ATH

In 1923, the Braeswood development (now termed "Old Braeswood") had not yet been started, and it's between Bellaire and Brays Bayou on Main.  I wonder if this could have been part of the Kirby property?

In 1923, the Braeswood development (now termed "Old Braeswood") had not yet been started, and it's between Bellaire and Brays Bayou on Main.  I wonder if this could have been part of the Kirby property?

They have been placing mechanical equipment on the roof this weekend.  I spoke with a person working with the general contractor who said they anticipate being open by mid-January.

The original brick sidewalk for this Alley Theatre location is still there.  It's at the Holy Rosary Church's education building, on Berry at Louisiana.  Holy Rosary purchased that portion of Berry from the City of Houston a few years ago.

Growing up in Meyerland in the 1960's (where my 93 year old Mom still lives in our original home), we had Henry the Milkman deliver fresh Westmoreland milk to our home.  They had the BEST chocolate ice cream.  I recall the dairy was on the west side of South Rice.

The way they are going with these renovations, it will be October 2023 before they finish, not October 2022.  The west facade has the steel frame for a new fire stair, and it hasn't been touched in weeks.  There is never any regular work underway inside.  On the upper floors, metal studs are all they have done.

It's going to be nothing if they don't get rid of the City of Houston's red tags that have been on the building for months.

The former location of Stern & Bucek Architects.  Wonderful property.

So is it true that the highly anticipated restaurant is not going to happen?  The deal fell through?

Sometimes the lights seem to be working, but mostly not.  It's too bad because when they were well synched, the bridge lights were very attractive.

I hear they are open.  Has anyone seen how this one turned out?  It started as a really rough old meat market.

When will Little Pappas Seafood reopen?  Any ideas?

I'm thinking that Gilbert Garcia will be throwing his hat into the ring........

9 hours ago, sapo2367 said:

I'm noticing on the plans that there are a lot of bedrooms that don't have a window or other egress. What are the rules (if any) in Houston about this? I guess I've see this elsewhere where you have to have some sort of exit (beyond the main door) in case of fire etc for a room to be considered a bedroom.

As a longtime downtown resident, we have found that bedroom windows can allow a LOT of noise through them.  It may be a good idea to not have these.

Wouldn't it be nice if they removed the plaster from the facade and restored the original masonry.

Isn't this building supposed to be open for the fall 2022 semester?

The original Eldorado Ballroom did not have glass block windows, so these materials are from elsewhere.  The upper floor windows were all operable for ventilation.

The architects have spent considerable time researching the original Leonard Gabert design in order to restore it correctly.  And the new addition on the south side will be very sympathetic to the original design.  All good.

3 hours ago, H-Town Man said:

Yeah, last I checked the owner of this block was suing Hines for cutting off tunnel access during construction of Texas Tower. I hope Hines makes them a nice offer for this lot in the next few years, they've had almost a decade to do something here and have only managed a parking garage. Five other downtown office towers have either been built or broken ground since they've been trying to build this thing.

The Linbeck family owns this property, and they have no relationship to any Hines entity.

The masonry work seems to have stopped altogether.   There has been no progress for weeks.

3 hours ago, rechlin said:

I am only downtown about 40% as often as before, and I usually don't venture over to this side of downtown, so today I got my first close-up view of this tower in a while.  Pictures can't do it justice; it really looks great in person.  Hines outdid themselves here.

 

 

 

 

I absolutely agree.  It's outstanding.

The "fountain" on Prairie at Travis, on the north side of the Rice garage, is oftentimes used as a bathtub by the homeless.  These and the planter pylons ought to be removed.  They serve no purpose and create no benefits for those of us who live downtown.

On 10/28/2021 at 4:24 PM, mattyt36 said:

@trymahjongAn entirely new city charter would have to be adopted. It’s not like some sort of “on/off” switch.

No.

1 hour ago, ATH said:

No.

 

On 10/27/2021 at 12:50 PM, trymahjong said:

A small side question:

Will Houston ever obtain a City Manager position?

Sorry, I was intending to respond to the question about the City Manager.....

On 10/13/2021 at 3:17 PM, Blue Dogs said:

Big question is whether State Senator John Whitmire (D-Houston) will run for the Mayoralty in 2023 ?

Isn't Houston City Controller Christopher Brown (D) supposed to be running as well ?

Whitmire is running.  

1 hour ago, ATH said:

The same talented people who keep our downtown street lights synchronized also keep the clock on time.

I meant to say our downtown traffic lights........

The same talented people who keep our downtown street lights synchronized also keep the clock on time.

9 hours ago, Houston19514 said:

Do you know how much of that block it will take?

I recall it taking the entire block: West Main to Colquitt and Mandell to Loretto.