Sellanious Caesar Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 It looks like there is a net gain in residential units (when you consider the new Davis Proj. + SkyHouse River Oaks) when compared to the old apartments on that same land. This is a net improvement for the area. Westcreek Ln is really a residential street, it has been for over 35 years now. River Oaks District was a net reduction in residential units. It looks like these other developments should make up for that loss, with a fair margin. Hopefully, maybe, one of the TBA projects will consider some upper-middle income units instead of going all out total luxury. So many middle of the road units are going/will be going away without replacement - eventually, the market will bear the consequences.I noticed that as well that there's a net gain housing units with all these projects vs the old apartments. But it had me thinking about the household size in the old apartments vs these new residentials being built. I would imagine that the household size would be >2 (mirroring areas of DT) vs the old apartments where people probably had kids. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 does Randy have his own architect or does he outsource architects? personally im excited to see what he comes up with and wish he would build a condo tower in downtown. i guess its just a select few of us on here that like his work. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota79 Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 (edited) does Randy have his own architect or does he outsource architects? personally im excited to see what he comes up with and wish he would build a condo tower in downtown. i guess its just a select few of us on here that like his work.Look - Randall has good ideas, and a dream. Just not great execution. He has added a lot of residential buildings. My issue is not one of his buildings (Not even ONE) has been well thought out in how it relates to the buildings around it. Many times he forgets that they are tall, and can be seen on four sides. Just spend a bit more and make it right. In the scope of his projects a 2-3% added cost for architecual details (real ones) would make a big difference. He would be great in Vegas or maybe even Beaumont. We deserve better. Edited September 30, 2014 by Dakota79 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toxtethogrady Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Look - Randall has good ideas, and a dream. Just not great execution. So does that mean that his plan for 10-story anatomically correct statues of Greek gods and goddesses around the base would be a bit off-putting? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texasota Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 So does that mean that his plan for 10-story anatomically correct statues of Greek gods and goddesses around the base would be a bit off-putting? I would support that entirely. I'll take kitschy and memorable over boring and derivative any day of the week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota79 Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 I would support that entirely. I'll take kitschy and memorable over boring and derivative any day of the week. That, and another Batman name with maybe a Batman entrance to the parking garage and we will be set! Good to go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toxtethogrady Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 As long as the exterior lighting features a Bat-signal. To compete with the Williams Tower beacon. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstontexasjack Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Kitschy would be great north of MMP next to the Cosmopolitan of Houston proposed by Realtex (assuming it resembles their proposed Cosmopolitan down in Corpus Christi). A space-themed building would actually be quite fun. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Something tells me the Cosmopolitan downtown won't resemble the corpus design. Corpus is a beach town. Maybe if they were building it in Galveston, but downtown? But I like your enthusiasm for some RD downtown. Downtown could use a few more permanent residences.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArchFan Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 To me, it does seem that RD has done some kitchy stuff, but nevertheless I have enjoyed (and continue to enjoy) some of it. I have never followed the topic of which architects he uses, but that would be interesting to know. That said, I do know of one firm that was involved with him, once. I think it was a painful experience for both parties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 (edited) Leasing trailer on site.. They've got Astoria advertisements all over the side of it still though.. Lol.. Edited October 2, 2014 by cloud713 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arche_757 Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 (edited) Whenever I see a Randall Davis project: I'm reminded of that "famous" quote from The Dark Knight about the "hero Gotham deserves...but not the one we need right now" I don't know why, but I just feel like it is appropriate for him? Except he's sort of the inverse. If that makes sense? Edited October 2, 2014 by arche_757 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstontexasjack Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 Cloud713 beat me to it. Glad to see the Astoria trailer being repurposed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
citykid09 Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 Maybe Astoria is the new Sky House and we will see them all over Houston and in other cities as well. Just a thought. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 Astoria Westcreek 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 (edited) Lmfao.. I wouldn't mind a Titan resurrection. Edited October 2, 2014 by cloud713 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luminare Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 Maybe Astoria is the new Sky House and we will see them all over Houston and in other cities as well. Just a thought. Please no. This is ok for something like SimCity, but not in real life! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstontexasjack Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 According to a rep from Randall Davis, the Sales Center for this condo should be up by the end of the year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toxtethogrady Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 Maybe Astoria is the new Sky House and we will see them all over Houston and in other cities as well. Just a thought. Astoria Marlowe? Sounds like the name of an heiress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 Nothing here yet, but it's something to keep an eye on for new information and a rendering. http://www.houstoneb5.com/project_Westcreek.cfm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeRichardson Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 Nothing here yet, but it's something to keep an eye on for new information and a rendering. http://www.houstoneb5.com/project_Westcreek.cfm Wait, so that would imply this is another one of those shady schemes to effectively sell rich foreigners US citizenship? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonIsHome Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 Wait, so that would imply this is another one of those shady schemes to effectively sell rich foreigners US citizenship?What is shady about economic citizenship?just as long as we are not actively seeking unsavory types I don't necessarily deem the program to be shady. There are some that are wealthy but feel oppressed in their native country Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeRichardson Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 What is shady about economic citizenship?just as long as we are not actively seeking unsavory types I don't necessarily deem the program to be shady.There are some that are wealthy but feel oppressed in their native country And there are many more 1000's of people who are not wealthy, and subject to much worse oppression. If these "EB5" guys were actually coming over here to make legitimate investments in businesses other than that of the condo tower where they plan to live - then maybe I could see the benefit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 And there are many more 1000's of people who are not wealthy, and subject to much worse oppression. If these "EB5" guys were actually coming over here to make legitimate investments in businesses other than that of the condo tower where they plan to live - then maybe I could see the benefit. That reflects a misunderstanding of the EB-5 visa program. The EB-5 guys don't and can't get visas just by buying themselves a condo. That's not the way the program works. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swtsig Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 And there are many more 1000's of people who are not wealthy, and subject to much worse oppression. If these "EB5" guys were actually coming over here to make legitimate investments in businesses other than that of the condo tower where they plan to live - then maybe I could see the benefit. so in other words you have no idea what the EB5 program entails. got it. and stop with the pity party. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeRichardson Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 (edited) That reflects a misunderstanding of the EB-5 visa program. The EB-5 guys don't and can't get visas just by buying themselves a condo. That's not the way the program works. so in other words you have no idea what the EB5 program entails. got it. and stop with the pity party. Then why are these condos being marketed this way - using the term "EB-5", if they do not fit somehow into the scheme? It seems to me that the EB-5 investors could live anywhere they please as long as they met the primary requirements of the program: An investor seeking an EB-5 immigrant visa through a designated Regional Center must generally make a qualifying investment of $1,000,000 USD... Additionally, the foreign investor must demonstrate that the investment created at least 10 U.S. jobs through direct, indirect, and induced effects. I am not sure how my previous remarks constitute a "pity party", but I do admit to misunderstanding the program. Edited February 25, 2015 by MikeRichardson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Then why are these condos being marketed this way - using the term "EB-5", if they do not fit somehow into the scheme? What is this marketing of which you speak? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 It seems to me that the EB-5 investors could live anywhere they please as long as they met the primary requirements of the program: An investor seeking an EB-5 immigrant visa through a designated Regional Center must generally make a qualifying investment of $1,000,000 USD... Additionally, the foreign investor must demonstrate that the investment created at least 10 U.S. jobs through direct, indirect, and induced effects. Of course you know that no one suggested an EB-5 investor cannot live anywhere they please. Of course they can. And as you also know, that is not the point at all. Of course An EB-5 investor can buy a condo for himself in the West Creek project or in Astoria, or he is free to rent an apartment in the Block 384 project downtown, all of which are being financed, in part, with EB-5 investments. But neither buying a condo in either of the first two projects or renting an apartment in the third will qualify the person for an EB-5 visa, even if they spend more than $500K or $1 Million on the same. Neither buying a condo nor renting an apartment is a "qualifying investment". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeRichardson Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 What is this marketing of which you speak? http://www.houstoneb5.com/project_Westcreek.cfm The title and logo of the page say "Houston EB5". The content is basically "Westcreek". The group's past project is a downtown multifamily building. Therefore, it is a stretch to assume that the "Westcreek" project is also some type of multifamily building. It's not exactly "marketing" - perhaps that is the wrong term. But that site, along with other sites and articles I have read, seem to demonstrate some type of relationship between "EB-5" and condo towers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 (edited) http://www.houstoneb5.com/project_Westcreek.cfm The title and logo of the page say "Houston EB5". The content is basically "Westcreek". The group's past project is a downtown multifamily building. Therefore, it is a stretch to assume that the "Westcreek" project is also some type of multifamily building. It's not exactly "marketing" - perhaps that is the wrong term. But that site, along with other sites and articles I have read, seem to demonstrate some type of relationship between "EB-5" and condo towers. Yeah, that's pretty much what I expected... The content is "basically 'Westcreek'" because your link is to the Westcreek page of the Houston EB5 website. The site is marketing investments in development projects. It is not marketing condos (or apartments). Give it up, dude. Your understanding of the EB-5 program is just wrong. (I'm not sure what you are trying to say with your last sentence. No one has suggested there is no "relationship" between EB-5 and condo towers and of course you know that. Of course there is a "relationship". It's just not the relationship you assumed. Foreign investors cannot qualify for an EB-5 visa by purchasing a condo. Edited February 27, 2015 by Houston19514 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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