CDeb

You'll be getting a REAL political science class, anyway!

If you are traveling on a heavy traffic weekend (like a holiday), I'd avoid I-10. It's pretty much totally under construction from Lake Charles to Beaumont (about a 60-mile stretch). And like someone else said, Baton Rouge in the afternoon is a nightmare. However, I rather enjoy the swamp section between Red Stick and Lafayette.

It seems like everyone here is accusing METRO of some nefarious plot to boost ridership numbers on the train by cutting back bus routes. Now, I may be oversimplifying things here, but doesn't that just make plain ole' common sense not to duplicate services in a particular area?

I think he sold the house around 1989-90-ish.

Hakeem Olajuwon used to own the house next to his. This was back when he was just "Akeem." There were brass "AO" letters on the gates.

Gosh, I'm sure the teachers are just lining up for those jobs!

Council backs golf course site for health center By APRIL AVISON Eagle Staff Writer After meeting in closed session for more than an hour Thursday, the Bryan City Council unanimously agreed to support bringing a new Texas A&M University System campus to the site of the city golf course on West Villa Maria Road. Officials of the system's Health Science Center have expressed interest in the site for an expanded and consolidated campus, but the ultimate decision will be made by the A&M System Board of Regents. The issue has not been scheduled for consideration by the board. After Thursday's meeting, Mayor Ernie Wentrcek said having the Health Science Center campus in Bryan would spur economic development and create the opportunity to use state funds for infrastructure and the redevelopment of nearby South College Avenue. Two other sites have been identified for potential locations for the Health Science Center campus - the privately owned 53-acre Westinghouse property on the east side of Earl Rudder Freeway South and a 230-acre system-owned tract at F.M. 2818 and George Bush Drive. The 80-year-old golf course, referred to as "Bryan Muni," sits on about 130 acres. Health Science Center officials have said they want to build on an area that offers a separate identity from Texas A&M University and contains at least 100 acres to allow room for expansion. Dr. Nancy Dickey, president of the Health Science Center, said Thursday she had not yet received a copy of the resolution signed by the City Council but expects the document to be delivered to her and members of the Board of Regents. "I think as we evaluate the options, the action by the City Council certainly clarifies the status of one of the potential sites," Dickey said. "We obviously thank them for their vote of confidence, but it doesn't change our timeline. It would be premature for me to do anything but thank them for recognizing the value of the project. We continue to look at a variety of options." The Bryan Business Council, which serves as the city's economic development arm, has repeatedly expressed its support of constructing the campus in Bryan. Business Council President Mitch Morehead said after Thursday's meeting he will begin drafting a document to "prove [Villa Maria Road] is a viable location" for the center campus. "We'll put together some information as it relates to the site and its connectivity to the A&M campus," Morehead said. "We want to promote our location." Bryan leaders have discussed for years whether a golf course is the best use for the Villa Maria property. The council decided in February that the city would perform a facelift on the golf course, but it put the upgrades on hold when discussion of the Health Science Center campus arose in May. Councilman Mike Southerland said he hopes the business council will launch an aggressive campaign to recruit the center to Bryan. "I want to make sure we put our best foot forward to win this Health Science Center here in Bryan," he said. "At first I wasn't sure if this was the best location, but it's what staff recommends and we want to do whatever we can to get the Health Science Center here." Although the council's decision to support the center was unanimous, members Mark Conlee and Ben Hardeman were out of town and could not attend Thursday's meeting. Wentrcek would not discuss whether the city intends to sell, lease or give away the land. "We haven't even gotten to that yet," he said. College Station resident Roy Phillips, who has played golf at the Bryan course about twice a week for 15 years, said he'd be disappointed to see it closed. "It's been around for a while, and they have very reasonable prices," Phillips said. "It's a reasonably challenging course. I would hope it would stay where it is." Wentrcek has said if the Bryan course closes, he hopes to pursue other options. Some other options already have fallen through, however. Briarcrest Country Club officials said they told the mayor they would not be interested in selling the private course, and the College Station City Council declined to pursue a joint venture with Bryan. Another option that has been discussed is building a course near Lake Bryan. "I think that would be nice," Phillips said. "I also think it would be expensive." Hugh Seale, president of the Brazos Golf Association, said Lake Bryan isn't a convenient location for a golf course. "I am hoping, if it comes to this, the City Council will put some people on a committee that can look at alternate sites for a golf course," Seale said. "The people who are making these decisions now don't know anything about the blue-collar people who play municipal golf. Just to say Lake Bryan because it's there and we own the property, I think that would be a gross mistake." Dennis Goehring, executive director of the Bryan Business Council, said he's thrilled that Bryan is on the list of places being considered for the Health Science Center campus. "It's an opportunity that we have in Bryan, Texas, that we need to capitalize on," he said. "These opportunities don't happen every day."

So nice of them to want to condemn homeowners in the area to declining neighborhoods and rising crime so that golfers won't have to drive a little further.

On the Bryan Council agenda today..... Health Science Center plan on agenda for Bryan council By APRIL AVISON Eagle Staff Writer The Bryan City Council will conduct a special meeting Thursday to decide whether it supports closing the municipal golf course to make way for a Texas A&M Health Science Center campus. Also on the agenda is consideration of a proposal that the city host a summer collegiate baseball team at the Travis Athletic Complex. The meeting will begin with a closed session at 11 a.m. at the Bryan Municipal Building on Texas Avenue. The council will consider signing a resolution supporting the location of a Health Science Center campus on the Villa Maria Road property where the golf course sits. The resolution does not indicate whether - or if - the city will request compensation for the land. Bryan Business Council President Mitch Morehead has said he thinks the city should give away the land and reap the benefits of having a major landmark in Bryan's central business corridor. The city budgets about $900,000 a year to maintain and operate the golf course. Building a new course would cost about $8 million. "I don't think anyone has decided whether we'll sell it, give it away or lease it," Councilman Jason Bienksi said of the golf course property. "I definitely support working with the Health Science Center about possibly locating within the city limits of Bryan." Although university buildings are tax-exempt, meaning the city would realize no property taxes if it dealt the site to the center, state funds could be used for street, water and sewer improvements that could attract surrounding development. Morehead has suggested that a new golf course be built near Lake Bryan. Bienski, however, said municipal golf courses are not profitable ventures and he would support pursuing other options, such as a co-owning a course with College Station. Bryan Mayor Ernie Wentrcek has a different perspective. "I have only one out of seven votes, but I would definitely want to have a municipal golf course," he said. "I think probably 80 percent or more of the golfers in this community rely on the municipal golf course. If A&M was to approach us and say that is the site they wish to build on, that is when we would want to look at numerous options and have some public input." Bryan's director of special projects, David Storrie, oversees the golf course and its finances. Storrie said Wednesday he has not had any conversations with the mayor and council about the future of the course. Wentrcek said there won't be any discussion on selling or giving away the land until after the board of regents makes a decision. The board meets later this month, but an agenda has not yet been posted. "This has been strictly a 'what-if' scenario," Wentrcek said. "It would be a wonderful opportunity for Bryan to have such a school and facility within our city limits. It's imperative that the council look at this." The council also plans to discuss whether it will support a collegiate summer baseball team composed of players from Big 12 universities, including Texas A&M. Local company Infinity Pro Sports has offered to pay for about $1 million worth of field renovations at the Travis Athletic Complex in order to accommodate the new team. David Schmitz, Bryan's parks and recreation manager, is recommending that the council enter a 10-year lease agreement, investing no money in the renovations but providing free usage of the field for the first five years. After that, the sports company will pay about $200 per night of usage. The estimated income to the city for the second five years of the agreement is about $40,000, according to a memo submitted by Schmitz. If the agreement is approved, the new team is expected to start its first season next summer.

It's pretty amazing that Forestwood appears to be such a nice street with well-kept homes but yet is bookended by some pretty ghetto streets in Peppertree and Verde.

Right, they bought some more land on the north side of the property and then re-worked that side of the course, changing 5 or 6 holes.

It's amazing how much Westfield HS has changed. I grew up in Olde Oaks (parents still live there) and graduated from Westfield 11 years ago. It was a pretty solid school then. I would have put the top of my class up against that from any other public school in the area. There was some gang activity around, but it was pretty easy to avoid and I never felt unsafe at school. I guess being in band helped a lot as well. Nowadays, from what I hear, it's a pretty scary place. A good friend of mine, who actually graduated from Klein HS the same year, ended up teaching at WHS and just left last year to teach at Klein Oak. She had plenty of horror stories, results of changing demographics and incompetent administration. It will be interesting to see if the new high school changes things at Westfield for the better, if at all. Man, you have no idea how right you are. Even in the early 90's, when Westfield was still a pretty good school, we always had a lot of contact with kids from Klein ISD schools through church activites. It always pissed me off to hear some of my classmates whine about how much they wish they went to Klein instead. It was pretty sad.

The first course in Houston I ever played. It was also the site of the best round I ever shot. It was triple digits, but it was still my best round :-) Sad to see it go. It was even expanded not to long ago, right?

June 26, 2006, 1:33AM Public input on University light rail line sought Opinions will be included in federal environmental impact statement Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle The Metropolitan Transit Authority will hold public meetings this week on its planned University light rail line, the subject of keen debate over potential routes on Westpark and Richmond. The gatherings, called scoping meetings, are required by federal law. The format will be an open house with no formal presentation or public speeches. There will be several displays with information boards and staff will be available to hear residents' concerns. Visitors may fill out comment cards or dictate their comments to a stenographer. The public input will be noted in the federally required environmental impact statements. Metro spokesman George Smalley noted that "environmental" is interpreted broadly to include social impact and quality of life, not just impact on the natural environment. Smalley said Metro will schedule a meeting in late July to report on the progress of its engineering and environmental work of the line to that point. That work is scheduled to be completed by year's end.

http://www.theeagle.com/stories/062206/local_20060622005.php Voting on it today.....

Maybe he does a lot of business in end tables and lamps.

Not only that, but the owner of that Exxon, Mobil or Chevron gas station makes very little money when prices are high. Competition is fierce when prices are high and more people buy the cheaper sludge.

How mind-numbingly stupid. Not you, pineda, the author of this "piece."

It's all well and good to have nice looking freeways. But a freeway's primary function is to move people safely and efficiently where they need to go. If the freeway can look pretty and still accomplish those objectives, then knock yourself out.

No more complaining about the cost of the Katy Freeway rebuild on this site as long as people are talking about airports on stilts!

Of course we by them to drive them. But would you rather buy a car every two years or three years or five years or.....?

FM 1960 definitely has some opportunities for access management solutions.

Just as bad as the people who let them in. Enablers!

I was being facetious. Raising the gas tax wouldn't exactly be a popular move right now, knowhatimean?

We can always raise the gasoline tax. I mean, it's such a steal right now!