Orang Bodoh

Looks like Republic Diner (1221 W.11th Street, formerly Witchcraft) is out, and Blackbird Izakaya is in.  https://houston.eater.com/2018/7/2/17524754/blackbird-izakaya-replacing-republic-diner-noodle-bar-heights

I had to google it, but an izakaya is an informal Japanese pub.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izakaya.  Well I learned something today.

Anyone know what’s going on at the strip mall at 1307 Yale?  All the tenants seem to be gone.

This is the strip mall that used to have the Mexican bakery, vape store, and locksmith at one time. 

The wood framed building next door just got torn down. 

Lot scraped clean; ready for some construction!

If there was something similar to West U.'s Colonial Park Pool that was within a 10 minute drive...I would be 100% in.

There is a move afoot to build a swim and social club in the Heights.

http://heightsswimclub.org/

No location yet, but they say they need a 1 acre site which they estimate will cost $3.2MM, pre-construction is estimated at $80k, and construction at $850k.

The site factor for my 3/4 lot (4,950 SF) went down from 1.25 to 1.00 so the dirt value went down to $297k.  Value of improvements stayed the same.

There is a lot of activity at the trailer park at 11th and Allston.  Looks like most of the residents have moved out and they are removing all the plants except for the trees.  Anyone know what the story is?

FWIW, TCH says they'll be open for business at the new location in January.

I live half a block from there, and I'm very happy to see that houses are going in and not an apartment building.

But IMHO the façades on those houses don't measure up vs. other similarly priced new construction in the area.  They are a little too plain I think.

And I have to laugh that the realtor posted a picture of "Example of the finishes for JLynn Homes" which is a close up of a bathroom fixture with a burned out bulb.  Do you even quality control?

Foundaton piles installed for the middle two houses. No activity yet on the north (small) or south (big) lots yet. 

It looks like there is surveyor activity at this site, maybe laying out foundation(s).  Anyone know the scoop?

Workers have been in there this week, filling up a dumpster with debris from inside.  Seems like this project is in motion.

I live quite close to there so I am hoping it ends up being some kind of retail or resto...

One night my wife was walking by there and put her nose up against one of the windows of the wood sided building because she thought it was abandoned.  But then someone else stuck their nose up to the window from the other side!!!  Nearly scared her to death.

Since I can walk there in less than 5 minutes I am now starting to raise my hopes about the kind of retail / restaurant that will go in...

Here is a link that works.  

http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/Commissions/docs_pdfs/hahc/draft_reports/III_1205_1215_Rutland_New_Const_CONCEPT_DRAFT.pdf

Here is the HAHC report on their plans.

http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/Commissions/docs_pdfs/hahc/draft_reports/III_1205_1215_Rutland_New_Const_CONCEPT_DRAFT.pdf 

As of yesterday, still no demolition / construction.

I live near there and always wondered what went on inside...was it a slaughterhouse?