THE TUNNEL BENEATH THE DEAD CHRONICLE BUILDING IS NOW OPEN AGAIN 
Management for 717 Texas (or Calpine Center, if you’re less of a fan of numerically-forward tower vernacular) just sent out word that the tunnel from that building to Chase Tower at 600 Travis St. is now open again. The route takes a turn beneath the pretty-much-done demo of the newly former Houston Chronicle headquarters, evidently still slated by Hines for surface-lotdom for now — plus whatever work the folks next door have planned below ground to tie their own development into the tunnel network. Meanwhile, another block southwest down the same tunnel system (as visible in the 90-degrees-or-so rotated schematic above), Skanska has just signaled the go-ahead on the above-ground section of its Capitol Tower; no word yet on whether that construction will have another round of tunnel closure associated with it. [Previously on Swamplot] Map of Downtown tunnel connections: Skanska
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Roostar Vietnamese Grill is just about done moving into the southern slot of the perpendicular 2-man segment of the Richmond Ave. strip center east of Chimney Rock Rd., a reader notes. The Vietnamese kinda-fusion restaurant’s first location opened in Spring Branch a few years ago as Vietnam Poblano, swapping to the new name and stylized but literal melded bird-star logo not long after. Ronnie Nguyen and Linda Nguyen, the 2-link chain’s forgers, had hoped the new location (in the space formerly occupied by Napoli) would be up and running in time for all that Super Bowl hubbub; looks like the new plan is for an April opening.
Next door to the nearly-hatched restaurant is the former Starbucks spot, which had shut down by the time that shiny new freestanding one opened up on the corner across the street last year:
Coffee Out, Roostar In
Retail plans along the stretch of E. 11th St. west of Beverly St. look to be moving in a more concrete direction once again — SRS has started advertising available square footage in a double-decker strip center planned on the eastern half of the block. The design for the site has been totally overhauled since the original ads for a Park Place on 11th development (the weathered signage for which is still hanging around on the property, and has been for the better part of a decade.)
The potential footprint of the retail space spreads all the way from Beverly St. to just east of metals brightener Bright Metals of the Heights.  A leasing siteplan shows the center insulated from the 11th St. traffic by a breathable dual layer of parking spaces — and even a triple layer on the Beverly St. side:
2X 11th
- Stonelake Capital Partners Developing Luxury Retail Center in Uptown [Houston Chronicle; previously on Swamplot]
- Houston Saw a 3.6% Annual Drop in Rents in the Fourth Quarter, Finds John Burns Real Estate Consulting [Houston Chronicle]
- Capitol Tower Could Be Finished with ‘Core and Shell’ Construction in 18 Months [Realty News Report; previously on Swamplot]
- First Tenant Sets Move-In Date for Downtown’s 609 Main [HBJ ($)]
- More Dense Development Could Be in the Works for Chevron Campus in Bellaire [Realty News Report; previously on Swamplot]
- Bills Targeting Houston-Dallas Bullet Train Pass Texas Senate Committee [Houston Chronicle; previously on Swamplot]
- 14 Houston-Area Stores Closing as Part of Payless Shoesource’s Bankruptcy Process [HBJ]
- Theory Opening Second Houston Location in May at the River Oaks District [HBJ]
- Downtown Subterranean Food Hall and Beer Garden Conservatory Getting New Vendors [Houston Chronicle; previously on Swamplot]
- Lubbock-Based Abuelo’s Mexican Restaurant First Houston-Area Restaurant Lands in Katy Next Month [Eater Houston]
- Salata Opening 29th and 30th Houston-Area Locations This Week [Houston Chronicle]
- Houston’s Solar Use Lags Behind San Antonio, Austin, Finds Environment Texas Report [Houston Public Media; previously on Swamplot]
Photo of Lynn Park: Russell Hancock via Swamplot Flickr Pool
Headlines
Swamplot’s Daily Demolition Report lists buildings that received City of Houston demolition permits the previous weekday.
Nervous structures tend to overreact.
- 3616 Ella Lee Ln. [HAR]
TPWD: CHEF INVOLVED IN RUGGLES ESTABLISHMENTS INVOLVED IN GIANT ILLEGAL FISH NETWORK, TOO 
Following 2 years of investigation — and the discovery of some 1,900 pounds of illegal red snapper on an unlicensed boat near Freeport — the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department alleged today that Bruce Molzan  (long one of the main players in most of the Ruggles [Blank] establishments around town, most recently Ruggles Black) is tangled up with what may be the largest illegal seafood network ever uncovered in Texas. A press release from the department says the aquatic activities in question, which so far have warranted the handout of some 200 misdemeanor citations, have been going on since 2013. The state’s allegations toward Molzan include the purchase of illegally harvested finfish, as well as illegal shrimp purchases from another restaurant, for inclusion on Ruggles Black’s and Ruggles Green’s implicitly health– and sustainability-minded menus. (Molzan separated from Ruggles Green back in October, after its original W. Alabama location scooted over into the new midrise down the block; the new owners of Ruggles Green say that fish acquisitions since Molzan left have all been by the books.) [TPWD; previously on Swamplot] Photo of Ruggles Green on W. Alabama: Swamplot inbox
A bill filed Monday in Austin would mandate that more than half of the folks running each of Houston’s often opaque but increasingly well-heeled tax increment reinvestment zones be elected for 2-year terms by nearby residents of the zones, as opposed to the current system of city council appointments. The bill, proposed by west Houston rep Dwayne Bohac, employs the same handy Houston-targeting filter trick as that other recently filed state bill calling for a vote on what Harris County wants to do to the Astrodome: the bill’s language pinpoints only cities with a population of more than 2 million (of which Texas has exactly 1). If the measure makes it through all the necessary committees and passes, elections for board members would need to be held in 2018.
TIRZs Targeted
Today’s sponsor is Plan Downtown, a project of the Downtown District. Thanks for supporting Swamplot!
Downtown Houston is looking at you! Here’s why:
Plan Downtown, a 20-year vision that will outline recommendations for planning, development, and design within and around Downtown Houston, has a goal of positioning the area for a competitive and enriched future.
For the process to be successful, it’s imperative that people from all walks of life have an opportunity to give feedback on the many aspects of the plan. Consider this your personal invitation to participate in activities and inform stakeholders. Workshops are scheduled for April and July.
The first of these free public workshops — set for Wednesday, April 12, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm and from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Crystal Ballroom at The Rice — will give you a chance to learn about Plan Downtown, to examine the challenges and opportunities facing Downtown today, and to provide input for Downtown’s future. The event will include a short presentation and activity stations that will allow the public to engage with staff, the leadership team, and consultants.
What’s up for discussion?
Lots of questions. For a little background, the vision of the plan is built around 4 pillars to guide thought and conversation. It’s about making Downtown Houston
- the greatest place to be;
- the premier business location;
- the standard for urban livability; and
- Houston’s leading multi-modal center.
Over the next few months, the project group will be exploring these topics more in-depth, in an effort to guide the plan toward achieving these goals and objectives.
In the meantime, Downtown Houston is encouraging members of the community to think about:
- What are Downtown’s competitive advantages, and how do we build on those in the future?
- How can Downtown better connect to adjacent neighborhoods?
- How can we make a Downtown walk a more pleasant, safe, and engaging experience?
- How will Downtown attract its future workforce?
- What housing needs will Downtown and its adjacent neighborhoods have in the future?
Do you think you might have some answers?
Join Downtown Houston on April 12, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm and from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Crystal Ballroom at The Rice, 909 Texas Ave. For more information on Plan Downtown, visit the Plan Downtown website.
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Sponsor of the Day
The round bit of the Tremont Tower condo complex behind Doc’s was photographed entirely uncovered last week, nearly a year after the last confirmed sighting of the bare turret (and at least 2 years after the obscuring tarp was first installed). The reader who captured the shot (who adds that he “thought they only removed it to signify the election of a new pope”) didn’t catch the denuders in the act, however. The Montrose sighting comes just a day or so after those tornado-warning-laced storms blew through; perhaps incidentally, the tarp’s previous disappearance was also heralded by windy weather.
- Previously on Swamplot: Tremont Tower Tarp Returns After Brief Hiatus; Finding Hidden Value in the Tremont Tower; Tremont Tower: How Bad Could It Be, Really?; New Ways To Explore Houston’s Foreclosure Bubbles; Tremont Tower Video: How Construction Problems Attract Foreclosure Pileups; The Dirty Little Secret Behind the Montrose Foreclosure Hump
Photos: Swamplot inbox (top), Hey Hey Houston (second)
Baring All in Montrose
- Houston Office Space Vacancy Rose for 9th Consecutive Quarter, to 20.9%, Finds JLL [Houston Public Media]
- CenterPoint Plans To Boost Transmission Infrastructure, Petrochem Industry, To Meet Growing Power Demands in Freeport [HBJ]
- Former Venterra Realty President Launches Houston-Based Hilltop Residential [HBJ]
- Austin’s Tacodeli Opening April 11 at 1902 Washington [Eater Houston; previously on Swamplot]
- King’s Biergarten To Debut Second Houston-Area Location on T.C. Jester This Month [The Leader; previously on Swamplot]
- Architect Group ByDesign Shares Ideas for Houston, from Hyperloop Lines to Empty Surface Lot Uses [Houston Chronicle]
Photo of Thai Cottage Bellaire: Russell Hancock via Swamplot Flickr Pool
Headlines
Clemency isn’t everlasting – we’ll return as soon as technical difficulties with the city’s permit reporting system are resolved.
Just how many textures are tucked between the low walls of the facade at 3611 Woodvalley Dr. and the rather taller 610 Loop noise barricade that the property backs up against? The 2,704-sq.-ft. home has been outfitted with a considerable variety and range of visual stimuli in its 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, as well as its open kitchen and living areas — from the mod and minimalist to the more avant garde (that’s the master suite pictured above, as viewed from the open-plan walk-in closet). You can even draw your very own patterns on one of the 1959 home’s more recent chalkboard surfaces:
For Sale at Loop’s Edge
Ragin’ Cajun, likely Downtown’s most subterranean crawfish vendor, is packing up and crawling out of the tunnels beneath the McKinney Place Garage at 930 Main St., a reader notes this week. (That’ll leave its French-Quarter-evocative retail space open for more underground restaurant turnover; the garage most recently saw the swapout of a Prince’s Hamburgers branch for Time for Thai, amid other nearby culinary tunnel shuffles). The shop’s other locations are still open, per signage left behind at the scene.
- Previously on Swamplot:Â A Pair of Departures from the Former Two Shell Plaza Tunnels;Â The Cheesiest New Addition to the Downtown Tunnel Spread;Â Time for Thai Moving In on Prince’s Tunnel Territory Near Departed High Tower Deli;Â Former Downtown Tunnel ATM Site To Dispense Breakfast Paraphernalia Instead; all tunnel coverage
Photos: Dave
Crawfish Digout
Did everyone get their bets in on what the next use for that half-constructed cult-ready megamansion off County Rd. 59 was gonna be? Well, you’ve had plenty of years, and now time’s up: A group is currently working with the city of Manvel to turn the 30-to-70-bedroom space into a veterans housing facility, with plans to house veterans’ families as well (and to offer services like PTSD treatment, readjustment counseling, art classes, and rides to VA appointments). The place is going by the name The Bailey House, after actor and PTSD-afflicted veteran Jimmy Stewart’s character in It’s a Wonderful  Life. A meeting with the organization is in the works for Saturday morning, if you want more info (or want to help the place get set up and running, financially or otherwise).
Veteran Christa Mode, who’s spearheading the project, told the Chronicle’s Dana Guthrie this week that there won’t be a completion date floated until funding is taken care of. The building has also been roughed up by vandals since it last showed its face on HAR:
Vetting Plans Near Pearland
