Ross Tower / 500 N. Akard

[cowboyeagle05]

Screen Shot 2017-05-16 at 8.54.56 AM.png

Just thought I would say something even though many of you won't be surprised. They tore up the Akard street level side of this building months ago. So much so you can see it on Google Maps Streetview. Well just as I suspected they built a new drive up valet area. They installed a large porte-cochere recently and have poured steps down to the narrower sidewalk along Akard. On the positive side, they built a new entrance for a street-level Starbucks on the north side where the building comes to a point. Plus they added sidewalk seating on the Ervay side near the new doors.

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[Jay9398]

There are valet areas planned for the Chase plaza redo and the ATT Discovery District as well. While I also roll my eyes a bit at traditional valets, I think this wave is different. I think these properties are accepting the future of uber/Lyft/ride share/Self-Driving cars and planning accordingly. I'm ok with that.

[cowboyeagle05]

The sign of reinvestment is also the positive spin to look at here so many of these 80's towers have seen no investment for decades beyond maintaining the status quo. Now new owners are spending millions to redo more than just furniture and wallpaper. The fact that the properties are being sold and purchased and reinvested in many significant ways including some configuring ground floors to hold retail is a positive sign.

[jrd1964]

https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news ... er-in.html

Review of recently-completed remodeling at the building. A relocated Starbucks counter, new seating, new boardroom meeting area, exterior driveway, overhang, and new outdoor signage were included in the project.

[DPatel304]

The remodel looks nice, so I hope it does help them obtain more tenants. I'm disappointed that the area in front of the building now has a driveway/drop-off zone, which is far less pedestrian friendly than what it used to be:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Linco ... 96.8001867

But, there's no point in having a pedestrian friendly street presence if your building is 50% empty, so, if this is what will attract more people Downtown, then so be it.

[Tnexster]

I work in Ross Tower and am really enjoying being in the middle of so much activity.

[mdg109]

I don't like driveways either, but the way they did this one is not that bad. The sidewalks are still wide and the driveway didn't feel intrusive.

[Tivo_Kenevil]

I work in Ross Tower and am really enjoying being in the middle of so much activity.

Can't decipher if this is sarcasm..

[ArtVandelay]

This building does not show well. Aside from the lobby, it's I Love the 80's on the tenant floors.

[Tnexster]

I work in Ross Tower and am really enjoying being in the middle of so much activity.

Can't decipher if this is sarcasm..

I should have been more clear, by activity I meant being in the middle of so many construction projects and being able to see the progress every day.

[Tnexster]

Trinity Industries' Spinoff Puts Corporate Home in Downtown Dallas

The planned spinoff of Arcosa from Trinity, (NYSE: TRN) a diversified industrial company headquartered in Dallas, is slated for completion by the end of 2018. Upon completion of the spinoff, Arcosa will become its own publicly-traded company.

Arcosa's newly-signed lease for 39,784 square feet of office space at Ross Tower at 500 N. Akard St. in Dallas' central business district gives the company a place to build its operations.

http://product.costar.com/home/news/shared/193974

[Tnexster]

Willis Towers Watson consolidation will bring hundreds of workers to downtown Dallas

https://www.dallasnews.com/business/rea ... own-dallas

[tamtagon]

Sweet! Was it GoldmanSachs that consolidated North Texas operations to Uptown/Arts District, instead of taking one of the suburban miracle slots? Now Willis Towers Watson picks the city. Looks like we're going to see just how much can squeeze into downtown. The Amazon cavalcade has pulled together some potent downtown potential, and other site are getting queued up like ACS/CitiPlace.... "The cycle" continues.

[ContriveDallasite]

The Goldman Consolidation was split between Downtown and Richardson. The Richardson office consolidated many of the back office functions along with the new retail division. I believe Goldman still has a Private Wealth office in the Crescent.

[I45Tex]

... Now Willis Towers Watson picks the city. Looks like we're going to see just how much can squeeze into downtown.

It's no 1700 Pacific, but Ross Tower will now be 70% occupied. Not yet bursting at the seams even if Kourtny Garrett calls it a big Downtown Dallas success story.

[Tnexster]

600 more people in Ross Tower is a good number of new people floating around here looking for coffee and lunch. Not to mention those that may choose to find a place to live nearby.

[ArtVandelay]

I don't see the appeal to this building. It didn't even make the cut for us when we were looking.

[cowboyeagle05]

Well, what's so wrong with it and I ask with complete curiosity?

[Tnexster]

I don't see the appeal to this building. It didn't even make the cut for us when we were looking.

I work in Ross Tower and like it real well, for those that drive and park its easy and for those that live downtown its convenient. I have worked in buildings in Dallas that have much less to offer.

[ArtVandelay]

Well, what's so wrong with it and I ask with complete curiosity?

They've done some nice work on the lobby (i.e. nice seating, new Starbucks) but it's still dark with lots of brass. The tenant floors we looked at were very dated (I'm sure they will be updated as tenants turn over and renew). The trend has been lighter and brighter - who knows, dark and lots of brass may be in vogue 5-10 years from now.

[lakewoodhobo]

It's funny to me what people value in upgrades; for example, whether the lobby looks modern or dated. The expansion of Starbucks to me is the #1 upgrade made to this building, but I'm sure a lot of executives value the valet drop-off more than anything.

What's unfortunate is that the Akard-Patterson corner, with the waterfall and stairs leading to the old Starbucks, is basically abandoned. Probably a good thing since it's a dead zone of pedestrian activity anyway.

[Tnexster]

Well, what's so wrong with it and I ask with complete curiosity?

They've done some nice work on the lobby (i.e. nice seating, new Starbucks) but it's still dark with lots of brass. The tenant floors we looked at were very dated (I'm sure they will be updated as tenants turn over and renew). The trend has been lighter and brighter - who knows, dark and lots of brass may be in vogue 5-10 years from now.

Yes many of the floors do appear that way, although our space is very bright and since we have an open space we have an Uptown view in all directions. Depends on what you do with the space I guess. Our elevator landing is dark but our space is not. I supposed they could have remodeled all of the elevator landings but they probably don't do that unless you take the whole floor. I assume 43-45 will be a total remodel and I believe that space is being worked on now.

[cowboyeagle05]

This tower is also on a relatively nice part of town in that its close to Klyde Warren, Arts District, multiple major bus lines and DART station, and a quick walk to Main Street and the soon AT&T District.

[Matt777]

The client floors will likely be completely rebuilt to the studs as new tenants move in. Thanksgiving Tower is a good example. The old, empty floors look very dated and are not inviting, but the remodeled floors look terrific and make it look like a brand new building. But I can see prospective tenants looking at the pre-remodel floors and having trouble envisioning the space remodeled. Hopefully they're showing tenants remodeled spaces too.

[ArtVandelay]

I walked over yesterday and the lobby was actually brighter than I remember - I think my impression of the spaces we looked at skewed my opinion of the building overall. They've done a good job with the public space - it was bumping with lots of activity.

[cowboyeagle05]

Lord knows I see people in and out of the ground floor Starbucks every time I pass by. One of the best choices they made honestly.

[Tnexster]

North Dallas medical firm headed downtown with office move
Medecision will relocate to Ross Tower

https://www.dallasnews.com/business/rea ... fice-move/