NancyB

It looks like the crosswalk will lead from the Westin and the Med Prof Bldg to the Mall, but this is just from looking at it from the outside unfinished. I plan to do some walking around inside the area soon ( I take my dad to the Hosp for transfusions bi-weekly). I am curious about the layout of everything to do with the hospital area since he has quite a few hospitalizations and appts. there and I need to be familiar with changes. My concern is that the crosswalk may be a "crosswalk to nowhere" for awhile. I suppose the economic situation could delay construction of the retail at the mall which the crosswalk will connect to eventually. Also, it seems like the progress of the Westin slowed. Just wondering if anyone knows what's going on. Also, by the way the intersection of Gessner and Barryknoll is scheduled to be closed for week starting Monday.

I drove around in the Village Plaza at Bunker Hill after shopping at HEB today. I noticed some progress being made toward opening some more of the restaurants, etc. They have started the Petsmart which is right next to the Circuit City. (Wonder what will happen to that building?) There was a giant moving van in front of the Circuit City and two guys looked like they were waiting for someone to come let them in so they could move stuff out - maybe fixtures? The HEB will have a few shops with separate entrances along the front of the store. One sign that I noticed was for a Nail/Spa thing. The Academy is complete and looks like it may open soon. Directly out toward the freeway from Academy will be the Freebirds, on the end of one of the retail strips. They have the permits in the window and there was a sign on the feeder announcing hiring and opening soon. Next to Freebirds in another Nail/Spa thing. I think it was called Bora Bora. The Olive Garden is pretty much finished on the outside and is located out in front of Academy but not entirely visible from feeder. The Olive Garden on Gessner has a big sign in the lobby showing the inside decor and drawings of the new building. Opening in June I think. The Denny's and the Five Guys and Fries Hamburger place both have their permanent signs up now. Once all these restaurants and retail open this is going to be one crowded parking lot!

I can confirm that the crosswalk from the "hospital/hotel side" of Gessner to the "mall side" is still a crosswalk to no where. I just hope it doesn't stay like this indefinitely with the economic downturn starting to affect Houston now. After all, why build more retail when there are vacancies in the mall itself? So depressing. Hope I'm wrong.