Popular Post quietstorm Posted February 7, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted February 7, 2019 (edited) There's an "energy" downtown (especially along Main) that feels unique to our diverse, minimally zoned city. With the rail, Downtown Living Initiative, and popular eateries daring to set-up shop and stay open past business hours, the city's core is starting to feel less "business park" and more of an authentic place to experience urban life. Edited February 7, 2019 by quietstorm 15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post brijonmang Posted February 7, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted February 7, 2019 I was recently commissioned to do a lot of photography for Main Street from downtown through the Med Center. The city is aggressively trying to promote this corridor and I'm looking forward to how it will continue to grow. 21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nate4l1f3 Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 Random question: how long has the parking garage on Main and Congress been there and what exactly was there before? That thing always looked out of place to me and looks like a huge wasted opportunity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quietstorm Posted February 7, 2019 Author Share Posted February 7, 2019 15 minutes ago, brijonmang said: I was recently commissioned to do a lot of photography for Main Street from downtown through the Med Center. The city is aggressively trying to promote this corridor and I'm looking forward to how it will continue to grow. Looking forward to seeing your work. What I appreciate about what's happening along Main right now is that the growth feels organic. It's taken quite a while, but there's synergy among the rail, restaurants, pedestrians, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luminare Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 For me, its been whenever I'm in Downtown at night. Especially weekends, but even during the week as well. It used to be that the only time there were people walking around at night on Main or at Discovery Green was during or after a sporting event. Now there are people everywhere! Its really exciting to see. Market Square as well. Those right now are the biggest: Main Street from the Bayou to Dallas (more so towards Texas Ave), Discovery Green, and Market Square. Been exciting to see and its a great start. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quietstorm Posted February 7, 2019 Author Share Posted February 7, 2019 (edited) 11 minutes ago, Luminare said: For me, its been whenever I'm in Downtown at night. Especially weekends, but even during the week as well. It used to be that the only time there were people walking around at night on Main or at Discovery Green was during or after a sporting event. Now there are people everywhere! Its really exciting to see. Market Square as well. Those right now are the biggest: Main Street from the Bayou to Dallas (more so towards Texas Ave), Discovery Green, and Market Square. Been exciting to see and its a great start. And what's cool is that during "business hours", especially lunchtime, there are families, students, empty nesters, tourists, business travelers, etc. in addition to the usual work crowd--and no one seems out of place; which looks like what you see in NY, San Francisco, Chicago, etc. albeit on a much smaller scale. What it doesn't feel like is downtown Austin or Uptown Dallas (which I both enjoy), but somehow more "real" and unique to our Bayou City. Edited February 7, 2019 by quietstorm 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbates2 Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 30 minutes ago, nate4l1f3 said: Random question: how long has the parking garage on Main and Congress been there and what exactly was there before? That thing always looked out of place to me and looks like a huge wasted opportunity. Not sure how long it has been there but you can kind of see the two buildings that were there before on the left in this photo. One was a bank (the far one), and not sure of what the three story building was next to it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post bobruss Posted February 7, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted February 7, 2019 (edited) My wife and I went downtown on Saturday and it was alive. We went to lunch at Finn Hall and it was full of young people and had a very urban feel. My wife thought we were definitely the oldsters in the crowd, but everyone was buzzing and the place had an electric feel. It is a little pricey but not bad. I suspect there were a lot of guests from the surrounding hotels along with many of the new arrivals to downtown living. Barnaby's was full and there were people of all kinds on the sidewalks where it used to be empty or predominantly street people. This is such a change. It almost reminded me of when I was a child going to James Coney Island or one of the theaters on Main with all of the bustle. To those who dared, thanks and to those who said the rail was a stupid idea and would never attract development, never say never! Edited February 7, 2019 by bobruss 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luminare Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 1 hour ago, quietstorm said: And what's cool is that during "business hours", especially lunchtime, there are families, students, empty nesters, tourists, business travelers, etc. in addition to the usual work crowd--and no one seems out of place; which looks like what you see in NY, San Francisco, Chicago, etc. albeit on a much smaller scale. What it doesn't feel like is downtown Austin or Uptown Dallas (which I both enjoy), but somehow more "real" and unique to our Bayou City. Yes. Particularly to the tourist question. I think we can all agree that we don't necessary want Houston to flooded with tourists like other cities, but its nice that the city is getting to that point where a tourist would even dare walk around places like this. Its going to be a very inviting change. When the tourist start coming its going to want us to improve the city even more and invite people to this city even more. Our city has a chance for all these things to manifest in a very real and genuine way. Its like that previous GQ article that came out. Unlike Austin or Dallas (which I love those cities and what they do), Houston ironically by not being completely planned out and try hard, it ends up evolving into an entity that is unique and genuine. Whatever strips of people this attracts it will definitely feel earned. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 19 hours ago, Luminare said: Yes. Particularly to the tourist question. I think we can all agree that we don't necessary want Houston to flooded with tourists like other cities, but its nice that the city is getting to that point where a tourist would even dare walk around places like this. Its going to be a very inviting change. When the tourist start coming its going to want us to improve the city even more and invite people to this city even more. Our city has a chance for all these things to manifest in a very real and genuine way. Its like that previous GQ article that came out. Unlike Austin or Dallas (which I love those cities and what they do), Houston ironically by not being completely planned out and try hard, it ends up evolving into an entity that is unique and genuine. Whatever strips of people this attracts it will definitely feel earned. It’s natrually getting to that point too which is a good sign we’re heading in the right direction. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobruss Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 I don't think we'll ever have the numbers of tourist like San Antonio or Austin. We just don't have the historical (Alamo), or capitol/geographical appeal that they do. I do believe that Houston has developed a very nice package of museums, restaurants, shopping districts, parks, proximity to Galveston and Nasa, and an urban appeal that lots of folks will now want to come enjoy. With the upcoming additions to our Museum district, the renovation of Memorial and Buffalo Bayou Parks, and recents announcements for the new Islamic center on Allen Parkway, Bullet train, the botanical gardens, and the Med Center, we will definitely see an influx in visitors. I welcome them and I'm sure the merchants and hoteliers couldn't be happier. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 2 hours ago, bobruss said: I don't think we'll ever have the numbers of tourist like San Antonio or Austin. We just don't have the historical (Alamo), or capitol/geographical appeal that they do. I do believe that Houston has developed a very nice package of museums, restaurants, shopping districts, parks, proximity to Galveston and Nasa, and an urban appeal that lots of folks will now want to come enjoy. With the upcoming additions to our Museum district, the renovation of Memorial and Buffalo Bayou Parks, and recents announcements for the new Islamic center on Allen Parkway, Bullet train, the botanical gardens, and the Med Center, we will definitely see an influx in visitors. I welcome them and I'm sure the merchants and hoteliers couldn't be happier. Idk we keep doubting ourselves and proving ourseles wrong. First it was the light rail, then it was downtown, and both have proven us wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post H-Town Man Posted February 8, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted February 8, 2019 (edited) 3 hours ago, bobruss said: I don't think we'll ever have the numbers of tourist like San Antonio or Austin. We just don't have the historical (Alamo), or capitol/geographical appeal that they do. I do believe that Houston has developed a very nice package of museums, restaurants, shopping districts, parks, proximity to Galveston and Nasa, and an urban appeal that lots of folks will now want to come enjoy. With the upcoming additions to our Museum district, the renovation of Memorial and Buffalo Bayou Parks, and recents announcements for the new Islamic center on Allen Parkway, Bullet train, the botanical gardens, and the Med Center, we will definitely see an influx in visitors. I welcome them and I'm sure the merchants and hoteliers couldn't be happier. Those are boutique cities. We are competing with Dallas to be the capital of the region, and we have the densest urban core of any Texas city (population at 1, 3, and 5 mile radii). As downtown becomes pedestrian friendly, it will draw people for the same reason that downtown Chicago draws people - the excitement and scale of things, the feeling of being at the center of something. Right now our downtown is still struggling to overcome a concrete, glass, and metal environment that was not built to be walked in. We have spent 20 years undoing the damage of the previous 50 years and it will take a few decades more. The historic district and Discovery Green have made it, the rest of downtown still has work to do. The reshaping of the freeways presents a massive opportunity, and the whole area north of Buffalo Bayou carries enormous untapped potential. There is more inertia to overcome than those cities you mention, but our upside is higher. Edited February 8, 2019 by H-Town Man 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooklyn173 Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HtownWxBoy Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 Finn Hall has been a great addition to Main Street .... stopped by yesterday and it was packed (as was it last Saturday). Downtown used to be completely dead on weekends. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post quietstorm Posted March 30, 2019 Author Popular Post Share Posted March 30, 2019 Update from last week. We’re getting there. 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samagon Posted April 2, 2019 Share Posted April 2, 2019 anyone that works in downtown and doesn't come out of the tunnels this week for some amazing weather better have a good medical excuse. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luminare Posted April 2, 2019 Share Posted April 2, 2019 1 hour ago, samagon said: anyone that works in downtown and doesn't come out of the tunnels this week for some amazing weather better have a good medical excuse. We've been having some wonderful springs of late. Actual Springs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnTonY Posted April 2, 2019 Share Posted April 2, 2019 With upcoming pushes farther east along with bayou with East River and the Partnership, the location of downtown is going to get inferior real quick. The abominations of the 70s-80s already seem to have done much of the work, anywho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted April 2, 2019 Share Posted April 2, 2019 13 minutes ago, AnTonY said: With upcoming pushes farther east along with bayou with East River and the Partnership, the location of downtown is going to get inferior real quick. The abominations of the 70s-80s already seem to have done much of the work, anywho. Perhaps we should flatten downtown and plant a forest there? 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmac Posted April 2, 2019 Share Posted April 2, 2019 8 minutes ago, august948 said: Perhaps we should flatten downtown and plant a forest there? I would be super pumped if that happened! 😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texasota Posted April 2, 2019 Share Posted April 2, 2019 1 hour ago, AnTonY said: With upcoming pushes farther east along with bayou with East River and the Partnership, the location of downtown is going to get inferior real quick. The abominations of the 70s-80s already seem to have done much of the work, anywho. What do you mean by location? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnTonY Posted April 2, 2019 Share Posted April 2, 2019 2 hours ago, august948 said: Perhaps we should flatten downtown and plant a forest there? Less concrete, more trees, great shade for the pedestrians in the heat of Texas. 28 minutes ago, Texasota said: What do you mean by location? The spot that downtown is located. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbates2 Posted April 3, 2019 Share Posted April 3, 2019 Right, clearly the location of downtown should be moved east or west due to upcoming pushes. Move abominations in the opposite direction. PrObLeM sOlVeD. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted April 3, 2019 Share Posted April 3, 2019 Since the population center of Houston has actually moved westward over time, I vote we demolish downtown for parkland and rebuild downtown at City Centre. Who's with me? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmac Posted April 3, 2019 Share Posted April 3, 2019 1 hour ago, august948 said: Since the population center of Houston has actually moved westward over time, I vote we demolish downtown for parkland and rebuild downtown at City Centre. Who's with me? How about we DON'T rebuild it and just have businesses located in widespread places? "Downtown" is such an outdated idea and causes so many issues. I would like to have a big park with a nice water feature for all the birds and wildlife where City Hall is 😁 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnTonY Posted April 3, 2019 Share Posted April 3, 2019 (edited) 2 hours ago, august948 said: Since the population center of Houston has actually moved westward over time, I vote we demolish downtown for parkland and rebuild downtown at City Centre. Who's with me? Nah, the west will become inferior too. The ammenities offered wouldn't differentiate Houston from Dallas (which people seem to hate). The east, at least, offers real natural potential. 4 hours ago, kbates2 said: Right, clearly the location of downtown should be moved east or west due to upcoming pushes. Move abominations in the opposite direction. PrObLeM sOlVeD. No physical movement, just reshuffling of population mass. Especially easier to do in Houston since the growth follows the market. 1 hour ago, gmac said: How about we DON'T rebuild it and just have businesses located in widespread places? "Downtown" is such an outdated idea and causes so many issues. I would like to have a big park with a nice water feature for all the birds and wildlife where City Hall is 😁 The concept of a "downtown" is a strictly American phenomenon, anywho. Most modern cities around the globe are polycentric. Edited April 3, 2019 by AnTonY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted April 3, 2019 Share Posted April 3, 2019 26 minutes ago, AnTonY said: Nah, the west will become inferior too. The ammenities offered wouldn't differentiate Houston from Dallas (which people seem to hate). The east, at least, offers real natural potential. Well, it's true the east side does have certain amenities that differentiate us from Dallas.... It the west side becomes less popular, that'll means less traffic. I'll be looking forward to that. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbates2 Posted April 3, 2019 Share Posted April 3, 2019 So Downtown is currently on the edge of the Western 'desirable' development side of the city. That desirable developer side is starting to push eastward making downtown more central. Seems better location-wise to me. Move it physically. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted April 3, 2019 Share Posted April 3, 2019 Isn't moving cities part of the plot of Mortal Engines? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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