Is this time the charm for the long-vacant all-but-freeway-side former hotel at 801 Saint Joseph Pkwy., on at least its 3rd round of intended redevelopers since it was vacated in 1998? The building began its career in the early 1970s as a Holiday Inn, later becoming a Days Inn before being turned into Heaven on Earth hotel by a group founded by embraced-then-renounced Beatles spiritual advisor Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. That group eventually shut down their increasingly dilapidated hotel and turned the place into a Vedic school before code violations forced the structure’s not-just-for-summer vacation; the spot has been courted by fickle would-be-remodelers on and off ever since.
But some work permits have been issued this year to the most recent owner, SFK Development, which bought the site in late 2012 per county records, and Catie Dixon reported last fall that the building will be turned into a Sheraton (an assertion backed up by some more recent tidbits from the structural scrutinizers over at HAIF). Meanwhile, reader Garrett Robles reports that the site is now the most active he’s seen it in 5 years of wandering around the area. Robles sends this set of recent photos peering at, around, and into the ground floor of the structure:
***
Robles spots new-ish locks in place, as well as state-of-the-art plywood security features:
At least 2 dumpsters had taken up residence on the property at the time of the Midsummer photo gathering:
Some of the graffiti on the structure looks to have been cleaned up:
Or at least partially obscured:
Robles notes that building seems to have some electrical infrastructure back in place — an electrical permit was issued last November:
The building sits catty-corner to the former First Church of Christ, Scientist, which is becoming a steeple-themed night club. The nearby Skyhouse Downtown and Skyhouse Main highrises to the east will have a good view of the scene as it unfolds:
- Previously on Swamplot: What’s Getting Thrown Out the Window at the Abandoned Days Inn Downtown?; Heaven on Earth Fire Drill; Digging Out from Heaven on Earth; Heaven on Earth Being Reincarnated; Heaven on Earth Sells Again
Photos: Garrett Robles
I don’t get why this building isn’t used for affordable housing downtown! this could have hundreds of units 1br-3br for low income families. and with this HHA Fountain View boondoggle this would be a much better approach considering downtown is higher income but much more accessible to nearly any walk of life. def needs to be AFFORDABLE HOUSING especially considering it’s in downtowns new residential neighborhood, extremely close to High Capacity Transit with 3 rails and the Downtown TC around the corner. But watch they spend millions to help just a few wealthy have a nice hotel stay while POVERTY/HOMELESSNESS CONTINUES TO GROW IN HOUSTON!
Have you looked at the school ratings for living downtown vs. uptown? It’s a large gap and probably a disqualifier.
.
Hard to see acquisition and redevelopment costs coming in less than $240k per unit considering the going rate for downtown property, but who knows.
Please, something like this renovation:
http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/2014/04/the-statler-hiltons-renovation-would-be-a-defining-moment-for-resurgent-downtown.html/
I’ll believe it when I see it. The guestrooms are 12′-6″ Center-to-center, and the ceilings are 8′-0″. Not something that Starwood-Sheraton is going to go for. The building has tons of infrastructure issues, mainly, no transformers or main switchgear, which were flooded out in Tropical Storm Allison. Lastly, there is a huge crack running right down the middle of the parking podium. It converts nicely to workforce housing, however.
There’s been about 2 workers working in there for the last 3 years. I think just moving trash from one side to another I’ll believe something is actually going to happen when the sign lights up.
A coworker of mine asked one of the workers what was going on a few months ago. HE said that they were converting it to a hotel and that it was going to be open for the Superbowl.
Laughable.