What would you do with the Maxwell House Coffee Plant, in the Second Ward, that is closing ? (Houston: apartment, lofts)

[Jack Lance]

An iconic Houston building is being vacated this summer. The Maxwell House Coffee Plant off Harrisburg In East Houston is shutting down and ceasing operations.

The 1-million-square-foot facility, which sits on 18 acres at 3900 Harrisburg Blvd., has long been a landmark in the Second Ward.

• 
  East End coffee plant to roast its last bean this summer
  
  Ford built the original brick and concrete building in 1913 for its Model T assembly plant. In 1946, Maxwell House, owned by General Foods and later Kraft Foods, moved into the facility. In 1988, the coffee maker added a 16-story tower bearing the company's eponymous neon sign.

It also has light rail access on Harrisburg...

What would you do with this property ? Lofts, retail, office, or maybe tear it down and build something else ?
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/bus...e-12848286.php

[jfre81]

This being Houston, and in 2018's version of the Second Ward, it's totally getting torn down for lofts that sit right on a railroad line.

[bloodwings19]

Why Metro rail build on Harrisburg is one of the worst plan ever for Houston. Grainger within a mile just closed, at least 3/4 of the business are closed, or working on miniscule operation. I drive through the area to work, it is a deterioration. At that corner, they just built a brand-new free-standing building Mexican restaurant. That will be the next to go after the coffee plant leaves, I don't know how they can survive without the plant. For those who want to move to the area, be warned that the price is getting higher, crime is still there (I had to file a police report recently, I know others who work there). And I knew the coffee plant was about to go because the smell of coffee has been absent too many days recently.

[hbcu]

they need to think about suburban building styles in areas like that.

The area will never be desirable for yuppies as you need to attract families who can supplement the new businesses and don't ming going to HISD schools

[Spade]

Originally Posted by hbcu

they need to think about suburban building styles in areas like that.

The area will never be desirable for yuppies as you need to attract families who can supplement the new businesses and don't ming going to HISD schools

Why would you need to build suburban development to attract families? I know you have experience in the DC/Baltimore area. In DC, there are plenty of families that prefer urban life over suburbia. I honestly don't see suburban style development occurring here anyway especially since it's on a rail line.

[jfre81]

And not just METRORail but an actual railroad line on the other side from Harrisburg.

[hbcu]

Originally Posted by Spade

Why would you need to build suburban development to attract families? I know you have experience in the DC/Baltimore area. In DC, there are plenty of families that prefer urban life over suburbia. I honestly don't see suburban style development occurring here anyway especially since it's on a rail line.

they want to act like its DC here in terms of living and prices in the loop but the mindset in Houston is space meaning yards, etc.

you need to introduce people who will remain in the area a long time. As funny as it sounds, the first phase of city park off 288 (the smaller homes) would work out there or a typical VA/DC condo complex with attached single family homes.

[Spade]

Originally Posted by hbcu

they want to act like its DC here in terms of living and prices in the loop but the mindset in Houston is space meaning yards, etc.

you need to introduce people who will remain in the area a long time. As funny as it sounds, the first phase of city park off 288 (the smaller homes) would work out there or a typical VA/DC condo complex with attached single family homes.

But the market is showing that homes with little to no yards and a walkable vibrant area is increasingly becoming more popular inside the loop. There is a reason why thousands of townhomes, tight SFH's, and thousands of apartment units have gone up within the past 10 years and it will likely spread more to the east. It is only a matter of time. Inside the loop has been designated for urban development which is why the density has increased to over 5,300 ppsm. It's coming to the point that if you want space, meaning yards, move outside the loop.

[dejamiller]

The Second Ward/EastEnd is starting to change due to the gentrification now starting to spill out of the traditional "EaDo" borders. It is starting to become evident if you start going down Commerce/Canal/Navigation. The amount of townhomes now being built is unbelievable. Looking at them they are at least starting in the 300Ks. On the otherside of the plant, on Cullen there are new townhome developments nestled away too and those are not for working people. If you go further east toward 45, looks like another development is starting close to 45 and Cullen/Leeland.

Whoever gets it now is smart, because the land value on that side of town is just going to start to increase.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by bloodwings19

Why Metro rail build on Harrisburg is one of the worst plan ever for Houston. Grainger within a mile just closed, at least 3/4 of the business are closed, or working on miniscule operation. I drive through the area to work, it is a deterioration. At that corner, they just built a brand-new free-standing building Mexican restaurant. That will be the next to go after the coffee plant leaves, I don't know how they can survive without the plant. For those who want to move to the area, be warned that the price is getting higher, crime is still there (I had to file a police report recently, I know others who work there). And I knew the coffee plant was about to go because the smell of coffee has been absent too many days recently.

It was politics. And they didn't build the one line everyone knew was needed-Westpark.