cloud713 Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 Why all the skeptisim around this building? All signs point to this going up. Seems like there are quite a few on this board who seem to think this is not a done deal.it might have something to do with them investing millions to keep a parking garage operational during/after the demo. i realize they had some sort of parking contract with Chase or whoever, but you would think they could of found a way out of that without having to retrofit a new garage (on the exact plot where the tower is supposed to go... maybe if the garage was going on the other side of the tower, so the tower could be built while this reconfigured garage stayed in place, but i dont understand the point of spending money for the parking structure when they will just tear that down to build the tower. something tells me this will just be parking for a little while (hopefully not too long)... but thats me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate99 Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 maybe if the garage was going on the other side of the tower, so the tower could be built while this reconfigured garage stayed in place, but i dont understand the point of spending money for the parking structure when they will just tear that down to build the tower. something tells me this will just be parking for a little while (hopefully not too long)... but thats me? None of this scheme makes sense in a conventional arrangement. But I still think that the millions that they have spent to do what they have done already are just part of the price they pay to get the project to move forward, and they would not have invested as much as they already have if things were still tentative. It is interesting how Skanska will jump through all of these hoops to make this project work while there are two completely empty blocks within a three block radius. I suspect the owners of those lots see them as a gold mines with easy parking revenue in the meantime, whereas the HC building's former owners had what was becoming a tenant repellent maintenance nightmare. I do wonder if they would have preferred the Chronicle building block if they had it to do over again. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tangledwoods Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 When the Houston Club building was placed on the market it was being marketed for its current parking capacity / revenue only. The building itself was considered a massive encumbrance and brought down the sale price considerably. This was an incredibly complex real estate deal and an even more complex construction deal. Part of the reason that Skanska made a go a this one when other's didn't was that they have a good handle on the construction cost. Remember that Skanska is primarily a construction company, so they have the resources to really study all the different options for demo and build back. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFootsSocks Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 Perhaps the Four Season's hotel roof would prove to offer a good view. Too soon? You sick bastard 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toxtethogrady Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 Why all the skeptisim around this building? All signs point to this going up. Seems like there are quite a few on this board who seem to think this is not a done deal.The building is funded, so it will be going up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 I can't wait till all the projects along the Rusk corridor get going.. This. Texaco, trammell crow midrise, that 40 story resi, Marriott Marquis, Hampton inn/homewood suites, Houston first office/hotel. I'm probably forgetting something. Going to be a lot of cranes.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toxtethogrady Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 With all that happening on the avenue, developers should be making ground level space for retail all along Rusk. It would change the character of the street. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heightsite Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 Anyone know the perimeter zone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tumbleweed_Tx Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 it's the 25 blocks immediately surrounding the building. Tranquility Park is outside the zone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasberry Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 (edited) . Edited October 10, 2016 by texasberry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 Do we still not have an official time for this? I know it's this upcoming Sunday but what time? 7am? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFootsSocks Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 7am on a biz journal article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heightsite Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 The implosion is scheduled for 7 a.m. Sunday. Houston police will have streets in a two-block radius of the implosion zone shut down. Project managers discourage anyone from coming down to see the implosion in person for safety reasons 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFootsSocks Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 So obviously we're going to come down to see it? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigereye Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 1 last look at Houston Club for me. May swing by during lunch to check out the scene at street level. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avossos Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 Where are we all meeting to watch this go down? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 That's what I'm wondering.. I've never made it to a demo before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFootsSocks Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 Haven't heard any good place to meet up yet. Triton or Nate know downtown best so what are some good places? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigereye Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 From street-level. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate99 Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 (edited) Haven't heard any good place to meet up yet. Triton or Nate know downtown best so what are some good places? Not sure I can help much on this one. They are closing off a pretty wide perimeter and all of the obvious sight lines are obscured. You may be able to look down Rusk from Tranquility Park or down Milam from the Market Square area. The Chase tower is set back the most on the Milam side, so if they let you stand in the street, that would proabably result in the best angle, but the part that they aren’t blowing up will obscure part of the action from that side. Looks like Milam @ Prairie would be as close as you could get. Maybe the Chronicle garage would be sneak-in-able. Edited October 17, 2014 by Nate99 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate99 Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 Here's Milam @ Prairie for reference: 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFootsSocks Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 No higher up view possible? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate99 Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 No higher up view possible? I was standing right in front of the Chronicle garage when I took the picture above. It is private, but pretty much anyone could walk right up the ramp and get 5 more stories of elevation, tough they may have a guard on Sunday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 I went and looked today - I think I'll sleep in Sunday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 They have some of the streets shut down already tonight. They'll probably have garages closed off... at least they tried to do that for the Macy's demo but I still saw some people sneak to the tops of several of the garages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonMidtown Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 Hanging tarps around the perimeter today... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tumbleweed_Tx Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 hmm... I'll be working at Minute Maid tomorrow morning, might get to take a quick break to watch the demise of the Houston Club. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 People keep asking me and I honestly have no clue where to meet up (even though I created a public facebook event too). Does anyone have any good ideas? I have that friend who is at Kinder Morgan but he tells me security will be very tight tomorrow morning. Apparently another HAIFer has access to Kinder Morgan so I'll see how he got that access... Anyway, bunch of roads are shut down: Houston Club Demolition by marclongoria, on Flickr Travis: Houston Club Demolition by marclongoria, on Flickr 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonMidtown Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 Obviously not the same as being there, but Channel 2 will be covering this live tomorrow morning at 6:00am (and online) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWW Posted October 19, 2014 Share Posted October 19, 2014 (edited) So do we feel certain that the demo will not happen before 7am? Taking a few friends down and guess Prairie and Milam intersection is the best place to go Edited October 19, 2014 by JWW 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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