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Market Square Park At 301 Milam St.

TheNiche

By TheNiche,
in Downtown

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Market Square  

64 members have voted

  1. 1. Do you think Market Square is attractive in its current state?

    • Yes
      24
    • No
      36
    • Don't Know
      5

  2. 2. Do you think that it could reasonably be improved upon?

    • Yes
      60
    • No
      3
    • Don't Know
      2

  3. 3. If you responded 'Yes' to question #2, how would you improve it?

    • Add more trees/shrubs
      31
    • Add more benches
      30
    • Add picnic tables
      19
    • Allow a few concession stands
      35
    • Add a small restaurant with window orders (similar to Champ Burger or Someburger)
      27
    • Add a playground
      8
    • Add a dog trot
      13
    • Add a pond
      13
    • Add one or multiple small fountains
      20
    • Add one central large fountain
      29
    • Other, please explain
      11

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rsb320

rsb320

Posted
Posted

What did they do with the beautiful tiles and cool fountains? All the mounted patrols watered their horses there.

Those (4) "Flatos" never moved. The water features have been turned off during construction, though. The "Surls" was removed and rehabbed. It's the thing that looks like boat oars and barbed wire. It's back now and is placed in a square pond or fountain.

Posters started appearing yesterday regarding the Market Square Park Neighborhood Shindig! There is a facebook site by that name. It will take place on Sat. Aug. 28th.

Celebrate the park's grand re-opening!

2-6 pm

*Dog Activities sponsored by the Houston Dog Park Assn.

*Historic District Tours sponsored by Greater Houston Preservation Alliance

*Meet & Greet w/Dimitri Fetokakis of Niko Niko's-- free coffee samples!

...6 pm Ribbon Cutting & Fanfare w/Mayor Annise Parker

7 pm Singer/Songwriter Andrew Karnavas

8 pm The John Evans Band

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RedScare
RedScare

It is rather insensitive to put a 9/11 memorial right around the corner from a mosque, isn't it?

citizen4rmptown
citizen4rmptown

Flickr mappa1001

musicman
musicman

from 13, looks like changes are in the works beginning in nov with a goal opening of memorial day weekend. money will be from TIRZ funds. depiction is here.

rsb320

rsb320

Posted
Posted

Ate at Market Square Bar and Grill for lunch. Forgot how much I like that place... Anyway, the renovations to the actual square look pretty sweet. Now, if only the city would give LaCaraffe the permit for outdoor seating...

An application for liquor license sign is posted for Niko Niko's, so maybe we can get our outdoor drank-on there.

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ricco67

ricco67

Posted
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I've only seen it a few months ago, but it does seem like it's looking like the PDF posted.

Call me heartless, but that "Lauren's Garden" just doesn't sit well with me.

One other thing they could have added is a small Kiosk for HPD for the public to walk up, get forms, ask questions, and be able to offer some help to the roving police officers in the area. It could have been a nice way for a little HPD PR.

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RedScare

RedScare

Posted
Posted (edited)

But still, it does irritate me a bit, though.

It does me, too, but this is the world we live in. Everyone must be publicized, memorialized and remembered. Just as people on Facebook clamber for friends, and Twitter users beg for followers, every 6 year old who calls 911 is hailed as a hero, and every person who dies must have a charity or event named after them, or a memorial built in their honor, even if it is simply a cross on the street where they died. Our parents used to visit the gravesite of lost loved ones, but these days we must let the entire world know that our sister or brother died.

Just as I have experienced 'charity fatigue', I also have 'memorial fatigue', and 'hero fatigue'. But, it is only a small part of the park. You are not required to observe a moment of silence in the garden. There are bigger battles to be fought, such as protecting Angry White People from the indignity of a Walmart near the Heights.

Edited by RedScare
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Subdude

Subdude

Posted
Posted

I've only seen it a few months ago, but it does seem like it's looking like the PDF posted.

Call me heartless, but that "Lauren's Garden" just doesn't sit well with me.

It's not heartless. Even the name "Lauren's Garden" is kind of icky-syrupy.

Official opening of the square is supposed to be August 28th.

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dbigtex56

dbigtex56

Posted
Posted

It is rather insensitive to put a 9/11 memorial right around the corner from a mosque, isn't it?

LOL

Call me heartless, but that "Lauren's Garden" just doesn't sit well with me.

It's not heartless. Even the name "Lauren's Garden" is kind of icky-syrupy.

With all respect to Lauren's family (I, too, lost a family member on 9/11), this is a public park; not a political statement, not a cemetery.

Who approved this, anyway?

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capnmcbarnacle

capnmcbarnacle

Posted
Posted

LOL

With all respect to Lauren's family (I, too, lost a family member on 9/11), this is a public park; not a political statement, not a cemetery.

Who approved this, anyway?

I think the family made a donation to the park's renovation and asked for a small memorial to victims of 9/11 and this is what happened. I agree that parks are no place for rememberances or tributes. Just think of all the stuff littering Sam Houston Park, Tranquility Park, Hermann Park, or Market Square. We ought to tear out the memorial to the sailors killed on the USS Houston, as well as the WWI monument, the Confederate monuments, the Texas revolution monuments, that sappy WWII memorial in the Heights, the cornball Ghandi memorial in Hermann Park, Dick Dowling's statue, Sam Houston on his horse, the stupid Holocaust museum, and those dumb monuments to the crew of the Challenger and Columbia. I too go to the parks around time to get away from it all, and I don't need some downer monuments reminding me of all the tradgey in the world, or monuments or tributes to some sap that laid his life down for me in some politically questionable way. Out of sight, out of mind is what I say. The greatest thing we could do as a society is just forget that all of this stuff ever happened and start fresh.

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kylejack

kylejack

Posted
Posted

I think the family made a donation to the park's renovation and asked for a small memorial to victims of 9/11 and this is what happened. I agree that parks are no place for rememberances or tributes. Just think of all the stuff littering Sam Houston Park, Tranquility Park, Hermann Park, or Market Square. We ought to tear out the memorial to the sailors killed on the USS Houston, as well as the WWI monument, the Confederate monuments, the Texas revolution monuments, that sappy WWII memorial in the Heights, the cornball Ghandi memorial in Hermann Park, Dick Dowling's statue, Sam Houston on his horse, the stupid Holocaust museum, and those dumb monuments to the crew of the Challenger and Columbia. I too go to the parks around time to get away from it all, and I don't need some downer monuments reminding me of all the tradgey in the world, or monuments or tributes to some sap that laid his life down for me in some politically questionable way. Out of sight, out of mind is what I say. The greatest thing we could do as a society is just forget that all of this stuff ever happened and start fresh.

This, but unironically.

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RedScare

RedScare

Posted
Posted (edited)

I think the family made a donation to the park's renovation and asked for a small memorial to victims of 9/11 and this is what happened. I agree that parks are no place for rememberances or tributes. Just think of all the stuff littering Sam Houston Park, Tranquility Park, Hermann Park, or Market Square. We ought to tear out the memorial to the sailors killed on the USS Houston, as well as the WWI monument, the Confederate monuments, the Texas revolution monuments, that sappy WWII memorial in the Heights, the cornball Ghandi memorial in Hermann Park, Dick Dowling's statue, Sam Houston on his horse, the stupid Holocaust museum, and those dumb monuments to the crew of the Challenger and Columbia. I too go to the parks around time to get away from it all, and I don't need some downer monuments reminding me of all the tradgey in the world, or monuments or tributes to some sap that laid his life down for me in some politically questionable way. Out of sight, out of mind is what I say. The greatest thing we could do as a society is just forget that all of this stuff ever happened and start fresh.

Did Lauren lay down her life for you in some politically questionable way?

By the way...

Sam Houston Park...no downer monuments that I've seen.

Tranquility Park...no downer monuments, but if you believe the moon landing was staged I could see your offense.

Sam Houston...died of pneumonia, monuments celebrate his life.

Dick Dowling...died of yellow fever, monument celebrates one of Houston's greatest saloon keepers (at least to me).

Holocaust Museum...private musueum on private land

Ghandi...you may have a point, but the monument celebrates his life and achievement, not his death.

The servicemen, and shuttle crews...I'll give you those, though they died in service to their country.

Oh, and the garden does look nice.

Edited by RedScare
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Porchman

Porchman

Posted
Posted

Did Lauren lay down her life for you in some politically questionable way?

By the way...

Sam Houston Park...no downer monuments that I've seen.

Tranquility Park...no downer monuments, but if you believe the moon landing was staged I could see your offense.

Sam Houston...died of pneumonia, monuments celebrate his life.

Dick Dowling...died of yellow fever, monument celebrates one of Houston's greatest saloon keepers (at least to me).

Holocaust Museum...private musueum on private land

Ghandi...you may have a point, but the monument celebrates his life and achievement, not his death.

The servicemen, and shuttle crews...I'll give you those, though they died in service to their country.

Oh, and the garden does look nice.

Nicely put, Red. The memorials are an honor to those who have passed. They are a comfort to those who remember them. They are honered in large ways as you noted above, in burial places, and with white crosses where they met sudden death.

There was a proposal to recognize the Death of Ghandi, too. Last year, some folks were pushing to rename Hillcroft "Mahatma Gandhi Avenue".

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Subdude

Subdude

Posted
Posted

Nicely put, Red. The memorials are an honor to those who have passed. They are a comfort to those who remember them. They are honered in large ways as you noted above, in burial places, and with white crosses where they met sudden death.

There was a proposal to recognize the Death of Ghandi, too. Last year, some folks were pushing to rename Hillcroft "Mahatma Gandhi Avenue".

I think they ended up naming the area the "Ghandi District".

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kylejack

kylejack

Posted
Posted

Tranquility Park...no downer monuments, but if you believe the moon landing was staged I could see your offense.

[...]

The servicemen, and shuttle crews...I'll give you those, though they died in service to their country.

Tranquility has two monuments to the dead shuttle crews, though.

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sevfiv

sevfiv

Posted
Posted

Park re-opening and tours:

Free festivities celebrate Market Square Park re-opening,

2 to 9 p.m., Saturday, August 28

Houston Downtown Management District is hosting a Neighborhood Shindig from 2 to 9 p.m. this Saturday, August 28, to celebrate the opening of the redesigned Market Square Park.

Volunteer docents from GHPA's Walking Tours Program will give free 30-minute tours of the park and the adjacent historic district between 2 and 5 p.m. Tours will begin under the tent next to James Surls’ Points of View sculpture.

The block bounded by Milam, Preston, Travis and Congress streets was the site of the city hall and market house for the first century of Houston’s existence. The refurbished park includes landscape elements indicating the former location of City Hall as well as a dog run, performance area and Niko Niko’s café. On the north side of the park, the Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas Foundation has funded the creation of Lauren’s Garden, a memorial to Houstonian Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas and all the others killed on September 11, 2001.

Mayor Annise Parker will cut the ribbon officially dedicating the park at 6 p.m. The John Evans Band and singer/songwriter Andrew Karnavas will perform from 7 to 9 p.m. [Click here] for additional information.

Parking will be available for $5 in the Market Square Garage on Milam at Congress [map]. Metered parking will be available on streets in the area. Parking is not free on downtown Houston streets until after 6 p.m. on Saturdays.

Market Square Park is a joint project of the Houston Downtown Management District, Downtown Houston Redevelopment Authority and the City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department.

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capnmcbarnacle

capnmcbarnacle

Posted
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I work right here and didn't want this thing changed. I have to admit now that it is a huge improvement. I think they nailed this one. And for all the hand-wringing about the 9/11 Memorial, it's basically a fountain -- and a cool one at that -- with a plaque in the ground saying it is dedicated to victims of 9/11. And there's nothing wrong with putting a fountain in a public space as a memorial, or dedicating it to someone. I don't hear anyone clamoring about removing the Gus Wortham water ball on Allen Parkway or the Mecom Fountain at Hermann Park -- but I'm sure I will.

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lockmat

lockmat

Posted
Posted

It's an overall improvement by creating more shade and clear unprogrammed space but the security fence around the dog park is pretty is ugly with it's light grey trellis pattern.

security fence? is that permanent?

I'd like to see a picture. Why would they have a fence around a park?

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musicman

musicman

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Posted

having 5 police officers guarding a lady walking her dog this evening was interesting. with the street people stealing all the lights on the fountains on preston and congress, it must call for increased police presence. they've also added additional commercial parking so less parking for the avg joe.

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rsb320

rsb320

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Posted

having 5 police officers guarding a lady walking her dog this evening was interesting. with the street people stealing all the lights on the fountains on preston and congress, it must call for increased police presence. they've also added additional commercial parking so less parking for the avg joe.

HPD needs to stop parking in the Travis left lane @ Congress during peak morning commute. I guess the signs don't apply to them. :angry:

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  • 2 weeks later...
lockmat

lockmat

Posted
Posted

I went last night and think this place is just awesome, they did a really good job I think.

I think I like it better than discovery green. It feels like what a real urban park should be like, but maybe that's because it felt really alive. Niko's was open, the surrounding area seemed busy and it feels really cozy. I think a residential tower right next to it would be perfect.

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UrbaNerd

UrbaNerd

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Posted

I went to Market Square park after classes yesterday...it was buzzing with activity, and the line was rather long at Niko Niko's; I waited about 15 mins before I got to the front. People kept talking about how much nicer the park was, as well as how nice the weather was. I took some pics, and I'll see if I can post them later or something.

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dbigtex56

dbigtex56

Posted
Posted

I wish that the Midtown Mgmt Dist could do with the superblock, in Midtown, that the Downtown Mgmt Dist did with Market Square. It's such a huge improvement.

Unfortunately the Superblock, unlike Market Square, is privately owned.

It would have been a great asset to Midtown, if it had been purchased by the city and developed into a park twenty years ago. Unless a very rich generous person steps forward, the cost of the land is prohibitive now.

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dbigtex56

dbigtex56

Posted
Posted

Isn't part of the superblock owned by the city to build a new firehouse or something?

You're right - the northern portion of the Superblock is reserved for the Houston Fire Museum.

So far as I know, the remainder is still privately owned, and probably scheduled for development. Would have made a dandy park.

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Houston19514

Houston19514

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Posted

You're right - the northern portion of the Superblock is reserved for the Houston Fire Museum.

So far as I know, the remainder is still privately owned, and probably scheduled for development. Would have made a dandy park.

Two things. (1) The Fire Museum is a private organization, so any land they own is not owned by the city. (2) The new fire museum location is at Main and Hadley, several blocks north of the superblock that has been discussed in the past as a possible park for midtown (McGowen Green), which runs from Anita up to McGowen. There was a little bit of talk of an even more ambitious (and therefore even more unrealistic, unfortunately) project that would have run up to Hadley and included the fire museum as part of the park. In either form it would be a great addition to Midtown. Would be awesome if they could make it happen.

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Subdude

Subdude

Posted
Posted

I stopped by mid-afternoon today (Sunday). There were maybe 20 people in the park. I expected more people considering the perfect weather. Niko Niko's seemed to do a decent business though.

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I have to say I'm impressed. It came out nicer than I expected.

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  • 3 months later...
DrLan34

DrLan34

Posted
Posted (edited)

I have to say I'm impressed. It came out nicer than I expected.

I was told they are building a new storage area and a place where you can get beers on tap next to the current Niko Niko's hut... would be sweet

Edited by DrLan34
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kylejack

kylejack

Posted
Posted

I was told they are building a new storage area and a place where you can get beers on tap next to the current Niko Niko's hut... would be sweet

Hmm, what's this now? You're not talking about the planned Beer Garden across the street by La Carafe, are you?

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DrLan34

DrLan34

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Posted

Hmm, what's this now? You're not talking about the planned Beer Garden across the street by La Carafe, are you?

I'm not sure, maybe the worker was confused... I was grubbing there on Saturday and noticed that the were doing work ON the park itself... so I just asked and that is what he told me.

If the beer garden is suppose to be on the empty lot next to La Carafe then this is definitely something different as I understand it.

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  • 4 weeks later...
rsb320

rsb320

Posted
Posted

They are constructing something near the kiosk. I've heard it will either be storage or restrooms with beer taps on the outside.

On another note, across the street, two new restaurants have opened. They are on either side of Les Givrals and are owned by them. The one on the left is Convey Sushi and the one on the right is ERA, which has salads, soups, sandwiches and personal pizzas, etc. ERA stands for Entertainment Restaurant Air.

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  • The title was changed to New Art At Market Square Park
  • The title was changed to Market Square Park At 301 Milam St.

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