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Houston19514

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Everything posted by Houston19514

  1. Houston19514
    Going with the 10-minute walk (approx. 1/2 mile) standard used in the master plan, it looks like Houston will have about 4,600 rooms (using an estimate of 150 for the Aloft and 250 for the Le Meridien and 350 for the GHP Building Hotel). Dallas had 3,479 in 2011 and they have added about 130 rooms since then, putting them at approximately 3,609 rooms within a ten-minute (1/2 mile) walk of their convention center. They have some other small projects in the works, but I don't think any of them are very certain. Using the hotel map provided by the downtown Atlanta website, I count 3,956 hotel rooms within a 10-minute walk (approximately 1/2 mile) of the Georgia World Congress Center.
  2. Houston19514
    1) yes, certainly as compared to Dallas. 2) But then you also need to consider that Dallas Uptown and Downtown combined have fewer hotels rooms than downtown Houston is projected to have. Those uptown hotel rooms (approx. 1,000 of their 7700 total) are more than a mile from their convention center (the cutoff point often used for convention planning). So for convention purposes we will exceed Dallas' hotel count by more than 1,000. (Note, I am not suggesting we don't have sufficient market for the hotels being developed. Merely pointing out that the all-too-common self-loathing statement that we are and will still be behind all other similar cities in convention hotel room counts, is just plain false.)
  3. Houston19514
    As you can see, the GRB and downtown Houston organizations have in fact said (in 2011) that we need an additional 2,000 hotel rooms downtown to "remain competitive with the lodging capacity of other convention destination cities." Since that time we have added and are adding more than 2,500 rooms and that does not even include this new Le Meridien development or the GHP Building hotel. By the way, downtown and uptown Dallas combined (which extends quite a long way from their convention center) have about 7,700 hotel rooms. With the hotels under development in downtown Houston, we will exceed that number. Thus the statement that "even with the new hotels Houston . . . is not even on the same footing as it tier cities. .Dallas, ATL, etc" is demonstrably false.
  4. Houston19514
    False
  5. Houston19514
    Then why build a new building at all? FWIW, they also need exposure and public interaction. The odd shaped parcel that remains next to Discovery Green would be a great spot for some TV studios.
  6. Houston19514
    No, no, no. That sort of thing only happens in Houston.
  7. Houston19514
    River Oaks District?
  8. Houston19514
    What's the difference between "KPRC 2 News" and "KPRC 2 News"?
  9. Houston19514
    Well that's pretty disappointing. Would like to see one of the network affiliates move their studios downtown.
  10. Houston19514
    I can't imagine how they could not work.
  11. Houston19514
    One would think. But nobody clings to disappointment like HAIFers.
  12. Houston19514
    Seems pretty clear they are just talking about improving access with protected crosswalks and additional parking.
  13. Houston19514
    I don't think Buffalo Bayou Park extends into downtown.
  14. Houston19514
    For the record, while the reference to "developers here" suggests it is Houston developers who are a bit slow to take it all in, neither Green Street (nee Pavilions) nor West Ave. were developed by Houston developers. On the other hand, the wildly successful Hanover Rice Village was developed by a Houston developer.
  15. Houston19514
    Newsletter received this morning from Houston First: Houston First is in the process of negotiating a development agreement for the hotel portion of this project. A developer is expected to be announced this spring for a 350-400 room hotel and the plan is to have it open in mid-2017.
  16. Houston19514
    I don't think they are eliminating any highway entrances, just reconfiguring/relocating it.
  17. Houston19514

    IAH Vs. DFW

    Houston19514 replied to wxman's topic in Planes

    Updated: IAH: 21 foreign flag/23 total carriers with international service DFW: 13 foreign flag (3 seasonal only)/16 total carriers with international service IAH: 1. Aeromexico 2. Air Canada 3. Air China 4. Air France 5. ANA 6. Avianca 7. British Airways 8. Emirates 9. EVA Air 10. Interjet 11. KLM 12. Korean Air 13. Lufthansa 14. Qatar Airways 15. Scandinavian Airlines 16. Singapore Airlines 17. SonAir * 18. Turkish Airlines 19. VivaAerobus 20. Volaris 21. WestJet (Hat tip to Houstontexasjack) 22. Spirit 23. United * SonAir is charter only DFW: 1. Aeromexico 2. Air Canada 3. Avianca 4. British Airways 5. Cayman Airways (seasonal only and even then only once-weekly) 6. Emirates 7. Etihad 8. KLM (sesaonal only) 9. Korean 10. Lufthansa 11. Qatar 12. Westjet (seasonal only) 13. VivaAerobus (starting 2015) 14. American 11. Qatar 12. Westjet (seasonal only) 13. VivaAerobus (starting 2015) 14. American 15. Spirit 16. Sun Country (4 x per week)
  18. Houston19514
    For real! See Post #54.
  19. Houston19514
    Complete schedule: Kinder Building (the new exhibition/restaurant/theater building): Construction takes place 2017-2019 Glassell School of Art and the Bown Foundation Plaza: Construction takes place summer 2015-2017 The Sarah Campbell Blaffer Foundation Center for Conservation: Construction takes place 2016-2017
  20. Houston19514
    ... says the self-confessed knee-jerker.
  21. Houston19514
    According to the Chron, construction starts this summer, with the new Glassell Building starting first.
  22. Houston19514
    There is zero evidence that anyone other than a serious developer has applied for any of these incentives and it is unlikely one would do so. The "fine" for not proceeding is already substantial, as you've already discussed but somehow don't seem to absorb: 1) investment in the land, 2) investment in design, and 3) the (not-really cost-free) application process. Plus, if you don't proceed, you forego the opportunity to get the $15,000 per unit incentive. That is plenty of disincentive to keep away non-serious developers.
  23. Houston19514
    So, you've already conceded that it requires more than just the relatively costless application process. They also had to invest in land and designs. Only granting the benefit to projects that break ground is inherently unworkable. Nobody will ever break ground without the incentive agreed and in hand. Allowing one year to permitting and three years to Certificate of Occupancy might seem a little generous at first blush, but the permitting process has been holding up a lot of projects recently, so one year to permitting is not giving a whole lot of wiggle room. That only allows an additional 2 years for construction. Again, not really all that generous, especially if you want high-rises (other than SkyHouses). As has been mentioned earlier, I can see no reason to not reassign canceled project units. That rule is inexplicable.
  24. Houston19514
    Before too many people grab their pitchforks, it should be noted that all that has been reported about the Camden downtown project is that they are "not prepared to start that now". AND that they are "just designing it". They will see how the market unfold and see what happens to construction and rents. Nothing nefarious or evil about any of that. Keep in mind that they have a pretty good incentive to aim for a certificate of occupancy within three years.
  25. Houston19514
    Let's not get too carried away. It hasn't taken anything away from the program so far.
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