Jump to content

shasta

Full Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    512

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Everything posted by shasta

  1. shasta
    Downtown, easily. Uptown does not have anywhere near the infrastructure to handle the increased traffic caused by a 102 story building. Downtown is designed for it, Uptown is NOT.
  2. shasta
    Congressman Poe is trying to make a case to secure federal funds so that the University Line can be built. his rationale is that people in his district want it and that the federal funds would just go to another city that is proactive about securing them. He is asking for your voice on Facebook. Please make your opinion heard so he can get an accurate reading of the support for the completion of the University Line. http://www.houstontomorrow.org/livability/story/Rep-Poe-calls-for-action-on-University-Line/?utm_source=Houston+Tomorrow+Growth+News&utm_campaign=d3e45a1388-Houston_Tomorrow_Livability_News_042513&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_02f1bf7b5d-d3e45a1388-7265
  3. shasta
    Perhaps, it will look something like this, from this angle.
  4. shasta
    Isn't this the same garage that is indicated on the Downtown Houston Development Map?
  5. shasta
    Well, they designed the Austonian in downtown Austin so, if there was going to be a mixed-use super tall downtown, ZC would be a qualified firm to do it.
  6. shasta
    Let me guess. Randall Davis??
  7. shasta
    Why are they so secretive with the design and why are they so late, when compared to the other proposals? Aren't all of these buildings racing to secure potential tenants? If this design is the best, then why are they holding it back?
  8. shasta
    Don't forget that the city is "putting their money where their mouth is" in trying to transform downtown to an entirely different place. They have begged for more hotels and apartments which are essential ingredients in developing synergy. With the increased "24-7" people who now will be downtown you will get secondary supporting pieces like more retail, restaurants, parks, tourism centers, and yes a tourism bus.......the market is just following what is needed. Someone from Cleveland who is here for a 3 day convention and it is their very first time in Houston may have little reservation about spending $30 to educate themselves about Houston. So, at least they have an idea about "Houston" when they return. These type of tour buses should be supported....Let's hope they continue to be viable and increase after all of the new hotels are built.
  9. shasta
    Looks like they left off the Hines proposed Market Square Residential and the other 30+ story residential as part of hotel conversion.
  10. shasta
    I don't know how many people have read the book "The Rise of the Creative Class" but Florida makes the assertion that in demand, talented employees prefer to work in diverse, 'quality of place' cities. On a micro level, it will see which one attracts the most sought after employees: Exxon Mobil, with its self contained suburban campus, or Chevron, with a significant investment in downtown and all that will be available to downtown workers. Throw in a third options, the Energy Companies located in the Energy Corridor and it should be interesting. My guess is that it will come down to $$$ BUT with all things equal, it will be interesting to see which one of these three locations attracts more quality employees. Downtown lifestyle of suburban lifestyle.
  11. shasta
    It's amazing how, with few exceptions, downtown is turning into two downtowns. You have the area around Discovery Green that is really aiming to be designed 'around the pedestrian' with new hotels, entertainment, tourism centers, residential, sporting venues etc.and then you have the 'skyline district' which still likes the big boxy glass skyscrapers with little urban connectivity. the only break I see to this is the proposed Hines apartment building near Market Square. Other than that, most of that part of that part of downtown will not be as kind to the pedestrian, especially after hours. They always have the option to drop down into the tunnels.
  12. shasta
    Probably another situation where an Architectural firm agreed to do an initial study only, for peanuts, hoping to get the big commission in the future. Once the developer get the ideas they probably shopped around the production/cd portion to other firms who could do it for even less money. Gotta love how the architecture industry operates.
  13. shasta
    Yes, we have to remember that downtown in the next 5-10 years will start to resemble a place that none of us have seen in our lifetime. I honestly believe that this turnaround was triggered by the desire to build the new stadiums/arenas downtown.....then the commitment to a true "convention district"...and then the game changer...Discovery Green. This was such a strong amenity that it was only a matter time before it changed everything. One Park Place was able to make it but the recession slowed the residential growth but it is back in full force..aided by the city's residential incentive program. they have a focused vision when it comes to this. Even neighboring EADO and Midtown are seeing growth. With multiple residential opportunities downtown (various price ranges for recent college graduates to executives "city home" or temporary home), we will start to see typical residential supporting retail/restaurants...something different than is what is there now. Guys, we are entering a new chapter in Houston's life. One that was drastically different than the 70's and 80's when a company like Hines was looking to put up a pedestal sky scrapper with zero street interaction and zero concern for the urban fabric. Not all their fault, that is what the market research was telling them. Things have drastically changed since then and THIS is only the beginning, it is a very Exciting time to be in Houston, Texas!
  14. shasta
    Fellow HAIFers I am looking to start a part time business and I'd though I'd do something that not only comes naturally to me but will also help people. My services will be to teach those who need help organizing their monthly finances. I will walk them through a system so that they have money left over at the end of the month (to use toward their long term goals) and to help them fully understand where their money is going. I will not try to sell additional products (investments, insurance, annuities, etc.). I am only here to teach people how to manage their own money. If you, or someone you know, is interested please PM me and I can provide more details.
  15. shasta
    Fellow HAIFers I am looking to start a part time business and I'd though I'd do something that not only comes naturally to me but will also help people. My services will be to teach those who need help organizing their monthly finances. I will walk them through a system so that they have money left over at the end of the month (to use toward their long term goals) and to help them fully understand where their money is going. I will not try to sell additional products (investments, insurance, annuities, etc.). I am only here to teach people how to manage their own money. If you, or someone you know, is interested please PM me and I can provide more details.
  16. shasta
    Niche, Any updates on your job search?
  17. shasta
    People like this just have no clue.......it's not even worth our time responding to their sarcastic remarks.
  18. shasta
    It would be great to see the Museum District get a little more urban connectivity. More retail and restaurants are desperately needed. In fact ,even the Cafe Express that is there (on Bissonnet) closes at 5 pm.
  19. shasta
    An Italian Bakery
  20. shasta
    Since we are dealing with an Apartment Building (no pre-leases, no sales) they probably only need to produce a rendering good enough to secure the construction loan from the bank. The Architecture Firm is probably in Atlanta and they just threw in an urban setting to get the point across. No compare this rendering to the Speculative office towers which NEED a significant pre-lease guarantee before they break ground. A large part of that early budget is geared towards getting the marketing information correct and making it competitive. An Apartment developer does not need a pretty rendering if they don't want to produce one.
  21. shasta
    I've always thought that Houston should proactively, and formally, go after the title as gateway the Central and South America. Will take vision but......Imagine If you are a top up and comping company in one of those countries (Brazil, Peru, Argentina, etc.) you US headquarter should naturally be located in Houston. Especially with the anticipated boom to the port with items coming from that part of the world. Imagine if the area East of Downtown developed as a sort of Gateway District with Urban Planning paralleling some of the elements in the home country. There would be tons of potential in an idea like this and right now our only main competitors are Los Angeles and Miami.
  22. shasta
    Does anyone "in the know" know if the developers of regent square plan on having the 2 original blocks (proposed in 2007-2009) up and running by 2017, when the Super Bowl is here? that would be another huger entertainment node that didn't exist in 2004, or now, for that matter.
  23. shasta
    I believe the Houston Olympic Plan was a bit more responsible, if not the most fiscally responsible bid ever put out there. The City was prepared to use already built, and financed, stadiums and arenas (Reliant, Toyota, Minute Maid, etc.). The Olympic Village was slatted to be built on the campus of the University of Houston and were planned to be converted to dorms after the Olympics were over.
  24. shasta
    I know the University Line and the Uptown Line were dealt major blows late last year and earlier this year but could the Super Bowl help? Many visitors will flock to the city and a large number will venture to Uptown but as the All Star Game fiasco pointed out, Houston does not have an infrastructure in place to handle large number of people in Uptown. 'People Movers' are desperately needed in urban areas like this, to easy get large amount of people to an d from dense parts of the city. Without something in place I feel we will have to really aim to center the activities around downtown. The Uptown situation could make the All Star mishap look like a blimp on the radar and 'No' the current mobility plan that they are proposing will not cut it. With the February 2017 Super Bowl Bid secured, is it possible that the city reconsiders their approach to the traffic congestion problem in Uptown? If so what is the latest they can start construction and be able to have it completed by February 2017? Let's say the go back to the drawing board now, secure funding sources, and start construction no later than January 1, 2015. Could they finish it in twenty five months?
  25. shasta
    I don't know about this particular project, but I do know that there are projects, in the early stages, that were not shown on the April or May Downtown development map.
×
×
  • Create New...