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Highrise Tower

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Everything posted by Highrise Tower

  1. Westheimer's race track was actually located in between West Alabama and Richmond. You can see a small road leading to the race track off West Alabama. Image dated 12/31/1943: The Lamar High School campus on the upper right: I assume this shape in the upper middle of the image was a grand stand? In the 12/31/1952 image you can see two things. 1) Exxon Mobil Upstream Research Company Campus At 3102 Buffalo Speedway. 2) The formation of road Buffalo Speedway itself. Looks like the Exxon campus was smack in the middle of Westheimer's race track. Given it was a high profile company like Exxon I'm sure they knew what was previously there?
  2. This West University Place subdivision promotional advertisement that was found in the newspaper The Houston Post dated May 29, 1917. In the drawing of the area around West University, you can see the Rice Institute campus, the original Hermann Park that was larger before the commercial development of the Texas Medical Center, and finally an unnamed field simply called Aviation Grounds. Who owned the flying field in 1917? Or maybe different companies/aviation crews used the airfield? I know of 4 different airfields in the immediate vicinity: Bellaire Flying Field. Cox Airfield. Rice Airfield. Southern Aircraft Flying Field.
  3. I was reading the newspaper The Houston Post dated July 10, 1919 and came across a business advertisement for Republic Tire Company located at 1111 Main Street. Manager was Geo E. Blohm. They were having an event at the Southern Aircraft Flying Field on the south end of Main Street. Will your car win four Republic Tires Free. In order to acquaint more car owners of Houston and vicinity with the famous Republic Tires, a complete set of four tires will be given without cost to the car owner who picks up the winning number to be dropped from an aeroplane of the Southern Aircraft Corporation at its flying field Saturday, July 12, at 4 o’clock p.m. Southern Aircraft Flying Field. In addition to the tire event, an enjoyable flight program has been arranged and prominent Houstonians will make their first flight over the city. Come and get a close-up view of the operations of a modern aeroplane. Get out the car and bring the family to the flying field of the Southern Aircraft Corporation, south end of Main Street, near the Rice Institute.
  4. I'm trying to find out more information about the old automotive performance shop on Willowbend Blvd. near Stella Link. That area of South Main had a lot of oval-shaped tracks. I wonder if one of the race tracks belonged to Kruger Motorsports? A car racing shop would need a small track for customers and self enjoyment, no? This would have been in the 1960s and 1970s. I assume the business was registered with the state. I cannot find anything online about the company. Maybe the legal registered name was different? HAIF member @LarryDallasmentioned this in another neighborhood thread a decade ago: Stella Link between W. Belfort and Willowbend has very clean and well maintained light office buildings and warehouses. In fact, Al's Formal opened a building there a few years ago. The warehouses that were there on Willowbend between Stella Link and the rail tracks to the west have remained the same. There was also a plant nursey that was located on Willowbend that closed last year. The land has been turned into a baseball field that is maintained to perfection. Next to the rail tracks on Willowbend there used to be Kruger Motorsports (closed in 2000 and now demolished) and a small used car lot (closed shortly after Kruger....building stands abandoned). Anyone know more info about Kruger? They looked to me like they were struggling to pay rent towards the end cause they hardly had any customers and it looked run down. Had they been there since the 50s or 60s? Was it the place to go to get custom performance work done on your car in SW Houston? __ There were actually two oval tracks at Willowbend and Craighead. They spanned a decade apart. Maybe the new track was just an unearthed version of the old? The old race track was overgrown with grass and they just cleared the grass to discover the old track? Timeline: 1962 the track appeared. 1966 the track disappeared. 1973 the track reappeared. 1976 the track was disappearing. 1981 - present day 2023 the track has completely disappeared and commercial development built over. In the 1962 image below. Looks like you can see a small road leading to the oval track from Craighead Drive. I'm not sure if Kruger Motorsports was active in the neighborhood at that time. If the performance automotive shop was in business, it would be logical that the track belonged to them.
  5. I recently had Tapester's Grill's veggie burger and man! That burger was fantastic! I believe it was a home made patty. They offered me a frozen peach bellini as well! Great restaurant. Anyone ever shop at this retail center? The area has potential, with the abandoned police substation and water works nearby. This shopping center is owned and managed by MC Management, of the Meyer Family. Loopnet listing: Currently not available, maybe all the space is occupied? https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/4520-4534-Beechnut-St-Houston-TX/11995520/
  6. I was reading the book Houston : your complete guide to Texas' largest city published in 1985 and noticed this activity. I assume these were the walking-tours? I wonder if this tour group is the same as the Houston Historical Tours? Sounds like the Visitor Information Center at 1522 South Braeswood Blvd. is an official TMC-branded tour? Details on the Houston Historical Tours group: https://www.houstonhistoricaltours.com/tmcwalking.html https://www.houstonhistoricaltours.com/TexasMedicalCenterTours.html Texas Medical Center Visitor Information Center 1522 Braeswood Central 790-1136 Tours 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday - Friday; reservations necessary; afternoon tours available for groups of 10 or more. Free. One of the most renowned medical complexes in the world, the Medical Center covers 355 acres and includes more than15 hospitals and medical and nursing schools. It is locked south of downtown and is-- bounded by Holcombe, Fannin, MacGregor, and Outer Belt Drive. The Medical Center attacks patients from around the world who come seeking the services of a medical community that includes heart surgeons Dr. Michael E. DeBakey and Dr. Denton Cooley. Tours include a 35-minute van ride through the complex and a video presentation explaining the Medical Center. Specials tours are available for students and large groups.
  7. I was browsing the publication Texas Gay Rodeo Association program for the Third Annual Texas Gay Rodeo dated in 1986 and came across this club called The Ranch Houston located at 9150 South Main Street. Did anyone ever go here? This was the original location before it traded hands (or burned down?) and moved around the block on Buffalo Speedway.
  8. I was looking at the Geological Survey Almeda Quadrangle, map, 1982; Reston, Virginia. and noticed a trailer park off of Buffalo Speedway near Simsbrook Drive. On the map you can see the Townwood Park that has a current, 2023, address of 3402 Simsbrook Drive. Well, maybe I should throw away this thread. I just found the name of the development! Of course, the trailer park might have changed hands in the past 40 years. Might have been called several things over the years. It is currently called the Village Green Mobile Home Park located at 3502 Darlinghurst Drive.
  9. I was reading the newspaper The Bellaire & Southwestern Texan dated April 12, 1967 and came across a classified listing containing the Ashcroft Trailer Park located at 7311 Ashcroft Anyone remember this place back in the 1960s? Pekingese AKC - 8 Weeks - 2 males $25.00 - $35.00. Ashcroft Trailer Park - 7311 Ashcroft Lot 20.
  10. I was reading the newspaper The Bellaire & Southwestern Texan dated October 28, 1970 and came across a classified listing for Pine Shadows Trailer Court at 8080 South Main Street. Anyone remember this place? Were there multiple trailer parks a long South Main? 1956 Mobile Home, all metal 47x8, furnished, 2 bedrooms, good condition. Reasonable. 667-4939. 8080 South Main. Pine Shadows Trailer Court.
  11. Noticed this on Wulfe & Co's website. Cool little retail center. This is at the corner of South Main and Buffalo Speedway, off of the South Loop 610.
  12. Mission Constructors is one of Houston's famed construction companies founded in 1978. They have done a lot of projects in the Houston area, but one of the projects that stands out is the Museo Plaza on Fannin Street. I wonder when the 60 year old building at 3818 Buffalo Speedway will be demolished? The current tenant is Mission Constructors. They actually might own the building? I often drive by and think of it as being out of place and surrounded by high rises. Website: https://missionconstructors.com/
  13. Very cool find! Looks like there was a La Quinta Inn (later Motel 6?) located in the Central Houston Nissan campus off of the South Loop and Buffalo Speedway/Fannin area. I believe the La Quinta Inn Astrodome was renamed to La Quinta Inn Houston Medical/Reliant Center? I know the (present-day) Motel 6 is located near the Central Houston Nissan campus. Maybe Nissan purchased the old motel to expand their campus and it was demolished so they moved down the block? Current address for the Motel 6 is 3223 South Loop West. If you look on satellite, you can see what looks like a previous, white, foundation on the surface lot. This must be the demolished building leftovers? La Quinta Astrodome (E2), 9911 Buffalo Speedway; 713-668-8082. Edit: This was from a 2005 City of Houston guide.
  14. I noticed we didn't have a thread for the Eden's Terrace Shops Shopping Center at 5115 Buffalo Speedway. I remember going to Qin Dynasty Chinese Restaurant with my coworkers back in the day. I've also been in that Starbucks as well. Website: https://edens.com/property/terrace-shops/
  15. Anyone have experience with the apartment complex called Westridge Gardens located in the Texas Medical Center at 2501 Westridge Street? I wonder how much longer this garden-style multifamily complex can last? I bet it will be demolished for a mid-rise building within 10 to 15 years. Westridge Gardens may have been called South Main Apartments at one time? Their website mentions South Main Apartments several times. Not exactly located on South Main, but within 1 or 2 miles probably. Website: https://www.residenceatwestridge.com/
  16. Any memories of the 1959 strip center located at 4122 Willowbend Blvd? It appears the strip center was 18,600 square feet. The strip center contained the following retail businesses that I know of. I'm sure there were others in its 50 year life span before it was demolished. Carolyn’s Bar at 10711 Craighead Dr. Fruit of the Spirit Community Church. Premier Banquet Hall. The strip center was owned (and developed?) by LeRoy Melcher of Melcher Investments.
  17. I wonder what such a large tract of land off the side of Highway 288 would be used for? I'm thinking a mixed-use development primarily focused on residential. Maybe a new subdivision or townhome farm? To support the new homes there will be small shopping centers and other retail developments? Or, given the industrial developments surrounding the site, maybe another industrial business park?
  18. What's the story here? Recently, a "sold" sticker was placed over the sign. I'm not sure if it's vandalism or if the property was actually sold.
  19. Storm water permit was pulled yesterday. Hydro International 4' First Defense High Capacity (FD-4).
  20. I was reading the newspaper The Bellaire & Southwestern Texan dated October 18, 1967 and came across an overlooked Hines development. Electric Living Center Will Give Many Answers To Homeowners The Electric Living Center, a new facility to serve as a consumer information center on all phases of electrical usage in the home, is being built by Houston Lighting & Power Company. The all-electric Center will be located on a 1.12-acre tract fronting on the east side of the West Loop (Highway 610) between San Felipe and Westheimer. Its proximity to the Southwest Freeway and Post Oak Interchange will make it easily reached from all parts of Houston. It is being built to HL&PCO specifications by Gerald D. Hines Interests and will be the second building completed in the Smith Office Park complex. Architects are Neuhaus & Taylor, consulting engineers, Chenault & Brady. General contractor is Harvey Construction Company. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls will form the 50-foot front and two 100-foot sides of the building, which will be heated and cooled by two electric heat pumps. Exposed structural material will be bush hammered concrete. The appliance display area will be in the front (west end) of Center. The general public will be able to inquire here about electric cooking, heating and air conditioning, home and garden lighting, kitchen design and arrangement, proper home wiring and the use of small appliances. The two electric kitchens--- One on the stage of the auditorium and the other at the rear of the building. --- Will be used for cooking demonstrations to groups meeting in the center. A luminous ceiling will light both the auditorium and display area. The ceiling’s light intensity will be controlled by a dimmer switch making infinite variations possible between zero- and 200-foot candles.
  21. I was browsing the newspaper The Bellaire Texan dated December 9, 1959 and came across an advertsiment for Brittain's Broiler Burger located at 5216 Bellaire Blvd. at Old Richmond Rd. A Self Service Restaurant featuring South Texas' First and Finest Charcoal Broiled Hamburgers.... "See 'em Broiling Over Real Charcoal" I assume this was the 2nd location of Brittain's Broiler Burger? I was trying to find an ad for the original location in Westbury at Westbury Square. I believe this was a Houston chain with individually owned restaurants? There were locations in Westbury, Bellaire, Gulfton, Telephone Road, and Memorial City? I believe they were originally owned and operated by C.L. Brittain.
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