THE LUXURY POST OAK IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE NEXT TO MCDONALD’S 
Randall Davis has completed the purchase of (most of) the 1405 Post Oak property where that long-standing McDonald’s was getting in the way of his Astoria development (the rendering of which is shown here), reports the Houston Chronicle‘s Nancy Sarnoff: The McDonald’s that appeared in last Monday’s Daily Demolition Report is expected to be replaced with a smaller one near the edge of the 30,466-sq.-ft. 1.23-acre property, making room for the 70 28-story luxury tower — with 3-bedroom units going for $1.3 million — that’s being marketed as a path of upward mobility: “Davis has been luring investors through the federal government’s EB-5 visa program where wealthy would-be immigrants can put $500,000 or $1 million into a job-creating commercial enterprise and become lawful permanent residents of the United States.” [Houston Chronicle ($); previously on Swamplot] Rendering: Randall Davis Company
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Wasn’t that McDonalds the first 2 story McDonalds in America? Where’s the historic commission to save this historic site from demolition? Just like Houston to let what is truly a national treasure be put to the wrecking ball.
I don’t think it’s 70 stories.
@Love swamplot: You’re right. Thanks.
Okay, it’s not as bad as the Renoir, the Gotham, or that monstrosity on Post Oak and Hidalgo, but can this guy please hire an architect who knows something–anything–about proper proportion between width and height of a building? This thing looks stumpy.
I remember when that McDonalds opened in the late 80s.
I know for sure that is was the first two story Mickey D’s in Texas. Not sure about the US?
Is that supposed to be a crown on top?
Pyewacket2: Yes it is a pretentious attempt at putting a crown on the top of the building.
As I recall the McD also had a stock ticker.
For all the bidness men.
@bill I asked if it was, knowing it was, they used to have a plaque that stated as much.
I don’t think the rest of the nation would forgive us if this is torn down, a piece of recent american history just tossed into the dustbin. All of the positive momentum Houston has could be just tossed out because of this.
@toasty It’s already been torn down!
Design issues aside, Randall Davis is very smart to take advantage of the EB-5 program.
The EB-5 program involvement is a creative and interesting move, but I think in this case it does not comply with the requirements, especially in the Spirit of the Law. And since compliance is ultimately determined by an individual bureaucrat, I think it will be “disallowed”.
THE ENTIRE PROPERTY IS OVER 50,000 SQUARE FEET! I HATE THESE KINDS OF MISTAKES!!!!!!
I think it looks pretty sweet.
@Kristin, well that’s disappointing, I’m gonna go ahead and petition the state to at least put up a historic marker to commemorate the location of first 2 story McDonalds in the country. Hopefully, they make the space into a park, or shrine to fast food excess.
@comonyall: Fixed. Thanks.
Great toasty. A marker that needs to be Weedeaten around.
There were three story McDonald’s in Manhattan long before this was ever dreamt about…
Todd – Were they 3 stories freestanding or did those McDs just occupy 3 floors of an existing structure? I recall walking through a 3 story Circuit City in an old building near Times Square about 11-12 years ago. It was actually on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors and I had to take an escalator up to the entrance. Interesting but not an impressive setup considering there was no back storage area. All of the inventory, pallets, et al, were sitting on the sales floor. Then I watched a young female employee with big bangs and long nails wagged her finger in a young male employee’s face, and said something like, “Don’ you be disrespec’n me, ahkay?”. I’m pretty sure I laughed all the way back to my hotel. /cool story, bro