Jump to content

ArchFan

Full Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    563

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    1

 Content Type 

Everything posted by ArchFan

  1. ArchFan
    I am very happy to hear this. I have been wanted to make a leisure visit to NZ for a long time ... and I was annoyed with UA for backing out of their proposed nonstop from Houston. Now, well, I will be happy to give ANZ my money, rather than UA. The only thing that made me struck in the announcement was that they would be using "refurbished 777s". Time flies, I didn't realize that aircraft was already ~20 years into production!
  2. ArchFan
    I'm with you Monarch! Not long ago, I stayed at the Denver Magnolia Hotel, which was nice -- but as a native H-town guy, I'm proud to say that our Magnolia occupies a much cooler "historic" building.
  3. ArchFan
    This is an interesting question. As far as personal observation, I have seen guys successfully bow-fishing for carp in the upper reaches of Buffalo Bayou. However, that was years ago. Also, I used to see people fishing on the bayou below the Barker spillway. Also years ago, after the 70s-era cleanup, there were reports of shrimp returning to the ship-channel portion of Buffalo Bayou. Perhaps that was a fluke or just wishful thinking. I don't know about fish, but in any case, there are certainly plenty of reptiles and amphibians in all the bayous. Also a lot of bird and mammal life. I live and work not far from Buffalo Bayou and I still see large predatory birds looking for food. Once one perched on my balcony railing and it was impressive to see close up.
  4. ArchFan
    It would be good to know whether the "height restrictions" are real, implied, or only live on in people's minds. In my memory, the public mention of anything like that dates from local newspaper articles that cited FAA objections to the heights originallly proposed for the Texas Commerce Tower (Chase) and the unbuilt Bank of the Southwest Tower. It seems as if those newspaper articles spawned an idea that continues today: that somehow a federal agency put a height limit on buildings in downtown Houston. I would like to know whether that really happened and if such a thing would be enforced (or enforceable) today.
  5. ArchFan
    The article I mentioned -- insofar as my bad memory permits -- presented the idea that putting rail underground, while expensive, was not so much more costly than putting it above ground. In any case, I think that we are able to build infrastructure here below ground that can deal with the occasional flooding events we have. Whether we do that is more a matter of whether we have the will to invest a sufficient amount of taxpayer money today in order to reap benefits in the future. I am not arguing that we should just do that because I think so ... rather, I think that as a community we should consider where we are, where we are heading (or want to head) and how we should prepare for whatever future we want Houston to have. In other words, it is better if our community thinks about this and achieves some sort of consensus -- rather than having the majority be an apathetic one that lets one or the other motivated group hold sway in elections. In that regard, I don't think its sufficient to just go with the current flow, which is: we can't build freeways anymore, so let's fill the hinterlands with toll-roads until we cover the continent.
  6. ArchFan
    One would think that putting a Post Oak line underground would satisfy a lot of people, including many who oppose the current bus proposal. However, we all assume that that option would cost more ... but an important aspect to consider is the cost/benefit ratio both in the short and long terms. IronT, I seem to recall that awhile back, you posted an interesting article that analyzed the relative costs of burying transit lines vs. elevating them. I recall being a bit surprised by some of the conclusions drawn. In any case, I'm not ideologically opposed to either choice, as long as they were fair and cost-effective in the long term. To me, it seems like we in Houston to often tend to go with options that are cheaper this year, but that don't work well and wind up costing more in the long run.
  7. ArchFan
    I think we would be better served by (some form of) rail along Post Oak, rather than buses. In the Uptown/Galleria area, at least, that rail should be underground. However ... to me, that is starting to seem less likely to happen in my lifetime. And if it doesn't happen during that time, it may never, Houston will wither economically. If we don't build the infrastructure needed to support continued population growth, it will come to a stop. Businesses will no longer see Houston as a place to which to attract talent and create jobs. In my childhood, civic leaders here touted Houston as the "can do" city. Nowadays, a "can't do" attitude seems to have taken root in many peoples' minds. So often, that attitude seems to be motivated by people's fear of losing what they've got (e.g., the Afton Oaks folks). What those folks don't realize is that by doing nothing, they will still lose eventually. (Unless perhaps they take their profits now and leave.) Conversely, by preparing for the future, we are all more likely to have happier futures here.
  8. ArchFan
    Is that list just of former locations? I think the one at 2001 North Shepherd is still there and is the first JIB I ever saw in Houston, at least as far back as the early 60s.
  9. ArchFan
    Perhaps I haven't read far back enough, but I gotta comment on the long quote. First off, I agree that the Rodeo Drive reference was lame. I don't have the time right now to make a detailed well-though-out critique of that post, but my reaction was this: (1) better-than-average writing skills and (2) weak logic skills. After a while, it gets depressing to see people who obviously have some intelligence give into the urge to decide first, then cherry-pick (or make up) some facts and then apply non-sequiturs to make an argument. And ... to be clear ... I'm not a big fan of the dedicated bus line plan. I am a fan of the dedicated, grade-separated rail concept. However, I would be a more of a fan if it were well-designed, such that in the long run it would be useful. That's a big caveat. Between Metro's past incompetence and the strong effort by some politicians to make it fail at any cost, it's hard to be optimistic.
  10. ArchFan
    I know, I get puzzled when so many people say "it's too hot, too humid ... no one could possible survive the horrible experience of sweating a bit". As if no one walks during the summer months in New Orleans, or any time of the year in places like Singapore or Jakarta or Acapulco. How do people survive there? ;-)
  11. ArchFan
    I think the site where The Wilshire is going up was originally envisioned by McMillan as their Phase 2, at least until the recession caused them to scale back their plans. However, consistent with what Cloud says, I have heard that McMillan may partner with someone else to redevelop the site where Sullivan's and LePeep are now.
  12. ArchFan
    Oh, and BTW ... I recently stumbled onto the food-truck convergence that appears from time-to-time on the inner perimeter of the triangular park at Post Oak Central. Very cool!
  13. ArchFan
    It would be great if they could reinvigorate the already-existing strip retail at Post Oak Central. However, if they were to replace the nice triangular park that fronts on Post Oak Blvd, I think it would be a major blow. Going forward, I think area residents and workers will come to appreciate that park even more, if it stays. Aside from that, there's a special aesthetic aspect that people haven't commented on: ever notice how it relates spatially with the smaller triangular park across the street between the Hilton and The Lofts on PO? I have always assumed that the 2 parks were placed that way due to some forward thinking at Hines, but I don't know for sure.
  14. ArchFan
    We gotta have our wahrs, and our wahrs are much bigger and more overwhelming than them thar Boston wahrs!
  15. ArchFan
    Well ... maybe if you close your eyes, clap your hands, and believe! :-) I very much appreciate the efforts of the people behind this ... but ... I see your point.
  16. ArchFan
    It would be nice to enjoy sushi "made by an actual Japanese person" again! :-) I have had friends complain about my attitude by saying "authentic doesn't necessarily mean good". And ... I admit that I've had traditional sushi made by Guatemalans that was good ... also, non-traditional sushi-fusion stuff made by other people that was good. But, I still yearn for traditional sushi, sashimi, and other Japanese fare, which I guess any human being can learn to prepare. However, many don't if its not part of their culture and upbringing. Anyway, I'm open-minded and don't expect my notion of "what's traditional" to dictate what is enjoyable to me or to others.
  17. ArchFan
    Um, consider this: why would anyone (from Dallas) want to board HSR in downtown Dallas and have to be dropped off at NW Mall in Houston? I mean, even if Houston put a big rental-car center there or made it a nexus for new bus routes? I'm sorry, but I think that idea is an immediate fail. As far as how it would impact me personally ... I live a bit closer to NW Mall than downtown Houston, but getting to the mall would give me a bigger headache than getting to DT Houston. While I agree that we should debate this issue rationally, I haven't seen any convincing arguments presented yet for NW Mall (or other facetious locations, e.g., Denver Harbor). That said, I agree that we should not mindlessly follow the example of every other big city on the planet with mass transit ... but, we'd but nuts to ignore the reasons they do it as well as the outcomes. Perhaps the anti-downtown crowd could come up with convincing examples for why we should have the HSR terminus in Aldine, Denver Harbor, or Long Point at Bingle? And, while they are doing that, include a data-based explanation (not just a self-satisfying speculation) of why everyone from Houston or Dallas apparently wants to start or stop in, say, Katy, Tx. If that is how it is, then the HSR should go there.
  18. ArchFan
    Monarch, it's interesting (as usual) to hear your opinion although perhaps we disagree a bit. For me, the Hilton Americas is the only fairly new hotel in Houston that reminds me of other large convention hotels that I've stayed at in other cities. That doesn't mean that I don't agree it could be better ... it just means that I was glad we finally got a place in that class. (Tho' I think that the bar on top closed, which I'm sorry about because it was a nice touch.)
  19. ArchFan
    Here's one thing that gives me some support for being optimistic: despite being unimpressed with the renderings for City Center (Centre?), as well as how it looks as realized ... it seems to be very successful and conveys a sense of energy that draws people to it. To me, the little public plaza area is great. I love to watch the little kids play there, whose parents come from all around the world. If they can replicate that success at Greenstreet -- even with boring architecture -- I will be happy.
  20. ArchFan
    I agree that the little square windows on Cougar Village make it look like a prison. Akin to the Federal Courthouse in downtown Houston, which is the ultimate in ghastlyness! However, the little square windows on this project only appear to occupy a short part of the facade of this building. I'm optimistic that it will turn out relative nicely, overall.
  21. ArchFan
    I agree that WF probably screwed up by downsizing this location. Originally, it was planned to be as big as the flagship WF in Austin. I was looking forward to something akin the the flagship store, which would have filled the void left by Eatzie's demise. Personally, I find the underground parking convenient if/when I drive there after work. Other times, when I walk, I find it odd that the developers made access so unfriendly to pedestrians -- all the access routes are designed for car traffic. The shortest route for a pedestrian walking from the north requires cutting cross-country through the cheap ligustrum hedge or else going further to contend with automobile traffic at the entries for them. I do shop there anyway, because it is closer to my home and my office. However, I actually prefer shopping at the WF on Alabama or the one in Montrose. Ultimately, I will go to the Central Market in Highland Village more often (despite the crowds there, which I don't like) because they have a better selection. CM has a much better selection of stuff that I like to buy, such as breads and Spanish and Italian hams.
  22. ArchFan
    Even worse, we could have hipsters running amok biting stray dogs! ;-)
  23. ArchFan
    Maybe its the reddish brick on the back of the Rice?
  24. ArchFan
    I had high hopes for West Ave, especially from having visited West Village in Dallas years earlier (Gables was involved in developing both, no?). My impression of the latter -- admittedly from only a single visit -- was that it seemed successful, as well as being lively and fun to visit. As I recall, it was more extensive than our own West Ave, at least in terms of GFR. Looking at it via Google Street view, many of the businesses appear to primarily face the street -- as opposed to turning their backs to the street, just like West Ave and Green Street!
  25. ArchFan
    I seem to recall Ric Campo as being loosely quoted as saying that he successfully does GFR in multi-family residential projects elsewhere, but not in Houston because it doesn't work here. I'm not sure how accurate that quote is, but -- if true -- it would be interesting to know why Houston would be so different. I remember visiting Dallas in the mid 70s and seeing GFR in an apartment building there for the first time ... and saw many more gradiose examples pop up in later years. Not long ago, I mentioned this to someone who does multifamily here and he said he had also noticed that GFR seemed to be more established there. My assumption has been that for a long time, the few attempts at it here were so poorly done -- and therefore unsuccessful -- that local developers have tended to shun it, implicitly assuming that there's little demand to support it. Now, it occurs to me that perhaps its a sort of a self-fulfilling prophesy: too many on both sides (developers and consumers) expect it to fail. Hopefully ROD will be a big success and demonstrate that, if well done, it can be successful here.
×
×
  • Create New...