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Porchman

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Everything posted by Porchman

  1. An update on 2125 Yale (fka Retreat at the Heights) Yale and W 22nd The entrance to the upper level garage on W 22nd. (The entrance to the lower level garage is on W 21st On W 22nd Who needs morning sunlight anyway?
  2. In all seriousness, though, if this thing were to happen, I would love to see it named the DeBakey School of Medicine at Rice University. Not only did Dr. DeBakey bring tremendous prominence to BCM, he assigned many of his patent royalties to the institution over the years. In so doing, he may be one of BCM's biggest, all-time donors.
  3. I think a merger would be beneficial for both institutions. Collaborative synergy and joint grant applications could create an even bigger powerhouse in the biomedical sciences. Moreover, I was interested in the articles mention about concern over BCM's precarious financial situation, and the future of its President... "The possible strains have raised questions about the future of Baylor's president, Dr. Peter Traber. A spokesperson declined comment, but numerous sources in the Medical Center said his leadership is the subject of board discussion." The BCM Board should discuss his leadership as well as their own. In just 5 short years, BCM kissed off a 50-year relationship with Methodist, then couldn't play nice with St. Lukes, then leveraged itself to the hilt to build a hospital in an ever-evolving and highly competitive, managed health care environment.
  4. HBJ's Allison Wollam reports "Harolds in the Heights will continue to operate its store at 350 West 19th under its own name while Norton Ditto will continue to operate its location on West Alabama near Kirby" Read Story Here
  5. From the Chron: Dr. Feigin made city a major player in pediatric medicine Dr. Ralph Feigin, who transformed Houston into one of the nation's premier centers of pediatric care, died Wednesday. He was 70. A tireless advocate for children's health in Houston and worldwide, he grew Baylor College of Medicine pediatrics from a small, barely funded department into the nation's biggest and best funded, made Texas Children's Hospital one of the nation's elite children's hospitals and trained almost half of Harris County's current population of pediatricians. Mrs. Porchman frequently commented on how remarkably energetic and very kind Dr. Feigin was. She loved his brown bag sessions when he was President at BCM.
  6. From the HHA Newsletter: During the summer months, the custodial staff works Monday through Fridays and will open both 14th and 13th Street gates to the track and field from 7 a.m. until dusk, or approximately 8:30 p.m. On holidays, weekends and during staff vacation periods, volunteers from the community will assist the Reagan staff by unlocking the gates twice a day from 7-10 a.m. and again from 5:30-dusk. [Head Athletic] Coach [Harry] Colon asks that the community observe a few rules while using the Reagan facilities. "Please keep all equipment with wheels off of the synthetic track surface including bicycles, skateboards, roller blades and jogging strollers. Also, no pets are allowed or any activities that will cause any damage. We are extremely proud of our new sports complex and look forward to another successful Bulldog football season."
  7. From Today's Chron Real Estate section... Some Wary of Heights Proposal My favorite quote: "[Tim] Cisneros has been involved in some of the controversial developments, in part, he said, so he can be a positive influence to developers." Oh, I get it. He's Tim X!
  8. Baby steps, perhaps.... From the HBJ City to oversee huge sports multi-use complex "Part of the facility will house a practice field for use by the Houston Dynamo professional soccer club that would include site improvements paid for by the team."
  9. My concern would be the same, Red. Retreat at the Heights is an improvement to Yale, no doubt. However, it's not an improvement to the neighborhood on W. 22. I would argue that this is not only because of scale, but also due to the fact that there is no "breathe" space. It comes right up to the street and the property to the West. ( See the Google image of the Retreat construction site.) It's also all parking on the lower level. While a building like the one being discussed here might go on White Oak, it would not be kind to the neighbors on Oxford as such a devlopment would have to use this small footprint very efficiently. True. However, per my observation above, they have space around them. These buildings have frontage and are not parked on top of the nearby residents. I never get the feeling these buildings encroach upon the neighborhoods around them thet much (not even Heights Tower which takes ugliness to a bold, new level).
  10. Let's get the yard signs and bumperstickers ready "StopRizkyBusiness.org"
  11. This is what was said when Levcor acquired the property last year. http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive....id=2007_4436973
  12. The roof collapsed this morning. Channel 13 is reporting that demo crews are prepping to take the rest of it down tonight.
  13. Thank you for the suggestions. In my haste to run off to a meeting tonight, I failed to mention one other factor: The firm and the whoop are in DC. Saint Arnold's is probably out. However, I discover Shiner has distribution out of Southern MD, and is apparently widely available in our nations capital. My query also turned up this amusing blog which includes a rant about a vegan joint that serves Shiner on tap. The Lewis-Black-meets-Marvin-the-Martian rant on "Why I hate DC" also has some other amusing comments.
  14. Now that I have your attention... Mrs. Porchman is planning a whoop for her firm this summer. She wants to know what a "crowd-pleasing" beer would be. Price would be part of the issue. I stock Dos Equis for our parties, because I have found that it's the one beer that seems to please everybody, and I don't like stocking a bunch Bud, Coors, Leiny's, funky euro-beers, etc. that we're not going to drink. I know it's pricier, but it comes down to a management issue Your thoughts/recommendations? Mrs. P. thanks you!
  15. Good pics, wernicke! I went through there yesterday. Impressive! I particularly noted: Memorial Hermman's new pavillion. I didn't realize, from the renderings I had seen, that the first level was open to a courtyard between it and the original building. The Methodist Outpatient Center (pictured). I think they need this. My doc is in Smith Tower (Scurlock? - Oh, hell, I know which garage to park in and how to get in from there). Anyway, there seems to be a real need for space throughout Methodist's professional buildings now. This mega-complex should help. MD Anderson's expansion south of OST. Some nifty stuff going in down there. The Bertner extension across the Bayou. Now that makes sense!
  16. Yuck? Yay! Potbelly's is good, but I like Arby's, too - sometimes for the classic (albeit over-cooked, and over-processed) roast beef, sometimes for the market fresh sandwiches like the pecan chicken. Although, I could also make a meal out of curly fries and a jamocha shake. Carbs! Damn, I'm hungry now.
  17. St. Stephen's Episcopal School @ Woodhead and W. Alabama It's a Montessori School, serving students 18 months through 18 years of age. They have two-day and three-day programs. The 2008-2009 tuition schedule and program information is in on their site.
  18. We all go barefoot and eat corn pone in the Heights. We're just keeping it real.
  19. Yeah, then they'd have ads with the slogan "What do you buy at West Dubai?" (gag). They could just rename the whole district the "Uptown Area of Enterprise" or "UAE".
  20. HBJ is reporting that Dubai-based Deyaar Devlopment has acquired property for development at Post Oak and Richmond. It is 6 acres of the 9.4 that Boymelgreen purchased last year. They're not giving much deatil at this time.
  21. I've been in this house. It's really fantastic. I want a loggia in my house. mkultra25: Maybe Peggy McGee can work a deal for you. Can you come up with 8.1?
  22. It was mentioned last night that it's been pushed up to next year. Yes. it's my understaing that it's the whole thing - utilities, pavement, etc. I vaguely recall someone mentioning that COH would be overseeing this project, where TXDOT was in charge of Studewood.
  23. Agreed. It also minimizes the impact on the residences in that area. I think Allied eschews managing anything other than residential. Probably a smart business plan. It will be interesting to see how much of an impact it will have. The pending reconstruction of Yale could delay any positive effects, however. I really don't do impressions except for maybe Ethel Merman. Anyhoo, the Allied Realty folk gave solid answers to a barrage of questions. Some of the answers were not what some people wanted to hear. There is solid concern from those living near the project - the impact of construction being paramount right now. There was general concern over long-term impact issues like traffic. They got light applause at the end for braving the quick-fire queries. It was a fairly moderate turnout. No big harangue.
  24. Here it is...or atleast mostly...the big Y thang is apparently not going to be part of the design. Project specs: -$30M project -Rendering lies - no retail on first level. Apparently they've talked to Weingarten about making the Kroger plaza a happier place to be. Although, Weingarten is pretty tied up right now . -195 units - half 1 BR, Half 2 BR; 1.88 parking places per unit. Interesting point: They have created a 2-level parking garage (at least one level below grade). They made each level acessible from a different street - one Level from 21st and one level from 22nd. This should help abate a concentration of traffic. -Average monthly rent $1500. Residents are puportedly expected to earn 3x rent (54K). -They say there is primo deposit for doggies and kitties. They have a pet walking area. (Walking a cat doesn't work, trust me). -Outdoor pool and fitness room. -No clear answer on what's going to happen with the remaining retail property, which purportedly tied up in probate. Allied (the developer) has no control over this. -Another developer is going to put 4 townhomes on the lot west of Long John Silvers, which is currently being currently being used as the construction lot. They're targeting the fried fish lovers market . -As shown in the rendering, brick on the bottom, metal on the top. -Issues raised: Metal on the top. Issue raised: Is the loft look passe? Traffic: No turn lanes on Yale to serve Northbound traffic. Yale is about to get torn up, now what? How ya gonna get the water out the garage? Answer: Sump pumps that feed into the storm sewer. 2nd question: How ya gonna deal with the over-taxed storm sewer? Not a problem...because the City of Houston says so. Make your construction people respect the 'hood. Answer: we'll work on it. Let us know. Much thanks to the HHA Land Use Committee Chair for getting them to come speak with us. Oh, someone might as well add this to the "Going Up" wiki.
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