If the giant 25-story-tall question mark built into the profile of the Hotel Alessandra — the Modern tower pictured above, planned for a spot directly behind the XXI Forever store along Fannin — spurred any of you to wonder when or whether construction of the promised residential expansion of GreenStreet (formerly Houston Pavilions) might begin, here’s an answer: Next Monday, MLK Day, workers will begin blocking access to the urban mall’s center court at 1201 Fannin St. and other areas to begin demolition work. Their target: The much shorter structure that once housed the Houston Pavilions’ Yao’s restaurant, owned by family members of Houston Rockets star Yao Ming, which stands in the way.

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Demolition was originally scheduled for last June. The 225-room hotel designed by Gensler will feature a lobby, rooftop pool, and bar with views of the skyline — all on the building’s top floor:

Plans announced last year included 7,000 sq. ft. of retail and restaurant space on the building’s bottom floors. Like its sister Hotel Sorella at CityCentre, the Hotel Alessandra will be owned by the Midway Companies and operated by the Valencia Group. Construction is now expected to begin in April.

Renderings: Gensler

Clearing Yao’s Away