bulldog
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Posts posted by bulldog
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I'm talking specifically about the attempted permanent tear-down of the bridge and the way the Mayor's Office created a false narrative of support for it in secret and used that to manipulate Public Works into pursuing it. I'm not talking about the proposed pedestrian/bicyclist improvements on Smith/Bagby/Holman.
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Also bear in mind that Public Works was tricked into thinking the tear-down was a slam dunk from the beginning. They were not even anticipating any objections, let alone seeking any other opinions at the outset.
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30 minutes ago, Texasota said:
*rolls eyes* the fact that this stupid overpass is being rebuilt kind of rebuts your whole "corruption" argument. I do think the alternate plan was somewhat half-cocked and rushed, but that's not the same as corruption or dishonesty.
The only reason it's being rebuilt is because of all the people that objected to it once it was widely known what they were trying to do. The government was deliberately keeping it off public's radar to slip it through. If it weren't for the uproar stirred up on social media, etc. I think the outcome may have been very different. Ultimately it seems the mayor couldn't justify the project in light of the public response, otherwise why would they have proceeded with the rebuild?
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Funny that this thread just woke up again. I was about to post on it myself. I found out how the sneaky tear-down project came about in the first place.
Public Works lied publicly about the origins of the tear-down project, which covered up the fact that the whole thing was initiated by one person in the Mayor's Office. Public Works was completely blindsided with the tear-down initiative by the Mayor's Office. The Brazos Street bridge tear-down proposal was just the start and Public Works threw in the Bagby Street closure as a bonus after the project landed in its lap.There was an orchestrated effort by people in the Mayor's Office to manufacture "public support" for tearing down the bridge, by leveraging influence over the various Management Districts, TIRZs, and other local advocacy entities (Rice Kinder Institute, Bike Houston, etc.). All of the initial community support (Kinder Institute, Public Works' proposal, endorsement by the TIRZs and management districts, endorsement by Westmoreland and Annise Parker, etc.) all came AFTER it had already been decided by people in the Mayor's Office that they wanted to tear down the bridge and BEFORE any attempt was made to have a public announcement or meeting.Regardless of your opinion on the bridge tear-down itself, you have to understand that this whole attempted project was a product of our corrupt local government.-
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4 hours ago, dbigtex56 said:
What it will do is remove an awkward, ugly obstruction that should never have been built to begin with. It's the Montrose/Midtown equivalent of the Berlin Wall.
It will provide a safer, more pleasant, and more direct connection between Elgin and W. Alabama.
I lived in Westmoreland for almost 25 years. I know this part of town VERY well, and the frustrations brought about by the intrusion of that damn highway into an urban neighborhood.Why do you think the Houston taxpayers should provide you (or anyone else) a bailout for your decision to live in a neighborhood next to a freeway that you now regret? The freeway has been there much longer than 25 years. This is morally bankrupt. You are owed nothing. Also, the implication that this needs to be done for the good of an urban neighborhood is elitist and while it may be your opinion, it does not justify the economic and social damage, nor the moral hazards, you seek to create.
8 hours ago, august948 said:This alone is more than sufficient reason to go ahead and make it a park/greenspace. Realistically, little pockets like this are the only chance we have given the rising cost of land in the area.
Given that we're on the cusp of creating the precedent that it's OK to bulldoze highly used roads to build pseudo-parks in urban areas, this is not a valid argument.
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I attended the meeting of business owners at the Midtown Management District office where Jeffrey Weatherford of Public Works was actually in attendance. In summary, he failed to provide a coherent narrative about the reason for suspension of the bridge reconstruction nor the timeline of events, despite direct questioning. His explanation varied throughout the meeting and included "we got an email from the Kinder Institute" to "a few people in the area contacted us." He was indignant about the idea that anything was secret or rushed. He offered in the meeting that he'd give at least 3 weeks more for public comments at the insistence of the attendees but the implication is that he alone controls the timing of the public comment period and he'll end it whenever he wants. Furthermore, to say the local businesses are upset is a major understatement as many of them individually reported economic impact already from the Brazos bridge closure alone in the 6 figures and stores are not hiring for previously planned positions as a result.
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Also very suspicious that the first roll-out of this is at the Westmoreland Civic Association meeting? Also I'm pretty sure there are laws about announcing government meetings.
"Brazos Bridge Vicinity Concept" project exists exactly nowhere I can find online. The people hyping it up are only referencing the Project # for the $4 million bridge repair contract, which was already awarded. Did they pull the contract after the demolition? This has shenanigans written all over it. I have lots of questions.
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21 hours ago, ToryGattis said:
Well, that's what people think is happening, but the reality is that the City is considering not rebuilding it or even tearing it down. See the renderings at the top of this thread. If that's an issue for you, you need to send them feedback at Buildforward@houstontx.gov
Yes, I know it's silly to think that given the word from CoH and public news sources that all refer to repair and a schedule for it. The last public information was:
QuoteIn a news release, Houston Public Works said the “bridge deck has deteriorated significantly and is being closed immediately to protect the community from falling debris.”
The 50-year-old bridge will take “several months” to repair, likely opening next summer, officials said.
Interesting that the repair process stalled out right after it started. This turn-it-into-a-park proposal seems like an opportunistic move by Westmoreland. As I said previously it's very clever on their part to use their special interest position to get benefits bestowed on themselves by the government at the expense of thousands of other citizens but I'm optimistic that won't be successful.
Don't worry, the city will be getting my input and that of a lot of other people.
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5 hours ago, trymahjong said:
COH/PWE reported that when Bagby was entirely closed while Brazos bridge was dismantled NO. Repeat No complaints were received at all, from anyone concerning changes in access.
I haven't complained because I'm happy the city is finally fixing a bridge that has been literally falling apart for years.
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4 hours ago, wilcal said:
The rendering is 😍
I used to live in Westmoreland, and it is so dangerous crossing at Holman.
This would be a real benefit for the area.
"Bagby doesn’t have that much traffic." LOL. This creates a private Spur on-ramp for Westmoreland? No wonder they're in favor. If I could get the government to close the streets by my house to the public and only let me use them, I'd probably be in favor of that too. Doesn't mean it makes any real sense.
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This is not unusual. HFD, or pretty much any large fire department, will dispatch what is known as a "box alarm" for anything that implies a building may be on fire, e.g., "smoke in the building" qualifies (usually these turn out to be things like burned food on the stove). A box alarm ("1 alarm fire") consists of numerous pieces of apparatus. I don't know the HFD dispatch protocol off hand but it's probably something like 4 engines, a ladder truck, ambulance and district chief. If it's a "high rise" building then even more apparatus will be dispatched. Most of these calls turn out to be nothing and the units are quickly placed back in service.
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LOL. Those are great. I'm guessing from the 90's? Definitely before New Wiess was built.
Somewhere among my Rice memorabilia I have an official tunnel map circa 2000.
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Since the maintenance department is doing the tour, It would make sense to think that the gates wouldn't be an obstacle.
I've been in the steam tunnels. It's cool on some level but it's not that impressive in the grand scheme on things. They are only for distribution of utilities to campus buildings from the central plants. In many areas they have so many pipes going through them that they are impassable for humans.
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While we're on the topic, a car commercial for the Ford Ecoboost was filmed on the Sabine Street bridge December 14-15.
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Canada via Houston
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7374522.html
Yes, it was a Hyundai car commercial. They were filming Saturday and Sunday all day at various locations including Smith Street near the Chevron buildings on Saturday and in front of the new YMCA on Sunday.
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I've been out of town for a couple of weeks and just checked back. Are you planning on maintaining this with data as it comes in?
I'll try to keep it updated. I will be monitoring the number of visitors to see what the interest is. HPD released the May data this week. I should have the May maps out later tonight or tomorrow.
-Eric
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Here is a link to crime stats in one part of the Montrose (mine)
You can easily navigate to see other areas of town.
I wish somone (not me) would make a mash up google earth site with this information mapped.
I just came across this thread but it's funny that you mention that because I just did a Google Maps mash-up this weekend with the HPD crime data from April (the most recent available) for the Central Patrol Division. http://www.ericcarlson.net/crimestats/
-Eric
Bridge Over Brazos St. At Spur 527
in Traffic and Transportation
Posted
No. The initial tear-down (as part of the original approved $4MM reconstruction project) started and then was halted when someone in the Mayor's Office found out the city owned the bridge and not TXDOT. The Mayor's Office cherry-picked entities to provide "public support" with the intent to justify not rebuilding it. They dumped the permanent tear-down proposal on Public Works, which fumbled around for a few months trying to figure out what to do.