Highway6

Wait. Just west of the spur and just west of the 59/288 jumble are 2 completely different areas. You don't mean over by the high-rise by Flora.... You mean over by Chenevert. I didn't pass there.

Passed there on the way home... Didn't see anything. And I would think 2 multi- story concrete structures would be hard to miss. You sure you were on Alabama?

It's not a matter of keeping out dollar stores, it's to make a "neighborhood" of goods and services that people will need on a day to day basis that is easily accessible to those that don't rely on a car to get there.

Not to a developer it isn't. They don't slap down mixed-use projects for the fun of it or out of the goodness of their hearts.

They do it to make money.

What you describe is important.. but it's not going in a brand new mixed-use development.

I hate to tell you this, but it IS far out.

My only real problem with CC is the fact that is isn't really "CONNECTED" to the street system, but more along the lines of its own little enclave that people have to drive to a fairly idiotic route to get to.

Midtown is a bit more successful as far as accessibility for those that come from outside the area.

I used to feel the same way, until I stated working on the beltway, and now work on I-10 inside the beltway.

There are so many office buildings and office parks withing 3 miles of there, it is a good location. Look at all the new retail that has sprouted up along I-10 between Wirt and 8 since 10 has been rebuilt. There is plenty of demand for retail and commercial in this part of town.

Its not inconvenient to get to at all. I can understand why most urbanistas would frown at it, I used to be the same way. Lord, It's outside the Loop. But I've learned that even if you choose to live someplace innner loop in a walkable community, if you're lucky enough to have a job and its located outside the loop, it's all for naught.

Plus.. another thing I've come to realize, 610 isn't a magical line and "suburbia" is relative. The old suburbs in the 610 to 8 zone is where you're gonna find all the great ranch homes of houston. I have lots of family and friends in the western 610 to 8 zone, and lots of them love the new CC.

New mixed-use development isn't only for urbanistas on their bicycles.

Even though midtown would be the more ideal place for a mixed use development from a transit-connectivity standpoint, who is going to shop there? Middle-class shoppers with money. I don't see dollar stores and fiestas going up in a primo new developments. I don't see 3rd ward contributing to the development's viability. Neartown, the Musuem district and the couple of thousand DT residences.. Thats it.. Contrast that to CC, surrounded 360 degrees by Spring Branch, Memorial, the Villages, and the Kirkwood/Dairy Ashford area, all by residents not afraid to drive a few miles to shop. CC is a developer's wet dream compared to Midtown.

PS. "Far out" is relative if you're on a brand spanking new freeway. It takes me longer to get from my home near the Menil to I-10 than it takes me to get from Shepherd exit on 10 to the beltway. The new 1-10 is dreamy.

I'm not sure why everyone keeps referring to it as sheet metal.

Its a railing/guardrail system made up of thin tubing and it looks just fine.

Chron article mentions a dedication ceremony today. Is the bridge now open? I know it wasn't on saturday.

This is an awesome article. Makes me really excited for the future of Houston. I hope it all works out exactly as it is layed out.

I agree. Awesome. I had no idea the funding was in place to realize that much in the near future.

3 more bridges plus rebuilding the entire trail system plus bringing the Sabine area blue/white lights along the entire stretch to Shepherd... Boom Boom Pow !!!!!

Concerning the sculptures:

From the artist's website - http://www.jaumeplensa.com/

This is another installation, but our half dozen statues are similar to this.

oh yeah.. and i think the bridges look great...simple and beautiful... much much better than that twisty crap we were gonna be stuck with.

i saw the statues this weekend too. They're not bad for public art.

The sidewalk and access improvements are really nice - You can now get from Spotts Park and the N bound side of Studemont to the Buffalo Bayou Trail. There is also a new ramp going from Sawyer St around the southern edge of Glenwood cemetary to the trail.

There's still lots of work to go though. I look forward to the day the whole trail system there is hardtop - at least asphalt. - The stretch under Memorial is still terrible - Hopefully that will eventually get paved, lighted and landscaped.

That's exactly what I've been trying to show them... however, some of them insist that this is "the center of houston" or "this is the demographic center of houston" or "this is houston's center of population"... UGH.

You started the whole stupid conversation. UGH

Interesting. Too far out for me to drive to just to look around... Looks nice though. Is this area the demographic center of Houston or the Houston Metro area? I find this difficult to believe. This certainly does not appear to be from looking at some maps. Perhaps this was inferred from the 2000 Census. I'd be interested to know what the latest Census reveals.

Over-Analysis Fail - Just read the back and forth on the demographics and if this is the center of Houston.

People, It's a name. It's marketing. It's no more the center of the city (in any form) than West Ave is in West Houston.. and it doesn't matter.

The developers could have named it Philadelphia Center or TurdBurger Plaza.. There is Zero meaning behind the name.

Yeah. nevermind. Zooming into various feeders on google maps, I'm way off. I've been way off for years.

All the feeders on the West Loop are W Loop S except for the North-bound stretch between Old Katy Road and 18th, which is W Loop N.

Tangental question: is West Loop South different from South Loop West? or East North Loop different from East Loop North? And, does it change, depending on which direction one is going?

I'm so confused. Thank goodness I don't drive.

Yup. First direction is which of the 4 sides of houston you are on, 2nd direction is which of the two headings is possible for any one of those 4 sides.

Galleria would be West Loop South

Reliant Stadium would be South Loop West

Least that's what I thought until I plugged in Hotel Derek... Shouln't that be West Loop North. Maybe I only thought I knew what I was talking about.

How long did BAR Houston last? Whats the typical life span of clubs here?

Unfortunately, I think this place is destined for failure. I agree that their plan is appealing to the fresh out of college 20 yr olds. I think this building design dictates that any club attempt has to - It's hard to imagine anything swank, uppity, pricey or classy there. However, know what else is appealing to young 20 yr olds, fresh out of college - free and abundant parking.

How long did City Streets last - a decade plus ?

Bayou Place is getting some new clubs and it certainly appears it will be in the spirit of the old City Streets...

http://blogs.chron.c..._tenants_a.html

St. Basil's on the St. Thomas Campus is fairly small and while not historic, it it certainly unique.

Lockmat, In your map, it's the building southeast of the red marker. The bldg marked UT health science center is no longer there.

It just so happened that this site was captured in another photo today on a completely unrelated story.

( The field on the left )

Oh God... We get to look forward to Skip and Steve annoying us on the radio again.

http://www.robbinsbrothers.com/Houston.ring

Chronicle says "will fund the construction of a state-of-the-art, 600,000 square-foot facility on five acres of M.D. Anderson's main campus."

MD Anderson needs 5 acres on their main campus.. What do you know.. Perfect timing.

Swamplot has updated.. the building isn't quite dead yet.

"being demolished today is a “coach canopy” outside the structure, cancer center spokesperson Laura Sussman tells Swamplot. Removal of the canopy will allow workers to extract a large mural from inside the space before the building is demolished."

"couldn’t confirm when demolition of the 18-story former Prudential Life Insurance Building would take place, but a source tells Swamplot it’s been scheduled for the middle of February"

http://swamplot.com/...own/2011-01-13/

looks like something did fly off...

looks like someone else owes PAC an apology...

The first shot is from one of the UHD parking lots. The largest one right before that bridge on Main/North Main.

The photographer has already verified the location up by Hogg Park and Hogan

I'm certain the first few shots of the vid are from an empty field next to one of the warehouses at McCall St @ Shiloh St.

I thought so too when i first saw the video, but no.

The main bridge they keep showing in the distance has 4 columns ( :15 sec mark).. it's a 4 lane overpass ( the Elysian Viaduct), not a 14 lane highway that you'd be seeing from the field location you mention.

At the :21 sec mark, they shift the view to the left, east (facing south), and you can see the corner of MMP and 59 overpass.

At the :28 sec mark, you see two distinct overpasses, one to your left, one to your right, both going away from you... This places you in the V of two raised streets/highways and definitively puts it at the Nance location.

I hadn't seen the video in a while when I guessed at the photo location. There are only so many places where you can capture bayou, freeway, and skyline... and I guessed poorly and too quickly. The sunset location should have told me I was wrong.

So, is there a baseball field there now? Couldn't find anything online or I could drive and see for myself.

No, No... It's a made-up a field for a commercial. . don't think Chevy would be into community building.

But i was way wrong.. Editor seems to have accurately placed the photo up near Hogg park.

The commercial, best I can tell, was filmed in the field south of Nance, next to the Elysian Viaduct.

- The building (West face) at the :16 mark appears to be the one at the SW corner of Nance and Maffitt

Also, is the current Weingarten development company at all related?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q...ngarten+history

It's a frickin' Embassy Suites. Get over it already.

+10 if I could, man