Rendering of part of the project.
http://harpictures.marketlinx.com/MediaDisplay/33/hr1101933-1.jpg
Descripton: Custom Build, about 1yr. All Steel Structure. Realtor has plans for this 'Manhattan Brownstone.' 5 story fee simple TH. Near Toyota Center and Metro Rail. Spectacular downtown views. Elevator incl'd. Qtrs., 1st floor, 3 Car Garage, Breathtaking elliptical staircase open thru all floors. Bow window on all flrs. Incredible Roof Top Terrace w/full heated 7x30 heated pool/hot tub, + full Outdoor kitchen w/wood burning fireplace. Full floor, Master Suite with his/hers baths, study & exercise room.
The Site: www.har.com (http://www.har.com/search/engine/indexdetail.cfm?mlnum=6946364&class=2&sTYPE=0&leadid=6)

My goodness, how exciting. Can't wait to see these when they're finished.

I would like to see how these sale at 2.75 million dollars +. Are these renovated buildings?

I like these better than the ones in Uptown Houston.

Uptown Manhattan brownstones.

http://harpictures.marketlinx.com/MediaDisplay/83/hr1278783-1.jpg

No they have not been built yet.

Some time ago I read an interesting article about the Brownstones - how they got their name. Their name came from the color of the stone which was used - quarried in Connecticut & then carried via raft to the city. By the early 1900's this style of structure and stone became unpopular - only recently has the quarry begun operations again, primarily for repair of existing Brownstones.

So - are they going to be fake Brownstones or will they attempt to quarry the stone. Most likely whichever will be the cheapest route (stucco) - but that doesn't diminish they will still be attractive rowhomes & by the descriptions impressive. But hopefully they won't be gated - but unfortunately traditional rowhomes haven't quite made a full hit in the south.

yay, let's just steal another city's architecture and history.

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yes lets.

I would like to see how these sale at 2.75 million dollars +. Are these renovated buildings?

I like these better than the ones in Uptown Houston.

Uptown Manhattan brownstones.

http://harpictures.marketlinx.com/MediaDisplay/83/hr1278783-1.jpg

Those look brand new - especially in regard to their environment: gated entry, facing what looks like a private street.

I think those will look totally out of place in downtown Houston. In my mind, the only place they would work would be obviously in NYC, and maybe parts of Boston, Philly, and Chicago.

I agree

Yeah in Houston, being out of place they might look a little 'toon-town ish'. But maybe not, I think they look great.

You people always talk about how the South is less urban than the North and more suburban, and when projects like this come around you guys rag on them. I don't understand??????????

I don't see any problem with building townhomes / rowhouses in the south. Please consider that emulating northern structures is nothing new - one of Atlanta's older developments, dating back 100 years, is called Baltimore Row. Which is essentially an attempt 100 years ago to duplicate Baltimore rowhomes.

I like the idea of Houston bringing in the NYC style housing. Regional housing style crossover is in! I know somewhere out in Uptown and outside the city there are some subdivisions that have Mediterranean style housing mostly common in California. My uncle lives in a mediterranean style house in SW Austin. When me and my cousin went to see him, I saw his house first time and said it reminded me a bit more of Arizona. Back on topic on Manhattan style. It will take some time for it to blend in with the natural southern housing pattern.;)

Exactly but in the long run it could work. I have just seen projects like this that stick out like a sore thumb because they dont blend, but as the area around them adjusts they could fit in perfectly.

Yeah in Houston, being out of place they might look a little 'toon-town ish'. But maybe not, I think they look great.

they look as "in place" as the fake Italian mall...toontown it is.

citykid, they're just too...carbon copied. put in some other designs for something similar, more derivative and less copied. maybe make it look Mexican/Spanish-style like, that'd look better and more in place, IMO.

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they look as "in place" as the fake Italian mall...toontown it is.

citykid, they're just too...carbon copied. put in some other designs for something similar, more derivative and less copied. maybe make it look Mexican/Spanish-style like, that'd look better and more in place, IMO.

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I was going to suggest that Italian-styled mall as an example which also fits these brownstones. They're nice looking in the picture, but I can't imagine what would be built around them to actually make them look like they fit in.

Even if they were built on Main Street, I don't think it would work--they're just from another era and place and would look too "artificial", more like a movie set.

I actually think the design of the other "brownstones" in the galleria area would fit in better in downtown Houston.

And let us not forget that the term 'brownstone' refers to a specifc townhome - one made of a specific stone.... Just being a bit of an authenticity prick ;)

Thes projects have been popping up all around the city.

Here is the Renoir

http://www.gunn.net/renoir_ext..jpg

Here is Gotham
http://www.randalldavis.com/images/pic_gotham.jpg

yum yum fakeness

gotham looks cool b/c it looks newish...the other one looks good. for Paris, London or NYC.

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It would be great. This stuff goes on all across America, so what. Can't wait to see the finished product.

I think those will look totally out of place in downtown Houston. In my mind, the only place they would work would be obviously in NYC, and maybe parts of Boston, Philly, and Chicago.

I think it will go with downtown Houston, depending on what area they put it in. There are several historic lofts in condos in downtown already. Actually all of the lofts and condos in downtown are historic buildings. That will change next year when Shamrock Tower is built.

Houston just can't win. If it is new, its sterile, old is fake and stealing.........

I saw the Manhattans before in Uptown, and they look great. The project includes both a loft complex and a few brownstones.

^ Ok then I'm curious - are they truly Brownstones? Can you tell by the stone that it is a Brownstone?

Houston just can't win. If it is new, its sterile, old is fake and stealing.........

lol true...LsyD...i understand what you're saying by making it look more southwestern or something different but then you would find that somebody else would say its ugly and typical of Houston...nothing that this city can get would be good lol

Here is a close up shot of the brownstones in uptown

Here is the condo section.
http://harpictures.marketlinx.com/MediaDisplay/65/hr1235465-1.jpg

This is the brownstone section
http://harpictures.marketlinx.com/MediaDisplay/27/hr1239727-1.jpg

^ Ok then I'm curious - are they truly Brownstones? Can you tell by the stone that it is a Brownstone?

I think they are just rowhouses, I dont think many people had payed attention to your lesson regarding brownstones.

I like the ones in uptown and most development like that in many places. I dont find Houstons development really sterile ever, but I do think it is a little bleh when you mix too many styles and things dont match or making new things to look old or have regard to something whose history doesnt pertain. That said I really like the plan in the first post of this and I think it would fit in in most downtown areas, where it would not fit in is obviously an area that is not walkable, so I am sure wherever these will be located caters to the fact that they have the whole walk up plan.

Here is a close up shot of the brownstones in uptown

This is the brownstone section
http://harpictures.marketlinx.com/MediaDisplay/27/hr1239727-1.jpg

Those are nice TOWNHOMES.... ;)

You're right schristopher....

Here are Bownstonnes being built in The Woodlands. A suburb of Houston.
http://img34.exs.cx/img34/6639/remingtonbrownstones.jpg

You are just testing me aren't you?


Brownstone:

A vintage row house constructed of red sandstone

I like the design, but calling them brownstones is pretty pointless: Just because something resembles a brownstore, you shouldn't call it a brownstone.. unless it really IS a brownstone. Does that make sense?

So pretty much there will never be a "brownstone" built again.

Not true - you just need to find a quarry that mines the specific stone. There is still a quarry in Connecticut, but not sure to what capacity it is used. I realize the definition used the term 'vintage', but I think it is still feasible to build them - but they would cost a fortune.

Not true - you just need to find a quarry that mines the specific stone. There is still a quarry in Connecticut, but not sure to what capacity it is used. I realize the definition used the term 'vintage', but I think it is still feasible to build them - but they would cost a fortune.

I guess that is why the ones in downtown start at about 2.75 million dollars I believe.

Perhaps - at least that first one does identify itself as a Brownstone, & it looks like a Brownstone (unless it's stucco). But just keep in mind the others are townhomes, not Brownstones. OK? :)

You say potato, I say potato...
These are some ugly, cheap ass potatos.

You say potato, I say potato...
These are some ugly, cheap ass potatos.
:puke:

That's a rendering? I swear that's just a photo of Fifth Avenue or 72nd Street. Those homes look familiar to me.

http://www.edugraphics.net/gc-american/cities/posters/gc410-ht.jpg



What is houston, what architecture is houston?

I think they look great, it will be a nice change, houston could do with some more vintage style houses and skyscrapers, imagine what the empire state building would look like in houston, what a contrast!

I need to get out more. I just assumed that Houston had townhouses like any other city, but everyone claims they will be out of place? Why do they call brick houses brownstones?

Houston does have townhomes, quite a lot actually.

^That is what I figured. Houston has a beautiful and impressive skyline. It makes sense to build impressive townhouses around them.

If these homes are built in a fashion that closely resembles the original (as seen in the photos) then I would cheer for Houston. If I had ~$2.75 million to pay for 8676sf, then I would, assuming the house would be at a location that offers me close proximity to everything I need. What I fear the most is the fakeness that many developers bring into an area when trying to sell a concept instead of selling something authentic.

Anyway, this is a great addition to Houston's urban fabric and I am sure the developers will not screw this up big. It is a unique opportunity to bring Houston the best NYC has to offer. I wish we could get something similar, even in smaller scale, here in Raleigh, but we are far from the day when such residences would make financial sense in this place. Glad to see Houston's market being put to test. I am sure these homes will be successful and more will come.

OK, so this is a totally different second project from Sterrett Street going on north of downtown? If these brownstones look anything like posted in the first post, they will not fit in anywhere in the city. Hopefully the developer is not that dumb. If so, what the hell is going on in their heads?

It looks like a section you would fine in Disney World, or at least it will sitting in Houston. There aren't any buildings that look enough like them to deem them "high class fancy" so much as "uniquely feaux finished".

I think those will look totally out of place in downtown Houston. In my mind, the only place they would work would be obviously in NYC, and maybe parts of Boston, Philly, and Chicago.

New Orleans also has a history with Second Empire buildings.

i went to atlanta and was on a tour bus and the tour guide was showing the group new developments in atlanta and I asked the tour guide while passing a townhome development whether atlanta would build more "rowhouses" and he looked at me like I defiled him and his city. Apparently, the "rowhouse" conjoured up "northerness" which was undesirable from the tour guide.

Anyway, its awesome that Houston iis building connective housing near metro stops and in the urban core. I think more southern towns and cities are gearing up for projects like this in the future.

Oh yeah, are there any projects taking place along Galveston Bay, which is near Houston.

There's quite a few projects going up in Galveston right now. I think Reggie or WG could tell you more about it.

i went to atlanta and was on a tour bus and the tour guide was showing the group new developments in atlanta and I asked the tour guide while passing a townhome development whether atlanta would build more "rowhouses" and he looked at me like I defiled him and his city. Apparently, the "rowhouse" conjoured up "northerness" which was undesirable from the tour guide.


That is odd - since there are many townhome / rowhome developments now & several others planned / under construction. It hasn't been until the past year that decent townhomes have been built, before all we had were suburban inspired townhomes (gated / garage in front).

I have noticed the change in townhome "architecture", too. Even townhomes still built with garages on the front have received more attention in the facade in a way that puts more emphasis on the stairs, or the front door. I believe we'll see a shift from the typical, cheap-looking suburban type of townhomes to more elegant - expensive, too - options. The perception has already changed.

^ It does appear southern developers are finally growing up & no longer building/designing 'in the box'. Mixed use, multi-unit NON-garden style apartments are quickly becoming the norm - finally a good sign, particularly regarding fears of 'suburbanizing' intown areas.

In New York, locals use the term Brownstone to refer to any porchless rowhouse. This includes brick rows as well as those faced with marble or granite in addition to the sandstone rows that gave the brownstone it's name.

In New York, locals use the term Brownstone to refer to any porchless rowhouse. This includes brick rows as well as those faced with marble or granite in addition to the sandstone rows that gave the brownstone it's name.


Ah! Well ain't I a stupidfucker! Thanks for the correction, I suppose I was truly making an excuse to be a smartass then - not sure if you could tell. But I think I origingally disputed the definition last year, so the warranty in calling me out has expired :)