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At the risk of putting my cynicism on full display, I'm calling BS on this. I can't speak to the condition of 2507 Times, but I find it hard to believe that 5607 Morningside did "not meet current requirements for occupancy" when its sole reason for closure was the pandemic, and it has been vacant since then. Exactly what changed in the interim to render it a neighborhood menace comparable to the befanged Ashby High-Rise Monster? Rice seems to have gotten in the habit of relying on the time-tested appeal to health and safety as a figleaf to tamp down criticism when they're intent on razing buildings and they know that such actions won't be welcomed by everyone. Wish I'd known about the memorabilia auction before it took place. At least they're donating the proceeds to a reputable charity, although if they are referring to the "original signage" that I think they are, I'd have preferred that particular piece of memorabilia to be given back to the general manager who designed and created it.

More renders/plans for the new cruise terminal:

Artist Boat today announced they raised the required $6.5 million to protect the Anchor Bay property, a 140 acre tract of land sandwiched between the current bounds of the Coastal Heritage Preserve. They'll close on the land in June.

Their plat was approved, but there was a requirement to dedicate 16' to McKinney (due to being called out to being an 80' ROW on the MTFP) and 5.85' to Oakhurst. They are asking for a variance to not dedicate and the adjust the building line as the dedication would have them dedicate roughly half the building to the city.

Plat submitted:

What a horrible eyesore of a parking garage. I can't imagine renting a unit that looks out onto it.

A new mosaic 2 women have been working on.

David Best leaves Houston this week as he arrived from California late last month, driving a brightly striped vehicle topped by a life-sized plastic horse painted safety orange. But Best, a sculptural artist, is leaving something behind after last weekend’s Art Car Parade. Renowned for his intricately designed, ephemeral wooden structures, Best, his Temple Crew, and a team of volunteers have constructed his first temple in Texas over the past two weeks. The Houston Temple was unveiled on April 12, the day after the Art Car Parade, where Best's Orange Horse was one of three first place winners. Admittedly, “unveiled” is a bit of a misnomer: The temple extends far into the sky in the Gulfgate/Pine Valley area near East End. There is no veiling it. On view through Nov. 6 at The Orange Show World HQ, 2334 Gulf Terminal Drive. Houston Temple will remain on the Orange Show campus through November 6, at which point it will meet the same end as the nine temples Best has designed for the Burning Man festival — a week-long desert-set art and community event founded in 1986 — as well as others around the world: It’ll be burned to the ground, part of a healing ritual. https://orangeshow.org https://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/art_exhibits/article/david-best-orange-show-19406607.php My pics taken today.

I read mostly guttural braying from the anti-Ellis crowd on X.

First year of funding was set for 2027-28. Unsure there things stand now with mayor's announcement earlier this year that all projects will be paused for review.

On the rail line…nice…

I was merely referring to the article… What began as growing contention over the implementation of a paid parking program in the Historical Downtown Heights community has now evolved into concerns about the future of retail and small businesses in this quaint Houston neighborhood. At the center of the controversy is the Heights Marketplace, which consists of two retail strip centers fronting W. 19th and divided by Nicholson Street. Tenants of the shopping center say that nearly four years ago, when property management changed hands, rents increased substantially, forcing some businesses to raise prices and others to leave. Outdoor landscaping and decor were overhauled and, most recently, one of the first paid parking programs in Downtown Heights was implemented. Last fall, according to tenants, they received a 2-page letter from third-party parking program managers, SP+ and Parking.com, letting them know what had already been decided and implemented; all of this occurring, tenants say, without any prior warning or communication from property management. Shortly thereafter, before managers had an opportunity to reach out to their respective business ownership, dozens of signs, described as unattractive and even threatening, littered the parking lots. … JLL was repeatedly contacted for their side of the story but failed to respond to multiple requests for information and comment. At one point, they even denied that Heights Marketplace was in their portfolio. However, a corporate source from JLL finally provided the first name and cell number of a retail property management contact for the Houston area. After multiple texts to an individual named ‘Jessica’ we received a brief call in which she confirmed that she is, in fact, the property manager for the Heights Marketplace property. However, she declined to answer any questions and refused to provide her last name. She stated that she would be texting an email address to “forward any questions or concerns”. To date, neither the text nor subsequent email contact information have been received. “That is not surprising in the least,” said Chris Newlin, a frequent patron of Heights Marketplace and a Heights homeowner for nearly 35 years. “It’s really about corporate greed. You’d be surprised to learn how many conglomerates have quietly bought substantial holdings in The Heights. There is growing fear that the excessive rent increases, unjustified demands and, most recently, the unnecessary parking program are all laying the groundwork to eventually scrape and replace the Heights Marketplace with higher grossing commercial or residential properties.” Newlin added, “I understand the need for gentrification, but this is going too far.”

The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents voted Thursday to begin construction on the $370 million State Emergency Operations Center and agency headquarters for the Texas Division of Emergency Management just east of Austin’s Bergstrom International Airport. The $370 million total includes $9.7 million for land acquisition and just over $360 million to build the 295,978 square foot facility, which includes a five-story office building and the State Emergency Operations Center. https://www.tdem.texas.gov/press-release/11-9-23 Architect - https://www.energyarch.com

Bruce is my cousin. You just unlocked a memory. He was also in the Thunder Soul documentary in 2010 about Conrad Johnson.

Had a quick chat with the owner to confirm, that construction note was part of a MF pipeline report for MMG (investment sales team) from Q4 - from when the property was under contract. 2121 has not been sold and there are no plans on it at this time. We are still working on finding a good buyer for it!

www.summerdaleliving.com

Wasn't a big fan of their beer but a lot of good folks worked there. Hope the staff lands on their feet.

www.altasunsetheights.com

This has to be one of the strangest location combos I have seen. Two locations in Houston and one in Priest Lake, Idaho.

If the landlord wants to clear out the current tenants, it can just hike the rent when it is time to renew. And both sides of that development have had empty spots for a fairly long time. So, if they think that there is big money to be made with new tenants, those tenants have yet to show up. Of course, in the commercial real estate world, two birds in a bush are worth more than a bird in the hand and they may think that they can turn the little strip center into a high end development.

I think the occupancy permits purchased last week are for a new business at 2517 Ralph St. Supposedly, a new venture from Sundown Entertainment is slated for the former La Grange space. Sundown Entertainment is behind local bar and night club concepts The Sporting Club, The Sugar Room, Clutch, and Todos Santos. Muse is also part of their dining portfolio. It's possible the name of the business opening at 2517 Ralph St is Melrose. I'm not sure. I'm also unsure of the concept; although I'm leaning towards it being a bar or a lounge. There is an Instagram for Melrose and registered web domain. Edit: The business slated for 2517 Ralph St is Melrose. I did a search and noticed the business recently applied for an alcohol permit. https://melrosehtx.com/ https://www.instagram.com/melrosehtx

That will increase to three once the Quitman overpass is built. It's too bad that the plans don't include a Cavalcade overpass/underpass at the railroad. I frequently see trains stopped on the West Belt track there.