Downtown Restaurant And Bar Scene - More Coming

[rechlin]

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/article/Men-outnumber-women-downtown-3-to-1-6597091.php

That entire article is pointless because if you look at the numbers, you'll see that 2/3 of the men (but very few of the women) downtown live in places like the federal penitentiary and the county jail, so they don't exactly count, as they don't contribute to the streetlife or the bars/restaurants or anything like that.

The true numbers would show that downtown is closer to a 60/40 male/female split. Of course, the Houston Chronicle doesn't care to do any actual reporting so they haven't figured that out.

[htownproud]

Go check out the Magnificent Mile in Chicago. Lots of high end stores, and plenty of panhandlers. All cities deal with this problem, and there's no law you can pass to prevent people from asking someone a question on a public sidewalk. We have the First Amendment, after all.

After reading this, I don't believe that you have been to Chicago.  To suggest that the homeless problem along Main Street in Houston is in anyway similar to the homeless problem along Michigan Ave is ridiculous (hint -- there isn't a problem along the Magnificent Mile unless you include human statues that go home every night).  

[htownproud]

My biggest issue with the homeless downtown is the drug problem, and in particular Kush.  I would say that every third time I catch the Red Line going south after 8:00 pm at Central Station I am offered drugs.  Last week there were cops there running people off for smoking Kush on the platform, but they are back the next day.  Over the holiday, I took the train to the UH game, and there was a completely deranged woman that got on yelling at everyone.  Most people got up and moved to the other end of the train.  The conductor eventually stopped the train and said he would call the cops if she didn't get off.  She got off at the next stop, and then jumped in front of the train to scare the conductor.  She then walked over to the SE corner of Herman Park, which I understand is now affectionately referred to as Kush Park.  My brother-in-law visiting from New York got the pleasure of explaining to my 6-year old nephew what drugs are, why people abuse them, etc.  

 

The drug/homeless problem along the rail line in downtown, wheeler station, and the SE corner of Herman Park needs to be addressed if the city wants to continue to take steps forward to be seen as a world class city.  

[kylejack]

After reading this, I don't believe that you have been to Chicago.  To suggest that the homeless problem along Main Street in Houston is in anyway similar to the homeless problem along Michigan Ave is ridiculous (hint -- there isn't a problem along the Magnificent Mile unless you include human statues that go home every night).  

If you'll read my post again, you'll see I never mentioned homeless. Most panhandlers in Houston and elsewhere are not homeless.

You, like others in this thread, are conflating panhandling with homelessness. Some panhandlers are homeless, but most are not, and it's more about substance abuse than homelessness.

Edited December 1, 2015 by kylejack

[astros148]

My biggest issue with the homeless downtown is the drug problem, and in particular Kush.  I would say that every third time I catch the Red Line going south after 8:00 pm at Central Station I am offered drugs.  Last week there were cops there running people off for smoking Kush on the platform, but they are back the next day.  Over the holiday, I took the train to the UH game, and there was a completely deranged woman that got on yelling at everyone.  Most people got up and moved to the other end of the train.  The conductor eventually stopped the train and said he would call the cops if she didn't get off.  She got off at the next stop, and then jumped in front of the train to scare the conductor.  She then walked over to the SE corner of Herman Park, which I understand is now affectionately referred to as Kush Park.  My brother-in-law visiting from New York got the pleasure of explaining to my 6-year old nephew what drugs are, why people abuse them, etc.  

 

The drug/homeless problem along the rail line in downtown, wheeler station, and the SE corner of Herman Park needs to be addressed if the city wants to continue to take steps forward to be seen as a world class city.  

 

one of the best responses in the thread. They need more metro officials imo actually doing work. I always see groups of them standing around not doing shit!

[Moore713]

Ok I'm going to explain to you the difficulty of the problem as it pertains to drugs.

The D.A does not want to bring charges because time and resources. To haul someone in on something that just going to ither be dismissed or reduce to time served while they were waiting for there court date.

That in turns keeps cops from hauling them in because they know they will probably be right back out in a few days (it gets annoying to keep arresting the same people, I worked with cops before who are assigned to Herman )

[Moore713]

Look I get it I work the parks ..iv lost count of the numbers of time we have to respond to a Over dose at Hermann.I see the look of disgust on people faces when the are riding the park train and they pass by the hermann memorial statue with their kids and see people passed on on the grass from jus hand it not just one or two it 5 and 6 at a time

[Moore713]

But it a matter of rights as it a public space so they can't be ran out ..but according to some rumor I heard the conservicy is in talk to buy the park from the city. That would allow them to have say over who can and can't be there since it would be a private park.

[Nate99]

Central Park in NY used to be a notorious sh_thole, but it's really a nice family place these days from what I gathered. What did they change, and could we replicate it?

[BigFootsSocks]

Central Park in NY used to be a notorious sh_thole, but it's really a nice family place these days from what I gathered. What did they change, and could we replicate it?

Cost of living around it exploded.

[Nate99]

Cost of living around it exploded.

 

Going off the Marlowe price list, at least Randall Davis is doing his part.

 

Seriously though, I get the impression that most of the street folks downtown "commute" in anyway.

[Gator Purify]

Central Park in NY used to be a notorious sh_thole, but it's really a nice family place these days from what I gathered. What did they change, and could we replicate it?

 

President Trump renovated Wollman Ice Skating Rink in the mid-80s and a conservancy raised funds during the 80s and 90s to restore the lawns and other features.  More visitors = more foot traffic = less opportunity for the sorts of loitering and crime that previously occurred.

 

Edited December 2, 2015 by Gator Purify

[Gator Purify]

The "President Trump" was tongue-in-cheek, btw.  I hope that doesn't spawn a political debate, smh.

[adr]

The Conservancy, the underground beer hall next to Prohibition (1008 Prairie) has filed for their COA with the HAHC.

 

http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/Commissions/docs_pdfs/hahc/Application_Materials/December_MATERIALS/1008_Prairie_MATERIALS.pdf

[Chi-Char-Hou-Dal]

Why does his involvement make you less excited? Just genuinely curious; the places you mentioned IMO do well and serve distinct rolls in the DT,Midtown nightlife scene. Now if it was the guys from Gas Lamp lol

[mollusk]

well, we do have to have some places for the doucheoisie to congregate in order for us cool kids to be undisturbed in our cool kids' hangouts. 

[adr]

506 Main.  Former iBar.  Proposed sign.  Claims to be open in January.

 

Edited December 15, 2015 by adr

[Nate99]

While they had the old 386 fired up, they could have MS Painted over the rotten wood and plastic hanging out of the door.

[adr]

Per two approved Downtown Storefront Improvement Grants, 909 Franklin will open as La Calle, quick-serve Mexico City Street food.  Next door at 907 Franklin they will be opening Craft Beer Cellar, a national chain http://www.craftbeercellar.com/- These are both on the block between Main and Travis.

[kylejack]

907 was Kitchen Incubator. 909 was Hong Kong Diner.

[cspwal]

Burger theory in the old Savoy is open for breakfast now, from 6:30 am - 10 am.  They said lunch won't start until January 1

 

The bar is fully open though now noon to 2:30 am every night 

[bobruss]

In making the rounds on Saturday I was circling around Market Square.

I was going North on Travis and turning left on Preston at La Carafe.

I can't think of the name of the bar that is in the building just to the north of the pocket parking lot

on Travis, but I noticed a large crack on the southern wall close to the front side of the building facing

Travis. It seems fairly large and possibly the facade is separating from the south side of this building.

Maybe its been this way for a while and I've just missed it in the past.

Please fill me in and is this a serious structural problem or just a shifting of the soil.

[mollusk]

bob, that building would be Hearsay, a nice bar that also serves food.  

 

That crack has likely been there for a while; all those buildings are 150+ years old.  But I'll ask whilst bending my elbow in the neighborhood this evening.

[UtterlyUrban]

In making the rounds on Saturday I was circling around Market Square.

I was going North on Travis and turning left on Preston at La Carafe.

I can't think of the name of the bar that is in the building just to the north of the pocket parking lot

on Travis, but I noticed a large crack on the southern wall close to the front side of the building facing

Travis. It seems fairly large and possibly the facade is separating from the south side of this building.

Maybe its been this way for a while and I've just missed it in the past.

Please fill me in and is this a serious structural problem or just a shifting of the soil.

Is it the big gash in the brick that can be seen on google street view?

[bobruss]

I believe so. Its a fairly long vertical crack and it seems to be a fairly big gap.

[Nate99]

La Caracke:

 

Edited December 29, 2015 by Nate99

[UtterlyUrban]

This is interesting.

If you look on Google street view from the congress side, the crack doesn't seem to be there. But, if you view from the shot taken by he car on Travis, you can see it. Since the weather is quite different between shots, I think thAt the images were taken at different times..

Or, it could simply be that the shot from Congress simply does not have enough detail or contrast to see it.......

[Nate99]

This is interesting.

If you look on Google street view from the congress side, the crack doesn't seem to be there. But, if you view from the shot taken by he car on Travis, you can see it. Since the weather is quite different between shots, I think thAt the images were taken at different times..

Or, it could simply be that the shot from Congress simply does not have enough detail or contrast to see it.......

 

I see what you mean. The one image that is time stamped in August, you can make it out, but it does appear less pronounced. Hard to make anything out rom the June image from around the corner. As you say though, it could just be a matter of resolution.

 

If you go back in time using the street view to 2013, it does not appear to be there at all.

Edited December 29, 2015 by Nate99

[UtterlyUrban]

If you go back in time using the street view to 2013, it does not appear to be there at all.

Ruht R'oh

[Nate99]

undated images from intarwebs:

 

 

2012 - Maybe

Edited December 29, 2015 by Nate99

[monarch]

^^^ that pronounced "crack" is most unfortunate and quite dangerous.... right??

[Nate99]

^^^ that pronounced "crack" is most unfortunate and quite dangerous.... right??

 

I'm interested to hear if Mollusk got any inside scoop.  That wall looks to be load bearing, you can see the other side of the bricks from inside. 

[adr]

Not that I have any insight into the crack in particular, but one of the stunning features on the inside of Hearsay are these large steel horizontal struts that appear to basically be holding the building together, and look as though they may have been added after the fact.

[kylejack]

La Caracke:

 

It is the oldest commercial building in Houston, older even than La Carafe.

[kbates2]

It is the oldest commercial building in Houston, older even than La Carafe.

 

I've never heard that.  I have actually heard that there are several older than this.

[kylejack]

There's a lot of conflicting information in reports I've read. This article says the Pillot building is oldest, so I'm not really sure. https://www.bisnow.com/archives/newsletter/houston/houstons-oldest-buildings

[j_cuevas713]

Sooooo... is the crack going to be repaired? I would hate for one of those "structurally unstable" comments to be made and the thing is demolished

[Moore713]

Anybody know what going in at 312 main.. there a mix beverage permit tjat been posted on 12/31/15

[Moore713]

Good to hear..the area continues to expand. .

[mollusk]

Sooooo... is the crack going to be repaired? I would hate for one of those "structurally unstable" comments to be made and the thing is demolished

 

That is apparently the plan, once they figure out how best to do it.  For the time being, there's now a support post underneath the Hearsay sign to take some of the weight off of the front wall.

[bobruss]

That is apparently the plan, once they figure out how best to do it.  For the time being, there's now a support post underneath the Hearsay sign to take some of the weight off of the front wall.

I'm glad I saw it and brought it to your attention. I'd hate to lose that building.

This used to have a pizza place called Village Inn Pizza I believe. It also housed

the original Diverse works before a fire gutted it.

Either that or it was a building where the parking lot is now.

Its been a long time since they were here. Probably mid 70's.

[kylejack]

What's the new restaurant in Skyhouse? I saw people eating but no signage with a name.

[UtterlyUrban]

This is more great news for the Area.

I am a bit surprised that something more like a MKT Bar didn't move in there but, heck, if this place makes good pizza, they won't be able to make them fast enough for the skyhouse crowd,

[astros148]

skyhouse crowd is half empty

[UtterlyUrban]

skyhouse crowd is half empty

Or half full?

I don't know anything about leasing highrises but I believe that I have read that it can take a couple of years to get them "fully leased".

[j_cuevas713]

That pizza place is going to give Franks and Bombay some competition

[adr]

I missed this! So in addition to Boots N Shoots on 506 Main and a possible partnership with Conservatory, they're opening another place. Very interesting. Looks like these guys are trying to be downtown's next Bobby Heugel Brad Moore and Ryan Rouse.

 

Since that story was first written, the For Lease signs have gone back up in the building.  It doesn't look like they are moving forward with that.  Really weird/cool to see Brad Moore get a shout-out in this forum.

[adr]

[Avossos]

#14 has something going on I thought

[kylejack]

Excellent roundup, adr.