Tag: Proposed Developments

Condos, Financing, Land Sales, Mixed Use, Proposed Developments, Rice Village, Streets

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The West U Examiner‘s Michael Reed points out that Randall Davis has a looming deadline to complete some work on the block of Bolsover St. in Rice Village that was purchased from the city:

A condition, passed by the Houston City Council at the time of the sale, specified that some changes to the site of the high-end condo over retail project must be completed within one year.

The block was sold in August of last year so that Davis could use it as part of his Sonoma mixed-use development. Since then, Davis has run into problems finding financing, and the project has changed considerably. He now wants to build the smaller second phase — on the south side of the street — first. But the Walgreens currently on that site has a lease that won’t be up until January.

What needs to get done by the end of October?

The plugging and abandonment of the 8-inch water line within the street, and the relocation of the existing storm sewer inlets to Bolsover and Morningside.

The developer is â€œrequired to eliminate the appearance of the public streetâ€ at the intersections of Bolsover and both Kelvin and Morningside.

Bolsover deadline at hand [West University Examiner]
Previously in Swamplot: Sonoma: Bolsover Bulldozer, Sonoma Holdup: We Need Some Money, Council Bowls Over, So No More Street

77005, Commercial Real Estate, Condos, Financing, Land Sales, Mixed Use, Proposed Developments, Randall Davis, Rice-Village, Sonoma, Streets

Apartments

10/08/08 12:11pm

Ashby Highrise: Strike Seven!

Boulevard Oaks, Condos, Development Regulations, Highrises, Neighborhood Disputes, Proposed Developments, Quicklink, Southampton

8 Comments

ASHBY HIGHRISE: STRIKE SEVEN! “The developers of the Ashby high-rise sent their plans back to the city of Houston just days before Hurricane Ike hit, and not long after the Public Works Department resumed operations, Buckhead Investment Partners were rejected for a seventh time. Records show the plans were filed again Sept. 11, seven days after being returned. They were denied a remaining permit again Sept. 29. In his comments, city engineer Mark Loethen said plans for a driveway permit contained no revisions and there was ‘no current justification’ for restriping plans on Bissonnet Boulevard at Ashby Drive.” [West University Examiner; previously]

77005, Apartments, Ashby Highrise, Boulevard-Oaks, Condos, Development Regulations, Highrises, Neighborhood Disputes, Proposed Developments, Southampton

Apartments

09/12/08 10:00am

Ashby Highrise: Stuck on the Dock

Boulevard Oaks, Condos, Highrises, Neighborhood Disputes, Proposed Developments, Quicklink, Southampton

ASHBY HIGHRISE: STUCK ON THE DOCK That last city permit is proving difficult for developers of the Ashby Highrise, as the city denied the variance request for a loading dock last week: “In comments for the Public Works and Engineering Department, city engineer Mark Loethen said the at-grade loading dock from Bissonnet Street will not be allowed because its use would obstruct lanes of traffic. In his Sept. 4 comments, Loethen said the variance was rejected for the same reason, citing Sec. 40-86 of the code of ordinances. ‘Such a driveway, as proposed, would excessively interfere with the normal use of the Bissonnet Street right of way,’ he said.” [West University Examiner; previously]

77005, Apartments, Ashby Highrise, Boulevard-Oaks, Condos, Highrises, Neighborhood Disputes, Proposed Developments, Southampton

Commercial Real Estate

09/09/08 12:25pm

Sonoma: Bolsover Bulldozer

Condos, Demolitions, Development Strategy, Financing, Mixed Use, Proposed Developments, Rice Village, Streets

11 Comments

Demolition on Bolsover St., Rice Village, October 2007

Having torn down an entire block of buildings in the Rice Village for a condo project the company can’t get financed, Randall Davis has a better idea: Why not demolish the buildings on the other side of Bolsover — so they can build the second phase instead?

The Chronicle‘s Nancy Sarnoff reports that Davis and company have been unable to get a $100 million construction loan for the Sonoma mixed-use condo development he’s been marketing for a couple of years. Hey, that’s no problem! Just move on to the next project, and double down on the demo:

Now they’re negotiating for a $70 million loan with 40 percent equity to build the smaller second phase of 85 units.

“Hopefully they’ll respond positively since we have so many sales,” said Davis.

The sales, however, are for the first phase of the project, which has been 50 percent pre-sold.

And the second phase is on the south side of Bolsover, where Walgreen’s has a lease until January.

After the jump: marginal views of phase two!

77005, Commercial Real Estate, Condos, Demolitions, Development Strategy, Financing, Mixed Use, Proposed Developments, Randall Davis, Retail, Rice-Village, Sonoma, Streets

Buying and Selling

09/08/08 11:23am

The Solar Powered Shipping Container Sales Center for the Mirabeau B.

Condos, Construction Materials, Development Strategy, Environmental, Green Design and Development, Homes for Sale, Hyde Park, Montrose, Proposed Developments, Real Estate Marketing

3 Comments

Mirabeau B. Sales Center, 2410 Waugh, Hyde Park, Montrose, Houston

The new sales center for the Mirabeau B. is looking pre-fab! Now at the northwest corner of Hyde Park and Waugh: two 20-ft. recycled shipping containers, outfitted with a solar array on a digitally fabricated rack. The website for Metalab, the architecture firm in charge of the project, claims the solar panels will generate 180 kilowatt hours per month. What’s that figure converted to condo sales?

Oh, but selling condos is apparently only this structure’s day job for now:

Solar panels on the roof can fold shut at night or during bad weather, said Andrew Vrana from Metalab.

â€œWe would like to further develop this as a solution,â€ he said. â€œPeople could have one of these made and put in their backyard and supplement their energy with solar power.â€

Below: more pics!

77006, Buying and Selling, Condos, Construction Materials, Hyde Park, Montrose, Proposed Developments, Shipping-Containers

Homebuilders

09/08/08 8:22am

Hazard Redevelopment: Growing Pains in Plain View

Homes for Sale, Plainview, Proposed Developments, Redevelopment, Townhomes

6 Comments

Painview Sign at 2420 Hazard St., South of Fairview, Houston

Is this art too? Plainview’s townhouse transition spreads south of Fairview. Here’s a plain view of the soon-to-be-former duplex at 2420 Hazard. It’ll hurt — just a little bit.

After the jump: more photos spell out the story for you. Plus: A new back patio!

77019, Homebuilders, Homes for Sale, Plainview, Proposed Developments, Redevelopment, Townhomes

Development Strategy

09/05/08 11:41am

Lounging Around: A Thicker Idea for Center and Washington

First Ward, Landscape, Redevelopment, Streets, Washington Corridor

Section of Proposal for Center St. between Sawyer and Sabine by Taizo Horikawa

Landscape students attack the Washington Ave. Corridor! A modest proposal for widening Washington and Center St. between Sawyer and Sabine — from LSU student and SWA summer intern Taizo Horikawa:

During Week 3 I focused on the area along Washington Avenue between Sawyer Street and Sabine Street, pushing the idea of Colors of Ribbons forward. The underused area between Washington Avenue and Center Street is developed as a human-scale, vibrant commercial area with two-story commercial buildings. The north-side sidewalk of Washington Avenue is widened to be 30 feet with a row of shade trees. It works as linear plaza where people spill out from the commercial buildings and lounge around.

After the jump: one-way streets!

77007, Development Strategy, First Ward, Landscape, Proposed Developments, Redevelopment, Streets, Washington Corridor

Condos

09/05/08 10:00am

Cisterns and Balcony Bikes: What You’ll See at the Mirabeau B.

Construction Materials, Development Strategy, Environmental, Green Design and Development, Hyde Park, Montrose, Proposed Developments, Real Estate Marketing

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Rendering of Mirabeau B. Condos, 2410 Waugh Dr., Hyde Park, Montrose, Houston

How could anyone hope to top the opening line of River Oaks Examiner reporter Kirsten Salyer’s story about the Mirabeau B. condos?

Pigs flew over Hyde Park as residents and developers came together to promote Houstonâ€™s first green condominium.

This full-priced condo building is slated for the former site of Half Price Books, at the corner of Hyde Park and Waugh in Montrose. The 4-story development will have 14 units, priced mostly from $400,000 to $600,000 — though one penthouse unit will go for a cool million.

If they can sell 6, developer Joey Romano tells Salyer, they’ll actually build it!

And here’s some of the promised greenishness: The Mirabeau B. will leave 5 large oak trees and a large open space on the site. There’ll be a green roof, a solar array to shade one of the walkways, and cisterns to capture runoff. Harvest Moon Development says it’ll use low-flow plumbing fixtures, low-E glass, and low-VOC paints. A single central heating-and-cooling system to save energy. Attention to natural light in each unit. An in-condo recycling area. And actual native plants!

Plus a few more things that go with the hoped-for LEED-Silver rating: 10 percent of all building materials will contain recycled content, and 20 percent will come from within 500 miles. Half of all construction waste will be recycled.

What’s the punchline? How about . . . the architecture firm is from Austin?

More images of the Mirabeau B. below!

77006, Condos, Construction Materials, Development Strategy, Green Design, Green Development, Hyde Park, Montrose, Proposed Developments

Apartments

09/03/08 12:49pm

Ashby Highrise: Down to a Loading Dock?

Boulevard Oaks, Condos, Development Restrictions, Highrises, Neighborhood Disputes, Proposed Developments, Quicklink, Southampton

5 Comments

ASHBY HIGHRISE: DOWN TO A LOADING DOCK? Buckhead Investments has resubmitted plans for the proposed Ashby Highrise for the single permit standing in the way of construction. “[Developer Matthew] Morgan said the developers have asked for a variance concerning the design’s loading dock, adding that ‘plenty of examples’ of similar configurations ‘can be found on thoroughfares and collector streets’ in the area. One example he cited is the new high-end, 236-unit apartment complex called Fairmont Museum District at 4310 Dunlavy St. ‘It seems to have loading docks that you can’t pull through,’ Morgan said. ‘Dunlavy is a collector street. We don’t feel like the same criteria was used.’ [West University Examiner; previously]

77005, Apartments, Ashby Highrise, Boulevard-Oaks, Condos, Development Restrictions, Highrises, Neighborhood Disputes, Proposed Developments, Southampton

Downtown

09/03/08 11:55am

Discovery Tower Discovery Green Discoveries

New Construction, Office Buildings, Parks, Proposed Developments, Real Estate Marketing

Aerial View of Discovery Green and Discovery Tower, Downtown Houston

Never mind the virtual obstacles: The website for Discovery Tower has a new promotional video that pays silent homage to Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. Also: more fancy renderings of the office building, now under construction.

More interesting to Discovery Green fans, though, will be a few new aerial renderings that depict the Downtown park in urban glory, surrounded by a crowd of real, planned, imagined, and soon-to-be-axed new projects. But . . . uh, which is which?

That orangish tower perched on Discovery Green’s southwest corner: the stalled 22-story Embassy Suites hotel. That sorta-identical but mirrored Hilton Americas on the north side of the park? The Convention Center Hotel Part Two!

So . . . what’s going on behind Discovery Tower?

77002, 77010, Discovery Green, Discovery Tower, Downtown, Hotels, New Construction, Office Buildings, Parks, Proposed Developments, Real Estate Marketing

Montrose

09/02/08 2:46pm

Anvil Strikes the Daiquiri Factory

Nightlife, Openings and Closings, Proposed Developments, Quicklink, Renovations, Restaurants

3 Comments

ANVIL STRIKES THE DAIQUIRI FACTORY Beaver’s barkeeps Bobby Heugel and Kevin Floyd will be opening their own place in the former Daiquiri Factory on the Westheimer Curve: “Our new bar, Anvil, located at 1424 Westheimer, will be opening in mid-November. Beneath the decades of former bar structure and traffic, lies a beautiful building with priceless windows, historic brick, and exciting features that are certain to make Anvil a site to see.” [Drink Dogma]

77006, Montrose, Nightlife, Openings and Closings, Proposed Developments, Renovations, Restaurants, Westheimer Curve

Financing

08/29/08 8:39am

West Loop Nineties Revival Not Getting Enough Love

Galleria, Highrises, Houston Architects, Office Buildings, Proposed Developments

Proposed Novati Group Office Tower at 1600 West Loop South, Uptown, Houston The Houston Business Journal‘s Jennifer Dawson is reporting that the Novati Group’s plan to dust off a 15-year-old Ziegler Cooper design for a 20-story office tower and build it on the West Loop

appears to be in limbo. The deal isnâ€™t dead, but itâ€™s not moving forward.

The problems: finding debt financing . . . and that pre-leasing thing.

Meanwhile, Dawson expects Transwestern to announce details soon on a large new addition to Uptown’s Four Oaks Place — to replace the 24-Hour Fitness on Post Oak Blvd. owned by TIAA-CREF:

The proposed building being called Tower Five at Four Oaks Place is now set to be 30 stories tall, with 525,000 square feet of office space on 22 floors atop a parking garage with roughly 1,500 spaces, says Carleton Riser, head of Transwesternâ€™s development group.

He says the building designed by architectural firm Pickard Chilton could break ground in the first quarter of 2009.

The fact that no tenants have committed to the new building wonâ€™t delay construction, Riser says.

Office buildings on and off [Houston Business Journal]
That Nineties Retro Tower Coming to the West Loop [Swamplot]
New West Loop Tower: Keeping the Uptown Office Market Up to Date [Swamplot]

Rendering: Ziegler Cooper

77027, Financing, Galleria, Highrises, Houston Architects, Office Buildings, Office Space, Proposed Developments, Uptown

Hazards

08/28/08 5:49pm

Grave Concerns for Regent Square

Montrose, North Montrose, Proposed Developments, Quicklink, Redevelopment

GRAVE CONCERNS FOR REGENT SQUARE The College Memorial Park Cemetery once stretched across the entire block bounded by Dunlavy, W. Clay, Gross, and W. Dallas. Portions of the Allen House Apartments were built on former cemetery land that was sold in the 1960s . So what will the developers of Regent Square do? “In a statement, the company vice president said his group has created a site excavation action plan which includes continual archeological monitoring. So far, there is no documentation showing that the graves exist, but all parties agree that remains need to be preserved. The biggest goal is to restore the entire cemetery to what it use to be.” [11 News]

77019, Cemeteries, Hazards, Montrose, North Montrose, Proposed Developments, Redevelopment, Regent Square, Streets

Demolitions

08/27/08 12:57pm

State Grille Demolition: Just for the Hell of It