skooljunkie

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/transportation/article/M-K-T-Bridge-reopening-now-uncertain-as-repairs-16451735.php Summary: Workers found more damage. More work will need to be done. Additional design work and permitting to follow. Finish date is uncertain. Classic.

😂 It will finally be emptied.

Pretty sure the city is buying a sliver of land here to add a left turn lane as they rebuild the road. I think I saw that a while back.

per the Houston Parks Board social media. It's happening!

I’d like to bid $0, Bob. Also, it hasn’t officially passed through the Senate yet, right? Not gonna hold my breath.

Correct. Though I’m talking about Waugh between Washington and Buffalo Bayou. It started getting ripped up a week ago or so. Separate project but little to no information available about it.

This lack of transparency bothers me lately. Take Waugh for example. For a year now on the “Build Houston Forward” website it’s been an improvement project shown as “third party funded” with very little information provided. The road just randomly starts getting ripped up just last week south of Washington with no notice. What’s being done? Who is funding it? Why this segment of road and not others that are worse. The right lanes of lower Westheimer have been known to cure my ED….yowzah.

Sigh. Maybe the city should just sell the road to developers then use the proceeds to rebuild something else. Two holes, one pot. 🤔🤭

The dang road needs a diet along most of the long stretches. Throw in traffic control, wider sidewalks, trees, etc. and it would be an economic boom to the area.

The initial two buildings currently under construction have always been residential. 700+ units in both combined.

There are still plenty of large warehouses along Shepherd/Durham just north of I-10! Perfect for Lowe's. The sheetflow from the parking lot can dump straight into White Oak. No problemo. And I'm still waiting on that 945-pump Central Houston Buc-ee's. I hope all these developers leave 20-30 acres for that.

Sigh. At least the little trail they built will be well lit by the headlights of semi-trucks unloading Up & Up and plywood. So, there’s usually never a Home Depot without a Lowe’s right around the corner. Just sayin’...

Right. The adjacent railroad wasn't built between the bayous just because it was convenient. It's the high point. I'd assume the property is a foot or more above street level and then it's another foot or two to get into all the vehicles. I would think most cars that flood in garages are parked on subterranean levels. Even if 100-200 cars flooded, I'd say that's preferred to 50-100 apartments that would flood at a wrap apartment. A centimeter of water will ruin a home's floors, but it takes a lot more to get into vehicles. I actually see this podium style as preferred. The 2/2 townhome rentals at this property are about the same size/price as my place. My neighbors who rent them out lease them within days and rarely even get a sign up in the yard. That size townhome (1,400-1,500 sq ft) is hard to find still. It looks as if they are leasing for about the same price per square foot too. I don't see pricing for the apartments, but $50-$100/month can matter to a lot of people. Even if the price per sq. ft. is about the same, I'd say it's really the overall annual savings that matter more to most people looking to reduce expenses. If I wanted to save cash but needed to live in the area (save on gas/insurance/not waste hours driving), I'd sacrifice 100 sq. ft. and a pool to save $1,200/year. No question. Ditch the car and your savings pile up quick.

Meritage Homes is working on a 243-lot community on the AMC site on Dunvale. I know I'm a little vacant in the head sometimes, but I thought there was an Uptown/West/Energy Corridor subforum? I didn't see it today. 🤷‍♂️ DunvaleVillage.pdf

Well this is looking interesting.

Details presented at the TIRZ 27 meeting confirmed that one travel lane in each direction will be removed from Waugh between W. Dallas and W. Gray. Also, 6' bike lanes on Waugh; 5' on Commonwealth; both with a 2' buffer. Parking will remain on Commonwealth w/ narrower, 10' vehicle lanes. Construction setup starts next week and will last 6 months. Also some minor curb/sidewalk/ramp improvements will be made on Montrose between Fairview and Westheimer and at Montrose and Westheimer as a stop-gap until that all is redone. Vague commentary by the Board essentially confirms that the Waugh/Allen/Memorial gap in the bike system is targeted by another TIRZ or City....my guess is it's all part of a bigger plan to redo that whole clover mess and lane reduction/redo on S. Heights/Waugh from Washington to W. Dallas.

This has been a complaint of mine at the H-E-B at S. Heights and Washington. The garage has no pedestrian walkway perpendicular to the parking aisles. Carts, full of water jugs and TP being hoarded for the next disaster, must be squeezed between vehicles.

Me too! Regarding the last mile stretch: for one, that stretch of Waugh is not within our fragmented TIRZ boundaries. It's surrounded by TIRZ 3 (Downtown), 5 (Memorial Heights), and 27 (Montrose). TIRZ 27 is overseeing this big project and TIRZ 5 is about to construct the W. Dallas lanes from Waugh to Dunlavy. One of these three needs to expand their boundary. Alternatively the city could oversee an extension.................but I'd almost prefer a TIRZ do it based on outcomes I've seen in other parts of town. It's frustrating for sure but, hey, at least something is happening. On a similar note, I'm also curious about the "third-party" improvements to Waugh listed on the "Build Houston Forward" (rebuild houston) map. Last year I noticed this project pop up. I'm assuming this may be improvements done by the Buffalo Heights developer---but it's unclear. I've yet to ask the city. ******* "Replace asphalt and concrete pavement sections and base material depending the street condition, including repalcement of damaged curbs, sidewalks, and storm inlets as necessary along the major roadway within the limits of the project. New pavement markings will be implemented at various levels depending on the extent of roadway surface rehabilitation. Project Type: Major Rehab Limits: Waughford to Feagan District:H Ancitipated Construction Date: FY2021 Please note "Anticipated Construction Date" may change for various reasons Funding:100% funded from Third Party Sources" *******

Just a little heads up from the District C office: The Montrose Redevelopment Authority will hold a public meeting on March 31regarding the Waugh/Yoakum/Commonwealth Project, which is about to begin construction. This meeting is meant to offer information regarding the project as well as receive any questions and comments the community may have. The project will start at West Dallas Street and focus on walkability/biking, pedestrian safety, and overall street quality. Council Member Kamin is proud to partner on this project by contributing funds for sidewalks. To register, visit: https://montrosehtx.org/calevents/pre-construction-meeting-waugh-commonwealth-project/

Unrelated but adjacent, I noticed the narrow, triangular-shaped lot along the south side of Hicks St. (between Harvard and Studemont) is being platted for approximately 90 lots. I think one of the railroads owned this trainwreck of a lot.

Boostin’ up the 56— NB at Euclid/E. 8th NB at Euclid/E. 8th looking south NB at Merrill/E. 10th

I noticed a few new permits from last week. For the next sections perhaps? 2B, 2C are listed as well as a mystery entry. Based on the address its located between 2B/2C and the H-E-B building. 21022701 WW Utility Admin *2C 3485 WASHINGTON AVE 77007 WATER/WASTE WATER APPLICATION (00043842) REVIEW 0 WT 21022700 WW Utility Admin *2B 3495 WASHINGTON AVE 77007 WATER/WASTE WATER APPLICATION (00043841) REVIEW 0 WT 21022699 WW Utility Admin ** 3505 WASHINGTON AVE 77007 WATER/WASTE WATER APPLICATION (00043801) REVIEW 0 WT

I could not agree more. It's so sloppy. That driveway and weird second curb on the building side of the sidewalk....It's just so....no words. But hey, look at all those bike racks!

I'm certain sweepers wouldn't even be able to properly function on most of our streets since the surface and curbs resemble moon craters. I've seen large CoH sweepers with the city logo driving (not sweeping) around town throughout the years; I've never witnessed any making routine rounds anywhere. It's definitely unclear what they are used for. A city council member's office once told me that the city routinely swept major roads, however for that to be true, there would not be sandbars from 1945 on our streets. Freeways are definitely swept frequently but that's about it from all I know. Some of the management districts contract it out.

Here’s my recommendation: The MadVac LS175. Done. Sweep and move on. Oh wait this is Houston we are talking about? Nevermind. Dang look at those curbs and sidewalks in that pic. And pristine asphalt. I haven’t had my post-work alcohol tonight....my cynicism is coming out.