ricco67 Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 The article stated in the chron today talks about how insane the parking situation and traffic flow in the area. When I have to drive in the area (I always curse when I do), I usually go down San Jacinto in the middle lane (the right lane is ALWAYS backed up with people trying to get to that surface lot) and make a right hand turn onto Capital street (usually accompanied by a massive blaring of angry horns) from the middle lane. What amazes me is that I do this in front of cops and I have NEVER have gotten a ticket. The thing that gets me, why don't these people park further away and walk/take the train to the courthouse? It takes less time to walk from a further lot or the station then to stay sitting in traffic for a significant amount of time. What are they going to do when the plaza will eventually get built?I also agree that an officer or two should be put on there to help direct traffic as mentioned in the article. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 I call this the Congress St. Cluster.My bus gets stuck in it on Mondays. It can take 20 minutes to go from MMP (Jackson St) to Milam. I've emailed Metro. They need to shift this route, and Harris Co. needs officers conducting traffic into their jury duty parking garages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 Welcome to my world. Between jurors, witnesses and defendants, thousands of downtown newcomers descend upon these couple of blocks daily. Because they are new, and because they are not sure where they are going or where to park, they drive slowly, eyes looking to the sides, and make sharp turns when they see a space. They are frequently in the wrong lane when this occurs. The sheer number of people doing this simultaneously makes it hell to get though.Some of us have figured out how to get around it, but the judges who must park in it are stuck. I park near MMP, and walk back to the courthouse. Skipping the traffic jam more than makes up for the 3 block walk.Since there is a never-ending parade of confused drivers daily, it will be hard to fix the problem. I agree that some traffic cops would help, but the lines waiting to get into parking garages and lots will remain, blocking traffic lanes. Good luck to whoever attempts to tackle the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 Houston's Mobility Response Team!What a perfect first project for these guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bachanon Posted May 20, 2007 Share Posted May 20, 2007 i know we've discussed this issue before, but i couldn't find a thread specifically about it. also, moderators, do we need a "historic preservation" thread under issues? or, should we put historic preservation issues under the neighborhood they are occurring? May 20, 2007, 12:36AM Old photographs hold the key to restoration Architects are trying to reconstruct the look of the 1910 Harris County courthouse By BILL MURPHY Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle Rebuilding a legacy Like a detective from a cold case squad, Dan Reissig examines a photo of the Houston Law School Class of 1934. The faces of the graduating students are of no interest to him. He ignores those, peering instead at the ornamental plaster work in the room where the photo was taken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfwcre8tive Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 That's an interesting article. Are there any photos of the 1910 courthouse? Dallas is nearing completion on the $23 million restoration of its own courthouse. The inside was stripped down and the interior courtrooms, iron staircase, and brass hardware were all restored. They are currently finishing construction of the 96 foot clock tower (the original was dismantled in 1919). The building now houses the Old Red Museum of Dallas County History & Culture, just across from the Sixth Floor Museum. There's an article and interactive graphic located here: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dw...ed.3aba9c9.html INTERACTIVE GRAPHIC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest danax Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 That's an interesting article. Are there any photos of the 1910 courthouse?Dallas is nearing completion on the $23 million restoration of its own courthouse. The inside was stripped down and the interior courtrooms, iron staircase, and brass hardware were all restored. They are currently finishing construction of the 96 foot clock tower (the original was dismantled in 1919). The building now houses the Old Red Museum of Dallas County History & Culture, just across from the Sixth Floor Museum. There's an article and interactive graphic located here: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dw...ed.3aba9c9.html INTERACTIVE GRAPHIC That's a real dandy of a building in Dallas. The Houston Courthouse is also a beauty and hearing of its restoration warms my heart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(Otto Mation) Posted January 14, 2008 Share Posted January 14, 2008 the randyman can has added a photo to the pool: Click here to view this photo at the HAIF Photo Pool on Flickr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telwink Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 That's an interesting article. Are there any photos of the 1910 courthouse? Here's the 1910 Courthouse as it stands today. The restoration project is very exciting, and is essentially under-way, as the interior of the courthouse has been stripped of its 1950 renovation, down to the bare-bones 1910 condition, using original blueprints, photos, and accounts of the courthouse as it existed between 1910 and 1950. The next phase of the project should be kicked off over the next month or two, which will begin the actual "restoration" of the building, brining it back to its majestic 1910 days. It'll be fascinating to see what the building looks like, both interior and exterior, when this restoration is completed ~ it'll be an enormous difference. -ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vertigo58 Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 I often wondered why it looked like it was missing the crown at the very top? or cupola rather. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telwink Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 I often wondered why it looked like it was missing the crown at the very top? or cupola rather.I could be wrong, but I think at one point in time there was a statue of some kind ontop of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zippy Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 I could be wrong, but I think at one point in time there was a statue of some kind ontop of it.Yeah.. I vaguely recall that there was a statue which used to be on there.. Back before they began restoration on the building, they hauled it off via helicopter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 The top was a piece that looked like a chess piece, not a statue. My guess is that the dome was never capped due to cost or concerns about the strength. Years ago the Pillot Cafe was across the street, and in the courtyard they had either the original cap piece or a replica. I don't know what happened to it however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 The top was a piece that looked like a chess piece, not a statue. My guess is that the dome was never capped due to cost or concerns about the strength. Years ago the Pillot Cafe was across the street, and in the courtyard they had either the original cap piece or a replica. I don't know what happened to it however. Yeah, it looked similar to this.... There was a story about it a few years back. They were looking for it. Not sure if they ever found it or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telwink Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Wow, musicman! That is an awesome photo. Can I ask where you found that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vertigo58 Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 I thought I read some where that the pole (on top) was bent after the 1900 storm. I quite sure they stated that the crucifix atop the steeple at Annunciation Church was bent after the same storm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telwink Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Hey guys, I came across this magazine with some photos of the 1910 Courthouse with the "chess pawn" on top. I also think I might know where it exists today! Before I post the latter, I'm going to try to confirm it and take photos this Friday, so we'll see. 'Til then, ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Wow, musicman! That is an awesome photo. Can I ask where you found that?there's a store here in houston that sells vintage photos. here's a link. they have some great shots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gonzo1976 Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 I've seen blueprints of the 1910 courthouse that show what looks like a chess pawn at top. I've also seen county stationery from around 1916 or so that shows a statue at the top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vertigo58 Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 I thinks its apalling that a city as large and important as Houston could let such an important detail/motif whatever go half done for so long. Sad. Guess it takes more $$$ from donations? Wonder why the effort was dropped? That article must list names and orgs that were trying to correct. Maybe we can put a giant basketball or baseball there for now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neuman Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 A finial was reproduced in the early 90's and, as mentioned, was located in the courtyard of the Pillot Cafe. I'll try to finds some photos of it and post. At some point, it was moved from the Pillot to a Harris county storage lot off of, I believe, Navigation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfwcre8tive Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 Nice photos. I love the old Texas courthouses and it's nice that Houston's is next to be restored. The Dallas courthouse restoration was just recently completed and it makes a big difference on that part of downtown. They restored the inside (and some of the old courtrooms) and it is now a museum of county history. The cast iron stair was reconstructed inside and the clock tower was rebuilt on top. The 6-year restoration was definitely worth the wait. Houston should be excited. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ninjatune/2108493914/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/ninjatune/1340562555/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neuman Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 Here is the finial being lifted off of the transport at the County storage facility. Here it is on the transport in front of the Pillot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 I thought I read some where that the pole (on top) was bent after the 1900 storm. How extraordinary, considering that the building was constructed in 1910. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted February 2, 2008 Share Posted February 2, 2008 How extraordinary, considering that the building was constructed in 1910. This is the most serious internet ownage I have seen in a VERY long time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted February 2, 2008 Share Posted February 2, 2008 How extraordinary, considering that the building was constructed in 1910. LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neuman Posted February 2, 2008 Share Posted February 2, 2008 I thought I read some where that the pole (on top) was bent after the 1900 storm. I quite sure they stated that the crucifix atop the steeple at Annunciation Church was bent after the same storm.In Vertigo's defense, I've read articles that the tower of the earlier courthouse (1883, I believe) was damaged in the 1900 hurricane. As a side note, the bell tower of the 1873 City Hall was also damaged in the storm and was being rebuilt when the City Hall burned in 1901. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telwink Posted February 2, 2008 Share Posted February 2, 2008 In Vertigo's defense, I've read articles that the tower of the earlier courthouse (1883, I believe) was damaged in the 1900 hurricane. As a side note, the bell tower of the 1873 City Hall was also damaged in the storm and was being rebuilt when the City Hall burned in 1901."Harris County has had 5 courthouses:1838, 1851, 1883, 1910 and the 1953 courthouse."http://www.texasescapes.com/Houston/Harris...oustonTexas.htmAnd neuman, thanks for posting those photos of the chess piece thingy. I was told that Harris County was testing the structural integrity of the dome while they were having a contractor build a replacement cap for the dome, as the old cap was long lost and hadn't appeared in any photos after 1939. Well, by the time the new cap was finished, the structural integrity of the dome was determined to necessitate repairs before it could withstand this much weight safely. Therefore, the cap in those pictures has been sitting, turning green & deteriorating, in a Harris County storage area off of Navigation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 "Harris County has had 5 courthouses:1838, 1851, 1883, 1910 and the 1953 courthouse." Hey, what about the Fire Station Annex #2? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.