j_cuevas713

Not sure if this has a thread already.

http://www.chron.com/business/real-estate/article/Heights-waterworks-plan-now-includes-retail-11206224.php?ipid=ntk#photo-13051430

Yeah I love this part of town and how walkable it is. 

2 hours ago, Avossos said:

I like it. The building next to the grocery is a proven concept.

 

I think the approaching high rises will make the land use dollar$ difficult to work economically in the long term. I hope there is a way to protect this center so it does not bite the dust.

 

 

That's my only concern. Has this shopping center been put on any sort of preservation list? 

https://bikehouston.org/2017/06/01/heights-blvd-bayou-connection/

Old thread but I live right next to this area and wish they would keep it as a shopping center. This area has some good walkablity. 

2 hours ago, Angostura said:

 

The Sovereign is the only part of the project that's been built so far. Additional building permits were issued October of last year. There've been rumors of work being bid. 

 

Last news was next phase to be built would be a 2nd hi-rise residential building.

 

Nice, thank you for the update. From what I remember, this project is like a 10 year plan. Sucks cause I'll be 40 by then lol

1 hour ago, Houston19514 said:

 

I think only the portion of Alabama between Weslayan and Buffalo Speedway was ever expected to start construction in 2016.  May I ask your source for the claim that both the West Alabama and Lower Westheimer projects are fully funded?

Rebuild Houston website 

5 hours ago, CrockpotandGravel said:

From Facebook, Chapman & Kirby opens to the public today at East Village


https://www.facebook.com/ChapmanAndKirby/photos/a.497001183841810.1073741828.478300525711876/716598058548787/?type=3&permPage=1

 

Damn that's as close to the rendering as you can get lol... Very nice

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/Changing-streets-11177181.php

Great article on the rebuild of Lower Westheimer. What I don't understand is West Alabama was expected to start reconstruction in late 2016, already fully funded, and nothing has happened yet. And with these new designs for Lower Westheimer, my concern is when are any of these actually going to begin? Both are fully funded and so I don't understand the delay or lack of urgency from the city or local TIRZ districts. From the article, "For too long, the city has lagged behind private developers in building cityscapes at the scale of a person." With all the new development happening around us, the thing that's keeping many of these new developments from flowing together is better infrastructure. Does anyone have any additional info on this?

So where is this development at with the overall build? I haven't been in this area in a while. I know it's being done in phases but what phase is this on? Really excited to see this city become so damn urban. 

Just now, ADCS said:

 

Yep. You'd have redlining and neighborhood segregation like in Chicago, New York, Boston and Philadelphia around the turn of the last century, but you wouldn't have the mass exodus to newly manufactured suburbs with big, sprawly single-family houses if everyone was still relying on the trolley to get around, and no one could afford a house because 10-15 year mortgages were too expensive.

True, good point. 

Just now, ADCS said:

 

White flight wouldn't have happened without cars, freeways and subsidized 30 year notes.

So you're telling me if the car hadn't been produced, White Flight wouldn't have happened? I doubt it. It definitely helped push people further away from the core, but Houston was already experiencing a form of White Flight in it's early days. 

4 hours ago, 102IAHexpress said:

 

You're giving way too much credit to Houston's original street cars. Do you have any evidence that early Houstonian's moving to the Heights and Montrose was possible only because the electric trolley? Or have you forgotten about the invention of mass produced automobiles?

Actually it wasn't the automobile specifically that pushed people from the city core, it was White Flight. The car was an accessory to this movement but not the cause. 

I like it tbh

26 minutes ago, bobruss said:

I don't think I ever said I was for a taxpayer funded retail district. What I was alluding to is the fact that as long as they just add retail in the tunnels it doesn't really help the community downtown grow and provide a viable place to shop. If you need just about anything after dark you are forced to get in your car and drive to the Montrose area. I lived downtown for 7 years and was forced to get in my car for everything. I want people who would like to live close to their jobs and the entertainment they enjoy to be able to go out their doors and walk a few blocks and pick up what they need. The more people who choose to live this lifestyle will help Houston with its transportation issues. It will take cars off the streets and promote a healthier life style. It will create less CO2 and improve the overall downtown experience for everyone who uses it.

When you're trying to develop a new culture which is downtown living, something that has never been successful in Houston sometimes you need to help it along. If it takes a little help from tax relief I sure don't mind because the more of those people walking around downtown shopping eating and living are adding money to the tax base, and something you never really address in your arguments is the fact that the improvements lead to higher tax returns. I'm sure 609 Main, BG Place, and Hilcorp have added many more dollars to the tax roles and the reason those three were developed where they were was because of the rail. Nothing good comes without a little sacrifice and out of these tax incentives the city has created a new tax base of residents for the long haul.

You said this waaay better than I was about to lol

On 4/25/2017 at 9:10 PM, Urbannizer said:

Here's a better look:

 

THIS IS AMAZING!

On 4/24/2017 at 11:04 PM, Urbannizer said:

 

Very nice animation. 

So what exactly is the city of Houston's planning and development dept doing?

It just seems that entire Uptown area is getting a major overhaul. You have the Galleria expansion, Post Oak Blvd project, Uptown Park redevelopment, a number of new highrises in the area, and now there is talk about redeveloping the strip centers in to mixed use development. The next 5 years will brings lots of very good change.

Will this be a walkable center or similar to that shopping center at the corner of Canal?

With the new Whole Foods Midtown and this new grocer on the East End, these two spots should lure further development. 

When does reconstruction of West Alabama start because the corner of the building has a very nice pedestrian crosswalk? I'm just ready for the whole damn street to look the same. Great project.

On 5/19/2017 at 10:17 AM, drecey said:

The Sears Auto Shop is closing. May 26 is the last day they'll be open. 50% off what's left in the store. Spoke with one of the guys that worked there, Carl (perfect definition of great customer service, btw) and he said they might do something on the lot the auto shop is on and the big empty parking lot between fiesta and the sears. Sears own that empty lot and the auto shop and Rice owns the Sears building. VERY interested in what's to come with this development!

YES!!!!!!! I noticed this weekend that business seemed no existent. Great news!!! Place was a dump!

Look at that density!

So is the parking garage the only parking? I'm only asking because I hope all of that is pedestrian space to walk. AND how could they make this area more accessible to actual Heights residents??? You have to cross 10 to get there if you live in the Heights. The way they have it set up is walkable but not inviting. It would also be nice to have large signage showing when you enter a district.