UtterlyUrban

3 hours ago, bobruss said:

This happened just after the Martin Luther King assassination, in response to the rioting that occurred in many cities across the country.

They were worried about their large plate glass windows being broken out.

This area wasn't a high crime area. As a matter of fact there was a very popular movie theater on the corner of Main and Richmond called the Delman theater. 

The midtown area was a bohemian area and the first alley theater was down in this area. I used to go with my dad to a music store on Caroline not far from Sears where he would buy cymbals and drumsticks. There was a very popular jewelry store just south of Sears and they had Paul Bosch do advertising for them. It was quite a busy part of town back in the late 50's early sixties. My family was living in an old duplex on Montrose just south of Alabama.

Much of your post is likely true.  One point of minor clarification though......(assuming I interpreted your post correctly).... the “race riots” around the country were occurring before the assignation of MLK take one of the most notable: Newark.  It happens a year before MLK was killed, as I recall.

1 hour ago, IronTiger said:

In a historical sense, the highways DID bypass the core. The reason why I-45 is always bad because of the sharp curves in the road, and those were there to AVOID THE CBD. Interstate 10 went clear on the other side of the railroad while US-59 also avoided the core. With the exception of Boston's defunct Central Artery (which pre-dated the Interstate system), the Interstates were largely designed to go AROUND the downtown area. Anyone telling you otherwise either has no idea about history or is trying to push an agenda (usually both). Don't believe me? Fire up Google Earth (I think there's still a desktop version if you don't already have it), go back to 1944 when the freeways didn't exist (but leave the roads layer on) and tell me what you see.

As with everything, it all depends on how either side of the discussion defines the word “ around”.  

Those who were PRO highway described a freeway that cut between established neighborhoods and downtown as “ going around”.....

those who were CON highway described the same freeway as going through the core.

Both are correct.

5 hours ago, Houston19514 said:

 

I don't think there is any reason at all to think this is targeted solely at software innovation.

 Would think that software innovation may be ancillary to the bulk of the work.  I would think that much of the work will be focused on traditional energy and sustainable energy as well as medical and health.  I further suspect (and hope) that there be robust outliers to this “core”.  But, if someone really wanted to found the “next big thing” in software, they will head to the Valley,

21 hours ago, MarathonMan said:

Yes, it’s directly ly south of the GRB.  Odd location in my view.  No visibility at all.  It’s “boxed out” of the Discovery Green/Avenida Houston traffic zone by the GRB to the north and the parking garage to the west.  Then, it’s cut off from Eado to the east by US 59.  With surface parking to the south, it’s pretty much isolated from everything!

But the folks staying at the Holiday Inn Express  will be digging the 2 minute walk to Booze and Bands!

Hey!  This ^^^^^^^ is great news!  

I will head over there when it opens!  

I too am excited to see this potentially moving forward.  It will be terrific for the area and will draw other uses to also come to the area.  However, i feel that, given its location,  it will be more difficult to lease up than other residential areas of downtown. The owners, if they build it, will need to “get real” on lease pricing.

1 hour ago, HoustonIsHome said:

It's a really exciting project for an underutilized part of downtown.

 

I wonder how active was that area when Clyde Barrow lived at the peacock.

 

I heard he used to hang out at Root Square. Must have been something off a spot at the time.

No kidding?  I have never heard any of this story.  I need to google..... unless you are pulling my leg!

7 hours ago, CREguy13 said:

I think the residential component is slated to be 40 - 45 floors.  Hopefully they are tearing down the garage and close to a groundbreaking - this is becoming a dense residential neighborhood.

Wow!

3 hours ago, mkultra25 said:

 

. I thought I knew all of the best "mondegreens" (aka "misheard lyrics"), until a few days ago I ran across someone who swore they had always heard it as "a gay pair of guys put up a parking lot".

 

 

“A Gay Pair of guys
put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique
And a swinging hot spot”

I mean, who else, in the box of stereotypes that was 1970, would build this?

I am assuming that with all the windows in and that blue material on the sides that this building is “dried in” so that all the work inside is proceeding.  Is that a correct assumption?

4 hours ago, mkultra25 said:

I got my last set of tires at that Goodyear, and have had a couple of puncture repairs done under warranty since then. I like Goodyear Eagles, and it seems that Goodyear service centers are about the only places that carry them anymore locally. None of the other locations are nearly as close or convenient as this one, so I'll be sorry to see it go. 

I always seem to head to NTB in midtown.  That’s said, I agree with you.  The park IS a better use for the burgeoning neighborhood.  However, I do hope that is all of the lots across Downtown fill up over the next 15 years, that we are able to keep some of the “context” of urban life in place.  That “context” includes places to repair your car, wash your car, store your processions, get a cheap hamburger or a cheap haircut, etc.  Without these, IMO, you are left with Disneyland.

Good news.

On 3/12/2018 at 6:36 PM, CREguy13 said:

The below two quotes + article from today say otherwise:

 

"Less than a year after opening, Market Square Tower, Houston's tallest residential high-rise, is now over 90% leased."

 

"Despite many in Houston tightening their budgets, especially in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, interest in the property, where rent starts at $2,200/month, has been robust."

 

https://www.bisnow.com/houston/news/multifamily/market-square-hits-90-occupancy-amid-down-market-86022

This is great to see. For a building this large to fill up this quickly is terrific and likely faster than the owner’s projected.  I read somewhere that landlords (and their bankers) of large complexes believe that a 5-8% vacancy rate is “structural/normal”.  The fact that they have essentially “filled up” very fast is a credit to there marketing and the product that they delivered.  Kudos to them.  

My gut gut tells me that Aris will fill up just as fast.

7 hours ago, intencity77 said:

Long given up on this project. Even if major parts of it ever manage to come to fruition it will never be as cohesive as it was originally visioned to be.

I agree, unfortunately.

“The Homey”?

somebody should be embarrassed.

On 3/5/2018 at 10:59 AM, samagon said:

 

because the improvements aren't strictly going to be advantageous to promoting the single occupant car culture we so desperately cling to.

Bingo.  

On 2/28/2018 at 8:30 PM, mollusk said:

.......and strong remedial programs.......

I honestly don’t understand what this means.  Can you explain?

1 hour ago, Twinsanity02 said:

I have lived in Houston since 1981. In my opinion it has vastly improved. The downtown used to be a number of impressive tall buildings , empty lots, no sports facilities, a small theater district, and many decrepit buildings. There was no George Brown Convention Center. The Rice, the old Albert Thomas, the Texaco, and numerous buildings were abandoned some with strong urine odors. The bayou downtown was an embarressment ( look up " reeking regatta") The midtown area was worse. Much worse. The Medical center was impressive but small by todays standard. 

I agree.  Downtown was a wreck and midtown was a wreck on crack (literally).

By the 1980’s, I think that it is fair to say that Houston had turned its back on its downtown.  Houston was not alone in this, true. 

What “saved” Downtown?  What created the Downtown we have today?  A few bits of vision between 1980 and 2000 and, frankly, Millennials coming of age, asking questions about urban planning, ex-urbs, and deciding to put their vote, their money, and their persons “close in” to the city core.

When complete, If it looks and feels anything like this, it will be the “must live at” midtown location for many, many people.  It will be in huge demand.

question: what is a “laneway”?

Brick is good.

better than synthetic stucco.

but I am sick of beige.

would a reddish or brown brick been so shocking to the senses of the 2010’s Houstonian that it would have caused mass revolt?  Are we all just beige now?

14 hours ago, kbates2 said:

Went today.  They didn’t end up doing the produce section so it is a pretty standard CVS.  That said, we have been a desert over here so this is a massive addition.

I am surprised that they didn’t do the “produce thing”.......

CVS is buying one of the health insurers and their pitch to wall street includes that they will use their retail stores as “neighborhood health centers”..... when I heard that, I immediately thought of this store’s concept.......   

This surprises me.

”5 star” hotels are “typically” not “convention hotels” ( yes, a lot of quotes).....

convention hotels attract the typical mid-level manager/worker ...... not the luxury expense budget crowd.  And, this hotel is “far” from many of the office towers on the other side of town.  Very curious ........

Sadly, at least on United, nobody will be flying a 747 anymore 

15 hours ago, Timoric said:

The Dream...tall buildings connecting the Medical Center with Downtown and another spoke connecting Uptown with Downtown ringing the fine parks and bayous, view of a mega city

IF you are currently under 30 years old, you just might see that in your lifetime.  If you are over 50, probably not.  Either way, it is a great vision.