gto250us

I think it's the fire alarm center that replaced an older building that was in Sam Houston Park.

It seems to do its best to be anonymous.

I thought that the old Fire Alarm building was the building that went to Fertita in a "sweet deal" and then became the Aquarium.

Then again further research suggests that you may be correct. The Aquarium was the main downtown fire station and headquarters which opened in 1968. In 1975 they opened a new fire alarm building across the street. According to Wiki.

This thing? Weird, never really noticed it before...

Yes that is it. I drive by it every day. No one is ever there but it seems odd that it does not show up in either the Harris county database or the city database.

What is this building in downtown? Between the Aquarium and the Tennyson Hotel, at Bagby, Franklin and Preston streets. It is an ugly, apparently unused concrete bunker-like structure. It is not labeled in the HCAD or City of Houston databases.

Damn I tried to insert a bing birds-eye picture but it won't take it.

Looks like it topped off, I counted 6 stories.

They topped out yesterday. The tree is up. Check out the cam, yesterday (6 Mar 2010)at around noon.

OxBlue Cam

What is "Safety Point"?

This morning, 18 Feb 2010, the parking areas at the corner of Dallas & Brazos, in front of the Heritage Plaza building were blocked off. During the morning and into the afternoon trucks full of movie equipment and dressing room trailers moved in. Anybody know what may be going on. Julia Roberts and George Clooney may show up.

What is wrong with playing soccer in Reliant Stadium? A new stadium for soccer is waste.

So much for assumptions.

The people of Houston will pay back the team... by purchasing tickets and concessions. This isn't new news either.

Of that $20 million, $15 million is the free land. You know, the land that's already been purchased? Besides, under the plan, the Dynamo will be required to find private backing to underwrite the public funds. What's so awful about this idea? The city's on the hook for what, $5 million dollars that could possibly go to bad debt? That's a bargain at twice the price.

I see $15-20 Million in "Free" land. Nothing is free. Someone, taxpayer? will pay for that.

Tax incentives? Again, taxpayers will pay for that.

No matter how much lipstick you put on it, it is a bad deal for the average Joe. I guess if you are a big soccer fan, it looks great.

Why not build another indoor arena for the Aeros? or a third indoor arena so that we can lure back a women's B-Ball team?

... the Dynamo are fronting all the money to build a stadium ...

By "Fronting" I assume that the county would have to pay back the Dynamo. Thus, the tax payers are still paying for a stadium that is not really needed.

I think that it would be insane to pay for another stadium just for soccer. Nuts, Loco. If the Dynamo want to leave because of that, good riddens. There should be no reason why the could not play at UH, Rice or Reliant.

Because that's the name of the development??? Duh...

Well - It is a stupid name. There is one building covering three blocks. Stupid name.

... mccormick and schmick's mediocre service downtown ...

M-S service in the Pavillion store SUCKS and the cedar planked salmon SUCKED. I won't go back

By the way. Why Pavilions, with the plural? There is only on Pavilion with many establishments.

Consensus seems to be that the rotating view is awesome but not many love the food: http://www.b4-u-eat.com/houston/restaurants/reviews/rsv0197.asp

Shula's is pretty good there. The view is not nearly as good as it was when the place was first built. They are now hemmed in by other buildings. A better view may be had at the 43rd in the Wedge Tower.

Come on folks. We don't want to lay off any homicide cops in this economy.

Looks like work is being done to repair the restaurant that sits atop the Hyatt downtown. Anyone know if it is actually going to reopen?

They are in the process of replacing the roof of the whole hotel. They have been working on it for about a month now. Just this week the began replacing the roof of the flying saucer.

...its truly a shame they couldn't find an alternative use...

They turned the old jail in Boston into a really nice hotel, The Liberty Hotel

But that was a building that was built in 1848. Tons of great architecture. There is nothing like it in Houston.

When was this building on Franklin built. It looks like the 60's or 70's, and it didn't even last 20 years before it was in crummy shape.

I suspect that they will build another courthouse there. They now have one courthouse to take your money, another to take your children, and a third to take you life and liberty. What's left. I guess they need one to take your sanity or to take your dog.

This is the first I have heard (or noticed) the living quarters in it. How many units?

The new Houston Ballet building will not only house the offices and studios of the professional company, it will also house the Ben Stevenson Ballet Acadamy. There will be some living space available for students of the Acadamy.

...California Pizza SUCKS...

California anything SUCKS

We ate at Pronto in City Centre...

Not to be picky, but Pronto is not in City Center. It is within the adjacent Town & County Village.

Here is a side branch to this thread.

How about putting the Pierce Elevated underground, a la Boston's Big Dig? I would cost a ton of money, which would all be phoney since it could be stimulus money, and it would probably flood 2 to 3 times a year, but what the hell.

I've had Chicago Pizza in Chicago a few years ago. Eh.

I've had New York Pizza last year. Eh.

I've enjoyed Deep dish AND thin crust pizza, I just think it's all in the ingredients and how it's made and a matter of personal preference.

Sorta like how people will get into fist fights over who has the best BBQ in Houston.

California Pizza SUCKS.

Should I bring in guns and knives into this little debate?

My wife and I ordered a Veggie Pizza in London once. Don't ask why. But this damn thing came with corn on top. My wife went nuts on the waiter about it.

It's always comforting to know I'm not the only person in the world who hates deep dish pizza. Sometimes I think I've just been missing something all these years, and then I realize that - no - it's just a crappy lasagna in a soggy crust.

I guess that you have never had real Chicago Deep Dish.

I do prefer a NY pizza from Lombardi's, Spring St at Mott.

I noticed a crane at the Mall side of the walkway over Gessner. Does anyone know what will be built at that connection point with the walkway. Will it be one store? or an additional "wing" with many stores?

Yeah, I don't like it. There's a lot of Dogfish Head I don't like, actually, and its hard for me to find any IPA I like. Elissa's alright.

I like my beer to have taste. I will drink water before I drink anything made by Bud, Miller, Coors, Corona, etc., etc.

Much of it fruity etc beer is bad, some of it is good. I will reserve judgment on chocolate pumpkin beer.

Dogfish Head Brewery has been making Pumpkin Beer for several years. It is available at Specs. It's Ok, but too sweet. I stick with their 90 Minute IPA.