Central Square Plaza has been sold, and new owner Keeley Megarity, whose LLC closed on the 1-acre Midtown property at 2100 Travis St. about a week ago, says that a decision about how to renovate these buildings — and what to renovate them into — will be made in the next 30-45 days.
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The fate of the 12- and 14-story office buildings and parking garage on the lot bound by Milam, Travis, Webster, and Gray has been bandied about in court for years. At the end of January, though, Claremont — who Megarity says will be doing the construction — floated renderings that depict the building at the corner of Milam and Webster renovated with a new facade and potted plants by the elevator bank.
Yesterday, a Swamplot reader spotted workers clearing weeds and overgrown former landscaping from the sidewalks and ground floor:
- Previously on Swamplot: Will Central Square Plaza Look Like . . . This?, Midtown’s Central Square Plaza Wants You To Know It’s Available, City Loses Skirmish in Battle To Repair Central Square
Photos: LoopNet (building), Swamplot inbox (others)
It looked better w/ the weeds.
Isn’t this the bldg. where “the other woman” lived in “Urban Cowboy?”
Good luck! Hope they keep the clock. I’d love to see that area really turn around.
I’m not normally such a pessimist, but if ANYTHING comes of this building (and that includes leveling it), I might have a heart attack. I’ll have aspirin ready just in case.
Jealous. We’d have loved to do something with that building. A bit big for us at the moment.
Whether they clean them up or smash them to pieces, this will be a big win for Midtown.
The other urban cowgirl lived in the Houston House.
@ Colleen – the “other woman” lived in the tower 2016 Main.
I think this building has a ton of potential. Great “mad men” vibe.
The underground parking after TS Allison is forever burnt into my mind.
I need a drink.
Yep Henrietta, you’re right.
The City extended its developer candy program for putting in multifamily to the SkyHouse development. I wonder if the program will continue to creep south across the Pierce elevated to this (potential) development.
About time, thank you to the new owners cannot wait to see the finished product whatever it will be.
Now can we do someting about the old Holiday Inn/Heaven on Earth hulk across from 2016 Main??
Mind is blown.
Who are they kidding? After a year long study, the new owners will conclude that renovating the building is just too costly and demolition is only feasible. After which, it will remain an overgrown, empty lot and homeless campground for well over a decade until Walmart announces that they purchased this block and several surrounding blocks to finally build a Midtown store, Heights style….I’ve lived in this city way to long to get giddy over any “promising redevelopment” such as this.
“D’you come into Houston propah much?” So cheesy.
Maybe Megarity can demolish the buildings, sell the land to Harris County, who can in turn make it a parking lot which they lease to the HLSR for $1 a year, who can then bus people to Reliant, thus saving the Astrodome from destruction.
I’ve been in the building and besides the $800k estimate to do the asbestos remediation, the building has ridiculously low ceilings, as in comically low, as in depressingly low… I think the only option is demo.
Why are older building ceilings generally lower? Have high ceilings only recently been made possible or are they a modern fashion?
I live in an old 1920s house with 8 1/2 foot ceilings. Doesn’t bother me one bit. In fact, I love it. My house is the bomb.
Rodrigo, it’s part what was “normal” for the day and part cost savings. Higher ceilings make a room look bigger without making the footprint bigger.
I’m not holding my breath on a remodel. It’s step in the right direction though. That’s for sure. At least there’s a new owner. Al Antonini sure wasn’t going to do anything with it.
The Midtown TIRZ is rolling in cash. They need to buy the bus stations and demolish them. That would be a step-change for Midtown. And since the TIRZ would just make more money from the higher taxes, it wouldn’t cost a dime in the long run.
I believe it when I see it happening.
Ugh!! Tear this Hot Mess down!!! What on Earth would you turn this architecture vommit into? Seriously?!!
When I was at school at UH-D, I would take the rail up to campus everyday and see those two buildings there. To best contribute to the urban fabric, I often would imagine that someone would redevelop them as dorms, and the block that is between it and the rail line could be repurposed as a plaza with a few cafes that would link the building to the rail.
The private dorms could serve UH-D, HCC Central, South Texas Law, the medical schools, and even UH and TSU once the University line is complete. Having students commute from the various schools to this central location would add vibrancy to the area and could bring about good academic fellowship.
Not sure of the economic feasibility, but it would wildly popular (if the dorm fees were reasonable). Since it’s college kids, renovations need only consist of low cost furnishings, concrete floors, bare ceilings, and maybe a gym and cafeteria.
Gotta dream big.
I’ve been in a bunch of weird buildings, including these. The ceilings are not abnormally low for a mid-century office building. (If you want to talk about abnormally low ceilings, let’s talk about cotton warehouses.)
An asbestos abatement is expensive, but its easy to estimate and to lop off of the acquisition price.
The biggest drawback is the floorplan. It is inefficient and not easy to reconfigure. Parking would have to be restriped, and that would also create a problem.
Shannon seems to be really worked up today.
Lol! It’s Fiesta in San Antonio, so I’m in a Festive mood
What I’d like to see is the The Midtown TIRZ or a developer acquire all three lots between Milam and Fannin (and Gray and Webster). This would include the Central Square block and the Greyhound Station. A development like the three block Houston Pavilions would be great. Put in a couple restaurants, couple bars, couple shops, and there ya go!
word is the owner is planning a very low-cost renovation and not spending a penny more than necessary. don’t expect anything creative or imaginative from it. Very low-budget; slightly better than vacant.