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quietstorm

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Everything posted by quietstorm

  1. quietstorm
    As of today.
  2. quietstorm
    Current construction.
  3. quietstorm
    I like the proposal to have retail and food carts...something that is lacking in DT (due to restrictions). NY and Chicago come to mind in having street vendors that add to the street life and pedestrian experience. It also makes sense to start small on Main and perhaps scale up to Market Square, Dallas St, Discovery Green and Greenstreet if the idea gains traction.
  4. quietstorm
    Other locations... so absolutely could've done better by Houston on this one, but in all fairness, most of the locations are pretty bland and nondescript.
  5. quietstorm
    View today from Disco Green skating area.
  6. quietstorm
    A neighborhood is emerging DT...a long way to go, but this complex is a fantastic addition.
  7. quietstorm
    I like this a lot. It looks grounded, substantial and "in place" with the ballpark.
  8. quietstorm
    Houston is in no way comparable to DT Chicago, San Francisco or NY in terms of pedestrian traffic; however, these cities also have "dead zones". For example the financial district around Wall Street is pretty dead after working hours. Most areas in DT Houston, especially after business hours, will probably never be "packed"; however, as you mentioned Market Square, Discovery Green, etc. are often so. A major drawback is that our few nodes of activity (Market Square, Discovery Green, Theater District) are not known to pedestrian visitors. We are not a tourist town, so no one is DT looking for "Discovery Green Park" the way they would Michigan Ave, Canal Street, Broadway or 6th Street. Strategic way-finding I believe would help. These examples shown by ASLA (props to Buffalo Bayou park), Mobility Trends and Planetizen, are needed DT imo:
  9. quietstorm
    I agree, if "addressing the issues on hand" involves (1) comprehensive efforts to provide shelter, mental health services, etc. to the homeless; and (2) more visible law enforcement to give the feel of more safety (given that 77002 is one of the safer zip codes in the city). I believe that these things along with better lighting at night (the new LED lights are an improvement), pedestrian-level way-finding from hotels and residences to centers of activity (Disco Green, Market Square Park, Theater District) that are along the creation of certain"signature streets" (i.e., Travis, Fannin, Texas, Dallas) that pedestrians come to know are "safe" for walking. Even DT Chicago has dead zones outside of Michigan Ave, but I've found the way-finding to be much better.
  10. quietstorm
    I can see how folks who visit from Boston, NY, Chicago, etc. see our panhandlers as more aggressive. The likelihood that they are approached in those cities is less because the pedestrian to panhandler ratio is greater.
  11. quietstorm
    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.
  12. quietstorm
    Good idea. For the "Just a Dollar" store at 901 Main, HCAD shows it is owned by Indus Business Corp and its current appraisal value is $1.5 million (which I'm sure the owners would ask for more). The Main Food Store at 1101 Main is owned by a Valika Real Estate and is appraised at just over $1 million.
  13. quietstorm
    What would the city need to do to just "put" a big retailer in the Sakowitz building or "get rid of" the corner store on Main? This is naive thinking, imo. I agree that these things would help improve DT retail; however, I don't see what the city has to do with both of these commercial entities. The owners are there to make money and obviously the corner store is doing just that or it would have closed by now. Tax incentives and renovations to promote growth is one thing, wishing the city would "get rid of" or repurpose private businesses because we prefer something else is another.
  14. quietstorm
    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.
  15. quietstorm
    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.
  16. quietstorm
    There is an "energy" and sense of place that is emerging downtown. We have a long way to go...but we are moving in the right direction imo.
  17. quietstorm
    Why "European aesthetics with rustic Hill Country elements"? I guess Houston has no discernable architectural style I like the building just fine, but are residents supposed to imagine they're in London or Austin because they're living in a rustic, hill country influenced "flat"????
  18. quietstorm
    Andalucia is the tapas place near Mia Bella.
  19. quietstorm
    Toasters is pretty good... http://www.toastershouston.com/ http://www.yelp.com/biz/toasters-houston-4
  20. quietstorm
    Yep, and as I stated...."Anyone who wants to move here and become part of this vibrant community, I believe, in large part is welcome." However, shops that sell coffee (Kaffeine) and vegan fare (Conscious Cafe) are not new to Third Ward anymore than Doshi House is "transformative". Doshi House is a great addition that enhances the community. I concede that the $33 million renovation of Emancipation Park is transformative by its mere scale and scope, but its purpose is to enhance the Third Ward experience and to tell the Third Ward story in that Emancipation Park is the "birthplace" of Third Ward. My larger point is that Third Ward, as with any community, has room for improvement--and plenty; but to assume that Third Ward needs to be "transformed" doesn't account for what the community already has.
  21. quietstorm
    As a long-time Third Ward resident, I am excited about what's happening in East Downtown, especially because of the many open areas that are prime for development. Some of the pushback in terms of "transforming" Third Ward is because there's existing infrastructure, community and institutions that are both historic and new, and that speak to Third Ward's existing identity. Are there bad parts of Third Ward--yes, plenty. But Third Ward, as a place is established. Anyone who wants to move here and become part of this vibrant community, I believe, in large part is welcome. It's when folks talk about "changing" or "improving" the area to become something that is not Third Ward, is when there is pushback. Here is a snapshot of the community I love....
  22. quietstorm
    My mother worked here for 30 years. I remember one of the security guards taking me to see the Petroleum Club and going outside to the top of the building when I was a child. It seemed so tall! This was the early 70's and I believe it was one of the tallest buildings in DT then. I have mixed feelings. Although the building is certainly among the older towers in Houston--coming before the 80's boom; it brings a bit of mid-century modern nostalgia and architectural "history" to our otherwise relatively "new" DT.
  23. quietstorm
    What is cool about HAIF is that is it made up of diverse people who have in common a love of architecture and a desire to see Houston be the best city it can. I'm a black "mom" who has no formal training in architecture, but I enjoy it and learn so much from this site.
  24. quietstorm
    I'm sorry this happened to you :-(. I am glad you were able to get a response from management.
  25. quietstorm
    Is this from the District 7 Grill folks?
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