Jax Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Maybe I don't get it, but if you build a parking garage around the dome, doesn't that mean you won't be able to see the astrodome anymore? Instead of seeing the astrodome, it'll just look like a massive parking garage from the outside. And wouldn't that block the possibility of having windows in the hotel rooms? Who wants to stay in a hotel with no natural light? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProHouston Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Maybe I don't get it, but if you build a parking garage around the dome, doesn't that mean you won't be able to see the astrodome anymore? Instead of seeing the astrodome, it'll just look like a massive parking garage from the outside. And wouldn't that block the possibility of having windows in the hotel rooms? Who wants to stay in a hotel with no natural light?I'm pretty sure the idea is to have the hotel rooms all be interior to the dome. Therefore, the views would be of the indoor facilities, pools, ponds, shops, restaurants (i.e., the mini city). I don't think the plans include any views outside the dome. What's there to look at anyhow? The Reliant parking lot... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jax Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 I guess you're right, that part of Houston isn't exactly scenic. But the whole artificial light / artificial indoor city thing kinda turns me off. I guess it would be like staying in that hotel that has a balcony overlooking the galleria. That's another place I wouldn't want to stay but obviously some people do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KimberlySayWhat Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Out with the Texas theme.Investors' historic theme dropped for modern look:http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5114972.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KimberlySayWhat Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Oops. I just added the link to the already existing Astrodome hotel thread. I swear I looked first to see if anyone had posted it. Mine can be deleted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 (edited) I guess you're right, that part of Houston isn't exactly scenic. But the whole artificial light / artificial indoor city thing kinda turns me off.guess you don't realize that the top is basically a skylight. if they want plants to grow maybe they'll go back to the original config where the lucite wasn't as opaque. Edited September 7, 2007 by musicman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToryGattis Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Actually, I believe the translucent roof will let in real light. The question is whether they will clear the roof panels or not. I think they will have to if they want the plants to grow. The panels originally allowed for natural grass for the baseball field, but the sun blinded outfielders, so they darkened the panels. That killed the grass, and Astroturf was invented... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pumapayam Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Maybe I don't get it, but if you build a parking garage around the dome, doesn't that mean you won't be able to see the astrodome anymore? Instead of seeing the astrodome, it'll just look like a massive parking garage from the outside. And wouldn't that block the possibility of having windows in the hotel rooms? Who wants to stay in a hotel with no natural light?It can give it a new look, the existing shell is dated.I don't mind hiding it, if the garage looks right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 It can give it a new look, the existing shell is dated.should we put a garage around city hall too since it is dated? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highway6 Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Maybe I don't get it, but if you build a parking garage around the dome, doesn't that mean you won't be able to see the astrodome anymore? Instead of seeing the astrodome, it'll just look like a massive parking garage from the outside. And wouldn't that block the possibility of having windows in the hotel rooms? Who wants to stay in a hotel with no natural light?I didnt take that as they were building a parking garage around the entire perimeter of the dome. That would be very inefficient both in construction and use.. not to mention the amount of parking you would end up with would be way beyond whats needed.I think they just meant that they would be adding on a garage at some point on the perimeter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Out with the Texas theme.Investors' historic theme dropped for modern look:http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5114972.htmlI like the new direction. Seems MUCH more appropriate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 looks like a bento box of fun! haha(or maybe a grill plate) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KimberlySayWhat Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 I like it, too. An old Texas theme would be more suited for a place like Dallas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonfella Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 I totally agree with the new theme. The old Texas theme doesn't fit Space City. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jax Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 The Galleria has skylights too, yet I don't enjoy walking around in there as much as I enjoy being outside. I don't see many people sitting on their air conditioned balconies watching the shoppers below, even with the skylights above in the Galleria hotel. There's just something about being indoors, even if it does have natural light that feels artificial to me. Oh well, to each his own. It will be interesting to see how it develops.So this could turn to be an indoor shopping mall with a hotel (like the Galleria) but with more plants and a pond instead of an ice rink? And some kind of music venue as well. I guess it could be interesting to have an indoor environment that emulates the outdoors. It will definitely be great for people who are afraid of the heat. But I think you'll find me at more of an outdoor shopping/entertainment setting like the pavilions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pumapayam Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Wow, another link, how many threads did we make on this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProHouston Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 I definitely like the idea of a mini city inside the dome. It all seems very futuristic and I think it will draw tourists. It will be much like the Gaylord in Grapevine but with everything under one huge roof instead of just part of it. I think being in the dome will make it feel more like an open, outdoor space than an indoor mall or the Galleria does. The ceiling will be 18 floors above the floor of the development, you shouldn't feel enclosed.Plus, being indoors, you take out the seasonal travel effect out of the equation. You don't have to worry about too much heat in the summer or too much cold in the winter. The pools can be open year-round and you never have to worry about getting your vacation rained out. I like it a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jax Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 It's starting to remind me of those things in Sim city 2000... what were they called? They were like cities inside of giant buildings. Oh yeah, arkologies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nate Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Good news that they dropped the western theme. That had potential to the be the cheesiest place in America.This project looks interesting, but I don't like the tax credits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkjones98 Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 I've said it before, and I'll say it again, "casino." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoonerFanInHouston Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Why do you keep posting casino as if casino gambling was legal in Texas. Sure that is a great idea and would be perfect building for a casino, but that is crazy to post it. Should they build a casino in hopes that it will pass someday? Another great idea would be a huge brothel or green house to grow pot, but neither is legal either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KimberlySayWhat Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 This is fun. The Astrodome has its own Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/houstonastrodome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GovernorAggie Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 This project looks interesting, but I don't like the tax credits.Why not, this thing will return MORE than the $70 Million in credits to the tax base--but the question is whether keeping a part of the diamond and seatiing intact is worth $70 million, because that's what it amounts to. The credits are through the THC, and really has nothing to do with Houston or even Harris County for that matter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkjones98 Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Why do you keep posting casino as if casino gambling was legal in Texas. Sure that is a great idea and would be perfect building for a casino, but that is crazy to post it. Should they build a casino in hopes that it will pass someday? Another great idea would be a huge brothel or green house to grow pot, but neither is legal either.Thank you professor. I'm glad I graduated from law school and still need to be told that "gambling was [not] legal in Texas." I must have missed the lecture that day.I am just posting a pipe dream, is that not legal either? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moni Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Thank you professor. I'm glad I graduated from law school and still need to be told that "gambling was [not] legal in Texas." I must have missed the lecture that day.I am just posting a pipe dream, is that not legal either?Yes bk, pipe dreams are legal. If enough people had these kinds of "pipe dreams", then casino gambling would become a reality. Texas as a whole is still a very conservative State and this is ingrained in the mentality. If you don't think this indoctrination is real, just try discussing casino gambling with even young people. You will soon find out that the "sin" aspect of gambling is rampant. In truth, if Houston was seriously interested in bringing big time money and tourists to the city, they would lobby Austin for the rights to casino gambling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Great Hizzy! Posted September 8, 2007 Share Posted September 8, 2007 My only concern is that the would be developers become so "desperate" get something up that the project will turn out to be nothing more than a hodge-podge of loosely planned projects that don't really add up to a quality product.I realize that time is money and that the longer the Astrodome sits in its current state, the more the taxpayers have to fork over, but you also don't want to squander what could be a prime opportunity to not only change the Astrodomain's environment but the character of the entire area hugging the South Loop between Fannin and Main Streets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bachanon Posted September 11, 2007 Share Posted September 11, 2007 I'm keeping my fingers crossed on this project. I'm happy the theme is being updated. I hope, HOPE, that it is done tastefully. It has the potential to be a big joke. Does anyone know who the architect or designers are? Please forgive, I haven't read this entire thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigereye Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 (edited) UPDATE: Fox 26 did a report tonight based solely on what the status of the project is. They also showed some more shots of the "modern hotel" look, as well as a shot of the site plan for the "modern look." The site plan illustrates the parking garage for the dome to be built on the east side (Fannin) walls of the dome in a "crescent moon" shape that follows the shape of the dome's walls. The interior shots clearly show the home plate area of the baseball diamond along with the section of seats directly behind homeplate, being retained in the design. However, it appears the homeplate area in the rendering is repositioned from the original dome baseball setup as to cater to the rest of the design for the redevloped dome. It appears sky-bridges will seperate the homeplate area from the pond areas. Also, one of the six restaurants planned will sit atop a "V" shaped pond on the north end of the dome. One more thing....looks like all of the rooms will have balconies that face towards the interior of the dome...but we all probably kenw that was coming anyways. Does anyone know whom is tapped for architect on this project....there are more renderings out there and Fox 26 was showing them way too fast so they could cut back to Damili Keith's ugly mug (she was doing the report) As for the status of the project, it was basically summed up as "all that is needed is financing" and that Astrodome Redevelopment Corp has until January 08' to secure that. (IIRC The Chornicle article made it sound like financing was already secured with Deutsche Bank WTF) Fox also asked Harris County Judge Ed Emmett on if he was optimistic on the Dome's plans. Emmett responded by saying that "he was neither optimistic nor pessimistic" about the project. Edited September 12, 2007 by tigereye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChannelTwoNews Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 Several versions of the same story...KTRKhttp://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=...&id=5653357KHOUhttp://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/kho...e.c3e362f2.htmlKPRChttp://www.click2houston.com/news/14093082/detail.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Great Hizzy! Posted October 30, 2007 Share Posted October 30, 2007 I have no idea what in hell the "detriment" could be to either group but here's their stance on the hotel project...http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5257204.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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