Renderings and reports of a giant mixed-use development that would swallow up the entire block on the west side of Kirby Dr. between Colquitt and West Main St. have been shopped around for almost 6 years. But recently there’s been some action: Last week the planning commission approveddeferred for a couple of weeks a hearing on the proposed combination of the various properties on the block into a single “unrestricted” lot. The original hearing date was announced on signs posted in front of the Hendricks Pub (at right), Roak, and the OTC Patio Bar, created back in 2011 from portions of the former Settegast Kopf funeral home, as well as in front of Cafe Express (above). The website of New York real estate firm Thor Equities features the latest renderings of the block’s proposed replacement, called the Kirby Collection:
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- Previously on Swamplot: The Jazzy New Bouquet of Towers Meant To Replace 4 Bars in 3 Buildings on a Kirby Block
Photos: Swamplot inbox
I believe this plat was deferred for two weeks at the applicant’s request. So no approval from the PC yet.
Does the city give you one of these giant NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING signs when you apply for the variance request? Would I be responsible for hammering it into the ground myself? Is there some sad sap in City Hall mail-merging these things and sending them out to copy.com? Do they just bulldoze the signs along with the property while they’re at it or does someone come to pick it up? I’ve never seen one waiting on the curb for heavy trash day. They seem to magically appear just as they disappear.
@JT100: Fixed that. Thanks!
No the City does not give out these signs. The applicant is forced to have one made and installed with all kinds of exacting standards and then has to mail out letters explaining the same thing the sign says to every property owner within 1000 feet and then some bozo in planning can’t figure out at which point the 1000 feet should be measured and more letters have to be sent……etc….etc…..then the applicant is free to trash the sign once the variance is approved or denied. It is such a racket……
@DoubleRainbow The applicant is responsible for installing the sign, creating the notice packages, and producing legal notices (legal notices published in the Chronicle usually cost anywhere from $600 to $1000 for one day). They typically hire a “sign company” to create the sign, install, remove, and make any changes to dates if necessary. The city is definitely not responsible for the signs as they typically cost $500 a piece for full service. Most times when the signs are removed they are recycled into new signs to reduce the need to buy all new materials for additional new signs. Of course the sign company’s sign inventory increases over time.
@JT The exact notice measurement is a 250′ radius around the project and a 500′ measurement down any public ROW that the project abuts, to the nearest public ROW intersection. In areas where Houston has poor intersection spacing that notice area grows significantly because sometimes you can go thousands more feet without reaching a public ROW intersection. If more notice letters are sent it is typically the applicant who incorrectly drew the wrong notice lines, many times because of the 500′ measurement.
OMG, where will all of the Douchebags go hang out now, oh the horror!
That artist rendition of what could go up is positively frightening.
Kirby on both sides of 59 is already choked despite the pretty renovation (which added no capacity, mind you). Add that monstrosity and no one is going fast on that road. Come to think about it, no one is going fast on that road as it stands now.
@ Texmex01……..LOL. All the douche bags will have to go hang out on Washington with all the other Douche Bags. I am so damned happy those bars will be torn down. Love the proposed new projects.
Just another case of adding density without the infrastructure to handle it. Houston is going to choke itself if the developers have their way. Anything to make a buck in this city–and we have the best mayor that money can buy who totally supports this chaotic approach to development.