Comments on: West Ave: Going South?

By: OkieEric

OkieEric — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:31:33 +0000

I walked by a little over a week ago and there were workers on scaffolding on Kirby. It was pretty much the only activity I saw, though

By: stephen

stephen — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:12:58 +0000

Yes, it is shut down. I would like to know why there is no news about it, or what is happening to 2727 kirby next door.
I do miss the old trees.

By: bobv

bobv — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:08:54 +0000

Has construction stopped on West Ave Phase I? I drive by there all the time but haven’t seen any workers on site for at least a month. Wonder if retailers are backing out?

By: Jessie M

Jessie M — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 02:01:23 +0000

It looks like that modern building might be the office space anyway, no?

By: Eric

Eric — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 23:16:59 +0000

jgbiggs - it is expensive as heck to render lots of additional cars/people/objects not to mention it takes lots of additional time to do so. The architect usually has a limited budget so they try to make it stretch and present a rendering that will display the building they are working on, not the surrounding city-scape.

Judging from the angle and that it is “south” (a little click on google maps will aide you) you would probably be looking down Kirby towards US 59 from across the street. Or if you were driving down Kirby heading south (or towards 59) you’d notice it on your right-hand side.

By: Lance

Lance — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:46:51 +0000

I agree with Charlie. The modern design is much more appealing.

It seems much of Houston’s new designs sway so traditional, when other cities are bursting at the seams with modern design. There are some, but for the most part, it’s hard to find much of anything modern in Houston. And if it is, it’s priced too high-end, from rentals to residential real estate.

Anybody know what’s up with that?

By: Charlie

Charlie — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 08:02:09 +0000

Well, I’ll tell you this. I just moved to Houston and being a fan of urban living and mixed use projects I stopped by the Gables leasing office. First, these units are way too traditonal for me. I like moder design and space like Gables does in Dallas at the West Village. They are expensive too at $2k+ per month. The kicker, though, was that when I told them that I may be buying so I was looking for a 6-12 month lease they told me to look elsewhere because they were only accepting 18 month leases! I can only assume from that the project is doing very well…. Maybe a phase 2 really is imminent? Anyway, being a fan of the more modern, I like phase 2 better than 1 anyway.

By: tcpIV

tcpIV — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 20:38:23 +0000

I wonder if they would consume Beck’s Prime like the Republic Bank Center (now B of A) did to the Western Union switching station downtown.

By: sallyhou

sallyhou — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 19:51:49 +0000

Area bounded by Kipling, West Alabama, Kirby and Virginia is 8.5+ acres. That leads me to be believe that there are probably 4+ acres left on the South and West Edges of the current West Ave development. Their first phase marketing plans are bounded by Westheimer, Kipling and Kirby on N, S and E edges, and Lake St (if you extend it) on the West edge — a perfect rectangle.

If I do a quick area check of everything else (all the way to Virginia, leaving out the Regency House and it’s parking, the remaining area is 4+ acres. That could be what Phase II entails. It’s closer to 5 acres than the 8.5 acres further South, anyway.

FYI, Kirby Court Apartments on Steel (apts. and BIG OAKS only, not including the M.Penner or Piano Store) is 3.1+ acres. I really think that the referred to rendering is not intended for areas further South than Kipling. There is still more for West Ave. to develop on existing apparent block, Virginia Side. But that’s probably just wishful thinking.

By: jgbiggs

jgbiggs — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 18:56:53 +0000

It irks me to see these “architect’s renderings” of proposed developments. I try to imagine from what vantage point the picture is depicting, and come to the conclusion that it only exists the fantasy world of the artists mind. Note how no other buildings are present in the image, as well as no cars driving on the street. All we see are two parked cars, with an abundance of seeming free spaces along with a couple dozen pedestrians. Only in a dream could such a thing exist on Kirby Drive and Westheimer. I am curious as to the name of the street shown with landscaped esplanades, anyone hazard to guess?