Texaco Building Saved and Looking Toward a Bright Future

Block 79 Redevelopment 

Time has not run out on the erstwhile Texas Company Building 

and Texaco HQ. It is destined to a new future as a residential complex with some retail

at ground level, and a parking garage. 

Corner of San Jacinto at Rusk 

East-facing facade of Texas Building with ornamented clock atop the arcade 

Texaco Building f/k/a Texas Company Building 1111 Rusk Street, Houston, Texas, Downtown 77002
View of east-facing side abutting San Jacinto Street 

723 Main - Office Space

723 Main Office Space posted for lease (Feb 2014 pic) 

Club Quarters (Texas State Hotel) Building on corner of Fannin and Rusk Street

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Table 7 Bistro with sidewalk seating

Club Quarters Valet Parking
720 Fannin Street. Houston, TX, 77002

Road construction work under way on Fannin at Rusk
in front of Club Quarters Hotel Building (June 2013)

Sweeney Clock (1908) in small park at the Theater District

Sweeney Clock (1908)

This old post clock with Roman numerals can be admired in a small square/green space between the North end of the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts and Bayou Place (formerly Albert Thomas Convention Hall).The metal column holding this historic clock sits on a base built with red bricks that were reclaimed when the pavement of Navigation Boulevard was torn up and the road resurfaced. The Sweeney clock had lingered in storage and was eventually saved from being disposed of as junk and installed at the current location in 1968. It got its name from the Jewelry Store on the Corner of Main and Prairie where it one stood. 

Across the street from it (which is currently having light rail tracks installed) is another historic site: the former location of a court house and jail with an old oak still flourishing that reportedly served as a "hanging tree" for execution of prisoners. There are few other traces of history remaining in this location, leaving aside the historical markers. The Western part of Bayou Place behind the sprawling tree (partially visible in the photo below) now serves as office space. 

Historical Marker at Sweeney Clock Triangle (Rusk and Capitol at Bagby)

Sweeney Post Clock at the Hobby Center (Jan 2013 pic) 

The Houston Club Building - its days are numbered

Houston Club Building name removed from marble panels at Rusk Street entrance (June 2, 2013 photo)
SKANSKA sign identifies current owner of property who is planning to erect office tower on the site after demolition

Heavy construction equipment parked on South side of The Houston Club Building (6/2/2013)
Click hyperlink to see more pics of Houston Club Building

BG Group office tower - various perspectives (photos)

State-of-the-Art (or rather state of the architecture) BG Group Office Tower

seen from the East

Like the Hess Tower, the 14-story BG Group Place office tower is a relatively recent addition to the Houston skyline. The million square-foot state-of-the-art office building was completed in 2011. Owned by Hines, the prime property is going on the market in 2013. Hines recently also sold the One and Two Shell Plaza towers. The building, located at 811 Main Street, takes its name from its principal tenant, British BG Group. Other tenants are KPMG and Baker-Hostetler, a law firm.

Night-time view of BG Group skyscraper with iconic Gulf Building in front

BG Group Place - Downtown Houston Skyscraper (link for high-resolution version on Panoramio)