Editing ExxonMobil Building (section)

==History==
800 Bell Street was built in 1963 as the headquarters of [[Humble Oil|Humble Oil Company]], a predecessor of Exxon.<ref name="RNR" /> In 1973 Humble's parent company [[Standard Oil of New Jersey]] rebranded nationwide as Exxon and discontinued the Humble name.
 
During the [[Houston Astros]]' 2004 NLCS run (playoffs), the top of the building was crowned by hundreds of tiny blue lights while an enormous Astros star (logo) made of white lights was hung on the south side of the building.<ref>{{cite web | title=ExxonMobil Building 800 Bell St Houston, TX | url=http://www.thesquarefoot.com/buildings/tx/houston/77002/downtown/800-bell-street/exxon-mobil-building | publisher=TheSquareFoot | year=2013 | access-date=19 September 2013}}</ref>

In 2011 the company announced they would relocate all employees in the building to a new ExxonMobil office in [[Spring, Texas|Spring]].<ref name="Connelly"/>

In January 2013, [[Shorenstein Properties]] acquired the property for $50 million.<ref name="RNR" /> As part of the deal, ExxonMobil leased back the entire building through 2015.<ref name="RNR" /> [[Shorenstein Properties]] announced plans to undertake significant improvements following ExxonMobil's departure.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://highrisefacilities.com/shorenstein-properties-completes-purchase-of-800-bell-street-in-houston/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130327074216/http://highrisefacilities.com/shorenstein-properties-completes-purchase-of-800-bell-street-in-houston/ |archive-date=2013-03-27 |title=Shorenstein Properties Completes Purchase of 800 Bell Street in Houston - High Rise Facilities}}</ref>

In 2015, as ExxonMobil's lease expired, oil prices crashed. This caused petroleum companies to shed excess office space, leaving the property vacant for almost the next decade.<ref name="RNR" />

[[Mayor of Houston]] [[Annise Parker]] proposed moving municipal court and [[Houston Police Department]] operations into the ExxonMobil building. Charles McClelland, the head of HPD, stated that having so many law enforcement and public safety agencies concentrated in a single building may be a safety risk, citing the [[1995 Oklahoma City bombing]].<ref>Morris, Mike. "[http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Questions-emerging-over-plans-to-move-justice-6131323.php Questions emerging over plans to move justice complex to Exxon tower]." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. March 12, 2015. Retrieved on March 13, 2015.</ref> In September 2015 Parker's administration announced that the plan would not move forward due to concerns over costs.<ref>Morris, Mike. "[http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Parker-halts-plans-to-turn-Exxon-tower-into-6529279.php Parker halts plans to turn Exxon tower into police, courts complex]." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. September 25, 2015. Retrieved on September 16, 2015.</ref>

In late 2022, the 1.2 million square foot building was sold to developers with plans to convert the vacant office building to residential units.<ref name="RNR" />

===Location===
The building is two blocks east of [[1500 Louisiana Street]]; a parking lot is between the two buildings.<ref>{{cite news | author=Nancy Sarnoff| title=ExxonMobil may be frontrunner for Enron Center South building | url=http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2002/02/11/newscolumn3.html | work=The Houston Business Journal | date=February 8, 2002 | access-date=18 January 2011}}</ref> The building is situated about five blocks north of the [[Interstate 45|Pierce Elevated freeway]], which is slated to be re-routed and removed as part of a Texas Department of Transportation Plan.<ref name="RNR" />