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wilcal

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Everything posted by wilcal

  1. I mean... who is going to pay for all of that? The city probably has very limited funds and private developer ROI can't be there.
  2. Stopped by Jeni's this weekend and didn't realize that it had apartments in the back. So so cool! Has 6 studios and based on a listing I saw they dropped the price from $1,275 to $1,100 at some point. Each of the apartments has one reserved spot in the parking lot.
  3. So, this is a little on me. I was going on HCAD parcel data, but I misidentified the block because both blocks are labeled as High Fashion Home. That block isn't abandoned, it is the one we are talking about right now has already been complete. Street width is defined as the entire city ROW. That typically means sidewalk to sidewalk, not the paving width of the lanes. In reality, your complaints likely lie with the fire department who want wider streets and turning radii for their trucks. Here is the user's guide: https://www.houstontx.gov/planning/docs_pdfs/User's Guide for WP and TOD report_2020-10-01.pdf Walkable Places has big impacts, but is limited in scope as in it only applies to a few areas. Midtown being one of them. Instead of having a traditional setback (which is from the edge of your property) there are minimum pedestrian realm standards that start from the back of the curb. If that goes into your property then that works as a setback. If there is already a large sidewalk, then you get a 0' setback. Walkable Places regulates pedestrian realm, the size of unobstructed sidewalk, the safety buffer between the sidewalk and the road, types and size of trees, fence height, and restricts how and where cars can drive onto the property. These only kick in when some forms of heavy renovation or a new building is constructed. I think fire access concerns are a big one, but a lack of good targets is another. I've been pushing for Main to be closed to cars for forever. We also have so much excess ROW that we have a lot of room for road diets to make a much better pedestrian experience. Like McKinney downtown. From this: To this: A huge difference for changing one lane, and traffic is *fine*
  4. First, it appears that the block of Rosalie along High Fashion Home is already abandoned. Rosalie also doesn't go through two blocks to the west at the former Whole Foods store. So, a few reasons why you would want to abandon: * One: Rosalie street is only about 43', so when they replat this they would actually be required to contribute 7 more feet to the street. * Two: Streets trigger building setbacks (note: this is in a Walkable Place area, which makes things complicated, but still) * Three: they are showing some buildings on Rosalie. Can't do that without acquiring it.
  5. Yes, they are testing and have some on the road. They have been updating some of the stations with charging infrastructure as well. I know the Polk bus depot has some based there. I talked with a METRO rep during sustainability week or some street festival thing downtown and they said that it was going well, but it is actually the winters and not the summers that present logistical challenges. I get it, but the branding is pretty shitty. New healthy Big Mac with one fewer cheese slice! is basically what they are going for.
  6. Huh, the fencing is interesting. I guess it is necessary to separate the construction from the trail.
  7. Please still make the effort! 311 reports are used by other departments and help empower changes like Livable Places pushing the minimum driveway length from 17' to 19' so the sidewalks are less likely to be blocked. In terms of this plat... both of the streets they front on are primary Walkable Places streets. They will have to submit a new plat design because front-loaders are not permitted. They'll probably do something with a second shared driveway.
  8. It basically doesn't. With the flow output from the ship channel directly into the ocean. The 100 and 500 year flood plains end basically at the bank.
  9. Livable Places has passed. 60 days until implementation.
  10. Up for a vote this morning. Sounds like an agreement has been made with the development community, so I would expect it to pass.
  11. Except that they will still be allowed to build 3 homes on a 5,000 sq ft lot with a shared driveway. This would mostly prevent 50x100 ft lots from being divided into two 25x100s and each getting their own driveway. Basically, the more affordable choice is still available. The more luxurious choice (a private driveway and more land) will become more restrictive. Also, we have a Livable Places thread! LP is much more than driveway restrictions!
  12. The last time I asked METRO, the parking is going to be free. I just don't understand how METRO can justify spending tens of millions to provide free parking.
  13. Mayor just announced at city council that they would be proposing $500k in funding next week to BCycle to bridge a gap of METRO taking over.
  14. Ernestine is a secondary TOD street, so it is optional. It'll switch to a primary TOD street when BRT construction contracts are signed.
  15. Link to Cajun Street's website: https://cajunstreet.com/ I miss the Peruvian Chicken spot, but will love to have another food option.
  16. Not legally possible unless the voters approved zoning. It is already in a market-based parking area. As sad as it is, this would be the market working. We are much better off extending market-based parking everywhere and showing that it works.
  17. I'm just going to be happy that something is going in. High-end retail works for me. I think it fits the vibe of EaDo, too.
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