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This is just a before and after shot that I did in Paint of the Memorial Hermann Plaza, Mosaic Towers, Gateway project, and the highrise near the Childrens Museum, if anybody can do something better, which I am sure you all can, please post. Before: After:

Miller Outdoor Theatre Finalizes Renovations City

Who designed the Holocaust Museum? For that matter who designed the MFAH buildings, Contemporary, and Menil?

First Presbyterian Church of Houston Main @ Binz Organized March 31 (Easter Sunday), 1839, in Senate Chamber, Capitol of Republic of Texas, Main at Texas, by the Rev. Wm. Youel Allen, missionary from the United States, and eleven members. James Burke was elected ruling elder. Services of worship and a Sunday School (begun on May 13, 1838) continued in Capitol while church building was being erected on site (NW corner, Main and Capitol) given by the Allen family which had founded Houston. This church was the first house of worship completed in Houston. Dedicated on Feb. 13, 1842, it was used for meeting of other denominations and groups. Here the House of Representatives met in summer of 1842, and President Sam Houston addressed a joint session of Congress. Thus the congregation repaid the Republic's hospitality of 1838-1839. Original church burned 1862; a brick structure was built in 1867, and served until the erection of a large stone edifice, Main at McKinney, 1894. Fire destroyed part of that building in 1932. The present church was occupied in 1948 and dedicated Sept. 12, 1954. Through the years, this church body has furnished many outstanding leaders to the businesses and professions of state and nation.

Does anybody know what's going on here? It's right on the red line and the block has had some activity recently.

Cool. also noticed their website lists a 20-story building with 303 apartments to be in Montrose.

Swamplot is reporting that Hines is buying up property near the relatively new Asia Society Texas Center to construct a 20 to 22 story apartment tower. Swamplot article

According to the chron M-M Properties (the firm which recently built 2411 Washington) is planning on developing a 193 unit apartment project at 5745 Almeda. The complex is suppose to offer views of Herman park & downtown.

If the Museum District is not already a TIRZ, should it be? Creating a Museum District TIRZ could bring pedestrian friendly elements similar to the Uptown TIRZ and perhaps common lighting features, benches, etc.? Is a TIRZ going to do well in a Museum (non profit, charity driven) District?

The Parks department estimates $100,000+ for replacing the 264 bulbs and bronze canisters "Currently we do not have funding identified to order the replacement," says Estella Espinosa, department spokeswoman. "We plan to order it as soon as we get fiscal money for 2008, which will come in July." But that answer isn't sitting so well with nearby residents. "The museums have complained to the city, people at Warwick Towers have complained, other residents have complained," says Brown, who lives within walking distance of the fountain. "I think this is a sign there's something wrong with the way the city works." http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metrop...an/4794939.html

I passed by 1200 Southmore today, and it is demolished. The detached garage remains, but I'm sure it is next. Most of you will remember this property as being the Patrician Bed & Breakfast Inn for many years. In more recent years, it was the location for Novalash. According to information I found, the three-story Colonial Revival style mansion was built in 1919 for George Smith King (1876-1965), a prominent attorney and judge, and the chairman of the Jefferson Davis Hospital Board. It was later purchased by Pat Thomas, who restored the home to it's former grandeur, and ran the Patrician Bed & Breakfast. According to the website, you could enjoy your breakfast in the large dining room or in the sunny solarium. According to information, the Patrician "is centrally located between downtown Houston and The Texas Medical Center. Walk to Hermann Park, Houston Zoological Gardens, Clayton Genealogical Research Library, Rice University and The Houston Museum of Fine Arts." The home was originally built for Mr. George Smith King, b. 1876 in Rusk County, Texas, d. 27-Aug-1965 in Houston, Texas. George earned his law degree at the Univ of Texas where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He served as District Attorney in Nacogdoches Cnty until he moved to Houston in 1905. He married Lollie Dee Chapman, married 01-Jun-1899 in Nacogdoches, Texas. "They say you can't go back again, but they don't know the Chambers family who recently revisited an important place in their history and their hearts - home. Lollie Dee King Chambers lived at 1200 Southmore for most of her young adulthood. It was there that many cherished memories were created with her parents, sister Geane and other relatives who resided in the home from time to time. She was married there - in front of the home's fireplace - and lived there with her husband Gene Chambers, and their two young children until 1941, when Daddy kicked us out, she chuckles. My mother often talked about the house her father, George King, built in 1919, says Bob Chambers. She always wondered what had happened to it.. Knowing how much the house meant to her, Chambers set out to see if it was still standing. Much to his surprise, the current owner, Pat Thomas, knew exactly who he was and was delighted to meet a descendent of the original builder. When I told the owner I was George King's grandson, she couldn't believe it, Chambers says. She enthusiastically invited us in, and we had a long visit.. Thomas bought house in 1991 and has lovingly restored it into The Patrician Bed Breakfast Inn. Familiar with it's history, Thomas was anxious to know more: I was hoping one of the family might come by one day. She got her wish, but it didn't stop there. As a gift to their mother for her 88th birthday, Bob chambers and his sisters, Deleste and Neva, planned a memorable homecoming at the house for much of the extended family. Seeing the house in all its newfound glory was nothing less than thrilling for Lollie Dee Chambers. It sure is different today, she says. That was the music room; my mother kept trying to make me play the piano, but she finally gave up. Lollie Dee continued to talk of old times, saying her grandfather who had fought in the Civil War later lived there with the family. There was a chicken coop in the backyard... and the servants' quarters were behind the house, Chambers remembers. After much reminiscing and an elegant dinner, guests pushed back the tables and started dancing, each making sure they had a turn with the birthday girl. The immediate family took the opportunity to spend the night in the home, and then all 25 guests returned for a brunch the following morning. As they shared the fond memories of the home more than 60 years since they lived there, the Chambers family members were pleased that it hasn't lost its charm. And it's definitely had a life of its own, as a convalescent home, and art gallery and the late Mickey Leland's congressional headquarters. Pat Thomas says that with her thriving bed and breakfast, things continue to bustle around the home. It is more like staying in a home here, she says, smiling. Make that a cozy, old-fashioned home with a rich history." RO Monthly November 1996 From the General Register of the Students and Former Students of the University of Texas - 1917 : George S. King, Sigma Alpha Epsilon; left half football; Attorney-at-Law; county atty. 4 yrs, Nacog- doches Co.; mem. Odd Fellows; W. O. W. 707 Kress Bldg. and 1118 California Ave., Houston, Texas.

Looks like Alexan is building an apartment complex in the musuem district per the Hou Planning Commission. It's in keymap 493w which is more or less bounded by Richmond to the north, just east of spur 527 exit to the east, Bissonnet to the south and the Rothko Chapel area to the west. More or less the map below.

Pretty interesting exhibit and speaker series at houston center of contemporary craft going on. With its soaring expressways and seemingly endless geography, little defines Houston in the public consciousness more than urban sprawl. This fall, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (HCCC) takes on the implications of this development pattern in the national exhibition, SPRAWL. Co-curated by former HCCC Curatorial Fellow, Susie J. Silbert and former HCCC Curator, Anna Walker, SPRAWL features 16 emerging and mid-career artists whose works deal with the urban landscape. Arranged in three sections, “Infrastructure of Expansion,” “Survey, Plan, Build,” and “Aftereffects,” which loosely define the phases of urban growth, the exhibition is intended to present a non-polemical view. As Silbert and Walker commented, “The topic of sprawl can be a lightening rod—depending on who you talk to, it can evoke visions of cookie-cutter houses and inefficient city planning or it can inspire discussions on freedom of choice and affordable housing. We wanted to harness that complexity to create an exhibition that looks at the totality of sprawl—the good, bad, and the ugly.” Speaker series Infrastructure of Expansion •October 18, 12:00 – 1:00 PM Ed Emmett, Harris County Judge •October 24, 6:00 – 7:00 PM Thomas Colbert, Associate Professor at the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture, University of Houston Susan Rogers, Director of the Community Design Resource Center and Assistant Professor at the University of Houston’s College of Architecture Survey, Plan, Build •November 6, 6:00 – 7:00 PM Brian Crimmins, City of Houston Planning & Development Chief of Staff •November 7, 6:00 – 7:00 PM Houston Urban Development & Improvement Panel David Crossley, President of Houston Tomorrow Peter Brown, Director of Better Houston Diane Schenke, President of Greater East End District Aftereffects •December 17, 6:00 – 7:00 PM Sara Zewde, M. L. A. Candidate, Harvard University Graduate School of Design •January 9, 7:00 – 8:00 PM Carrie Schneider, Houston Artist The SPRAWL Speaker Series was made possible in part through the City’s Initiative Grant Program of the Houston Arts Alliance. http://www.crafthouston.org/exhibition/sprawl/

The King Mart gas station at the corner of Almeda and Hermann Dr. has been demolished. I passed by there today, and there was a chain link fence set up around the perimeter. I didn't see any "Coming Soon" signs like you see at some demolition sites. Does anyone know what's being erected in its place? I did a Google search to no avail. I presume it'll be something like small office space, or another gas station.

Does anyone have any information about this complex? Any ideas on maintenence fees? Ever known anyone that lived there? I'm wondering about security, noise, demographics, that kind of stuff. Are any of the units leased? I've sent off a few emails and I find that I'm rather impatient. (If it doesnt ring a bell its the brick complex sitting in front of St. Thomas Univ., next door to the Black Labrador and across the street from Diedrichs Coffee.) Thanks.

Cheers to all...lurker here for about a year and decided to start posting since I have heard nothing about this development at the corner of Binz and La Branch across from the Children's Museum. Sign on the property has a high-rise and says it's condo and medical office? Just wondering if anyone has any info...next time I am out I will snap a photo of the sign and post.

Does anyone know what is being built at the northwest corner of Main and Montrose? I scanned the existing topics but didn't see any info. What a great lot...I hope the new building is intended for something worthwhile.

Preservation Houston is proud to announce a very special February event. Villa de Luxe, a historic Houston estate, will be transformed into a stunning design showhouse from February 1 until February 17, 2013. The house, designed by William Ward Watkin, was built for hardware magnate F.A. Heitmann in 1924. The house stands at #1 Longfellow on two acres in historic Shadyside, a private place neighborhood adjacent to Rice University. Luxe Interiors + Design is the premier media sponsor of this event, which will benefit Preservation Houston. Event chairs are Jane-Page Crump and Bill Stubbs, ASID designers. The landscape architect is McDugald-Steele; The interiors are being handled by a top-tier group of Houstons Interior Design community - Peggy Hull–reception hall; Sandy Lucas & Sarah Eilers—dining room; breakfast room—John Robinson; kitchen and butler’s pantry—Julie Koch; back entry and porch—Diana Walker; front porch and pool area—Connie LeFevre; conservatory—Audrey Drought; and basement—Darla Bankston. Also, library—Marjorie Slovack; master bedroom and bathroom—Donna Vining; nursery and bathroom (bedroom 1) –Marlys Tokerud; front bedroom (2) and bath—Donna Jarnigan; bedroom 3 with balcony—Lynne Jones; bedroom 4—Lisa Roth and third floor—Sharon Staley. Jane-Page is designing the living room and Bill Stubbs is handling the solarium which has the most incredible windows. Tickets $30 at the door $25 in advance $20 for groups of 20 or more Showhouse dates February 1 through February 17, 2013 Showhouse hours Saturdays, February 2, 9 and 16: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays, February 3, 10 and 17: noon to 4 p.m. Thursdays, February 7 and 14: for scheduled events Pop-up café Jackson and Company will provide box lunches for purchase on Saturdays and Sundays and for all scheduled events.

Notice that dirt is being moved - any info on if any development is happening there?

Have any of you heard about the locomotive being moved to Minute Maid Park? If so, where did they put it?

The long-empty house/restaurant at Montrose and Autrey (at the 59 bridge, across from Danton's) has been stripped of all of its additions, and is now back to its basic structure. Also this week the large billboard in it's back yard that overlooked the freeway has been hauled away, opening up more land. Any word on what is to be done with the house and property?

Some exerpts: http://culturemap.com/newsdetail/11-08-10-there-a-new-houston-museum-on-the-drawing-board-meet-mod/

I received an e-mail today from someone who remembers that the space that's now the Mecom Fountain used to be a sunken rose garden. Can anyone corroborate this? Does anyone know the impetus for replacing the garden with the fountain?

What's the story on this? It's going up on the formerly beautiful green lawn between Temple Emanu El and Oak Shadows on Sunset Boulevard across from Rice. Today I noticed a sign giving just the web address: thirtysunset.com At that site it says only "Five residences starting at $2 million" with a form to fill in for information. What's going on here? I thought a few years ago the Community Association blocked Emanu El from building a parking lot here. With the new parking garage (ugly) just down Sunset, and the Ashby highrise fight, how did this get through? And why can't I find anything about it on the Net?

And the buyer is...... Hotel ZaZa out of Dallas. You heard it here first. My source is a manager of a competiting hotel and his friend will be the new catering manager.