The Great Hizzy!

I've been meaning to give the new location a try. Today, however, I passed it up in favor of Byrd's and tried their turkey and swiss. Not a bad sandwich but a little expensive. Ziggy's is definitely next up.

Any chance other developers start to catch on and get the idea????

One can only hope. Those are some gorgeous sightlines. The design elements and shapes, particularly along the rooflines, represent a nice change of pace for Houston.

Picture from chron.com shows a good view of the progress from the grand balcony of OPP:

Nice photo angle. I'm very excited to see the asthetics of this particular corner after the completion of the new hotel. The location already screams vibrancy.

The project's turned out nicely, IMO. I realize there was some consternation over the lack of retail included (or the complete absence of it) but given the retail opportunities near by, I don't think it's a big deal. If anyone would ever develop the superblock, that would be one of the more desired areas of Midtown, especially when you consider the proximity to the McGowen rail stop.

They've done a good job of including the existing greenspaces in the lot designs, IMO. Granted, this is a heavily forested area of the city and you'd be a pure moron not to be able to maintain some level of greenspeace but the site infringement seems minimal, considering that we're talking about suburban-style campuses.

I had a suspicion that Houston wouldn't qualify and for the very reasons the White House outlined. That said, given Houston's lingering staffing problem (one of many possible negative consequence related to strong population growth), it would have been nice to have had more money to broaden the search for qualified and conscientious candidates.

I wonder about cities like Portland, Seattle and San Diego, which already have pretty low crime rates as well. Granted, I realize the unemployment rates in those places are a lot worse than here in Houston but still...

In my ten-plus years of living in Houston, I've seen about a two dozen gators, and roughly half of them have been in or along the banks of Buffalo Bayou. I have a co-worker who saw one crawling into White Oak Bayou just as you're past the I-10 heading into Woodland Heights. Doesn't seem like the concrete basin would be appealing to them but that's their story.

But back on topic: part of me agrees with Subdude in that I would like to see more of the original construction and design incorporated into the renovation but the new design isn't unattractive to me either. My bigger issue is with the pace of the bayou's restoration going east towards the Ship Channel. The bayou would be more of a draw if the city would make longer stretches of it approachable.

The Neoplan buses are old and worn out. They've aged TERRIBLY. Even the 4400 series buses used on the Park and Ride routes are really showing their age. A number of the artics have already been retired and look for more to go as the (B)Orion VII Hybrids arrive later in the year. A Metro manager told me that they want to have only two types of buses; a 40 foot bus for local routes and 45 foot buses for Express/Park and Ride. Hence the reason the slow, cold, and annoying New Flyer 4200 series minis are leaving en masse.

This is basically spot on. Not only are the artics showing their age, but the parts for the models METRO uses are difficult to find when they break down (which is quite often, actually).

Some of the biggest issues with the suburban artics:

1) Compressors for the AC units often go out

2) Transmission has become very unreliable in its old age

3) Overheating

The local fleet is a bit newer so the vehicles are likely to stick around a little longer.

LOL @ construction porn.

And I'm interested to see what the landscaping will be around the hotel. I actually like the landscaping around some of the HC buildings, and given the popularity of Discovery Green, I hope the hotel maintains a nice mix of urbanity and greenery.

I suspect the image isn't of accurate proportion and that the stadium will appear to be noticeably taller than that in real life.

I perspire easily but I still don't mind walking 2 or 3 blocks at lunch time. The only thing that discourages me from walking is when my breathing is out of whack.

But different strokes...

In any case, having a larger pool of potential customers even closer is a win for all parties.

I really wish they'd bring this one back.

Why?

Who would want to be inundated by yet another tall, sleak and beautiful skyscraper that would be iconic in almost any skyline?

All jokes aside, I'm not sure that I'd want BoTSW Tower to be built in the same location. I'm not sure you could enjoy the full impact of it as you approach downtown in that location. Then again, maybe I'm wrong about that.

Excellent news, especially in this economy.

We still need about 5,000 more rooms downtown though. Here's to hoping the La Quinta breaks ground soon too as well as the other larger convention center hotel project.

If I'm not mistaken, didn't the original image of La Quinta's design have a bit of a Mediterranean theme to it? It was actually more impressive than anyone expected when the news first came out.

Of course, I might be confusing projects.

I actually like it. I just don't know why.

They're like that anytime something new and exciting is proposed for the city.

I think there's an even simpler explanation: they're morons.

Kobe can't throw elbows with broken arms. Problem solved. Too bad Joey Dorsey can't suit up tonight.

I guess Bridgelands out towards Cypress had better step up their game. Same with neighboring Blackhorse Ranch.

Nice photos. Can't wait to see the blue skin once the building tops out.

It seems most visible when viewing it from the north. It actually makes quite an impression on the Museum District skyline.

Sounds like she's following Cheryle Keck's path (although, I hope she doesn't have a fatal illness like Cheryle). Good luck to her. I remember when she first started with ABC 13 and how she would be a little nervous at times. She improved a great deal over time, though.

Im pretty sure the tax incentive, the actual project has been approved for maybe a year now.

Exactly. While there may, in fact, be revisions and redesigns of the project requiring city approval, this is dealing more with the financial incentives.

Heh.

Not that I'm trying to belittle the project (believe me, I think it's very exciting), I can't help but think of the opening to Mister Roger's Neighborhood when I see this image.

There are a couple of curves on lower Westheimer that could stand to be redesigned. For instance, buses have to basically take up both lanes to negotiate that turn cleanly (the same could be said for vans and other larger vehicles). But other than that, Westheimer isn't that difficult to handle.

The potholes are another issue, though.

I have to admit that the intersection turned out very well (Long Point @ Wirt).

I saw this the other day. It looked really out of place.

Usually the neigborhood elevates first, then 10 years later the street gets a face lift.

This is definately a different approach.

I suppose a similar phenomena is taking place at Belaire and Fondren in Sharpstown--although, from what I've heard, many of the MCMs of the neighborhoods nearest to that intersection are being bought and refurbished and the surrounding neighborhoods are seeing a rise in property values.

I think Midtown has better infrastructure (the sidewalks, for example, are generally wider and easier to navigate) but Washington seems to be developing more cohesiveness and seems more functional on a day-to-day basis.

C'mon. 50% of HAIF is based on doom and gloom. Consider it part of the charm. Imagine what this place would've been like back in 1985.

"WAAAAAH! We're turning into Detroit!"

So it goes.