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102IAHexpress

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  1. 102IAHexpress
    Great idea on paper. In reality I wonder if anyone over there has talked to an actual bio-medical researcher. "Yoga, morning runs?" I'm just not seeing it. These scientists are not soccer moms. They are usually pretty introverted. For the most part very, very few Americans. Mostly foreigners on visa. Typically they are focused on their pipetting and not much else. I could see TMC staff/non scientists and Americans who live near by use the space to "collide." But I would imagine that they are not the target users of this space?
  2. 102IAHexpress
    Do, 2-8-1'ers count as tourists? If so, then I complained about all the 2-8-1 tourists visiting Downtown when I lived at Rice.
  3. 102IAHexpress
    I'll defer to you on the highest revenue night for Downtown being Wednesday. But even if it is, wouldn't the same be true of downtown New York, San Francisco, Washington, etc.? Other than pure tourist cities like Las Vegas and Orlando, wouldn't all central business district hotels generate more revenue during the middle of the week as opposed to the weekend? Regarding weekend occupancy only and not revenue, then I agree Houston in general lags behind other cities.
  4. 102IAHexpress
    Houston already is a tourist destination. Keep in mind, the second largest inbound market to the US is Mexico (behind Canada). A large chunk of the Mexico tourist market goes to California, New York, and Houston. https://www.ustravel.org/system/files/media_root/document/Research_Country-Profile_Mexico.pdf Now, does Houston get a lot of European tourists, like New York, Chicago and San Francisco do? No. Does Houston get domestic tourists like, Orlando, New York and Las Vegas do? No. But Houston -does- get tourists from Central and South America. Admittedly, this group is a relatively small slice of the overall US tourist market. However, it is just factually wrong to suggest that Houston is not a tourist destination. I personally have met many Mexicans who have told me they were in town visiting Houston, just to go shopping at the Galleria. Don't get stuck trying to hammer a square into a round tourist hole. Tourism can take many forms and colors.
  5. 102IAHexpress
    Kind of off topic, but there is a brilliant/scathing essay in the WSJ today written by Professor Azra Raza of Columbia Med. School, very critical of America's (TMC's) current approach to cancer research. https://www.wsj.com/articles/cancer-is-still-beating-uswe-need-a-new-start-11570206319
  6. 102IAHexpress
    Cool, my wife is also in biomedical! I have no idea how it will be setup, very good question. I dare to say, although the design is very cool, it may be a design in search of a problem. My wife collaborates with labs all across the world, all the time. She did it a lot too, when she was at Methodist. She just picks up the phone or uses skype to move along the collaboration. Sometimes if there is very, very famous professor (literally a Nobel Laureate) that professor may have an "entourage" of post-docs and assistant professors that help coordinate things, and at -that- level it may help to meet those teams in person. But most collaborations can be achieved with technology.
  7. 102IAHexpress
    That's true. I'm also not sure about the impact, but probably can't hurt? But keep in mind Smithville is part of the MD Anderson system (I believe?) and it's just consolidating into the new facility. It's not really a true lateral move from an outside lab/professor.
  8. 102IAHexpress
    Cool design. I'll add my 2cents, since my wife is a professor of medicne, who left the TMC for more advanced research opportunities elsewhere. I hope the TMC3 design (whatever it ultimately becomes) is able to help retain/attract top professors/labs. That should be the main goal (I think). What we, non-researchers think, is besides the point. For all the talk about how big TMC is, which it is, the research is not that broad or advanced besides cancer and cardiovascular. There's a lot of similarities to the energy industry actually. Houston is -the- place to be for energy, but lags big time in other sectors. The TMC is one of the best places for cancer and cardiovascular (but not the best), but lags in pretty much every thing else. So, how will this design, via our tax dollars, make research better in Houston? I have no clue. I asked my wife and she has no idea either. As of right now, US News and World Report has -1- medical school in Houston in the top 50, only 2 in the top 100 (3 if you count UTMB Galveston). If the design gamble pays off, then great. But If top labs/professors around the country don't show interest, within the next two years, of relocating to the TMC, then I would rather scrap the design all together and use the tax dollars to setup a scholarship fund for McGovern, and UTMB Galveston and make their tuition free of charge. Much better return on investment for society as a whole.
  9. 102IAHexpress
    I was thinking that too. I took a quick pick. This is how it looks from my bedroom window. For lots of reasons, it is one of the most hated buildings in Chicago.
  10. 102IAHexpress
    As of now, Forever 21 in Downtown is NOT closings its doors, Forever 21 has not died. These are just facts. I have no idea why Luminare claimed otherwise? This may be better suited for another thread on declining societal norms, but for some reason people can’t admit when they are wrong anymore and instead engage in ad hominem attacks and get defensive. HAIF can do better.
  11. 102IAHexpress
    You literally did. It's like I'm talking to Trump. We can all read what you posted. Anyways, for those interested in -facts-, as of right now the downtown Forever 21 has been spared. Very good news for downtown. I would suggest we all try to limit our "knee jerk" reactions before facts are posted. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/10/01/forever-21-closings-list-these-178-stores-could-close/3833982002/
  12. 102IAHexpress
    Not really helpful, no. You stated: Just trying to understand where -you- got that from? Not from any of other threads, that I took a quick glace at. Seems like you just made it up? So far, there is no evidence that the Forever 21 in downtown is closing. It may close in the future, indeed I hope it does not (see my post above), but in any event it seems like -you- where the one making knee jerk reactions.
  13. 102IAHexpress
    Huh? Who said Forever 21 is closing its doors? Do you have a source? They filed for bankruptcy, true, but what does that have to do with closing? Do you know how bankruptcy works? I agree, enough with the knee jerk reactions.
  14. 102IAHexpress
    Any news on what will happen to the Forever 21 in downtown? Hopefully the Forever 21 location in downtown is not affected by the recent bankruptcy filing. I assume Forever 21 will seek restructuring/concessions from all their landlords, (including the downtown location) so, hopefully both sides can come to new terms. If not, maybe another retailer or grocery store can come in to that space? The future of downtown is not good (for retail) if there is another giant vacant retail space, again.
  15. 102IAHexpress
    Update. Texas Central signs design-build agreement with Italian firm Salini Impreglio https://www.salini-impregilo.com/en/texas-high-speed-rail.html
  16. 102IAHexpress
    You are correct about spaceports in general. Last year Wired had an interesting article about the boom and bust of spaceports in general. https://www.wired.com/story/americas-spaceport-boom-is-outpacing-the-need-to-go-to-space/?CNDID=13660475&mbid=nl_090518_daily_list3_p4 Essentially, there is an oversupply of spaceports in the US. And it is correct to question the need for Houston's Spaceport, especially when the airport system could use funds for sooo many other projects. I'm afraid we may have another Bayport Cruise Terminal fiasco on our hands. At this point, we have the FAA horizonal license, so I am all for utilizing it. However, I'm not sure why we need to spend so much money on capital costs for a port without tenants. IMO, the best play (in Houston) of the three options above is number three. Stupidly rich tourists. You don't need any new construction. Just market Space Center Houston as the "terminal" and have the tourists ride in one those silver Airstreams to the runway at Ellington. It's marketing gold for the city. But of course we will not take advantage of it. We don't need a bunch of tenants at the port. We just need -one- to operate the space tourism flights.
  17. 102IAHexpress
    haha, l love that "alleged" quip. Totally clueless. Without getting into a tax seminar, the proposed parking garage is up in the air right now. One of the updates to the tax code from the 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act affects for the first time churches and their parking lots, believe it or not. Google "Church Parking Tax" It may get repealed it may not. The new code is below.
  18. 102IAHexpress
    It would be incredibly useful actually. A church parking lot that appears full is a warning sign for most church goers to not even attempt to park and instead go on their way. Simply put if it looks like too much of a hassle they will leave and go somewhere else. In this case, instead of parking at Annunciation they will leave and attend mass at the Co-Cathedral with plenty of easier parking on that side of Downtown. I'll refer you to the Ten Commandments of Church parking. https://thomrainer.com/2016/03/ten-commandments-church-parking-lots/
  19. 102IAHexpress
    This is flat out false and wrong. Astros fans looking for parking are considered trespassers and regularly bounced from trying to park on the lot whether they want to pay to park or not. The pastor will not even allow parishioners to park on the lot, attend mass, and then attend MMP afterwards. The surface lot and future garage (if it is ever built) will be 100% free of charge for Annunciation/IWA parishioners, faculty, administration, staff and visitors.
  20. 102IAHexpress
    Very cool pics! Brings back memories. This is what I tried to post earlier.
  21. 102IAHexpress
    What was the reason for closing the sky lobby? Was there a reason given? I don't remember anymore. I worked on the 73rd floor of the building for six years. I never had an issue with the sky lobby tourists. They always seemed well behaved from what I remember. Because it's Friday and I like you all so much, I'll share a pic of one of the restricted elevators. Lots of buttons!
  22. 102IAHexpress
    This is just false. Developers in other cities, envy how easy it is to build in Houston. Apple or any other retailer/developer can do pretty much whatever they want in Houston, and no one over at CoH would stop/hinder/request a kickback. Houston, compared to other cities of its size is extremely easy to build in and permit. More importantly, Houston has way fewer NIMBY lawsuits from local citizens than cities of comparable size. Again, I have no idea why you think city of Houston officials would even care one way of the other, they haven't cared in the past. Up here in Chicago, President Obama can't even build his library in the hood without people suing/seeking an injunction. From today's WSJ Activist NIMBY's have prevented a huge development of an abandoned steel mill. https://www.wsj.com/articles/activists-try-to-stop-a-huge-chicago-development-over-1-3-billion-in-tax-incentives-11562849876?mod=searchresults&page=1&pos=4#comments_sector
  23. 102IAHexpress
    Probably hotel guests instead? If the Downtown At A Glance survey included inmates, Downtown's population would almost double. In downtown there are usually between 8K-9K inmates in the jails in a given day. https://www.tcjs.state.tx.us/docs/AbbreRptCurrent.pdf But inmates are really more like hotel guests. Temporary occupants for a night or two. True prisoners that actually reside in downtown and counted in the Federal Census? Perhaps the Joe Kegans State Jail in downtown holds actual prisoners? But I'm not sure.
  24. 102IAHexpress
    Interesting. Thank you for your observations. My question was more about rail and increased rents. Also, you make it seem as there is no public transit available now? Do you not count the bus as public transit? What about uber? Taxi's? Also, personal antidotes aside, the trend in sunbelt cities is that increased rents are causing people, including immigrants to leave urban areas. From yesterday's wall street journal: Everywhere Metro's light rail has been built, rents have gone up. This may change that area indeed. Wouldn't it be better for the people in that area to get better bus service instead?
  25. 102IAHexpress
    I see. Let's say you're 1000% certain el tren will transform that area for the better, dare I say it, gentrify the area. How would that help the immigrants who now have the burden of increased rents in their more gentrified neighborhood because of your "tren."
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