j_cuevas713

While I applaud their efforts, that new rendering sucks! Better than nothing I guess 

Wow so the other building that houses the Urban League is at risk now? WTH!?

http://billwarner.posthaven.com/a-horror-story-with-bulldozers-it-happened-in-boston-and-almost-happened-in-cambridge-somerville-and-brookline-urban-renewal-the-west-end-and-the-inner-belt-highway-i-695

It was a combo of Government Square and a new highway... either way we have no room to complain. Boston almost destroyed 1/4 of its history.

Well I guess it's a good reason. Houston is starting to save a lot of structures now. So it seems the owner just didn't want to fork up more money to just save the building since it's such a prime piece of real estate. I'm hoping for residential in its place. Hey on the bright side nothing compares to the 1000s of buildings demolished for Government Square in Boston.

This is extremely disappointing

cloud you're being trolled.

 

I was talking to the Manager at forever 21 and they told me they were told that Greenstreet was in talks with Sephora, Urban outfitters and a few other retailers but nothing is confirmed yet...

Wow seriously that would be huge! Those are big names!

What is this downtown is packed? Were not talking narket square area or discovery green, greenstreet and main street are hardly EVER packed with people walking.

Umm yeah it is... my gf and I go to HoneyMoon Cafe & Bar very often and that area is always packed with people on the wknd. 

Yes but its going to be pretty damn hard to "build" up this pedestrian traffic without addressing the issues on hand.

Clearly pedestrian traffic isn't suffering too bad since I see downtown pretty packed on the weekends. This issue on the homeless doesn't deter people who live in the city. The only people it bothers are cookie cutter suburbanites who think anything with grit is dangerous. You're in a city!!! Get over the homeless!!! Learn how to talk and deal with people or better yet ignore them! Stop being a scared little you know what! I'm speaking in a general sense not to you Astros148. People are going to go downtown with a reason to be there. If more stores pop up, then more people will shop downtown. I think Houstonians are pretty used to a few pan handlers.

Actually the building doesn't look that bad

Dude we dont need a 2 story Starbucks at this prime spot. Thats the worst idea ever

AGREE!!! What are some people thinking? smh

I'm in San Francisco for the holidays and every time I'm here, in Chicago, NY, DC and other major cities, the number of homeless seems greater or comparable to Houston.  A couple of differences that I believe are important--

 

1) Houston has a lot less pedestrian traffic to "offset" the number of panhandlers and therefore it feels more unsafe, worrisome, etc.

 

2) Houston has an ordinance against sitting or lying on the sidewalks between 7 am and 11 pm, which is key to the "aggressive" nature of DT panhandlers.  In other major cities, you will find that panhandlers typically have a "spot" that they're sitting in with a receptacle for passersby to put money into.  

 

The lack of foot traffic DT, coupled with the ordinance against "posting up" is why I believe DT panhandlers approach those few who are walking downtown and ask for money.  Notice how those who panhandle at major intersections outside DT are less aggressive? There is more traffic (cars) and no one making them "move along" from the intersection.

 

Whatever your feelings about the homeless DT, I think its important to understand the dynamics.  

That's a very solid observation

I agree, and everything feels uniquely "Houston" if that makes sense.  It's as though we're finally embracing what we have--Bayous, Live Oaks, Diversity--with places like Buffalo Bayou Park, Discovery Green, and Phoenicia instead of envying that we don't have the natural beauty of Austin per se.  I enjoy visiting Austin, went there for school and have a daughter there now; but I am excited to see Houston move in a more "urbane" direction given its population size, diversity, economy, etc.

 

DT Houston, finally becoming more than an enormous corporate park that shuts down after 5 pm. 

Exactly, Houstonians embracing their city is really nice to see finally

Incidentally, the pics were snapped all around DT during the same timeframe last Friday afternoon.  The idea that there are multiple places one could "be" outside of the tunnels (Discovery Green, Market Square Park, Main St Square, Phonecia) was unheard of a few years ago.  There are still plenty "dead zones", but that's steadily changing.

I think it's normal to have a few dead zone's. But yeah you're right things are heading in the right direction. What's even better is that Midtown and EaDo are tying in to Downtown along with the revamp of Buffalo Bayou Park. Everything is coming along nicely. 

That one shot with the rendering and Main St. in the foreground... I always wondered if shutting down Main to the Pierce elevated would be a good idea and make it all walkable.

There's houses, but nothing else. Its not an urban neighborhood. If you have to drive to get everywhere, you may as well live in the suburbs.  Also, keep in mind, I am not referring to Navigation/ Harrisburg, I am speaking of the area south of the railroad. 

What are you talking about!? It's an inner city neighborhood. Yes it's an urban area. 

Boy, I hope so. Perhaps when Dallas street is done and the hotel is climbing skyward, they will make some announcements.

Yeah because they were supposed to make an announcement a couple of months ago and still nothing. 

I doubt the hospital will close. The lack of funding is a hard blow but it seems they are going to find a way to keep the hospital operating. It's too important to the immediate area to close. If it were to close, I think another hospital would take over. 

Weren't we told that there were half a dozen retailers willing to be an anchor for this retail district? So what's up with that, who are the possible retailers?

I'm almost positive that the police do care. Like, they really care in 2015...

I mean, did you see the drug? What kind was it? Pretty sure drug dealers are smart enough to not do a deal in front of police lol

Yeah I was about to say that as well... and besides that, so much focus is on one damn block yet we got half of the 3rd Ward, 5th Ward, and other areas that aren't getting any better and I don't see the public outcry there. My point is that this is one block that seems to stand out in Midtown, but sooner or later it will change and clean up as the city grows and gentrifies, everyone chill out already.

are you effin kidding me? theres people doing meth and crack right there on the block of the greyhound and the mcdonalds parking lot. dont even attempt to fool yourself or anyone else saying its not that bad. its the worst damn block in the city

I walk that area every day, an it's not as bad as you claim. Not fooling myself one bit but my God get a grip. You act like every city block should be a nice clean suburb when in reality this is nothing compared to parts of Chicago or NYC. 

thats the worst block in midtown by far yet

Its really not that bad. Its a typical inner city block near a bus station.

Last thing I heard was Campo was a go for this project. That's why he put the downtown project on hold until this one was complete and the economy got better.

I'm crossing my fingers form this development.

I see what you mean. Well, to play devil's advocate then, couldn't it be possible that because it stands out from all the rest that it may just not fit the budget then?

 

Either way, I hope it gets built. I've just been worried about it ever since they brought up material cost as the reason this hasn't moved forward.

Very good point. Ultimately these school upgrades benefit the kids going there. But on the flip side as a development I hope it gets built for the sake of downtown. If Urbannizer is correct, it's a 4th quarter start, so hopefully we see some dirt move soon.

Wish they would do something with the Main Street Square. The Mall Fountains are lame, would nice to have a big pedestrian plaza and not have the disconnect.

Well they're def lame now since they don't even operate well. Who is in charge of those things, the Downtown Management District?