tomv Posted August 13, 2006 Share Posted August 13, 2006 Update:http://www.houstonist.com/archives/2006/08...lding_watch.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 good news (hopefully) - a construction permit has been issued for interior wall demolition. let's just hope it's for rehab purposes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron4tx Posted September 28, 2006 Share Posted September 28, 2006 UPDATE: The Ben Milam Hotel is now being renovated. All of the asbestos has been removed. A new chiller and cooling tower have been purchased. Tenants have already been signed to move in. On the first floor will be restaurants and a bank. An attorney's office will occupy some of the floors. Upper floors will be lofts. A parking garage is to be added adjacent to the building. I also learned that the Texaco building is also scheduled for renovations. Equipment is being purchased now. Current photos of the Ben Milam Hotel: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted September 28, 2006 Share Posted September 28, 2006 Woo!I'm so hyped about this.Hopefully the garage will be designed so several buildings can share it.Looking forward to the Texaco Building being renovated...it'll be a terrific addition to the area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houstonian in Iraq Posted September 28, 2006 Share Posted September 28, 2006 (edited) UPDATE:The Ben Milam Hotel is now being renovated. All of the asbestos has been removed. A new chiller and cooling tower have been purchased. Tenants have already been signed to move in. On the first floor will be restaurants and a bank. An attorney's office will occupy some of the floors. Upper floors will be lofts. A parking garage is to be added adjacent to the building. I also learned that the Texaco building is also scheduled for renovations. Equipment is being purchased now. That's great!!!!! In Aug I went to a game and saw people working in it, like everyone else I wasn't sure if they were getting ready to tear it down. Now we know If you don't mind me asking,what's your source? Is there a website maybe any artist renderings? Tenant names? Thanks for the update Edited September 28, 2006 by Houstonian in Iraq Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron4tx Posted September 28, 2006 Share Posted September 28, 2006 That's great!!!!! In Aug I went to a game and saw people working in it, like everyone else I wasn't sure if they were getting ready to tear it down. Now we knowIf you don't mind me asking,what's your source? Is there a website maybe any artist renderings? Tenant names? Thanks for the update I'm a Mechanical Engineer specializing in air conditioning design. My information is mainly through equipment vendors. For the Milam Hotel in particular, I spoke at length with the Construction Forman. I learned some interesting stories about obstacles in getting the hotel renovated. I forgot to mention that the hotel will include a historical area featuring some of the items saved. The hotel once held offices for illegal gambling. The area could only be accessed through a secret door. Though raided by police and shut down, the area has been untouched. Boards were still on the wall listing sporting events and scores. When the mirrors were removed from the hotel rooms it was discovered that newspaper was used as padding behind every mirror. All of the newspapers are in good condition and were saved. They are all from the year 1928 which was when the hotel was being constructed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Great Hizzy! Posted September 28, 2006 Share Posted September 28, 2006 I wish we there was a link to this information so that we can go back from time to time and read about updates, but thanks for the information anyway. This sounds great, if true. I've always wondered why some developer didn't take advantage of the ol' Ben Milam like others took advantage of some of the other older buildings near MMP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted September 28, 2006 Share Posted September 28, 2006 (edited) yes, thanks for the information - i wish it was in the public domain, though thank goodness something is finally happening there - david smith sure has been alot of talk over the past couple decades... Edited September 28, 2006 by sevfiv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houston1973 Posted September 28, 2006 Share Posted September 28, 2006 hey guys. this is my first post , but i am finally glad they are doing something with Ben Milam. this has been one of my favoriites and have been waiting for it to be developed. Sad to see the old William Penn go but hope this makes up for its great loss. Finally that sign on Crawford and Texas means something. i have several pictures from both hotels and will post shortly for all to see. And HELLO!! to all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houstonian in Iraq Posted September 28, 2006 Share Posted September 28, 2006 (edited) hey guys. this is my first post , but i am finally glad they are doing something with Ben Milam. this has been one of my favoriites and have been waiting for it to be developed. Sad to see the old William Penn go but hope this makes up for its great loss. Finally that sign on Crawford and Texas means something. i have several pictures from both hotels and will post shortly for all to see. And HELLO!! to all Cool, and Welcome Houston 1973 Edited September 28, 2006 by Houstonian in Iraq Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted September 28, 2006 Share Posted September 28, 2006 (edited) welcome, houston1973_____i can't wait to update with renovation pictures!http://houston.arch-ive.org/milam/ Edited September 28, 2006 by sevfiv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KinkaidAlum Posted September 29, 2006 Share Posted September 29, 2006 This is great news. I was convinced that with the Penn's demise, the Milam was sure to become another asphalt lot...Now, here's to it's success! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Great Hizzy! Posted September 29, 2006 Share Posted September 29, 2006 What a happy first post, Houston 1973. I'm smiling just reading it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted November 1, 2006 Share Posted November 1, 2006 Any news on this renovation? Today I noticed that most of the windows on the north and west sides of the building have been removed. I'm sure the pigeons appreciate that. However, I didn't see any signs of activity. Also: any theories as to why the bricks above the top-floor windows on the west side of the building look like they've been replaced? The color doesn't match. Could there have been a cornice on that side of the building which was removed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted December 3, 2006 Share Posted December 3, 2006 Anything going on at the Ben Milam now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted December 3, 2006 Share Posted December 3, 2006 Anything going on at the Ben Milam now?happened to drive by it a couple days ago - there's a refuse elevator on one side of the building, but definitely nothing major - they work like molasses, or maybe not at all anymore. my cynical forecast says that this will slowly wind down (no more $), then it will accidentally topple down overnight, then there will be even more parking for astros fans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted February 17, 2007 Share Posted February 17, 2007 happened to drive by it a couple days ago - there's a refuse elevator on one side of the building, but definitely nothing major - they work like molasses, or maybe not at all anymore. my cynical forecast says that this will slowly wind down (no more $), then it will accidentally topple down overnight, then there will be even more parking for astros fans. Just drove by yesterday. Noticed some Surveyor markers in front of the hotel. does anyone have a clue as to what's going on? I'm dying of curiosity. I asked a couple of employees at the Inn at the Ballpark and they don't know what's going on either. Not that they really noticed anything they seemed quite trapped in their own little worlds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 Not that anyone really cares, but there was a bulldozer moving around/leveling the dirt next to the Hotel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 Not that anyone really cares, but there was a bulldozer moving around/leveling the dirt next to the Hotel. We care, ricco. Thanks for keeping us updated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Great Hizzy! Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 Not that anyone really cares, but there was a bulldozer moving around/leveling the dirt next to the Hotel. I noticed this too a couple of days ago and forgot to mention it. I can't tell what they're doing, though. Doesn't look like they're really doing anything to/for the building itself. Obviously, I might be wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nativehou Posted April 3, 2007 Share Posted April 3, 2007 There is a sign on this lot (next to the Ben Milam Hotel) that says a new cafe is going to be built. I think it said the name was B&W Cafe. This is great -- especially if it's open before/after Astro's games. And it's great for the folks staying at the Inn at the Ballpark -- a less expensive option than Vic & Anthony's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted April 3, 2007 Share Posted April 3, 2007 darnit, you beat me to the post! I wonder when the construction is going to start on there. Should be quite interesting, it's unfortunate that it's in a relatively isolated part of downtown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nativehou Posted April 3, 2007 Share Posted April 3, 2007 They certainly didn't time construction right, did they? It would have been great to start off the baseball season with the new cafe. But I'm just thrilled SOMETHING is going on there now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Great Hizzy! Posted April 3, 2007 Share Posted April 3, 2007 (edited) I would imagine that they wanted to be up and running by the start of the season but probably hit a snag that delayed things. Still, this is a great step in preserving the building. Hopefully more retail comes along and maybe some cool, swanky residential units on the higher floors.Imagine if the Ballpark Towers had been built and what it might have done for BMS/Hotel. Edited April 3, 2007 by The Great Hizzy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nativehou Posted April 3, 2007 Share Posted April 3, 2007 Hopefully more retail comes along and maybe some cool, swanky residential units on the higher floors.The cafe is not actually in the hotel building -- but next door, directly across from Vic & Anthony's. But I would hope this would spur something to happen in the hotel building itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted April 3, 2007 Share Posted April 3, 2007 The cafe is not actually in the hotel building -- but next door, directly across from Vic & Anthony's. But I would hope this would spur something to happen in the hotel building itself.right -- it's going to be on the la branch side where the retail / garage + swimming pool addition was (recent demolition)i would think the hotel renovation (if that's indeed what's occurring) would want to keep up with the restaurant -- the awful smell still comes out of the windows Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Great Hizzy! Posted April 3, 2007 Share Posted April 3, 2007 Ah, then it's not quite as good of news as I thought. Still, you'd like to think that the cafe might spur some kind of interest in the old building. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted April 5, 2007 Share Posted April 5, 2007 here's the sign for the "train-themed cafe" that nancy sarnoff wrote about a while back: i just don't get why, after 20+ years of sitting on the property and letting it rot, that Smith would spend the money to tear down the newer part of the complex and rebuild instead of putting that $ toward rehabbing the hotel part oh - the building permit for the restaurant was issued in january: Project No: 06001006 Date: 1/11/2007 USE: NEW BUILDING FOR RESTAURANT 1-1-2-A2-B 2003 IBC Owner / Occupant: BELLS&WHISTLES CAFE Job Address: 1517 TEXAS ST Buyer: CONCEPT BUILDING & DESIGN Address: 8825 SOLON 77255 Phone: 2818942444 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted June 3, 2008 Share Posted June 3, 2008 Anyone have any word on the 'ol Milam? It's just an empty stinky building, but fully open to the elements now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bach Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 Anyone have any word on the 'ol Milam? It's just an empty stinky building, but fully open to the elements now...Nothing happening, and I don't think the owner cares. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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