A plan on the website of Hnedak Bobo Group, a developer an architecture firm based in Memphis, showcases this rendering of a shiny 38-story residential tower named (for now, anyway) “Houston Luxury Apartments,” standing behind the Texaco Building at 1111 Rusk St.
This view shows the lot bound by Capitol, Fannin, San Jacinto, and Rusk, where the 13-story Texas Company Building — said to be the first major oil company headquarters in Houston — and its add-ons has stood since 1915. The few details Hnedak Bobo mentions indicates that that building would be maintained and renovated into age-appropriate apartments, as well.
And there’s more:
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In February 2012, the Houston Chronicle reported that Dallas developer Provident Realty Advisors was throwing around a similar project for the Texaco Building — the scope of which these two new renderings seems to capture. What wasn’t captured then — or in a previous proposal EFO Residential made in 2011, reported by Culturemap — was any mention of a residential highrise.
The rendering directly above shows the addition of a parking garage-garden combo atop an H&M — or some other street-level retailer.
Below: A view of those unmistakable arches at the base of the Texaco Building, seen as though from the south side of Rusk St.:
Hnedak Bobo also mentions that the project will be plugged into the tunnel system.
- Houston Luxury Apartments [Hnedak Bobo Group]
- Construction at old Texaco Building? [HAIF]
- Another plan surfaces for old Texaco building [Houston Chronicle]
- Signs of real estate life: Texaco Building set for royal re-do, new Post Oak tower planned [Culturemap]
Renderings: Hnedak Bobo Group
bankrupt 2017
The last rendering is clearly Downtown Atlanta in the background.
I believe Hnedak Bobo is an architecture firm, not a developer.
Where are all these people coming from?
AND their description tells us the client is . . . Provident Realty.
@Houston19514: You’re right on both accounts. Thanks! The story has been updated.
Never happen.
But the concept of putting the pool on the edge of the parking garage with transparent side is great — the freaky deaky feeling of swimming off the edge on to San Jacinto. . .
The timing seems right for something to be done on this block. Not sure if this is the most likely outcome.
The big ditch on the northwest corner of this block is depressing.
If Hines builds 609 Main, this might not be all that unlikely. BG Group Place sparked the Carter building conversion; this would be catty-cornered from both Hines buildings.
HOUSTON LUXURY APARTMENTS: LUXURIATE IN LUXURIOUS LUXURY
Why does everyone think this can’t happen? Did you feel that way about One Park Place before it was built too? This would be a home run in my opinion, especially with the new(ish) tax abatements thrown in.
So, they couldn’t find a picture or rendering of downtown Houston? Or is this like Skyhouse and the same basic tower will be built in Atlanta. Could be an interesting project.
I know for a fact the Texaco building renovation is happening, and the high rise will be developed once the Texaco building is up and stabilized…
@doofus The tax credits I’ve heard about wouldn’t technically cover this location. They’re intended for the southeast side of downtown bordering 59. Not that it stopped them from giving the first rebate to SkyHouse, which was nowhere near the intended revitalization area. I just hope that they don’t end up giving up all of the revitalization rebates to developers making projects outside the target area.
The background is very non-specific, but the older building in the rendering is just about exactly like the old Texaco building, save for what looks more floors to be built on top.
1311, I would like you to be honest about your opinion 6 months ago on the odds that Skyhouse would be actually be built (I wasn’t optmistic myself).
A five-story garage covering a little less than a third of the block. Is that gonna be enough parking for all this?
TheNiche,
There is presently a nearly 2-story deep hole in the ground there (ever since they demolished the 14-story Houston First Savings building in 2002, built in 1964), which would presumably also be underground parking. Also, the existing buildings on that block take up less than half a block, so you’d get at least half a block taken up by parking.
But otherwise, your point is valid. That would still probably not allow more than 1 spot per unit (estimating 500 parking spots and 500 units here), which is a bit on the low end, especially for 1000 SF units.