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Main St. Improvments


Moore713

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10 minutes ago, tigereye said:

Looks like it's go time for Renner's Trumpet Flower. Pieces are on site. 

 

I've never understood that  " AS WE BUILD OUR CITY, LET US THINK THAT WE ARE BUILDING FOREVER" element of the Main Street square fountain. Is it supposed to do something? I've never seen it work. Actually, I haven't seen any of the fountains working in the recent times I've been by there. Maybe I'm just picking windy days, but something tells me it's not living up to its original vision. 

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19 hours ago, Sunstar said:

I've never understood that  " AS WE BUILD OUR CITY, LET US THINK THAT WE ARE BUILDING FOREVER" element of the Main Street square fountain. Is it supposed to do something? I've never seen it work. Actually, I haven't seen any of the fountains working in the recent times I've been by there. Maybe I'm just picking windy days, but something tells me it's not living up to its original vision. 

I have never seen that particular fountain on. It was supposed to create a wall of water with images of the city projected on it. That thing has never even been turned on. 

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51 minutes ago, WakeUpHouston said:

MetroTrain_003.jpg

Looks like a fresh render ...is this waterfall supposed to be added? Cause in the years I've been at 1KM, it's never done that. 

Edit: Went outside to look, don't see any plumbing unless it's way up there. This is the closest I can get as sidewalk is blocked for Trumpet Flower's installation. 

Edit 2 Coworkers say it was a waterfall and was recently turned off. Guess it was so insignificant, I never actually paid attention to it lol

 

Edited by tigereye
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3 hours ago, tigereye said:

Looks like a fresh render ...is this waterfall supposed to be added? Cause in the years I've been at 1KM, it's never done that. 

Edit: Went outside to look, don't see any plumbing unless it's way up there. This is the closest I can get as sidewalk is blocked for Trumpet Flower's installation. 

Edit 2 Coworkers say it was a waterfall and was recently turned off. Guess it was so insignificant, I never actually paid attention to it lol

That thing has been there. It was never turned on for all these years. That is literally the first time I've seen it on. IMO I think this has to do with the recent events the city is getting. Since the Final Four is right around the corner it seems this is the only reason they turned the damn thing on. Pretty ridiculous. 

 

Edited by j_cuevas713
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Im sorry but am i the only who thinks all this temporarily main st improvement is garbage? We have pot holes all up and down elgin and montrose and have so many other issues with the city. Instead we pump money into temporarily garbage looking art that will attempt to appease a few tourist that come here for the super bowl. Waste of money. 

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47 minutes ago, astros148 said:

Im sorry but am i the only who thinks all this temporarily main st improvement is garbage? We have pot holes all up and down elgin and montrose and have so many other issues with the city. Instead we pump money into temporarily garbage looking art that will attempt to appease a few tourist that come here for the super bowl. Waste of money. 

I'm not a tourist and it appeases me.  Do we even know where the money is coming from?

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41 minutes ago, nate4l1f3 said:

I'm not a tourist and it appeases me.  Do we even know where the money is coming from?

Guessing property taxes? This would rather appease you then the numerous pot holes driving down montrose or heights?

Edited by astros148
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53 minutes ago, BigFootsSocks said:

I'd like to see the budget first before I start pointing fingers using strawman arguments...

They will claim they are funding it by the increase revenue that will occur in the hotel occupancy taxes during the super bowl but we all know how much truthful our comptroller is.

If these were more permanent improvements it would be a different story. Is anyone visiting houston really going to be impressed by some ugly paint over a dirty building or peeling paint on the road? Im sure a couple weeks before they will sweep up all the homeless populations for loitering/outstanding warrants and no one will even have a clue half of the issue we deal with in this city. 

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58 minutes ago, Texasota said:

This is being funded by the Downtown District, NOT the city. Now, obviously that money is coming from somewhere, but it's likely coming from residents and businesses downtown, not anyone in Montrose or the Heights.

There is a small property tax on Downtown property owners to support the Downtown District. For my residential property, the 2015 rate was 0.12%. They're projecting assessments of $11.7mm in 2016.

http://www.downtowndistrict.org/static/media/uploads/attachments/2016%20Operating_Capital%20Budgets.pdf

 

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On 3/23/2016 at 5:55 PM, astros148 said:

Im sorry but am i the only who thinks all this temporarily main st improvement is garbage? We have pot holes all up and down elgin and montrose and have so many other issues with the city. Instead we pump money into temporarily garbage looking art that will attempt to appease a few tourist that come here for the super bowl. Waste of money. 

The potholes are getting fixed very fast. If you're aware of some that haven't been filled, please report them on 311. Downtown Management District spends their money on Downtown.

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16 hours ago, kylejack said:

The potholes are getting fixed very fast. If you're aware of some that haven't been filled, please report them on 311. Downtown Management District spends their money on Downtown.

I'd rather just complain about it :P

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2 hours ago, Urbannizer said:

25503798583_3a4ec82df4_h.jpg_DSC0046 by Jonas Orlandi, on Flickr

A few updates: 

1. In front of the above sculptures, a chome plaque has gone up (probably for this) 

2. While everything rushes to completion ahead of the Final Four, it appears all work  (including repairs) has stopped on Color Jam. Maybe this changes in the next 72 hours but it looks a horrible mess currently. 

3. Southbound Main St Sq plaza behind 1111 Travis is now open. 

4. New granite hexagonal shaped planters are going up (see in front of Humble Oil Building. If it's not raining later, will try and get a pic

5. Bike lane being completed next to 1111 Travis. See Downtown Bike Lane thread in Transportation Forum. 

Edit: Found this planter in front of Waste Management. 

 

Edited by tigereye
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I think that all of the "art" that has been installed is miserable.

that said, I know nothing of art.  I know only what I like.  And, this I don't like.  Others will and that is equally their right.  It just seems to me that Houston could have done much much much better.  One or two iconic pieces that begin to define the city for generations to come.  We did not get that.  Perhaps because we didn't ask?

 

 

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2 hours ago, UtterlyUrban said:

Yep, I don't like the art.  Thanks for gathering Into one place!

I'm not a big fan either. But don't forget that Fashion has taken us back to the 90's if you look at what all the kiddos are wearing these days (for the past couple years). It makes sense similar artistic style would return.

Just like Architecture, Houston sometimes gets something in the "now". Usually the majority is garbage, and even the good stuff never breaks the mold.

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3 hours ago, astros148 said:

 

does anyone actually find this attractive? Wtf is this suppose to be honestly?

 

I do.

 

I like Renner's work and I'm glad to see some of it Downtown. And watching the curious reactions of pedestrians, stopping to snap pics, Id say the Downtown Management District made the right decision in selecting his work to be apart of this project. Before this, I never really saw these types of reactions before on our streetscape. 

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5 hours ago, tigereye said:

 

I do.

 

I like Renner's work and I'm glad to see some of it Downtown. And watching the curious reactions of pedestrians, stopping to snap pics, Id say the Downtown Management District made the right decision in selecting his work to be apart of this project. Before this, I never really saw these types of reactions before on our streetscape. 

You never saw any type of reaction because there was nothing to be responsive to. The colors to this are ugly, i think the huge poster they put on Main are the best part of these improvements 

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Im not sure how the "colors are ugly".. Its got every color you could imagine. 

I think one of the most important aspects of Renner's work isn't necessarily the sculpture itself (though I do think they look cool), but the fact that all of the painting is done by the people of Houston. His work is a community event which brings us together. Now when the people who helped paint see the finished product, they can take pride in knowing that they were a part of it.

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It reminds me of cat poop or a hairball. Not an attractive sculpture at all. With the gray background the colors aren't bright enough to really push against the straight lines. It's just kinda "bleh", like the silent dry-heaving before the feline gets too throaty.

Edited by Montrose1100
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I think it looks like something from Dr Seuss; I could imagine it being a transport method in Seuss-land to get you to the roof of that parking garage.  I especially like the addition of bistro tables under it - I think it makes the plaza feel more inviting to stay in.  Before, I wouldn't think of eating lunch there.  Now I'm looking forward to the next time I'm downtown for lunch - I think that will be a good place to consume a sandwich or three

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10 hours ago, astros148 said:

You never saw any type of reaction because there was nothing to be responsive to. The colors to this are ugly, i think the huge poster they put on Main are the best part of these improvements 

 

Im here everyday ...I see the reactions to Trumpet Flower myself. 

 

The billboard over the $1.19 store is the weakest of the exhibits. THAT gets no reactions.

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2 hours ago, tigereye said:

 

Im here everyday ...I see the reactions to Trumpet Flower myself. 

 

The billboard over the $1.19 store is the weakest of the exhibits. THAT gets no reactions.

The Color Jam is pretty cool. Everything else is garbage quite frankly. But, I guess then it is truly art.

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