j_cuevas713

So commuters will be required to take the Green Line all the way down to the last station to get to this location. It's really not a bad consolidation of services and an upgrade for both neighborhoods. 

I think what's really great about the Warehouse District finally getting some love, is the fact that these little buildings that were long overlooked are being saved. Obviously this is a trend we've been seeing in this city for a long time now but it's just nice to see many of the original buildings from the turn of the century still around. And it really opens up the possibilities for the Warehouse District as a whole extending it further east.

The projects keep getting better. This side of the city is going to look so techy and industrial from East River all the way through EaDo. 

The Astros aren't looking at those developments without considering the environment they play in. They're also looking at St Louis which is more urban. The idea is to get a feel for what to incorporate in to the development. I expect it to blend well with MMP. I just expected a much larger plan to be unveiled. 

13 minutes ago, jhjones74 said:

This is a fair argument, though if we already have all of these things, why is it that almost every place you listed sees hardly any increase in traffic before or after games? Aside from a couple of the spots right by the stadium, I've never seen a big increase come from Astros games.

It could be because none of these places are actually catering to or built for the Astros, though there's no doubt that Houstonians aren't used to urban/walkable experiences like New Yorkers are - a majority drive 30+ min to downtown, park, enjoy the game, and drive 30 min back to their house. As much as I hate to say it, this could be one of the reasons the Astros are hesitant to actually invest in making this area more like what a lot of us HAIFers are envisioning, particularly bars where people would stay to have 4-5 drinks and then have to drive back to the Woodlands...

Nah I don't think that's fair. While a lot of people come in to the city from the burbs, many inner city Houstonians still frequent the businesses around the ballpark when those outsiders aren't here. I think what's been leaked is a good example of how the Astros front office operates as a whole. Jim Crane talks big, does very little, and moves at a snails pace. My expectation after all this time was to at least see renderings for the northern side of the ballpark along with the old Home Plate location. If all we're getting in the next 3 years is one little building, then that's extremely disappointing. Crane has said in the past that he's waiting for the NHHIP project to finish before he'll consider redeveloping the eastern side of the ballpark. If he's waiting for all of that to finish, then this is going to be a long slow process. 

This new tower helped tie this side of Downtown together aesthetically

When he said "That's where you applaud." 😂

Wow even that development isn't very old to be torn down

While I feel like this is a major loss for EaDo, it's also a great addition to Midtown. I'm guessing they already know St Emanuel is eventually going to turn in to a racetrack after the 45 realignment. 

16 hours ago, Highrise Tower said:

I always think about updating this thread with the wild and crazy items I see a Central Market. It's not architecture or buildings related so I never post anything.

Do people actually buy this food? I guess if there's a market for it, there's a buyer. I personally would like to taste the $150 balsamic vinaigrette or the $80 honey. 

Today I saw an Orchid arrangement for $500.  I talked with the designer and he encouraged me to pick it up. Felt like it weighed 25 pounds. He told me it's ceramic.

Also noticed a butter wheel that was $89.99.  Crazy!

Yeah and that place stays busy till closing. We have some very wealthy folks in this town.

3 minutes ago, Houston19514 said:

The subject development is in the Capitol Lofts Building at 711 Main. Flying Saucer is in the St Germain Building at 705 Main.

Duh, my bad. Thanks

Wait so is Flying Saucer closing?

I'm ready for Phase II

2 hours ago, jhjones74 said:

Would definitely cheer for something having more character/organic to the area, though the difference Houston has with Chicago, Boston and Baltimore is that it's a much younger city that unfortunately can't pull from historic buildings surrounding the area. The last thing I'd want is this district to feel like memorial city, or any of those (in my opinion) bland, car centric developments. But new construction has to happen, making it difficult to replicate what any older city has.

Compared to any other MLB stadium I've been to, and I've been to more than half, there's not yet a compelling enough reason to stay downtown right now before or after games. I was at Bravery chef hall before one of the ALCS games this year and it was basically empty. Again, too far to be in the conversation as cspwal pointed out. Building a hotel won't change this, there needs to be a larger vision for the whole area that I hope Astros owners are still considering.

Actually that whole area by Christ Church Cathederal / Cash Register Building has many buildings that could be reurposed. Many have lawyers or bail bondsmen in them but a few bars for the area would make the area feel much more connected. Not to mention the homeless constantly trashing the neighborhood. My biggest issue is this isn't starting till November 2024!?!? So we have to wait another year before anything even starts? 

16 hours ago, HoustonIsHome said:

This development is interesting but the city should give some thought to re-routing that highway.

NHHIP? 

This is a very creative way to help support local vendors. I like the idea of each small business getting the opportunity to set up shop in a larger space inside POST. If this is successful, POST will take off. We could see major names like Apple or Google open up shop at some point. 

That's actually great news! Downtown needs a comedy club bad. I'm surprised The Houston Improv hasn't moved Downtown yet. 

1 hour ago, steve1363 said:

The video was ok, but I guess "good" relative to other videos.   He was well versed on Prop B but not well versed on NHHIP.  He also took some unnecessary jabs at the Houston Astros which were weak.

I didn't learn anything new in this video which magnifies what a poor job Houston does tooting its own horn compared to other cities.   This guy was shocked and amazed that Houston was nothing like he expected.

It wasn't meant to be a tour guide video but an unbiased view from someone who is very well known in the world of building strong cities. In my opinion Houston doesn't need to toot it's own horn, it needs to continue building smarter. From there people will see how great the city is. But when you have poor sidewalks in Midtown right adjacent to Downtown, people are going to focus on the bad before the good. He was brutally honest which is good. The Astros jabs were all in fun, nothing to take seriously. The bigger point is that Ray really liked Houston and praised the city for it's efforts. He also understood the battle between the city and region. It was great he covered Prob B. I see the effort passing pretty easily. A lot of people in Houston have been scratching their head for decades wondering why certain things are being done that they don't want. 

Great video!

On 10/18/2023 at 8:47 PM, Houston19514 said:

Nope.  The Episcopal Health Foundation building is at Prairie and Fannin.  No meals are served there, but they let the sidewalks be a campground at night.  The Beacon is two blocks further east.  The Episcopal Health Foundation is kinda like a big middle finger to the downtown community, IMO.  (Part of the reason I no longer go to church there)

 

And what sucks is this part of Downtown has some nice charm but it's trashed half the time

I expect more retail to fill in the little old buildings once this goes up. This part of downtown has so much potential. 

The city needs to go ahead and demo that ugly ass bank across the street

On 10/8/2023 at 11:56 AM, Sanjorade said:

The 24 hour fitness was crap. Should replace w/ a nicer gym tbh. 
 

The CVS was in no man’s land. 
 

Whole Foods is too expensive for the neighborhood. Should be a Trader Joe’s or small Target. 

 

Yeah Morgan Group will def fill the space soon. I don't expect this to stay vacant long. A Target would be perfect

6 hours ago, august948 said:

That's because buying and owning a car has gotten too expensive.  We need to find ways to reduce the cost for young drivers to help them get started.

I mean there isn’t one single variable at play here. Young people are moving to cities that they can walk and take transit. That’s also a pattern that’s been increasing even before the pandemic. 

There has to be more to this. I thought that store was doing well.