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Geographer

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Everything posted by Geographer

  1. Geographer
    I love the project and renderings but not the marketer's use of the word "epicenter" which usually describes the center of bad things, like earthquakes and pandemics. 😞
  2. Geographer
    I am excited about this TMC3 project! Has the leadership announced any tenants?
  3. Geographer
    This is an exciting time for the Texas Medical Center! It is already the largest medical center in the world and keeps growing. In this rendering of Houston Methodist's Centential Tower, why does the bridge over Fannin Street have an extra level above the walkway?
  4. Geographer
    Houston's rail lines are remarkably slow. The Red Line slows way down when going around a turn such as the one near Old Spanish Train and Fannin. Grade-separated rail lines are the gold standard for rapid transit because there's no risk of being delayed from a vehicle accident on the tracks and there's more flexibility in routes. Grade-separated lines also preserve car lanes. However, ridership takes a hit by forcing commuters to walk up stairs to elevated platforms. Has there ever been talk of an elevated train line in Houston?
  5. Geographer
    I love the wide, brick sidewalks in the bottom picture. That should be the standard sidewalk design, not the traditional three feet concrete sidewalk that is most common. Wide sidewalks are far more inviting and attractive than narrow sidewalks. I agree with wxman that buses are not attractive and will not attract as many riders as trains. There is still a stigma attached to them in most of the United States. Taking the bus as an adult makes people think you can't afford a car. Trains are different. They are considered modern and a symbol of big, dense, rich cities. They offer a smoother ride than buses, especially considering Houston's streets and the notoriously potholed right lanes. Train routes can be memorized and visualized better than a bus route. Their fixed routes attract development in a way that bus routes do not.
  6. Geographer
    Wow, that's beautiful!
  7. Geographer
    I like that design but why is there a wall separating it from the sidewalk? That forces long detours for pedestrians and discourages walking. Walkability is a key urban feature.
  8. Geographer
    Is it possible to have a mixed use development in the Rice Village, such as ground floor retail with a couple floors of apartments over them? The demand is certainly there.
  9. Geographer
    When the crane is removed, how are the cutouts in the parking garage where the crane stood patched?
  10. Geographer
    I hope these guys are well-paid! That looks like harrowing work.
  11. Geographer
    Have Houston developers ever used imminent domain? The U.S. Supreme Court approved its use for private development and the Houston to Dallas high speed railroad, a private venture, is using it to get land along the route.
  12. Geographer
    Thanks for the regular updates, Highrise Tower. You're a big help to this forum!
  13. Geographer
    No, I'm referring to the red cables or wires in this photograph:
  14. Geographer
    This development is cool. I love a dense cluster of multi-function towers. How much retail, office, and restaurant space will be available?
  15. Geographer
    What is the red cable in those construction pictures?
  16. Geographer
    Urban living requires interesting places that people can walk to. What parks, office, or retail will be available at this development?
  17. Geographer
    When the website says 722 beds, do they mean a total of 722 bedrooms or 722 units?
  18. Geographer
    The architects did a magnificent job disguising the parking podium! Bravo to them.
  19. Geographer
    The top of this building is beautiful but the parking podium is hideous. The architects haven't tried to disguise it at all. The most beautiful skyscrapers in Texas have cladding that makes it impossible to distinguish where the parking podium ends and the intended function of the tower begins. Austin's Indeed Tower does an outstanding job with this: Indeed Tower under construction in Austin
  20. Geographer
    How about Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Australia, and Germany? They are liberal democracies that have gotten a handle on the pandemic in their countries. Your attitude is indicative of the Tea Partiers -- the government can never be professional or competent so why even try? Why even try to fund programs that help society? It's a convenient attitude for rich people who want an excuse to lower their taxes and defund government programs. It's an attitude that is totally wrong and one reason the coronavirus is ravaging this country. The Trump administration and many state governments refused, and continue to refuse to learn from South Korea and Taiwan.
  21. Geographer
    Does anyone remember the refusal of a single Republican senator to vote for an $800 billion stimulus package during the Great Recession because they said the nation couldn't afford it? Where are those senators now? A silver lining from this crisis will be the end of the Tea Party. Reagan's idea that the government does more harm than good will be discredited. This crisis has shown that a strong, professional, competent government is necessary to address public health emergencies and prevent mass unemployment and social unrest. Massive Federal spending now and for the coming months is the only way to prevent rampant unemployment, despair, and homelessness. Don't forget that most people receive their health insurance from their jobs, so if they lose their jobs they lose their health insurance, all during a pandemic.
  22. Geographer
    Highway expansions may not reduce congestion in the long run but they add capacity and enable growth. That is a worthy goal. The purpose of transportation infrastructure is to allow people to go where they want to go, when they want to go, as quickly, cheaply, and as safely as possible.
  23. Geographer
    Why was an underpass constructed instead of an overpass? An underpass is vulnerable to flooding.
  24. Geographer
    You put it very well, HoustonIsHome! I completely agree.
  25. Geographer
    I doubt it. The map ends at Braeswood for a reason. There should fewer cross streets. The architects should remove E, O, and S streets to improve the pedestrian experience and safety. It would be awesome to have a long, uninterrupted pedestrian mall.
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