Astrodome History At 8400 Kirby Dr.

[Guest Plastic]

I will give you The Ocean Club, and Kaboom, I only give you kaboom because I used to work for the McWilliams brothers during the Shark Dance and Kaboom heyday, they also owned D2R, and Metronome. I am surprised you didn't mention Ectasy Club on Richmond @ 610 where "X" was free to the public in a big fishbowl as you entered the club.

But, Blue Planet, and Bayou Mama's, you should be flogged just for uttering those names out of your mouth.

OK Blue Planet sucked but Bayou Mams was the place to be.

[312]

This whole hotel dome thing is a joke anyway. So, almost any idea including a disco makes better business sense at this point in time in my opinion instead of competing with GRB. It appears that the downtown groups are pushing all the retailers to Houston Pavilions so that it can be kind of a package with G.R.B. to better market the city and from what I can tell it is working. I heard in passing that Hewlette Packard just decided to have its convention here, and that there are some other major groups looking at Houston harder now. This would be bad timing for this hotel thing to occur right when Downtown looks positioned to have a real big up swing that is long past due.

[Houston1stWordOnTheMoon]

Did i hear the Yucatan Liquor Stand mentioned? OMG, that brings back memories. Many drunken bruhahas there. Whats in its place now? I know they tore it down years ago.

[TJones]

Did i hear the Yucatan Liquor Stand mentioned? OMG, that brings back memories. Many drunken bruhahas there. Whats in its place now? I know they tore it down years ago.

I believe there are Townhomes there now. No Kidding. After Yucatan, it was turned into a Copeland's restaurant, where I tended bar and waited tables for a bit, then it turned into some Bar-B-Q joint, then it was leveled and turned into Townhomes, right next to a Nudie bar, that is "high livin'"!

Edited August 26, 2006 by TJones

[DJ V Lawrence]

...I don't understand why most of you think we need this surge in electronica to fuel a night club scene. Houston has quietly become a mecca for blues and rockabilly clubs, which by the way have been doing quite well for years. Not to mention the big Rock venues opening almost yearly, all of which are doing quite well.

Don't mean to sound harsh, but these club ideas seem to be extremely narrow.

It'd be nice if we had an area in Houston (like Main Street) that had great electronica venues, hip-hop clubs, rock, country, and jazz all within walking distance. The rock venues around town seem to be too spread out to me for it to be considered a "scene". When I think of rock venues, I think of places like Numbers, Verizon Wireless, and Warehouse Live. Only one of the three has another popular hangout beside it. I wanna see some bands perform live on Main Street every weekend night in front of a rock club.

I'm an electronica dj, hip-hop dj, and occasionally play in different styles of bands (keyboard). I wanna see it all. And strong electronica music scenes seem to fuel that energy in the crowd more than any other style of music. What fustrates me is the fact that I think Houston has so much talent within itself in electronica, but there isn't enough of a presence yet to fuel that energy in our own backyard. Hip-hop has talent located in Houston, but the hip-hop club scene is not as innovative here as they should be. Rock bands are getting the respect they deserve locally, but why not have two great rock venue/clubs ON Main Street Square (maybe even a Sam's Boat on Main Street or Pavillions)? Jazz music is COMPLETELY underrated as a whole, and some of Houston's jazz clubs deserve national mention because of the talent they showcase.

Electronic music has the fans in Houston, but doesn't have an atmosphere to go with it. Why should we have to travel to Miami or Ibiza to party hard? This is Texas. NOBODY'S looking to party hardy like us Texans, believe me...

[TJones]

We need to have a "Burning Man" festival of our own at Reliant.

[312]

Tear it down and build a Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort.

[DJ V Lawrence]

Tear it down and build a Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort.

...And we couldn't build a Schlitterbahn at the Astroworld site? That with the Astrodome hotel within walking distance would kick ass!

[Pumapayam]

That idea would actually work, and it will have that year round appeal, it would hurt the galveston location.

I am not sure if both could survive.

Why are we still talking on this thread btw?

[infinite_jim]

this wouldn't have worked even in the haydey of "rave" partys circa 1999

edit: referring to the thread starter, plastic aka neutron aka subtle troll #906843723842394623469

Edited August 27, 2006 by infinite_jim

[Guest Plastic]

Houston has everything that a rave scene needs accept the match to start it. We tried big raves in HOuston in Austin like Cyberfest and Electric Daisy carnival with 20,000 people but they got busted.

They problem is not only is Texas is The Southwest it's also in The South. And The South as you know isn't known for clubbing,liberalism, and hard thinking. On one side we're like California and in East Texas we're like Louisiana and Mississipi. Houston is caught inbetween them.

The younger peopel are ,ore like those in Southern California's Valley and the older people are often old southern conservatives. While the liberals have style and love to party the conservative run the government and the corporations. WHile we have fans and people who'd like it we've no authority or government to make it happen. Hence why Houston is behind on everything, just now getting a rail and plans for a Times Sqaure.

So until we get government with some sort of plans Houstonis off the list. Not only do we need government and leaders to support the party ,also we need the powers that be to stop busting the party. They keep such horrible care of the city, the people and city has no spirit and they wonder why we can't get an Olympics. First we have to solve the traffic dilema.

What's I'm sayinf is Houston, we have a problem. We have no plans for our fututre. things are just fliping and flopping with no order or synchronization. Right now all the energy's being put into Downtown a project that should have been done 50 yearss. After they're done with that the res tof Houston will just become a wasteland.

We are doing good with the sciences and technology. The Med centerm unversities, NASA< ans technlogy sector are all things that make a city desirable.Nightlife,technology,and arts district,gay population and a street with light rail down it are all things that make a city desirable. But, but you have to have the spark. Festivals would be a start. Our far smaller brother Austin has a much larger reputation because of it's music scene and a festival called South By Southwest. In Berlin they have a huge rave with 1 million people called Love Parade.

Start the spark and get the ball rolling. What I'm saying is one reason our electronic scene isn't thriving is cause alot of people don't know about it or even know what elecronica is. We've gone down this road, if we go down anyfurther it's start the balll moving or scrap and startover.

[Montrose1100]

I think my post was deleted, so nevermind.

[Trae]

This is easily the stupidest name I have ever heard....AstroDisco.

[DJ V Lawrence]

Yo Plastic, why do you think the Astrodome Hotel is a bad idea?

[Guest Plastic]

This is easily the stupidest name I have ever heard....AstroDisco.

I was going to use Astrodome Disco.

[infinite_jim]

I was going to use Astrodome Disco.

BAN.

for making craptastic threads

[TheNiche]

What's I'm sayinf is Houston, we have a problem. We have no plans for our fututre. things are just fliping and flopping with no order or synchronization.

So basically, we're like one gigantic two-million-person rave? No rules or regulations; a free for all!

[Guest Plastic]

So basically, we're like one gigantic two-million-person rave? No rules or regulations; a free for all!

CORRECTION it's 5 million.!!

Edited August 28, 2006 by Plastic

[TheNiche]

CORRECTION it's 5 million.!!

Well, two million in the City of Houston and 5.6 million in the metro area, except that a portion of those in the metro area live in regulated suburban cities like Bellaire, Sugar Land, and League City.

[Metro Matt]

Plastic

Raves have been around in the United States since the early 90's. They peaked in popularity between 1999-2001. Throwing these types of "parties" on any large scale in Texas is illegal due to various laws being passed meant to ban raves. There are still parties that take place every now & then, but its more underground like it used to be before the "Kandy Kids" killed the scene.

Promoters these days are just too affraid (and with good reason) to throw massive parties anymore in an uncontrolled environment. The crowds have gotten a lot smaller & so have the venues.

Think of it this way Plastic...

Ravers in the 90's were what the Hippy generation was in the 60's. Everything is constantly evolving musically & culturally...nothing stays the same.

[TheNiche]

Plastic

Raves have been around in the United States since the early 90's. They peaked in popularity between 1999-2001. Throwing these types of "parties" on any large scale in Texas is illegal due to various laws being passed meant to ban raves. There are still parties that take place every now & then, but its more underground like it used to be before the "Kandy Kids" killed the scene.

Promoters these days are just too affraid (and with good reason) to throw massive parties anymore in an uncontrolled environment. The crowds have gotten a lot smaller & so have the venues.

Think of it this way Plastic...

Ravers in the 90's were what the Hippy generation was in the 60's. Everything is constantly evolving musically & culturally...nothing stays the same.

...and if the 60's died at Altamont, then the 90's died at Woodstock.

Unfortunately, that means that we're probably in for a couple decades of crappy music until things really start going again.

[Guest Plastic]

Plastic

Raves have been around in the United States since the early 90's. They peaked in popularity between 1999-2001. Throwing these types of "parties" on any large scale in Texas is illegal due to various laws being passed meant to ban raves. There are still parties that take place every now & then, but its more underground like it used to be before the "Kandy Kids" killed the scene.

Promoters these days are just too affraid (and with good reason) to throw massive parties anymore in an uncontrolled environment. The crowds have gotten a lot smaller & so have the venues.

Think of it this way Plastic...

Ravers in the 90's were what the Hippy generation was in the 60's. Everything is constantly evolving musically & culturally...nothing stays the same.

ANd where do you find these undergrounds?

[DJ V Lawrence]

ANd where do you find these undergrounds?

Um, I'd look under....ground...

[Pumapayam]

Um, I'd look under....ground...

Can this be moved to "Way off Topic" forum, I hate seeing this in the "Going Up" forum.

[Houston1stWordOnTheMoon]

Plastic i admire your active mind in the way you have thoughts that are original. It is entertaining and sometimes thought provoking, but this thread makes about as much sense as Little Richard screaming at the top of his cake make-up covered face on that GEICO commercial.

[312]

...And we couldn't build a Schlitterbahn at the Astroworld site? That with the Astrodome hotel within walking distance would kick ass!

I think that's a great idea. The rendering is actually what gave me the idea for Shclitterbahn. No offense, but the rendering looks sort of like a redone Astroworld that even has the green Asrto-water, and I'm sure they could squeeze an Astro-disco or something out of it somewhere. It just has such a "kid attraction" type of look for a hotel to me.

[mm mm good]

Livin' in your own private Idaho, underground like a wild potato...

I say knock down the 'Dome and pave over the hole. Yes, there's memories aplenty there and it will be painful for many to witness its demise, but time marches on.

The neighborhood surrounding the 'Dome is blighted, forget about family attractions going in its place. No financier will touch it.

The only way I'd see the 'Dome becoming a successful hotel/convention center venue is if all of the other motels (read - ma-&-pa fleabag dives) that surround the complex went away. The neighborhood is seriously overdue for urban renewal on a mass scale.

Nightclubs, like raves, are fleeting - the idea of turning the 'Dome into a giant disco sounds like a joke. As someone else suggested I'd rather see it knocked down before it was disgraced by being transformed into a puke pit.

Remember when the Shamrock Hotel met its demise? People cried but the scars healed. Sometimes letting go can be a good thing.

[DJ V Lawrence]

It just has such a "kid attraction" type of look for a hotel to me.

Yo, did you seen the KHOU report on the Astrodome Hotel last week? They showed brand new renderings on it. Looks nice!

[Guest Plastic]

Maybe we could turn it into a museum. DCs got the Air&Space and The SMithsonian. We could the Astronium.

[houstonfella]

I say let the folks who come up with all that money to finance this venture, build it out and let's see. We might all be totally surprised and delighted with the outcome.

[DJ V Lawrence]

I say let the folks who come up with all that money to finance this venture, build it out and let's see. We might all be totally surprised and delighted with the outcome.

OYE OYE OYE!!!

[TheNiche]

Livin' in your own private Idaho, underground like a wild potato...

I say knock down the 'Dome and pave over the hole. Yes, there's memories aplenty there and it will be painful for many to witness its demise, but time marches on.

The neighborhood surrounding the 'Dome is blighted, forget about family attractions going in its place. No financier will touch it.

The only way I'd see the 'Dome becoming a successful hotel/convention center venue is if all of the other motels (read - ma-&-pa fleabag dives) that surround the complex went away. The neighborhood is seriously overdue for urban renewal on a mass scale.

Nightclubs, like raves, are fleeting - the idea of turning the 'Dome into a giant disco sounds like a joke. As someone else suggested I'd rather see it knocked down before it was disgraced by being transformed into a puke pit.

No financier will touch it? I've got to disagree. It has a whole lot going for it, in fact. 1) Lots of contiguous land under one owner, 2) adjacent to freeway and light rail, 3) part of convention & sports district, 4) psychological and physical barriers between subject site and unappealing neighborhoods, 5) landmark status, 6) proximity to Texas Medical Center, and 7) the proposed development vastly outclasses the competition (it isn't even in the same market as all the rat-hole motels around there).

By the way, if the dome is tuned into a viable upscale neighborhood with destination retail (as I'd like to see happen), then most of the existing Class C and Class D apartments between Fannin and Almeda will be sitting on land that is more valuable than the improvements and will be prime candidates for redevelopment on a pretty substantial scale. That neighborhood could turn around fairly quickly, all things considered, because properties in that area tend to be very large and under consolidated ownership.

Remember when the Shamrock Hotel met its demise? People cried but the scars healed. Sometimes letting go can be a good thing.

FYI, people still whine about it on this forum.

[istanbul]

There are several new housing develeopments in the medical center area. 1000 square foot homes are going for 170K or more. However, there are a glut of cheap condos very close to these developments going for 40k or more. How come developers do not demolish these relatively old complexes and build luxury housing? Do you guys think it is a good idea to buy these cheap condos for the investment purposes? I am just curious.

[musicman]

it could be a good deal IMO. once you figure out your monthly costs to own it, you have to determine whether you could get adequate rent from a tenant to pay your bills. and if there really are a lot of units, i'm sure that will probably keep rents down.

Edited February 25, 2007 by musicman

[TheNiche]

There are several new housing develeopments in the medical center area. 1000 square foot homes are going for 170K or more. However, there are a glut of cheap condos very close to these developments going for 40k or more. How come developers do not demolish these relatively old complexes and build luxury housing? Do you guys think it is a good idea to buy these cheap condos for the investment purposes? I am just curious.

I live in and own one that would probably sell for about $52k if I were to sell it. Considering that I effectively own a 1,460sf share of the land on which the complex sits, that is just over $35 per square foot. For the TMC area, that is a very reasonable price for land if the improvements are considered to have no value at all (but they do).

I think that there is still plenty of land between Almeda and 288 as well as south of the Loop to warrant big demolition and rebuilding of 25-year-old properties just yet. Give it another 10 years, though...

What that area needs and is slowly getting is more and higher quality retail services. The new Class A apartments along OST should further justify an improved retail base.

[texas911]

Slowly but surely south Main is making a turn around. All the cheap Motels are closing (remember the Surrey House?) and being replaced with high end buildings. But until the low priced apartments are taken care off, it won't make the big comeback possible. An aside. I hope the city keeps those oak trees they planted for the super bowl, nicely trimmed. Oaks need to be trimmed or else they'll end up looking like big bushes. Should look like the Rice U area, oh in say about 50 years!

[bostonhater]

Slowly but surely south Main is making a turn around. All the cheap Motels are closing (remember the Surrey House?) and being replaced with high end buildings. But until the low priced apartments are taken care off, it won't make the big comeback possible. An aside. I hope the city keeps those oak trees they planted for the super bowl, nicely trimmed. Oaks need to be trimmed or else they'll end up looking like big bushes. Should look like the Rice U area, oh in say about 50 years!

Yeah I see the same development everytime I go to Target on South Main. It is a slow development but it sure is there. That is why the condo/apartments are priced decently.

[Pumapayam]

There are several new housing develeopments in the medical center area. 1000 square foot homes are going for 170K or more. However, there are a glut of cheap condos very close to these developments going for 40k or more. How come developers do not demolish these relatively old complexes and build luxury housing? Do you guys think it is a good idea to buy these cheap condos for the investment purposes? I am just curious.

Crack houses are too value to tear down.

Those thing have been priced at $40K since I looked at them in 2003.

No one want them because of the trouble makers that live there.

[Vertigo58]

No one want them because of the trouble makers that live there.

That means those $99.00 move in apts will be the next promo if not already. This is what destroyed the dome and Greenspoint Mall area years ago. The show "cops" could film there weekly as the norm.

Houston wonders why we get a black eye? This cheap apt plague is the first thing tourists see. Geez...

Time for another mushroom cloud and start fresh.

[TheNiche]

No one want them because of the trouble makers that live there.

That means those $99.00 move in apts will be the next promo if not already. This is what destroyed the dome and Greenspoint Mall area years ago. The show "cops" could film there weekly as the norm.

Houston wonders why we get a black eye? This cheap apt plague is the first thing tourists see. Geez...

Time for another mushroom cloud and start fresh.

Vertigo, I live in a condo that I bought for $42k in the Astrodome area back in 2002. The community is chock-full of medical students, TMC employees, and some students of UH or TSU that don't want to live in 3rd Ward or the East End. Disproportionate numbers of Asians and Indians. Extremely high educational attainment. Low crime, and extremely little violent crime. The area is patrolled not only by HPD, but by the University of Texas.

And Puma, there has been very positive change since 2003, and it is reflected in the retail offerings along S. Main and activity along upper Almeda and along OST.

[Pumapayam]

I passed on these.

There are a whole bunch of condos at this price on Hearth.

If this is so good, why are there so many left on sold and why so cheap?

You can buy these on a 3 or 5 year loan and pay it off for the rent pretty much.

But the value will never go up.

UPDATE:

Even more disturbing, all the photo, or most, are of the outside.

Most people want to see the inside of the condo.

This is a bad sign.

Edited May 11, 2007 by Pumapayam

[Vertigo58]

Niche:

Try to read the reply before flying off the handle please. Geez, struck a nerve I guess.

My post is speaking in a "future possibility tense" not present. No need for words. I am sure your immediate area is as good as you stated, but we cannot deny the fact that the dome area had been a bad place to be.

What I have noticed is that any time I or anyone else on this forum mentions a truth about an area some one freaks out. That is normally because they are a realtor or owner of a condo and they are afraid their tenants or reputation will be scouwered and the tenant will get PO. I used to get slightly offended by

other's neg comments about my area but realized its out of either envy or any number of things I let it melt away and laugh. At one time you seemed liked a reasonable person however, over time you started jumping around and started telling off everyone point blank. I don't get it. There are at least 3 others that snub everyone as the norm its a systemic on-going pattern. Borders on harrasment. It only makes you guys look rude & unprofessional.

Again, I and thousands of Houstonians know the dome area has a long way to go as far as cleaning up crime is concerned. Buona sera.

Edited May 11, 2007 by Vertigo58

[Pumapayam]

What I have noticed is that any time I or anyone else on this forum mentions a truth about an area some one freaks out.

I think the area is dumpy, no better than the Alief area, Harwin, or Glenmont.

Not as bad as Sharpstown, since Sharptown is being revitalized

It is the truth the value of those condos prove it, no one wants to buy and live there. All those listing say, "great investment"

Really it is just a cheap apartment with maintenance fees.

You'd lose half your rent to the maintenance fees and the other half on the mortgages.

And these places are so old, as landlord you'd be fixing up the place monthly, there is no way to make a return on your investment.

That, and you'd have to have a decent tenent. If students are the main source from the tenant pool, you will have yearly carpet cleaning and painting.

Sorry, the area sucks.

[TheNiche]

I passed on these.

There are a whole bunch of condos at this price on Hearth.

If this is so good, why are there so many left on sold and why so cheap?

You can buy these on a 3 or 5 year loan and pay it off for the rent pretty much.

But the value will never go up.

A big part of it is that the high condo association fees and other costs are suppressing the sale price. And another big contributing factor is that anyone who lists these with a Realtor will have to pay either a big comission or a flat fee because they're too low-value to spend a lot of time and effot marketing units for sale.

Honestly, if there were ever a good target for a developer to swoop in and take down the whole complex, this is it. It's just too expensive to bother buying or selling condos in a place like this without it being cash financing on FSBO deals or a future bulk transaction, and there is a very limited market for such buyers, which gives them a distinct advantage.

[Pumapayam]

Honestly, if there were ever a good target for a developer to swoop in and take down the whole complex, this is it.

But then the other argument is that you lose affordable housing close to town. Whatever developer invests in a new project, the average price would be well about $100K. that place is stuck.

Example being, They are trying, unsuccessfully, in the 4th Ward and it is not working. Tearing down shacks for $50K and replacing them with Aluminum sided home fore $200K is not working. They can't coexist. My friends own one and they here gun shot randomly throughout the year.

It will be decades before that part of the Medical Center is worth living in again.

[TheNiche]

Niche:

Try to read the reply before flying off the handle please. Geez, struck a nerve I guess.

My post is speaking in a "future possibility tense" not present. No need for words. I am sure your immediate area is as good as you stated, but we cannot deny the fact that the dome area had been a bad place to be.

What I have noticed is that any time I or anyone else on this forum mentions a truth about an area some one freaks out. That is normally because they are a realtor or owner of a condo and they are afraid their tenants or reputation will be scouwered and the tenant will get PO. I used to get slightly offended by other's neg comments about my area but realized its out of either envy or any number of things I let it melt away and laugh. At one time you seemed liked a reasonable person however, over time you started jumping around and started telling off everyone point blank. I don't get it. There are at least 3 others that snub everyone as the norm its a systemic on-going pattern. Borders on harrasment. It only makes you guys look rude & unprofessional.

Again, I and thousands of Houstonians know the dome area has a long way to go as far as cleaning up crime is concerned. Buona sera.

I'm not sure why you think that I've "flown off the handle." I never even used an exclamation mark, much less an emoticon. Your misinterpretation of my reaction, on the other hand, may indicate excessive defensiveness IMO.

I'm just relaying to you what I've experienced over the past five years and what the Claritas demographics and HPD crime statistics indicate.

[TheNiche]

But then the other argument is that you lose affordable housing close to town. Whatever developer invests in a new project, the average price would be well about $100K. that place is stuck.

Example being, They are trying, unsuccessfully, in the 4th Ward and it is not working. Tearing down shacks for $50K and replacing them with Aluminum sided home fore $200K is not working. They can't coexist. My friends own one and they here gun shot randomly throughout the year.

It will be decades before that part of the Medical Center is worth living in again.

If you ever get a chance, drive by this set of townhomes. They sell well enough and continue to be developed in phases. But I've driven down that street and it is crawling with people that live in nearby apartments that make Hearthwood look like paradise.

Btw, all that developers care about is that they can find a buyer for their product. Whether that buyer has positive or negative experiences a year or so after closing is almost entirely irrelevant.

[Pumapayam]

Btw, all that developers care about is that they can find a buyer for their product. Whether that buyer has positive or negative experiences a year or so after closing is almost entirely irrelevant.

That leds to a whole other arguement about my issues with those stupid communities out in BFE where suburban decay occurs.

They looks nice enough, but could they look anymore alike.

Looks like row houses from the 60's nuclear age.

[TheNiche]

That leds to a whole other arguement about my issues with those stupid communities out in BFE where suburban decay occurs.

BFE?

[Pumapayam]

BFE?

It is a different way a of saying "out in the middle of no where", like Katy or Fairfield, or Bridgelands.

I will PM you, it is a vulgar acronym.