lockmat Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 (edited) I'll add another car to this derailment.The last super tall we know of that had a rendering come to light was in Uptown, so scarcity of Downtown blocks (which won't happen for a while) is not a big deal. So, there are many factors and options. It will come down to the right demand and development to hold a crown of tallest in the city, state, or even west of the Mississippi. I'm sure Hines' latest tower could have easily become this, but would probably require the purchasing of another block solely for additional parking.I think you're right. Both submarkets have their own levels of scarcity and either could potentially provide a supertall. But remember my downtown caveat. All of downtown real estate doesn't need to be scarce, only the west/northwest side. That's my theory.Maybe an advantage that Post Oak has is that there aren't really towers they're going to tear down and replace with a tower. However, there is lots of room where current shopping centers are. ...thinking out loud here. Edited July 9, 2015 by lockmat 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avossos Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 i want a tower with a spherical or pyramid roof. They just seem so iconic and we need a few... 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 According to Wikipedia, the facility was once four separate structures that were joined together in the 70s. The original structures are 115 years old. Trying to find a picture from before they were joined.  Here you go:  7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downtownian Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2015/06/houston-chronicle-building-sale-in-the-works/#21137101=0Looks as though Hines is moving toward purchasing the Chronicle site Downtown. This holds potential for either commercial or residential. Would love something taller than the Chase tower here. Hines is confirmed: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/Hines-to-own-another-prime-piece-of-downtown-6479478.php "John Mooz, senior managing director of Hines, confirmed the company's plans to acquire the property late Tuesday but would not expand on what it plans for the site or provide any other details." 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KinkaidAlum Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Good news. They might sit on it for a bit, but they'll build and hopefully they'll build tall. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Well atleast we know the buildings will be gone. He sat on the BG Group lot for a while, I remember a rendering of a small blue glass building maybe the size of 6 Houston Center.It will be interesting what Hines decides to do with it. If they build residential now or commercial later, we can expect quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ANTHONYHTOWN Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 i like Hines with being the one getting this site either direction they go they might go 40+ floors. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wxman Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 I think a tall building on this site would look odd next to Chase Tower. It would appear that they were competing for height....a "who's d_ck is bigger contest. This would look better maybe on a lot by Discovery...assuming it'll be tall. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Well atleast we know the buildings will be gone. He sat on the BG Group lot for a while, I remember a rendering of a small blue glass building maybe the size of 6 Houston Center.It will be interesting what Hines decides to do with it. If they build residential now or commercial later, we can expect quality. I thought that was the Texas/Main lot. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 I thought that was the Texas/Main lot. http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/27729-609-main-at-texas-hines-next-downtown-tower/ First post. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Given economic uncertainty I think this will be a surface lot for many years to come.  2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 I thought that was the Texas/Main lot.Yes, one of them... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFootsSocks Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Given economic uncertainty I think this will be a surface lot for many years to come.Or lease the current building until they're ready to redevelop it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
102IAHexpress Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 I'm more interested in the chronicle garage. The garage site is a good location for residential. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moore713 Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Not so sure if they are thinking office, I think they will wait, if the are thinking residential then I think they will wait to see how the current project fairs, if it lease fairly quickly, then they will be aggressive. .one think about Hines they don't seem to focus on the current state of the market as much as the others if they did 609 would have been put on hold like so many plan towers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Given economic uncertainty I think this will be a surface lot for many years to come.I'd usually agree with you but you never know with Hines. Their risk assessment appears to be a little different than others. I could be wrong... we all know a slowdown in growth is coming so who knows what Hines may want to do now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avossos Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Here you go: I'd love this to be restored. Won't happen with Hines though 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swtsig Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 (edited) Not so sure if they are thinking office, I think they will wait, if the are thinking residential then I think they will wait to see how the current project fairs, if it lease fairly quickly, then they will be aggressive. .one think about Hines they don't seem to focus on the current state of the market as much as the others if they did 609 would have been put on hold like so many plan towers their timeline on multifamily is much longer than most developers... they pro forma assets through multiple cycles which equates to holds between 7-15 years. not to say that is always the case but that's their MO. Edited September 2, 2015 by swtsig 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 I'd love this to be restored. Won't happen with Hines thoughYou mean to tell me thats the original building under the Chronicle facade? Holy crap thats beautiful! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BayouCityMan Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 I doubt the original hodgepodge of buildings can be adequately restored at this point in their lifespans. When that cladding was put on those buildings in the 1960s, they did alot of damage to the exterior surfaces. Also, so much alteration has been done to the interior that it's all but unrecognizable in some areas. It is a shame though. The original Chronicle Building was a handsome architectural specimen for its day. It was built in 1909 and stood 10 stories tall. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 2018 possibly? Seems like a total guess.   But with the Houston office market headed for the doldrums it will be years before the Chronicle site, 801 Texas Avenue, will have a new skyscraper on it.  A groundbreaking in 2018, with a tower being completed in 2020, seems like a good timetable estimate. http://realtynewsreport.com/2015/09/01/houston-chronicles-demolition-to-clear-way-for-hines-next-addition-to-houston-skyline/ 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 A mix of good and bad news. I don't want another lot in downtown. Especially since Skanska isn't moving on their tower just yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cspwal Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 Would they really bulldoze it until 2018? Â Wouldn't leasing it out as offices until then be cheaper and provide more in come than a parking lot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate99 Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 Would they really bulldoze it until 2018?  Wouldn't leasing it out as offices until then be cheaper and provide more in come than a parking lot? It doesn't sound like the easiest property to lease out. At best, it might be comparable to the pre-demolition Houston Club building which was largely vacant for a long time prior to Skanska getting its hands on it. As to why you would demolish it vs. let it sit as is until you are ready, I don't know the economics or legal concerns involved well enough to hazard a guess. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 A mix of good and bad news. I don't want another lot in downtown. Especially since Skanska isn't moving on their tower just yet. Actually, it's no news at all. Nothing but speculation on the part of Ralph Bivins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstontexasjack Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 Would they really bulldoze it until 2018?  Wouldn't leasing it out as offices until then be cheaper and provide more in come than a parking lot? I suspect the configuration of the building would not be terribly attractive to most commercial tenants.  Hines would be on the hook for the value of the improvements in addition to the land for tax purposes and would have to pull tenants in in order to make the additional improvements worth it.  With all the construction downtown eating up competing places to park, they can reliably get good rates for parking to cover their holding costs without risking the maintenance costs and liability risk that comes with having improvements on property. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cspwal Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 Sadly that makes sense. Â I just didn't want a new parking lot a block away from market square and the new towers, in one of the denser parts of downtown 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wxman Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 I'm sure this has been answered many times before but the timetable to build a skyscraper is several years, especially in the 40+ floor range. So why not take advantage of the 'cheap' resources now for when the market recovers several years from now when the building is ready for occupancy. Sorry, I'm sort of ignorant on these issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 (edited) Hines has not been known to buy properties with any intention of sitting on them for any extended period of time, and I cannot think of a single instance where they have bought a property, demolished it, and replaced it with a parking lot. Edited September 3, 2015 by Houston19514 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 Hines has not been known to buy properties with any intention of sitting on them for any extended period of time, and I cannot think of a single instance where they have bought a property, demolished it, and replaced it with a parking lot.Dumb and lazy question, do we know how long they sat on the 609 property? They will likely not bulldoze anything until they build. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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