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Neighborhoods: Midtown

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Monday, April 21, 2008

Pierce Elevated Face Change

April 21, 2008 – 11:53 pm


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The St. Joseph Professional Building, which looms over the Pierce Elevated, will be getting some sort of face lift soon, reports Amy Wolff Sorter in Globe St.:

The building, which underwent a $10-million renovation in the past year, will get an additional $7.8 million of upgrades from its new owners.

Alex Brown Realty of Baltimore and locally based Mission Equities GP LLC are taking on the 44-year-old building at 2000 Crawford St. St. Joseph Professional Building has a mix of retail and medical office space. . . .

Upgrades to the 18-story building will include replacements of the HVAC and sprinkler systems. Also on tap are upgrades to the elevator, life-safety system, exterior façade and interior common areas. The renovations are anticipated to be completed within six to nine months.

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11:53 pm | 1 Comment | Read more about Medical Buildings, Neighborhoods: East Downtown, Neighborhoods: Midtown, Office Buildings, Renovations
Thursday, March 27, 2008

Still Coming Soon: The Courtyard on Richmond

March 27, 2008 – 5:43 pm

Perspective View from Richmond and Milam of Proposed Courtyard on Richmond Apartments

A reader writes in wanting to find out what is planned for the “gigantic” and newly cleared block at the northwest corner of the 59 South feeder road and Richmond, just west of Midtown. The block surrounded by Richmond, Colquitt, Garrott, and Jack is the planned site of The Courtyard on Richmond, a midrise apartment complex by Post Properties that’s just a short walk away from the Wheeler light-rail station.

Back in October, the Chronicle’s Betty Martin reported on the project: a 5-story, 200-unit structure with two courtyards, sandwiching a parking garage. The story included this comment:

It would be similar to “that property in Midtown that everybody likes - Midtown Square - that has a restaurant on the ground floor, brick sidewalks,” [Post Properties developer Bart] French said.

Post Properties built Midtown Square, so you might expect the new project will be similar . . . well, except for that part about restaurants on the ground floor. The plans we’ve seen don’t show any retail, except for a leasing office at the corner of Richmond and Milam. And a Planning Department document dating from January refers to the Courtyard on Richmond as a 252-unit residential-only project.

After the jump: those plans!

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5:43 pm | Comment | Read more about Apartments, Mixed Use, Neighborhoods: First Montrose Commons, Neighborhoods: Midtown, Neighborhoods: Neartown
Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Storefront Ad: Midtown Full Frontal Oddity

March 5, 2008 – 11:12 am

Storefront Ad for Red Bull Art of Can Competition and Exhibition on Elgin St., Midtown, Houston

Here’s one advantage if you’re one of the not-so-large number of retail centers in Houston that doesn’t have a parking lot in front: If business ain’t so hot, you can always sell the highly visible adspace on your facade!

A reader sends in this photo of an ad for Red Bull’s Art of Can competition on the streetfront of a retail center on Elgin, across from the Calais apartments in Midtown. The Maple Leaf Pub is two doors down.

Is this the future of retail real estate? Sure, we’ve all seen ads painted onto the sides of old buildings and the giant window stickers on David’s Bridal storefronts, but doesn’t this go a bit . . . beyond that? Think of the possibilities: Stores . . . with ads covering their entire fronts, advertising . . . other stores. Or anything.

Forget billboards, graffiti, and wheatpaste posters. When this new market really kicks in, we’ll see Houston for its revenue-generating possibilities: We’ve got acres and acres of exploitable advertising space.

Tyvek Housewrap was only the beginning.

What comes after Tuscan-themed shopping centers? Billboard-themed shopping centers!

After the jump: a second photo, so you can get your Red Bull straight.

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11:12 am | Read more about Art, Commercial Real Estate, Neighborhoods: Midtown, Real Estate Investing, Retail, Shopping Centers
Monday, February 25, 2008

Midtown Mix: Fit for Leasing

February 25, 2008 – 10:26 am

Fence at Elgin and Louisiana Advertising the Mix @ Midtown, Houston

More details about Crosspoint Properties’s expanding developments at the corner of Elgin and Louisiana in Midtown: Catty-corner across Elgin from the building that’s already under construction is this new fence advertising the “Mix @ Midtown.” The Chronicle’s Nancy Sarnoff writes that Crosspoint — whose owners also rule the High Fashion Home/Fabric empire down the street — is planning an additional 50,000 square feet of retail space in the recently fenced block, though construction won’t start until 2009 at the earliest.

A commenter on HAIF suggests announcing the Mix might be a good way to drum up more interest in 3201 Louisiana — the building that’s already going up. A 24 Hour Fitness “Super Sport” — which will include a basketball court and swimming pool and occupy the entire second and third stories of that building — is the only tenant Crosspoint’s George Levan is mentioning. Still available, apparently: retail space on the entire 25,000-sq.-ft. ground floor.

Photo: HAIF user ricco67

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10:26 am | Read more about Commercial Real Estate, Development Strategy, Leasing, Neighborhoods: Midtown, New Construction, Proposed Developments, Real Estate Marketing, Retail
Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Hoa Binh: The Lasting Legacy of the Original Strip Mall

February 19, 2008 – 9:37 am

Hoa Binh Center at 2830 Travis, Midtown, Houston

Wielding a copy of Stephen Fox’s Houston Architectural Guide, transit buff Christof Spieler writes in to report that the vacant and graffiti-laden Hoa Binh Center in Midtown — targeted by Camden Property Trust for a new apartment complex — has an important story behind it. He quotes from Fox’s writeup of the shopping center, which was built in 1923:

What distinguishes this building is that it was the prototype of the 20th century American suburban shopping center: it introduced the concept of off-street parking, toward which the grocery store itself was oriented.

Spieler adds:

In other words, Camden may be about to tear down the world’s first strip mall. Now that’s a historic building.

And it’s certainly worth at least a nice plaque somewhere on those new apartments going up on the site!

But before all you preservationist types get up in arms about the impending demolition of the mother of all strip malls, keep in mind that an equally important part of this structure’s history and legacy will almost certainly be preserved, cherished, and celebrated. Sure, the building will probably end up in a pile of rubble off Loop 610. But all those historic off-street parking spaces? They’ll be moved into a nice new garage at the Camden Travis, where residents of the new apartments and their guests will be able to enjoy them for generations to come.

After the jump: Spieler spills more Hoa Binh history!

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9:37 am | Read more about Apartments, Commercial Real Estate, Demolitions, Historic Preservation, Neighborhoods: Midtown, Parking, Proposed Developments, Shopping Centers, Strip Centers
Monday, February 18, 2008

Maybe Somebody Did Give Up

February 18, 2008 – 8:48 am

Hoa Binh Center, Travis and Tuam, Houston

For years, Camden Property Trust has been talking about a giant mixed-use project the company is planning for the “superblock” bounded by Main, Anita, McGowen, and Travis in Midtown. And the Chronicle’s Nancy Sarnoff reported this weekend that Camden is ready to go ahead with its Midtown development.

Except the new Camden project isn’t on the vacant superblock. And it won’t be mixed use. It’s a four-story, 253-unit, $45 million apartment complex called the Camden Travis, planned for the site of the former Hoa Binh supermarket building, the dilapidated and heavily tagged vaguely-moderne-looking shopping center one block to the west, at 2830 Travis.

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8:48 am | Read more about Apartments, Commercial Real Estate, Demolitions, Mixed Use, Neighborhoods: Midtown, Proposed Developments, Shopping Centers
Thursday, January 10, 2008

And Now, Some Gentle Words of Encouragement for Midtown Redevelopment

January 10, 2008 – 5:40 pm

Hoa Binh Center, Travis and Tuam, Houston

Hey, whaddya say we just knock this baby down and put up a strip center?

Another parting shot of the former Hoa Binh Center at Travis and Tuam — plus more from Midtown’s most . . . vocal booster — after the jump.

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5:40 pm | Read more about Neighborhoods: Midtown, Public Art, Shopping Centers
Monday, December 17, 2007

Secret Midtown Boy Scout Sushi Location Revealed

December 17, 2007 – 10:31 am

1911 Bagby St., Midtown, Houston

Earlier this month, Rhea Wheeler told the Houston Business Journal about his plans to open three restaurants in existing buildings in the greater downtown area: Gastropub Hearsay next to Market Square, a Texas cuisine restaurant called White House at Austin and Elgin in Midtown, and . . .

What was that third location? The HBJ wouldn’t say:

The company’s third location is a secret ingredient in the restaurant mix. Wheeler does not want to reveal the location of the large Midtown property, which was purchased two years ago, because he’s trying to buy the surrounding properties.

Below the fold: oops — where it is!

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10:31 am | Read more about Commercial Real Estate, Neighborhoods: Midtown, Openings and Closings, Proposed Developments, Renovations, Restaurants
Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Hearsay: Market Square Gastropub Rehab . . . and More

December 4, 2007 – 11:04 am

Former Twelve Spot Bar on Travis Street, Downtown Houston

Former Ibiza and Catalan investor Rhea Wheeler and two partners have bought the shuttered Twelve Spot bar on Travis St. — just around the corner from Market Square downtown — and will be turning it into a gastropub called Hearsay.

218 Travis is Houston’s second-oldest building, and originally served as a Confederate Army munitions depot. It’s a dramatic space inside: There are three stories, but the upper floors have been removed and a mezzanine placed in the back.

Wheeler told Jennifer Dawson of the Houston Business Journal he’ll open the new restaurant in the first half of next year.

After the jump: More Wheeler restaurant plans! In actual old buildings!

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11:04 am | Read more about Historic Preservation, Neighborhoods: Downtown, Neighborhoods: Midtown, Renovations, Restaurants
Thursday, November 29, 2007

Going Up in Midtown: The Calais’s New Neighbor

November 29, 2007 – 8:56 am

Construction at Intersection of Elgin and Louisiana, Midtown

A reader who frequents Midtown sends photos showing the progress of the new building at 3201 Louisiana, along with comments.

Took this from near the corner of Elgin and Milam. Steel’s all up, and then some. 24 Hour Fitness is supposed to be moving into the top floor. The parking garage [in the foreground] was already there but was shuttered for a long time, has been painted and dressed up. Will be great to have an actual new three-story building with retail in midtown, instead of the usual strip centers and drug stores.

After the jump, plans and fancy renderings of the finished building, plus: our correspondent gets snarky!

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8:56 am | Read more about Apartments, Neighborhoods: Midtown, New Construction, Retail, Shopping Centers
Monday, October 29, 2007

The Belle Meade: Apartments Step Onto the Podium

October 29, 2007 – 11:07 am

Belle Meade at River Oaks Elevation Drawing

Belle Meade at River Oaks on Westheimer

A permit was issued late last week. And so sitework begins for the 119-unit, 168,398-square-foot Belle Meade at River Oaks, on Westheimer between Ferndale and Sackett, developed by Grayco Partners:

The project is a 6-story epicore (light steel) construction on top of a 2-story podium garage. The boutique building will resemble the look of turn of the century, old New York hotels in brick with cast stone details, while spacious interiors will include such amenities as hardwood floors, 10-foot ceilings, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and individual wine chillers. Community amenities will include conditioned interior corridors, heated pool, fitness facility, business center and a resident recreation room.

Grayco is also developing Museum Place, at Fannin and Oakdale in Midtown—a “contemporary design” also on a two-story podium. And Braeswood Place, on North Braeswood just east of Stella Link: the more usual four-story stick apartments hugging a parking garage, but it’ll also include 21 townhouses. It’s meant to look like Rice. All three properties will be managed by Camden Property Trust.

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11:07 am | Read more about Apartments, Neighborhoods: Midtown, Neighborhoods: Museum District, Neighborhoods: River Oaks, Neighborhoods: Texas Medical Center, New Construction, New Construction: Residential, Townhomes
Friday, October 26, 2007

When Graffiti Artists Paint the House

October 26, 2007 – 8:25 am

This Old House by Aerosol Warfare at the Diverseworks Satellite Space

DiverseWorks gave graffiti collaborative Aerosol Warfare free reign to paint the arts organization’s satellite space at the corner of Alabama and Almeda in Midtown, and this is the result.

You remember this house, right? It’s the one that used to have giant Sesame Street characters airbrushed all over it.

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8:25 am | Read more about Home Design, Institutional Buildings, Neighborhoods: Midtown, Renovations
Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Foundation Clears Midtown Lot, Sets Sights on Emergency Rooms

August 22, 2007 – 10:36 am

Demolition of the Fu Kim Grand Palace, Midtown Houston, June 2007

Christus Foundation for HealthCare, liberated a year ago from ownership of St. Joseph Hospital downtown, is planning a new family health center in Midtown at the corner of Fannin and McGowen. That’s the recently cleared lot where the Fu Kim Grand Palace complex used to stand.

Foundation president Les Cave tells the Chronicle the new building will be

a 55,000-square-foot “super clinic” designed to keep the uninsured out of emergency rooms whenever possible while giving them specialized care in everything from cardiology to orthopedics to dentistry.

The San Jose Clinic, the oldest charity clinic in the country, will move into the new facility from its current location under Highway 59 near Minute Maid Park, along with social services functions from Associated Catholic Charities.

Photo of Fu Kim Grand Palace demolition: Flickr user Dan Sandler

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10:36 am | Read more about Demolitions, Neighborhoods: Midtown, Proposed Developments