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BayouCityMan

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Everything posted by BayouCityMan

  1. BayouCityMan
    I've always thought a "dual system" like BART and MUNI in San Francisco or CTA and METRA in Chicago would be a perfect fit here in Houston. The METRO light rail is emulating MUNI in so many ways. The heavy rail component will never be fully realized so long as those HOV lanes and buses remain cost effective. METRO is essentially using them as a heavy rail substitute for a cheaper price. Think about it, you already have that right-of-way and it is very easy to send more buses to a particular route if it gets more congested. In order for heavy rail to be built, I think it will fall to an agency other than METRO, likely one that doesn't exist yet. We are so tax averse around here due to mismanagement and waste, that it may be awhile before the public will sign on. Then you have to fight the powerful highway lobby which will almost certainly mount a campaign to "save our roads". The area stands at 6 million people and counting. Other than double-decking and tolling us to death, will it be more buses and light rail with stops every 50 feet (sarcasm)?
  2. BayouCityMan
    I too would like to see a good size statue downtown or a signature fountain, something that becomes one of those iconic centerpiece photo op places with the skyscrapers in the background. Chicago's Buckingham Fountain or Bean in Milennium Park are good examples. It can be wholly unique and even uniquely Houston in nature.
  3. BayouCityMan
    If they ever build it, there is no way it'll be the 40-50 story tower we've seen in renderings. I have to believe with all the new & refurbished SF coming online in the next 3-4 years downtown, this will ultimately be shelved again . . . unless . . . they somehow incorporate a 4-5 star hotel into the mix . . . pure conjecture on my part . . .
  4. BayouCityMan
    That wooden coaster looks like it's gonna be a blast! I wonder if they'll go ahead and shoot for the longest/tallest since they already have plans to be in the top 10 anyway. As for the rest of the concept, I like what I see although the ever present question about parking will surely surface soon.
  5. BayouCityMan
    This can't happen soon enough. The Trey is ripe for redevelopment, land prices are low, and the location is perfect. UH is booming and solidifying it's new Tier One appearance and importance. TSU also despreately needs this as I'm told student housing and nearby amenities are subpar to say the least. I think both insitutions will gain alot from this as will the neighborhood as a whole. In regards to the commentary about gentrification, it is inevitable. The city has chosen to construct these rail lines as part of a much larger plan to densify and gentrify the urban core (inside Loop 610) of this city. They chose depressed and under-utilized corridors for all three new light rail lines with the express hope that developers would come riding in on their cash cows and re-do the cityscapes in those ares with the added benefit of boosting tax revenues for the city. Expect more developments just like this one to pop up on he N and E sides as property values rise and people with money decide to come back inside the Loop.
  6. BayouCityMan
    Whether separated or together, the Houston metro is still projected to surpass DFW by 2030 I believe. Fort Worth is like a different world from Dallas. Much friendlier people, much more laid-back atmosphere. It actually reminds me of Houston circa 1950 based on what I've read and heard.
  7. BayouCityMan
    Now if they could only re-do that hideous excuse for a park next to Jones Hall . . . Looks like a skatepark surrounded by urinals and toilet stalls . . .
  8. BayouCityMan
    Yes, the ATL-style master plan was scrapped in its entirety over a year ago. They based it on pre 9-11 and pre recession estimated traffic volumes. For as big an airport as IAH is, I am mildly shocked that we have such a small, nevermind outdated, hotel facility. The hotel at O'Hare, while also showing its age, is mammoth in size in comparison yet we are now UAL's biggest hub. I look for Host to possibly expand at some point along with a full reno pending HAS and city approval. I will also say that the DoubleTree and Sheraton on JFK are also showing their ages respectively so look for more upgrades soon there.
  9. BayouCityMan
    The city will need to do alot more with that end of downtown besides tossing up a park. The Greyhoud station NEEDS to be closed, demolished, and rebuilt elsewhere (Intermodal Terminal to also replace the Amtrak Shack too). They really ought to get serious and force the other bus companies nearby to go to one common facility as well. Most of the streets have already been rebuilt over there but a few still remain if memory serves correctly. Lastly, the police will need to raise their presence in the area to discourage vagrancy or this park will end up being a public bathroom and bedroom all in one, much the way Market Square used to be.
  10. BayouCityMan
    This is long overdue in my opinion. You can really see how dated (1960's) the entire place is from the basement where the original inter-terminal train stops on up. The popcorn ceilings, water stains, broken light fixtures, faded carpets, dirty walls, and other long-neglected and often-used features need a re-do in a bad way. I see that city council is also looking at renovating Terminal D. I remember attending the grand opening of this building thinking it was huge.
  11. BayouCityMan
    Nice choice of exterior colors for the proposed building too. Will fit in nicely. As for the parking podium comment, I thoroughly agree Kinkaid. Looks like they've done a masterful job of squeezing as much out of that land as possible.
  12. BayouCityMan
    I'm not a big fan of RD's work either. I agree that stylistically it is a hodgepodge that will stand out for all the wrong reasons over time. We really have been on the architectural short end of the stick lately (2929 Weslayan, the 40+ story Hines tower, and the twisting museum district tower notwithstanding). I would like to see RD stick with one theme and run with it, only not so gaudy or "out there". Just my 2 cents.
  13. BayouCityMan
    So which one do y'all think will look cooler once done (A poll perhaps)? 2929 Weslayan or the new 42 story twisting tower going up in the Museum District? They said there is a rendering floating around out there of that new one so hopefully someone "in the know" will post it here.
  14. BayouCityMan
    Another possible design parallel? This one is in Mississauga, Ontario (suburb of Toronto). Image from Google.
  15. BayouCityMan
    Hmmmm . . . so many possibilities style-wise . . . This one will stand out as much as (if not more than) 2929 Weslayan . . . The spoiled brat in me wishes this was being built in the CBD. Images from Google.
  16. BayouCityMan
    Just checking here . . . didn't someone mention that the big development going in at Rice Village was a Ziegler Cooper project, complete with 12 story high rise? Just hoping that there is really another proposed one instead of this being the only actual one. Forgive me if this has already been asked/answered.
  17. BayouCityMan
    Yes I do. The original plan was to convert at least one street into a waterway (why imitate San Antonio, sheesh). The rest were to become narowed tree-lined pedestrian friendly thoroughfares with head-in parking. For the most part, I actually liked the original design, save for the waterway. I would have preferred one East-West street closed to all traffic and turned into a linear park-scape to link the convention center area to the West side of downtown. Main Street (which should be closed to vehicular traffic IMO) would have been the natural North-South linear. Anyways, they did implement parts of Cotswold by narrowing some of the streets (mainly E-W ones) and adding some head-in parking, street lights, better signs, and so on. An ambitious idea that ended up getting watered down (budget or lack of vision, take your pick), but still a good one that is paying dividends today.
  18. BayouCityMan
    http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2013/08/office-construction-surpasses-historical-norm/?cmpid=businesshcat
  19. BayouCityMan
    @j_cuevas To expand on what you ere saying . . . This was such a different place 25 yrs ago, even despite the oil bust. The city was very much in it's modern day infancy. For those who have been here all this time, I think it's safe to say that this is the most diverse our economy has ever been. Yeah Oil and Medical still power this town but in 25 years we've added a much bigger legal, logistical, and manufacturing base than we had back then. I'd say banking has stayed about the same although BBVA Compass really seems to be setting up shop. I wouldn't be surprised if more major worldwide banks give this place a long look in the next 20 years. And to think, they project another 2 million people here within 20 years. And yeah, a little planning and some beautification do go a long way. I can't think of a single more transformative project in the last 25 years than the East side of downtown. I remember going there in the early 80s and seeing the utter dereliction. I credit MMP somewhat and Discovery Green mostly. The GRB was all alone out there previously and never really did anything for that side of downtown. My only lament is that Discovery Green isn't twice as large.
  20. BayouCityMan
    I think it will be as well, maybe by 50-100 feet, somewhere in there. I am holding out hope for some additional floors, hehehe.
  21. BayouCityMan
    The Beaconsfield looks so lost in that pic. I've always marveled at that building's ability to have survived while the old Savoy and everything else around it was removed. I think SkyHouse, although generic in design, will function as nice infill. I'd like to see this photo angle again when the tower is finished.
  22. BayouCityMan
    Progress! That building really wasn't worth saving architecturally. I kinda like what they've proposed with the whole light box effect. I know there are a lot of "glass box" designs around or on the drawing boards but something tells me this will stand out a little more than the rest.
  23. BayouCityMan
    Hey everyone! Long time lurker, first time poster! I love this building and while it won't be a supertall, I think it'll really compliment the skyline quite nicely. I am glad they didn't tweak the crown too much (if at all). I am not a big fan of gaudy modern architecture so something like this with the sleek lines and slightly angular look is right up my alley. I look forward to posting more. I won't have all the cool insider info but I'll toss my 2 cents in and have fun.
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