around and they can view satellite photos of the canopy's to see which trees are blooming and which ones aren't.

[JManc]

Originally Posted by TexasPlaya

Yes, non profit member institutions of the TMC should pay an exorbitant amount of money in bringing this building up to code in order for something aesthetically pleasing.

As if maintaining such a building would put a major dent into MDA's budget. Though I can understand if the foundation was shot. No much you could do unless the building had some significant historical value to it.

As for 24 on post oak, i will miss that location.

[BevoLJ]

My sister works at MD Anderson and her office looks out at where that building was. I had seen the videos this past weekend, but forgot to mention it, and when talking to her Monday night she said, "You know I got to work today and this big building outside my window is gone..." lol. Gave me a good laugh. She is one of those people who is incredibly smart with off the chart IQs, however completely oblivious to anything that is going on around her. I was quite surprised she even noticed the building was gone. lol. Anyway, I emailed her one of the videos posted in this thread. =P

[TexasPlaya]

Originally Posted by JManc

As if maintaining such a building would put a major dent into MDA's budget. Though I can understand if the foundation was shot. No much you could do unless the building had some significant historical value to it.

We've already move past maintaining this building so that is a moot point at this time. I would have loved to see have seen this building properly maintained but obviously that wasn't the focus of the owners.

Keeping with this demo of "historical" buildings trend, a chunk (balcony or cladding, can't remember) of a mid-century mid-rise near Montrose @ Westheimer fell onto the sidewalk/street a few months. The building wasn't properly maintained over the years and will most likely be demoed.

As for 24 on post oak, i will miss that location.

It had a certain charm to it.

[JoninATX]

I am glad that Houston replanting the trees that were once lost by the drought, and with that I am hoping Austin and Bastrop gets on board and does the same.