Luminare

So if you are going to address "TCR" in this manner than I guess I'll go ahead and spill the beans. Wednesday evening Mollusk, BigFootSocks, and I met with Eckels and his Director of Communications, David Benzion, for several hours. I don't think it would come as any shock to some that all three of us were impressed with what they have achieved so far, but I will admit that as someone who essentially questions everything I went in a little skeptical. I came out with a greater understand of what they have built up till now and I will say that the organization, technology, and planning they have gathered/assembled is quite robust. They will be releasing more info in the coming weeks, so I'm not going to spill my guts out of what was discussed. Hell even in the amount of time we spent there were plenty of topics of which we could have gone into further detail, but as a sort of an introduction it was very interesting to hear what both had to say about the project. Of the many topics discussed we asked several questions related to this, and here's my understanding of what they said. For the most part they will avoid using eminent domain as much as possible...I would go as far to say that even if they did it would be an extremely small percentage of the overall land they would be using. Another point they wanted to expressed was that even though they will need to buy land in some areas they would utilize the free market to do so in order to avoid litigation with landowners and because it would be a better deal for the land owner if it was through the free market anyway. Probably the biggest shock to the three of us was the amount of land of which they would need. Depending on where the train is traveling the amount of easement they will require fluctuates from 100ft to 40ft. Many of the easements they would require will be no bigger than some of the easements needed for your regular country road! It's that small. When entering more populated areas the easement will be more toward the 40ft. Finally, many get confused between actually buying the land and buying easements (the right to use the land, or go over the land, etc....) Many ordinary people purchase easement rights from other landowners everyday particularly out in the country when sometimes a persons land holdings are surrounded by others. In other words it happens all the time! And for those who were wondering why only the three of us (there were a couple more but some had to cancel) this was from the Director of Communications yesterday. "[TCR] will be holding another such event for HAIFers soon, and will let everyone know so a wider range of folks can hopefully come. We kept it small and limited to start since this was the first time we had done something like this (i.e., held a briefing for people who were anonymous to us we just identified on the Internet), and we wanted to see how it would go." So many more discussions to be had in the future.

I don't know if anyone here has seen the movie Boyhood, but it was fun watching that movie and seeing Houston as the backdrop.

I don't know what "TSR" is.....

So is this suppose to motivate us to do a phone rush of this guys office? I completely agree with this, however, would they really respond to stuff like this from this website? I agree with this also though you still need to put it in a Dallas or Houston newspaper so that it gets more eyes on it.

Howard Huge used Trolololololol.

I personally don't mind....because the GC is probably an Aggie

We need someone to start digging up the rest of the images that probably accompanied this one illustration we currently have. Either Enlarged areas or Sections would do wonders to further clarify what we currently have.

Now this is what you should have said in the beginning This is a much better argument. TCR has probably already run into people who are already a No from the very beginning. I mean you can't compromise with No! Instead of "leverage" I would actually place ED as the fulcrum in the negotiation. The thing that detaches an owner from his/her "No" perch that Begins negotation, but isn't in the negotiation afterwards. It's merely there to show that there are actually better ways to deal with the problem without the heavy hand of government and legal channels. I'm certainly not naive to anything like that, but a company doesn't want to piss people off. I'm sure you know that Oil companies while they are looking after themselves like any company should do also understands that if they do everything they can to treat an individual the right way the first time then that makes that person a repeat customer. Compromise makes for good business. In bringing this to a much larger context why do you think it's harder to start wars or fights...it hurts business. Why plunder and loot when you can keep going back to the well and always make revenue than the one time grab. I had always agreed with the underlining theme of your argument, but it was the superficial layer the "threat" that just doesn't really work. EDIT: Lets also remember that Eckels was a former County Judge. I don't think bullying people with ED would be seen as kosher. Not the best attitude to take into negotiation as a startup anyway.

yeah I found that rather annoying.... Just cut out the block where the red sits on the orange should fix that.

The logic here is really daft though. Lets walk through this. You are saying that TCR would use an already well known government privilege as a "threat". So you would threaten them with a technique that would actually be a loss to the company and waste both of their time? If you ever offered someone a potential deal would you really honestly "threaten" someone with an option that's actually worse economically for both parties? They aren't some criminal underground or the Mafia. 'hey bud if you don't take this deal we are going to rough you up a little bit, see. Make it hard for you to sell in the free market, see'. It's a bit silly. Why would you ever threat a potential customer and landowner who you might have to face again in the future to work out new deals? If this were common practice...just really think about this....would anyone ever invest in any company or work with any company period. Real Estate wouldn't even exist if this were the case. EDIT: Essentially I don't agree with the crutch of your argument which makes the assumption that ED is TCR's "ace up their sleeve" or "wildcard". Like ED is some surprise to the landowner that they never saw coming, but that would never work. If you were ever going to "threaten" someone and back them into a corner it's with a unforeseen element that is not visible by the person that isn't in position to make a deal, but EVERYONE knows about ED.

Get out of here with your "research". Here at HAIF we only deal with speculations, conjectures, and conspiracy theories! How dare you Lockmat!!!

It actually doesn't. Eminent Domain is a take it or leave it kind of deal. Further more even though they could go through Eminent Domain and then low ball the number the owner of said land will then take them to court to fight the price. So not only would TCR then have to pay legal fees to fight in court, but then fork over the money for the price of the land which the judge will most likely side with the owner. If TCR needs any land from the land owner then it will be through the free market which would not only be a benefit for the landowner, but will save both sides thousands of dollars in legal fees. TCR will most likely work in land swaps to help those who might get cut off from their land. For these reasons they won't have to use Eminent Domain. Finally most of the places where they will be "buying land" they will really just be buy the easements or the essentially the right to use said owners land to travel across. TCR from what I'm seeing will avoid eminent domain if possible since it will not only slow down the process, but it puts them and land owners at odds, and not only would the landowner be worse off then in the free market, but would have to spend extra in legal fees to duke it out in court. I'm telling right now the Eminent Domain thing should be a mute point in this discussion as it will not happen in a high percentage of cases.

Probably what it's going to be. The motorsports complex was suppose to be the first phase of this project anyway.

I always found the letters to be distracting! Not to mention I felt that the design wasn't fully committed to either fully inside the buildings or bringing the buildings relationship closer to the street. This design looks like a full commitment to pay respect to the street and creating some nice public spaces yet they are at a human scale. This would be very nice if this gets built!

I respect your opinion, but I think you vastly underrate the power of the physical model. Case in point you get a better read of an entire building from it's scale, to materiality, and the interactions of space and form (in some cases) from a physical model than from the computer. Clients, and people alike, like to touch things. It's why we still haven't seen the death of physical shopping or physical anything for that matter because that sense of touch is what really makes something real that computers can not replicate. I actually think we as a practice are doing clients a disservice with "photo realistic renders" as it elevates expectations that most often times can never be achieved! Physical model making is very important, and yes while it had definitely seen a decline during the computer revolution, we are seeing through new innovations such as CNCing, Machining, and 3D printing a complete rebirth of the art form simply because its another valuable tool to use to present your ideas!

Hmmm interesting. Do you just want to get into the art of model making? Or do you want to be in the arts in general and want to specialize in making models? If its just models you are aiming for then I would recommend looking for workshops! Whether that is woodshops, metalshops, digital workshops (that do CNC, machining, and 3d printing, etc...). Get with groups that do models for architecture firms, design firms or create art installations. That's definitely a different way to go about it, but I guess you really don't need another degree to do that. I would say that if you just want to get into physical modeling that is more of a trade than the professional practice. I would still learn all of those programs I talked about! All of those programs are utilized throughout the process and are fantastic visualizing tools. Plus many are used to create digital models which then become physical ones. If you want to go the all art route then....simply just do the art. This is getting beyond my already limited expertise, but maybe get into art classes or go to art schools to help really define your craft. Maybe help explore what you really want to do. Explore your sensibilities and through those classes you can start to create a portfolio of projects (you can do this without formal school of course). I guess what I'm trying to get at overall is that the path you are choosing isn't really defined per se.

Your actually right. I honestly don't know what I was thinking.....quite embarrassing really! Modern Epoch...yes. Modern architecture....no. Empire and Chrysler are definitively Art-Deco (though if we really want to have some fun then we could go on forever about Art Deco being the precursor to Modern or even Art Moderne). Woolworth is actually in the guise of Neo-classical (you are right that's like me or anyone saying the Chicago Tribune buiding was modern when it wasn't it's Gothic Revival) in skyscraper form as were many skyscrapers thanks to Louis Sullivan who championed the crown on early skyscraper design. I back peddle from my last statement, but only to a point. My argument about us no longer in the modern period of both culture and architecture still stands! While there are still many peoples and nations who are either in the middle or yet to get into the Modern era, we are most certainly in the Post-Modern in Aesthetic, culture, attitudes, and thinking and current architecture reflects this. I don't consider any current buildings as being "modern" unless they are dedicating themselves to a "modernist style". Even that is stretching though... Modern era if you really want to get technical began in the early 1800's and lasted until the 1960's and 1970's. Post-Modern is from 1970's to current. All of this is semantics of course lol.

If you need me guys and gals I will be putting a construction tape perimeter around the whole of downtown lol. All of downtown under construction

tisk tisk If this is the direction we are going in shouldn't we be on point in using words like "contemporary" or "post-modern" to define current trends given that currently we aren't really in the "modern" era if you really want to get technical. Sorry it just really irks me when modern becomes the substitute of "contemporary". Empire State and Chrysler are Modern. Many of the new buildings going up today in New York in Chicago are flying the banner of Post-Modern, or simply Contemporary as the current industry refuses to have any type of dominant "style" or "movement". I completely agree with you though Arche that supertalls aren't really being built because it just doesn't make sound economic sense. Corporate culture and trends are just too conservative. We are no longer in the age where a single building defined an entire company. Most of those projects are now relegated to campuses not towers. While built to spec has always been a larger market than built to suit, the built to suit market continues it's spiral downwards since everyone is obsessed with trying to please everyone instead of looking for niche markets. There is simply no longer an environment where a buildings looks and height play into the symbolic views of the company's ideals. There is not a market for standing out when you are worried about the bottom line and when the individuals willing to take such risks is at an all time low. There are plenty of ways to reverse such trends, but thats for another post for another day

I'm going to assume that this guy already has a degree in something. SOMETHING (preferably in the arts, but if it's in something else that's completely ok!). If this is the case than the most in years he will see in school is 3. As many masters programs in architecture will put you in a 3 year program to "catch up" unless you are able to provide a portfolio of work in other artistic fields that displays your capacity for design. Lets also remember that NCARB is beginning a complete overhaul of their IDP system with the end goal of potentially pursuing license right after school (after getting a professional degree in architecture.) In fact in the firm I work for, one of the top designers here used to be in computer science and then went back to school to get a degree in architecture (from what I remember anyway). This was of course years ago (he is in his mid 40's now). It is never too late to pursue any profession especially architecture when the practice is more similar to a marathon and you really don't get into your prime in this profession until you are in your late 40's or early 50's (mileage may vary of course). I completely agree with Arche that this isn't a profession for the remotely curious or something to dabble in on the side. Architecture requires full commitment, and you better be entering this field because you love it (because it sure won't be the pay!) Arche was well on point about your competition. This is a field in flux, transition, and transformation. You can not ever get complacent and you must always be willing to change things up or learn new skills or you are not going to make it. This isn't to discourage you at all, only to warn you that it isn't something for the faint at heart. This isn't a 9-5 job and it isn't a biz where you just draw all day isolated from the world. If you haven't already I would start learning these programs: Adobe Creative Suite (particularly Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) AutoCAD (although on the down slope this is the gateway program to everything else and many firms still use it) Google Sketchup (basic modeling program, but is very easy to use, and quick to learn) Revit (helps you learn modelling under predetermined constraints, organizing workflow of projects, and documentation) Rhinoceros or Maya (more high end modeling programs). Sorry for the information overload, but if this is really a path you want to follow the please message me or Arche or whoever else responds to this. If you already know some of this stuff then sorry Good luck to you

It actually took me by surprise! For once they are actually properly accessing the technology and putting proper regulations in place that both restrict and benefit.....it's like our government is trying to serve the people or something kinda weird.

So I guess there is a significant reason why TXDOT is interested in if this will be a precursor to rail and that's because they will be building an elevated portion over 610 for these bus lanes! No wonder they were in such a tizzy. The other parts of the line you could engineer to have rail later on, but this bridge would have to be engineered for one or the other or for the bridge to later be converted to rail. Apparently from this article though they past one hurdle from a guy who wanted to review the project, but instead dropped it and it will now seek approval. http://blog.chron.com/thehighwayman/2015/02/legal-opinion-delaying-uptown-bus-project-progress-pulled/

Do you already have a college degree? EDIT: BTW I'm asking this because it is important as it will determine what course of action you should take. If you already have a degree then you can simply go to grad school. If you don't have a degree then it's a little more complicated as you will either choose a 4 + 2 path or a 5 year path which determines what University you go too.

They did a pretty nice job with the website. A lot more clear than what they originally had.

Well this at least proves both my initial hypothesis and analysis. Sure it would have been nice, but they would have had to really pile back a lot of layers just to get to the "original color" and like most buildings it's very very difficult to get 'as builts' or the original drawings of the building that would have specified the kind of brick which...lets be reasonable wouldn't even exist anymore. Most if not all the current major brick companies wouldn't have catalogs that even go back that far! In fact my firm had a very major brick company come here for a short after hour thing and even they have only been around for 50 years with old paper catalogs going back maybe MAYBE another 20. It's not as simple as just looking at the color or even the original brick and just making it. There's a lot more too it. They did the best they could.