800 Car Parking Garage To Go Up on Landmark Tower Site

I think the Convention Center garage isn't near enough day-to-day traffic for anyone to want to take a chance on using the space; however, I would imagine that the XTO garage will have enough people walking around it on a daily basis to make it worthwhile for the space to be occupied.

I did some reading on the CC garage yesterday. Evidently, for the first 2 years the garage was open the Omni was put in charge of leasing the space so the hotel could pick something that would cooperate with the retail tenants of the hotel building. Nothing happened, obviously. The leasing is now being taken on by the city I believe, who own the building. They are marketing it more. It also mentioned that the garage reaches 100% capacity only 6-10 days a year. 

I did some reading on the CC garage yesterday. Evidently, for the first 2 years the garage was open the Omni was put in charge of leasing the space so the hotel could pick something that would cooperate with the retail tenants of the hotel building. Nothing happened, obviously. The leasing is now being taken on by the city I believe, who own the building. They are marketing it more. It also mentioned that the garage reaches 100% capacity only 6-10 days a year. 

I noticed that. Felt like someone was taking over, but didn't now the hotel was the first to hold the lease. 

 

....I would imagine that the XTO garage will have enough people walking around it on a daily basis to make it worthwhile for the space to be occupied.

  If the XTO garage has the brains to put in a full service CVS or Walgreens, then I think that would be something that would make the project worthwhile and lessen to a degree the disappointment felt about the use of this site.

P.S.   and a 24/7 Seven-Eleven.

 

....I would imagine that the XTO garage will have enough people walking around it on a daily basis to make it worthwhile for the space to be occupied.

 

  If the XTO garage has the brains to put in a full service CVS or Walgreens, then I think that would be something that would make the project worthwhile and lessen to a degree the disappointment felt about the use of this site.

 

P.S.   and a 24/7 Seven-Eleven.

 

Agreed!

Here's my latest construction photo taken on December 25, 2016.  They are starting to install the pre-cast concrete panels on the east side.

cowtownpl-01 by jtrobert, on Flickr

Like lipstick on a pig.

Now, now...

 

Like lipstick on a pig.

Now, now...

 

  Hmmm.   Dress up the upper exterior floors with "fake" windows; and it could grow on you.  (But of course, that fakery is not in the works).

To be fair, I do think the architects did a good job with trying to make it look nice. The unfortunate thing is the use of the structure. 

Just throwing out some random buildings that would have been better to build on this block...

(Either the tower or small building on the right would have worked)

Most of those buildings are under 700ft, just an fyi. 

Putting on finishing touches looks like. Streetlights and sidewalks were going in yesterday.

It was also mentioned that the dentist currently operating in nearby Century Plaza will not be able to renew the lease at Centrury Plaza and be taking a retail slot in the garage. This could have be related to the proposed hotel at that location.

I have speculated that the garage can be used by other nearby businesses.  If the proposed hotel is completed, how many floors of the garage would it need/reserve for its guest?

Some interesting discussion - 

 

Heard today the deal fell through . (A&M) Law school will have the space instead.  I was told instead of subdividing the space, the law school will have it all.

The deal was the Dentist Dr. Raulston moving from Century Plaza to this garage. Instead, Dr. Raulston will be moving to Pinnacle Bank place. 

Not sure of any other details, or why A&M would want the whole building. 

In other news, the sidewalks on Houston and Throckmorton are open. 

Some interesting discussion - 
 

 
Heard today the deal fell through . (A&M) Law school will have the space instead.  I was told instead of subdividing the space, the law school will have it all.

The deal was the Dentist Dr. Raulston moving from Century Plaza to this garage. Instead, Dr. Raulston will be moving to Pinnacle Bank place. 
Not sure of any other details, or why A&M would want the whole building. 
In other news, the sidewalks on Houston and Throckmorton are open.

I think it goes without saying that it was planned all along that it would be used by whoever leased the retail space.

I thought this garage was for XTO Energy employees only.  If that's the case, the "inducement" works only to the extent that XTO Energy employees move from surface lots to the garage.  This isn't "public parking," am I right? 

 

I thought this garage was for XTO Energy employees only.  If that's the case, the "inducement" works only to the extent that XTO Energy employees move from surface lots to the garage.  This isn't "public parking," am I right? 

 

 

XTO immediately sold the project to investors.  More likely scenario,  XTO during the workday and public parking night and weekends that gives the new owners a steady revenue stream.

 

See Post#149 with link.

 

 The silver lining in this garage seems to be that it will be open to other Downtown businesses and just not to XTO employees exclusively.  If that be the case, then the garage makes perfect economic sense as it will become a revenue stream and just not a employees' benefit.
 

These gates don't really strike me as "open to the public"

I guess we'll find out soon. The garage is basically done. 

I'm a bit disappointed to read that A&M will take up the retail space. With such a large amount of space, you could have a retail store, a grocery store, or an entertainment venue like D&B or a bowling alley.

Oh well. Hopefully, the CVS Pharmacy plan up the street comes to fruition.

So far, our understanding that A&M will occupy the ground floor is based on this tweet from Daniel Olson. Do we have any other sources to corroborate Mr. Olson's report?

Maybe the A&M rental is just a stop-gap until they build the new building that's referenced in the A&M Law School thread?

Ok... so...
- But we instead get A&M occupying those spaces instead of stores, restaurants, music venues, bars, or anything else that would spark more interest for more people after 5pm...Is that about right? Is that where we are with this project?

 As I think about this project, the garage is and will be used to accommodate the needs of different projects, sometimes temporarily as is the case with A&M Law, the needs of XTO, the needs of nearby restaurants valet, and possibly a major tenant, requiring a set aside block of spaces, such as a nearby hotel. 

At the beginning, I too was quite dejected about a garage and not a tower; but as it is unfolding, the garage is providing Downtown establishments an alternative to handle parking needs until a particular establishment can build into its project the parking space it requires.

Besides, as we know, the highest best use for property in downtown Fort Worth is for parking.

Still true today.

 

Besides, as we know, the highest best use for property in downtown Fort Worth is for parking.

 

Still true today.

 If you think about that statement, it is counter intuitive. There would not be demand for parking if other uses were not in place. 

 As an optimist, I see this project, if it is used by multiple tenants, as a ready supply for meeting parking demands and growth by a number of Downtown businesses.  If, as is the stated purpose of this project, it is to be used by a single tenant, then it is the least best use of a property that I can imagine.

Perhaps you missed the subtle use of the sarcasm font.

Perhaps you missed the subtle use of the sarcasm font.

 "I did" .

These gates don't really strike me as "open to the public"
 

 
I guess we'll find out soon. The garage is basically done. 
 

As I'm not an architect, I can't speak with authority about building designs.  But as a layperson who has seen more than one parking garage in downtown Fort Worth, I cannot agree that this one is below average.  And, for Pete's sake, what can you do to the façade of a parking garage to satisfy a higher standard if not make it to took like the Taj Mahal?

..... as a layperson who has seen more than one parking garage in downtown Fort Worth, I cannot agree that this one is below average.  And, for Pete's sake, what can you do to the façade of a parking garage to satisfy a higher standard if not make it to took like the Taj Mahal?

If you are not just in it to make a quick buck in a cheap fashion, you would get this project; however,take a look at these garages to see what is possible:

https://www.google.c...iw=1024&bih=635

As I'm not an architect, I can't speak with authority about building designs.  But as a layperson who has seen more than one parking garage in downtown Fort Worth, I cannot agree that this one is below average.  And, for Pete's sake, what can you do to the façade of a parking garage to satisfy a higher standard if not make it to took like the Taj Mahal?

I don't have a high standard for design of garages... but it could look slightly less like a garage. 

 

As I'm not an architect, I can't speak with authority about building designs.  But as a layperson who has seen more than one parking garage in downtown Fort Worth, I cannot agree that this one is below average.  And, for Pete's sake, what can you do to the façade of a parking garage to satisfy a higher standard if not make it to took like the Taj Mahal?

 

I don't have a high standard for design of garages... but it could look slightly less like a garage. 

 

It does look less like a garage.

 

These gates don't really strike me as "open to the public"
 

 
I guess we'll find out soon. The garage is basically done. 
 

It's a real shame the DDRB didn't set a higher standard for the facade above the retail. This is a truly below average building. I will however be optimistic about the benefit it serves of parking cars in downtown.

 

...and now, back to my Garage Conspiracy - Can the company that purchased the XTO Garage stand pat and providing free parking to 800 XTO employees while two new announced hotels in very close proximity seem to need parking.  Its getting very crowded between 6th and 10th Streets.

Seems like there will be some new pressure put on the vacant section of the W.T. Waggoner Block to build yet more parking if XTO takes up 100% of the available parking at the Cowtown Parking Plaza.

What appears so interesting about the new hotels is that they do not show a parking structure in their renderings as though the hotels have already prearranged with nearby parking structures to meet their needs. It is just a hunch, but not without some visible signs.

Idea: create a 'vertical garden' on all 4 facades above the retail level

..... And, for Pete's sake, what can you do to the façade of a parking garage to satisfy a higher standard if not make it to took like the Taj Mahal?

 

I don't have a high standard for design of garages... but it could look slightly less like a garage. 

JFWD, you wonder what can be done to a garage's facade?..Here's a local sampling that makes it look slightly less like a garage -

UNTHSC Fort Worth: http://fortwortharch...HSC-parking.jpg

XTO could have done better if it wanted to.

I would call this done. What's everyone think of the final look? I don't find it especially awful, but it isn't really attractive either. I do really like that none of the ramps face the street so all the facades are parallel. 

On the right side of this image is the thing that bothers me most, one of the columns inside the garage isnt covered from the outside. Looks really awkward. 

Now we just wait for news on the retail.

On the right side of this image is the thing that bothers me most, one of the columns inside the garage isnt covered from the outside. Looks really awkward.

JBB, it is on the right side of the building in the second photograph.  I noticed it the other day when I was walking by.

 

XTO Energy is seeking proposals from developers to build an 800 car parking garage on the site of the old Landmark Tower....

 

What is driving the demand for such a large garage? This is quite puzzling. 

 

I hope that any garage will be largely below ground.

 

 

My guess is that the XTO employees are parking all over downtown.  If they built a large garage in this location, then most of their employees would be within two or three blocks of that garage.....

 

 

.... This centralizes some of their employees (not certain, but I believe they have far more than 800 downtown) in a single spot near most of their property. If the employees are paying for their own parking, it would be right in XTO's wheelhouse to move some of them into no-cost parking that they own. (XTO does a lot for their employees. Way more than the average large company.)

 

XTO (Exxon) would then appear to have a very "big" heart.  Is Exxon always this generous?  I would like to believe in my assumption that a for profit corporation would always be seeking to maximize returns on investments.  Isn't it being reported that gas producers are laying off employees and shutting down rigs to reduce losses? Removing a prime site from development to provide free parking for employees seems at odds with economic principles,

 

  This was a big lie! 

Exxon/Mobil and its Saudi Brothers are on the way down.  Its renewables -  Electric cars and clean industry such as technology and service industry.

All I will say is "thank you Exxon/Mobil for gifting us 800 parking spaces now available to use for a growing entertainment district.

Residence Inn the way has been cleared.

 Reposted....Damn!

 

 

These gates don't really strike me as "open to the public"
 

 
I guess we'll find out soon. The garage is basically done. 
 

It's a real shame the DDRB didn't set a higher standard for the facade above the retail. This is a truly below average building. I will however be optimistic about the benefit it serves of parking cars in downtown.

 

 

...and now, back to my Garage Conspiracy - Can the company that purchased the XTO Garage stand pat and providing free parking to 800 XTO employees while two new announced hotels in very close proximity seem to need parking.  Its getting very crowded between 6th and 10th Streets.

 

Seems like there will be some new pressure put on the vacant section of the W.T. Waggoner Block to build yet more parking if XTO takes up 100% of the available parking at the Cowtown Parking Plaza.

 

What appears so interesting about the new hotels is that they do not show a parking structure in their renderings as though the hotels have already prearranged with nearby parking structures to meet their needs. It is just a hunch, but not without some visible signs.

 

I agree that garage seems to be disappointing, even for a garage.  I'm curious what element(s) people think should have been rejected by DDRB and what should have happened there instead.

So, is there any numbers to indicate how the garage is doing; has the demand been there?

So, is there any numbers to indicate how the garage is doing; has the demand been there?

In what way?

The retail still isn't leased and, far as I'm aware, it's still for XTO employees only.

In as much as, is the garage parking occupancy at 25%, 40%, 55% etc.

The garage has new ownership as XTO sold it shortly after it received DDRB approval. The silver lining in the disappointment that the garage was at the time of its announcement is that the garage would meet the needs and spur nearby development. As an example, the garage would conveniently address the guest parking needs of the proposed Residence Inn Marriot Tower.

We have a first tenant - Common Grounds. I am unsure if this is Common Ground, the womens spiritual place located at Sundance West currently, or something else. Common Grounds is also a Coffee Shop in Waco.

We have a first tenant - Common Grounds. I am unsure if this is Common Ground, the womens spiritual place located at Sundance West currently, or something else. Common Grounds is also a Coffee Shop in Waco.

Took long enough...