Leonard

Really?  What am I lying about?

Walmart was the one with the scheme to get Parker to fork over the coin to make it happen. 

The logic that Walmart made Koehler better and coincidentally other streets are better for other reasons escapes me.  There are a lot of specific few blocks that have had older homes razed and townhouses built inside the loop since the Walmart was built.  It's just what's happening inside the loop. 

Yeah - it would make more sense to know what percent of driving-age Houstonians don't drive and what percent of children live in a household with no driver/car. 

august - I was wondering about that.  At first I assumed "age" just meant elderly - but now I wonder if that 40% also includes children.  I have no idea how what the ratio of adults to children is in Houston. 

I thought this was interesting in light of the walkability issues with the Ainbinder/Walmart/Orr developments:

http://www.chron.com/bellaire/news/article/More-prominent-role-for-cycling-envisioned-4576227.php#src=fb

"About 40 percent of Houston residents don't drive for reasons including age, disability, income and preference, he said."

Forty percent - that's higher than I would have guessed. 

"I wont start into how wrong you are on food/agriculture, something I am involved in daily"  - hey!  Me too!  I'm going to eat some food now. 

What does "semantics" mean?  "Not facts"?

so the lame stream media comment is just something you made up?  Or do you monitor what media I watch/listen to/read?

The latest round of comments was set off by the Channel 26 report on the infrastructure surrounding the Walmart/Ainbinder development.  I think that topic is relevant.  Marksmu's vision of a National Association of Manufactures, Nurses and Realtors?  Not so much. 

Facts?  Where? 

Where is the person who removes off topic/boring posts?

JJxvi, good question. I think the hydrant in the Channel 26 video is on Koehler like between the bank and the Walmart entrance.  There are other hydrants in the sidewalk in that area, and I think that you are right that Orr has at least one.  Orr's might be ADA compliant, though. 

http://money.msn.com/now/post.aspx?post=96788602-ad1c-46a7-b7f5-23416977b75e

And if you are against entitlements, Walmart, according to this article, increases food stamps and housing subsidies.

"That means a single Wal-Mart Supercenter store in Wisconsin may require taxpayers to shell out as much as $1.7 million per year -- or nearly $6,000 per employee -- in aid, according to one estimate in the report. A second estimate pegged the cost to taxpayers at a lower $904,542 per Supercenter."

Talk about putting words in someone else's mouth! samagon, help me! haha!

Sorry, my bad. Let me rephrase that:

Of course, if it were up to you, they'd be done because you are SATISFIED with what your tax dollars are buying.

Seriously, I would love to hear in what ways you are unhappy with how your tax dollars were spent via the Ainbinder 380. 

"Yes, I am fine cause I saw it."  - samagon.  Sorry I misinterpreted that.  Thought it meant you were fine with it.  I would love to hear your issues with the development. 

Your premise that Walmart wasn't involved in the negotiations amuses me. 

What proceeds are you talking about? 

Walmart gets the sewer, the water, the turn lanes, the traffic lights.  The trees, the sidewalks.  Walmart gets to make a better deal with Ainbinder because all this stuff is taken care of.  Walmart clearly benefits from the 380. 

How does the 380 not involve Walmart?  The only thing that has to happen for Ainbinder to get reimbursed is for the Walmart to open.  Not Chase Bank, not Taco Cabana, not Starbucks.  Walmart.  Over half the property tax reimbursement will come from Walmart.  If it has nothing to do with Walmart, why are Walmart's taxes included in the reimbursement?

Just because Mayor Parker says it has nothing to do with Walmart doesn't make it so.  She also said it was interest-free.  Also not true. 

They are going to do more because people are complaining.  The only item mentioned is getting the fire hydrant out of the sidewalk.  If Isiah Carey hadn't done this report, would Ainbinder be moving the hydrant?  What else are they going to do?  It looks like they have Certificates of Occupancy from the City. 

And yes, the more I learn about Walmart, the more I hate Walmart.  But my issue is with the 380.  If Walmart had built without the 380 (which Ainbinder said they would) I wouldn't be discussing Walmart at all. 

Of course, if it were up to you, they'd be done because you are happy with what your tax dollars are buying. 

Yes, you adjusted your opinion to be fine with whatever Ainbinder/Walmart/Mayor Parker did. 

It is crap, and it could be better.  Even your precious precious Ainbinder agrees.  Did you watch Channel 26's video?  Ainbinder isn't finished! 

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/story/22451826/2013/05/29/heights-residents-demand-answers-from-city-leaders

samagon, you had a nice rant about yesterday about how crosswalks should only go to corners with sidewalks.  Now you're fine with it because that's how Ainbinder did it. 

Just because you can find something worse, doesn't make something else good - sifting down to the lowest common denominator isn't what the City said it was giving Ainbinder $6M for.  The sales pitch, among other things, was specifically that sidewalks and trees would be better.  They are not.  The sales pitch wasn't "yeah, it's gonna be crap, but there is worse crap out there so keep your whining to yourself." 

Thank you JJxvi!

And are you being elitist by saying whether or not something is "classless"?  hahahhaa!!!  Something else that makes me laugh.