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barracuda

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Everything posted by barracuda

  1. This discussion is apparently not for the timid. Anyway, ABC 13 has picked up the story. The City of Houston response: "The Yale Street Bridge will require upgrade or replacement in the foreseeable future and PWE continues to explore all options for funding such work.". http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news%2Flocal&id=8131246
  2. Sounds like a fit for the Midtown crowd. I wonder if they will have an acrobat to retrieve the wine bottles, like in this London Radisson.
  3. You're referring to the rampant gentrification?
  4. I find it amusing that people continue to exit Studewood only to be forced right back onto I-10.

    1. Show previous comments  11 more
    2. Highway6

      Highway6

      We aren't going to agree since you choose to negate compounded time, but that is the whole underlying premise. 1 single car in front of you can cost you a 1-2 minute light cycle. 50 cars can cost you 2-3 light cycles in heavy traffic and every light cycle means the possibility of more cars turning into the path between you and your destination. Every Car Passed Counts. Come over to the dark side...

    3. MOpens

      MOpens

      I am willing to recognize the effect of compounded time, but I refuse to give it as much credit as you are.

    4. barracuda

      barracuda

      I was looking at it from the perspective of folks who exit during periods of light traffic on I-10, but using it to pass other cars during rush hour is another story. Having commuted on I-10 before and during reconstruction, I admittedly developed a pattern for this tactic out of frustration. An hour to go 20 miles on a freeway every day will make you do such things.

  5. You may be correct about the date; I only recently noticed the price hike. I tried the free headphones once awhile back, but they seemed useless against the background noise of a 737. That and the frequent PA interruptions made my ears want to bleed. They now charge silver elites $59 for exit row seats prior to check-in time.
  6. They didn't wait long to start charging elite customers for exit row seat upgrades. And I noticed on my flight yesterday they're now asking $3 for those crappy headphones that used to be $1 or free for elite/first class.
  7. You could probably replace it without anyone noticing, but yes, you are supposed to get a COA, per sec. 33-201. This is why I suggested such routine alterations be fast-tracked for approval instead of requiring the full COA process. Replacing a door shouldn't require going through the same review process as the construction of a new house.
  8. I hope at least this aspect of the ordinance can be changed. There are plenty of two-story houses and second-story additions sprinkled throughout the historic districts from before the ordinance, and I personally think additions that are flush at the front are much more natural and functional. Not only that, but less yard space is consumed in a vertical buildup, allowing a back yard and more drainage area. The camelback additions are awkward both in appearance and in terms of the floor plan, and they are particularly unbecoming on a corner lot where the profile contrast is most visible. I don't mean to rain on anyone's parade, as I there are a number of camelbacks under construction right now by folks who are just following the rules in order to add square footage. But I would love to see this rule scrapped before more and more houses are given a humpback.
  9. I attended the HAHC meeting last week, and I have to admit, the approval process is not as bad as I had feared. The bulk of the certificate of appropriate items on the agenda were approved as part of a consent agenda, and the HAHC board was sympathetic towards the remaining projects that were flagged for various reasons. Even projects that had questionable design elements were approved when the owner or architect explained the reasoning and the board discussed the ramifications and benefits to the value and appearance of the property. And looking back through previous meeting minutes, it appears that nearly all submitted COAs are approved. It seems that unless a project is particularly egregious in violating the ordinance, they are willing to consider approval. To be honest, I wish someone had proposed something overtly in violation of the ordinance just to see what would happen. I do think the process could be sped up for simple COA requests. It requires being added to the schedule, and HAHC only meets once a month. This combined with the permitting process can easily add more than a month to getting a project started. It seems reasonable for larger projects like new home construction, but I think routine projects (like a COA for replacing a front door) could be done quicker. But I suppose it forces the property owner to think long and hard about their project, which is usually not a bad thing. P.S. - I'm not suggesting that the design restrictions of the ordinance are preferable to everyone, just that the commission is easy to work with and the approval process is probably not worth getting worked up about - they seem willing to work with you and not fight you.
  10. It has a lot of updates inside, but it looks nice and I really like the style of the original structure. But as much as I like openness, this has so much hard surface I suspect it will be like an echo chamber inside. And those wood floors look nice, but are absolutely impossible to keep clean. You can tell just looking at the kitchen table shot - the floor is covered in footprints. I also would have diverted some of the money towards cleaning/fixing/painting the exterior siding (like the cracks evident in the rear exterior corner). Regardless, it looks like a nice update overall.
  11. He's probably referring to the traffic lights on W<->E streets such as Elgin and McGowen. It's not uncommon to catch just about every red light when traveling down some of these streets, particularly Elgin. The N<->S streets seem to be given the traffic signaling priority for the folks going in and out of DT and the spur.
  12. I suppose so, but it felt like development had stalled a few years ago, particularly on the eastern side of Midtown. Glad to see all the new development and I hope it keeps densifying.
  13. I second that. I've been tempted to use the Wortham Fountain, but the water stinks of dogs and chlorine.
  14. A car like that is wasted in the U.S.
  15. I'm all for the new statues....the few random pieces of outdoor art are part of what I like about this park.
  16. Denver's is partially enclosed like HP. However, theirs is situated on a pedestrian mall that is closed to traffic except for free shuttle buses. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=denver+pavilions&aq=&sll=29.795213,-95.385299&sspn=0.009217,0.01929&ie=UTF8&hq=pavilions&hnear=Denver,+Colorado&ll=39.744212,-104.990882&spn=0.000879,0.004823&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=39.744221,-104.990884&panoid=1CQsRJGX9q2x8ytmbwbMug&cbp=11,223.18,,0,-3.71
  17. I do wonder if any folks involved in the project questioned the idea of designing an uninviting and well-hidden narrow alleyway as the main storefront. Maybe they were afraid to speak up, the way folks involved in the production of the first couple Star Wars prequels were too afraid to tell George Lucas how terrible some of his ideas were. Who knows. Bad ideas are followed through all the time. I agree it is a missed opportunity for downtown, even though it did at least eat up a few surface lots. But I've been to HP two times, and unfortunately could never find a reason to go back. Actually, I forget it's even there most of the time.
  18. Speak of the devil... Wal-Mart Shifts Strategy to Promote Healthy Foods Some people are always going to buy junk food, but making healthier food more affordable is a good step.
  19. It'll be interesting to see if this occurs on a wide-scale across the new historic districts and if a discrepancy develops compared to non-historic districts. I don't see how the ordinance can survive if evidence continues to mount that it causes a relative and drastic drop in property values. Politically, it seems like the ordinance was badly timed, as now there is the double-whammy of market pressures and the effect of the historic ordinance affecting prices.
  20. It's more of a comment on our society and the effect of abundantly cheap, processed foods. Walmart is just one of many enablers. I don't think the goal of the study was to lay fault, but to show correlations in light of the nation's obesity epidemic.
  21. If folks are really changing their offers by such a large amount due to the ordinance, it does not sound promising. However, based on just one piece of second-hand anecdotal evidence, it's hard to believe someone would be willing to pay a $50k premium not to be beholden by historic rules, and I say that as someone who doesn't agree with the way the ordinance was carried out nor some of the restrictions it puts in place. $275k sounds high for a demolish and rebuild lot, but it sounds more promising if it's reasonably sized and has a good core for remodeling and adding to, even within the historical guidelines. This has already been going on for years by folks all over the Heights, the only difference right now is the drop in demand and resale due to the market crash, and the aspect of big-brother looking over your shoulder. But now may actually a good time to start buying property, while the prices are still suppressed.
  22. Study: When New Walmarts Open, People Get Fatter http://consumerist.com/2011/01/study-walmart-is-making-people-fatter.html I'm not going to directly blame Walmart for the obesity epidemic, but it's an interesting study.
  23. I think the metal homes are neat in concept and the interiors seem nice, but the design and application from Urban Homes is sub-par. They don't age well on the exterior, contrary to what I would expect from an industrial design metal house. Many of them are draped with rust stains, rough edges, and mis-matching panels. It doesn't look like the company has any in their current development portfolio for Houston. Here are some notable examples (more noticeable in person). Part of me likes these ones despite the prison-outfit facade, but notice the rust stains. Makes me question the build quality. http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Houston,+Harris,+Texas&ll=29.739205,-95.370114&spn=0.001014,0.001035&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=29.739276,-95.370055&panoid=ywy8ikrGmq3SOBdeMqubug&cbp=12,301.45,,0,0.22 These have very noticeable mis-matching colors and splotchy awnings: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Houston,+Harris,+Texas&ll=29.740241,-95.368672&spn=0.001014,0.001035&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=29.74028,-95.368735&panoid=gVIi6h7DMi8JTJvrj9-28g&cbp=12,249.89,,0,3.83
  24. I think it has more to do with the character of a house and the general neighborhood than the history. There are some great examples of old bungalows in the Heights, but there are also quite a few ordinary and derelict homes that detract from the desirability. The homes that have been kept up or renovated and have character are what make the neighborhood. There is obviously a market of folks who are less concerned about square footage than character, or they are willing to pay to have both and build a new home or large addition within the neighborhood. The problem I have with the historic ordinance is that it isn't always fair in distinguishing good history from bad history (other than allowing for negligence claims). Not every house in the historic districts is a gem worth exacting preservation or any preservation in some cases, and modifications that in all common sense improve those properties should be encouraged instead of stifled. Interjecting a little common sense into the process would go a long way, like allowing the single family residents of a duplex with two doors to remove the second door and centralize the location of the first door, or allowing renovations that were already in process to be completed.
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