Via Swamplot, I see that the site of the never-was Sonoma development in the Rice Village has been sold to someone that plans to actually build something.
Hanover’s project, called Plaza View, is scheduled to include 385 “high-end” apartments, 14,000 sq. ft. of retail or restaurant space, and a multi-level parking garage, all in what its designers label a pedestrian-friendly design. What’s that plaza we’ll be viewing? An almost-17,000-sq.-ft. public space along Morningside, with a “water feature, grass lawn, large trees, and restaurant dining spaces.” According to Hanover executive veep John Garibaldi, 55,000 sq. ft. of retail space, 34,000 sq. ft. of office space, and an 8,000-sq.-ft. grocery store were cut from the earlier Sonoma plans. Much of the towering nouveau pomposity of the Sonoma design has been cut too. Along Kelvin St., Hanover’s buildings will reach 6 stories tall; 5 stories along Morningside and Dunstan.
Here’s the Chron story about this.
Houston-based Hanover Co. plans to build a five-story mixed-use property on the site where other developers had originally planned to build a much-anticipated retail and residential development called Sonoma.
The project will have less retail and apartments instead of condos, said John Nash, president of Hanover.
The finished brick property will boast 381 rental units, 13,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor, above-ground and underground parking, and a public plaza. The project, at Bolsover and Morningside, will generate less traffic than Sonoma because of the limited retail, Nash said.
While I’m delighted that one of the many longstanding vacant lots will finally see some action on it – I’m sure they’re doing cartwheels in Mayor Parker’s office over the imminent increase in property tax revenues – I must say that I’m heartbroken that this will now never become reality:
It was a crazy dream, but it was fun while it lasted. Rest in peace, Hippie Bohemian Attorney highrise.
That marketing was one of the most ridiculous I’ve ever seen. As if those three stereotypes would want to live together, let alone live at a place that wantonly applies tired and overused labels to its customers. And “Brag to your friends.”?! Who’s that snooty about their apartment? Here’s some marketing:
Sonoma: A place for people who want to live in Rice Village, but don’t get to anymore.
Colbert-hand-grabbing-for-payment: Check please!
Yeah, thats right – we should bend over for developers. No utopia allowed. And that is ok because the cost of Utopia is beyond hippie affordability. Interestingly enough those uppie yuppies keep trying to buy hippie cool, though. Pretention at it’s best.
Actually I like the idea of mass family buildings so we can pile up those shallow yuppies into a corral.
Real hippies should know the best is not inner city for them. They just get judged.
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