Jump to content

UtterlyUrban

Full Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    1,911

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Everything posted by UtterlyUrban

  1. UtterlyUrban
    Agreed. And that was Triton's point. The U.S. economy is showing signs of slowing DESPITE having oils prices less than half of a year ago. That is the double whammy he is speaking of.
  2. UtterlyUrban
    Yep. Folks, there is a full-on conflagration in the Middle East right now and oil hasn't moved. A decade ago, oil would have surged on the uncertainty. The fact that it really hasn't moved much should make you shiver. Times, they are a'changing'
  3. UtterlyUrban
    I may just need to waltz in and take a look.
  4. UtterlyUrban
    The bike lane is already well used. Good stuff!
  5. UtterlyUrban
    There was a neighborhood meeting with the City and Houston First, etc about 6 months ago to generate ideas for discovery green, GRB, etc. this was one of the ideas. The key is to have both morning and evening service on this otherwise dead corner. Looks like a terrific concept!
  6. UtterlyUrban

    United Airlines

    UtterlyUrban replied to brain's topic in Planes

    I would think that a non-stop IAH to Shanghai would be a big seller for them. More international flights will be good!
  7. UtterlyUrban
    You're welcome. He is on Dallas and Caroline, next to The Reserve on Dallas side.
  8. UtterlyUrban
    Ben's Beans, locally owned and a really cool place, is a block away. If you haven't been there, you should try it. With all of the construction on Dallas, he could probably use some new customers willing to dance around the construction.
  9. UtterlyUrban
    I adore this idea.
  10. UtterlyUrban
    New tenant. http://houston.eater.com/2015/3/31/8319309/south-korean-coffee-chain-caffe-bene-is-coming-to-houston Yawn. Will greenstreet ultimately turn into little more than a food court? Or do we think it will have actual dry goods retail?
  11. UtterlyUrban
    We just met some friends in the Montrose Area for dinner. They live in Katy and have for their entire lives. The wife was very happy to be coming "downtown" for dinner and said so several times.
  12. UtterlyUrban
    While I appreciateyour sentiment, the answer is "yes"..... The old retail building was already repurposed "once" as a parking garage. The fact that it can't be repurposed twice is really the shame of it.
  13. UtterlyUrban
    This is great!
  14. UtterlyUrban
    I thought that too except I believe it now to be wrong.My current understanding is that If one buys a condo in a NEW building, that building will have new jobs for concierge, valet, maintenance, etc. I believe that the threshold is 10 jobs "created or preserved". It is my current understanding that new condo buildings can qualify for EB5 and "ownership/investment" is created by purchasing a unit. Can someone verify this as I am certainly no expert. Edit: It appears that we are both correct..... It seems that condo purchase PLUS equity in the construction is required if one believes this link: https://uniqueloftsnyc.com/buying-nyc-real-estate-for-a-green-card-eb-5-immigrant-investor-visa-and-its-future/
  15. UtterlyUrban
    EDIT My mistake: EB5 requires $1m investment, I think. $500k is for "depressed" Areas that I am sure Houston is not. Regardless, it's still a good deal as you and immediate family members all get green cards.
  16. UtterlyUrban
    "Hello, it's the Suburbs calling. Has anyone seen one of our apartment blocks?"
  17. UtterlyUrban
    It looks like your question was missed.New construction Condos need a certain amount of pre-sales to start construction. I forget the percentage but it is not an immaterial percent. From the Culture Map link above, this is another EB5 project (foreign nationals can buy a condo and get permanent resident status for doing so). Astoria Condos did the same thing. For a wealthy Chinese or Russian or Argentinian, $500k for US permanent residency can be a very good deal. I expect them to sell fairly quickly.
  18. UtterlyUrban
    Of course, you could point to far more relevant information: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/24/business/global/despite-a-deadly-crash-rail-system-has-good-safety-record.html?_r=0 This information does raise specific concerns regarding construction of viaducts but also suggests that, at least currently, China's safety record is world class. The article also discusses how China has improved its aviation safety as well. Your tag line "you never know" is certainly true. And, since you don't know and suggest by the use of the phrase that you can't, I really don't understand why you would decide to post this "information". If you don't know, then there is nothing to discuss.
  19. UtterlyUrban
    Shanghai (I got on in Changzhou) to Zibo (where I got off) but onward to Qingdao. I was on the train for about an hour before I said: "holy cow, I think that we are on an elevated line! No grade crossings!" From that point onward, I focused on it and, best I can tell, we were elevated the entire way.......
  20. UtterlyUrban
    Just so that I understand. You are saying that because it is China, it is shoddy materials/workmanship and using "slave" labor? Would you say the same for a new line built elsewhere in Asia or Latin America or Europe? Or, do you reserve this view only for China? And, may I ask, on what do you base your statements?
  21. UtterlyUrban
    I just rode a HSR line in China. It was about a 450 mile trip. The entire route was elevated. Not a single at-grade crossing. City sections and rural sections. About 8 stops -- each lasting exactly two minutes. The line was completed, I am told, in the last 2 years.
  22. UtterlyUrban
    I know a LOT of bicyclists. I don't know one who wants to "prove a point" by having an accident with a car. Every cyclist I know understands that they will lose this fight.
  23. UtterlyUrban
    The only real comps for these Marlow highrise units in downtown is the 4 Seasons highrise condos, essentially across the street. $400+ psf is what they go for. Commerce towers - the only other highrise condo, I think -- is in the $330-ish range but is held down for a number of factors IMO some within their control and some not.
  24. UtterlyUrban
    I don't appreciate the aesthetic of the first rendering at all.
  25. UtterlyUrban
    High rise apartments are being built because it it very hard to finance a highrise condo given the amount of pre-sales required. I believe that a significant number of rental towers around the city will convert to condos in the future.
×
×
  • Create New...