Simbha Posted April 16, 2013 Share Posted April 16, 2013 My guess is that they don't want to go public with what might be a shot-in-the-dark or crummy idea. If HCSCC's initial appraisal of it deems it worthy of consideration, they'll probably release them from the NDA provisions to allow them to go public with it. If not, we probably won't hear any more. What confuses me is... Which actual entity at USC is putting forth a proposal? USC is an educational institution. I can see a USC architecture student team - or even a faculty cohort - doing this, but that's not 'USC'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted April 16, 2013 Share Posted April 16, 2013 The USC administration has concluded that Texas is the future and they are moving to Houston. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToryGattis Posted April 17, 2013 Share Posted April 17, 2013 Don't know how I missed this thread, but I'm subscribed now. My Sunday Chronicle op-ed this week on the Astrodome:http://www.chron.com/opinion/outlook/article/Gattis-Astrodome-should-showcase-area-s-4432364.php 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livincinco Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 (edited) I really like the idea of preserving the dome and love the idea of a STEM museum. There's a big part of me though that wonders whether a STEM museum would be better situated in a development of the NASA site in Clear Lake. I know that it's further from the city and the rest of the museum district, but I would think that there could be a really nice connection/integration with the space program. Edited May 5, 2013 by livincinco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naviguessor Posted May 22, 2013 Share Posted May 22, 2013 Ryan's Idea!Ryan's Idea!Ryan's Idea! ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonBoy Posted May 22, 2013 Share Posted May 22, 2013 They should only preserve the frame and put a nice artificial park with pond and all (all already suggested) but add LEDs to the the frame and lights to have the same effect the Eiffel Tower has. Every hour a light display, twinkling, etc. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Broadfoot Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 (edited) They should only preserve the frame and put a nice artificial park with pond and all (all already suggested) but add LEDs to the the frame and lights to have the same effect the Eiffel Tower has. Every hour a light display, twinkling, etc.[/quote ] Then it could become our Coliseum and eventually Yanni might play there... Or was that the Acropolis? Edited May 23, 2013 by Andrew Broadfoot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samagon Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 is it too late to make the Dome a national historic landmark? It fits the criteria for sure, I wonder how fast the process takes, so if the county says the best way forward is to demolish, would citizens be able to get it on the NHL before they could demo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 Quick, does anyone know if destroyed would it have to be dismantled or imploded?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted May 24, 2013 Share Posted May 24, 2013 Quick, does anyone know if destroyed would it have to be dismantled or imploded?!The reason I asked is because my idea is more feasible if it needs to be dismantled.It's a piggyback idea of the skeleton model. It would also require the Texans and rodeo to buy in and take the lead because it won't be any kind of cash cow, but it will bring another dimension to Reliant Park and to tailgating and rodeo events. However, I do think it could help bring in more revenue.Okay already...no drum roll needed: it needs to be stripped more than the UH student proposal - more like the Eiffel Tower. Fill in the hole and make a parking lot on the surface. Options For the roof include keeping the roof as is, restoring the entire roof to its original translucent panels or stripping it and covering it with an ivy. The main idea is preserving only the core structure(supporting beams only) and most importantly allowing the surface to still be used as parking. The roof or ivy will provide shade and protection from other adverse weather, not to mention being underneath the historic Astrodome, therefore allowing the Texans to charge a premium for this location. This preserves the Dome and still allows them to profit from fit. The rodeo would benefit from protection from most adverse weather, too.This preserves it and still allows the Texans and the rodeo to make practical use out of the space.Hopefully I didn't just repeat an idea already presented. Of course this is only a pipe dream if the Texans and Rodeo don't support it since nobody is going to give money for this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samagon Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 So is the county going to release all of the proposals that are submitted, or just the ones that it deems viable? I ask, because I have to wonder if there is a submitted proposal that doesn't have any real backing (I'm thinking the strip it to the skeleton idea) but would have the support of the people, and maybe get some financial backing from philanthropists who just want to have their name attached to something good for the city. If there was ever a time for the county to be completely open, it would be now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 So is the county going to release all of the proposals that are submitted, or just the ones that it deems viable?I ask, because I have to wonder if there is a submitted proposal that doesn't have any real backing (I'm thinking the strip it to the skeleton idea) but would have the support of the people, and maybe get some financial backing from philanthropists who just want to have their name attached to something good for the city.If there was ever a time for the county to be completely open, it would be now.So they made decisions today and that can't release their results? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samagon Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 So they made decisions today and that can't release their results? The deadline for submissions was yesterday. They'll review them and choose the best one for the ballot for a yes/no in November. I'm sure the question will be "vote yes if you want to keep paying maintenance costs on the dome, or no, if you want to transform it into a revenue generating venue" where they won't say that the revenue generating venue is a parking lot This of course, is just my suspicion, we'll see how my sooth saying capabilities work out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 They'll review them and choose the best one for the ballot for a yes/no in November.Two questions:1: Do they have to put something on the ballot or can they go forward without it?2: What's the deadline to submit something for the ballot (i.e. when might we know what the decision is)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samagon Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Two questions:1: Do they have to put something on the ballot or can they go forward without it?2: What's the deadline to submit something for the ballot (i.e. when might we know what the decision is)? here's the chron article from yesterday that outlines the timeline: http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Deadline-nears-for-Astrodome-4587827.php June 19: Sports Corporation's board meeting, where staff will reveal a public plan for the stadium and the board will vote on what proposals to bring to Harris County Commissioners Court for consideration.June 25: Commissioners Court capital projects meeting, where the Sports Corp. will present ideas on what do to with the dome.November 5: The next election, when an Astrodome renovation project could end up on the ballot so Harris County voters can decide its fate. of course, in italics, it might not even be up for a vote? Hell, even if it is, who's to say that they'll listen to the people anyway, Mayor Parker and other Harris county officials have said in the past they would ignore the will of the voter if they didn't like the vote (specifically the metro funding), so I don't expect it to matter anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 We should keep the Astrodome as-is so in the future, after we're gone, it can be a giant bat cave. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POLPlbAilIw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jackwood Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 http://www.chron.com/default/article/19-ideas-submitted-for-Dome-redo-4593723.php I would vote for the "Astrodome Tomorrow" plan. I think that would impress a few super bowl attendees in 2017. But the park with the steel frame of the dome over could be kind of cool too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 is it too late to make the Dome a national historic landmark?It fits the criteria for sure, I wonder how fast the process takes, so if the county says the best way forward is to demolish, would citizens be able to get it on the NHL before they could demo?I read in the chron yesterday that a couple of folks are trying to do just that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samagon Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 I read in the chron yesterday that a couple of folks are trying to do just that. I hope it doesn't have to come to that, but if it does, I'm glad someone's working on it. I saw the article in today's chron that they got 19 submissions, but won't go public with them until the 19th. http://www.chron.com/default/article/19-ideas-submitted-for-Dome-redo-4593723.php some of the ideas are in there. I like the ski dome idea, it would be interesting to watch skiers coming down from all sides to meet in the middle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian0123 Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 I like the ski dome idea, it would be interesting to watch skiers coming down from all sides to meet in the middle. Can someone clarify the ski dome idea? Would they be on real snow, or a fake/plastic type of material? I keep hearing about this concept but never heard more details on it and how it would work. I'm still in favor of stripping it to the frame and making a park under it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 I like the ski dome idea, it would be interesting to watch skiers coming down from all sides to meet in the middle. Something like Ski Dubai? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 This just in...JUDGE EMMETT PRAISES ASTRODOME PROPOSALRECOMMENDED BY SPORTS CORPORATIONPlan to Restore and Reuse Astrodome Could Help Make CountyThe 'Events Capital of the World'Harris County Judge Ed Emmett praised a proposal unveiled today by the Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation to renovate and rehabilitate Harris County's fabled Astrodome and convert it to a state-of-the-art conference and exposition center capable of hosting a large number of sports, convention or community events."The concept is excellent," Emmett said. "It not only preserves an iconic structure, but it gives Houston and Harris County a truly unique and historic venue for conferences and events. Meeting planners around the world will want to use the space."Emmett said the idea of clearing the interior of the county-owned Dome to create a 350,000-square-foot, open and air-conditioned meeting space within Reliant Park perfectly complements the venue's other tenants - the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and the Houston Texans - while providing unique facilities for other functions such as sporting events, expositions, festivals and major community events.The Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation approved the proposal at its monthly meeting this afternoon and will officially present its recommendation to Harris County Commissioners Court at the court's Capital Improvements Hearing at 9 a.m. on June 25. Emmett and other court members have met with members of the sports corporation and been briefed throughout the process. "It has taken a long time to get to this point," Emmett said. "But I believe the concept for repurposing the Astrodome will give us a facility that will garner much attention and will make us the events capital of the world." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 Does this mean they can move The Hideout back into the dome and out of the tent? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 And the Astrodome just made the list of America's 11 most endangered Historic Places... http://www.preservationnation.org/issues/11-most-endangered/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToryGattis Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 Just posted my thoughts on today's announcement on my blog here:http://houstonstrategies.blogspot.com/2013/06/county-moving-forward-with-my-2003.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 Its not a bad idea at all... we preserve a Houston icon and have the capability to draw huge conventions. Think if something could be done by the Final Four 2016. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryDierker Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 If it's not getting torn down I'm happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 Looks like a good plan. I like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samagon Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 If it preserves the structure, I'm happy. I am curious what kind of exhibits they'd to put in there that the GRB downtown won't hold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 (edited) If it preserves the structure, I'm happy. I am curious what kind of exhibits they'd to put in there that the GRB downtown won't hold. They might move events requiring larger spaces that are currently being done in Reliant Stadium. Are there any events that happen in the GRB that are maxing out it's space? Could be that they also have their eyes on events that don't currently happen in Houston, but that need a lot of space. CES comes to mind, though I doubt that would come to Houston. Edited June 20, 2013 by august948 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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