Ross Posted January 28, 2018 Share Posted January 28, 2018 3 hours ago, Avossos said: We better all be hoping the Montrose Management District not only survives, but achieves a consensus on project moving forward. It is ridiculous they have gotten so much negative press with our community not supporting their efforts to improve the area From everything I've seen or heard since the MMD started, they appear to operate only for the benefit of the managers and the associated law firms. If they did anything useful, there would not be nearly unanimous opposition to their actions by the supposed beneficiaries of the district. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avossos Posted January 28, 2018 Share Posted January 28, 2018 5 hours ago, Ross said: From everything I've seen or heard since the MMD started, they appear to operate only for the benefit of the managers and the associated law firms. If they did anything useful, there would not be nearly unanimous opposition to their actions by the supposed beneficiaries of the district. Exactly the problem. You are misinformed. They are not allowed to speak or represent their side. Hopefully truth comes out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted January 28, 2018 Share Posted January 28, 2018 http://www.chron.com/business/article/Colorful-lights-shine-over-U-S-59-bridges-again-12530940.php?ipid=happening I love this city 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgriff Posted January 28, 2018 Share Posted January 28, 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, Avossos said: Exactly the problem. You are misinformed. They are not allowed to speak or represent their side. Hopefully truth comes out. I have no horse in this race but this intrigues me. Is it a first ammendment case? Who’s keeping them from speaking? Is someone keeping you from speaking? If you know the truth you can post it here.. or is someone keeping you from telling us the truth? Edited January 28, 2018 by jgriff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted January 28, 2018 Share Posted January 28, 2018 9 hours ago, Avossos said: Exactly the problem. You are misinformed. They are not allowed to speak or represent their side. Hopefully truth comes out. What do you mean "not allowed"? MMD CHOOSES not to speak, presumably because they know they have nothing believable to say. At least that's how I interpret the non-statements they've made. Are you arguing that the business owners that are so opposed to MMD should STFU and let their "betters" decide what's best for the area? The truth is that 80% of the taxed entities in the area signed a petition to disband the district. That should be the end result here, regardless of any supposed benefits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avossos Posted January 28, 2018 Share Posted January 28, 2018 What’s congress approval rating? Maybe we should disban it. I live in a protected historic district. Should there be a way to disban it? Thank God there is not. Like them or not, the MMD chose the best use of tax payer money was NOT to hire a marketing firm or legal team to state their case... perhaps better use of the money was to do good for the area, like hire additional patrol or clean up condemned structures. Now.. they are suffering from continued attacks with no response AND the judge has silenced them / forced them to leave all bills unpaid. Look at how the MMD was created. It wasn’t forced upon anyone. Their money is spent to serve their people. Half the people complaining are ones that are angry their specific need isn’t supported by the majority. Who here like Upper Kirby? Well the area is served and strategized by their management district. It’s beautiful and the infrastructure is great. Those who wish Montrose the same good fortune, think how this will get done logistically without a planning body. Houston must have a group of people with the ability to put some power to their ideas. This is the best way for this to be done. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hysinger Posted January 28, 2018 Share Posted January 28, 2018 The State of Texas has specific rules around the creation and dissolution of the district. The truth is that the District Court found that a mistake was made when the Montrose Management District (at least the west half) was founded. They did not have the minimum number of property owners sign the petition for formation. Also, over 1,000 owners of assessed properties signed petitions to dissolve the district after it was formed, which was greater than the 80% threshold needed according to the law. However, the district unilaterally rejected the petition as invalid. These are the issues that the two lawsuits are about. A judgement has been rendered in the first, and I believe the second goes to trial later this year. If businesses feel they are benefiting from the additional assessment they pay, then management districts will have their support. In this case it seems clear that the majority of assessed property owners do not think the district is working in their best interests. They are the taxed and they are expressing their displeasure with the way the money is being spent. It is quite similar to a ballot referendum on residential property taxes or city budget spending limits. Businesses don't vote in elections, so the petition process is used in this case to authorize and amend an assessment that only they pay. Also, this is not the TIRZ. Most of the money for infrastructure improvement (both in Montrose and in Kirby) will come from that. The "districts" primarily handle private security and beautification. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gene Posted January 29, 2018 Share Posted January 29, 2018 On 1/27/2018 at 10:26 AM, bobruss said: Montrose is going to be high rise boulevard with its location to the park and the museums and the location between downtown and the med center. Hopefully they are still working on plans to rebuild Montrose with new sidewalks, signage, and lighting to make it into a grand boulevard! Uptown looks so incredible (even more so now with the new Post Oak Blvd project) with curbs, sidewalks, lighting, trees, etc...Kirby and now with the River Oaks portion of Westheimer included looks amazing with its new curbs, sidewalks and lighting...I have long wondered why the Montrose (and Westheimer area of Montrose) continues to look so run down...they really are in need of something to make the area look nicer and more cohesive...uniform curbs, sidewalks, lighting and landscaping would be a huge help! I hope they get the same attention and makeover these other areas are getting! Love that part of town, so I hope it happens soon enough! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted January 29, 2018 Share Posted January 29, 2018 37 minutes ago, gene said: Uptown looks so incredible (even more so now with the new Post Oak Blvd project) with curbs, sidewalks, lighting, trees, etc...Kirby and now with the River Oaks portion of Westheimer included looks amazing with its new curbs, sidewalks and lighting...I have long wondered why the Montrose (and Westheimer area of Montrose) continues to look so run down...they really are in need of something to make the area look nicer and more cohesive...uniform curbs, sidewalks, lighting and landscaping would be a huge help! I hope they get the same attention and makeover these other areas are getting! Love that part of town, so I hope it happens soon enough! I would imagine there is a desire to "Keep Montrose Weird." Public enhancements translates into higher rents, and that drives out the independently owned businesses and replaces them with chains. All fine and good for Uptown but Montrose is not trying to be a high end shopping district. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gene Posted January 29, 2018 Share Posted January 29, 2018 3 minutes ago, H-Town Man said: I would imagine there is a desire to "Keep Montrose Weird." Public enhancements translates into higher rents, and that drives out the independently owned businesses and replaces them with chains. All fine and good for Uptown but Montrose is not trying to be a high end shopping district. Actually it's way too late to "keep montrose weird" and that indeed is unfortunate....long gone is the montrose I have been running around in since the 80's!!! It makes me sad for sure! Now lets make it at least presentable as far as the roads and sidewalks go...obviously you haven't tried to ride a bike in Montrose...the poorly maintained streets and sidewalks make it near impossible...so lets not make it "not weird", let's just make it "not ugly" and "not safe" 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
htownbro Posted January 29, 2018 Share Posted January 29, 2018 6 hours ago, gene said: Actually it's way too late to "keep montrose weird" and that indeed is unfortunate....long gone is the montrose I have been running around in since the 80's!!! It makes me sad for sure! Now lets make it at least presentable as far as the roads and sidewalks go...obviously you haven't tried to ride a bike in Montrose...the poorly maintained streets and sidewalks make it near impossible...so lets not make it "not weird", let's just make it "not ugly" and "not safe" Westheimer Rd between Montrose and Bagby is horrendous! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gene Posted January 30, 2018 Share Posted January 30, 2018 I know!!!! haha! I'm lucky I am able to stay on my bike! and back to topic, I love La Colombe d'or Hotel! I hung out there long ago with Linda Ronstadt! Such a cool place and memory! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobruss Posted January 30, 2018 Share Posted January 30, 2018 I know very little about the politics of the Montrose TIRZ, and have little interest in finding out all the sordid details, however I did attend a public meeting perhaps 3 years ago with a room full of Montrose citizens, business leaders, and politicians to discuss a project to transform Montrose Blvd. into a world class street with wider sidewalks, lighting, landscaping and signage. It was an effort to make Montrose BLVD. a more walkable street. It took place at the greek orthodox church and it was well attended. It seemed to be a well received idea and I thought something positive was finally going to happen to Montrose to make it a great street. This was before there was any plan to create a TIRZ. This would benefit so many and bring this boulevard the framework to incubate much more growth in terms of high rise residential projects and the like. This could be our Museum Mile with the number of Museums that call Montrose home. From Hermann Park all the way to Buffalo Bayou park. They could restructure the Montrose BLVD. and Westheimer intersection into a large round about with a large civic fountain like the Mecum fountain in the center with middies condos around the circle. Sculpture in the esplanades from one end of Montrose to the other. It could be our Champs de Elysees. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gene Posted January 30, 2018 Share Posted January 30, 2018 Wow that really would be amazing! I love Montrose so i just want it to be the best it can be! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UtterlyUrban Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 19 hours ago, bobruss said: I know very little about the politics of the Montrose TIRZ, and have little interest in finding out all the sordid details, however I did attend a public meeting perhaps 3 years ago with a room full of Montrose citizens, business leaders, and politicians to discuss a project to transform Montrose Blvd. into a world class street with wider sidewalks, lighting, landscaping and signage. It was an effort to make Montrose BLVD. a more walkable street. It took place at the greek orthodox church and it was well attended. It seemed to be a well received idea and I thought something positive was finally going to happen to Montrose to make it a great street. This was before there was any plan to create a TIRZ. This would benefit so many and bring this boulevard the framework to incubate much more growth in terms of high rise residential projects and the like. This could be our Museum Mile with the number of Museums that call Montrose home. From Hermann Park all the way to Buffalo Bayou park. They could restructure the Montrose BLVD. and Westheimer intersection into a large round about with a large civic fountain like the Mecum fountain in the center with middies condos around the circle. Sculpture in the esplanades from one end of Montrose to the other. It could be our Champs de Elysees. There is a non-profit with a successful track record of making stuff like this happen in Houston....... http://www.scenichouston.org/ perhaps those coordinating a project like this might contact them? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texas911 Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 Wouldn't want to have a house near that, all those residences looking down on people's backyards and windows? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbates2 Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 Yeah, living next to a building in a big city? No thanks. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avossos Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 On 1/26/2018 at 9:08 PM, thatguysly said: It looks like the set back will not ruin the views too much from the other tower. Bumping the image. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobruss Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 3 hours ago, texas911 said: Wouldn't want to have a house near that, all those residences looking down on people's backyards and windows? Tell that to the people in Uptown, the galleria, the med center, Upper Kirby, The museum district and the energy corridor. Its what happens in a city of 6 million with no zoning. But you don't have to worry about that in West U. Your pretty insulated for now. Just wait until the high rises start moving down Kirby. Montrose has had high rises fronting it for the last 50 years. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angostura Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 I would gladly trade an 80-ft height restriction and/or 6.0 FAR cap outside the CBD for elimination of setbacks and parking minimums citywide (or even just ITL). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobruss Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 I'm sorry, but not sure I understand what 6.0 FAR cap means. Do you mind clarifying for me. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Developer Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, bobruss said: I'm sorry, but not sure I understand what 6.0 FAR cap means. Do you mind clarifying for me. Thanks Floor Area Ratio (FAR) is basically the ratio of the usable sf of the floor area of a building to the area of the lot it is built on. a cap at 6.0 would mean you couldn't build any denser than that ratio. this is often set by zoning, which we don't have, so i'm not sure how this would be implemented in this city. Edited February 1, 2018 by Evil Developer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 20 minutes ago, Evil Developer said: Floor Area Ratio (FAR) is basically the ratio of the usable sf of the floor area of a building to the area of the lot it is built on. a cap at 6.0 would mean you couldn't build any denser than that ratio. this is often set by zoning, which we don't have, so i'm not sure how this would be implemented in this city. I know we don't have proper zoning but don't our ordinances operate in a similar way? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angostura Posted February 2, 2018 Share Posted February 2, 2018 We don't have use-classification zoning, but we do have a bunch of rules (minimum lot sizes, minimum setbacks, etc.) that achieve some of the same things. We'll also have FAR caps in historic districts in the very near future. That said, I was only saying I wouldn't mind a height cap if we could get rid of some other stuff that artificially limits density. And since eliminating parking minimums isn't even within the realm of possibility (not even the Walkable Places committee is considering it) it doesn't need to be feasible to implement height restrictions in return. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texas911 Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 On 1/31/2018 at 10:56 AM, bobruss said: Tell that to the people in Uptown, the galleria, the med center, Upper Kirby, The museum district and the energy corridor. Its what happens in a city of 6 million with no zoning. But you don't have to worry about that in West U. Your pretty insulated for now. Just wait until the high rises start moving down Kirby. Montrose has had high rises fronting it for the last 50 years. Just because its happened before or will continue to happen, doesn't keep it from being a negative for those that lived there first. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobruss Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 I didn't say it was necessarily a good thing and I understand your feelings, but I think you have to realize that without zoning we're faced with this forever. Look at any city that has seen large growth spurts and you will see incredible amounts of change, disruption, and total redevelopment of inner city areas all over the globe. One of the other things that has happened in Houston is sprawl due to the fact that there is nothing but prairie for miles and miles. Its kept housing costs down but its created sprawl that adds to our problems with transit, infrastructure and governance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 I guess they are saving the tile roof. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilcal Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 I would imagine they would. My grandmother has a house with a tile roof and just had to go through with an insurance claim because it was damaged somehow and had to replace the roof. It was $60,000! Craziness. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted March 2, 2018 Author Share Posted March 2, 2018 On today's demo report http://swamplot.com/daily-demolition-report-yare-thee-well/2018-03-02/ 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted March 3, 2018 Author Share Posted March 3, 2018 http://swamplot.com/crews-now-leveling-colombe-dors-backyard-ballroom-making-room-for-a-hines-apartment-tower-and-15-new-hotel-rooms/2018-03-02/ 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 On 3/3/2018 at 10:45 AM, Urbannizer said: http://swamplot.com/crews-now-leveling-colombe-dors-backyard-ballroom-making-room-for-a-hines-apartment-tower-and-15-new-hotel-rooms/2018-03-02/ This is where I feel you find a good common ground between preservation and new development. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted March 18, 2018 Share Posted March 18, 2018 The ballroom is gone and so are the townhomes on the corner of Yokum and Hawthorne. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted March 31, 2018 Share Posted March 31, 2018 Everything is cleared, I guess it's time to start digging. Urban Oaks Builders, Hines' Living/Residence Division is building it. https://www.hines.com/properties/residences-at-la-colombe-dor-houston 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post hindesky Posted April 5, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted April 5, 2018 Bigge crawler crane on site and ready to be assembled. Has to be there for the pilings. 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thatguysly Posted April 5, 2018 Share Posted April 5, 2018 Oh wow they are serious about this one. Moving forward much more quickly than I expected. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BUfan13 Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 drill rig on site this morning 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 Someone is not happy with this project, "Fight Gentrification Keep HTX Dirty" I think it's too late. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post jmitch94 Posted April 17, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted April 17, 2018 Yet they used the gentrified version of HOU, HTX. 2 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtNsf Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 some millennial no doubt LOL - no don't kill the messenger here, I didn't do it, either ! I swear some people are just lost and have the wrong ideas about progress and what is good for everyone, not just their own wants and egos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkultra25 Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 Inverted pentagram? Does this mean that the opponents of gentrification have summoned the legions of Satan to battle those who have God on their side (otherwise known as "developers")? 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Angostura Posted April 17, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted April 17, 2018 16 hours ago, hindesky said: Someone is not happy with this project, "Fight Gentrification Keep HTX Dirty" I think it's too late. I'm not sure what the word is for tearing down the ballroom of a french-themed luxury boutique hotel, but I'm pretty sure it's not "gentrification". 4 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
htownbro Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 Pretty soon most of the inner loop will be gentrified. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate99 Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 I'll give a dollar to whichever one of you paints "I think you meant to take 290 West, about 3 hours - thanks, HOU" below that. 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twinsanity02 Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 Maybe it's a passionate litterbug who loves trash. They do say keep Houston dirty. - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkultra25 Posted April 19, 2018 Share Posted April 19, 2018 They see replattin They hatin Bulldozin, they tryin to catch me buildin dirty Tryin to catch me buildin dirty Tryin to catch me buildin dirty Tryin to catch me buildin dirty Tryin to catch me buildin dirty Townhouse is goin up I'm swangin They hopin that they gon catch me buildin dirty Tryin to catch me buildin dirty Tryin to catch me buildin dirty Tryin to catch me buildin dirty Tryin to catch me buildin dirty 4 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monarch Posted April 19, 2018 Share Posted April 19, 2018 6 minutes ago, mkultra25 said: They see replattin They hatin Bulldozin, they tryin to catch me buildin dirty Tryin to catch me buildin dirty Tryin to catch me buildin dirty Tryin to catch me buildin dirty Tryin to catch me buildin dirty Townhouse is goin up I'm swangin They hopin that they gon catch me buildin dirty Tryin to catch me buildin dirty Tryin to catch me buildin dirty Tryin to catch me buildin dirty Tryin to catch me buildin dirty 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post hindesky Posted April 23, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted April 23, 2018 Mud hole 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post rechlin Posted April 29, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted April 29, 2018 Progress as of this afternoon: 16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post CREguy13 Posted May 2, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted May 2, 2018 Really neat article in Forbes on this projecet: https://www.forbes.com/sites/cynthialescalleet/2018/05/01/between-an-old-world-hotel-and-new-high-rise-living-in-houston/#2e64dc664c6d 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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