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I agree, RobN is probably remembering the Simms estate. We used to go there in groups during High School and just snoop around. It was dangerous I'm sure, but we didn't know that then. I think it caught fire a few times and finally burnt to the ground sometime in 1970 or 71. If you enter the Fiesta parking lot off of Wayside and notice the palm trees in the landscaping traffic island, they are orginal to the Simms estate.

I used to work at the Marriott Astrodome Hotel on Braeswood in the late 1980's. A few random memories: I seem remember the employee cafeteria was run by a nice woman by the name of Irene, I believe. The cafeteria was named after her for her many years of service and called "Irene's Cantina". She made the best spicy dirty rice and all the lunches were free! I remember Ford Motor Company showing off their new Ford Capri convertible in the ballroom. I also remember how the hotel booked a group for a local dog show. For better or worse, we were a pet friendly motel by then. The Accounting office was located right next to the kitchen dishwashing equipment and HR by the back dock. There was a really nice old style pub in what appeared to be an old house around the corner, but it appears to be gone on google maps. I sure wish I could remember the name of that place. Was sad to recently research the hotel, only to find it had been demolished many years ago. I checked the satellite image and see that the ground is still undeveloped and a few palm trees are left as a reminder.I did some research and found a Houston Chronicle article from March 30,1994 which said, "An Astrodomain hotel group has bought two more hotels in the area, giving the organization six near the Astrodome.A joint venture of Patriot American of Dallas and Gencom Interests of Houston purchased the 285-room Residence Inn by Marriott-Houston Astrodome, 7710 S. Main, and the 330-room Ramada Hotel Astrodome/Medical Center, 2100 S. Braeswood.The Ramada, which operated as the Marriott Astrodome until a few weeks ago, was purchased from Host Marriott" Thanks so much for reading my post!

But, but, but - isn't HPD the department that throws Hispanics into bayous? And arrests mouthy sign-holders for no reason? You're telling me they're afraid of a couple of homeless groups?

Were you born in midtown? Were you raised in midtown? They were there in the 70's-early 90's when the place was dead and nobody wanted anything to do with it. Old abandoned (very cool-looking) houses. Broken streets. No cute train. Only thing around there was the Sears store, a Fiesta which I used to shop at when I went to college and fire-sale stores. Why do you think large parts of midtown in the 70's became Little Vietnam? Because it was cheap real estate and nobody cared when the Vietnamese refugees bought it. They could afford it, and stick together and be generally left alone. Everybody was happy because nobody else wanted the property back then (except the bums). It wasn't until much later that people figured out that the Vietnamese could cook pretty good and it became a cool to go get your bacon-flavored pho. Oops. Wrong thread.

Finally a good idea from the city! Sounds like a great plan, and I am glad that they are trying to save a historic building facade.