ferronsfunctionals

I have a Townhome for lease in the Midtown area. It is 3 Bedroom, 3.5 Bath, 2 Car Garage. It is the perfect blend of architectural detail, and design efficiency. The kitchen is big, and there is a great downtown view from both the 2nd and 3rd story. I have upgraded some of the details such as a very nice powder room, added a second cable line in the living room for those DirectTV DVR's, remote lighting and ceiling fan in living room etc. I have also posted the listing on Craigslist, where there are 4-pictures. In this posting I have put one picture of the actual view from the balcony/what you see when sitting in your living room. Asking $1876/month + deposit Craigslist AD: https://accounts.craigslist.org/post/shwpst...48500&db=lv You can either reply via the Craigslist ad, or to my phone number. 602.510.4119 Thanks. Ferron

just a random thought but....do you think Lovett will ever stop building homes, and only sell under the InTown name? It seems as though InTown is a newer brand, and appears to be targeting a slightly lower price point, but could also have begun because of the word of mouth on their higher end Lovett products.

I have used the 2percent2buyer.com and so have two of my co-workers. None of us have ever had any issues on getting the rebates.

now you are talkin...Trader Joe's would be awesome!!!!

China Hong Kong (pre- china rule) Tiawaan Japan France - but just the Airport, same for Amsterdam and London - you know, long enough to be at the airport for a day, but not much else Kuwait Nigeria Argentina USA - Texas, Arizona, Washington (state), Oregon, California, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Idaho I think that is about it. My Political Leanings - Moderate in Texas, Conservative outside of Texas, it is all realtive you know. I personally have a hard time differentiating between Fiscally Conservative, and Cheap. I say that because I feel as though a lot of money is wasted here in Houston by not properly funding things the extra 10% to do it right the first time, so we pay an extre 2% for maintenence for 20 years. For example - road construction, everyone digs up the roads and puts the same dirt back in the ground. This, in my opinion, is stupid because the soil being put back into the ground isn't easy to compact because of the type of soil it is. Therefore, over time, the soil compacts from traffic and rain etc. If they would have just spent another $200,000 on the $4,000,000 project for crushed gravel the soil would compact and drain better, thus keeping our roads smoother for longer timeframes. Ultimately reducing the maintenance costs for a direct savings, and making traffic travel smoother for reduced congestion (potentially), and lower wear and tear on our cars for indirect savings..... So, if I am a liberal for wanting to spend a few more dollars on up front costs that will result in better use of money, then I am a liberal. But, if you agree with the not necessarily Fiscally Conservative, but Fiscally RESPONSIBLE approach...that is what I am looking for...EFFICIENCY.....anyone else care about how efficient the money is spent, rather than just how much money is "taken" from us?

So the last time I was in Seatlttle I made a point of taking a self guided tour of the new Seattle Library. Functionally - the archicture is wonderful. Visually - the architecture is subjective. The building is about 8 stories where the top 3 stories are administrative offices - haven't been there. The 5th floor is a lot of open space with computers and seating. The interesting thing about the seats is they are made out of foam. Relatively dense foam with a rubber coating over them. It is pretty ingenious because they are very angular, but not uncomfortable. The building is wheelchair accessable all the way to the 5th floor. The color of the center core is a greenish yellow flourescent color. Very bold, and trendy. It is really the wave of future library's for city use. While university libraries will always have massive amounts of books for research, prestige etc. City libraries should really be used for the benefit of the people. This library accomplishes that...it even has a starbucks stand (pun intended - and true at the same time). To me, this library garners the same reaction, but using a completely different methodology than the Experience Music Project in Seattle. Overall - I like the architecture, and the function. However, in all honesty, I think a structure like that in Houston wouldn't fly too well. It would take too much scrutiny for being trendy, and non conformist. Seattle can get away with it becuase of its culture. In Houston, I have seen similar attempts at being bold, but on a much smaller scale.

I was there at the same time....I grew up there actually. Very beautiful. They definitely have a lot of small to medium size parks. Not many as big as Memorial, but some are more functional I think. They have significant trails for biking and rollerblading on too. I haven't been anywhere nicer than Seattle in the Summer.....but I have been many places nicer than seattle in the late fall, winder and spring. I was there at the same time....I grew up there actually. Very beautiful. They definitely have a lot of small to medium size parks. Not many as big as Memorial, but some are more functional I think. They have significant trails for biking and rollerblading on too. I haven't been anywhere nicer than Seattle in the Summer.....but I have been many places nicer than seattle in the late fall, winder and spring.

I think there is a delicate balance between too much and not enough zoning control. In Houston I think there should be more zoning control. With low interest rates all the builders are building houses rather than commercial real estate because they know they can sell it quickly. It makes sense for the developers, but I think it slows property values and urban development in general.

I am just learning about this TRIZ stuff - but to me, for Public works elements it sounds like a crock of crap to me. Why should the TRIZ budget have anything to do with the ability to maintain the roads. I read about a project that is to widen San Filepe ....well right now they are working on an "Improvement" project from Yorktown to Chimney Rock. What I find disheartening about the project is that literally 2 blocks toward the loop from there the same road is settling like crazy. There are sections that have settled 6-inches, and to see that right next to an improvement project makes me shake my head. Overall, to me the biggest issue I have with the TRIZ's is that they don't include zoning. I would think that if there is a special budget set up, you would include zoning to help create a balance of use. Overall, I am not against having consultants perform studies in areas - but only to provide an actual impact. I think a lot can be learned from looking at other communities. However, a study should be differentiated from being tied down in legal terms and conditions. For example, a good use of tax payer money was to higher a consultant to study the red light running and provide a recommendation that indicates red light running could be reduced by upwards of 80% if they were to increase the length of a yellow light by 2-seconds. A bad use of tax payer money is to completely ignore the recommendations and just build more roads. What good are more roads if the signal timing is messed up. Anyway - that is off topic. In a city that barely has enough money to maintain basic public services - let me rephrase that. Considering the city has a budget of about $4.2-Billion, and a General Budget of over $3.0-Billion, one would think the services would be a little stronger. To put it into perspective - Houston has a higher per capita tax than the city of Chicago. But to offset that it is a lot bigger geographically - but there is also tons of unmaintained vacant land...so it offsets I guess.

are there any architectural tours that people can sign up for that have a schedule? When I was in Seattle the Architectural society gave tours on an annual basis and had a schedule...I was wondering if this happened in Houston too.

I don't know much about the Grand Parkway project - but I will say this - I certainly hope that everyone in the Woodlands (and Katy and Sugarland...etc.) understands that they live out there by choice and they should live with what they have at this point. There is plenty of vacant land inside the loop to house another 100,000 people and they wouldn't have to drive 30-miles each way each day..... Remember that where you live is in large part by choice....if gas prices reach $10/gallon....hopefully nobody complains because there is plenty of housing, and lots of room for increased demand inside and near the loop. Remember when there was only a 2-lane road from the woodlands (hypothetically of course).....if you build it they will come....the movie was about more than just a baseball field. It was a symbol to signify something about thinking before you act. build more roads....people will own more cars, and more people will move up there....if you widen the road, it won't make it easier for the existing population - it will make it so more poeple can be stuck 30 miles from the city.

71 degrees - as opposed to 99 degrees - of course......temperature. As far as Singapore - lets put this into perspective a little bit....do you have any idea why people walk everywhere there? Most people don't own cars. do you know why most people don't own cars - for starters, cost to purchase. Second cost to register. And you know you don't want to piss off the Govt. in Singapore, so I am sure anyone that drives there has their cars registered. A Toyota Corolla costs over $50,000 USD, and over $15,000 to register.....enough said. SUV's are nice...what is funny though is looking at the Gas total after they leave - I saw one the other day $90 to fill the tank.....NICE...to compound things more people in Houston CHOOSE to live 30 miles away from their jobs. I heard a lady on the radio that said her commute was basically from the Woodlands to Sugarland every day....what a joke.... Drive whatever you want - just don't delicate flower about gas prices because you made the choice to drive what you drive. I believe that the developers follow the money...of course. However, cities with zoning help dictate where developers build what types of structures. I am all for a free market society; however, to be honest, I feel like the city of Houston spends 90cents on 60 cents of service and quality, where other cities would spend 100cents for 100 cents of service and quality. Basically, what I am trying to say is the lack of planning and zoning ends up creating situations where repairs and re-construction takes place all too often. In the end, this is wasteful. The property taxes here are outrageous, and so are the assessments. I know I know....Texas doesnt have any state income tax.....but that doesn't really matter because most places have relatively the same sales tax, but the property taxes are 1% instead of 3%. I would be willing to bet that people in Texas pay pretty much as many taxes as many other cities. Oil prices dropping - it is all relative. yes with respect to their highs in the summer; but compared to last year at this time they are significantly higher. Oil is definitely a seasonal commodity, with the Summer being the highest price time of year because of all the travel etc. So, I will say they are dropping if they don't reach $70 next year in the summer. The bottom line to me is Houston is a city in the midst of a transition, but in 5 years what will it look like? I am not optimistic considering the marginal progress Midtown has made in the last 5+ years. The commercial development is so minimal in some areas of mid-town. The Geographic area inside the loop that is undeveloped, or completely run down is enromous, and the way developers are picking the land to build on doesn't seem very community oriented. Now, I know that developers are out to make money, but considering a house in the Uptown area sells for $200/SF - and they sell, seems like an awfully good indication that if you build something in an area that is established you can get a premium for the structure. Therefore, it seems to me if you were to work on more mixed used communities the area in general would grow and become established much quicker.

Well lets see....it gets up to 100 pretty much anywhere in the Continental US. The difference is Here is some data about the temperatures: NYC Average High Temperature Years on Record: 33 YEAR Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.

I agree completely......you and I are in alignment on many things. I remember when I first moved there, two things jump to mind. First, I remember coming out from a movie theater at about midnight and walking into the parking garage and feeling all of the heat from the concrete structure just wrapping around me. The second thing to put it into perspective was I remember going to the swimming pool at night and not being able to cool off because the water was too hot. I had to make it relatively cold - so I would go into the hot tub to get really hot, then go into the pool to feel cool. Funny thing is by the following May, the water was too cold to go into the pool because I had adjusted. Talking about red lights - funny thing is Phoenix used to be rated the worst for red light running - they got red light cameras, and you know what.....the problem no longer exists.....well, at least not compared to Houston. Since moving here I have had 3 serious near misses that had never occured anywhere else I have ever lived....nothing even close. What gets me is the arguments being used. I have heard people saying things like...what if the car is stolen and they run a red light...I will get a ticket. As if everyone in the city is driving a stolen car. The other one I have heard is what if it is 3 am and the light "just isn't changing" and you want to go through it.... Here is a perspective - 75 people die every in the US from being struck by lightning. 200 people die in the US every year from changing lanes on the freeways. 246 people died in HOUSTON in 2004 from running red lights. I have had people go around me because I was stopped at a red light, and run the red light.

how about something OTHER than a F***** chain restaurant.....anyone can cook a hamburger or deep fry chicken.....

One thing I must say - regardless of having cars downtown or not - they should at least follow the traffic laws. Even the bus drivers run red lights. I find it completely rediculous to see poliece officers wasting their time pulling cars over for speeding when hundreds of people die every year for running red lights. As far as having cars downtown etc....my thoughts are allow them...but the real issue to me is better urban planning....let me rephrase - some urban planning. I have never seen a city where there was so much idle land so close to downtown. Aside from how do cars interact.....well, to be honest, I think the weather has the most to do with an idol downtown. There is a reason the tunnels are downtown. With the heat, people become accustom to not living much of a life outsie. I lived in Arizona for a couple of years and it was the same thing. I remember a friend of mine that lived in Manhatten, and he was the essence of a new yorker - particularly the walking part. One time he was telling me about how when he moved to Arizona, it was so hot that he drove from one side of the strip mall to the other. If I were in charge of working toward a vibrant metro area that doesn't require cars - I think good mixed use buildings with access to commerce inside and outside. In addition, I would focus on more of a neighborhood feel. For instance - I think the Washington street area could be excellent - and with all the townhomes going in in that area - it would be nice to have a nice ecclectic bar/eatery to go in across the street of many townhomes. For example - the on Bonner street there are probably 100 townhomes going in over a 5 block area. It would be a prime location for a great eatery with good food, casual atmosphere, and some variety to be located right on Bonner. It could easily have a dual purpose menu for day vs. night. Anyway, If I were an entrepreneur that is what I would do....land is cheap, and there are plenty of people that like to go out on the town....you get 3-5 different stores like that in the area, and it becomes more popular, and before you know it - A few blocks away, it is more appealing to for functional chain stores to enter....like Blockbuster, Randalls and dry cleaning....what else do you need.... you get a few of those type places going in, and it will quickly turn the areas.

dude....get off his back....I think he covered that a couple of messages ago....basically, everyone has their own desires. Shoot, right now I am in a condo that I am completely refinishing the interior on. After that, if I can make some money, I will sell it and move....you know where I would move? to a townhome with a tiny patch of grass - just big enough to BBQ on. I think the issue is really that Houston isn't a walking city. Not only because of the planning, but because of the culture and the heat. There is a certain percent of the year where nobody really wants to walk anywhere. I think this makes it very difficult to create a walking city. I personally would love to live in a true walking city - problem is, the only areas I like are very expensive.

My personal opinion - for Hibachi - Tiako on Fountainview and Westheimer. Delicious, huge portions - practically shareable, and the show at the grill is great. I have been to many many places around town, and that place I have consistently had great food, and great service. For sushi, I like Mikado on Woodway and Bering. But I have been disappointed in the Hibachi several times - mostly in the service, except the time there was a fly in my soup and the guy tried to make it up to me by giving me some green tea ice cream. Tiako Hands down for me though.

This is about the area between Chimney Rock and Fountainview and Woodway and San Philepe. In this area there are many townhomes and condominiums. Some large complexes that were built in the late 1970's, and some other smaller complexes that were built within the last 10-years. The new complexes are significantly more upscale than the homes in the 1970's, and the size of the homes are about double that of the homes built in the '70s. People seem to be willing to readily pay $175+/SF for the new(er) construction, but the construction built in the '70s is around $100-110/SF - but the houses usually aren't really that fixed up, mostly just painted etc. What sort of premium do you think could be charged on a place built in the 1970's that is say 1500SF, but completely renovated. Where completely Renovated means - the kitchen has new slate flooring, brand new wood cabinets with granite countertops and stainless appliances. Hardwood floors throughout the rest (except the bathrooms) where the bathrooms have been renovated with travertine, and new cabinets and modern sinks and fixtures. New lighting fixtures througout. Is there a demand for a place that looks like it was built in the 2000's, but was built at 1500SF instead of 2500SF+? The only thing, which could be major, I see different is that the ones from the 1970's only have a small walk in closet, and the bathrooms aren't oversized like many other newer homes. Would this be worth $120/SF, or $160/SF? - or merely $105/SF.

Just my opinion, but....to me Midtown has two completely different feels. There is the Midtown that people seem to talk about having bars walking distance etc., and the Midtown that was taken over by Perry Homes and Urban Townhome Lofts - yet minimal commerce has come into the area. If someone were to rename a portion of Midtown, it seems like it would be the area that many people identify as Midtown. so how about renaming the area of Perry Homes and UTL as SOMI.... . In all seriousness, I would think of the area people are identifying as Midtown as the SODO, and the Perry Homes and UTL as Midtown. Beyond the symantics, I actually like SODO - but maybe that is what some other cities call the same area, and it is pretty clear to me that it is a transitional area. In my opinion, every second they spend on a rename (which ultimately translates to money) - they sould actually spend on improving the commercial areas in SOMI. ....although, I am sure all of my credibility is shot with the stupid acronym of SOMI.

Are you sure that is the old enron building? I believe it is the old Texaco Building. The old enron building are the oval shaped greenish blue glass buidings. THat building was built in 1987, and I know Texaco/Chevron have been there for at least 10-15 of those years.

My opinion of urban development here is SLOOOOOWWWWW....I look at midtown and see a bunch of condo's but no real commerce. PRobably 5,000 residents but no real shopping centers aside from the one really close to downtown. I looked at some property down there by the bayou and thought it would be a decade before this is developed. If the city had a good - or at least esistant - planning department, I think there are tons of opportunities for the City of Houston to be a major cultural and activity based attraction. There is land, and good paying jobs - or at least some, that make it feasible for good communities to develop near the city for a low price (relative to other cities).

I agree with you and I think that was the most morronic message I have seen in a while. I know that the various oil companies get the actual oil from all over the place. It depends on the pipelines out there and which ones are near by. the names on the gas stations are usually franchises. Aside from that, what is really causing the issue isn't purely the american consumer. Although we can make much better choices in our consumption, there are other factors too. I think Houston is probably the poster child for a gas guzzling haven. Not only does everyone drive an SUV, but they all live 30 miles from their jobs. Everyone seems to think it is ok to get 15 mpg and drive 20,000 miles a year. Tell me if that doesn't increase your risk to increase gas prices, and at the same time fuel the consumption. Second - over the last 5 years 80% of the demand increase has come from Asia. This is one of the biggest driveres, along with the forecasts of what the future holds for oil. What is worse is India and China (two of the biggest growth areas) governments subsidize their energy consumption. Therefore, the consumers are much less price sensitive over the long term than we are here.

You are kidding right? I guess it is a variation on an HOV system. to me it is really a commuter lane. If you don't get on the road in specific, and few spots, you are stuck in the other traffic. other areas - like Seattle, have actual HOV lanes as part of the regular freeway so you can get on and off at every exit if desired. There is a separate segment of freeway called express lanes that resembles the same thing as Houston's HOV lanes.

Seattle used to have a very small section like that downtown - one street was prohibited to cars for about 3 blocks in a shopping district. But then, a very influential retailer in the area - Nordstrom - built a building right down there and successfully had that restriction removed. Now it is open to cars again. I hate to say it, but this city is pretty much a joke for being biker friendly. the City doesn't do anything to promote biker safety either. There are several areas where there is a bike lane, and suddenly it turns into a pedestrian sidewalk. Or, it will go from a smooth paved road to a gravel pit in a matter of seconds, back into a paved road. This has been this way for several months, and it is clear that they simply do not value promoting pedal friendly roads. I am truly afraid to ride my bike here and I used to ride 100+ miles a week before I moved here.