DTD | Arts District: Hall Arts Tower (Lone Star site) (~50 ST.)

[TheMapman]

I'll believe it when I see it, unfortunately.

Two other points:

*At some point, the line for TIF funds has to be so long that developers in the various zones may not see it as a viable option to wait in line. This may not be a problem with this project, or it could be Hall realizing that if he gets in line NOW, at the bottom of the market, he can afford to wait as long as he wants (the agreement can probably be loosened because of "market conditions") but still be ahead of everyone else that wants to start developing and building after the economy comes back. Either way, he's near the front of the line for any soon-to-be-exhausted TIF.

That's a problem any city and TIF board would be happy to have. TIF money isn't doled out on a first-come, first-serve basis - the best projects will be the ones that get the limited available TIF funds. The rest have to use the good ol' free market or another set of incentives or wait for more TIF money to become available.


*As I noted in the original post about this latest iteration a month or so ago, the second condo tower (which is conveniently sheathed in darkness) is entirely speculative and not the first priority. The office tower will come first if anything comes at all. That of course begs the question: "Is this the best use for this piece of real estate?"

Because I think the answer to that question is "not quite," I would support the stipulation that Hall add a cultural element to this project, a la the Crow Museum, or something.

In any event, since no one else is building anything at the moment, Hall has all the time in the world to wait. If he starts building soon, I would take that as a pretty good gauge of his faith in the Dallas commercial real estate market (or at least this sub market) and of the broader fortunes of the area's economy in general.

I think it's the best use simply because it is what the Arts District needs - more variety in land use. Adding more office space and (maybe, eventually) residential, complementing One Arts Plaza (and future expansion) is something that will give the Arts District more of a 24/7 feel.

[ancientshoes]

fuck craig hall. he is trying to squeeze every cent out of our fair city for nothing! he is nothing but a leech who expects something for nothing. I agree with whoever said we should add some stipulations to make sure he does what he promises or else there should be consequences.

[cowboyeagle05]

If yall would remember as stated before the city will only award him the TIF money if he starts improvements this year 2009 to the Arts District Garage. A required part of the TIF deal is that he fix up the Arts District garage now. Even if he never builds the towers the TIF money will never go to him unless he repairs and dresses up that butt ugly pig of a parking garage and skyscraper foundation that he owns that is smack in the middle of the almost completed Dallas Arts District. Even the Museum Tower site looks better than his property and it parks less cars and makes less money doing so than his parking garage.

[gshelton91]

I almost think it would be better bang for the buck to take that money across Ross with Addison Circle like mid-rise apartments.... That might do more to get this project built then directly financing it with the TIF money... Craig is not fool he wants his money out of the project he has held the land for sometime now... more residential in the area helps everyone including Craig.

[cowboyeagle05]

I almost think it would be better bang for the buck to take that money across Ross with Addison Circle like mid-rise apartments.... That might do more to get this project built then directly financing it with the TIF money... Craig is not fool he wants his money out of the project he has held the land for sometime now... more residential in the area helps everyone including Craig.

That's most likely true, not all developers need these incentives to make a project financially possible. Developers like Craig Hall though will not build a project unless they can get tax money to make their profit margins larger even if they have all the financing they need. While others need the TIF money to get a project started Craig could careless where the property is Arts District or not. What he cares about is getting money from the city so he doesn't have to spend more of his to build a successful project.

In other words he is a business man first.

[VictoryPark]

Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice, shame on me.

I always love the image of multi-millionaires with their hand out. Just beautiful.

I really don't think anyone actually believes Craig Hall anymore. But, it may become good 'theatre." I'll bet the rich guy gets some help. What's good for Ross is good for Craig.

[gshelton91]

I don't mind giving craig some money but i just want the city to get the most bang for the buck... seems to me that with a foundation already built and a location in the middle of the arts district I just don't see how $7Million will help him all that much... on the other hand $7 Million on a mid-rise across the street would be a much larger incentive. It would help increase density and help make the Lone Star Site even a better site.

[aygriffith]

fuck craig hall. he is trying to squeeze every cent out of our fair city for nothing! he is nothing but a leech who expects something for nothing. I agree with whoever said we should add some stipulations to make sure he does what he promises or else there should be consequences.

What kind of consequences? Are you going to preach eminent domain because he's rich and then raise hell when that same City of Dallas goes and bulldozes poor black and hispanic families houses in South Dallas? There isn't two sets of rules and based on your posts in the past I'm sure you would piss and moan in regards to taking and fining in run down eithnic neighborhoods in the city. I can assure you the city of Dallas has better clean up your property issues in South and West Dallas to deal with.

[grantboston]

What kind of consequences? Are you going to preach eminent domain because he's rich and then raise hell when that same City of Dallas goes and bulldozes poor black and hispanic families houses in South Dallas? There isn't two sets of rules and based on your posts in the past I'm sure you would piss and moan in regards to taking and fining in run down eithnic neighborhoods in the city. I can assure you the city of Dallas has better clean up your property issues in South and West Dallas to deal with.

No need to wait for an answer when the ignore button will do just fine. It's good for the humors, to boot.

[NThomas]

Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice, shame on me.

I always love the image of multi-millionaires with their hand out. Just beautiful.

I really don't think anyone actually believes Craig Hall anymore. But, it may become good 'theatre." I'll bet the rich guy gets some help. What's good for Ross is good for Craig.

Swap out Micheal Scott with the City of Dallas & Mayor Leppert.
vX5pHK1ey4k

[incrediculous]

What kind of consequences? Are you going to preach eminent domain because he's rich and then raise hell when that same City of Dallas goes and bulldozes poor black and hispanic families houses in South Dallas? There isn't two sets of rules and based on your posts in the past I'm sure you would piss and moan in regards to taking and fining in run down eithnic neighborhoods in the city. I can assure you the city of Dallas has better clean up your property issues in South and West Dallas to deal with.

What? That reads like crazy talk.

[F4shionablecHa0s]

It's his land. Let him do whatever he wants with it. This is Texas.

If I was him, I'd put a Public Storage on top... or maybe a liquor store...

[aygriffith]

What? That reads like crazy talk.

Ancientshoes seems to preach somewhat audaciously when it comes to saving the poor and destitude and their rights but then preaches against wealth and privilage. He wants the city of Dallas to force someone to do something with their land WITH CONSEQUENCES because he feels they can because they the owner has money. Now if the City of Dallas or Anytown USA wants to force the poor and destitude (which usually are getting away with murder as you can see from many parts of Dallas) to clean up their land or they will have the same consequences including fines and eminent domain he will throw a fit.

This double standard of government doesn't cut it. If the city can pose heavy fines on Craig Hall's underground, unlevel top parking garage then I want a bulldozer to run over the street after street of dump houses on Canada Dr/N Beckley Ave west all the way to the Dallas city limit.

If you choose this Robin Hood way of government than the City of Dallas will be nothing more than a banana republic system of government. The City of Dallas already has a problem with picking on their more public examples of property neglect while letting whole areas of the city fall apart. I guess this is because some groups at city hall are too scared to face the acusations of the other group whom represents the desolate dump areas of Dallas. The only thing feuding groups at city hall can agree on is they want the CBD to be sexy and full of beautiful buildings. Because of this one agreement City Hall actively likes to go after CBD building owners with one solution, spend money that isn't necessarily in your best interest or we tear it down... oh and if you tear it down and pave it you better put a decorative fence around the lot (don't forget about that little rule).

That parking garage isn't as nice as it could be but it serves it purpose well and it does exactly what the city asks it do, shuttle patrons to the Meyerson. Be careful what you ask for, Craig Hall may just get some cinderblocks and cover up the entrances to his garage then you'll really wonder why its there. If he's so very rich he probably doesn't need the revenue from the garage.

[ancientshoes]

Why is it that Ancientshoes seems to preach somewhat audaciously when it comes to saving the poor and destitude and their rights but then preaches against wealth and privilage. He wants the city of Dallas to force someone to do something with their land WITH CONSEQUENCES because he feels they can because they the owner has money.

Uh it wasn't me who said that, I think you're referring to aygriffith. All I've said in this thread was craig hall either needs to do what he says or we give him no money.

But while you are invoking my name, I might as well throw in my 2 cents. I think that craig hall should be forced to do something with the land WITH CONSEQUENCES based on other laws on the books. We have building and ordnance codes that require buildings to be built to certain standards, either construction-wise, safety-wise, or even VISUAL-wise (ie. when you build a house a neighborhood, it must fit in with the neighborhood), why the hell not apply it ['it' being the laws that apply to similar circumstances] to this case?

which, by the way, is not only much more high-profile and will have much more of an impact since more is at stake for the entire area because of its location? If you have one blighted development such as 'stone henge' that is dragging down the entire area that surrounds it, isn't it worth it for the city to use a little strong-arming if the ends justify the means?

[jsoto3]

http://dallascityhall.com/committee_briefings/briefings0209/ECO_ArtsDistrictGarage_020209.pdf

[incrediculous]

Ancientshoes seems to preach somewhat audaciously when it comes to saving the poor and destitude and their rights but then preaches against wealth and privilage. He wants the city of Dallas to force someone to do something with their land WITH CONSEQUENCES because he feels they can because they the owner has money. Now if the City of Dallas or Anytown USA wants to force the poor and destitude (which usually are getting away with murder as you can see from many parts of Dallas) to clean up their land or they will have the same consequences including fines and eminent domain he will throw a fit.

This double standard of government doesn't cut it. If the city can pose heavy fines on Craig Hall's underground, unlevel top parking garage then I want a bulldozer to run over the street after street of dump houses on Canada Dr/N Beckley Ave west all the way to the Dallas city limit.

If you choose this Robin Hood way of government than the City of Dallas will be nothing more than a banana republic system of government. The City of Dallas already has a problem with picking on their more public examples of property neglect while letting whole areas of the city fall apart. I guess this is because some groups at city hall are too scared to face the acusations of the other group whom represents the desolate dump areas of Dallas. The only thing feuding groups at city hall can agree on is they want the CBD to be sexy and full of beautiful buildings. Because of this one agreement City Hall actively likes to go after CBD building owners with one solution, spend money that isn't necessarily in your best interest or we tear it down... oh and if you tear it down and pave it you better put a decorative fence around the lot (don't forget about that little rule).

That parking garage isn't as nice as it could be but it serves it purpose well and it does exactly what the city asks it do, shuttle patrons to the Meyerson. Be careful what you ask for, Craig Hall may just get some cinderblocks and cover up the entrances to his garage then you'll really wonder why its there. If he's so very rich he probably doesn't need the revenue from the garage.

Relax. Now you're really talking crazy. The city has a legal interest in that garage, and both Hall and the city are negotiating to get more of what each wants out of the site.

[aygriffith]

Uh it wasn't me who said that, I think you're referring to aygriffith. All I've said in this thread was craig hall either needs to do what he says or we give him no money.

But while you are invoking my name, I might as well throw in my 2 cents. I think that craig hall should be forced to do something with the land WITH CONSEQUENCES based on other laws on the books. We have building and ordnance codes that require buildings to be built to certain standards, either construction-wise, safety-wise, or even VISUAL-wise (ie. when you build a house a neighborhood, it must fit in with the neighborhood), why the hell not apply it ['it' being the laws that apply to similar circumstances] to this case?

which, by the way, is not only much more high-profile and will have much more of an impact since more is at stake for the entire area because of its location? If you have one blighted development such as 'stone henge' that is dragging down the entire area that surrounds it, isn't it worth it for the city to use a little strong-arming if the ends justify the means?

There was no neighborhood when he built that foundation... So since someone built a neighborhood around him he has to change his property to blend with the rest of the neighborhood? Isn't that exactly what people bitch and moan about on here when people want to tear down older properties because the rest of the neighborhood is turning into McMansions, Condo buildings and townhomes. It is fundamentally no different...

Its a slippery slope when the City goes around forcing people to do things with their properties especially when it is far from the worst example in the city.

Is this property even violating a single code?


...oh i think Cathedral Guadalupe's architecture doesn't quite fit with the modern arts district architecture. I think the city should force them to paint the cathedral some very light shade of white or off white with modern glass and metal accents added. It just doesn't fit with the neighborhood...

[incrediculous]

There was no neighborhood when he built that foundation...

He didn't build that foundation. Do you know anything about this at all?


Is this property even violating a single code?

From the terms of the settlement, it looks like there's some ADA stuff to bring up to code. But more importantly, Hall wasn't paying rent to the tune of $600,000. The city has a legal foothold in the garage for 200 years. A foothold the city paid for.

This is not the epic battle of an evil city controlling a land-owner's property that you imagine it to be. It's like you're in some other world. Nobody is forcing anybody to do anything. Both stakeholders are negotiating to make better use of the property.

[aygriffith]

He didn't build that foundation. Do you know anything about this at all?

You are right he didn't build it, I've read this thread. I've read the newspaper articles. It doesn't matter who built the foundation, it preceeded the rest of the neighborhood. What was there when the foundation was built? I think the only thing there was the Trammel Crow Building? Why does it matter who built the foundation? You response to my arguement is as insignifcant as if you were commenting on my spelling.


This is not the epic battle of an evil city controlling a land-owner's property that you imagine it to be. It's like you're in some other world. Nobody is forcing anybody to do anything. Both stakeholders are negotiating to make better use of the property.

If you don't think there is a "epic battle" going on this city over city trying influence private property then you have ignored what is happening all across downtown. The city says fix it up or else and the owners say sorry too much trouble I'm gonna level this problem. Does the city really win when this happens?

[Tnekster]

Dallas Business Journal - by Bill Hethcock Staff writer

Tom Birchman
The City of Dallas and real estate developer Craig Hall have reached a tentative settlement in a lawsuit, clearing the way for construction of a $120 million mixed-use tower in the city’s Arts District.

The Dallas City Council is scheduled to vote Feb. 11 on a settlement agreement that permits affiliates of Hall’s company, Hall Financial Group, to purchase the city’s interest in an Arts District underground parking garage for $11.3 million. Hall owns the parking garage, but the city holds the lease for more than 1,700 parking spaces in the garage.

As part of the agreement, Hall Financial Group would commit to develop an office and retail tower of at least 450,000 square feet and $120 million minimum investment. The tower would be built on top of the existing parking garage.

The agreement also calls for Hall Financial to be reimbursed up to $9 million for improvements as part of an economic incentive package designed to spur development of the first of two towers planned on the site. The 22-story tower planned for the first phase would have retail on the lower levels and office space above.

[cowboyeagle05]

Well I will get excited when I see it topped off and people moving in.

[NThomas]

Dallas Business Journal - by Bill Hethcock Staff writer

Tom Birchman
The City of Dallas and real estate developer Craig Hall have reached a tentative settlement in a lawsuit, clearing the way for construction of a $120 million mixed-use tower in the city’s Arts District.

The Dallas City Council is scheduled to vote Feb. 11 on a settlement agreement that permits affiliates of Hall’s company, Hall Financial Group, to purchase the city’s interest in an Arts District underground parking garage for $11.3 million. Hall owns the parking garage, but the city holds the lease for more than 1,700 parking spaces in the garage.

As part of the agreement, Hall Financial Group would commit to develop an office and retail tower of at least 450,000 square feet and $120 million minimum investment. The tower would be built on top of the existing parking garage.

The agreement also calls for Hall Financial to be reimbursed up to $9 million for improvements as part of an economic incentive package designed to spur development of the first of two towers planned on the site. The 22-story tower planned for the first phase would have retail on the lower levels and office space above.
Was a time table part of the settlement?

[aygriffith]

So I guessing with the way the garage looks now that the front door level of the collection of buildings will be at floor 2 since the garage at street level doesn't seem to allow for anything to building at that level, only the level above it.

Just wondering... I know there is a love of street level access and storefronts amungst the forum.

[cowboyeagle05]

So I guessing with the way the garage looks now that the front door level of the collection of buildings will be at floor 2 since the garage at street level doesn't seem to allow for anything to building at that level, only the level above it.

Just wondering... I know there is a love of street level access and storefronts amungst the forum.
On the Flora street side there is room for street level retail it seems but I agree it appears that unless they modify the foundation or have a creative engineering design idea Ross will be the backside. Which would not be the best thing going forward considering the city is slowly moving forward to turn Ross into an even more important transportation revitalization blvd. With the city looking seriously at adding bike lanes, wider sidewalks, streetcars, more residential development you cannot have a building with a backside at that location.

[xen0blue]

On the Flora street side there is room for street level retail it seems but I agree it appears that unless they modify the foundation or have a creative engineering design idea Ross will be the backside. Which would not be the best thing going forward considering the city is slowly moving forward to turn Ross into an even more important transportation revitalization blvd. With the city looking seriously at adding bike lanes, wider sidewalks, streetcars, more residential development you cannot have a building with a backside at that location.

i'd take that over nothing anyday

[Tnekster]

Suit settlement paves way for mixed-use towerDallas Business Journal - by Bill Hethcock Staff writer

Tom Birchman

The City of Dallas and real estate developer Craig Hall have reached a tentative settlement in a lawsuit, clearing the way for construction of a $120 million mixed-use tower in the city’s Arts District.

The Dallas City Council is scheduled to vote Feb. 11 on a settlement agreement that permits affiliates of Hall’s company, Hall Financial Group, to purchase the city’s interest in an Arts District underground parking garage for $11.3 million. Hall owns the parking garage, but the city holds the lease for more than 1,700 parking spaces in the garage.

As part of the agreement, Hall Financial Group would commit to develop an office and retail tower of at least 450,000 square feet and $120 million minimum investment. The tower would be built on top of the existing parking garage.

The agreement also calls for Hall Financial to be reimbursed up to $9 million for improvements as part of an economic incentive package designed to spur development of the first of two towers planned on the site. The 22-story tower planned for the first phase would have retail on the lower levels and office space above.

The parking garage is northeast of Flora and Crockett streets, across from the Meyerson Symphony Center. The garage, topped by the foundation of a previously planned office project that was never built, is in the Dallas Arts District, a 19-block area downtown. The area is the target of intense improvement efforts as city officials work to spiff it up in preparation for the opening of the Winspear Opera House and Wyly Theater this fall.

Hall’s parking garage has long been viewed as a scar on the Arts District and is referred to by some city officials as “Stonehenge” because of its primitive appearance.

The city’s Economic Development Committee was briefed on the status of the Arts District garage dispute on Feb. 2, when details of the proposed settlement were revealed.

Fixing an eyesore
It’s in the city’s and Hall’s best interests to clear hurdles to development in the Arts District, said Karl Zavitkovsky, director of the city’s Office of Economic Development.

“We’re very anxious to see the building built,” he said. “It’s at the gateway of the Arts District. It’s been a blemish on the area for a long time.”

But even if the city and Hall work out their differences, the financing crunch could prevent development from starting anytime soon, Zavitkovsky said. The proposed settlement doesn’t require Hall to pull a building permit until the end of 2012, and the project does not have to be complete until 2015, Zavitkovsky said.

The lawsuit settlement renews hope that the key project will be built and comes at an important time for downtown, said John Crawford, president of DowntownDallas, a group that promotes the downtown and Uptown areas, including the Arts District.

“In the short term, it opens up some parking issues that we will be able to better integrate into our masterplan for downtown,” Crawford said. “Ultimately, it clears the way for one of the last major sites in the Arts District to be constructed by a major developer.”

“The current situation doesn’t project a very good image,” he added. “The bottom line is, we think this is another important step in changing the perception of downtown and enhancing what we’re trying to do toward revitalization.”

Craig Hall, chairman and founder of Hall Financial Group, was unavailable for comment about his plans for the property but released this statement through a spokeswoman:

“The proposal that is being presented to the City Council is the product of years’ worth of mutual effort and is essential to our development in the Arts District. We are grateful for the city’s hard work and hopeful that we can move forward with this project that will be good for the Arts District and for the City of Dallas.”


Dispute dates to 1986

The dealings that led to the parking-garage dispute date to 1986, when the city signed a 200-year lease agreement with then-owner of the site, Metropolitan Structures, for development of the garage, city documents show.

The city at the time financed construction of a 1,787-space underground garage to meet parking needs in the Arts District. Metropolitan financed and retained ownership of 145 of the 1,787 spaces and later sublet 442 more spaces from the city.

Metropolitan’s original plan called for construction of two 50-story office towers and a second underground garage, but the towers and second garage were never built because of the real estate crash of the late 1980s, according to information presented to the Economic Development Committee at the Feb. 2 briefing.

In 1995, affiliates of Hall Financial Group bought the property and Metropolitan’s lease interest in the garage. Ten years later, Hall Financial approached the city seeking to restructure the garage sublease and discuss the possibility of economic incentives for the development of a new mixed-use tower on the site. In March 2006, the city told Hall Financial that the incentives sought for the deal were “excessive,” and negotiations stalled, the EDC documents say.

Hall Lone Star Associates, a partnership controlled by Hall, stopped paying the city rent on its sublease, and the city sued for back rent, according to allegations in a lawsuit filed in state district court. Hall filed a counterclaim alleging the city owed the firm money to offset maintenance and repairs it had made to the city’s part of the parking garage.

Hall and the city late last year started settlement negotiations that led to the proposed agreement.

The proposal also calls for Hall to pay $626,700 in past-due rent and the city to waive penalties and interest. The settlement requires both sides to drop the lawsuit.

[Lakewooder]

An Office Tower Grows in the Arts District? Perhaps, Some Day. It's Only Been in the Planning Stages For, What, Two Decades?


http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2009/02/to_continue_to_work_out.php#more

[xen0blue]

don't hold your breath on this one

[JohnMcKee]

Isn't that garage the primary parking for the Meyerson? I know that's where I always park when I don't valet.

[I45Tex]

Smaller and slower is fine. The original Lone Star project would have blocked Texas Commerce Tower from its anchor spot on the skyline, which may as well stay intact as it's one of the aesthetically strongest 50+storey buildings in the country, no, hemisphere, no, world...

[aygriffith]

don't hold your breath on this one

How so? I don't think anyone is going to hold their breath till 2012 but there is reason to remain optimistic...

[cowboyeagle05]

How so? I don't think anyone is going to hold their breath till 2012 but there is reason to remain optimistic...
I agree while I will not be holding my breath much for this project or the same for Museum Tower I can feel optimistic.

[NThomas]

Found some new renderings on HKS, Inc's website (http://www.hksinc.com):

It's listed under "Our Practice --> Mixed Use / Residential --> Portfolio --> Hall Arts Center [second page bottom left]"

It might have been listed in the report given to city hall but HKS's project description calls it the Hall Arts Center. It also says the project includes 50 residential units (was a number given before or is this the first time hearing a number?) and 600,000 sqft of office space both in separate towers.

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/72/rendering1.png http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/5231/rendering2.png

[AeroD]

NThomas,

Quit being such a tease bra'.

[NThomas]

NThomas,

Quit being such a tease bra'.
Sorry, I'm just getting bored of the real estate market looking like this:

http://www.33smiley.com/smiley2/humor/saddam/4.gif (http://www.abc.net.au/cgi-bin/common/printfriendly.pl?http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2003/s1009941.htm)

[chiboi]

This site really bothers me for some reason - it's just so hideous as it stands!

[jovangonzales]

I'm liking the common theme between Victory Tower, Museum Tower, 1900 Pacific, and this. They all look similar with their glass sheathing, but still different. When they will build some of this!? ECONOMY--GET BETTER SOON!!!!!

[NThomas]

I'm liking the common theme between Victory Tower, Museum Tower, 1900 Pacific, and this. They all look similar with their glass sheathing, but still different. When they will build some of this!? ECONOMY--GET BETTER SOON!!!!!
The 1900 Pacific project is dead. Both the Petroleum Tower and Corrigan Tower are for sale according to UCR Urban (http://www.ucrurban.com/property_uploads/200905011108300.tower%20petroleum-1900%20pacific.pdf).

[lakewoodhobo]

The 1900 Pacific project is dead. Both the Petroleum Tower and Corrigan Tower are for sale according to UCR Urban (http://www.ucrurban.com/property_uploads/200905011108300.tower%20petroleum-1900%20pacific.pdf).

Petroleum Tower and Corrigan Tower are close enough to Main Street Garden that they'll benefit and probably find a buyer before the Statler does. Then again, nothing might happen until the city builds Pacific Park. These buildings will start connecting Main Street District with the Arts District.

[jovangonzales]

The 1900 Pacific project is dead. Both the Petroleum Tower and Corrigan Tower are for sale according to UCR Urban (http://www.ucrurban.com/property_uploads/200905011108300.tower%20petroleum-1900%20pacific.pdf).

I'd appreciate it if you didn't ruin my hopes and dreams! :p Well, I guess it's always better to convert and reuse as opposed to demolishing it. They should just move 1900 pacific to somewhere else, I really liked that tower (especially because it was skyline altering). Man, last time I checked it was only on hold till 2011. :(

Hopefully all of the new parks being built will attract actual buyers that will do this site justice.

[xen0blue]

back on topic...now what about the hall arts tower? dead?

[F4shionablecHa0s]

back on topic...now what about the hall arts tower? dead?
Stillborn

[NThomas]

back on topic...now what about the hall arts tower? dead?
I thought the last deal with the city stipulated construction had to start on xx/xx/xxxx. Anything change since then?

[cowboyeagle05]

Well Hall did make improvements to the current parking garage as required by the city which included a new paint job along with other various improvements.

[NThomas]

Found another rendering and a model (dug a little deeper). Again on HKS, Inc's website (http://www.hksinc.com):

It's listed under "Our Practice --> Corporate / Office--> Investment Office --> Portfolio --> Hall Arts Center [first page, bottom row, second column]"

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/9784/model.png http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/4557/rendering3.png

[Speedbump Joey]

Found another rendering and a model (dug a little deeper). Again on HKS, Inc's website (http://www.hksinc.com):

It's listed under "Our Practice --> Corporate / Office--> Investment Office --> Portfolio --> Hall Arts Center [first page, bottom row, second column]"

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/9784/model.png http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/4557/rendering3.png

Would be great to see this coming together.

[xen0blue]

you know, 'stonehenge' is kind of cool in it's own right...it could be made into something like a giant interactive sculpture or a skate park with a few modifications. It wouldn't surprise me if some people DO think it's some kind of work of art.

[jovangonzales]

Wow. The model really just sold me on liking these. I even think the taller of the two towers should be white with clear glass and have the accents be blue. You know, basically just like the model. It's so clean looking to me. Maybe in my lifetime ... sigh.

[xen0blue]

I thought the last deal with the city stipulated construction had to start on xx/xx/xxxx. Anything change since then?

Yeah, 2012 was the deadline. They still haven't reached it.

[NThomas]

Yeah, 2012 was the deadline. They still haven't reached it.
2012? I guess the project will be finished before the end of the world. ;)