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mattyt36

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Everything posted by mattyt36

  1. mattyt36
    I've learned word choice is very important to you . . .
  2. mattyt36
    I thought the problem was the cost. Now it's just because it's a cap park. By your standard, is the North Canal a cap park?! Good Lord.
  3. mattyt36
    Well, why not make an analogy with Buffalo Bayou Park? Or Discovery Green? Or the Memorial Park project?
  4. mattyt36
    Well even in that context, look at what DID get built, which is exactly what I’m saying. And don’t forget the fact that this will be an ANCILLARY project to a major redevelopment, which is a tremendous difference.
  5. mattyt36
    H-Town, if you want to waste air and bytes arguing semantics, then please be my guest. The truth of the matter is HoustonFirst is already talking about the cap park being their next and most important project if the realignment proceeds, and other relevant and high profile organizations with political clout like the Downtown District are on board. It’s not much of a leap to assume that something this high profile as a small part of a multibillion project will proceed in some form JUST LIKE IT WAS in your Klyde Warren example. Now as for miles and miles of cap parks shown in some of the conceptual plans, well, to quote someone else on here, “I wouldn’t hold my breath.” I’m sorry that doesn’t jibe with Jeff Speck’s (or apparently your) view of the world. Saying “I wouldn’t hold my breath” in the context of the momentum that’s already building, and the strides that the City has made in funding multiple major park projects in the past decade is, IMO, baseless. But yes, you win. My “most definitely” is not definite, and your vacuous “I wouldn’t hold my breath” is more defensible, because, at the end of the day, it isn’t saying anything.
  6. mattyt36
    Their budget is certainly not all funded with the gas tax but the appropriate question is how non-tolled highway projects are funded. in any case, it’s splitting hairs in re this project. Doesn’t matter if it’s funded 40% with gas tax, 100% with gas tax, general fund, or other sources.
  7. mattyt36
    In re the $200 million price tag for Klyde Warren Park, this article states $110 million. https://www.dmagazine.com/business-economy/2018/10/slideshow-the-expansion-of-klyde-warren-park/ This earlier article details TxDOT’s financial contribution. While it doesn’t explicitly say gas tax, that’s where the money comes from. https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/2012/special-report-the-park/how-klyde-warren-park-was-built/ The cost for new construction versus retrofit will be less.
  8. mattyt36
    H-Town, I’m not saying they will fund the park, just the supporting infrastructure. In any case, you’re “most definitely” speculating. I’m “most definitely” speculating. So further argument is pointless. However, I’d have no problem putting money down on a park being built. Won’t look like or be as big as the pictures, but I’m confident it will be built.
  9. mattyt36
    Well Jeff Speck lives in MA, does not have any association with the City or the State, and strongly disagrees with the I-45 realignment, so I’m not sure that’s the authority I would appeal to. The primary determinant of the cost is what’s paid for by the State and what’s paid for by someone else. And the primary cost driver is the cap itself. I think politically it will very easily proceed as a signature project and will be funded by the State. (And, quite honestly it should ... where does the gas tax come from?!) That said, the bigger question is whether the realignment itself proceeds. I’m not the biggest fan myself, for many of the qualitative issues that Speck has cited IN THE END, but the real problem is going to be the construction period. I fear it will be similar to the effect of the light rail construction in the late 1990s and early 2000s downtown. The East End will be set back 10 years and the Near Northside probably 30.
  10. mattyt36
    Doesn’t seem to be any progress on this, but I guess if they’re aiming for 4Q 2020 I doubt they’re behind.
  11. mattyt36
    That’s a great video BTW, thanks for sharing. Apologies for misconstruing your point. When I viewed that this was suggested via YouTube. I had to watch the whole thing. Everything old is new again.
  12. mattyt36
    Yes let’s go “live” from 40 years ago. If you want to go “live,” you might be surprised.
  13. mattyt36
    True, Rice certainly has deep pockets and that would be a logical “amenity” for a place that otherwise wouldn’t have one.
  14. mattyt36
    If the 45 realignment proceeds, the cap park will most definitely be built, with HoustonFirst having responsibility (they're already proceeding in that direction). Maybe not to the scale of what we see in the drawings, but something for the area outside the GRB you can count on. The likelihood of the rest being built (e.g., anything through Midtown or anything happening with the Pierce Elevated) on the other hand is much, much lower.
  15. mattyt36
    APV is in great shape. The Community Center there is my polling location. It's actually a fine place to walk around.
  16. mattyt36
    Oh the memories . . . I remember several trips out there during elementary school and thinking, why did they put the San Jacinto Monument THERE . . . ? Can't remember, however, when the light bulb finally went off.
  17. mattyt36
    Battleship Texas is moving to an undetermined location: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/houston/article/Battleship-Texas-will-be-relocated-from-San-13904051.php?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=HC_MorningReport&utm_term=news&utm_content=briefing
  18. mattyt36
    I tend to agree. Not my favorite design but I appreciate the uniqueness. Entirely unrelated, but since it somewhat reminds me of a motel, I wish someone would redo the old Holiday Inn down by Wheeler Station and 59 . . . I think it'd make a great kitschy boutique hotel and is in a good location for the younger demographic given proximity to Midtown and Montrose.
  19. mattyt36
    I can't imagine it's practical for large numbers of police officers to spend their time addressing, er, "quality-of-life" issues, especially if building owners aren't willing to press charges. I have an office at 405 Main . . . all I can say is it's getting worse by the day down there and frequently borders on uncomfortable. Not sure what can be done, however.
  20. mattyt36
    I haven't been to that theater in years. It used to be the case that there was a restaurant and a bar, before you entered the theaters. It may not be the case anymore since it converted to AMC. It was certainly not a destination restaurant, but, hey, if you wanted to go you could any day or night of the year without paying admission. A downscale version of whatever was at the Hobby Center. In any case, I don't care. The comparison to a concession outlet at Minute Maid Park is ridiculous and banal. IIRC the discussion of whether it was a restaurant was with regard to counting it as such on a long list. Don't want to count it? Fine. No skin off my back. It's not like there aren't plenty of restaurants downtown these days. Who cares if it's 50 or 49?
  21. mattyt36
    There's a hell of a lot of difference between a movie theater having a restaurant and bar open to the public, without requiring separate admission, every day of the week during lunch and dinner hours and a Shake Shack that's open 81 days a year for 5-hour blocks at most. Your point otherwise?
  22. mattyt36
    Well that sounds like, er, underkill.
  23. mattyt36
    Uh oh considering they did Dolce.
  24. mattyt36
    Unrelated but was in NYC for work and stumbled (not literally) upon a Ginger Man with the exact same logo in Midtown. Not linked to the website of the other Texas locations. Wonder what the connection is. https://www.gingerman-ny.com/
  25. mattyt36
    Well given the prevalence of such stores in the downtown areas of major cities around the world, I’d say you’re in the minority.
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