Mr. Chenevert

Actually, TA, this "transitional center" could improve the area. Currently, the parolees get off the bus with no one to direct them where to go. Many never make it out of the area, waiting to get back into trouble. A transitional center would intercept the parolees, give them info on where to live and work, give directions to the parole office, so they can be supervised, and otherwise give the parolees a nudge in the right direction. This would help clear the bus station of parolees, as opposed to having them congregate there, as currently occurs.

Somehow, I do not believe that the architecture firm did not know the bus station was there. If they are not moving there, it probably has nothing to do with Greyhound.

There is a halfway house on crawford at drew in midtown. You wouldnt know it by walking by. There are no signs, just a lot of guys walking out to the bus stop across the street. I say hi to them when Im walking the dog. They dont beg for money.

There is also the salvation army rehab place for families on Mcgowen. Lots of the kids love to play with the dog when I walk by. Again, nice people.

I think another transistional center would be fine.

Once you get past the sterotypes, it isnt that big of a deal.

I would shop at the Midtown Randall's if it werent for their inflated prices. Lots of things are 20% more than at Kroger. I usually end up spending about $100/week at Kroger, so $20/week is substantial.

Willowbrook AMF on the northwest side

Interestingly, three of the four corners of the building (including both corners facing Main St) have angled corners... I see that as meaning they will have doors.

Link the article....

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/hei...ws/4833123.html

basically says CVS rejected midtown proposal of a more urban feel. Midtown asked for apartments on the second floor... CVS said "homey dont play that".... Midtown asked for the store to be brought up against the sidewalks, which would have meant aquiring a waiver from the city since its against currect ordinances.

Why doesnt midtown get the codes changed so that each developer doesnt have to get special waivers?

First result in google when I searched for "History of kirby houston"

http://www.kirbycorp.com/corp/history.cfm

...actually, most urban planners use the 1/4 radius as the boundary for walkability from a transit stop. If you assume that a walker goes 3mph, then it's actually closer to a 5-minute limitation.

Just because Christoph uses that, doesnt mean most urban planners do But your example illustrates my point even more. Why should CVS cater their building (and therefore business) to the light rail, when light rail doesnt even serve the store?

Why should it matter if it's near a transit stop anyway? Do people only walk around those and not other places?

People rarely walk more than 15 minutes to get to a transit stop.

Even in NYC, and surrounding communities, if your residence is more than a 15 minute walk to a transit station, people usually take a bus, bike, or cab to get to the transit station.

You dont build buildings to serve a mass transit system.

You build a transit system to serve buildings.

If CVS believes that the majority of their business will come from people driving cars, then why in the world would they face the entrance to a light rail line that doesnt even have a stop in the immediate area.

As far as I am concerned, any development to the south of Elgin, even if it is just another CVS is good development. Which way they face the door is irrelevant to me.

This is not something unique to the city of Houston though, is it? Not that I'm justifying it, but I'm sure other cities including ours has been doing this for years and years. It's just the way things are, right? Or no?

Anyone have examples to counter?

After all, I'm just assuming...which may or may not be a good idea.

Paying $5 to park to ensure that you dont get a $35 parking ticket (or multiple tickets) or worse yet, have your car towed is cheap insurance.

If you come from the suburbs, which Im sure is the majority of astros ticket holders, then you are not familiar with on street parking rules. The signage in that area stinks, and honestly, most people would probably prefer to pay a few bucks to be in what seems to be a safer lot than to park on the street by some abandoned warehouse.

So while I dont search out free parking when I go to an Astros game, Ive never paid more than $5 bucks and never have had much of a walk either. Parking isnt the issue here, its the rehab of an area of town.

As wasted as a surface lot is, you have to admit, the Astros lot is nicely done with new sidewalks, trees, lights, etc. I would much rather knock down a few of the abandoned buildings one or two blocks east and build the stadium there. Keep what looks nice, even if it is just a surface lot, and get rid of the ugly, dangerous buildings.

Update - the warehouse is down completely... pile of rubble as of this morning (unless my eyes deceived me) so we'll see when they start clearing if it is being built, or if it will just be an open lot with for sale signs.

BTW - where is there an apartment complex at Gray and Chenevert? I've never noticed any construction over there.

Construction has not started at Gray and Chenevert. About a month ago there was a variance request sign up for a little while, then almost immediately, a marketing sign advertising an apartment complex was put up in its place.

Not sure of the timeframe of that project. I was kinda hoping, although this is a dream that the apartment complex would take up several of the vacant blocks around that area, sort of like the AMLI. Put some retail on the bottom level and that will certainly help the area out quite a bit.

I would love some dining at that block. I walk the dog past there everyday. It would be perfect.

Has anyone noticed that they are building some sort of apartment complex at the corner of gray and chenevert... which is the mecca of homeless people? Where will they go now?

They arent finished yet. I live right behind them in the Perry townhomes.

They looked very small when being framed out. Cant speak for their quality since I havent been inside since framing.

Location is right up against the feeder road. I am thankful that they have been built since it created a buffer from the traffic noise. My home is much quieter at night now.

The biggest issue I see is parking. While they are supplying parking for residents, guest parking is non existant. You obviously cant park on the feeder road, and the two side streets can only support a handful of cars and is usually filled up already at night. Adding guests for an additional 36 units and I think parking is going to be a nightmare.

My biggest concern is that when the redid Anita street, they only made it 14 feet wide. That really only allows for parking on one side of the street, not both. I am only renting this townhome, so if parking becomes the nightmare I envision, I can leave anytime.

If you want to see what the units are going to look like, similar units on Elgin and Crawford, and at Chenevert and Webster already exist. Take a look at one of the units for sale to get an idea of what Ellie lofts is going to look like.

So what are the current rumors?

CVS

Art Gallery

What else guys?

That goes against what the Chronicle article stated. Sorry I dont have a link. But it said that the retail that currently is in the strip is very campus oriented, and would stay. They would only take the office space for classroom use.

You guys have heard of the "Brickyard" in racing right? The present day Indianapolis Raceway (Indy 500), was paved with all bricks because no other material was available at the time.

They actually tried wood before bricks, but it obviously didnt last and burned during one race.

Mbar sucks... thats why they are closing. That doesnt mean that people wont continue to go downtown, they just wont go to Mbar.

What stadium profit do you speak of? Stadiums dont make money, they soak up taxpayers money.

Oliver Luck has a great idea. Build a stadium in an area that could use such a facility. Let them split the cost and let them use it for other activities.

Yes, attendance would suffer, but its a calculated risk. And they need to start planning now since the lease at Robertson only has 2 more years left.