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Marcus Allen

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Everything posted by Marcus Allen

  1. Marcus Allen
    Sincere query. Lol. Sincere query.
  2. Marcus Allen
    Thank you. That was the purpose of this post. I appreciate you giving an example of my sincere quandary.
  3. Marcus Allen
    Do my eyes deceive me OR is there yet another crane rising on the Shell Campus?!.....
  4. Marcus Allen
    Whoa, looks like an areal view of my Sim City Mega Cities!
  5. Marcus Allen
    With the interchange expansion, and shifting demographics, I think it is a HUGE mistake to revamp the Northwest mall; UNLESS, they plan a two or three floor retail space with 5 floors of parking and a fifteen foot residential tower above all of that. Outline it in blue or red lighting. Greenspoint should do something similar, outlining it with green lights. OR do something really nutty; create a beautiful Greenspoint Parc, complete with human made pond, paddle boats, etc. If enough investors take interest in the area and sink money into it, it could be revitalized. BUT, the more practical approach is to make it into some sort of outlet, wholesale mall. I can see like 4 major retailers, building massive superstores ( Target, Walmart, SAMs and Costco) hiring said renters at lower wages, appealing to the lower socioeconomic clientele, and still providing a nice space to shop and eat. Put a police substation on premises to keep the riffraff at bay.
  6. Marcus Allen
    Where would I go to access the sub forum?
  7. Marcus Allen
    Not sure. Just going by what I read on other forums. I think it is safe to say, unless it seems outlandish, interest in building a tower these days seems to lead to tower completion.
  8. Marcus Allen
    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.
  9. Marcus Allen
    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!
  10. Marcus Allen
    In the Houston area, in terms of places of worship, what is your MUST SEE!?
  11. Marcus Allen
    Whatever your preference, ( incidentally, mine is Gehry, Calatrava, Meier, Rogers, Pelli, and SOME of Libeskind) I think architects are some of the most amazing people in our society. They are obviously, artists. But what I admire is the fact of the hoops they must jump through. First off, they are artists. So their visions are going to be fringe to say the least. Then, they must be reigned to fit developers costs. So, how on Earth do they reconcile vision with practicality?? AND still come away proud of their results? Thoughts? Even some of the low rises are compromised by.....whom? I look at vibrant colors and bold designs. Who decides those must become mundane colors and scaled back designs? I don't get it. Help me, my HAIF friends.
  12. Marcus Allen
    OkOkOk, I had a thought after reading the Six Houston Center Thread which is hilarious if you all are interested. I realize in the US and TX in particular, bigger is better, BUT sometimes, bigger cannot be achieved. SO, what high rises or even low rises are noteworthy, although not massive monoliths to eeww and aww over? I for one, Love the new ratchet handle DT HTown tower and also Frost Bank Tower in Austin. And always give a nod to the pyramid like (reminds me of Blade Runner) brownish building on the left of 59 heading into Sugar Land.
  13. Marcus Allen
    Cracking me into pieces! You guys/ gals are great! You know the moment you put it out into the Universe......I am just saying.
  14. Marcus Allen
    Yes, I am quite proud of all of our nation's cities that seem to be bouncing back. I just read about Bostons Millennium Tower. Had no idea. And I read that Miami may have a major backer for a 90 storey tower. So, great news from coast to coast! It will be interesting to see some opening credits for the thousand crime shows on prime time tv in the next couple of seasons.
  15. Marcus Allen
    If were are going to go style, I remember the only times my dad didn't wear a tie, but a large collared shirt with blazer was circa 1976 through 1979. And, of course, like most of American men, was back in suit and tie by 1981.. Thank you Reagan.
  16. Marcus Allen
    Older woman reminds me of my mom. I guess all middle class women wore that style then.
  17. Marcus Allen
    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.
  18. Marcus Allen
    Keep them coming! You guys are fantastic and take me back over the past 35 years! Thank you.
  19. Marcus Allen
    To be honest, I begin posts with a vagueness in mind, sort of rhetorically, and let you all take it wherever you will. This actually has received more replies than most of mine, which I felt were too specific; being answered succinctly and closing further discussion. I think I will keep my methodology.
  20. Marcus Allen
    I know it's a marketing ploy, but I guess I get caught up in the " skyline changing tower" etc. Monikers given to these other city towers. Will all the infill help DT? Absolutely, and I am all for it. I think we are going to see a wave of new HTown Urbanites over the next decade. I just think the new towers, although mostly impressive in their design, will only BLEND into the overall skyline, not help define it. And yes, I know, I know, we already HAVE an iconic skyline. I would just hate it if HTown lost out on an opportunity to create a new supertall, then, as all things do, the market slows or stagnates, and I am 60 before a new tower of note comes along.
  21. Marcus Allen
    Although I am not in any way discounting all the development in Houston, I must say when visiting other forums, I get a twinge of jealousy when seeing the tall towers breaking ground and rising in SF, LA, Philly, and I read that Charlotte and Atlanta are in the works for another 1000+ footer. On the other hand, I know it's a bigger deal for these cities because there hasnt been as much development overall as is here. I guess I am just being greedy. I want infill AND a supertall. At this point I could care less if it's in DT, UT or MT. Just build one!! Ok, ok, I am over my tantrum now.
  22. Marcus Allen
    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.
  23. Marcus Allen
    It's like Tonka Trucks meet Legos! Very awesome!
  24. Marcus Allen
    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.
  25. Marcus Allen
    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.
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