Work has begun outside the former McGowen Cleaners — closed since 2015 — on the corner of Fairview and Morse streets, the site of the planned Vibrant restaurant. Last May, Vibrant’s owners bought the 3,909-sq.-ft. brick building, along with 2 adjacent neighbors to the south; they plan to open their Lake Flato-designed restaurant inside the corner building in March. The above rendering shows a patio that would be cut into its corner — and a garden lining the street, where chunks of chopped-up pavement now lie.
The rendering also shows tall windows being created where clerestory windows currently face Fairview. The clerestories are visible in the center of this photo of the 1931 Fairview St. building from last year, when the property was up for sale:
In honor of Thanksgiving and the retail frenzies that follow, Swamplot will be suspending its regular real estate coverage from now through the weekend. May you find moments to express gratitude — and make the most of your holiday celebrations. We’ll try, in our way, too. And please join us again right here on Monday for more Houston takes. Photo: 
