IronTiger Posted January 7, 2016 Share Posted January 7, 2016 Macy's just announced the closure of some 36 stores this month, including several downtown sites. I'm just saying that holding out for Macy's return to downtown seems increasingly unlikely at this point. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted January 7, 2016 Share Posted January 7, 2016 From slide 9 it looks like there's a "Future Historical Building Renovation" in the works.  Good catch.  Please let that be for refurbishment of the trashy Main Food Store across from the Hillcorp building and next to 1010 Lamar. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cspwal Posted January 7, 2016 Share Posted January 7, 2016 It could re-brand as a boutique food shop of uniquely urban-american cuisine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate99 Posted January 7, 2016 Share Posted January 7, 2016 Good catch.  Please let that be for refurbishment of the trashy Main Food Store across from the Hillcorp building and next to 1010 Lamar. Nothing a dump truck "accident" couldn't solve, though it would be easier if Lamar ran the other way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howard Huge Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 Good catch. Please let that be for refurbishment of the trashy Main Food Store across from the Hillcorp building and next to 1010 Lamar.I'm generally very anti-government, anti-regulation, anti-zoning, anti-state, what have you......but.....is there any clever way the city could "force" these crappy dollar stores and weave stores out of those retail slots? Perhaps by proxy, or some sort of new, bogus "regulation?" 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UtterlyUrban Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 Macy's just announced the closure of some 36 stores this month, including several downtown sites. I'm just saying that holding out for Macy's return to downtown seems increasingly unlikely at this point.Macy's does seem troubled. One visit to a Macy's in a mall told me why. I don't expect that they will be returning to downtown Houston but, one never knows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFootsSocks Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 I'm generally very anti-government, anti-regulation, anti-zoning, anti-state, what have you......but.....is there any clever way the city could "force" these crappy dollar stores and weave stores out of those retail slots? Perhaps by proxy, or some sort of new, bogus "regulation?" I'm pretty sure it's legislation like this that makes people anti-government. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cspwal Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 The goal should more be to make downtown bustling and attractive enough that a different business (say Target with a urban concept) comes in and says "I want to lease this space and I'm willing to pay more than what the food mart is"Â It's the market at work. Â The government is best when it sticks to incentives (i.e. the DLI) and stays away from restrictions (building moratoriums, zoning, parking minimums) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate99 Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 (edited) I'm pretty sure it's legislation like this that makes people anti-government. Yep. I'm of the opinion that the best bet is to price them out of the neighborhood by making everything around them really nice and someone with an idea for an alternative, more profitable use will sweep the owners off their feet. Local public transit hubs in car dominant cities are not known to be savory places. Main Street Square seems to serve that purpose a bit. Edited January 8, 2016 by Nate99 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howard Huge Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 I'm pretty sure it's legislation like this that makes people anti-government.Yeah no doubt. Maybe we need to do some Sicilian strong arming... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate99 Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 Yeah no doubt.Maybe we need to do some Sicilian strong arming...  You're getting back to my "accident" idea. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howard Huge Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 You're getting back to my "accident" idea.What accident idea? I don't know what you're talkin' about.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaggieMay Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 The goal should more be to make downtown bustling and attractive enough that a different business (say Target with a urban concept) comes in and says "I want to lease this space and I'm willing to pay more than what the food mart is" It's the market at work.  The government is best when it sticks to incentives (i.e. the DLI) and stays away from restrictions (building moratoriums, zoning, parking minimums)I agree. When I caught the train at Central Station (while watching Foley's/Macy's being destroyed), I used the convenience store a few times.  It's in business because people find it useful.  I don't blame them for the sketchy street scene.   Sure, make the area a thriving retail center so that other retailers make better offers for the space.  In the meantime, let the store be run by people willing to be retailers downtown instead of begging for tax breaks or waiting for massive street reconstruction.  2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post swtsig Posted January 8, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted January 8, 2016 Good catch.  Please let that be for refurbishment of the trashy Main Food Store across from the Hillcorp building and next to 1010 Lamar. the city is doing everything it can to force that owner to sell and there apparently have been several recent offers to purchase... we've heard that before but this time there is real impetus with all the renovations slated for the main street corridor over the next year. clearly that thing prints money, though. btw i heard a well known and very familiar developer has won out on the sakowitz building... 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 the city is doing everything it can to force that owner to sell and there apparently have been several recent offers to purchase... we've heard that before but this time there is real impetus with all the renovations slated for the main street corridor over the next year. clearly that thing prints money, though. btw i heard a well known and very familiar developer has won out on the sakowitz building...Great so can you tell us who? Geez Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avossos Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 the city is doing everything it can to force that owner to sell and there apparently have been several recent offers to purchase... we've heard that before but this time there is real impetus with all the renovations slated for the main street corridor over the next year. clearly that thing prints money, though.btw i heard a well known and very familiar developer has won out on the sakowitz building...My guess is midway. That have a vested interest in that immediate area. Or Lovett. They have been doing tons of cool new stuff 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZKB9 Posted January 26, 2016 Share Posted January 26, 2016 Probably a stupid question, but is the city just adding some trees and lights to enhance the pedestrian experience along Dallas Street? If so, why is this taking so long? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigereye Posted January 27, 2016 Share Posted January 27, 2016 Probably a stupid question, but is the city just adding some trees and lights to enhance the pedestrian experience along Dallas Street? If so, why is this taking so long?There was underground utility repairs 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astros148 Posted January 27, 2016 Share Posted January 27, 2016 the city is going all in on greenstreet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UtterlyUrban Posted January 27, 2016 Share Posted January 27, 2016 (edited) Probably a stupid question, but is the city just adding some trees and lights to enhance the pedestrian experience along Dallas Street? If so, why is this taking so long?I attended a downtown business/resident meeting on this before construction ever started. There was a LOT of "stuff" that they wanted to do with utilities. I don't recall what but I remember thinking "wow, that is a lot of work....."Page 7&8. http://downtownhouston.org/site_media/uploads/attachments/2015-03-06/150304_SDSI_Streetscape_Plan.pdfI also seem to recall that construction was supposed to end in early spring 2016 (Feb/March) but I could be wrong..... Edited January 27, 2016 by UtterlyUrban 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cspwal Posted January 27, 2016 Share Posted January 27, 2016 Wow the only thing they didn't plan on changing was the gas lines Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted January 27, 2016 Share Posted January 27, 2016 I'd imagine that the original schedule has been blown. Â We've been a lot wetter than usual, and I wouldn't be surprised if they found various unexpected weird stuff that wasn't mapped - though one would hope that would be built into the schedule after the way such things busted earlier major street time lines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 Curious what the purpose of a chilled water line is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samagon Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 probably to easily move chilled water. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeerNut Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 Curious what the purpose of a chilled water line is. Building cooling... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunstar Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 What accident idea? I don't know what you're talkin' about....  God forbid something should happen. That's all I'm saying...   I'm probably alone on all this, but I enjoy some of the grittier aspects of downtown in certain pockets. Time Square used to be an interesting place to visit until they turned into Disney World. Ultimately I agree they will get priced out of the market, but I don't relish the idea of forcing these business out just so white people can feel safer. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 God forbid something should happen. That's all I'm saying...  I'm probably alone on all this, but I enjoy some of the grittier aspects of downtown in certain pockets. Time Square used to be an interesting place to visit until they turned into Disney World. Ultimately I agree they will get priced out of the market, but I don't relish the idea of forcing these business out just so white people can feel safer. I couldn't agree more. The 99 cent store off Main is a cool little store to find quick things. I mean you're in the city, and people want suburbia. I don't get that. I went to a concert recently at Toyota Center and it wasn't difficult to see the difference in those who live or grew up in the city and those who didn't. Some of those people looked terrified. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 99 cent store sells Tajin seasoning, which is the best to put on chicken. You can find it at Fiesta, but they don't carry it at HEB or Kroger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samagon Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 there are 99 cent stores out in suburbia as well, and they are just as shady. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbates2 Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 I couldn't agree more. The 99 cent store off Main is a cool little store to find quick things. I mean you're in the city, and people want suburbia. I don't get that. I went to a concert recently at Toyota Center and it wasn't difficult to see the difference in those who live or grew up in the city and those who didn't. Some of those people looked terrified.  I grew up in the area and live downtown currently.  I wish the place was gone. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate99 Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 Don't know if it is the stores or the transit intersections, but I've never seen anyone OD'ing in the middle of the day as well as multiple public "domestic" violence episodes at any other corner in town.  People shop in a number of places in town and don't have people reeking of their own feces shouting obscenities at them. For a place that you want to be a retail district, grittiness is probably best left to memories. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunstar Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 I grew up in the area and live downtown currently.  I wish the place was gone. I would defer to anyone that lives downtown on this, since this is their neighborhood. It's easy for me to say I like it, but it's not outside my front door. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 God forbid something should happen. That's all I'm saying...I'm probably alone on all this, but I enjoy some of the grittier aspects of downtown in certain pockets. Time Square used to be an interesting place to visit until they turned into Disney World. Ultimately I agree they will get priced out of the market, but I don't relish the idea of forcing these business out just so *wealthy people can feel safer.Fixed it for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 I lived Downtown for 7 years until a couple years ago, and it was a great comfort. It was good to grab a quick canned good or posterboard or whatever. The store continues to exist because there is an economic demand for it. Sorry, but Downtown just isn't ready for a Books-A-Million yet. Certain types of businesses can work and certain can't. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunstar Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 Fixed it for you. Damn autocorrect 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 I lived Downtown for 7 years until a couple years ago, and it was a great comfort. It was good to grab a quick canned good or posterboard or whatever. The store continues to exist because there is an economic demand for it. Sorry, but Downtown just isn't ready for a Books-A-Million yet. Certain types of businesses can work and certain can't.I'm pretty sure I mentioned this once, but this whole "Retail District Downtown" idea sounds a lot like what cities tried in the 1970s or 1980s to revive their dying downtown districts, either with glassy malls or pedestrian-only streets, and nothing worked. Best case scenario is that they ended up becoming glorified food courts (in fact, I'm sure that's what already happened to the Shops at Houston Center). The reason was that they were too difficult to get to, offered little what the existing malls in the suburbs didn't, and most importantly, weren't able to support their immediate neighborhoods.  Downtown cannot support a full-sized department store, can barely support an outdoor mall of sorts, and can also barely support a supermarket. The nicer parts of the Inner Loop already have shopping districts like Lower Westheimer, Rice Village, the First Ward redevelopment, and others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 (edited) I'm pretty sure I mentioned this once, but this whole "Retail District Downtown" idea sounds a lot like what cities tried in the 1970s or 1980s to revive their dying downtown districts, either with glassy malls or pedestrian-only streets, and nothing worked. Best case scenario is that they ended up becoming glorified food courts (in fact, I'm sure that's what already happened to the Shops at Houston Center). The reason was that they were too difficult to get to, offered little what the existing malls in the suburbs didn't, and most importantly, weren't able to support their immediate neighborhoods.  Downtown cannot support a full-sized department store, can barely support an outdoor mall of sorts, and can also barely support a supermarket. The nicer parts of the Inner Loop already have shopping districts like Lower Westheimer, Rice Village, the First Ward redevelopment, and others.You do understand a lot of this has to do with the population living downtown right? With the immediate increase of people living in both downtown and midtown and with quick access via rail, this is far from some 70's attempt at a revival. Edited January 29, 2016 by j_cuevas713 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeerNut Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 You do understand a lot of this has to do with the population living downtown right? With the immediate increase of people living in both downtown and midtown and with quick access via rail, this is far from some 70's attempt at a revival. Don't forget about the college students riding rails to spend their student loans. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Don't forget about the college students riding rails to spend their student loans.Added Hotel rooms as well. The Houston Center Shops didn't work because they're on an isolated podium, servicing the office crowd like the tunnels. It will be interesting to see the HC's plan to correct this, which is completely the opposite of what they did when they built it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moore713 Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Another key difference is the eras you mentioned were the height of what some deem "White flight ".WhIle the 2000,s have seen a near reverse with many young people and empty nesters opting to leave their big suburban homes for lofts and townhouses closer to city cores. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFootsSocks Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Mods I'd love a PM as to why you guys keep deleting my posts but let other mindless bs stay up. Y'all are so hypocritical smh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 You do understand a lot of this has to do with the population living downtown right? With the immediate increase of people living in both downtown and midtown and with quick access via rail, this is far from some 70's attempt at a revival. Of course it has to do with people living downtown. And yet, even the 2000s-era Houston Pavilions/GreenStreet, which does interact with the street level still struggles to attract retail space and converted it into office space. Even if downtown can support more retail, it may be a handful of stores (maybe a Target, if they're lucky). A full retail district is just going to end up looking like an embarrassment, especially if they start hyping it up like Dallas' Victory Park.   Don't forget about the college students riding rails to spend their student loans. Wishful thinking. This is the type of "build it and they will come" mentality that doomed the centers of years ago. I don't know where U of H students go for general shopping, but I'll bet it's driving someplace more established. My cousin in law went to University of Houston, I'll ask her.   Added Hotel rooms as well. The Houston Center Shops didn't work because they're on an isolated podium, servicing the office crowd like the tunnels. It will be interesting to see the HC's plan to correct this, which is completely the opposite of what they did when they built it. Hotels will probably make even less of an impact than apartment buildings.  Another key difference is the eras you mentioned were the height of what some deem "White flight ".WhIle the 2000,s have seen a near reverse with many young people and empty nesters opting to leave their big suburban homes for lofts and townhouses closer to city cores. I'm pretty sure we've had the discussion before that the "young people moving to cities" was largely overhyped, and it was an older crowd moving to cities, but again, it just seems like a hard sell to justify all that to make a retail district. Did I say that downtown can't support more than convenience stores and fast foods? No. I just think a "retail district" just won't work given the amount of retail downtown and how it's done so far. You can make all sorts of excuses: "Future growth! The existing retail doesn't interact with street level enough! It's not the 1970s anymore, so therefore, it MUST work!", but that doesn't change the facts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Urbannizer Posted January 29, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted January 29, 2016 @bryanjoneshtx via Instagram 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astros148 Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Mods I'd love a PM as to why you guys keep deleting my posts but let other mindless bs stay up. Y'all are so hypocritical smh why is no one responding to his post? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Hotels will probably make even less of an impact than apartment buildings.Still an impact... A positive impact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Still an impact... A positive impact.Yes, but my point is "lots of hotel rooms" still isn't a retail support, and even so, hotels already address demand themselves by having restaurants or stores with overpriced sundries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFootsSocks Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 why is no one responding to his post?Because in my pain-induced and pain killer driven stupor I acted like an ass. Appendicitis kiddos, it's not fun. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tumbleweed_Tx Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Ow, get well soon. Had anyone else noticed the new LED street lights the City installed downtown? They provide so much more illumination than the old incandescent streetlights from before. Also, at least on the HoB block, they are installing a ton of new work... errr... street lights as part of the new corridor. We shall not have to depend on the (expletive deleted) ice cream man's headlights for illumination anymore. ..lol 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 I'm pretty sure I mentioned this once, but this whole "Retail District Downtown" idea sounds a lot like what cities tried in the 1970s or 1980s to revive their dying downtown districts, either with glassy malls or pedestrian-only streets, and nothing worked. Best case scenario is that they ended up becoming glorified food courts (in fact, I'm sure that's what already happened to the Shops at Houston Center). The reason was that they were too difficult to get to, offered little what the existing malls in the suburbs didn't, and most importantly, weren't able to support their immediate neighborhoods.  Downtown cannot support a full-sized department store, can barely support an outdoor mall of sorts, and can also barely support a supermarket. The nicer parts of the Inner Loop already have shopping districts like Lower Westheimer, Rice Village, the First Ward redevelopment, and others. This post makes about as much sense as your ridiculous claims that a bridge carrying the traffic on the west side of downtown would be a "bridge to nowhere." The only thing this plan has in common with the 70s and 80s revival attempts is that they both involve retail. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monarch Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Because in my pain-induced and pain killer driven stupor I acted like an ass. Appendicitis kiddos, it's not fun. Â ^^^ you ain't heavy... you're my brother... get well soon my good pal socks! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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