East Downtown residents have been following the construction of a 2-story steel-framed structure going up on the corner of Polk St. and Chartres St., just beyond the I-69 overpass from the backside of the George R. Brown Convention Center. Photos sent to Swamplot show some of the framing going up last week (above) and a more recent view from the frontage at 2009 Polk St. (below).
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The 10,000-sq.-ft. building (5,000 on each floor) will be home to the 350 Degrees wholesale bakery, which is owned by the site’s developer, Ahnika Mar. But 350 Degrees — known for its hyper-realist cake creations — will only take up 3,500 sq. ft. of the building. The remainder of the structure will consist of retail spaces for lease, as well as some residential space on the second story.
Photos: Swamplot inbox
This might be the 1st new construction retail in the area. It should prove to be a solid investment and the artsy bakery is an interesting niche.
Very interesting building…….Story Architects did the design……I was working and involved in the design/construction documents for the building.
A wholesale bakery does not sound like a place where I can pick up bread for home, but hopefully other retail tenants will take advantage of the new construction.
Hopefully the redo of the Downtown highways doesn’t end it before it gets off the ground!
Won’t this block be deemed ’eminent domain’ when the new I45 is rerouted through here? The latest map I saw shows the Lofts at Ballpark will be part of the eminent domain…
You know, I find the developments in east downtown interesting, but let’s be real, the writing is already on the wall there. The momentum is there and it’s just a matter of time before this stuff fills in there. Want to find the real oddball adventurers moving east? Go past Lockwood. That’s the demarcation line in my opinion. I’ve really only seem two things there (not counting Bohemeo’s which has been there forever). One is the new Cutthroat barber location, which seems to be remarkably busy for a high end barbershop. The other is (and I’m not 100% sure on this, but it was a reliable source) Kickin kombucha which is opening some sort of cafe or some such thing on the corner spot of the El Greco strip mall by the kipp school. I would love to hear reports of some of these more adventurous establishments opening up farther east. Architecture aside there’s nothing that crazy about someone building a new business in an area where most tow homes sell for 300+. Show me the people bringing overpriced haircuts and nasty fungus drinks into the barrio.
I was thinking the same thing Ellie Mae.
” Show me the people bringing overpriced haircuts and nasty fungus drinks into the barrio.” MrEction wins the internets!