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Sparrow

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Everything posted by Sparrow

  1. Sparrow
    I'd like to think that they'd consider a tunnel rather than a bridge structure for a San Jacinto extension, just like the Hernandez Tunnel for Main. Not sure what the cost comparision would be. The Hardy Yards developer could likely even keep much of the park they have on the site plan in the ROW south of Leona.
  2. Sparrow
    There's nothing wrong with competition--so long as schools are given an equal footing. Competition breeds ingenuity and excellence. The UT system has a Houston medical school, then the UH system should be granted the same by the state legislature. Additional state funding to a UT-Houston should be matched with additional matching funding to the UH system.
  3. Sparrow
    I realize it wasn't addressed in the last mile report, but certainly the TxDOT intended rebuild of I-45 might have something to do with not going all the way to Downtown just yet. How could TxDOT possibly allow use of their right-of-way over/under/thru I-45/I-10 before a massive $6B+ rebuild?
  4. Sparrow
    610/10/290 is hardly "the boonies". Even if you're taking a train into NYC, who stays only within a quarter mile radius of Grand Central or Penn Station? Bus from NW TC to Downtown does not take nearly as long as you exaggerate. Best case scenario for Hardy Yards is for a commuter line station in the near term and perhaps one day a HSR extension if the cost/benefits of such an extension become favorable. More on topic, the deferral of the Wilson property plat on the planning agenda validates a San Jacinto extension from Downtown remains in the plans.
  5. Sparrow
    Have you been following the HSR thread at all? 90 minutes, not "3 or 4 hours." What does The Woodlands have to do with anything? They wanted the rail but TCP's analysis ruled out that corridor a long time ago for cost, constructability, and maximum operational speed reasons.
  6. Sparrow
    Twenty MINUTES (in heavy traffic), not twenty MILES. Likely more in the range of 10 minutes via HOV lane on P&R buses. And 10 minutes to Uptown. And only 20 minutes to the Energy Corridor as well. This station is optimally located to serve all of Houston--not only the CBD. Downtown and 290/610/10 as well as Cypress would have been best case scenario, but perhaps the 290 commuter line by METRO or others so many are eager for will be made a priority since this line doesn't provide that service.
  7. Sparrow
    IT, check out TCP's website for links to the Step 2 analysis as well as the Last Mile analysis. All of their rationale and analysis is in the reports as well as the remaining 6 specific alignments between here and Dallas. In a nut shell, no DT station at this point due to environmental concerns (parks and historic places) and cost/benefit ratios. As an aside, anyone know what the "Houston and Texas Central Railway archeological site" is?
  8. Sparrow
    Best case scenario is being located closer to the NW TC in one form or another. The closer the connection the more straight forward it is to board a nice plush P&R bus to either Downtown, Uptown, or the EC. Simply add more buses to the already existing network. One the plush bus network becomes overloaded, then consider other projects. The connection from the station to the NW TC is vitally important--there's no doubt TCP knows this and will provide this connection via People Mover or some other technological means. This area's industrial warehouse days are numbered. N. Post Oak will be vastly changed a decade from now.
  9. Sparrow
    Did flooding have a drag on the timeline for this?
  10. Sparrow
    Elevation and site plan are on the current planning commission agenda pdf if anyone is able to grab those and post. Nothing impressive. Fairly depressing actually. But hey, it's progress I suppose.
  11. Sparrow
    Holiday Inn Express to go in at North Main and I-45--on next planning commission agenda. Not likely to be anything spectacular, but with the small footprint of less than an acre and a half, should be of some interest. SWC Norma and North Main. Grota Street officially abandoned by COH last month. 85 rooms. 6 floors.
  12. Sparrow
    If UT's gonna strike a deal to establish a research and collaboration development ("not" a full university... ​), UH should get additional state funding as well as their on-campus teaching hospital. Forget about fighting for the athletics department on this one--fight for what really matters. That being said, this campus is a rather dirty move by UT--and I went there myself. The Tribune needs to get its facts straight--not only does Houston have one private Tier One university, but it also has one public Tier One university--UH. It's not just a "growing research school". My wife is a UH alumni, and I support her side of things 100% on this one. If this happens, there must be some sort of quid pro quo to go along with it. With that being said, a bump in state funding for UH to go along with the med school, and what the hell, let's throw the Big XII in there too, and now this endeavor by the UT Board of Regents seems to be a mighty fine idea for the City of Houston that I believe everyone can then fully support.
  13. Sparrow
    How about naming it Kleinwood HS or Klein Pines? Or let's just go over the top and name it Klein Champions--silver and gold for school colors anyone??
  14. Sparrow
    I may just be poking the bear, so to speak, but while toll roads do in fact pay for themselves and more, they don't pay the car payments, and the vehicle maintenance, and the auto insurance, and the tanks of gas, and the registration fees, and the parking, and.... you get the idea--the numerous costs the taxpayer must bear themselves if they wish to use the toll road. Comparing highways to railways without considering the various costs of the vehicle to use the pathway of choice, is the same as comparing renting versus buying a house without taking into account taxes and HOA fees. How about doing a comparison of trip cost instead of "per mile" and consider vehicle expense to the citizenry as well?
  15. Sparrow
    Why aren't all intercity bus lines unified at the Downtown Transit Center? Operate much like the Port Authority Bus Terminal in NYC. Does METRO prohibt such a set up? Wouldn't using METRO's terminal be much more financially responsible for Greyhound and the like instead of owning it's own?
  16. Sparrow
    If UH is to build a teaching hospital on campus, where do y'all speculate it would be located?
  17. Sparrow
    Orienting the tower along LaBranch or Austin would allow for potential sightlines from their second tower to Root Square--not doing so is reducing the value of their own future project. Creating a patio area to go with the recreational deck in a reoriented building would allow for all of tower 1's residents to partake in the park view. Further, orienting along either north/south street would provide more of the desired sunrise and sunset views. 3300 Main does far better at providing a vast array of views in all directions--a simple standard rectangle is boring. There is also a garage entrance facing Root Square along Bell. Removing this would indeed be positive for the reasons you mentioned. If the curved windows will provide for higher rents, make more curved windows. Some folks may like views of Toyota Center and DG, put the curved windows to the east too. Since the skyline view is in high demand, maximize potential profit by creating an L-shaped building instead of a rectangle (even though that would block tower 2's park view). Yes, this is better than a parking lot, but what isn't?
  18. Sparrow
    I'm not understanding what it is about this project so many are in awe of. This is a less impressive version of Catalyst. Orienting the tower along Bell reduces visual connection to Root Square for their second potential tower. If curves and large windows are the appeal, why only one corner? Seems like a wasted opportunity with their use of the roof--if nothing else increase the number of floors with the mid-rise section and add additional units. Sorry, but I'm not impressed.
  19. Sparrow
    I don't think we full realize the magnitude of the confirmation of the Brazos Valley Station. If Dallas to Houston will be under 90 minutes, then Brazos Valley to Houston should be in the range of 30 minutes or less. Living in the country half way between Huntsville and College Station could provide a faster rush hour commute than living in The Woodlands or Katy--this will indeed be a "game changer" more so than any high-rise or new mixed use development. I don't think it's out of the realm of possibilities to expect very high demand for a new transit-based bedroom community once this train actually comes online. If I were Huntsville or College Station, I'd probably put updating my annexation plan on my to do list.
  20. Sparrow
    It's confirmed that TCP will have 3 station locations at the start of operations--Dallas, Houston, and Brazos Valley. http://www.texascentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Texas-Central-Economic-Impact-Release.pdf
  21. Sparrow
    ...and the majority of those units will be occupied rentals, rather than simply investment condos--a significant distinction for the health of Downtown as a residential neighborhood at it's current growth stage.
  22. Sparrow
    Why isn't something like this in the "going up" section?
  23. Sparrow
    This one is of the Texas Children's on the west side of 45.
  24. Sparrow
    #20's link to a Google search, first result click the green down arrow for cached. Middle of third paragraph.
  25. Sparrow
    Don't forget the rest of the cached quote that says with a "200 room hotel and retail lifestyle center on 3 full city blocks".
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