Nick_G

What name would you have gone with? I am in the camp (it may only have my tent) that I do not like the Houston Texans name because it is not really Houston specific. I wish they were the Oilers. Naming the NFL team the Texans just gives whoever is watching them play the generic Texas brand promotion. I ask those who are reading this thread, what is the generic Texas brand that the Texans promote when they play?

The Superbowl is over, the Mannings have another trophy for their already cluttered mantel. Looking forward to baseball season (where we could use some more clutter) and since this is a community environment. I would like to point out the astros.com season ticket partner zone, which is a free service that allows you to get in touch with others who would be interested in sharing season tickets. http://houston.astro...ex.jsp?c_id=hou

I am not sure what o/p is but if you are referring to me I actually do like downtown, and again if you are talking about me am really confused why everyone is taking it like I said I didn't. I have made suggestions on how it could be improved but that by no means says I don't like it, if I didn't like it I wouldn't care.

I appreciate the vote of confidence and I can only assume the barely intelligible rants bit was toward me, to that, I'm working on it, multitasking has never been a strong suit. 81 Astros home games are played every year. Ever been to one of the home games when say the Red Sox come to town? It's embarrassing, there are more Red Sox fans there than Astros fans so anyone who feels passion for Houston should go to Astros games just so people know what city they are in (looks around at everyone on this site). They are actually a lot of fun anyway, and cheaper this year (see thread in Sports and Stadia). Back to the point, 81 days of the year there is the possibility of 40,000 plus people being in downtown specifically for entertainment. That is a huge potential that we are not fully capitalizing on. I think a stronger push to coordinate events like public shows to both promote the Astros and get people to do something other then just walk to their car before and or after the game would be huge. Here is another place where the commuter rail would be ideal as well, as after the game people can sober up on the train on their hour journey back to the Woodlands.

I've only been inside once for about 30 seconds looking for a happy hour menu as I am no bowler but if what you say is true maybe part of the problem is the execution of the vendors. Everything I have heard about Lucky Strike bowling sounds a little bit off and that is taking up a pretty sizable block of HP.

Others reported you, I have not reported one post you have made, was not even aware that was an option until the moderator jumped in. Actually, nothing you said was that insulting and quite a few things made me laugh. The two weeks or so I have been here I have only reported one post in total and that was made by RedScare after posts were already being deleted and things calmed down when I felt he was just trying to get a rise out of me and I had already gotten the point.

I actually appreciate your defense of downtown, it was the manner you went about it that was the issue. I made observations and because I was frustrated I posted them. I still believe you have the wrong impression of me, not that I am not partially at fault for that, as I jumped blindly into a forum world that has been around for a long time and you have been a part of for a long time and started off with a subject that is obviously a bit sore. There is a "why do you lurk" thread somewhere on this site and that would be a good reason to do so. Truth be told I have never even really read a forum before. One comment that was meant to be an insult that you made a few days ago but actually (unlike most of what you have tried to pin on me) is true is that I do lack the historical perspective of someone who can remember the city 30 years ago. I would say that goes for pretty much anyone under 34. It would be great if you could provide that historical perspective without attempting to insult me at every turn in the process. I am sure I am not the only one on this board or reading it that would find it useful.

I also appreciate this post. The panhandler conversation (again I am not even sure if they were homeless) was blown way out of proportion and I really don't want to get into that again. I am hoping for the area to take off and since that post was made there have been several discussion to varying degrees about how that could have been or could be encouraged.

Haha you don't like the Greek and or Roman gods? Unless you can prove otherwise I think their ethnicity it up for dispute. The building doesn't look bad from a distance though especially when compared to the faded-by-design red panels of the four leafs. (This post does not in any way attempt to justify the blank walls, I also agree they should not be there and I hope this new building does not follow suit)

Something at BLVD place could however be a culprit.

Can I quote TheNiche from Swamplot on this topic? "COMMENT OF THE DAY: MOVING ON FROM MONTROSE “You wouldn’t have expected that pioneers on the plains would’ve built teepees, would you? In the same vein, developers aren’t building $700k townhomes for the indigenous bohemiansof Montrose (whom cannot afford them and often do not want them or see them as an affront to their being); the townhomes are built for the West U set. You must come to terms with the geographic displacement of your people and the natural resources that once provided for your subsistence. Resistance is futile, and would only be an impetus for conflicted political outcomes, and co-opted movements that veer into misanthropic endeavors. Prepare yourselves, and move to Houston’s eastern hinterlands. To remain on your sacred ground, your only alternative is to go back to school and get your MBA, so that you can adapt to the West U man’s strange ways and speak their tongue. But I think that you should go, and be with your people.” [TheNiche, commenting on Comment of the Day: The Origins of the FrankenTuscan Style]" In all seriousness, I understand your point about wanting to live in a cool place and we all benefit from being able to afford more here than in other places, but I do think we are already very spread out and could let things develop a bit more where they are without being priced out of the market. I know they are looking to be proactive about this but I think it's too soon and that we are already late in developing a commuter rail.

It's happening so at least there is a silver lining.

If we were to regulate it, I would want it to be on a global scale to ensure all markets have similar advantage. If this could be done then I would absolutely be for it and I think all enough of Houston would as well. You do make a good amount of excellent points on how to do it on a local scale that I left out in the quote, if you can fight that battle I would be behind you, but I don't think it's something that would be easily won. As for downtown developments, an area where I believe we can agree upon is ensuring cross walks are where they should be, are well lit, inviting and work properly. Which was the problem samagon was having at HP.

I believe he was talking about this bit. and stating money is going into highway projects that could have gone elsewhere.

Fair enough, thanks for the input. I still believe commuter rail lines would be a positive option for the metro area. It's more choice not forcing people to choose, the system we have now is forcing people to choose cars. The TX dot may be funding that but correct me if i am wrong, those are tax dollars that could have been diveretrd elsewhere, you are right in that I am not paying those taxes and I am living in the city limits and as such would not make that decision. Their choice however does still affect us.

Haha yea I'm not looking to California for any type of example. They clearly have not got things right. I also would not be for regulating the industry, nor would Texas allow for that. Where I would like to see more options, sorry RedScare for making a "wish list" but looking to discuss how Houston spends future money, are commuter rail lines heading into the suburbs instead of new gigantic loop roads. A commuter rail is not really something a consumer can choose if it's not there. Hense not even given an option. A lot of people drive a lot in the city, that's not a criticism that is just true. If we cut down on emissions from personal transportation I believe we can make a difference. I also believe we should be thinking about it and planning for safe pedestrian travel (which yes we are working on but HP is a pretty new project and samagon pointed that it was not fully thought out).

I'm interested because I have unlimited access to one of the garages right on Fannin very close to a train stop and I was thinking it would be a great location to find a restaurant and sober up before getting in the car to complete the trip. I had hope because of these statistics "The Texas Medical Center receives 160,000 daily visitors and over six million annual patient visits, including over 18,000 international patients. In 2010, the center employed over 93,500 people, including 20,000 physicians, scientists, researchers and other advanced degree professionals in the life sciences." So I figured I'd ask.

Yea that's what they decided on but the article mentioned they were looking into a new building before they made the call. Either way more demand for office space is a good thing.

The oil and gas exploration and production company signed a new lease this month for 132,000 square feet, which was rolled into a lease renewal for its existing 365,000 square feet, bringing its total square footage to 497,000 at the Post Oak Central office complex. Houston-based Apache (NYSE: APA) had been considering its real estate options, including possibly pre-leasing space in a proposed office building that would not be built without a commitment from a lead tenant. http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2012/01/31/apache-expands-office-at-post-oak.html Good news that Apache is using up more office space, however I do wonder which office building they were looking into.

I liked it for you, as I was inadvertently part of the problem. Anyone ever been to the Yao happy hour? If I recall from walking by they gave some pretty good discounts, how is it there?

haha yea yea, but you have to be to post on the thread so it's nearly relevant?

The reason I call you out is typically your wording and tone and especially your need to take things I have said out of content or put words in my mouth, whenever you put in useful pieces of information I have never responded as though I was attacked even if you disagreed with me.

I am sorry you feel my posts are shallow but as far as Houston sucking I would like to point out to you that in my encouraging tourism thread where I said I love the city, because I do, this is my home. I also made that thread and the ones about the overpasses all of which you dismissed as useless because I do not want to sit just making a wish list I would like to see if we can get anything in place that would help. Like I said before maybe we can maybe we can't but it can't hurt to try.

How do you feel about Tal's Hill?

Redscare, I have made enough posts about downtown, the trains and whom I would like them to serve, funding for them and pedestrian improvements and where I would like tax dollars to be spent at this point that I hope my stances on them are already clear. I really feel as though you comb through my comments looking for ways to attack me if it makes sense with everything I have ever said or not. Also please read my comment above again as I can tell you are not getting at my point. "or maybe because most of the market is only presented with options that are cars first pedestrians second as samagon was noting even in downtown. In my view it is the city's responsibility to make pedestrian travel safe and enjoyable and I really feel we could be doing a better job of it."