sevfiv Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 Nothing happening, and I don't think the owner cares.I'd bet on that - if he did, something would have been done twenty years ago instead of letting it turn in to the filthy mess it is now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
infinite_jim Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 owner has been po'boyin it, bringing out individual contractors to the site & low ballin them one at a time so far our negotiations have stalled out, but I'll mention it again to my boss... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChannelTwoNews Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 Saw some activity happening there this afternoon. Unsure if it's new or has been ongoing for a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roadrunner Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 The fact that this building is still vacant is extremely frustrating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 Thanks for posting the update and pictures - I wonder if any more demolition took place, or if they were just cleaning up junk on the roof. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
infinite_jim Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 The debris on that portion of the roof had been there before the hurricane. It is right off the stairwell on the 4th floor and is mostly ceramic debris where a furnace or transformer must have been operated at one point in time. I would not be surprised if they got a nasty letter from a neighbor about windfall debris after the storm and thus the reasoning for the cleanup. If any rehabilitation is to occur, the eastern addition of steel frame will need to be demolished. It is currently collapsing under it's own weight with the addition of the window debris on it's roof. Also it should be noted that the addition's steel is strangely detailed and in some places inconsistent with other modules. I don't foresee anything really being done with this building after sitting in on a couple meetings with the owner's reps, except eventual buyout &/or implosion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roadrunner Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 The debris on that portion of the roof had been there before the hurricane. It is right off the stairwell on the 4th floor and is mostly ceramic debris where a furnace or transformer must have been operated at one point in time. I would not be surprised if they got a nasty letter from a neighbor about windfall debris after the storm and thus the reasoning for the cleanup. If any rehabilitation is to occur, the eastern addition of steel frame will need to be demolished. It is currently collapsing under it's own weight with the addition of the window debris on it's roof. Also it should be noted that the addition's steel is strangely detailed and in some places inconsistent with other modules. I don't foresee anything really being done with this building after sitting in on a couple meetings with the owner's reps, except eventual buyout &/or implosion. That's unfortunate. My dream project is to develop the empty lot next to it into the new Texas Baseball Hall of Fame and also redeveloping the Ben Milam building into a boutique hotel. Yep, dream. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
infinite_jim Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 Nice dream, it is still possible if you can get investors and buyout that slum lord. That whole block was overripe for development after the ballpark's completion but the owner was too risk adverse to take advantage of the opportunity and the market demand for lodging was snatched up across the street. I think it is now too late to renovate unless you're willing to invest 5 years of R&D, acquisition, and more towards this development. If you have an internationally excellent structural engineer, the bldg could be wholesale converted to a hall of fame capped with admin offices through some Matta-Clark style moves as the rigid frame structure is still very sound. An extra vertical circulater will have to appendaged or inserted somehow; the two existing elevator shafts are too narrow for freight needs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmariar Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 I don't know how long ago they were in there, but some urban explorers have interior photos of the Ben Milam.If the gambling office area mentioned previously was still there, I guess these guys missed it.Wonder if there's some urban explorer code along the lines of "take only photos"... hope so. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 I don't know how long ago they were in there, but some urban explorers have interior photos of the Ben Milam.If the gambling office area mentioned previously was still there, I guess these guys missed it.Wonder if there's some urban explorer code along the lines of "take only photos"... hope so.It is amazing how thoroughly vacant buildings deteriorate. I did the urban exploration thing at the old Texas State Hotel and the Sheraton and it was stunning how bad the interior conditions were. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NenaE Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 I don't know how long ago they were in there, but some urban explorers have interior photos of the Ben Milam.If the gambling office area mentioned previously was still there, I guess these guys missed it. Wonder if there's some urban explorer code along the lines of "take only photos"... hope so. Those pics are good. It's a shame the grafatti guys had to paint over part of the Ben Milam sign, when they had so much "other" brick canvas to work with. Personally, I think the "original" sign painter is the most talented, the lettering is awesome. Looks like there was a pic of a covered wagon? in the tree pic, on the roof. The arch. detail work is great to see. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 Those pictures look a couple years old maybe - definitely pre-gutting as far as I can see. I had been in about a dozen times, but it always looked the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NenaE Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 here's the mileage sign: BTW, This is so cool...thanks for sharing, sevfiv. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted April 27, 2010 Share Posted April 27, 2010 Although the Ben Milam isn't identified by name, it's mentioned in Ken Hoffman's April 25th column.A reader questions the reason for the deplorable state of the building, and the impression it makes on visitors to MMP. Mr. Hoffman's reply quotes Pam Gardner (Houston Astros President of Business Operations) as saying “We made inquiries over the years, as have others, but we have since moved on. The owner has done some cleanup work in the building in recent years, but it hasn't translated to a renovation. With all the development in the area it would be great to see something there, but it doesn't appear likely in the near term.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted April 27, 2010 Share Posted April 27, 2010 As in David Smith is a longtime slumlord Here's a nice snip from an interview by KUHF about the recent Hogan-Allnoch building auction (that happened to fall flat): Businessman David Smith owns property downtown, including the old Ben Milam hotel and most of the block it sits on. He told Commissioners:"I want to buy that block, or that part of the block for one million dollars. I would want to buy that building, because it'll tie in with my plans, which have been incubating and working for so many years down the street. I plan to execute them in the next two to five years, but I'm trying to be careful on my financing, but I'm gonna buy it. Cut it at that, subject to terms and I'm not gonna bargain." http://app1.kuhf.org/houston_public_radio-news-display-printer_friendly.php?articles_id=1260313460 Ya right! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChannelTwoNews Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 (edited) Noticed this blurb in today's Bisnow posting, with attention to Marvy Finger's developments... Marvy has an incredible pipeline now: His development at Waugh has broken ground, and he’s planning projects at the old Milam Hotel site (an eight-story midrise), Wilcrest and I-10 (360 units launching this month), the site of the Fiesta on Dunlavy (a 399-unit project is on the drawing board), and 1900 Yorktown. Edited April 16, 2012 by ChannelTwoNews 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chi-Char-Hou-Dal Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 I was going to post about this hotel after going to the Astros last ST game vs the white sox.Cool.It is/was painful to look at next to MMP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 Interesting. A little disappointed that it's only 8 stories. But not bad. I hope it will be an attractive, street-friendly building. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texasota Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 It looks like the existing building is 8 stories, so hopefully were talking about a major renovation, *not* another teardown. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 (edited) It looks like the existing building is 8 stories, so hopefully were talking about a major renovation, *not* another teardown.Well that adds to the confusion. The Ben Milam Hotel is 10 stories. See the photos earlier in this thread. Hopefully, they meant 8 stories of apartments on top of 2 floors of amenities/retail. (I had earlier confused the Ben Milam with the demolished William Penn, one block to the west.) Edited April 17, 2012 by Houston19514 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texasota Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 Ah, I see- I looked at the wrong picture and assumed a really tall first floor. Bah. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrodiii Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 I am so glad to see this happening - the building, currently as is, is an eye sore. I really hope though that the 8-story part is for living and the other two stories are part lobby/retail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
infinite_jim Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 This thread should be moved to the Crater Houston Alliance forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolie Posted April 19, 2012 Share Posted April 19, 2012 I drove by it today. From a distance it looks OK, but up close, eh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted April 25, 2012 Share Posted April 25, 2012 I hate to say it, but it's about time. I guess Smith finally gave in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howard Huge Posted November 13, 2012 Share Posted November 13, 2012 Saw on front page of the chronicle this will be demo'd to build luxury high rise! Zing! Sorry no link, im on the go.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howard Huge Posted November 13, 2012 Share Posted November 13, 2012 Here we go.... http://www.chron.com/business/real-estate/article/Ben-Milam-Hotel-to-be-razed-for-upscale-apartments-4030933.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted November 13, 2012 Share Posted November 13, 2012 Anyone know how to get in touch with Secret Squirrel? This looks like his kind of project... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fortune Posted November 13, 2012 Share Posted November 13, 2012 Saw on front page of the chronicle this will be demo'd to build luxury high rise! Zing! Sorry no link, im on the go....It's not a Highrise it's a 7 story apartment building. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted November 13, 2012 Share Posted November 13, 2012 Last time I checked it was all hollowed out on the inside (slowly cleaned out over the last 10 years I've been checking). I hope it doesn't go down as slowly and as painfully as its neighbor William Penn did.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.