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Sparrow

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Everything posted by Sparrow

  1. Sparrow
    Theoretically I suppose Camden could have come up with a project comprising many, many more units just to reduce the competition's economic incentive to build. Self preservation of their rental assets already in place. File a form for the grant, never build the project, and suddenly hundred, if not thousands, of units will likely not be built. Less competition = higher rents. How many units would a 101-story building have held?....
  2. Sparrow
    Only 45 units left in the program as of January 12th, 2015 according to this memo: http://www.downtownhouston.org/site_media/uploads/attachments/2015-01-12/150112_HDMD_DLI_Cap_Memo.pdf Edit: According to similar memo dated 12/24/14 only 207 units remained. Between Christmas and Monday 162 units were approved. I wonder what project those units belong to? http://www.downtownhouston.org/site_media/uploads/attachments/2014-12-29/141224_HDMD_Applicant_Memo_on_DLI_Closeout.pdf
  3. Sparrow
    This is most amazing, the gentle slope from ground level to the terrace. Those sure look like people off in the distance on the incline to me.
  4. Sparrow
    The best argument for running the line straight up 45 the entire length is the daily reminder to anyone that drives that they could have been there already if they would have taken the train. It's the same feeling one gets when stuck on the freeway parking lot about 6pm while the HOV lane is moving along at 70 mph. There's also the advantage of no landowners fighting the line. If the line follows 45 all the way to Dallas it won't cut anyone off from their land. It's not the best option from an engineering cost standpoint, or even an operational speed potential, but going for 45 all the way up has no landowners in court fighting against it.
  5. Sparrow
    An I-45/BNSF hybrid would be reasonable for ridership potential and reduced expense. Run the line up the Hardy (as the BNSF option starts out before cutting west just past 610) and put a North Houston station at the Grand Parkway and 45 just south of the new ExxonMobil complex/Springwoods Village development before swinging west toward the line north of Tomball. It's not in The Woodlands or even Montgomery county, but what their desire seems to be from the article is a commuter component--a short drive toward the city to catch the commuter rail would be ideal. There's really not a valid ridership potential argument against a North Houston station along 45, as anyone driving to Dallas would have to pass by such a station anyway. On that note I realize TCR isn't interested in commuter rail, but they aren't interested in connecting to Ft. Worth either--TxDOT is taking the lead on that potential extension. Maybe TCR will only build their line to North Houston and let TxDOT fund an extension to Downtown and Galveston themselves.
  6. Sparrow
    Will Clayton will get grade separated main lanes much like JFK does into the airport--one day. It's been a part of the master plan. Much of it will also be shifted further south with terminal reconstruction--one day. Check out the master plan for IAH at www.fly2houston.com .
  7. Sparrow
    6 new project scoping meetings scheduled for early December. Scoping period extended to January 9th, 2015.
  8. Sparrow
    Perhaps the added expense for phase two is to account for not receiving the Downtown Living Initiative money on the second building?
  9. Sparrow
    What an absurd juxtaposition to have parked cars resting under the shade of trellised ivy while workers look upon from a much too small uncovered, unceremonious balcony.
  10. Sparrow
    The design of the elevated 183 thru North Austin is quite pleasing to the eye. It always reminded me of a modern take on a Roman aqueduct.
  11. Sparrow
    If you have questions about the noise of these things you should go to YouTube and search Shinkansen. There's some great ones on there of the trains passing through stations.
  12. Sparrow
    Best case scenario they would develop both stations, or really all three. Run the Dallas--Houston route from Dallas to whichever of the three proves most popular among riders and just run a local commuter route between the three Houston stations. Many advantages with this scenario. Commuter rail for the 290 corridor. Three real estate opportunities for developers instead of just one. Reaching Uptown and Downtown with ease means more potential riders. By stopping at the farthest out station first, TCR could claim reduced time of service between Dallas and Houston. Let's be real here, the cost of an additional station pales in comparison to the potential profit to be had were no station to be built on that property in the first place. I could envision a developer approaching TCR and saying, look, here's all this land I own, you can use this part of it for zero cost to build a station, and I'll even chip in for you a part of the profits for the surrounding development.
  13. Sparrow
    Surely there's not enough room to trench four rail lines along the corridor without taking property, perhaps in sections, but not along the full corridor. TCR needs their dedicated two, and there's no way the existing two lines are going away. Elevating the two new lines are the way to go to avoid having to use eminent domain.
  14. Sparrow
    They already live next to an existing rail line. There's an argument, but not really a great argument to be had. What I would do if I were TCR is get all the facts out there to beat the naysayers to the punch. We're going to install noise and vibration dampeners. We're going to use a geometry that directs noise and wind skyward. We're going to plant flowering ivy along the entire elevated stretch. We're going to install noise walls under the elevated structure to reduce the noise of the existing rail line--and plant ivy along those new walls, except at areas the community deems appropriate for murals--we're going to commission art work for the community there. Make the new elevated rail line over the existing rail line to be a visual improvement to the community. Even go one better. Build a sample section or two near Heights Boulevard or TC Jester to show the community what the final build out will look like. It's one thing to tell people or show them in pictures. Go one step further and show them every single day. They'll be begging to get the new ivy and flowers and public art.
  15. Sparrow
    The issue with rerouting Washington would be how to deal with the I-10 HOV entrance/exit. Obviously with a little funding you could realign it, but where to?
  16. Sparrow
    We may have a name change here. Hotel Valencia on the agenda.
  17. Sparrow
    Rather interesting that TxDOT has decided to change their plans for 290's HOV lane configuration from 3 lanes down to one. Perhaps a TxDOT/METRO/TCR partnership quid pro quo is in the works?? TCR can use TxDOT's right-of-way for free if TCR uses it's trains to also operate a commuter rail line for Houston whether or not such a commuter line would be profitable. Probably wouldn't be a bad deal for any party involved, or the public either. The HSR folks would have to operate the line of course, not METRO, because of the whole Buy America clause for transit vehicles. Not likely, but an interesting possibility nonetheless.
  18. Sparrow
    Can we get a poll update with options such as ski slope and indoor park (with correct spelling)?
  19. Sparrow
    Polar Express
  20. Sparrow
    Why can't we fuse Cloud and SMF's ideas together? Create an indoor alpine park with a ski run? That would draw people from across the globe. Snow in Texas year round--not just to ski mind you, but to wander thru, to buy a cup of hot chocolate, to people watching, to ice skate, to build snow men with the kids, and to ski (more of a bunny hill perhaps, but hey, at it's best you're only getting 200 feet of drop anyhow). Same concept, free entry, pay for amenities like the ski run, skating, zip-line, etc. And an Alpine shopping village mall is a must as well. Tourists like to shop. Rent will help off set the massive cost of air temperature modification and snow creation. And I still say create a TIRZ that will develop the surrounding parking lot into a mid-rise neighborhood with GFR and parking garages. And let's be honest, wouldn't it be sensational to do Christmas shopping in a mall that looked like Santa's hometown? Personally, I'm crossing my fingers that this is the new mall the BFS is talking about in another thread. Go big or go home. This is the Astrodome. The Eighth Wonder of the World. Do something that no one else anywhere the world over can or will do. Making the Dome into the world's largest freezer would be spectacular!
  21. Sparrow
    Why trenched? I would think elevating the lines into downtown would be cheaper, faster to construct, and easier to operate. Could even build over existing tracks or another right of way.
  22. Sparrow
    http://www.columbia.edu/cu/gsapp/BT/DOMES/HOUSTON/h-unusua.html Using the same source, the diameter of the span of the roof of the dome comes in just under 642 ft. This would give it a size of 7.43 acres "under the roof", if you will.
  23. Sparrow
    Wikipedia...
  24. Sparrow
    http://www.columbia.edu/cu/gsapp/BT/DOMES/HOUSTON/h-unusua.html Area of a circle = πR2 Diameter of the outside of the Dome is 712 (or 710 from the same link). Therefore the radius is 356 ft. (3562)π=398,152.89 ft2 An acre is 43,560 ft2 Dividing the two yields 9.14033 acres that the Dome's footprint occupies.
  25. Sparrow
    They made money off you just the same. Didn't you notice all of the advertising?
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