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texasboy

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Posts posted by texasboy

  1. The Park Shops will still be busy at lunchtime and workhours as usual. I don't really think the downtown workers really care about the urban environment or experience of shopping for clothes or eating at Houston Pavilions as long as they can get their food and go, which they can do at the Park Shops. For th people that work in the vicinity of Houston Pavilions, I think they will kepep it busy. Plus it seems like most of downtown's population is centered around this development. Commerce Towers, St Germain, Capitol Lofts, Houston House, Humble Tower, etc.

  2. You're kidding, right?

    No zoning laws have been the rule here from day 1, and Houston is the fourth largest city in the country. Houston has too much going for it to let something as trivial as no zoning to kill development here.

    Ok, don't know what the fourth largest city thing came from, plus its meaningless since the city is close to 600 square miles, but anyway I know Houston is developer driven. I am saying that no zoning laws will probably or already have created environments in this city that will not appeal to urban developers looking for urban environments to build in. If you want to admit it or not, no zoning laws have killed the uniformity of this city.

    As for the no zoning since day one, Houston is a city that was incorporated in 1837. The city's urban infrastructure was developing just fine before the 1930's, better than it is today, and a master plan was produced for the city in 1929 which included zoning laws. The last time the city voted no for zoning laws was in 1993, not to mention this has happened two times beofre. In 1948 and 1962.

  3. People. Houston has many mistakes, and I see some people here do not want to admit it, but we make excuses that no zoning is what makes our neighborhoods "cool". Sorry but most of the no zoning happening in Houston has made our neighborhoods so disproportionate. Ever wonder how you can have a dense walkable development in Midtown and then across the street there is a suburban CVS? Sorry but there is nothing unique about that and it is just a sign of bad urban planning. Houston will find out soon enough that no zoning laws will eventually kill the development of this city. As urban living becomes more trendy, it will be hard to find neighborhoods that appeal to urban developers in this city because of how it has developed. Hopefully downtown will have the same attitude that gives atleast one neighborhood in this city hope.

  4. it's called decentralization folks. houston has become so decentralized now, that downtown is not even the center of population or activity anymore like traditional cities. the fact that houston is so spread out as far as amenities makes visitors feel that they are in the wrong areas at times as far as entertainment. becaue a city of Houston's size should be more active than it currently is, specifically in the core, and edge cities such as uptown and the tmc kills the potential that downtown could have. i know it's hard to understand if you are not familiar with urban planning or design, but it's the truth.

  5. There are a few problems with the Houston Pavilions project. From what I've been told there are many retailers including Virgin that have LOI's for the project. The list is pretty amazing, but none of it will happen unless the developer gets his financing. He's apparently gotten the most difficult loan from a bank overseas and will use that to secure the rest of the loans, but so far he has shown nothing to the city or anyone associated with downtown. The developer is a difficult one to read.

    The other problem is the design. Much of the Pavilions is inward facing, meaning the loading docks and utilities are all along the outside facing Dallas. This cuts the pedestrian out of the project unless he/she is walking through the center. In that sense, it is designed like an outdoor mall, paying little attention to the surrounding streets. It negates the urban fabric of downtown any tries to become its own little complex.

    Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled this development could possibly happen. There are a number of exciting tenants waiting to hear the good news about the financing. The fact is, the developer needs to tweak the design or else we'll see another potential Park Shops.

    I don't know. Denver Pavilions is the same way but they still have sidewalk entrance to some stores. Pacific Place in Seattle is another example.

  6. Maybe it was based on recent events like:

    1. The fight at the Pistons/Pacers game this year.

    2. The fight at the Vibe awards last year.

    3. The fight at the Source awards five years ago.

    4. The criminal activity found outside T-town (just to name ONE example) every week here in Houston.

    So I say: "What the hell? Hello? Some people are just as guilty of reverse-racism and do not even realize it.".

    Face it, even Chris Rock thinks its a true stereotype  (Bigger & Blacker Tour - 1996).

    you know there are several events that could have happened with any race that you listed and as far as the reverse racism, i get on people about that too because it makes no sense. don't know what was the point of bringing it up because no one in this thread showed it, and believe me i know people that are victims of reverse racism are sick of it, and they want to hint at it sometime and bring it out like some people are doing in this thread and i appreciate you doing that. ;) as far as the chris rock thing, that is my point exactly. people our so quick to base their opinions off the media. as far as i am concerned you can't act a certain race and a lot of the stereotypes about blacks are shown in every ethnic group.

  7. By success you mean no one got a cap in their ass? :D

    what the hell? hello? some people are being extremely stereotypical and to an extent racist and do not even realize it. and before you even claim i am playing the race card or cannot take a joke, i am not stupid and you and i know, as far as ethnic group, who was the majority at the party. sorry but that was truly offensive and quite ignorant.

  8. this has been posted before but it is definitely a intriguing and ambitious vision for houston...i really like the overall appearance

    I know. I probably heard about the plan the same time everyone else heard about it months ago, but I thought it was exciting to see the renderings of projects that were not even announced to the public yet when the 2025 plan was announced.

  9. It is in Adobe Acrobat format just as a warning, but if you look at the aerial view on Page 2 and continuing on page 3 it is pretty accurate from the new Civil Justice Center that is almost complete, the Root Memorial Park in front of Toyota Center, that proposal, maybe dead, for the 30 story condo tower in front of Doubletree Hotel, the new park in front of GRB, the Downtown Transit Center recently completed on Main, the residential addition for Bayou Place, and lots more. Don't know what that cool looking tower is between the two Enron buildings. Oh yeah they even have the I-45 tunnel in there with the bridge going into the tunnel on Page 2.

    Plus if you go to Page 13 there is a rendering for the Sakowitz building retail with Houston Pavilions across the street on Dallas. Plus you can see the Humble Building/Courtyard by Marriott in the background. Seems pretty realistic.

    Here is the link.

    http://www.houstondowntown.com/ImagesFiles...ork%20p1-18.PDF

  10. i agree how post midtown square has retail right across the street, eventhough i believe it is only one restaurant on the bottom floor. why can't the edge? oh well, they are not losing anyhting. plus isn't the edge right off of a I-45 exit ramp? perfect spot for retail.

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