BLVD Place - development in Uptown (Houston, Dallas: condos, how much, hotel)

[Guerilla]

This development is in Uptown Houston. It will be adjacent to a new light rail station:













55 story Hanover Condo
~40-45 story Ritz Hotel/residence
~40-45 story tower tenant not yet known

There will also be a shopping complex in the front. The land is currently being cleared and the shopping complex will go up first then in the 2nd quarter of next year the Hanover Condo goes up.



Link to the project:
http://www.wulfe.com/BoulevardPlace.asp

[mpope409]

Eh. It's appeal is so-so. While the design and architecture is very fascinating, it just seems to follow close on the heels of Victory Park.

I visited the site and I'm interested in seeing what luxury stores will go there.

[Musclehead]

Originally Posted by mpope409

Eh. It's appeal is so-so. While the design and architecture is very fascinating, it just seems to follow close on the heels of Victory Park.

I visited the site and I'm interested in seeing what luxury stores will go there.

If the design and archictecture are fascinating why would it's appeal be so - so and is not Victory Park in Dallas ..... I do not get your logic here . I live in South Florida but travel to Houston 4- 5 times a year and even with all of its problems and lack of zoning ( ugliness ) I still love the place mainly due to its people .... Houston needs more venues like Blvd Place as these up scale areas attract tourists and also generate convention business .

Anyhow I just do not comprehend your logic here ... sorry

[mpope409]

Originally Posted by Musclehead

If the design and archictecture are fascinating why would it's appeal be so - so and is not Victory Park in Dallas ..... I do not get your logic here . I live in South Florida but travel to Houston 4- 5 times a year and even with all of its problems and lack of zoning ( ugliness ) I still love the place mainly due to its people .... Houston needs more venues like Blvd Place as these up scale areas attract tourists and also generate convention business .

Anyhow I just do not comprehend your logic here ... sorry

Let me put it like this. It's a very neat addition to Uptown, and I'm so glad they're filling in those empty spaces. Yet, while the architecture and general idea is attractive, I just think they can do better. That's my sole opinion.

I'm not trying to start something or set off anybody's alarm here.

[texas7]

Nice venue - looks interesting. Although I am not a supporter of light rail. I know a lot of people are chomping at the bit for it to spread out but it is actually dangerous. They don't expand the street to accommodate it - they close off a lane in each direction :-( Med center down to one lane on Fannin? If we get too much rain - it can't operate. People say only an idiot can get hit by the train - not true - the thing is silent and frequently operates at a speed limit higher than it is supposed to be. In the med center, some of the turning lanes into the med center are actually on the light rail track. I was in a turning lane prior to the holidays, had a red light (waiting to make a left across Fannin into one of the med center bldgs. The light rail pulls up behind me while I am at the light and the idiot operator sat there and incessantly blew his little whistle at me to go (until the light finally turned green). I was not about to run the light and make an illegal left and risk getting broadsided by the oncoming traffic who had the green light on that side of Fannin. I can see how that could intimidate someone who is new to the area or some of the elderly residents who are trying to figure their way around the med center. The of course, there is crossing on foot. There are some sections of Main St. in the downtown area where when you get the walk signal, you get about halfway across Main before it changes to don't walk and that is walking at a good clip. Then of course there is the getting accosted by the homeless while you wait for the train - Metro says it isn't their problems - the platforms are public property and not metro.

[mpope409]

Originally Posted by texas7

Nice venue - looks interesting. Although I am not a supporter of light rail. I know a lot of people are chomping at the bit for it to spread out but it is actually dangerous. They don't expand the street to accommodate it - they close off a lane in each direction :-( Med center down to one lane on Fannin? If we get too much rain - it can't operate. People say only an idiot can get hit by the train - not true - the thing is silent and frequently operates at a speed limit higher than it is supposed to be. In the med center, some of the turning lanes into the med center are actually on the light rail track. I was in a turning lane prior to the holidays, had a red light (waiting to make a left across Fannin into one of the med center bldgs. The light rail pulls up behind me while I am at the light and the idiot operator sat there an incessantly blew his little whistle at me to go (until the light finally turned green). I was not about to run the light and make an illegal left and risk getting broadsided by the oncoming traffic who had the green light on that side of Fannin. I can see how that could intimidate someone who is new to the area or some of the elderly residents who are trying to figure their way around the med center. The of course, there is crossing on foot. There are some sections of Main St. in the downtown area where when you get the walk signal, you get about halfway across Main before it changes to don't walk and that is walking at a good clip. Then of course there is the getting accosted by the homeless while you wait for the train - Metro says it isn't their problems - the platforms are public property and not metro.

So, what do you suggest in place of light-rail? (hoping you have the same idea as me)

[tstone]

Elevate the trains, run some down the reversible HOV lanes. Richmond is flood central when it rains and you can bet light rail would get shut down if it went down that road.

Anyway I'm watching this construction now from work. This looks much better than the monstrosity condos that have come up in recent years!

[texas7]

Well if Houston wants a rail system - they need to fork over the cash for an elevated system. The logic they use for the current trolley ride rail is the cost. The city seems to be able to fork over cash for sports stadiums, concert venueus, etc. - the public transportation thing obviously rates low on their concerns because they took the cheapest route possible.

Check out this danger train blog with photos

http://houblog.com/wp/index.php/2006/395

http://www.bloghouston.net/item/3178

Experiences with "danger train" might be a good topic - particularly as they plan to build such a nice development in uptown as the one pictured in the op with a light rail line nearby.

[Texas Mack]

Rail (& Bus) transit is heavily subsidized by the federal government. METRO was very unique in building its starter line out of its own pocket but it doesn't have nearly enough money (now) to build the lines its currently preparing to build out of its own pocket much less a more expensive elevated rail system.

The feds are going to have to fork over the larger share of the cost and the Houston area's historically not had a strong voice in favor of rail transit within the federal goverment. Things may be different now but I don't know how much Kay Bailey-Hutchinson is going to go to bat for the area, even if she's pro-rail.

[Guerilla]

Originally Posted by mpope409

Let me put it like this. It's a very neat addition to Uptown, and I'm so glad they're filling in those empty spaces. Yet, while the architecture and general idea is attractive, I just think they can do better. That's my sole opinion.

I'm not trying to start something or set off anybody's alarm here.

So, what would you like to see then? There is nothing wrong with the development to me.