Marcus Allen

Love the entire area. A convoluted version of Ms Palen.....build baby build!

I'm very interested to see how the GP/99 extension over to 59 affects the sprawl.

An interesting dynamic will play out in what happens to Porter between this and Kingwood. It has a chance to improve a lot. Hope that it does.

Well, I have some relatives that live in the Splendora/ Porter area. It's one of my least favorite places in the HTown metroplex; much too country for my taste. ( and not country in the good outdoors sort of way; more like redneck racist haven). Half of them welcome the new development/ Grand Texas Theme Park/ and all that will come with it. The other half are lamenting the Big City Ways about to decent upon their rural utopia. I think, like Katy, in 20 years, those who hold onto a more rural way of life and thinking will have either assimilated or moved away.

Oh yea I know, I hope we get an in-out-burger over here

Oh, my friend. I have been praying to the burger gods for that. HTown will go crazy for those burgers!! My son works for them out in LA, while attending college. ( UCLA, yeah i am a proud papa) Great establishment!

In the Houston area, in terms of places of worship, what is your MUST SEE!?

Cracking me into pieces! You guys/ gals are great! You know the moment you put it out into the Universe......I am just saying.

I would like developers and retailers alike to get on board and take a chance by converting an entire block into a retail Mecca for DT. I would say go practical before trying to cater to the DT elite. Having said that, I would create a four or five story building that has a large courtyard in the middle which contains a food court on the second level. It would be open to the sky with suspended walkways between the four major retailers located on each corner. Those retailers would be a Target superstore ( at least two levels like several in LA); an HEB Flagship with restaurant; a Best Buy; and some clothing/ accessories retailer like TJ Maxx, Kohls, or Marshalls. Smaller retail venues could be Starbucks, some sort of ice cream/ yogurt place, like Cold Stone, an Apple store, Sephora or something comparable. Then ever so slowly add higher end locales like Harry and David, sur le Table, etc., which would appeal to the demographic AND attract those living outside of DT. Perhaps, have cooking classes every Sat. For a lower cost at some foodie type store. Anyway, you can tell I have thought a lot about this one. I am considering moving DT just for the experience, but would definitely need some retail incentives to do so.

If this is going to look like the 3d renderings, I am impressed. I wish the architect of the Wesleyan project and ChiTown's Aqua would have tackled this and made it into a seemingly rippling balconied wonder. BUT, alas, this is not the case. I for one like the new design and think it will add to our skyline, despite my reservations that recladding every building pre 70s may become imminent.

Okay! Okay! I'll relax after this. Just wanted to give one last big update before I start at my new office in Memorial City on Monday.

That map of the vast parking spaces in DT only made me foam at the mouth fantasizing about the potential development for that area. I am going to be optimistic and say by 2020, we will have a markedly urban and residential friendly DT. By 2030, we will all laugh that it took so long for Houston to get on board with close proximity urbanity, and the 20 somethings will be scrambling to live DT.

You know, for as many times as our beloved HTown gets it wrong regarding architectural preservation, this is a keeper. Way to go! Yes, I believe as many as ten towers could be reclad DT and it would completely change the aesthetics of the area. I also believe HTown should try to maintain some historical relevance. This certainly meets that personal criterion.

Tre cool pix. Thank you.

I am in!

I, for one, applaud the visionaries for creating this (third or fourth loop, depending on whether you consider Hwy6/1960 to be Htown's 3rd one). I get the need to create jobs, but don't understand when developers create a two lane something or other when we all know darn well, when it comes to Houston, that two laner will someday soon have to become a four lane, then six lane, then freeway, etc. Yes, NoW it doesn't make sense. Give it 20 years. It will. I witnessed the creation of the Sam Houston Tollway when I was in college, 1987 to it's completion. Parts of the corridors were open farm land. Look at it today. To me, it's called long term planning. Build baby build.

Stunning.

Are all those offices really necessary for the Marriot construction? Legit question[/

. First off, how funny that you had to post Legit Question after your question. Man, so many of mine on this and other forums are probably dufus status, but I ask them anyway, LoL. Anyway, I understand the question and certainly the response. BUT my goodness, have you seen how many are actually stacked, STACKED up for European or Asian projects? Talk about bureaucracy .

Ahhh didn't know about the Alvin development. yes, after I posted I honestly thought, OK Marcus, what attracted you the most ( besides the new landscaping) the larger or smaller animals? Honestly, the African zone was my favorite. So, I guess I just wanted to see them in a more open habitat.

What I LOVE about this thread is that it opens my mind to possibilities I have never considered. First off, relocating the entire zoo seems bit extreme. I would keep the present zoo, but have it only keep smaller animals, reptiles, birds, etc. BUT, I would love to see some visionary develop a safari like habitat for the larger animals, reptiles and birds. I wonder if there is a way to keep some of the integrity of the plains west of Houston and still create a large animal habitat. I am thinking somewhere along the western part of the new 99 tollway between Katy and Cypress. Because, although it would be a bit out of the way NOW, think of 2 to 5 k protected acres in that area decades from now!

Thanks everyone. Good thoughts to digest. I guess I have always been conflicted regarding zoos in general. I love animals and I love nature ( flora) even more, and have always struggled between human domination of our world and the other living creature's right to also exist as naturally as they can. That's what prompted this discussion. I would like others to be aware of other living creatures that we share the planet with,but I also understand that not everyone feels this way, so to make public tax payers fork over their hard earned money for this just because I like it, well, isn't fair, regardless of whatever party one belongs to. A private endeavor is more appropriate, IMO. I suppose another reason is that I would really, really, like a venue in Houston that is world recognized. If we are having trouble creating a theme pArk or an amazing botanical garden, or an Xtreme Park, I was coming at it from the zoo angle!

Triton!! You dirty dawg! LoL! I didn't look at previous posts closely and just happened upon your Utopian vision for UT! I was almost tearing up as in was reading it, then DEFLATION as I continued with the other posts. I guess it's my fault for being so gullible, but wow, the three minute dream was sweet.

Yet another addition to one of our mini-downtowns! Love it! Now, if only Greenspoint could get another highrise.

Now Houston's just bragging! LoL! But a sixteen storey parking garage?! I get dizzy just handling the one at Bush airport. . An elevator?

Ooops, monarch, I agree that the second one looks like it belongs with the former Enron collection. loL.

YIKES! one can only pray as per the good man above.. that both of these mixed use concepts, may in fact produce better forthcoming / updated / modern renderings. imo, both of the prospective designs harken back to the (80's) when i was still in high school. the hotel concept, is foreboding, dull, way to much earth tones, albeit browns, darkness everywhere... i could only imagine just what a visitor from new york, dubai, london, or anywhere upon this great earth.. would think of staying there overnight. the only thing upon my opinion that is altogether enlightening... is it's proposed 36 floor height factor. any proposed edifice in houston that is close to 40 floors.. would certainly entertain my vote of confidence.

I like the second one, but YES, it looks like it belongs with the former Enron collection. LoL

the tower concept, is a very haphazard design to say the very least. just what in the world was the architectural firm thinking vs dreaming? again dark, old, foreboding, it's as if they took one of the enron buildings from downtown.. and started to butcher it like crazy, until they realized their mistake. then they decided to try and piece it back together again. i guess, something along the lines of "humpty ENRON dumpty". i guess we could call it that!

midway cos, has become the new essential, as per design innovation as per the city of houston. i for one, could just only imagine what midway cos., could do with this piece of prime real estate upon post oak. it would be such.. that only dreams are indeed made of.

Is it around the light rail line? If so, all is good. Any new development surrounding that is a plus.

Sorry everyone, I know I am going to sound like a dufus, but just came back from a day with my nephews at the zoo! I hadn't been in 20 years, being in LA all that time. (oh how much I missed! Sigh). Anyway, I am back to my hometown with a vengeance. And , wow! The HTown Zoo impressed the hell out of me! So different than I remember. but, I was wondering if Houston was missing an opportunity to create some sort of SD like Zoo on it's outskirts akin to a safari like experience? When it came to the small mammals, and reptiles, I think it was a beautiful representation of their habitats, but I went away feeling a bit sorry for the larger species. Am I being TOO California? Thoughts?