Three categories of the Swamplot Awards for Houston Real Estate have been introduced so far: Favorite Houston Design Cliché, Best Project Cancellation or Delay, and — earlier today — Best Teardown. The next call for nominations is for the Best Rebranding Effort of 2008.
A new name, a new identity package — maybe even a new address — can do wonders for a property on the down-and-outs. Apartment complexes are perhaps the most obvious targets of complete and partial makeovers in Houston, but rebranding also works its magic on homes, office buildings, shopping centers, neighborhoods, furniture, and careers. A little paint, a little staging, a little extruded polystyrene, a little Yurpean flair, and voilà ! Something new and exciting for you!
Which Houston property, place, thing, or person deserves this award for the rebranding efforts visited upon it in the last year? Can you tell us why? Your nominations, again, are requested in the comments section below, or in Swamplot’s inbox. The nomination rules aren’t going anywhere — they’re still here. Whaddya say?
- Your Nominations for Best Teardown of the Year [Swamplot]
- Nominations Now Open: Best Project Cancellation or Delay [Swamplot]
- Your Nominations Please: Favorite Houston Design Cliché [Swamplot]
- The Swamplot Awards for Houston Real Estate: How To Make a Nomination [Swamplot]
- Swamplot Award Nominations 2008 [Swamplot]
I think the retrofitting of the old Sterling Bank building on the Gulf Freeway will be a nice way to keep the iconic stair-stepped design of the building while modernizing and “greening” the building. Maybe it should perhaps be a next year nomination since it is just now getting underway?
http://www.pphouston.org/images/content/pagebuilder/123719.jpg
I’d have to go with the Warwick-to-Zaza transformation. Six plus months to make old and stodgy young and hip. How hip? One of their courtesy cars is a faux black-n-white Highway Patrol car.
My nomination for best rebranding would have to be Downtown Houston. Houston has really try to make downtown a more livable destination with Discovery Green Park, Houston Pavillion, and the new Park Place highrise. Downtown still has a long way to go to have a life beyond the Monday to Friday 9-5 thing, but it’s getting there.
I’d say the Savoy Custom Homes to Moore Luxury Homes fiasco. After sinking his last ship, he is out there looking to do it again, this time with another partner who he has managed to con in to helping him since he can’t get a state license nor does he have any credit.
I would have to say the Mosaic wins this hands down. Instead of having two empty* towers named Mosaic now we have one empty tower named Mosaic and one empty tower named Montage! Viva la difference!
*Before anyone screams, I meant they’re empty of owners, not renters.