kylejack Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 I joined this Y recently. I'm going to try and get some interior pics before its too late. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GovernorAggie Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 I think the ground breaking for today. At least a special tent is onsite like there was or will be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roadrunner Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 Work has started on this in case anyone was wondering. One more surface lot gone.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Impossible Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 I like the old YMCA building, and I understand that the Y wants a new building, and it's great that they are building it on a parking lot.Too bad the new owners can't find a way to use the old building rather than tearing it down. Hopefully it won't become a surface lot or sit around empty like the Savoy and Days Inn and Central Bank buildings... That pattern has already been established for Houston. You really think this will be an exception? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liammclaren Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 I like the old YMCA building, and I understand that the Y wants a new building, and it's great that they are building it on a parking lot.Too bad the new owners can't find a way to use the old building rather than tearing it down. Hopefully it won't become a surface lot or sit around empty like the Savoy and Days Inn and Central Bank buildings... I took an involved tour of it years ago when I was in college and needed a job, so I applied to be its "night watchman." It's absolutely huge, much larger than it looks. I remember seeing the old raquetball courts filled with junk, mostly in the dark. Slightly strange to see. As I recall there are large portions that aren't even used at all. I also wish somebody would find a use for it rather than tear it down. But in Houston, the thinking is that if it's not new, it sucks. It's in the water in this town, and it's very frustrating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 I also wish somebody would find a use for it rather than tear it down. But in Houston, the thinking is that if it's not new, it sucks. It's in the water in this town, and it's very frustrating.You can spin it that way, and I can spin it as a sort of aspirational motto: "We will make it work; we will do it better; we will do it cheaper."Sentimentality be damned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeebus Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 I took an involved tour of it years ago when I was in college and needed a job, so I applied to be its "night watchman." It's absolutely huge, much larger than it looks. I remember seeing the old raquetball courts filled with junk, mostly in the dark. Slightly strange to see. As I recall there are large portions that aren't even used at all. I also wish somebody would find a use for it rather than tear it down. But in Houston, the thinking is that if it's not new, it sucks. It's in the water in this town, and it's very frustrating.I'm late to this conversation so this might have been covered..But perhaps its cheaper to tear it down and sell off the lot versus trying to deal with things like asbestos abatement and other type remedial obstacles? I'm asking because I don't know and I'm trying to find logic like everyone else as to why it would be torn down. To me, it defeats the purpose of building a new building on an old parking lot if you're just going to turn around and tear down another building and create a parking lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
totheskies Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 Has anyone written to their local congressman, or Sheila Jackson Lee? She's pretty good about drumming up publicity. I certainly wouldn't want to put an organization like the Y in a tough spot, but surely someone would care enough about this building for it to be preserved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 The land is being sold to Chevron. I'm pretty sure this is already done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KinkaidAlum Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 As far as I know, the land has already been sold to Chevron. It'll be a placeholder for awhile but will eventually hold a tower to add to their growing downtown presence.The best we can hope for in the interim is that they use the newly vacant lot as a pocket park for their employees rather than a surface parking lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 As far as I know, the land has already been sold to Chevron. It'll be a placeholder for awhile but will eventually hold a tower to add to their growing downtown presence.The best we can hope for in the interim is that they use the newly vacant lot as a pocket park for their employees rather than a surface parking lot.Why? A parking lot is something we can use while a park for their employees is not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jax Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 Why not make it a park that anybody can use, not just employees? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 Why not make it a park that anybody can use, not just employees?Because Chevron is not in the business of spending money that doesn't benefit them in some way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 They are, indirectly sometimes - just ask their community relations/corporate giving department Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 They are, indirectly sometimes - just ask their community relations/corporate giving departmentYeah, for one-offs maybe that they get a PR return from. I think the shareholders would cry foul if they entered into an ongoing expense for little PR return that they might get from people seeing a sign about a fairly small park brought to you by Chevron. Besides, I really don't see many using it other than Chevron employees or maybe people working at Wedge, with Discovery Green sucking much of the park interest in downtown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniepwils Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 (edited) with Discovery Green sucking much of the park interest in downtown.Not really. DG is empty most of the time during the day (other than when kids are out of school or there is an event there). Edited January 29, 2009 by Daniepwils Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 Not really. DG is empty most of the time during the day (other than when kids are out of school or there is an event there).As are most parks, but I wasn't talking about weekday business hours, necessarily. DG has quite a few people after 5 PM, and the weekends are downright busy. Besides, I stated that DG is taking a majority of the park interest in downtown, regardless of what little park interest that might be. Which park downtown is busier than DG? Tranquility? Sam Houston? Root Memorial Square? No, these parks are all deserted most times, certainly moreso than DG. So yeah, DG is taking a majority of the existing park interest in downtown. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniepwils Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 Besides, I stated that DG is taking a majority of the park interest in downtown, regardless of what little park interest that might be. Which park downtown is busier than DG? Tranquility? Sam Houston? Root Memorial Square? No, these parks are all deserted most times, certainly moreso than DG. So yeah, DG is taking a majority of the existing park interest in downtown. Are you not counting the homeless at Tranquility and Root Memorial jk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeebus Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 I'm changing my vote. Thanks MyEvilTwin. You're right, I never bothered to drive around to the back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GovernorAggie Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 FWIW, the bases for two cranes were installed a couple weeks ago. The work is moving along very quickly as well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GovernorAggie Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 First crane is up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChannelTwoNews Posted March 6, 2009 Share Posted March 6, 2009 Just getting started here... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 From Today [/ RDavis4559 SSP 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 I know that MainPlace had to go underground, but geeze. YMCA puttin them to shame. From Today[/ RDavis4559 SSP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20thStDad Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 I just received a post card I bought off eBay. It is an image of the YMCA building from about the time it was first built. The image is not a photograph. It looks more like a print of a watercolor. It is very neat and I'm glad I have something to remember the 'Y' by. I used to work out there when my office was nearby. I even used to get my hair cut at the barber shop on the first floor. Lately I've been going to the Trotter Y on Augusta.You should scan and post it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheeats Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 Very cool bird's eye view photos of the construction and the skyline from the tower crane operator on the site:http://www.houstonpress.com/slideshow/view/13227297I love the first and last photos, and the shot of the guy's boots dangling over the site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 very cool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted May 21, 2009 Share Posted May 21, 2009 Interior renderings of the YMCA from swamplot... ..and, here's a rendering from the corner of Pease @ Travis 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheeats Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 Am I the only one who thinks it looks endlessly dreary inside? That's a lot of cold, hard, gray surface area in what should be a vibrant facility. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KinkaidAlum Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 You're not alone. The word that comes to mind is sterile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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