UP|Houston

UP|Houston http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/forums.html Sat, 17 May 2008 04:17:22 -0500 15 UP|Houston http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/forums.html IN PROGRESS: Eldridge Oaks

Transwestern Houston has begun construction on a 700,000-square-foot office project located in Houston.

TRANSWESTERN HOUSTON BEGINS CONSTRUCTION ON 700,000-SQUARE-FOOT OFFICE PROJECT
HOUSTON — Transwestern Houston has begun construction on a 700,000-square-foot office project located 1 mile south of Interstate 10 at the intersection of Eldridge and Enclave parkways in Houston. The property, called Eldridge Oaks, is a Class A, LEED-registered office project that will be built in two phases on 21 acres. The first phase will comprise a 350,000-square-foot office tower and the second phase, which will be built on the remaining land after Phase I construction is complete, will be either a build-to-suit project or a second office tower. The project’s first phase is scheduled for completion in September 2009.]]> Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:41:05 -0500 The Voice of Reason Park Tower: Houston

QUOTE (Trae @ Mar 24 2007, 01:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The height for One Park Place is 501 feet.

Trae, it looks even taller than just 501 feet, it must be the way the architect designed it.]]> Sat, 01 Mar 2008 09:25:52 -0600 kennethdisraili Eat somthing different Houston! Back many years ago, I love going to The Old San Francisco Steak House. I hear it is no longer there. Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:32:48 -0600 RiverwoodCLT Houston: Photo of the Day

VERY cool.

More...

]]> Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:27:07 -0600 Greens! Eat somthing different Houston!

QUOTE (davidzLA @ Mar 28 2007, 02:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hardee's, Krystal and Zaxby's have no operations as far west as Houston, they're more southeastern. There's Ruby Tuesday in Sugar Land and Willowbrook. And wow, where did all the Krispy Kremes go? While I was there multiple locations were thriving, sad to see the short goodbye.

But surely you can't be seriously pining for Ruby Tuesday - while trashing kolaches and Texas barbecue? Blasphemy.

I'd whack any random stranger to have Goode Co. on demand...

There's actually ONE Krystal in Houston near I-45 and FM1960. One chain that I really miss from up north is some type of Mongolian Barbecue joint (Bd's I think?), can't find a single one down here. Other than that, Houston's restaurant selection is pretty amazing to me.]]> Fri, 25 Jan 2008 23:46:55 -0600 totheskies Hotel Cotton (Hotel Montagu) Hotel Cotton Destroyed on Sunday

The former Hotel Cotton, built in 1911-13 and later known as the Hotel Montagu, was destroyed on Sunday morning by implosion. There's no doubt that the building had fallen on extremely hard times, but Houston has already lost too much of its inventory of historic buildings. Also to follow in its wale are two other buildings on the block, including the former Bond Department Store. Perhaps there was no hope for saving this building, but it's unfortunate to see even more of Houston's history swallowed up in a cloud of dust.

The Houston Chronicle ]]> Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:42:13 -0600 tombarnes Changes for The Galleria? ]]> Fri, 23 Nov 2007 17:28:53 -0600 UptownNewOrleans Changes for The Galleria? Tue, 20 Nov 2007 22:35:20 -0600 Temeteron Houston: Photo of the Day

-Central Houston

-South Park, Houston. MLK.

Northside

-dilapidated structure on Houston's Northside

Note: These are from flickr.]]> Mon, 22 Oct 2007 12:34:11 -0500 UptownNewOrleans Houston: Photo of the Day

]]> Tue, 16 Oct 2007 13:37:04 -0500 Boris Houston: Photo of the Day

]]> Tue, 25 Sep 2007 07:02:59 -0500 Greens! Houston: Photo of the Day againtothefuture

]]> Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:10:07 -0500 Greens! Houston: Photo of the Day

Does anyone here know when I-10 will be finished?]]> Sun, 02 Sep 2007 12:30:39 -0500 cajun Legacy at Memorial

QUOTE(eastsider @ Apr 3 2007, 09:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Lagacy Partners has acquired 3.3 acres of land at the intersection of Studemont Street and Memorial Drive and plans to build Legacy at Memorial, a 25-story, 274 unit apartment tower. The project will also have 60 lofts in a wood framed building on the property. The projects architect is WDG Habib Architecture. Construction is scheduled to begin in September and should take approx. 20 months to complete.

http://www.globest.com/news/876_876/houston/159431-1.html

Does anyone have any renderings of the Legacy at Memorial?]]> Wed, 15 Aug 2007 17:39:05 -0500 destin Eat somthing different Houston!
Houston has good food. The rest of us consider it a good thing that Chilis isn't on every corner.]]> Sun, 05 Aug 2007 14:04:42 -0500 cajun Houston: Downtown Park

Other shots can be found on the website as well.]]> Thu, 26 Jul 2007 00:10:47 -0500 krazeeboi Halliburton moving to Dubai
Dubai is in the center of a major expansion that halliburton is making. If you can imagine having regional offices that most companies have. Halliburton has regional offices and Hemisphere offices...but it's Houston office is still THE corporate headquarters and that simply will not change.]]> Fri, 20 Jul 2007 13:45:03 -0500 cajun Eat somthing different Houston! OMG, with all the wonderful and diverse restaurant choices here and someone decries the dearth of chain stores!?!? I don't get it. What am I missing? I'd give anything for all the chains to leave! And I hate it when local restaurants like Carraba's go national. But at least the orignal locations maintain some integrity (usually!).]]> Tue, 17 Jul 2007 10:50:41 -0500 arsalanrush <![CDATA[[Houston] Urban developments gain ground against sprawl]]>
The only real changes I've seen in Houston in the past four years has been along Washington Avenue west of Sixth Ward (which itself had been quietly gentrifying for years) and a little bit in the area of the Montrose just east of River Oaks. Washington was the surprising one as this used to be an absolute no-man's land save for a few brave souls in the little houses just south of it and the old hipster bars that used to have the best shows (one of which is now closed). It's now nothing but townhouses, wine bars, cafes, and other signs of yuppi-/gentri-fication.
But mixed-use projects have been out there in the city for years and years, they just never came to much of any fruition and were always somewhat half-ast (sic, for board censor). The Galleria/Uptown was the hot spot for this for a long time, mostly condo-hotel or office-condo places. They all seemed like such pipe dreams back then.
My friend who still lives in Houston always tries to tell me about the sweeping changes occuring in the city, but I just don't see it. Almost everything looks the same save for a few different shops. Regardless, I do totally agree with that article in that Houston is primed for a real estate boom. I mean, you can still buy a decent house in Spring for $90k!! Where else is this still possible in a major city with a high standard of living??]]> Mon, 16 Jul 2007 16:32:35 -0500 colin METRO buys land to develop Transit-oriented development sometimes has to be nudged along by public sector. Other cities have done this, and it's worked. Otherwise, Houston will just continue to see those yuppie barns that they've been putting up in Midtown for years.]]> Mon, 16 Jul 2007 16:21:44 -0500 colin Eat somthing different Houston!
If you think that Houston has no chain restaurants, I suggest you drive around more. Christ, that's my main complaint about the suburban areas! Almost the whole strip of Westheimer is like this west of about Chimney Rock, The Woodlands is nothing but (my family there complains about this immensely), Deerbrook, Willowbrook, Clear Lake, Sugar Land: nothing but chains.
I hate chains and find it somewhat difficult in Houston to find something, versus Tucson where non-chains are much more prevalent in the Central area and are actually much better and more interesting than their corporate counterparts.
Be adventurous! Read the Press, find something that sounds good, and just try it! There is a lot out there.]]> Mon, 16 Jul 2007 16:16:45 -0500 colin Eat somthing different Houston! Thu, 21 Jun 2007 09:33:49 -0500 UptownNewOrleans <![CDATA[[Houston] Urban developments gain ground against sprawl]]> In Sprawling Houston, Urban Style Gains Traction
Registration required to view the full article.

Notes --
1. As cities across the "Sun Belt" began to embrace new urban developments -- including mixed-use projects -- Houston was relatively quiet. Until now. The city is considered one of the last open markets for mixed-use development -- rooted in "New Urbanism" which dates back to the 1980s. It is a push towards a return to the more traditional towns. Houston's vibrant economy is pushing this along -- job growth is up, office and retail vacancies are down. The population grew at more than double the national rate in 2006 from 2005, and now stands at 5.5 million.
2. More than 6 high-profile projects that mix residential, retail and office space are either under way or being planned. The projects comprise of over $1 billion in value, and "underscore a fundamental shift in the development patterns" of a major city that has sprawled out rather than built up. This also signals a "significant breakthrough" (

) in the ever-popular concept of "live, work, play".
3. One such project is a 24-acre downtown development called Regent Square. The first phase includes 740 residential units, 250,000 sq. ft. of retail, and 60,000 sq. ft. of office space. It also includes a boutique hotel. The project is valued at more than $100 million.
4. The frenzy of development projects all at once has created a competitive environment where there will be winners and losers. One such 'loser' is the Houston Pavilions, a three-block, $170 million office and retail project in the downtown. It once included a residential tower, although this was scrapped because of the high cost of an underground parking structure. The residential component would have given the project more "cachet" -- but the project as it stands will transform downtown Houston into a lively urban hub.
4a. There are four projects planned or under construction in a six-mile stretch from the downtown west to the city's inner loop (incl. Regent Square and West. Ave).
5. Another project, valued at more than $100 million, is being built along West Ave. The project includes 390 apartments, 180,000 sq. ft. of retail, and 60,000 sq. ft. on ~six acres.
6. The new urbanism projects are more challenging to develop since they are in urban cores, and can be vastly more expensive. But they have proven to be popular in cities such as Atlanta, Dallas, and Denver. But with demand for such projects saturated in many cities, Houston's lack of it makes the new developments "something of a prize." In other words, there is sufficient high demand to warrant such projects.
7. One project being planned is the $500 million BLVD Place, which includes 525,000 sq. ft. of retail (including a flagship Whole Foods store), 150,000 sq. ft. of office, and three high-rise residential towers. One of those towers will be a luxury hotel with condominiums. The 21-acre site is located at a major intersection where there is some demand for such projects, but since the project was announced more than a year ago, it has yet to break ground. Construction could begin this summer.
8. Another is The River Oaks District, a $750 million project on ~15 acres inside the city's inner loop. It includes 350,000 sq. ft. of retail, a high-rise tower with 300 luxury apartments and two hotels (one with condominiums), and 250,000 sq. ft. of office space. It isn't expected to break ground until fall 2008.

Article information: "In Sprawling Houston, Urban Style Gains Traction, By THADDEUS HERRICK, Wall-Street Journal, May 30, 2007; Page B6"]]> Thu, 31 May 2007 00:53:10 -0500 seicer Houston: Photo of the Day

]]> Fri, 25 May 2007 17:48:01 -0500 Boris Houston: Photo of the Day Post Oak & San Felipe:

On the way to downtown coming up 45North:

From Houston Municipal court house at 1400 Lubbock st:

]]> Wed, 23 May 2007 21:55:54 -0500 mrchris386 Future Houston Projects
http://www.novaregroup.com]]> Mon, 21 May 2007 10:10:00 -0500 atlrvr Houston: Photo of the Day

QUOTE(Boris @ May 10 2007, 02:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

DT Hilton,

Dgreco, are you Dax from HAIF?

Here's a 5/5/07 pic from the Zoo parking lot:

nice picture, actually I am dgreco on HAIF I haven't been around lately though.]]> Sat, 19 May 2007 19:57:12 -0500 dgreco Houston: Photo of the Day Nice shots Greens. Haha, I never would have thought to take a photos of the evac sign. Mon, 14 May 2007 17:52:39 -0500 Boris Houston: Photo of the Day

]]> Mon, 14 May 2007 15:45:19 -0500 Greens! Houston: Photo of the Day
Dgreco, are you Dax from HAIF?

Here's a 5/5/07 pic from the Zoo parking lot:

]]> Thu, 10 May 2007 13:16:15 -0500 Boris Houston: Photo of the Day ^the pana is cool, what building did you take that from? Tue, 08 May 2007 09:08:22 -0500 dgreco Houston: Photo of the Day

]]> Fri, 04 May 2007 22:54:55 -0500 Boris Houston: Photo of the Day ]]> Mon, 30 Apr 2007 07:49:51 -0500 dgreco Houston: Photo of the Day

]]> Sun, 29 Apr 2007 21:14:00 -0500 byrde Park 8 Land of Oz http://www.park8.com/en/index.html

crazy park, and the name is a little weird, but definitly does a lot for Houston's Chinatown.]]> Tue, 24 Apr 2007 15:58:36 -0500 dgreco Westheimer Tower

QUOTE(arsalanrush @ Apr 23 2007, 01:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

In the late 80s I remember the announcement of an office building in the energy corridor that looked much like this. But I remember it looking like it was three boxes stacked at angles where this has many more. But the look is much the same. They had a pic of the building I'm speaking of in the Chronicle. That particular project of course was scrapped due to the energy industry depression in full swing at that time.

it is definitly unique, I just wonder how residents will feel about no balconies and green space. I like the idea of the building I just think those things need to be incorporated into it.]]> Mon, 23 Apr 2007 14:11:00 -0500 dgreco Westheimer Tower In the late 80s I remember the announcement of an office building in the energy corridor that looked much like this. But I remember it looking like it was three boxes stacked at angles where this has many more. But the look is much the same. They had a pic of the building I'm speaking of in the Chronicle. That particular project of course was scrapped due to the energy industry depression in full swing at that time.]]> Mon, 23 Apr 2007 12:54:10 -0500 arsalanrush Westheimer Tower Thu, 19 Apr 2007 18:42:32 -0500 dgreco Westheimer Tower
Who is developing it?
Who designed it?
Where exactly is it going?
How many units?]]> Thu, 19 Apr 2007 18:22:17 -0500 eastsider Houston: Photo of the Day

QUOTE(comandanteAMASO @ Apr 19 2007, 05:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

hell yeah...houston tx baby!

throw some pictures up, help me out.]]> Thu, 19 Apr 2007 17:24:13 -0500 dgreco Houston: Photo of the Day hell yeah...houston tx baby! Thu, 19 Apr 2007 16:20:22 -0500 comandanteAMASO Houston: Photo of the Day

jax]]> Thu, 19 Apr 2007 16:16:41 -0500 dgreco Westheimer Tower

[/quote]]]> Thu, 19 Apr 2007 16:09:25 -0500 dgreco Houston Metro 3rd best for business

QUOTE(austin356 @ Apr 15 2007, 12:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

do any of those things happen? or is houston in a state of limbo with its mobility?]]> Sun, 15 Apr 2007 08:09:27 -0500 dgreco Houston Metro 3rd best for business

QUOTE(dgreco @ Mar 8 2007, 05:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

interesting, what do you think they need to become the top city?

The city really cannot do much. If the State reduced property taxation on businesses and repeals the de-facto corporate income tax, then Houston would be at the top, and Dallas would move up a hella lot.]]> Sat, 14 Apr 2007 23:28:47 -0500 austin356 Houston: Photo of the Day

thanks ian.]]> Thu, 12 Apr 2007 20:58:10 -0500 dgreco Center for Advanced Biomedical Imaging Research Houston Business Journal - 1:46 PM CDT Tuesday, April 10, 2007

The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston are collaborating on a new imaging research facility.

The organizations broke ground Tuesday at The University of Texas Research Park on what will become the Center for Advanced Biomedical Imaging Research, dedicated to developing technologies that will detect heart disease, cancer and other illnesses at their earliest stages.

The facility, scheduled for completion in late 2009, is being built in cooperation with GE Healthcare and the Texas Enterprise Fund.

HBJ]]> Wed, 11 Apr 2007 19:04:46 -0500 dgreco METRO buys land to develop
In a transaction unprecedented in the agency's history, the Metropolitan Transit Authority board voted March 22 to spend $7.2 million for the blocks bounded by Main, Holman, Travis and Winbern, next to the Ensemble station of Metro's light rail Red line.

The idea is to sell the tract back to developer Robert H. Schultz of RHS Interests for at least the same price after Schultz's partnership is ready to build. Schultz approached Metro with the proposal, he and Metro said.

Agency spokeswoman Raequel Roberts said Metro knows of no other instances in which a transit agency has bought land to hold and sell to a private company for what is known as transit-oriented development.

THE DEAL
• Buy : The Metropolitan Transit Authority buys two square blocks in Midtown from a developer for $7.2 million, with the sale closing in the next four months.

• Hold : Metro holds the property for a year to 18 months while the developer seeks city building code variances and designs a transit-oriented residential, retail and office project.

• Sell : Metro sells the property back to the developer and construction begins.

• Pros : Midtown can draw residents, and Metro can draw riders. Metro can hold the land without paying property taxes or interest.

• Cons : The city, county and other taxing entities lose property tax revenue while the property is off the rolls.

article

*thanks to musicman.]]> Thu, 05 Apr 2007 20:47:37 -0500 dgreco Legacy at Memorial

QUOTE

Legacy at Memorial will be one- and two-bedroom units, averaging 1,179 sf. The average monthly rent is projected to be $2,392.

http://www.globest.com/news/876_876/houston/159431-1.html]]> Tue, 03 Apr 2007 20:28:38 -0500 eastsider Houston City Centre thansk for the lead, building looks awesome, hopefully we can have some more renderings. Tue, 03 Apr 2007 19:16:36 -0500 dgreco