j_cuevas713

That's huge news! Stuff like this has a ripple effect to draw even more cool things. 

21 hours ago, Urbannizer said:

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/gray-matters/article/After-Harvey-Houston-has-the-chance-to-get-12416558.php

 

 

 

We may not turn in to Brooklyn, Boston, or SF overnight, but I guarantee you will see a massive shift in the overall design and placement of new buildings in the next 5 to 10 years. Houston is going to change dramatically. We can complain how mass transit has not expanded westward but area's like Downtown, Midtown, East End, all the way towards the MedCenter will really densify with greater street presence. 

I should be updating this thread more often. I work across the street. 

Just now, IronTiger said:

Well, which is it? That rail to Houston would provide "tremendous economic growth" (presumably that only rail could really satiate), or that the old train was just before its time? It can't be played both ways.

Both. We need a train/bus shuttle/SOMETHING now to create new economic growth. More so a train would create that growth but if the city created a nice bus station downtown dedicated to traveling to Galveston, people would go. Much the same way the MegaBus is situated. Obviously much nicer than that but you get the idea. The problem was a lack of foresight in the early 90's to see that potential. Instead it was a cost issue and it was cut. So yeah the train was "before it's time" but there was also no desire to make downtown more attractive and spur growth in the area period.  The argument has always been, nobody will ride it and it's a waste of money. The same stuff was said about the light rail. So my point is that NOW, would be a great opportunity to offer something that's accessible to entice ridership. The same goes for our Amtrak station. Half the people in this city don't even know we have a train that can get you to LA or Nola. The reason is it's damn near non existent where it's located. I noticed that 20 year plan for downtown calls for moving the station for more visibility. My point is if nobody knows then how can you expect ridership to grow? This city need's a connection to the island. 

2 hours ago, IronTiger said:

If rail to Galveston was as much of an economic boon as you think it is, then it would've grown Galveston dramatically in the early 1990s and taking out the service would be unthinkable. The success of Midtown and it happening right around the time rail was built helped create/perpetuate the myth of "instant economy just add rail" but the reality is that same sort of growth has been happening all over the Inner Loop rail or not.

Yeah like the multitude of other things that would help this city that have never been done. I'm not the only one, I mean Metro and The Island Transit have a 2 year deal to run limited service to show the need for the connection. To think there wouldn't be tremendous economic growth because of this is ridiculous. You connect Houston with it's vacation neighbor outside of just 45 which is already congested. You're also forgetting how unappealing downtown was during the early 90's along with Galveston. Both have become great spots the past 20+ years. 

3 minutes ago, IronTiger said:

The other problem, and I think this has been mentioned, is that even if rail was able to go on the same track of freight (which would dramatically lower infrastructure costs), freight traffic is capped to about 35 mph, which would really screw up any time savings over road. The amount of people that live in Galveston (or would like to live in Galveston, and I don't think Galveston has especially cheap housing) and work in downtown Houston (or parts around it) is going to be a small minority, and putting the station in downtown Houston would render it fairly useless for tourism purposes as well.

 

If you wanted a viable commuter corridor in Houston, do The Woodlands as both have major industries located there, the Hardy Toll Road rail corridor is faster, and it can even hook up to the airport. While the Hardy Toll Road is not rail nor an equivalent, it does prove that people are willing to pay to avoid I-45 North to downtown, and it comes with another advantage that Galveston/Houston would have to deal with...the train would not get stopped at the drawbridge as a ship passes under it.

Yeah but you're basing all of that on the now. If you had a commuter line in Galveston, think about the economic impact it would have in that city. Yeah right now there are very few people traveling from Galveston to Houston to work. In the long term that number would grow. And that's not to mention the amount of people using it on the weekends. 

10 hours ago, IronTiger said:

I seem to recall an article where someone had wanted to put in rail at the new baseball stadium ("baseball fans arriving by rail") but realistically, there was no way that could work. The block where Union Station was, directly south of it had been the platforms for the trains but even by the 1980s where the rails were had become a parking lot (the rails may have been intact, but they weren't functioning). To have rail at Minute Maid, it would have to run along Texas Avenue (with all necessary signage required for an active rail) AND the tracks connecting it would have to be kept open. There was a crossing directly through Bastrop and Rusk, that would've had to have been maintained as an active crossing (with signals on all four sides), and seven more crossings before hooking into the mainline at Sampson Street. With the railroad still at Bastrop and Rusk that means that the BBVA Compass Stadium wouldn't happen at that location, and that has benefitted EaDo greatly. So then either the rail gets abandoned (again) or BBVA Compass Stadium moves, or Houston Dynamo leaves.

 

But the train from Houston to Galveston just doesn't seem anymore than a novelty. It's not a major commuter center, and even if you were going to classes at UTMB, the only reason you would take a train is for purposes related to housing, and it sure isn't going to be cheaper to live in Houston to commute, and commuting from Galveston to Houston for work makes just as little sense. The thing is that the Interurban was that roads really did render it obsolete back in the mid-1930s (just like many other interurbans across Texas) and nostalgia isn't a compelling reason for keeping something high-maintenance like that on taxpayer dollars (that's why the revival line died...and notice that I'm trying to compare rail to rail, like the Houston METRO or eastern seaboard cities).

It's a novelty idea because Houston and Galveston haven't been serious about connecting the two areas. I mean think about being able to live in Galveston and still be able to work in Houston with better jobs, etc or vise vera. Trust me the development that would have occurred would've still probably included BBVA and a ton of other development along the route. 

It's nice to see Highland Village blend in better with the Central Market. I'm noticing a lot of businesses are sort of molding their overall current design to better connect with existing development. 

I keep thinking about how dramatic Kirby will look off of 59 once all these buidings finish. 

Wow this is awesome!

2 hours ago, Houston19514 said:

 

Is it the city doing the repairs or the Midtown TIRZ?  Generally, I don't believe the city is responsible for installing or maintaining sidewalks. 

I'm assuming Midtown TIRZ

damn that sucks

3 hours ago, Angostura said:

Unless the developer does the upgrades as part of the construction, they don't get done. There's no way CoH is going to do anything about sidewalks in this area.

I think if it's reported it will. I just reported a lack of sidewalk access in a part of Midtown that I live in and they have already put the location on their list of repairs. 

Not to jump off topic. I love all the development going on in this part of the Heights. For anyone who lives in the area, are there any plans for infrastructure upgrades like new sidewalks, etc? The area where FatKatz is at has terrible road and drainage issues along with terrible sidewalks. 

3 minutes ago, Houston19514 said:

 

Houston?  A Republican mayor?  No.  Not since 1981.

Ahh ok I wasn't sure, I mean I was like 8 years old. Either way that's when the commuter train ended service to Galveston. Any details why?

11 hours ago, JLWM8609 said:

Just Googled it after you mentioned it. I knew that both transit authorities were working on it after that story about the gap between the services. It's nice that they have it. I wonder if there would be demand for weekend service? With the seemingly unending construction on I-45 extending southward, a bus might be an alternative to being being the wheel and fighting construction related traffic, but I'd think the weekenders would prefer one bus on the entire route instead of a transfer.

I don't mind the transfer. According to what I read on the City of Galveston website, the route is only open for 2 years thanks to a "generous" grant from TxDOT. I feel like we have to almost worship at the feet of TxDOT for them to realize we need this route. I just wish it was considered a necessity more than some sort of test for the future. And I think that's the biggest issue with public transit in Houston, especially with organizations like TxDOT. The reason cities like NY or Chicago have such a robust transit system is because it's on the same level of importance as making sure the city has water. In Houston it's more a matter of, "Do we really need it?" I was told that the commuter service from Houston to Galveston was cut in 94. Not to get all political because I was a kid at the time, but didn't we have a Republican mayor?

Wait a sec, so all that land fenced off is just what... for parking???

So there's now a weekly shuttle service from Houston to Galveston that runs 3 times a day M-F. Has anyone heard about the shuttle or tried it?

On 11/14/2017 at 4:30 PM, Pitts said:

A new brewery literally a block from 8th Wonder? I'm starting to wonder how many craft breweries this city can absorb...

Lot's more tbh

2 hours ago, samagon said:

indeed, with the polk street bike path they will double the amount of on street comfort bike paths this city has! 

 

I get the sarcasm. I'm talking about the trail connections as well. I think things are starting to pick up steam with Houstonians using their bikes to get around. It's becoming common place inside the loop. 

Looks like the move to make Houston a gold level bike city is happening faster than what most critics assumed. 

This brewery will fit in so damn well with the neighborhood. This is awesome!

That looks like a great spot to watch the game!

I feel like this area will be very neighborgood focused, so spots like a vet clinic, pharmacy, a small market would be good for the area. North downtown seems more about entertainment. 

This adds great balance to the Med Center skyline and great density!