If the giant 25-story-tall question mark built into the profile of the Hotel Alessandra — the Modern tower pictured above, planned for a spot directly behind the XXI Forever store along Fannin — spurred any of you to wonder when or whether construction of the promised residential expansion of GreenStreet (formerly Houston Pavilions) might begin, here’s an answer: Next Monday, MLK Day, workers will begin blocking access to the urban mall’s center court at 1201 Fannin St. and other areas to begin demolition work. Their target: The much shorter structure that once housed the Houston Pavilions’ Yao’s restaurant, owned by family members of Houston Rockets star Yao Ming, which stands in the way.
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Demolition was originally scheduled for last June. The 225-room hotel designed by Gensler will feature a lobby, rooftop pool, and bar with views of the skyline — all on the building’s top floor:ÂÂ
Plans announced last year included 7,000 sq. ft. of retail and restaurant space on the building’s bottom floors. Like its sister Hotel Sorella at CityCentre, the Hotel Alessandra will be owned by the Midway Companies and operated by the Valencia Group. Construction is now expected to begin in April.
- Previously on Swamplot: New Mod Downtown Highrise Hotel Alessandra Will Slam Dunk Former Yao Ming Spot at GreenStreet; Yao Locked Out of Houston Pavilions After Magic Johnson Takeover
Renderings: Gensler
Looking forward to drinks at that bar…
@detroux: Me too, I’d like to see a return to the days when hotel bars were *the* spots. Not that I’m old enough to remember them, just seems better than the bropub scene.
This would be a lot better project if it were constructed closer to the center/hotspot/Non-obsolete section of the city: The Katy Mills Outlet Mall would be pretty good. They could put some surface parking for international travelers, and maybe a shuttle (with fees, no free rides you moochers!) to local french cuisine resturaunt: Le Madeleine
I had a wonderful topic on HAIF regarding suggested bars that were loungey, not so loud, and not hipster or DBaggish. Hotel bars were the suggestion. Drinks at the Monarch in Hotel ZaZa are amazing. The view of the MFAH & Oak Trees are unquestionably the best. Hilton Americas has a really nice bar in their lobby as well. The Omni Hotel is so/so.
Really looking forward to going to this bar too!
The new bar at the J.W. Marriott downtown has become the go-to place for downtown professionals.
Wasn’t it announced recently that it will no longer look like that? Those renderings are sadly misleading.
http://swamplot.com/hotel-alessandra-tower-redesign-loses-the-swoops-and-curves/2015-01-22/