Popular Post Brooklyn173 Posted February 8, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted February 8, 2020 (edited) Some pix from today: And like its namesake, the sign has fallen on hard times. Edited February 8, 2020 by Brooklyn173 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highrise Tower Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonIsHome Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 I was among the why didn't they just tear the darn thing down and start from scratch crowd until I went past this building Friday and saw how opening the southern exposure let's in so much natural light. It looks like a completely different building on that side but I understand now why it is so much of a frankenbuilding. Makes sense since the area across the street is open Park area for the foreseeable future to have that side opened up. I'm itching to see construction start on other lots. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Highrise Tower Posted February 16, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted February 16, 2020 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonIsHome Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 They should build out patios. That scaffolding makes the building look more interesting 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post CaptainJilliams Posted February 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted February 17, 2020 I tend to visit several different development forums outside of HAIF, one of which is for the city of Nashville. Now not to get too much into the details, their new mayor has been somewhat anti-development. Recent reports suggested that he may have scared off Microsoft from building a campus in the city. A trusted source from that page posted this information relating to Houston: So I asked a colleague who is much closer to things in Nashville. Colleague said that Microsoft was scared away by Cooper's approach to Asurion. They are looking for an urban campus similar to Amazon. One place mentioned... they're looking at an area in Houston near the largest medical centers there. Their mayor is kicking butt with recruiting. If there's an ounce of truth in this report, my best guess would be they are looking at the Innovation District? Does that sound right? 18 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avossos Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 1 hour ago, CaptainJilliams said: I tend to visit several different development forums outside of HAIF, one of which is for the city of Nashville. Now not to get too much into the details, their new mayor has been somewhat anti-development. Recent reports suggested that he may have scared off Microsoft from building a campus in the city. A trusted source from that page posted this information relating to Houston: So I asked a colleague who is much closer to things in Nashville. Colleague said that Microsoft was scared away by Cooper's approach to Asurion. They are looking for an urban campus similar to Amazon. One place mentioned... they're looking at an area in Houston near the largest medical centers there. Their mayor is kicking butt with recruiting. If there's an ounce of truth in this report, my best guess would be they are looking at the Innovation District? Does that sound right? Would be really epic if true. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillip_white Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 3 hours ago, CaptainJilliams said: I tend to visit several different development forums outside of HAIF, one of which is for the city of Nashville. Now not to get too much into the details, their new mayor has been somewhat anti-development. Recent reports suggested that he may have scared off Microsoft from building a campus in the city. A trusted source from that page posted this information relating to Houston: So I asked a colleague who is much closer to things in Nashville. Colleague said that Microsoft was scared away by Cooper's approach to Asurion. They are looking for an urban campus similar to Amazon. One place mentioned... they're looking at an area in Houston near the largest medical centers there. Their mayor is kicking butt with recruiting. If there's an ounce of truth in this report, my best guess would be they are looking at the Innovation District? Does that sound right? Don't forget about the UT land that's for sale south of the Med Center. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luminare Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 8 hours ago, CaptainJilliams said: I tend to visit several different development forums outside of HAIF, one of which is for the city of Nashville. Now not to get too much into the details, their new mayor has been somewhat anti-development. Recent reports suggested that he may have scared off Microsoft from building a campus in the city. A trusted source from that page posted this information relating to Houston: So I asked a colleague who is much closer to things in Nashville. Colleague said that Microsoft was scared away by Cooper's approach to Asurion. They are looking for an urban campus similar to Amazon. One place mentioned... they're looking at an area in Houston near the largest medical centers there. Their mayor is kicking butt with recruiting. If there's an ounce of truth in this report, my best guess would be they are looking at the Innovation District? Does that sound right? Now thats some juicy info. I'll be sure to have the popcorn ready if and when they make the announcement. By the way, any way you could elaborate on these other forums? I'm genuinely interested in see what other cities got going on. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainJilliams Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 36 minutes ago, Luminare said: Now thats some juicy info. I'll be sure to have the popcorn ready if and when they make the announcement. By the way, any way you could elaborate on these other forums? I'm genuinely interested in see what other cities got going on. No problem, UrbanPlanet hosts numerous city forums, but not all are super active. I know for Texas only the Austin forum really posts anything. As for Nashville, they do have a pretty active site. The link to their forum is below: https://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/forum/250-nashville/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeerNut Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 Rice University Students to Mayor Sylvester Turner: Community Benefits Agreements Are Nothing Without a Community Quote Because the process you proposed to President Wickerson does not include this community coalition, your proposed process does not align with best practices demonstrated by CBAs across the country and cannot truly be called a CBA. If the process you have proposed continues without the HCEDD at the table, it will only further Houston’s growth as a city of haves and have-nots. umm ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 22 minutes ago, BeerNut said: Rice University Students to Mayor Sylvester Turner: Community Benefits Agreements Are Nothing Without a Community umm ok Well, that's a giant load of codswallop. The students need to get back to studying, and stay out of topics where they are clueless. I'm oppositional enough to react to those demands by buying some more land and cranking up the bulldozers. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyBreedlove Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 (edited) 3 hours ago, Luminare said: Now thats some juicy info. I'll be sure to have the popcorn ready if and when they make the announcement. By the way, any way you could elaborate on these other forums? I'm genuinely interested in see what other cities got going on. The forums I have popped into are Oklahoma City (OKCTalk), Detroit (DetroitYes), Dallas (DallasMetropolis), and Fort Worth (FortWorthArchitecture). Then there are the Curbed.com sites for Atlanta, Boston, Austin, Chicago, Detroit, LA, New York and San Francisco. I didn't know about the Nashville one but I'll have to check it out. Now back to your regularly scheduled programming... Edited February 18, 2020 by BillyBreedlove 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sellanious Caesar Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 (edited) Microsoft’s already entered Houston with an accelerator at the Ion. This was announced way back in April 2019, Mayor Sylvester Turner was the driving force behind it. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2019/04/17/microsoft-to-launch-accelerator-for-smart-city.amp.html If you’re waiting for something else from them then I think it’s safe to say that it’ll lead to disappointment because I don’t think they have any additional expansion plans beyond this. Microsoft already has two offices in Houston besides the Ion. The first is near Memorial Park in Uptown Houston along I-610W. The other is inside City Centre along Beltway 8 West and I-10. Edited February 18, 2020 by Sellanious Caesar 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post rechlin Posted February 18, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted February 18, 2020 Finally it's going vertical! 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clutchcity94 Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 (edited) I don’t know if this has already been discussed, but does the South Baptist Church plan on staying in this location next to the Ion? That baseball field area next to the spur on-ramp seems like a complete waste of space. Edited February 18, 2020 by clutchcity94 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmac Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 35 minutes ago, clutchcity94 said: I don’t know if this has already been discussed, but does the South Baptist Church plan on staying in this location next to the Ion. That baseball field area next to the spur on-ramp seems like a complete waste of space. Why would they move? They have been there for more than 100 years, IIRC. That grass field is a welcome respite from a sea of concrete. Sometimes it's nice for kids to have a safe, grassy place to run around. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texasota Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 Yeah the baseball field seems fine. The massive surface parking on the other hand... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corbs315 Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 12 minutes ago, gmac said: Why would they move? They have been there for more than 100 years, IIRC. That grass field is a welcome respite from a sea of concrete. Sometimes it's nice for kids to have a safe, grassy place to run around. This...as much as we complain about historical buildings being removed/replaced, why on earth would the church move? I imagine the powers that be behind Ion may have thoughts about how they may be able to utilize the parking lot, and I'm sure the church has their thoughts about it as well. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luminare Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 5 minutes ago, corbs315 said: This...as much as we complain about historical buildings being removed/replaced, why on earth would the church move? I imagine the powers that be behind Ion may have thoughts about how they may be able to utilize the parking lot, and I'm sure the church has their thoughts about it as well. I've always had a hope that one day they would throw money at a really beautiful landmark cathedral. Just put it on that parking lot, and then you would have a great space in that entry area that is entirely pedestrian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clutchcity94 Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 I read in another thread in the Montrose forum that this part of the spur next to the church will be trenched underground. Is there any truth to that? That would essentially connect the Ion area to Montrose. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonIsHome Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 @phillip_white didn't the Amazon crew called the NRG area a wasteland and too far from urban centers? I would think the Ion would be the spot if there is anything to the rumors. I wouldn't call the NRG area far from urban centers but the ion has downtown to the north, Eado to the North East, TSU/UH to the East, TMC/Rice to the South, and UK, Montrose, River Oaks, to the West and Washington Ave area to the North West. If true it would be nice if they pressured the city into building the blue line as PT was another weak link in Houston's bid. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avossos Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 MICROSOFT TO EAST RIVER !!???? That would be perfect... 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
X.R. Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 1 hour ago, clutchcity94 said: I don’t know if this has already been discussed, but does the South Baptist Church plan on staying in this location next to the Ion. That baseball field area next to the spur on-ramp seems like a complete waste of space. The head of Rice's endowment said the church isn't going anywhere and they have been giving input during the development process, if I remember correctly. It was either during a presentation or the looped in pod. He seemed pretty pleased with, and complimented, having the church there, saying they were one of the few things that hadn't abandoned that area. @HoustonIsHome the nice thing about TMC3 is that it extends the urban landscape further toward NRG, so maybe in the future NRG won't be considered too far from much? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clutchcity94 Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 (edited) Land values within a half mile radius of the Ion are going to skyrocket in due time. No wonder there are so many tear down 5,000 sq ft lots near Richmond Ave, just west of the spur, on sale with asking prices of $1M. Lots of that size in other parts of Montrose are asking half that. Edited February 18, 2020 by clutchcity94 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeerNut Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 25 minutes ago, HoustonIsHome said: If true it would be nice if they pressured the city into building the blue line as PT was another weak link in Houston's bid. Blue line(university line) is going be built using BRT. 1 hour ago, clutchcity94 said: I don’t know if this has already been discussed, but does the South Baptist Church plan on staying in this location next to the Ion. That baseball field area next to the spur on-ramp seems like a complete waste of space. South Baptist Church is in total support of the Ion. They even went to the planning meeting in support of variances for the parking structure. Of course people supporting the potential CBA attacked them saying they don't represent the community. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonIsHome Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 (edited) I'm kinda hoping that there areas east ( Almeda area) gets revitalized. Not with towers, but an artsy, quirky neighborhood kinda like Montrose 20 years ago. Repurpose those old structures into stores and restaurants. @BeerNut I'm taking about as originally planned. Lightrail instead of BRT Edited February 18, 2020 by HoustonIsHome 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clutchcity94 Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 2 minutes ago, HoustonIsHome said: I'm kinda hoping that there areas eat ( Almeda area) gets revitalized. Not with towers, but an artsy, quirky neighborhood kinda like Montrose 20 years ago. Repurpose those old structures into stores and restaurants. I’m sure that’ll happen as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeerNut Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 4 minutes ago, HoustonIsHome said: @BeerNut I'm taking about as originally planned. Lightrail instead of BRT Yeah I don't think that will ever happen. METRO plan is to extend current LRT and all new lines will be BRT because of the cost difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
X.R. Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 Seems some people at Rice thought it would have been better where some of the startups already are/where other businesses are near Galleria and/or San Filipe. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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