SMF
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Everything posted by SMF
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Classy.
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Could the roof be any flatter? Too tall. Too thin. But since it's in NYC, it's flawless.
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What a load of crap. I bumped into two people from New York yesterday and they said just the opposite. Culture Art scene and concerts — No. 5 Free attractions — No. 4 Galleries — No. 2 Museums and theaters — No. 3 Shopping Antique stores, flea markets and luxury stores — No. 3 Bookstores — No. 2 Boutiques, home decor/design stores and specialty food markets/food halls — No. 1 Quality of life Houston only made the affordability subcategory under quality of life, with the city ranking No. 5. People Intelligent — No. 2. Stylish — No. 4 Nightlife Cocktail bars — No. 2 Singles scene — No. 2 Wine bars — No. 1 Food and drink Bakeries — No. 2 Barbecue, bars and sandwiches — No. 4 Brunch and hamburgers — No. 1 Coffee and craft beer — No. 5 Diners and wine — No. 3
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Is this happening with Hotel Alessandra? Do you think they will be the ones to prove that Houston can handle a Ritz, like HTOWNLIVE suggests?
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Could you name a few?
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@ HTOWN LIVE - If you had to take a wild guess, when would you predict that we would hear an official announcement for a Ritz and/or W? Before 2015? Thank you.
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@swtsig Could you please provide an example of inside info that you have shared with HAIF that was later verified to be correct? Thank you.
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- river oaks
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Isn't Hotel Alessandra going up at Greenstreet supposed to be a luxury hotel on par with Ritz and W?
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What's the likelihood that the substation across from ES could be relocated one day to a less visible, less valuable location?
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Thank you HTown for the info.
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When you say "Dallas Street at the end of the Corridor across from Discovery Green", do you mean the same block that the Embassy Suites is on?
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First off. I always go to the 'View New Post' link and read whatever the newest comments are on Haif, and when I see something of interest I just click the link. I don't scroll down into the DFW subforum and look for things in DFW because usually I'm a lot more interested in the new stuff going up in Houston. But I am mildly interested in what's going on in Dallas too since I'm there a lot. I almost never navigate this sight by subject. Second, I never said I dislike Dallas or Dallas architecture. I said there are some real monstrosities and just plain bad crap there. There are in Houston too. New York and Chicago too. I could make a list of everything in Dallas or any other city that I like and that I don't like but that isn't the point. The point is that any architecture submitted for discussion is fair game for criticism and that Houstonians should have a right to make negative comments about Dallas architecture without being accused of being immature or reading a lecture about civility. God knows I've read enough Houston bashing from Dallasites lately. The Houston vs Dallas rivalry runs deep, but sometimes the distaste for whatever each city has or is - is legit. It isn't always about trash talk. For example, I have no doubt that I could round up as many people in Dallas who aren't impressed with the big bridge as I could in Houston. Probably more. Dallas has a lot of rotten streets in disrepair that could have used some of that money that was spent on this gaudy bridge to nowhere and I've heard many people on Dallas forums that are plenty mad about it. Also, when you think about how much time, money and effort that went into building it and all they got was a one-tower replica of a bridge that many don't find particularly attractive in the first place. If they were going to this much trouble to build a landmark bridge the least they could have done was to get something original and more attractive and maybe a little more indigenous to it's environment. I think it's just great that you like quite a few buildings in Dallas and for the record I do too, but ours is just one opinion. If you are bothered by the fact that some people in Houston hate things in Dallas just because it is in Dallas, I can understand why you might try to want to put a stop to it (well not really). But it works both ways. Dallas isn't immune from building lemons. One should be able to call them on their mistakes as freely as you call Houston on it's lemons - which I've noticed you (and many others) do a lot.
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The Battle for Cool - Houston vs San Francisco
SMF replied to toxtethogrady's topic in General Houston Discussions
Houston. 1. Houston's affordability frees me up to be able to actually do things. Unlike S.F. where way over 50% of my income forced me to have to save up to do or buy anything. "The Bay Area, for all its vaunted progressivism, increasingly resembles a “gated community” whose high prices repel most potential newcomers, particularly families. Already by far the nation’s least affordable city—only 14 percent of current residents can possibly afford to buy a home—it represents a growth model that is by definition exclusive, almost a throwback to medieval forms where the rich clustered inside the city gates." "In contrast, Houston is among the fastest growing regions in the country, with rapid increases both in domestic migrants and newcomers from abroad. This stems from both lower housing prices and a growth model that is far more amenable to higher paid blue collar and middle management positions. Since 2000, Houston’s population has grown by 30 percent compared, three times that of the Bay Area." 2. Because I think it is more interesting watching cities being built and watching them grow and change at breakneck speed than marvel at the same things for rest of my life. I lived in S.F. for 11 years. It looks pretty much the same today as it did when I moved there. 3. There is a real uniqueness to inner city Houston. It's a beautiful mess. There's nothing original about being one of the many urban drones who wished they could afford to live in S.F. Everybody drools over it. What is so cool about being just another face in the crowd. SF was made cool by misfits - but now they are mainstream. Houston enthusiasts are the misfits and the outsiders. Whenever Houston become inundated by trendy follow-the-leader douche bags I'll remove number 3 from my list. -
Is it o.k. to not like Dallas architecture if you are from Fort Worth? How about New York? Or is legitimate criticism of architecture that just happens to be from Dallas and is submitted on this thread for the point of critique only frowned upon if you are from Houston? Which is it? I think if someone is going to post an image or opinion of anything related to architecture on any thread at this website, including this one, they need to be prepared to except the fact that not everyone is going to like it, and ought to be able point out it's flaws without being personally attacked. I don't understand what makes Dallas architecture immune from criticism. Just like in any city, there are some real monstrosities and just plain bad crap in Dallas too. I think the big bridge in Dallas is just awful for a lot of reasons and I'm certain there are many other people who also appreciate architecture who would agree with me no matter if they are from Hong Kong OR Houston OR Dallas. No one seems to have any problem irresponsibly slamming architectural misfires, trashing developers or ripping on cities for the fun of ripping on cities on any other thread at the Haif. Why is this one any different?
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I'll take the long row of shiny clean EC buildings along 1-10 over the junk scattered down I-45 any day.
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- skyline
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That big bridge in Dallas is very very ugly and completely out of place. If they had built the same thing in Houston over Buffalo Bayou I would not be bragging about it at all. And if I went to a Dallas forum and bragged about all the new high rise construction going up in Houston right now which I honestly feel is far more impressive (as a whole) than what is going up in Dallas, I would expect the locals to rag on me and my city. Immature? No argument. But, if you think calling people immature is going to stop anyone from defending their city or their home or their car or their house, when provoked. Think again. Is it o.k. if I think that a ball lit up in xmas lights sitting on top of a 500ft cement pole is tacky? Well, immature or not, it is. Deal with it.
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There should be one on every corner in Houston - like Skyhouses.
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Yeah. Why doesn't Houston have any places that look like that?! O wait, it does. Never mind.
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I went to Atlanta a few years ago. It was boring. Everything there was to do could be found in every other city in America. They didn't even have a submarine or a cable stayed bridge to go on. If the criteria for a non-boring city is to be able to wake up, hop on a train, get off at any stop and just explore the area, then Houston must be a great tourist destination because there is nothing that stops people from doing that along the red line. Downtown hotels, Discovery Green, the theatre district, the dozens and dozens of museums in the museum district, hermann park, the zoo, medical center, GRB Convention center, downtown tunnels, Miller Outdoor Theatre, NRG Stadium, Minute Maid Park, Toyota Center and BBVA Stadium are all walkable from red line stations, not to mention the new residential stuff going up daily in the center of Midtown. And the red line is only 7 miles long! That's a lot of stuff on such a short line. I never meant to suggest that Houston is currently a city that attracts a significant number of tourist compared to old cities or that what it does have to offer can't be beat. But it's not fair or logical to dismiss the many, many, many things there are to do in Houston to keep people entertained whether they are locals, visitors or tourist. Arbitrarily writing off everything in Houston as 'boring' is inaccurate and certainly subjective. The OP started this discussion because he heard visitors say that they were impressed with Houston. Some really are.
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I hope I'm not boring you. You know you could be having this conversation on New York forum. But since you chose a Houston forum I guessing there must be something more interesting for you to see here.
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Let's see Statue of Liberty, Central Park, brooklyn botanical gardens, Brooklyn bridge, Brooklyn park with view of manhattan, Empire State Building, Ellis island, little Italy, Chinatown, etc the list goes on and on. And the lack of subways had a huge impact it makes it very difficult to get around. Not everyone wants to rent a car. -------- That sounds about as boring as the San Jacinto Monument, Herman Park, The Fred Hartman Bridge, Discovery Green with a view of downtown Houston, The Pennzoil Building, Galveston Island, S.W. Houston ect the list on on and on... And not everyone wants to wait for a cab, bus, or train. It's all about 'seen that, done it'. Boring is relative. Quality is subjective.
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If you go to a ski resort or a crystal clear beach and decide that you want to do some shopping, you will be bored too. 'Bored' is relative to what the individual wants, their personal taste (or lack of), and what turns them on. There is a variety of places and activities to keep people in Houston from being bored. But if you want to be bored, you can be bored in Houston and anywhere on earth, even the most beautiful beach or highest mountain or prestigious museum. I knew people from L.A. who thought L.A. was boring so they went to Vegas, Palm Springs and San Diego all the time. Go figure?
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Why? Because you can't go to beaches, Pleasure Piers or catch cruises in the Dallas or Atlanta areas. My point is that if you are in Houston, there is no reason to be bored unless you want to be. And 'better quality' is a matter of opinion. What's so fascinating about Statue of Liberties, jumbotrons or golden gates if they bore you to begin with? In other words, there is very little you can do in other cities that you can't do in Houston and if you are 'bored' with those things in Houston, you will be 'bored' with those things in other cities.
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Houston has great museums, great theaters, great shopping, great restaurants, great stadiums, nearby beaches, bays, bayous, forests, lakes, parks, hiking trails, biking trails, arboretums, nightlife, concerts, music, festivals, culture centers, professional football, professional baseball, professional basketball, professional soccer, water parks, amusement parks, skateboard parks, planes, trains, automobiles, big bridges, ferries, tunnels, zoos, space shuttles, orange shows, chinatowns, San Jacinto monuments, chili cook offs, gay pride parades, megachurches, battleships, camp grounds, barbecue, submarines, go-karts, fishing piers, cruises and the fastest growing, fastest changing, most dynamic construction landscape in America. Most people already know that if you are bored in Houston and can't find something to keep you entertained, its you.
