SilverJK

I saw a big sign for One Green Street on White Oak, I guess they relocated? I actually like boutique clothing stores... I disagree with Red. I find that a lot of boutique stores have better pricing than your nicer mall stores. Most of the stores are catered to women, so I don't buy very much for myself from these stores (or the men's clothes look like they could also be for women). One of the sister stores to Langford Market though carries nice men's clothing similar to that of Banana Republic or Express but more unique and at a lower cost. My wife loves going to New Orleans for all the boutique clothing stores and always manages to get good deals on clothes. The boutique stores that are crazy expensive are trying to compete with the regular stores that are crazy expensive... we generally don't shop at those stores anyway... I understand your point about coffee... but folgers barely even qualifies as coffee.

Right! I normally rack up a good size bill there, but its outside of my longboard home distance so I'd need a cab too, so I haven't been in a while.

Yeah thats what I meant, Under the Volcano, the bar with a bunch of Tikis in it... They have frozen rum&coke, which is a winner in my book ALL DAY!

except if it was next to your house you'd probably complain. I'm excited about this place opening. I'm a bit confused though... isn't Volcano under the sun technically a Tiki bar? Did it close when I wasn't looking?

i'm not one for animal cruelty... but its fun to watch them continually beat this imagined dead horse.

we are talking about entry level houses, why are you referencing 700+k houses? That is a diffent market by over 100%... how many deviations outside of scope is that? If it sells at even 709k, we are talking a 20k difference... that is less than a 3% difference... the freaking paint choices can make that much of a difference. Nice try though. Our other example of 315 and 345 is a 30k difference but that is a 11.5% difference... BTW you can successfully use the HD as a tool to help decrease your taxable value in tax hearings if you show the comps are from outside of the district...

well since City Centre in its entire suburban style monstrous scope is just at ~ 40 acres... I don't really think a 35 acre parcel is needed for an urban mixed use development.

Oh look, an example of EXACTLY what I said was happening. (this isn't one I was referencing either if anyone was wondering)

uhm, that really isn't that much movement you speak of. 8 houses in the 20 closest to me have underwent rennovations in the past 2 years outside of HDs. Big whoop. I'm definitely not completely wrong... lets just say I'm directly impacted by the sales of some of these properties. Increase in rental is common indication of holding pattern BTW. Oh and a 2/1 in need of total redo near me just sold for 345k on a smallish lot (5500), so the 2-1 you speak of sounds like it was hurt by being in the HD. Also, the example you give doesn't change what I said any... or even counter argue it. People are holding on to their property of small bungalows within HDs right now. Big rennovations are going to happen, new construction will happen on empty lots or commercial lots that have likely long been owned by investors, the sale of entry level bungalows though has stalled out, as people don't want to take a loss while their outside of HD comparables are making huge profits. ( I know someone who is going to clear a 50% profit in their 2/1.5 that they haven't even lived in for 4 years yet outside of an HD) That scenario does not exist (or at least I haven't seen a single example) within the HDs.

I think that the HD market is kinda on ice right now. (meaning on hold). As you metioned, the lady rented out her house while they get the CoA process going. I know a handfull of people that own properties in HDs and many of them have moved out and leased their houses instead of selling because they feel they will not get as much money right now. Almost every house I know of in this situation is a livable 2/1 or 3/1s that need renovation but are in decent shape. Outside of the HD these houses sell like hotcakes. I'm on the verge of listing my house which would fit in that category. Summer is also a typical low inventory time of year, and with the high turnover of listed properties within the heights I think that exaggerates the issue here. I think August/September are going to be a wild time for lower end homes outside of the HDs, while HD homes will continue to be more valuable to lease and will hold out until something changes. (removal of HD, or value rises enough to make worth selling). I would be interested in seeing the change in rental vs. owner occupied homes in HDs since inception and over the next few years.

Yet Chilosos has the best...

Good point... once these strip centers prove the demand is there, mixed use projects will invest nearby to capitalize on the demand, probably replacing some crappy warehouses or housing. Maybe we should build a giant hospital near our neighborhood to help drive destination traffic as well. You kinda left that part out when comparing City Centre to the Yale lot. How tall is that Memorial Hospital Tower?

Then quit bringing up walmart... the 380 isn't their fault. This thread is only about the Walmart invasion. Stay on topic (lol jk, this thread is the walmart of off topic discussion)

But then you wouldn't have scapegoat to complain about the walmart.

Mutlifamily or townhomes would be every bit as consistant with the neighborhood as 4,000 sq. ft. HAHC approved mc mansions.

This seems accurate. This seems inaccurate... Red has been pretty clear about wanting the people to decide for themselves...

All those corporate stores and the TRAFFIC! City Center is like a mini The Woodlands. That's what you want? BTW if the building from the above link got built anywhere near the Heights, I'm certain you and your pals would be complaining about it because it was going to displace some historic pigeon habitat.

Which is exactly the way it should work... the people that OWN the lots should decide. Not YOU! If you can't get enough people to sign those...(or its just soo hard) then where is all the Ordinance Support you speak of. Surely anyone willing to support the ordinance would also support min lot size.

man.... if that would have been an HEB with no 380, we would probably be none the wiser about the bridge of death. Walmart... saving lives!

As an active member in Woodland Heights, but outside of the HD lines. I call BS. I haven't heard the first person scurrying about, (even at a recent block party...eek!) I'm betting "she" is only speaking for herself. What is definitely happening are people discussing how to ensure not to get added to the HD. I have heard of a few people pushing for minimal set back and lot size though.

Any update on Fat Cat Creamery, I know they were shooting for early June (so i suspected August in the earliest).

but if there was no 380, you would probably still be complaining about the bridge of death.

In the words of The Dude... That is just like... your opinion man. Also... I'm not sure if there are more than 2 Pro-walmart people. I not a big fan of walmart, but what bothers me is someone coming in late and trying to block a perfectly legal development from happening, just because they don't like a store (use all your silly add-ons here that are repeatedily brought up). It is simply this... people think they are too good to have a walmart in the neighborhood accross the interstate from them. Could you just not afford West University? = ]

So... You like HEB, you hate walmart, and because of this you wanted to control what went into a parcel of land that is likely over a mile away from you, in another neighborhood, on the other side of I-10, strictly on your personal preferences. wow.

Maybe you should try to make sure the city pays the loan back in time to prevent the interest penalties... instead of focusing your efforts on how evil walmart is...