Rice Hotel At 909 Texas Ave.

[GREASER]

Whats the price range for rent on , say, a 600 sq ft apt at Rice hotel?

[skwatra]

Whats the price range for rent on , say, a 600 sq ft apt at Rice hotel?

they have current available apartments along with floor plans and rates on their website:

postproperties.com

click on Available Apts/Rent on the right.

looks like the start at $845 for the smallest studio (485 sqft)

[desirous]

If you want one, get one asap. Downtown rents will continue to increase; when I was there last May, the 485ft units were only $785.

By the way, you get to paint one of the walls - whatever you want on it. Very fun when bored. =)

Edited April 10, 2006 by desirous

[VicMan]

By the way, if you plan on having kids, these are the schools that the apartments are zoned to:

* Crockett Elementary School ( http://es.houstonisd.org/crockettes )

* E.O. Smith Education Center (for Middle School) ( http://ms.houstonisd.org/SmithMS )

* Davis High School ( http://hs.houstonisd.org/Davishs )

Profiles:

* Crockett: http://dept.houstonisd.org/profiles/Crockett_ES.pdf

* Smith: http://dept.houstonisd.org/profiles/Smith_EO_1thru8.pdf

* Davis: http://dept.houstonisd.org/profiles/Davis_HS.pdf

Also, keep in mind that students who attended Brock ES (http://dept.houstonisd.org/profiles/Brock_ES.pdf) now go to Crockett ES; Brock ES was closed in 2004 and students were rezoned to Crockett.

I don't think they are thought of as the best schools in Houston ISD. If you do have kids, you may wish to apply to other elementary, middle, and/or high schools if you are not satisfied with Crockett, Smith, and/or Davis.

Edited August 20, 2006 by VicMan

[desirous]

By the way, if you plan on having kids, these are the schools that the apartments are zoned to:

* Crockett Elementary School (http://es.houstonisd.org/crockettes)

* E.O. Smith Education Center (for Middle School) (http://ms.houstonisd.org/SmithMS)

* Davis High School (http://hs.houstonisd.org/Davishs)

Profiles:

* Crockett: http://dept.houstonisd.org/profiles/Crockett_ES.pdf

* Smith: http://dept.houstonisd.org/profiles/Smith_EO_1thru8.pdf

* Davis: http://dept.houstonisd.org/profiles/Davis_HS.pdf

Also, keep in mind that students who attended Brock ES (http://dept.houstonisd.org/profiles/Brock_ES.pdf) now go to Crockett ES; Brock ES was closed in 2004 and students were rezoned to Crockett.

I don't think they are thought of as the best schools in Houston ISD. If you do have kids, you may wish to apply to other elementary, middle, and/or high schools if you are not satisfied with Crockett, Smith, and/or Davis.

Are transfers to Lamar HS permitted? I usually hear of private school enrollment in this case, eg to St Thomas.

[VicMan]

Are transfers to Lamar HS permitted? I usually hear of private school enrollment in this case, eg to St Thomas.

Yes, transfers are permitted. Check Lamar's website at http://hs.houstonisd.org/lamarhs/magnet.htm for information about its magnet program and transfer information.

Houston ISD's transfer and magnet programs, which take students from all over Houston ISD, have allowed it to keep in many top performing and affluent students.

See: http://www.houstonisd.org/Departments/site...8991668,00.html for information about Houston ISD's magnet programs in general.

Also see http://www.houstonisd.org/HISD/portal/arti...3443097,00.html for transfer information. There are other types of transfers available. I do not know which ones Lamar High School accepts besides magnet transfers.

My sister attended Lamar High School and graduated with the IB Diploma. I wanted a smaller high school. I am currently an 11th grader at that HISD school.

Personally I think all of Downtown should be rezoned to Lamar High School. If you know enough people who wish to do this, you may create a campaign for rezoning and pressure the HISD Board into changing its zoning boundaries.

Edited April 12, 2006 by VicMan

[cwrm4]

Perhaps I missed something in the original post but, c'mon, has anyone who has ever lived at the Rice ever had kids, much less sent them to public school???

[desirous]

Perhaps I missed something in the original post but, c'mon, has anyone who has ever lived at the Rice ever had kids, much less sent them to public school???

The idea is only astonishing here in Texas. People raise perfectly normal children in San Francisco or Seattle or New York, where much of the city resembles central Houston. Honestly, I believe an urban environment to be conducive to development; there is high risk, but the potential reward is street-smart, cosmopolitan youth. Suburbanite children can be pretty hopeless if parents do not put in the effort to expose them.

Edited April 12, 2006 by desirous

[GARCIA_DOMINGUEZ]

Actually id say call them when you can. When i was looking in december there was just one 550 sf apt and it was going for 975 and was super tiny.

[torvald]

hello HAIF folks!

i am looking for a pre-rice-lofts photo of the rice hotel's capitol room...

i mostly find them of the flag room.

can you assist? thanks!

[Subdude]

Do you know when that room was there? I have a Rice Hotel brochure from about 1970, and it doesn't list a Capitol Room in the hotel.

It does have photos of the Grand Ballroom, Crystal Ballroom, Sam Houston Room, Republic of Texas Room, Caucus Club, Senate Room, and Flag Room (these are posted on Gonzo's blog).

[sevfiv]

i wonder if any of the bob bailey photos are of the capitol room...some photos do not include detailed information:

http://www.cah.utexas.edu/db/dmr/dmr_resul...ed&folder=9

of course, the capitol room might not have been around then, either

[torvald]

i wonder if any of the bob bailey photos are of the capitol room...some photos do not include detailed information:

http://www.cah.utexas.edu/db/dmr/dmr_resul...ed&folder=9

of course, the capitol room might not have been around then, either

it was in reference to this article: here

of course, by re-reading the article, i see that i was mistaken. it refers to

a "capitol club" not a "capitol room" within the hotel. so was this a club or bar

or was this in a more well known room of the hotel?

i had something that i had always assumed was from the flag room and

when i saw the article i felt like i may be mistaken yet could not find

anything concerning a "capitol club".

any rice postcards or items i have do not mention a capitol room.

while i'm at it, can anyone recommend any books on the rice hotel?

perhaps, i just need to take the time and visit the texas library.

?

Edited September 24, 2006 by torvald

[FreakyDude]

hello HAIF folks!

i am looking for a pre-rice-lofts photo of the rice hotel's capitol room...

i mostly find them of the flag room.

can you assist? thanks!

Hope ya like it! Not sure on the year, but I'm betting 1960's-1970's.

Bonus:

[torvald]

Hope ya like it! Not sure on the year, but I'm betting 1960's-1970's.

Bonus:

you hope i like what?

now fella. i appreciate you not using my friend's bandwidth, yet i fault

you for using her images. the sugar packets are still watermarked with

her site's name. she buys stuff on e-bay to put on her rice hotel page.

i don't know why but it makes her happy, she thinks it's fun.

when i mention on HAIF about having to hear about that hotel all the time,

it's her that i am referring to. i basically asked the question here, as her

and i were wondering about the capitol club question.

now that i inquired on HAIF, you're posting her images. although it's from

your photobucket site they are her original images, you didn't even change

the file names. although you removed her watermark (it's most obvious to

the right of the chandelier), and some other flaws on the flag room postcard,

some still remain, as you can see it is the same exact card:

i actually gave her this postcard so i am right pissed that you've used it.

there is a copyright statement at the bottom of the page you took it

from as well: here

didn't you do this previously with some arch-ive.org photos? using the photo,

not listing credit and cropping out that person's watermark? people invest

their time and effort to share these things with other people, perhaps you

should ask for permission and give proper credit when using things which

don't belong to you.

how irritating!

Edited September 26, 2006 by torvald

[gonzo1976]

Download this and see if it has what you're looking for. After a quick check, I didn't see anything about the Capitol Room. I'm sure it existed, but maybe it was renamed by the 1970s.

http://www.jr-gonzales.com/images/houstonrice.pdf

[torvald]

Download this and see if it has what you're looking for. After a quick check, I didn't see anything about the Capitol Room. I'm sure it existed, but maybe it was renamed by the 1970s.

that is absolutely amazing

and makes up for my irritation above. :closedeyes:

you are awesome.

[torvald]

Download this and see if it has what you're looking for. After a quick check, I didn't see anything about the Capitol Room. I'm sure it existed, but maybe it was renamed by the 1970s.

after looking at the photos on the postcard and this brochure,

maybe they did mean the FLAG room after all. the article says

the seating used for the pub came the room in question and they

seem to be similar:

photo used with permission

[musicman]

didn't you do this previously with some arch-ive.org photos? using the photo,

not listing credit and cropping out that person's watermark? people invest

their time and effort to share these things with other people, perhaps you

should ask for permission and give proper credit when using things which

don't belong to you.

how irritating!

some of the cards themselves look copywrited.

[torvald]

some of the cards themselves look copywrited.

basically the items are things that she has bought at estate sales,

on-line, antique mall postcard bins, etc. without the copyright

over them, bandwidth was being lost due to people using the images

on their own webpages or when they would sell a similar postcard or

item on ebay. she only asks that the person e-mail and she sends

them a copy without the watermark. it is only that she owns the

current items, some of which are rare... some of which she paid

a bit much for (sorry) or were given to her by friends.

as her copyright says, the items are in her possession and were,

found, bought or given to her. she doesn't claim to have taken the

photos on the postcards or make the items herself. all of those items

are on a shelf in her study. i'm not sure what else to say.

Edited September 27, 2006 by torvald

[musicman]

basically the items are things that she has bought at estate sales,

on-line, antique mall postcard bins, etc. without the copyright

over them, bandwidth was being lost due to people using the images

on their own webpages or when they would sell a similar postcard or

item on ebay. she only asks that the person e-mail and she sends

them a copy without the watermark. it is only that she owns the

current items, some of which are rare... some of which she paid

a bit much for (sorry) or were given to her by friends.

as her copyright says, the items are in her possession and were,

found, bought or given to her. she doesn't claim to have taken the

photos on the postcards or make the items herself. all of those items

are on a shelf in her study. i'm not sure what else to say.

I"m just saying that just because you own one, doesn't mean you own the copyright. So she has all this registered at the US Copyright office?

Edited September 27, 2006 by musicman

[torvald]

I"m just saying that just because you own one, doesn't mean you own the copyright.

i agree. i just think that some of the images there would not be

available on-line without them being on that page (like the rice

washcloths). when someone has gone through the trouble

to hunt for and share these things, the fair thing would be to give

credit for where the images were found. that's all.

i'm not saying she owns the copyrights to the master copies. there

are plenty of original photos of other things there. i realize there is

a difference between that and the arch-ive.org example of borrowing

from earlier.

[sevfiv]

as far as older postcards, many of the copyrights are not valid anymore, so it is not an issue on either end - and for those that are still under copyright, there is a disclaimer.

the issue is either bandwidth usage (*theft*) or just being polite and crediting a source that has originally posted the image for folks to see.

also, while having things like photos on file at the copyright office is nice, it is not required. it is only helpful during litigation.

www.copyright.gov:

In general, registration is voluntary. Copyright exists from the moment the work is created. You will have to register, however, if you wish to bring a lawsuit for infringement of a U.S. work

Edited September 27, 2006 by sevfiv

[musicman]

the issue is either bandwidth usage (*theft*) or just being polite and crediting a source that has originally posted the image for folks to see.

I agree. When I saw the word copyright being used, I thought that was overboard.

[gonzo1976]

This Web site (which I can't seem to access now) should clear up any issues about postcards being in the public domain:

www.postcard.org/publicdomain.htm

I had to check this out when I decided to sell local postcard images on greeting cards.

Back to the subject at hand, are there parts of the Rice Lofts that are open to the public? I'm not sure what's available where all those old restaurants, clubs and meeting rooms used to be, but I wonder if it's only open to residents there.

Also, remember when they tore down the old parking garage on the corner of Prairie and Travis a few years back? It exposed an old sign that was painted on the side of an adjacent building. Did anyone ever get a picture of that?

[sevfiv]

This Web site (which I can't seem to access now) should clear up any issues about postcards being in the public domain:

www.postcard.org/publicdomain.htm

I had to check this out when I decided to sell local postcard images on greeting cards.

thanks for the postcard link - makes it so much more clear than the copyright.gov site (it says all that, but it is pretty convoluted).

[FreakyDude]

how irritating!

Sorry, was just trying to help you. I wasn't trying to discredit anyone. I just hit search images and this is what I got. And yes, I made a mistake in the past and wrote an apology to the webmaster. I can't help it if your friends photos are in a search engine. Maybe you should be mad at the image search engines.

Good Day!

[sevfiv]

Sorry, was just trying to help you. I wasn't trying to discredit anyone. I just hit search images and this is what I got. And yes, I made a mistake in the past and wrote an apology to the webmaster. I can't help it if your friends photos are in a search engine. Maybe you should be mad at the image search engines.

Good Day!

Sorry about that. I'll make sure that doesn't happen again. Too many beers that day.

Is that your webpage? There is some great photography there. I'll talk to the webmaster just in case.

yes, you apologized to the "webmaster" there - thanks. problem is, it happened again!

and as far as search engines, that is what they are there for - for people to find and learn about things they are seeking.

i don't know where watermark editing comes into play there...

Edited September 28, 2006 by sevfiv

[torvald]

Sorry about that. I'll make sure that doesn't happen again. Too many beers that day.

Is that your webpage? There is some great photography there. I'll talk to the webmaster just in case.

yes, you apologized to the "webmaster" there - thanks. problem is, it happened again!

and as far as search engines, that is what they are there for - for people to find and learn about things they are seeking. i don't know where watermark editing comes into play there...

i second that. i am sorry if i offended anyone in using the word

"copyright". i should have just said "watermark" and i think i listed

earlier why her images are watermarked. i wasn't trying to portray

for a moment that she has "all this registered at the US Copyright

office". i was just saying that it was sad for her to spend the time

and money on bandwidth (and finding/paying for the items) so that

other people can link to those specific images to easily/cheaply

augment their own web pages or ebay auctions. it's been an issue

in the past.

i think she started her site as a resume but also so people with similar

interests could learn more about the things she enjoyed and share

information. naive as it is, that has only happened a few times. i've

tried to tell her to shelve it but she's stubborn.

the largest actual "copyright" issue was with a band using her photos

for their site. after she notified them of the bandwidth/usage issue,

they just copied it to photobucket, cropped out the watermark and

kept going. another was someone using an original postcard collage

on their CD sleeve. she would have given them the rights for free

with a simple listing somewhere in the text, if they had just taken one

minute to ask.

i suppose i became annoyed for two reasons, that this was the second

time this specific person presented an uncredited, watermark removed

image and that it was a specific item that i gave as a gift to someone

being presented back to me --- it was a little odd, i guess.

Edited September 29, 2006 by torvald

[gto250us]

JFK spent his last night on earth in the Rice Hotel in Houston. Does anyone know what that room is used for now that the Rice has been converted to lofts? Does someone live in it, is it a museum or a storage closet?

[sevfiv]

JFK spent his last night on earth in the Rice Hotel in Houston. Does anyone know what that room is used for now that the Rice has been converted to lofts? Does someone live in it, is it a museum or a storage closet?

not much to go on (and nothing too detailed), but this site mentions it:

http://www.lonestarspirits.org/haunthouston.html

The room in which John F. Kennedy spent his last night on Earth has been home to cold spots, rattling doors & beds as well as balls of light. Perhaps the ghost of the late President is making himself known. Ghost dancers have been seen in the ballroom, and one of our own team members saw a lady in white pacing where the balcony USED to be.

and here's a picture of the room:

http://pictopia.com/perl/gal?process=galle...=houston:131181

[texastrill]

I guess Houston and FW do have something in common,both are where JFK spent his last night on earth.

The hotel in FW I THOUGHT was his last is very creepy.

[nmainguy]

not much to go on (and nothing too detailed), but this site mentions it:

http://www.lonestarspirits.org/haunthouston.html

The room in which John F. Kennedy spent his last night on Earth has been home to cold spots, rattling doors & beds as well as balls of light. Perhaps the ghost of the late President is making himself known. Ghost dancers have been seen in the ballroom, and one of our own team members saw a lady in white pacing where the balcony USED to be.

and here's a picture of the room:

http://pictopia.com/perl/gal?process=galle...=houston:131181

JFK used the International Suite on the 5th floor of the Rice to change clothes and rest before going to the Coliseum.

He spent his last night in Rm. 850 of the Texas Hotel in Ft. Worth.

[kenc]

JFK used the International Suite on the 5th floor of the Rice to change clothes and rest before going to the Coliseum.

He spent his last night in Rm. 850 of the Texas Hotel in Ft. Worth.

That's correct...spoke to hundreds at a Breakfast in the Hotel Ballroom, and then went outside to speak to the crowd there in what is now Sundance Square. His last speech. He and Jackie flew to Dallas, where as we all know, he was shot before he made it to the luncheon at the Trade Mart.

[mojoboogie]

family history has it that JFK spoke here(sorry, I don't remember,was an infant) and then left for Dallas. Cut to early 2000's, was looking at apts in the Rice Lofts-I was shown an apt on the 13th floor(!) and it had a plaque on the inside of the door naming it the JFK Suite-the last place that he spent the night here. The rental agent said that they were not renting it at the time as they were having "problems" with the AC(!!)

[nmainguy]

family history has it that JFK spoke here(sorry, I don't remember,was an infant) and then left for Dallas. Cut to early 2000's, was looking at apts in the Rice Lofts-I was shown an apt on the 13th floor(!) and it had a plaque on the inside of the door naming it the JFK Suite-the last place that he spent the night here. The rental agent said that they were not renting it at the time as they were having "problems" with the AC(!!)

See post #4...and welcome!

[telwink]

I was hoping maybe some folks who live/have lived in the Post Rice lofts would chime in on these questions. I've lived in the downtown area for the past couple years, but I'm thinking about moving into the Post Rice Lofts to be within walking distance from work. I'm in my mid 20s, and am very privy to the party nature of this party of downtown, and of the Lofts themselves, given the clientele they likely attract. I'm okay with this to a certain degree, but I'd like to know two things from folks who might know from experience. I've toured the units themselves, and they seem decent. Nothing fancy, the price tag is for the location.

I was out on Main Street this past Saturday night and it was absolutely, positively party-city. I mean loud. People shouting, cars banging bass, huge lines to get into the clubs, club music itself. This is all well and good, but I just can't imagine this wouldn't be loud as hell if you live in the building.

So my questions are:

1. How is the sound proofing from <excessive> street noise such as partying? I know there will be some street noise; such is living downtown. But I want to know if the Friday/Saturday night madness becomes cumbersome.

2. How is the sound proofing from unit to unit?

Any other general comments about the experience of either being in, or living in the place are welcome. I've read all the comments on apartmentratings.com, and have looked at a 500-something sqft 1br unit on the 6th floor of the building, which I'm considering leasing.

Thanks much in advance!

[gnu]

So my questions are:

1. How is the sound proofing from <excessive> street noise such as partying? I know there will be some street noise; such is living downtown. But I want to know if the Friday/Saturday night madness becomes cumbersome.

2. How is the sound proofing from unit to unit?

Any other general comments about the experience of either being in, or living in the place are welcome. I've read all the comments on apartmentratings.com, and have looked at a 500-something sqft 1br unit on the 6th floor of the building, which I'm considering leasing.

Thanks much in advance!

i lived there from 1999-2001 on the north side of the 13th floor. the noise from the street was pretty loud, especially from clubs late on friday night,

but the air conditioner usually camouflaged it enough for me.

i never had any problems unit to unit - it might be that i had quiet neighbors. however, i lived near the trash chute and i could hear when people opened the door to drop in their garbage.

i didnt like sharing the washing machines and on the weekends I would have to go to different floors to try to find a free machine.

all in all my experience was good. i would do it again if i could.

[rsb320]

Ben & Jerry's is having a free scoop day today between 12:00 and 8:00. I just walked over to get my scoop and they have closed up. How will I ever satisfy my ice cream craving now?

That's all we need, another vacant storefront.

http://www.benjerry.com/scoop-shops/feature/free-cone-day/

Edited April 21, 2009 by rsb320

[cosmic08]

I know - so sad! They closed up at least 3 months ago

[rsb320]

I can't see any smoke, but all these units have been dispatched.

TEXAS BLK MAIN 493L 05/03/2011 15:47 Highrise on Fire 1 E009, E017, D008, SF027, SQ009, D019, E508, E007, E008, E019, L019

Edited May 3, 2011 by rsb320

[sevfiv]

Yikes - or maybe the Binz or Chase Tower...

[rsb320]

No. They're right in front of the Rice. They've even got southbound Main blocked off at Prairie. The train is still running, though. Thank goodness, I'm getting ready to hop on it.

[Highway6]

The call was almost an hr ago.. and chron, kprc, and khou are reporting nothing yet.. so hopefully it is nothing.

[editor]

Probably just a smoke alarm or something. Certain types of buildings get a huge response, whether it's burned toast, or six floors on fire.

[rsb320]

I've been told that there was a fire on, what would be, the 13th floor. I have no information on the severity, though.

[august948]

Probably just a smoke alarm or something. Certain types of buildings get a huge response, whether it's burned toast, or six floors on fire.

I had a fireman tell me one time that if there is nothing else going on dispatchers will send all the locally available units out regardless of the reported size of the fire. A few years ago we had three trucks show up to a small trailer filled with remodeling debris next door. They put it out with fire extinguishers. I guess the thought is you never know how bad it can be or could get so better to send too much than too little.

[ricco67]

I had a fireman tell me one time that if there is nothing else going on dispatchers will send all the locally available units out regardless of the reported size of the fire. A few years ago we had three trucks show up to a small trailer filled with remodeling debris next door. They put it out with fire extinguishers. I guess the thought is you never know how bad it can be or could get so better to send too much than too little.

I'm not totally against this, but my issue would be their ability to get rolling to an area that was stripped of equipment once they were dispatched someplace.

Then again, if its obvious it is a small fire, maybe one of the engines can just sit there and help out the other trucks instead of unpacking their own.

When dealing with a fire in downtown, however, you can deal with so much stuff, so that part is understandable.

[august948]

Then again, if its obvious it is a small fire, maybe one of the engines can just sit there and help out the other trucks instead of unpacking their own.

That's basically what happened at the fire next door. Most of the firemen milled around while a couple used the fire extinguishers. Since they were all suited up and ready to go, I suppose if another call came in they could respond as fast or faster than if they were at the station.

[Jeebus]

I had a fireman tell me one time that if there is nothing else going on dispatchers will send all the locally available units out regardless of the reported size of the fire. A few years ago we had three trucks show up to a small trailer filled with remodeling debris next door. They put it out with fire extinguishers. I guess the thought is you never know how bad it can be or could get so better to send too much than too little.

For the city of Houston all 911 calls are received by civilian call takers who determine the emergency, input basic information, then route the information to either HFD or HPD where the call is finally dispatched.

HPD dispatches calls by placing low priority calls in a que for available officers to select from on their mobile computer. High priority calls are automatically assigned. If no one has taken a low priority call after a certain amount of time, it is automatically assigned to the closest available officer.

HFD dispatches using an established algorithm designed to send the most appropriate units immediately. E.g. Ambulance and Fire Truck to a chest pain call, or a pre-determined number of fire trucks to a fire. Dispatchers can only add additional units if a near by unit requests to be added, if they get updated notes from the 911 caller, or if at the incident the officer requests more resources.

HFD doesn't get to pick and choose low priority calls. If you call for an ambulance for a heart attack or a stubbed toe, they will come immediately with lights and sirens every time.

Edited May 6, 2011 by Jeebus