TonyM

Yeah I do quite like it when they're honest. I had one approach me at the Montrose/Westheimer Valero. "Man you know I'll be honest, I could really use a beer right now." Hard to argue with that.

Progress is actually further along than this photo indicates. All the framing for the apartments around the parking garage is pretty much done. They've also finished the entire west side of building 6 brick work and started drywalling the apartments as well. What's really impressive is how fast Post III is going, just flying.

http://www.texastribune.org/texas-transportation/transportation/private-firm-planning-bullet-trains-texas-2020/ I like private funding, moves so much faster than government.

Pretty much. Not a Walmart fan at all, it's been years since I've been in one simply because I never had one convenient to me and the one I did go to was a dump. But this development is a good thing and I hope it does well. I do love Target though. Something about that "Target smell" when you walk in the door - Cintas rubber mats and popcorn. You know you've arrived . . .

Well that's the root of the problem is that most of them are drunks and/or addicts. I've offered a couple of the nicer ones food but they refuse it, would rather $3 to go buy some cheap liquor. Can't do much with that. I'll never give them money as there are outlets to help them with whatever "problems" they have (though I find that to be an excuse).

Good to hear. If they can get as much done foundation/structure wise, also on the backside of the restaurant, they'll be ready to go full tilt when the road crew moves on. I just don't expect to see much facade work done until the trackhoes move down. Not sense getting too much money into the place only to risk damage from the other crew.

Been that way for awhile now. Don't expect to see much change until Bagby construction is past them (or at least the east lane).

I'll continue to do both, as I already do.

They don't have to, I'm simply saying that they should take their begging and panhandling somewhere that is intended for such a purpose. Enjoy Midtown's wonderful sidewalks, parks, and facilities . . . but knock off the panhandling.

Now you're just being silly. They can walk and enjoy where ever they like. But if they're going to walk around with their hands out, at least walk where there facilities set up to cater to such things. That's the point and you know it.

Agreed. And I think it is interesting that the set of folks who abhor this development likely don't live within a proximity where they will be directly impacted for better or worse. In speaking with my brother over the weekend, who could throw a rock from his apartment and hit the Walmart, he's pretty excited about it. He doesn't own a vehicle and the prospect of more dining options and a grocery he can walk to is great. I'm no Walmart fan but it's redevelopment of some unused old land, big deal. Not like we needed more townhouses crammed in there anyway.

There's a difference between belittling and preferring they take advantage of the existing assistance infrastructure that's in place. I don't belittle their status, what good is that? But I certainly don't reinforce their poor choices in life by giving them money. Give a fish or teach to fish? There are many shelters in place at Gray near 59. My preference is that they hang out there instead of bothering me while I sit on the patio of a restaurant trying to eat or bother me while I run into CVS for a bottle of aspirin. I don't think it's too much to ask and as a Christian, I don't think it's at all "belittling".

Beats me, I certainly don't good looking for interactions with bums. Just happen to live in fourth ward, frequent many midtown establishments, and walk my dogs regularly. I suppose the increases my exposure but I'd just as soon not have to deal with the bums. Living in the area I can tell you that I do notice the "regular" bums. There's one nice guy (the bald guy with a cane who usually sells flowers at all the bars on Thurs/Fri/Sat) however I've stopped helping him out after seeing him relieving himself right in the middle of the sidewalk on a Saturday afternoon a few weeks back. I don't have any tolerance for that garbage. There's a few nasty ones that hang around and tend to not be so friendly, but I see them all the time. Don't know any way around it other than to not walk around but I'm not afraid of them so I'll continue to do so. Just don't like the image it brings to midtown when people come here and get hassled by bums, especially when much money has been spent on shelters and assistance less than half a mile away on Gray St.

I'm more than likely to give money to nobody, no matter their color. Race doesn't matter to me, I'm not reinforcing someone's poor choices in life simply because he or she happens to be the same color as me.

http://swamplot.com/rumblings-around-the-fourth-wards-bethel-missionary-baptist-church/2012-08-03/#more-45176

I've told a few to get back down to Gray and 59 where the shelters are but they don't seem to listen too well . . .

Yeah you must be, haha. I still love midtown, it just gets annoying. I walk a lot and even when at home I can't get away from it, I had a bum ring my doorbell and ask for money because he saw me through the window. It just gets frustrating, I don't do bothering them asking for shit, wish they'd extend the same courtesy. Oddly enough, I did always wonder why some of the black bums never seemed to ask other black people for money. I did get my answer one day at CVS. Whereas most of us just give a quick "no I don't have anything" and carry on, I saw a bum approach a really well built black guy and ask for money. I heard some pretty thundering yelling and cussing, I guess that's why they don't ask hahaha. Just need to be forceful enough.

Much of the lot has been cleared of brush and debris. They've got a bobcat on site as well. We'll see where this goes . . .

Yeah they're the worst, it's funny because I just breeze past them on the way to my own home, yet they still want to "help" me park. Idiots . . . Of course for those coming from outside midtown, what are you to do? You don't give the guy a couple bucks and he points out your car as the one to break into? Lots of broken glass along Pierce/Victor behind Front Porch/Komodo.

Sure is! Always love the vagrants that hang out by the entrance to CVS. On my way in the always ask me if I can get them some change while I'm in there to which I reply, "Do you have any for me?" They generally have no answer. Except for the one who went after my fiancee then claimed I wasn't a "real man" because I wouldn't give him the $3 in change she had in her hand. Apparently working and earning a living is no longer being a "real man" in the progressive, vagrant friendly society we have today . . .

Asking for money certainly is free speech, pestering me for money when I'm just trying to enjoy a night out is an annoyance and disgraceful. Especially after I've already answered and made it abundantly clear that I won't be catering to their demand. As for the militant type bums, HPD couldn't care less, and quite frankly it isn't the police's job to deal with that all the time. My 90lb Chow-Chow almost got a mouthful of the last bum who took a swing at me, HPD certainly wasn't there to protect me. Point is if people would quite giving these assholes a dollar every time they ask then maybe they'll find somewhere else to panhandle. Some for the charities, if the charities weren't in this area they'd go somewhere else. I've got no issue with the charities at Gray/59 as long as they keep the area in good shape. But anyone saying the "like having bums around" is either lying or a bum themselves.

Quite the contrary, Kyle. As a taxpaying, productive member of society my hard earned dollars went towards that sidewalk. The non-taxpaying (likely tax leeching) homeless person can make no such claim of contribution or productivity. I can tolerate homeless wandering around if they don't utter a word to me other than "hello" and mind their own business, don't urinate on the sidewalk (as I watch most of them do), and don't give people a hard time. But considering the fact that there is only one "regular" bum I see who minds his own business every time I see him, I believe that type to be the exception and not the rule. Most do beg for money and some hassle you for it, most do urinate and defecate on the public infrastructure you say we all have no claim to, most are just drunken trouble makers. As harsh as it may sound that's the cold hard reality of it, these people are leeches and contribute nothing positive to society. Forgive me for not shedding a tear for them.

Given the flurry of apartment activity inside the loop, it wouldn't surprise me. Strike while the iron is hot. I'll be interested to see what all this new capacity does to rent prices in the next year as these developments come online.

Wow, that's one of the nicer sections of midtown. Surprising.

Considering how long and how much money it's taken the city to get this far, March or April would be really quick. Interested to see what they do with this relic, should've been leveled years ago . . .