Search the Community

I like the guy that plays the trumpet out in front of the Sakowitz garage around lunchtime. The block is pretty much tied up with whatever the owner of 1010 Lamar wants to do since they have coupled their tower with the Sakowitz garage.

County foreclosure listings: https://www.cclerk.hctx.net/applications/websearch/FRCL_R.aspx Profile in Bisnow of the monthly event at the Bayou City Event Center. https://www.bisnow.com/houston/news/multifamily/property-sharks-and-minnows-swim-side-by-side-at-harris-county-foreclosure-auction-120673 "Attendees at the Harris County Delinquent Tax Sale and foreclosure auction describe it as a bizarre and arcane function akin to a circus. On the first Tuesday of each month, the Bayou City Event Center fills with people armed with $5 cash for parking — and far more in their wallets — to buy distressed properties, some hoping to get their foot in the door of real estate investing, others looking to add more residences to big portfolios. Employees act as ringleaders, directing beginners and auction vets where to go. Colorfully clad vendors, some in costume, offer foreclosure sale information and the odd performance. Crowds gather around a stage where auctioneers navigate a high wire of rapid-fire bids for dozens of houses." Bisnow/Maddy McCarty A crowd gathers around an auctioneer at the Harris County foreclosure auction on Sept. 5. Bisnow/Maddy McCarty Vendors give out foreclosure information to attendees of the Harris County foreclosure auction. Bisnow/Maddy McCarty Linda Muscarello, the "queen of foreclosure," at the Harris County foreclosure auction. Bisnow/Maddy McCarty A trustee, center, auctions off a property at the Harris County foreclosure auction.

https://sparkpark.org/wordpress/ "The SPARK School Park Program works with schools and neighborhoods to develop community parks on public school grounds. Since 1983, SPARK has built over 200+ community parks throughout the Houston/Harris County area. Currently, there are 150+ active SPARK Parks. Each park is unique, with its design based on ideas and needs of the school and surrounding neighborhoods. While all of the parks are different, a typical park consists of modular playground equipment, a walking trail, benches, picnic tables, trees, an outdoor classroom, and a public art component. SPARK Parks are available for public use after the school day (including after-school programs) has ended and on weekends and holidays." School/Park Locations: https://sparkpark.org/wordpress/schools/#locations https://communityimpact.com/houston/heights-river-oaks-montrose/education/2023/09/21/spark-parks-in-woodland-heights-neartown-among-those-being-upgraded-in-10m-campaign/ "As part of the $10 million campaign, Spark officials will build 20 new school parks in four years at several school districts across the Greater Houston area. In addition to that, the campaign also involves improving—or "resparking"—20 existing Spark parks. Sixteen schools were initially identified, including eight schools that will get new Spark parks and eight schools that will have existing parks improved."

https://www.pct3.com/Explore/Parks/Parks-and-Trails-Master-Plan PDFs Full Plan: https://www.pct3.com/Portals/45/Documents/Parks and Trails/Precinct 3 Parks and Trails Master Plan Full Report.pdf Introduction: https://www.pct3.com/Portals/45/Documents/Introduction_2.pdf Parks Plan East of 45: https://www.pct3.com/Portals/45/Documents/Parks and Trails/Parks Plan-East of 45.pdf Parks Plan West of 45: https://www.pct3.com/Portals/45/Documents/Parks and Trails/Parks Plan-West of 45.pdf Trails Plan East of 45: https://www.pct3.com/Portals/45/Documents/Parks and Trails/Trails Plan-East of 45.pdf Appendix: https://www.pct3.com/Portals/45/Documents/Appendix_2.pdf https://communityimpact.com/houston/spring-klein/government/2023/09/08/harris-county-precinct-3-releases-plan-to-enhance-countys-largest-park-system/ "Harris County Precinct 3 will undergo improvements to its parks and trails as part of a master plan that will impact an area where more than 1 million people reside within the county’s largest park system. In a news release, Commissioner Tom Ramsey announced the Precinct 3 Parks and Trails Master Plan that aims to improve, connect and grow the area’s parks and trails network. The comprehensive set of recommendations were developed for: 69 existing parks Four new parks 225 miles of new trails"

I noticed that the parking lot across from Arabella is not being used, so I walked to the lot to investigate. It turns out this lot is for the Harris County offices at 2221-2223 West Loop South. The District Attorney is moving in due to Harvey damage at their normal location. (Other Harris County functions have already moved in, mostly filling the parking garage.) The land across from Skyhouse now has an aggregate base and is being readied for paving. I don't know how long the District Attorney will be here, I'm thinking 6-12 months. So there will be no development of the parking lot property as long as Harris County DA is here. There is no activity at the newly cleared lot on Westcreek across from the Wilshire (and directly east of Harris County), so new development on that property could begin at any time.

Looking through some of the old photos of freeway construction, I've noticed a 9-story or so building adjacent to the Sam Houston Coliseum. It's to the left of it in the photo below. I'm going to guess that it was demolished for the Albert Thomas Convention Center since the site appears to be at the corner of Bagby & Capitol. Seems to be gone from the 1970's era photos posted on here as well, so that begs the question as to just what it was... http://www.texasfreeway.com/Houston/historic/photos/images/i45_downtown_aerial_5_1961.jpg

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2023/07/05/grand-prairie-master-planned-community-hockley.html?cx_testId=40&cx_testVariant=cx_27&cx_artPos=1#cxrecs_s "The community will include 450 acres of parks, waterways and 4 miles of trails in the first phase. Amenities will also include a 6,700-square-foot open-air pavilion, swimming pools and splash pads designed by San Antonio-based Overland Partners. Houston-based Clark Condon is the landscape architect. But what distinguishes this planned community from all others is a 70-acre detention lake that is part of a pilot program by the Harris County Flood Control District."

The recent actions from the Texas government has made it increasingly clear that the state has it out for Harris County. Not only with the suspicious state takeoever of HISD (despite an overall decent "B" grade, with plenty of worse off elsehwere in the state), but also the recent laws that have been coming out of state legislature: SB1993 grants the Secretary of State (SoS) the authority to rerun elections "under certain circumstances" for counties with at least 2.7 million people. This bill passed Senate, and is currently in House limbo. Unfortunately, two other bills have made it past House, with only the Governor's pen awaiting... SB1750 abolishes the election administrator position for "counties with 3.5 million or more," returning duties to elected county clerk and tax asscessor. Both positions are currently (D) in Houston, so not a big deal (overreach aside), right .... https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/texas-bill-abolishing-harris-county-election-position-heads-to-governor/ Not so fast! Here's the particularly egregious doozy: SB1933, which grants the SoS the power to seize election authority (administration, voter registration) from local officials, and even suspend and replace them, with nothing more than "good causes to believe in 'problems'". The dooziest part? The bill had a last minute amendment right on the spot in House just to increase the population threshhold way up 4 million... https://twitter.com/DemocracyDocket/status/1661106078518476810 So, why such specific threshholds, hmm? Want to take a guess which is the ONLY county in Texas to fulfill said population thresholds (at least, at time of bill creations)? Moreover, are the purported "election problems" in question not possible STATEWIDE, regardless of population? Oh, and the Secratery of State is actually one of the few Texas positions that is non-elected (instead, appointed by governor) ... and there is NO BURDEN OF PROOF regarding the so-called "causes to believe" in question: clearly not a conflict of interest, right? 🙄 No matter how it is sliced, this is straight up targeting baked into legislature. Way worse than the uproar concerning the "Tennessee Three". The "F-word" not only came out of hiding, it is blatant and blaring its foghorns loud and clear... Note: this thread has political relations, but I posted it here since this forum was more active/livelier, as well as the fact that the particular forum in question (Local, State, Federal politics offtopic) was missing the option to "create a thread."

Anybody have more information on this project? I know most of it is complete, but does anybody have any photos?

Community Charrette on Homelessness Community Action Plan Meetings August 20, 21, 23 and 28 Experts from across the country will speak at a four-day Community Charrette on Homelessness to help develop a plan to prevent and end homelessness in Houston , Harris County and Fort Bend County . A Charrette is an intensive planning process that jumpstarts and streamlines how a community develops or updates its Community Action Plan. The public is invited to attend all of the free Charrette sessions which will address the causes and propose solutions to the multiple facets of homelessness. The four-day meetings will be held at the Harris County Department of Education, 6300 Irvington Boulevard, Conference Room 502 (located in the parking garage), Houston 77002 on Monday, August 20, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Tuesday, August 21, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Thursday, August 23, 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and the final report will be presented Tuesday, August 28, 10 a.m. - noon. (See full schedule below.) Free parking is available in both the Department of Education garage and its parking lot across the street. Mayor Annise Parker will give an opening address to Charrette participants on Monday, August 20 at 9:15 a.m. For information on how to participate in the Charrette, contact Mary Itz, City of Houston Housing and Community Development at mary.itz@houstontx.gov or call 713.865.9314, or contact Gary Grier, Director of Community Engagement, Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County at ggrier@homelesshouston.org or call 713.739.7514. To learn more about the City of Houston Department of Housing and Community Development, visit www.houstontx.gov/housing/. The Charrette is sponsored by the Coalition for the Homeless, with support from the Corporation for Supportive Housing. For additional information visit www.homelesshouston.org. Charrette Schedule and Topics Monday, August 20, 2012 9 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Welcome and Overview 9:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m. Integrating Housing and Services 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Performance and Accountability 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. Right Sizing Continuum of Care Housing Models Tuesday, August 21, 2012 9 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Welcome and Overview 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Prevention and Diversion 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Coordinated Access 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. Building Political Will/Advocacy Thursday, August 23, 2012 10 a.m. - noon Open office hours for Community Feedback 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Presentation of Initial Findings/Community Feedback Session Tuesday, August 28, 2012 10:00 a.m. - noon Presentation of the Final Report

I am looking for information about the windows of the Harris County Jail at 701 N. San Jacinto. I paid for a GHPA walking tour of downtown recently and the guide claimed that the windows are part of an architectural facade that surrounds the jailhouse proper. He was unsure how to respond when I reminded him that the windows are lit at night and one can clearly see bars in some of them. I've received conflicting reports from those I know who have spent time inside -- most say there are NO windows in the cells, but one insists he had a window in a shared cell and he could look out over the bayou. Can inmates see out of those windows? All of them, or just some? What's the architectural story here? (It is difficult to find any information about this except for a link from an old HAIF forum post in which the link was broken.) Many thanks for specific information and any SOURCES in advance! P.S.: I know it was cold storage before it was a jailhouse -- just looking for info about the windows.

Harris County Courthouse 1883. During the 1870s and early 1880s Courthouse Square was used as a municipal park. In 1883 Edward J. Duhamel, a Galveston architect who had in 1878 won a competition to design Houston's new city hall and market house, was selected to design a new courthouse. Duhamel produced a handsome, four-story brick Victorian Gothic building cruciform in shape, with a tall spire rising from its center. It was constructed at a cost of $100,000. After nearly 25 years this courthouse, like its predecessors, was demolished having been deemed hopelessly overcrowded and a fire hazard. The 1883 courthouse was vacated in November 1908 and county offices moved to the Prince Theater. The old building was demolished and construction of the new courthouse was begun in mid-1909 and was virtually complete and occupied by November 1910. An open house was held 15 November to coincide with Houston's annual "No-Tsu-Oh" Festival, but the courthouse was not formally dedicated until 2 March 1911, in observance of the one hundred-fifth anniversary of Texas Independence.

Anyone know whats going on with 1301 Franklin, the Harris County Sheriffs Depart. ? Is that building still in use or is it totally abandoned?

This was approved by voters on Nov. 5th http://www.pgal.com/media/cache/d4/d416c687aa79c8a538624aa0cf6748a4.jpg http://www.pgal.com/portfolio/harris-countycity-of-houston-joint-processing-cent/

Anyone know the story on the proposed Harris County Jail that was defeated in the bond election last November? Apparently it would have covered much of the north bank of the bayou downtown... so much so that the Buffalo Bayou Partnership's planned trail would have had to veer away from the bayou and circle around the building. So is it dead for good, or only postponed? And why are we lining Buffalo Bayou with jails anyway? Don't most counties put jails in out-of-the-way locations? As in, not the city's main waterfront?

Probably hotel guests instead? If the Downtown At A Glance survey included inmates, Downtown's population would almost double. In downtown there are usually between 8K-9K inmates in the jails in a given day. https://www.tcjs.state.tx.us/docs/AbbreRptCurrent.pdf But inmates are really more like hotel guests. Temporary occupants for a night or two. True prisoners that actually reside in downtown and counted in the Federal Census? Perhaps the Joe Kegans State Jail in downtown holds actual prisoners? But I'm not sure.

This is great news! courts renovation to cost county $40.2 million Plan to return building to 1910 appearance is one part of major shift By BILL MURPHY Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle Harris County plans to spend $40.2 million to restore the historic Civil Courts Building to its appearance in 1910, when it was built. The 1st and 14th state appellate courts would move from the South Texas College of Law building to the courthouse when restoration is completed, scheduled to be summer 2008. As part of the same plan to improve county courthouses, the Family Law Center would close in 2006 and reopen in April 2008 after a $27.9 million renovation. Mike Yancey, head of the county's facilities and management department, will brief Commissioners Court on a master plan for the downtown county courthouse complex Tuesday. Commissioners Court would have to approve the plan before it could go forward. During private meetings, several commissioners have voiced support for it, Yancey said. Plans call for the Civil Courts Building's exterior to be restored to its 1910 state, while only parts of the interior would be restored

On Tuesday March 6, Harris County commissioners will be voting on a resolution to demolish 700 N. San Jacinto. It's the yellow warehouse next to the jail in the picture.

I drive by this chunk of freeway-colored concrete twice a day. It's outstanding in its lack of architectural interest and how it proudly displays, not only a natural pavement/smog aesthetic on its skin, but also the prominent drool stains that draw the eye vertically. I doubt that when they designed this building the expected to produce this specific effect, however. Anyone know when it was built? I'm guessing mid/late 60s. There's some sort of boom lift or crane alongside it so I'm hoping that perhaps it's undergoing a spiff-up. If not, where are our city officials? Is that a parking garage attached to it? It's in a proud prom-queen location alongside the 45 DT, standing relatively alone, bridging 6th Ward and DT, and appears to be a sad wallflower instead. This building needs to be cleaned head to toe to enhance its blocky, minimalist lines.

I am currently in gagged in an active search for historical documents and pictures related to Harris county. If you have any or know of anyone that might have any I would greatly appreciate it. Or if you wish you can contact the head Harris County Archivists at the below address. She is a real nice lady and is easy to talk to. And if you ever get a chance to visit her she has a wonderful view of Houston from her office space which almost takes up a whole floor. Sarah Jackson, CA Harris County Archives Criminal Justice Center 1201 Franklin, 12th Floor Houston, Texas 77002 sarah_jackson@fpm.co.harris.tx.us 713-368-7640 (phone) 713-368-7641 (fax) Thanks everyone for your asistance!