hindesky

I saw the band TV on the Radio when I first moved to Montrose in 2004 at #'s, back when they used to have live bands all the time. This song alone made me love them.

I wonder if the neighborhood has approached the rail companies to make this a quiet zone like the lower Heights did for the tracks north of Washington Ave? I can faintly hear the East End/Eado train horns in my Montrose neighborhood early in the morning when walking to my car for work.

Fry's Electronics shutting down, blames Covid and changing retail market By Cromwell Schubarth – TechFlash Editor, Silicon Valley Business Journal 7 hours ago After 36 years in business, Fry's Electronics closed all of its remaining 31 stores in nine states overnight, including three in the Houston area, blaming a double whammy of changes in the retail business and the effects a year of operating during a pandemic. The San Jose, California-based company said it will begin a wind-down process on Feb. 24. "It is hoped that undertaking the wind-down through this orderly process will reduce costs, avoid additional liabilities, minimize the impact on our customers, vendors, landlords and associates, and maximize the value of the company’s assets for its creditors and other stakeholders," the company said on its website. The local Fry's stores were at: 10241 North Freeway (Interstate 45) in north Houston 11565 Southwest Freeway (U.S. 59) in southwest Houston 21300 Gulf Freeway (I-45) in Webster The company's stores, featuring outlandish themes like the Wild West or "Alice in Wonderland" in some locations, were a throwback where consumers and techies could find anything from the latest electronic device to the parts needed to make their own. But Fry's failed to keep up with the times and missed out on the Covid-influenced boom in sales of laptops, home theater systems and appliances that gave rival Best Buy its best quarter in 25 years recently. In recent years, Fry's adopted a consignment model in which it paid suppliers only after their goods were sold in the stores. The company said it is reaching out to customers with repairs and consignment vendors to explain what the shutdown will mean for them and proposed next steps. "Please understand if we are a bit slow to respond given the large volume of questions," Fry's said. "The company appreciates your patience and support through this process." Fry's property on East Brokaw Road in San Jose, where the company's headquarters and a store are located, is slated to undergo a massive overhaul with plans for seven new office buildings there.

University of Houston receives $10 million gift for Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management By Laura Gillespie – Reporter, Houston Business Journal 6 hours ago The University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management has received a $10 million gift from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. The gift will create an unrestricted endowment at the Hilton College and will help the college navigate Covid-19 challenges that the hospitality industry is facing, the university said. “Hilton College has become world-renowned as a leader in hospitality education and research, in no small part because of the Hilton Foundation’s philanthropy,” said UH President Renu Khator. “At every major stage of the college’s growth, the foundation has been there to support our hospitality students by funding critical facilities, programs, endowments and scholarships. On behalf of the university, I thank them for this truly remarkable gift, especially during this challenging time.” The Hilton College was started with a $1.5 million gift from hotel industry veteran Conrad Hilton in 1969. Over time, his foundation has given over $95 million to the school. The foundation has given more than $1.6 billion around the world. The college currently has 1,000 students from 54 countries, six degree programs and 30 full-time faculty members. “We are proud to have partnered with the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Houston, now one of the leading hospitality institutions in the country, since its inception,” said Peter Laugharn, president and CEO of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. “Through this grant, we look forward to supporting a new generation of students, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college, in becoming leaders in the hospitality sector.” A $30.4 million expansion and renovation of the Hilton University of Houston hotel will begin in March. The project includes a five-story guest tower, which will increase the number of rooms at the hotel to 150. “When we embarked on our strategic-planning process in 2015, the Hilton Foundation was there as well, even offering a representative to help us chart a new roadmap,” said Hilton College Dean Dennis Reynolds. “Today, as we weather this pandemic and enter our newest chapter with the expansion of our Hilton Hotel, a cutting-edge curriculum launch, a new and fully integrated Eric’s Club Center for Student Success and a bold vision for the future, the Hilton Foundation has once again made an indelible impact with this legacy gift.” The university closed its $1.2 billion "Here, We Go" campaignAug. 21, 2020. It had met the $1 billion initial goal in 2019 but continued to accept donations. The funds will create 728 endowments, 55 endowed chairs and professorships, over $215 million in scholarships and fellowships, 29 new or renovated facilities, and 12 centers and institutes. Of those funds, $559 million, or 48% of total giving, came from individuals; $380 million, or 31%, from corporations; and $255 million, or 21%, from foundations.

Houston Business Journal has an article about a new affordable boutique hotel by Wanderstay to open in the East End. Does anyone have a subscription?

I've ridden by these 2 warehouses and there is about a dozen old/antique trains already there on an old rail line that used to service the warehouses there. I took a few photos of them but there are a lot more.

I rode under the northern Buffalo Bayou Hike/Bike trail under Waugh St. today and saw lots of dead bats killed by the freezing temperatures last week. I saw a FB post about it but wasn't thinking about when I was riding. There had to be hundreds of them laying on the ground. Didn't want to take a pic. The southern side of the trail was blocked off from anyone accessing it. So people had to cross the intersection on top across Waugh. https://www.houstoniamag.com/travel-and-outdoors/2021/02/waugh-bridge-bat-colony-winter-storm-2021 The Waugh Bridge Bat Colony Took a Hit During the Winter Storm Reports of dead and distressed bats rolled in over the weekend at Buffalo Bayou Park. By Gwendolyn Knapp 2/22/2021 at 11:34am The Waugh Bridge bat colony is a Houston icon. BAD NEWS FOR BAT LOVERS. On Sunday Buffalo Bayou Partnership took to its social accounts, asking folks to avoid the walking paths under the Waugh Bridge. The issue? It appears that our poor Mexican free-tailed bat colony, which endured the floodwaters of Harvey in 2017, has now been hit hard by the winter storm. A rep from the partnership tells Houstonia that reports started coming in of both dead bats on the ground, and bats that were still alive and in distress, on Saturday, as folks returned to the park. The rep did not know how many bats were involved, and we still don’t have any details about exactly what happened—if they froze to death inside the bridge or while trying to take flight or if anything else is at play (bats can carry rabies, so please stay away, folks). Before Harvey, there were an estimated 300,000 bats in the Waugh Bridge colony, but as we sadly know, many perished as Harvey’s floodwaters rose up into the bridge, and then many more were likely displaced since bats don’t like to live among the dead. The bats in the Waugh colony reside in the bridge about seven layers deep, and, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, still have a population about 250,000 deep, fluctuating through out the year as the species is somewhat migratory. As of Monday morning, TPWD has sent its bat team coordinator and wildlife biologist, Diana Foss, to assess the situation, which may involve taking distressed, living bats with her to investigate the matter. The partnership also tells us that more environmentalists are currently investigating the situation as well. It’s unknown if Austin’s bat population is dealing with the same issue. Earlier this month, the Chronicle reported that many of Texas’s bats have faced a greater risk of death recently due to the rampant spread of white-nose syndrome across our state, a disease that causes bats’ fat stores to run out quicker than normal, sending them out into the cold weather to feed rather than hibernate. But Mexican free-tailed bats do not hibernate like other species in Texas, so it’s uncertain if the disease is actually impacting them like other species. We’ll update on any information regarding the situation when we get it. For now, avoid the paths under the Waugh Bridge, and send some love to our favorite bat colony. Please hang in there, little fellas!

Anyone know what the old car dealership was at the southeast corner of Broadway and Brays Bayou? I worked there at the shipyard when I first moved to Houston and some of the old timers said at one point it was a car dealership and a cement ready mix, not sure which was there first. I want to recall it was a Chevrolet dealer if I remember.

Saw this project last time I rode by here. First time I took a pic from the bike trail and saw all the rip rap in the corner bend of the Brays Bayou. I was thinking this might be to prevent future flooding from washing out the bend and from threatening the integrity of the huge culvert. This time I saw the sign. Wanted to ask one of the workers but they were busy at work and the boss was on the phone.

I was unexpectedly off today and it was a gorgeous day for riding. Didn't have a Bike Tag to chase since mine is still the one they're looking for. Gave me lots of time to take construction pics since I didn't have to feel rushed.

Cute little neighborhood park, a couple of families where using it already. This looks like a future sign holder. Benches are made to keep people from sleeping on them but a skinny contortionist could probably fit inside them.

I took this pic on the southeast corner, the machine drilling the pilings vibrates like hell. I'm sure the neighbors aren't liking that too much.

I talked with a Trammel Crow Residential worker and asked whether the white portion was stucco or brick. It looks like stucco made to look like brick to me. He said it was actually brick using what he called the "German Smear" no paint is added, just the right mix of cement, lime, sand and water. This has to be my favorite mid rise going up right now, gorgeous. He also said leasing is ongoing now and are releasing 20 new units every 2 weeks. I asked if they were in were involved with the 42 story high rise Discovery Tower and he said they farm out high rise buildings to other contractors. https://www.bobvila.com/articles/german-smear/

Fencing along the front and part of the side.

Bulldozer is tearing up the recently rolled dirt.

Tower crane is about to hoist a box of windows.

Loading out the concrete and a tiny sliver of the brick portion is still left.

Both fenced off lots are now being excavated, didn't see a sign around the western lot so I'm going to assume that Alliance is building on that one too.

Loading out the remaining parts of the demo. Train looks ready for a new home, hopefully a permanent one.

Talked with a worker, asked what they were building and he said "Bar". Lots of the times they don't really know what they're building.