BryanS

...purpose-built? The cross at B-8, given its enormous size, like this recent St. Joe addition, is not "purpose built." They just scream: "We're here, we're Christians, get used to us!" Kind of like a polite, Christian way, of giving the rest of the world a big giant middle finger. A purpose built cross would be about 10 feet high, made of lumber, made for hanging bodies on. Or maybe I am describing a "functional" cross? ...

As soon as we let Continental get away with illuminating the top of their building with their logo... it was down hill from there. As I made the curve around the Pierce elevated from Allen Parkway, headed south... I was like: Jesus! Then I had to stop myself: "Hey... wait a minute... That's the response they're going for!" It appeared to be illuminated by several thousand incandescent bulbs. Chaser lights, blue neon, and strobes would have better. It sure is nice, and refreshing even, to see some of that suburban B-8 taste make it right to the middle of downtown.

Brings back memories of NIN. Like in this disturbing piece of work: I really liked this song... until I saw the video. It has pig (parts) in it, too.

This has Y2K stamped all over it. The biggest non-event, event. 10's of thousands die every year from flu. So far, "mild cases" with the occasional expected deaths...

Yes.

All that matters on this list is Sears. And nothing else.

Yes, you can. All you need are the permits/inspections. Please let me know if I am wrong. Or do it anyway and screw the permits. But that's just me... A/C work, let the pros do it. Electrical, plumbing, framing, roofing, sheetrock, etc, etc. are all easy. Look how much you can save doing most of the framing, electrical, plumbing, sheetrock yourself (or with helper)...

My apologies for the delays... I just got through doing some taping and floating... and am now drinking my margarita... I do feel sorry for anyone building a structure, as you describe. Where I come from, such structures are called pole barns; fitting for only parking tractors in. Doing the work yourself... I'd say no more than 45K. That is... you doing the work... Based on a 65K estimate having someone else do everything for you... 45K does not seem unreasonable. Of course, you'll spend every weekend for a year building it... but... considering doing that and paying as you go vs. taking out loan financing and paying for years, even decades... one year building a structure outright is a small expense. Considering that I am basically rebuilding/remodeling half of my house down here... and correcting countless mistakes that the builder... who "passed" his inspection... built... I give little weight that builders and some inspectors at COH really know what the hell they're doing. I prefer they stay clear. Being an accomplished rocket scientist, I know enough about basic physics and structural mechanics, and about 20 years doing this kind of work, to do it right. Building a huge garage apartment on your property will draw attention to yourself. So permits may be unavoidable in that case, depending on which part of the city you live. 100K on a garage apartment... that you plan to rent for income... does not make sense to me. Because for 95K you can buy a single family house in Freeport, rent it out for $200 more per month (over a garage apt), and pocket about 5K in cash. Plus, the renters are not in your backyard. You can even hire a property management company, and still come out ahead. EDIT: My 45K estimate is for a fully finished structure (you doing the work, subing out A/C); not the pole barn that TheNiche describes.

Thank God I know enough about construction to build these myself, if I had too. 60K? 80K? 100k? What a rip off. At any of those prices.

Never heard of them. Sad that we can get something like electricity from no-name companies, that we've never heard of. Something is seriously screwed up.

As strange as it seems... it probably will... the mega-church business is a business. Sagemont launched a sneak attack on Grace... and now they will get the spoils of this "big" competition... I'm not saying I agree with these churches. I differ with their philosophy, not what they build in their front yard... By the way... have you driven by it or not? I know its at B-8 and 45... I know your types might need to pack a sack lunch for that kind of travel outside of 610... but have you driven by it? I was a hater of the idea of big crosses... until I drove by and saw it really wasn't that bad.

Like I said... I had views exactly like yours... I was supposed to be disgusted by such a gratuitous display... but the dislike/anger just wasn't there. Their church sits on 25+ acres. Cross is not so big, when you take that into account... All I said when I drove by it was: Wow! ... not Wow! I hate it! or Wow! I love it! ... just indifferent to it.

But is it? Would you not consider it part of their church? Kinda like their building? And their parking lot? Or should have they have to sit out in the middle of a field and walk to church barefoot in order to lend any credence to them alleviating the world's poverty, hunger, pain, and suffering? You should go to church. And ask them.

There's a difference between cheap and inexpensive. I didn't say cheap. I said inexpensive. Target has inexpensive items. Wal-mart has cheap items. It would be hard for them to defend spending millions of dollars on a monument and not supporting charities, and giving, helping heal the world, etc. They're still doing that... and had enough left over to build a cross for their church. Also... even though 170 to 200 feet seems "big" ... not as big as you think. As I said, it would be different story had they made it out of granite, towering 500 feet into the air, forcing air traffic diversions... but that's not what they did... Drive by it. I did. I told myself: "I'm supposed to be angry at this! .... " but I just didn't feel anger. I don't know what else to say.

This used to be my line of reasoning... until I drove by it. They built it in a day (or two at most), quickly. And probably didn't spend that much, compared to their budget, to build it. Had it taken months of slave labor, building to the sky a monument of stone, hand chiseled, so high that airplanes flying into Hobby were forced to fly around it... you could argue many of your points. But they built it in a day, using inexpensive methods/materials. And it looks better than the AMC 30. I don't know what else to say. It "goes" with their church. My disagreement with Christianity is not so much the symbols of it... but the teachings/beliefs/blind/ignorant followers hypocritical leaders. That's where the problem is, for many (not all) Christian denominations. Kinda like this man: Look familiar? You've probably seen him on TV. His 29-year old son was caught in a have-sex-in-the-park police sting, up in Dallas. http://www.dallasvoice.com/artman/publish/article_10636.php. Not that I agree with those entrapment stings... but anyway...

I drove by the Sagemont cross last night... I don't think it

The real 4-door sports car... or 4DSC as Nissan would say.

Oh, I've seen them. What is being built, is only a modest upgrade from above, IMO.

Bland and boring.

Jesus! For the love of God! Those are NUTREAS!!! Don't feed those BY HAND! God people! The Louisiana State Police go out and shoot these things, every night, for clogging up the sewers!

No fair using this graphic... That's TheNiche... replying to one of my posts...

Drugs??

...not all... but I would suspect. One day you're eating lunch at a Cafe, you thought was safe, and then you're dead. Hard to live in that kind of world and not be on edge... Like I said, a few bad apples... Like Grace Community Church, down here near Clear Lake on I-45...

Not all of them. I know (of) some Muslims. I don't disagree with them... as a person. Just their religion. Hate the sin. Love the sinner. Where have I heard that before? ... Hmm... Unfortunately, there have been a few bad apples, in recent history. That have basically ruined it for everyone else. I'm sure in about 50 years... after such incidents of recent history no longer occur... no one would give any second thoughts to building such a community center, or call into question the "peacefulness" of such a religion.