Astro

I remember at the time they gave Midtown a TIRZ they DID need it, and Midtown started booming shortly after that... Although it would have done so anyway with or without the TIRZ... So maybe they were a little premature in giving it to Midtown. I'm curious though, exactly which improvements in Midtown were paid for by its TIRZ? Regarding Uptown, I would have never thought of that as an "underdeveloped" area...

I may be wrong but I thought the original intention of TIRZ's was to help economically disadvantaged neighborhoods? I didn't know Uptown had one.

Well, this article in today's paper seems fitting for this thread! Personally I don't blame residents for being resistant to yet another apartment complex built in this area. "Overabundance" is an understatement. Nov. 10, 2004, 9:58PM Proposed complex draws mixed reviews Neighbors don't want more units, unless restricted to senior citizens By ANNE MARIE KILDAY Chronicle Correspondent Residents of far southwest Houston concerned about an overabundance of apartment units in their area are keeping a close eye on a proposal for a new, 250-unit apartment complex for low- and moderate-income senior citizens. Ruth Hurst, president of the New Braeswood Revitalization Authority, said last week that the area already has too many vacant apartments. "In our area, we have at least 4,000 to 5,000 units that are vacant right now," Hurst said. "We just don't need any more apartment complexes." Developers Vernon and Elizabeth Young have submitted an application to the Harris County Housing Finance Corp. for up to $15 million in bonds to build the Oak Tree Manor Apartments on the east side of the 12700 block of Fondren. Vernon Young said the proposed Oak Tree Manor complex would be "identical" to an apartment complex he and his wife have developed for senior residents near Spring Branch. In addition to the Oak Tree complex, they have four other similar seniors apartment projects in various stages of development. The Lovett Manor apartments, located at 2506 Antoine, are designed for residents over age 55 who want to live in an affordable but quality apartment complex, Young said. Half of that complex is priced so low-income seniors can afford the $530 monthly rent on one-bedroom units, or $637 for a two-bedroom apartment. Each apartment includes granite countertops, cable TV, crown molding, 9-foot ceilings and washer-dryer hook-ups. The apartments offer senior residents a variety of recreational activities, including a library, a small DVD theatre, a complete fitness center with a lap pool and Jacuzzi, private flower and vegetable gardens and shuffleboard courts. Spring Branch battle "In Spring Branch, I had a real uphill battle," Young said. "The area residents just didn't believe how beautiful it was going to be. I had a battle convincing them it wasn't going to be tacky. Now, they are moving their own relatives in." "It's not like I'm going to build this and move away," he added. "My wife and I are in this for the long haul." Elizabeth Rippy, an attorney for the Vinson & Elkins law firm, which represents the Harris County Housing Finance Corp., said a public hearing will be held on the proposed apartment complex

If you look at the subdivisions of Sharpstown and Fondren Southwest, those neighborhoods have never been able to really bounce back since the housing bust of the 1980's, like so many other neighborhoods have. I think the thing that hurts these neighborhoods the most is the oversaturation of low income apartments in the area. It's OK to have a few apartment complexes scattered among single-family housing, but in the case of Gulfton and Fondren SW, it's way too many. There's no way I would want to own a home on the outskirts of Sharpstown with all those apartments right across the street. Too bad too because there are very nice homes in both of these neighborhoods. Has anybody ever driven through Northfield North (north of West Bellfort, West of Fondren)? There are some awesome 1970's era contemporary homes built back there, but they're completely surrounded on all immediate sides by thousands and thousands of low income apartment dwellers.

Have they even cleared the site yet of the existing buildings?

I don't know, but I won't have to wait until 2030, I can appreciate those styles right now... That HCCS tower is a favorite Midtown building of mine, along with the Century building... along with plenty of other buildings from the 50s-70s... There's one small commerical building on Elgin at San Jacinto with a funky angular roofline that I really like. I agree that Spanish style building is really cool too... and it looks not unlike a La Quinta Inn

This sounds like something I should look into. Thanks for the suggestion!

The original Thai Cottage here in Bellaire (Bissonet near South Rice) is excellent. Thai Spice and Nit Noi are good. Hollywood Vietnamese serves Thai dishes as well... Their pad thai is very yummy and well-priced. There's a place called Vung Thai on the West Loop at 18th street that has a pretty decent (though small) lunch buffet (and cheap! Only 5.75!) I haven't vistited Golden Room in awhile but always thought they were priced a little high. And the decor seemed a little too overdone for my taste. And it feels small cramped and dark in there... I had the same feeling about Thai Pepper on W Alabama. Both have good food though. I guess I like windows. Bangkok Place on Westhemier @ Commonwealth used to be one of my favorites around 1998-2001 back when I lived nearby... last time I went about 2 years ago they were under new management and I wasn't as impressed. Maybe it's gotten better since then.

Sorry to hear this fell through! But is the diner car is still there? Or are they going to remove it now?

There's a photo of it in the business section of today's Chronicle. It really is a nice looking building once it gets cleaned up... I think these will make really great condos! It kind of reminds me of the high rise where Bob & Emily Hartley lived in Chicago on the Bob Newhart Show

This is great news, and I hope this goes through as well. That would be awesome if the Central Bank/Century building a few blocks south of here could be converted to condos as well.

I watched the video... From what I could see of the quickly flashed renderings, it looks as if that 1 block west of Crawford was not included in the park after all... The way KPRC kept comparing this little 13 acre park to NY's magnificent Central Park... that's going a bit overboard isn't it?

Why not build the new downtown extension at grade? Considering the huge impact that the existing rail line has had on DT and MT a few extra blocks of surface rail connecting Main St to East downtown won't make that much more difference. It sure would be a LOT cheaper to build at grade than a subway... not to mention much less prone to flooding...

I think this park is great news! And I disagree with those that say it is poorly placed... It's an excellent location! Especially with the curved streets and the nice symmetry of it's layout in relationship to the convention center (which unfortuantely isn't that attractive but it could be fixed up), and the view down Crawford Street to TC and up Avenida de las Americas up to MMP. And plus the Hilton. I totally agree with that... they should close Crawford there. But I thought it was a dumb move for them to close Crawford in the first place to build TC. They should have shifted it over one block east since Crawford and Jackson had always been a nice pair of companion one-way streets on the easternmost side of downtown which merged nicely to the Elysian Viaduct to the north and into Almeda Road to the south. That was ruined by the placement of the TC. Yep, probably! Wasn't it supposed to go along Texas Street? It was either that one or one other street, I can't remember...

That's funny, I think the Pierce Elevated looks fine the way it is, one of the better looking freeways we have... especially since it had it's makeover a few years ago... it has a kind of sleek modern look now. Building it underground would be ridiculously expensive and a huge waste of money. Especially tunneling it underneath Buffalo Bayou?!

Nah, the Pierce Elevated was just rebuilt a few years ago... it's going to stay put exactly where it is for awhile. The section of 45 they're referring to is farther north, mainly the section running over the bayou and then connecting to I-10.... That is all the original concrete that was built 40-50 years ago and that will need to be replaced anyway eventually. As the article says they won't re-align it until it's scheduled by TxDot to rebuild it, which probably won't be for another 20 years. I think it's a good idea to redo it, and especially consolidate all of those ramps so it won't be such a spaghetti bowl there. I'm curious though to see exactly where they are going to put it, especially in relation to the newly completed "Sabine Lofts" and the Aquarium.

I'll try to withhold judgement until it's finished, but I don't care for what I've seen so far. It IS a behemoth... Too bad the Jeff Davis Hospital had to come down... it looked so much better than what's going up now.

Oh... Well then I hope the hospitals aren't built to face the Pierce Elevated with the garages facing Gray Street...

Isn't Labranch a one way street running North? If so then I would hope they would make the buildings face south so you can see them as you are driving up Labranch. I like how the twin buildings give the effect of a gateway into downtown.

Oh OK, I see now, the two twin towers will both be at the Gray & Labranch location.. that will be cool.

I don't get it... Are the two towers being built next to each other at one of those locations, or are they building two identical towers in two different parts of Midtown? If it's the latter, that seems a little odd, doesn't it? The renderings do look good though...

Thanks for all the interesting info Space Age! I didn't realize there was so much interesting history there. I'm a fan of these buildings too and I really hope they can be saved.

It doesn't look too horrible, but it sure won't win any beauty contests either!