WesternGulf

ahhhh

If it's truly from the 80's, it's funny how accurate the proposals for the arena and Finger's apartment building are....and I agree with Howard with the illuminated red station design.

Why do you say that?

Just a reactionary passive way for him to revive a topic out of his curiosity.

Is it safe to assume that "traditional built city" is another term for cities that developed before the automobile? If so, and understanding that the automobile is not going anywhere, why should a post WWII city like Houston attempt to force its design into a form that no longer exists? Also, downtown is one of Houston's safest neighborhoods. That seems to conflict with the statement that highrises are unsafe.

You're right; that is another term for cities developed in a certain era, but those cities also have timeless qualities that are effective in restoring or preserving a city's urban fabric. Is it silly for Houston to adapt such qualities in an agenda to make Downtown Houston more active and more of a self-sufficient neighborhood and not a desert for so many everyday amenities in an urban context?  I'm not saying Downtown Houston is not safe, I am simply saying having more eyes on the street with having mixed activity happening downtown is more safe than being a sole pedestrian walking in a "dead zone" of non-activity.  That's the case for a highrise district or a commercial street lined with single story storefronts.  Whose statement in this thread are you referring to that highrises are unsafe?

I know this is going to sound naive - what is with so many people's obsession with GFR - yes I coined the abbreviation. Everytime I see it I laugh - I want everyone who yearns for ground floor retail go to a little convenience store in one of the hotels downtown and buy a $10 tooth brush then holler back at me.

I do not think GFR is appropriate everywhere but it should be advocated for most buildings downtown.  Traditional built cities commercial avenues or main corridors usually meet downtown.  One would not advocate for every high density project in Houston to have "GFR" but it is imperative for commercial corridors and centers of activity in certain neighborhoods so there are no dead zones and transit can serve these routes of mixed activity.  What makes a downtown a downtown is the concentration of businesses on almost every street and not on a few corridors like you may find in a more residential neighborhood.

There are tens of thousands of workers that work on Louisiana and Smith Streets downtown but the activity of the street would not tell you that because of the single use office towers on those corridors.  Almost every one of those landmark towers have some type of private plaza on the ground level that makes the whole street have an office park effect.  If you do not work at these places there is no reason to be on those "private" streets.  If that trend is carbon copied all over downtown, we will continue to have the dead zones that intermingle with other dead zones.  Doesn't make for the safest downtown after hours anyway.

Damn! My only hope is something else takes up the rest of the lot that blocks most of this structure.

Is the remaining parcel of land owned by the hotel for possible parking? If so the utilization of this land was pretty stupid and a bad move fiscally speaking.

^^LOL! Both!

How is METRO, a company that doesn't believe in subway or above ground rail, going to deal with line intersections? Don't tell me all intersections will cross each other at the same level? I remember hearing about this in the past. Something about METRO planing to have the first same level crossing urban rail in the world. This would not be something to brag about.

Simply not true. I can tell you that the T-Third Street and J-Church trains in San Francisco cross in the same intersection in San Francisco's Mission Bay at 4th and King streets.

Why do people pick Houston as a residence...

Its cheap and downtown right now is too much of a sacrifice to live in although you may be closer to your job. Yeah one can name all of the cultural amenities downtown has but what about everyday necessities?

edit: and niche, just because most people do not take the trains in Boston, atleast they have the option. Houston has no choice but to sit in traffic as far as commutes.

?? Care to cite some meaningful examples?

From the same study citizen posted, here is a prime example how traditionally built cities, that usually tend to inevitably have higher densities than decentralized cities like Houston, are more commuter friendly:

Varying population densities and development patterns in the nation's cities make gaging efficiency difficult. In Boston, for example, jobs are mostly concentrated in and around the city center. In Los Angeles, offices are more spread out. That means Boston's commuter rail and "T" systems, part of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, are better able to put area commuters closer to their jobs than an identical train system could do for Los Angeles commuters.

Source: http://www.forbesautos.com/news/headlines/...ter-cities.html

and this response is helpful because?

Most people want less density, not more

I uncderstand Density creates gridlock, traffic, longer waiting lines at shops and restaurants, etc

As far as density, density works when the infrastructure is there. Houston still has worse traffic and gridlock than cities with higher densities.

Why go downtown when you can go to the mall?

Around 200,000 people work downtown. In any case, the city does not provide an environment in the central business district where people would want to live close to work because task such as shopping and other necessities cannot be done. I believe I mentioned Houston being quite the doughnut of a city as far as activity not too long ago. I rather shop somewhere that is self-sufficient supported by a community that supports the centralization of a city rather than a mall on the fringes of the metropolitan area that will probably close down in a few decades and become another Greenspoint, Northline, Almeda, etc. I agree with desirous. It is a vicious cycle. Malls that anchor new suburban communities do nothing but decentralize cities even more.

Mostly on this particular website. That's my role here. Believe it or not, I think it's needed.

That should be a sig.

Are we still talking about Kobi Karp when the Hines project has been announced for the same block?

It's not like Houston isn't making strides to bring retail back into the core (like every other city in America).

I know that and overall that is not my point. Believe me I appreciate the efforts that the city is making. It is just frustrating to hear the same ol' about my tax dollars this etcetera etcetera when the city brings up things like incentives for businesses and residents that move into downtown that contribute to the growth and sustainability of the center city and the city as a whole.

But you could have invested in the project if you wanted the excitement. Let the free market deal with shopping malls.

Oh lord. There is a bigger picture that you obviously cannot see why cities invest in bringing retail back into downtown. It would be nice to have a centralized city again, belive me there are benefits that every large city in this country are aware of, than the doughnut that Houston currently is.

What makes you think it's wind turbines? None of the articles mentioned wind turbines, the rendering doesn't show wind turbines, and Houston isn't a particularly windy city..

Maybe this is the green feauture that was mentioned.

yeah, those look weird outdoors and in a park. maybe they're just for the opening?

I hope they stay.

Love the new rendering? Seeing how it fits with the surroundings reveals a lot more to me even if it is the same design showed over again. Seeing One Park Place away from the basic renderings we have seen before even excites me.

I am assuming the other 35% that is not leased is the office space. Sort of bitter-sweet. I would love to see more retailers come in other than the lunch crowd stuff.

Naw, I don't think so.

Yeah there was.

Old rendering:

I like it. It has kind of an art-deco/mod thing going. The Jetsons would be pleased.

I agree. It reminds me of Capitol Records in Hollywood. With that said, I would love to see this one on one of the commercial streets in the Montrose. Montrose needs an icon residential tower like this one that you can see from all over the neighborhood.

Cool stuff. You nade some hard turns. Looks like you knew were you were going. (planned route)