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Geographer

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Posts posted by Geographer

  1. 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?

  2. 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.

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  3. 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

     

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  4. 2 hours ago, gmac said:

    Let me know when you find one of these unicorns.

    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.

    • Like 7
  5. 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.

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  6. On 12/29/2019 at 9:15 AM, HoustonIsHome said:

    And that is exactly what we need more of in the city's core of Downtown is to keep improving. 

     

    I know this is an architecture forum but most conversations delve into urban design/ planning and functionality.

     

    Pretty buildings check the architectural aspects but function pleases me more.

     

    Yeah we wet or undies fantasizing about supertalls, Mandarin Orientals, Ritz... But to me a beautiful building that adds to the residential population excites me way more.

     

    Workers love suburban campuses because there is more parking, the homes near by are newer and usually more affordable. There is usually talk about less traffic... If we want all these vacant lots and decaying buildings to be made into better use we need to change that line of reasoning. But if all the housing is higher priced units like the bulk of new developments popping up around downtown in all directions then what is there for the everyday man? 

     

    The corporations are who benefits the most from suburban campuses. The land is far cheaper, building low- mid rises are more feasible on the larger plots and lower buildings are cheaper to build. Plus the cheaper land allows for abundant surface parking which is loads cheaper than garages. So these corporations boost the benefits of the suburban campuses. 

     

    A renewal of urban housing stock however increases the critical mass required to attract more grocery options, bars, restaurants, retail...

    Business cannot thrive on just the upper earners and occasional visitor to downtown. You can clearly see the difference between before and after 5pm downtown. 

     

    We won't be getting the Exxons and other part companies back in downtown but the smaller relocations can breathe new life in downtown. But it starts with bringing the people closer to these jobs. 

     

    I miss my easy commute to downtown. Working on the westside is killing my soul. Yes it's newer, lots of parking etc. But the traffic is horrible, the culture is lacking and the outdoor activities are near zero. 

     

    To me, the more people who can walk, bike or take a quick bus ride to work means less cars on the street during rush hour= less time looking at the rear of the car in front of me while such in traffic. 

     

    So while the flashy ROD developments or the fancy hotels may wet other posters undies, I for one would rather a pleasant looking building like this one that makes it easier to attract the fancy developments. Sometimes we luck out and manage to make the cart before the horse work but we can get there easier if we put the horse first.

     

    You put it very well, HoustonIsHome!  I completely agree.

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