Urbannizer Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 Connecting the dots here.. Mill Creek Residential Trust will begin three projects by year’s end and another three to four in 2014. All projects will use wood frames as the developer feels it’s the most cost efficient. Ground breakings later this year will include a five-story mid-rise project in Houston’s EaDo Station area. The transit-oriented development will be adjacent to a light-rail station and encompass 310 units with an 840 s.f. average. http://apmanagement.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/The-Apartment-Report_APC_7.8.13_PRESS-BREAK.pdf EaDo Stadium Apartments - A 316 unit, 5 story Apartment Complex, to be located adjacent to the Dynamo Stadium Construction to begin Nov. 2013 http://www.globalcenturydev.com/files/investors_final2.pdf 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisPHous Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 This may be a silly question but is midtown, now, just that tiny bit more expensive that developers would rather save and go to east end? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samagon Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 Not sure if it's cheaper, but there isn't an undeveloped, or brownfield in east downtown that doesn't have a for sale sign on it. In midtown there are a lot fewer sites for sale. Especially on the scale these developers are looking for. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 Is this where the Tool Mart is, the block east of the stadium on south side of Texas? I once bought a d/a sander there. Place had kind of an old Houston blue collar feel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted October 5, 2013 Author Share Posted October 5, 2013 (edited) "Mill Creek Residential is developing EaDo Station, which developers said it will be the first high-density complex built in the area in a decade. It could be open by the time the light rail extension is completed by August 2014." http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/Some-big-doings-may-make-EaDo-a-go-to-place-4870376.php#/13 Edited October 5, 2013 by Urbannizer 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moore713 Posted October 5, 2013 Share Posted October 5, 2013 "Mill Creek Residential is developing EaDo Station, which developers said it will be the first high-density complex built in the area in a decade. It could be open by the time the light rail extension is completed by August 2014." http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/Some-big-doings-may-make-EaDo-a-go-to-place-4870376.php#/13 nice..but i thought light was for east end had a 2014 march date Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TowerSpotter Posted October 5, 2013 Share Posted October 5, 2013 Now those I like...better than the other one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KinkaidAlum Posted October 5, 2013 Share Posted October 5, 2013 (edited) Thumbs up. If these turnout anything like the renderings, then I will like them. Nice to see something slightly different than the stick frame-brick veneer. Edited October 5, 2013 by KinkaidAlum 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesL Posted October 5, 2013 Share Posted October 5, 2013 nice..but i thought light was for east end had a 2014 march date No way. Still some track and all the stations to go in Downtown. Plus none of the cars have been delivered. It will be later in 2014. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisPHous Posted October 5, 2013 Share Posted October 5, 2013 These look great. Similar to the ones going up on Westheimer and Shepard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
totheskies Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Is there no street-level retail for this project?? Restaurants would make a killing before and after games!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 I'm still cringing at the name. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 So they are closing off a street for this nondescript little greenspace... and yet they still need a skybridge to go over the greenspace and connect the buildings. This is not good urbanism. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texasota Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Eh, closing off the street doesnt bother me since its still open to pedestrians and cyclists, especially since it dead-ends into the stadium anyway. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 (edited) Eh, closing off the street doesnt bother me since its still open to pedestrians and cyclists, especially since it dead-ends into the stadium anyway. How about the skybridge over the park, so that residents don't have to be burdened by crossing 50 ft of greenspace to get between buildings? Edited October 7, 2013 by H-Town Man 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 How about the skybridge over the park, so that residents don't have to be burdened by crossing 50 ft of greenspace to get between buildings? Not sure why that should bother anyone. It appears all the parking may be in the south block, so the bridge provides access for the north block apartments to their parking. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 I'm still cringing at the name. It is truly cringe-worthy. I neither love it or hate it but the "EaDo" name is not going away any day soon so the incessant complaining in almost every HAIF thread related to "EaDo" named projects or the EaDo area itself, is frankly, a waste of time. It's just a name, time to get over it I don't think it is time to "get over it". That made-up word doesn't stop being obnoxious because it has been obnoxious for a while now. Anyway, in general I'm opposed to closing off streets in a grid system, but here it dead-ends anyway because of the stadium so it's OK. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little frau Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 ^^ Agree with Subdude completely. It's a terrible name. And, I rather like the skywalk idea. When it rains in Houston or even when it snows, the residents will have an easy walk to their cars. I would think that traffic might be a problem on game days though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Vik Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Great example of transit oriented development Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brijonmang Posted October 8, 2013 Share Posted October 8, 2013 I would think that traffic might be a problem on game days though. I don't think this will impact traffic much at all come game days. I have been to probably 30 games and have never had issues with traffic before a Dynamo game. Not saying closing off the block will help at all but most of the traffic is coming from the highway side anyway. I like the design and location and expect more to follow suit. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 Not sure why that should bother anyone. It appears all the parking may be in the south block, so the bridge provides access for the north block apartments to their parking. Do they not have access walking through the park? I could see it if there were something awful like a street to cross - no way I'd expect the residents to put up with that - but a park?? We can have different opinions, but to me a skybridge over a park is a relic of the Houston we're trying to get away from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naviguessor Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 The Sky bridge is surely to connect the parking garage (in the south block) to the units in the North Block. This prevents residents from having to leave the relative security of the parking garage cross a "park" and re-enter the security of the other building. It also reduces time spent in elevators or stairs and gives covered access in poor weather. It's reasonable, you see it in other similar developments all over the city and something that many (if not all) residents living in the the other builing would want/requrie. Think about it. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 The Sky bridge is surely to connect the parking garage (in the south block) to the units in the North Block. This prevents residents from having to leave the relative security of the parking garage cross a "park" and re-enter the security of the other building. It also reduces time spent in elevators or stairs and gives covered access in poor weather. It's reasonable, you see it in other similar developments all over the city and something that many (if not all) residents living in the the other builing would want/requrie. Think about it. Thought about it. I realize it's status quo for Houston. Just doesn't make for good urbanism. Sky bridges and tunnels are detrimental to pedestrian life. Sky bridges are worse, because they add a mild stigma to whatever is underneath them. In a very subtle way, it robs the park of its sense of place. It's not too much to walk another flight of stairs down and brave the weather for 50 feet. You could even put a covered walkway at ground level. If walking on the ground is a security concern, then we have not embraced the urban, walkable-city mentality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 If they don't put the sky walk then they're going to put a covered walkway. I think the sky walk is nicer. It's an amenity. If I lived there I would appreciate going from my car to the apartment with groceries without getting wet in the rain. These people will be driving anyway, so it's not taking away from any pedestrian experience. When these residents go without a car they won't be using the sky walk. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texasota Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 While I agree that skyways and tunnels tend to detract from street traffic, I don't think this particular example is a problem. This is *specifically* for people who live in the north building to park their cars and then walk in a protected corridor to their apartment, exactly the same as people in the south building would do. This *only* applies to trips made by car. People in the north building will still likely walk to the bars, clubs, restaurants, stadiums etc that are/ will be within easy walking distance. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
htownproud Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 It appears I'm in the minority, but this is one fugly apartment building. It's nice to see someone try something different, but the different should be better. Hopefully the finished product is nicer than these renderings. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
infinite_jim Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 Thought about it. I realize it's status quo for Houston. Just doesn't make for good urbanism. Sky bridges and tunnels are detrimental to pedestrian life. Sky bridges are worse, because they add a mild stigma to whatever is underneath them. In a very subtle way, it robs the park of its sense of place. It's not too much to walk another flight of stairs down and brave the weather for 50 feet. You could even put a covered walkway at ground level. If walking on the ground is a security concern, then we have not embraced the urban, walkable-city mentality.Part of good urbanism is to protect people from the elements (ex. the Rice Hotel sidewalk overhang on Texas). How is providing shade robbing the park of a sense of place? Shade is a good thing! How about the fact taht this provides another perspective of the park that was only available to folks with apartments facing the park; now everyone who lives there has this view. Also it's a waste of energy to have wheelchair bound residents take the elevator down and then back up again, ADA compliance is a huge factor in determining egress and I'm sure if people wanted to go down the stairs and walk across at ground level that option will be available to them as well in addition. Imagine how people will be able to get out of the bldg in the case of a major fire, more options is always better than fewer options. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 Part of good urbanism is to protect people from the elements (ex. the Rice Hotel sidewalk overhang on Texas). How is providing shade robbing the park of a sense of place? Shade is a good thing! How about the fact taht this provides another perspective of the park that was only available to folks with apartments facing the park; now everyone who lives there has this view. Also it's a waste of energy to have wheelchair bound residents take the elevator down and then back up again, ADA compliance is a huge factor in determining egress and I'm sure if people wanted to go down the stairs and walk across at ground level that option will be available to them as well in addition. Imagine how people will be able to get out of the bldg in the case of a major fire, more options is always better than fewer options. So you're saying that having a skybridge over a park gives it a sense of place because the skybridge provides shade? Is that tongue-in-cheek? As far as providing another perspective of the park to residents who don't have park views, why don't they just go down into the park??? Sorry, but quality parks with a sense of place don't have skybridges over them. The skybridge, no matter how benign and pragmatic its intent, always gives off a sense of "we're above/better than the park." It casts a pall on the atmosphere below. To the arguments of, "Well, they're just going to/from their cars anyway," no one is ever just going to/from their cars. They may think they are, but everything in the built environment enforces a certain habit of thinking, a certain sense of what's immediate and what's separated. The person who has to walk through the park to get to their car is more likely to come back and hang out in the park later when they don't have to be somewhere. The park becomes part of their environment, not relegated below it. Anything you walk through twice a day becomes connected to you. They might have a chance encounter with a neighbor who's sitting in the park. They might notice the plants. The bridge enforces an isolated, sterile, get-out/get-back-in mentality. I realize it sounds like I'm making a mountain out of a molehill, but the molehills add up. Skybridges here and there, like the one in the apartments on the other side of the soccer stadium, quickly start sucking the pedestrian feel out of the neighborhood. If you want a quality urban environment, everyone must be forced to occupy and share the same plane - the plane given by the ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naviguessor Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 I am not really sure we can call this a "Park". It really is just more a passage way...anyway. I rather like the renderings. I am grateful that it doesn't use all the suburban style ques that many, many of the other Apartment blocks are using. I think it'll look great with Dynamo Stadium. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texasota Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 I'm just not sure I'm convinced that this skyway is meaningfully different from the interior hallways in either building. Now, if multiple developments started to connect to each other be skyway? Then i'd be complaining.I am not really sure we can call this a "Park". It really is just more a passage way...anyway. I rather like the renderings. I am grateful that it doesn't use all the suburban style ques that many, many of the other Apartment blocks are using. I think it'll look great with Dynamo Stadium. Just to be super obnoxious: Cues, not "ques" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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