InTheLoop

REDSTONE IS KILLING "MY" BUILDING! Until our mandatory Nov. move-out, I had a corner office with a beautiful view of Post Oak - our "Rodeo Drive", for seven years. This was a good building - it thrived when there was little else but the strip mall across the street as The Post Oak Bank Building (circa 1965) There was SERIOUS net worth officing there: 3 or 4 big family trusts had space (names you've probably heard), probably several million $ inventory of watches/jewelry for sale at 3-4 businesses. I saw George Foreman and Elvin Hayes visiting their estate planners up the hall. My favorite memory is probably helping innumerable blond, blue-eyed baffled folks find their country's Houston embassy up on 6. That would be the Dutch embassy; the travelers were always worried, and grateful for the guide. Yes, that land is far too valuable for a 7 story building with a giant drive-thru bank eating up space. Yes, the bank was robbed at gunpoint in daylight, and yes, 2" of rain caused ankle+ deep water in the motley garage, but it was well-built and I thought the sidewalks and interior were very attractive. Even the exterior was mildly attractive, in my view. I will miss it. It was just too well-located for its survival.

I reverse commute to Missouri City from inside the loop via 90-A. I'm done by 8-8:30 so can't speak to later (or pre-7 am) commutes, but in my experience 90-A is the best way to head out to the Med Center. NEVER take S. Post Oak to the 610 Loop. Why mingle w/the Galleria gang? You probably already knew that... I agree w/LF: 90A/Main @ 610 can be a mess. If it is a catastrophe, consider a small "backtrack"...exit Willowbend/Stella Link and follow Stella Link north. You may either then approach 610/Main via the feeder heading east or just stay on Stella Link to one of the Braeswoods (N. is less beat up, but has more traffic., S. Braeswood in that area is little more than a series of craters ). Both Braeswoods will get you to S. Main. Another option is SL straight up to Holcombe. This route is heavy on school zones and there is still some Holcombe construction. Many folks on your side of town prefer a less-frenetic commute. If you're not like me (always almost late), just take Hillcroft (or any N-S route) to N. Braeswood. You just stay on it for miles, then turn left on Main. It's not blazing fast, but is predictable. Not much road rage compared to our highway system. From Westbury, you have a very reasonable commute relative to most drivers, and loads of alternative surface streets. It's entirely bearable! In closing, congrats on your excellent taste in academic institutions, and THANK YOU for becoming a nurse. That makes you an invaluable asset to our community. Here's to smooth commutes for our valued nurses!

I'm way too familiar w/Denver Pavillions - it may have been an initial success, but it is now very unimpressive. Turnover was high even prior to the recession. I thought then, and now, that it was disjointed with panhandlers just on the periphery at all times. They also just lost Virgin Megastore with more vacancies to come. (All VMs are history now) Locals I know have no civic pride in the rapidly aging facility, and "improvements" are unimpressive. It's a mutt. Hope HouPav sees the devolution of the Denver Pavillions and learns how not to reinvigorate D'town. (of course D'town/LoDo Denver makes D'town Hou look like an evening ghost town, so...doesn't bode well for HouPav IMHO.) That would be true IMO irrespective of recessions.

Want to see Mosaic's "country cousin"? In 2005-6 "The Glass House" was completed in Denver. Same general exterior (beautiful, in my book), 389 units, 8th floor pool/club room, twin towers atop 7 level garage, adjacent to picturesque park w/fast running S. Platte River at base. Beautiful finshes in all common areas, but cut corners on interior finishes (mediocre cabinets, etc.). Walk to downtown. Pre-sale announcement followed by immediate 100% sellout. A year later, almost every "flipper" had been rewarded as +/- $300/sf presale went to $400/sf + w/in a year. Currently still full, pricing holding up except for oddball view units, etc.. Why? Read TheNiche's insights as to location, above. Marketed to young professionals/trust fund babies with an "edgy" campaign. Bought by empty-nesters, those who wanted a pied a terre prior to driving to the slopes, and a few folks who wanted to walk to work. Not the target crowd. It was hilarious to read the Glass House official blog written by a chick who used terms like "peeps" ad nauseum, "communicating" with owners who just didn't want to "get it", dude. If you want to see how a city got infill RIGHT, check out Riverfrontpark.com, and see how Denver did/is doing transit and infill. Denverinfill.com is also a top-notch "scorecard" site that does a great job of politically pressuring crap building owners and surface parking lot blighters. BTW, Denver already has a "Pavillions" with mostly the same old bowling alley/music venue, etc. that is being hyped here. Denver attracts far more after hours folks d'town (huge convention city). Nevertheless, after 2-3 years Pavillions turned into a hangout for scary-looking kids from adjacent neighborhoods who panhandle, smoke, glare, skate and kill time. What they don't do is spend $, and there has been turnover from quality retail to cheaper stuff. The almost-new movie theatre is so bad that I once had to endure the projectionist stopping the movie, turning up the lights and ejecting several "patrons". I hope the Houston Pavillions crowd learned, but I doubt it. Maybe Denver Pav. is a success (I don't know) but it is in no way a landmark Denverites are proud of...and they have a much more vibrant downtown scene. I just don't see our Pavillions standing the test of time...but hey, it's not my $!. I would suggest lots of security (LOTS!) and a no-nonsense approach to loitering.

I believe the "brickwork" below the windows was fashioned from recycled tires. So, it's got that going for it.

Is that center still infamous for car break-ins? The 8-10 times I've been, I've seen multiple tell-tale small piles of glass... and, yet, a remarkable # of yellow topped security trucks and, of course lots of HPD. Leaving my car 2 hours for a movie struck me in its similarity to parking a block from the Midtown Greyhound Station: Everything will possibly be OK. Great dirt, but if you don't have a better mix of national chains with those limited inventory mom-and-pops, then we see what happens. Nighttime is OK w/restaurants, theatre, expensive diversions (D+, but everything else crumbles. I hope they find some daytime winners...