scarface

They don't seem that bad to me.

But I'm happy with the amount of infill in midtown is getting at this point.

I can appreciate the sediment of many on here to this building.

But who are we kidding here? Even the current "radiator" design that is over 50 years old is nothing all that extravagant. It's still a box nonetheless.

nice but too many colors. looks like a mcdonald's play house

This is true, to the fact that at least as a few years ago, the Baytown Best Buy stores deliberately put iPods and other consumer electronics close to the front because they're often visited by international visitors who spend their limited shore time buying consumer electronics that are substantially more expensive elsewhere. But HSR stations aren't international, they connect with Dallas, unless you consider Dallas to be another country.

 

I'm pretty sure that some of the "The station should be downtown" sentiment stems from the fact that Dallas has theirs downtown, but besides things like access and all, it still wouldn't work in Houston's favor because the downtowns aren't comparable. Instead of comparing Downtown to Uptown, if we compared the Dallas Downtown to Houston Downtown, it's not a contest. Dallas Downtown has museums, performing arts spaces, actual shopping (Neiman Marcus, at least), American history (Dealey Plaza), and a farmer's market, all within reasonable walking distance. Houston's downtown has a bunch of skyscrapers, some bars, the tunnels (one of my favorite things about Houston's downtown, personally, but shut after 3 pm and on weekends), performing arts spaces, and a bunch of often-empty stadiums surrounded by parking lots. That's not to say Dallas is better than Houston (we are not getting into that) but downtown to downtown, no contest...a downtown Houston station could still come across as inferior.

 

That's why I think that the NW Mall/Uptown connection is a better bet overall. Change the playing field and don't compete directly.

You are saying this isn't a Houston vs Dallas thing yet you say it's not contest that downtown Dallas is the clear winner. It seems that you're using this as reason as to why they should get a station and Houston shouldn't. I gotta correct you.

You mention that downtown Dallas has museums and performing arts spaces, yet you fail to mention Houston's theater district. Houston has only been out of having it's shopping (Former Macy's) for about 2 years now. With the planned retail district, that will definitely leave it not long before Houston will be back on the scene for retail again. C'mon, we're talking about one freegin department store here? No contest? Houston has 3 stadiums in it's downtown, how the heck is that no contest? 

C'mon bro, Let's use some better examples. Downtown Houston is more than just some bars and a bunch of empty stadiums surrounded by parking lots. Those parking lots have been quickly converting to hotels, parks, and apartments.

This can not be a serious post here,  really.

The amount of time they're taking makes me wonder if 7-11 might want to consider selling Tetco.. If they don't fully convert it'll make the chain more marketable to possible buyers. AFAIK 7-11 isn't doing bad financially, but maybe they're unsure of the future?

Oh no.

Please don't say this. I have hopes that 7eleven will eventually return to Houston.

What is their problem with Houston? They re-opened up in San Antonio, Austin, and of course, never left Dallas.  So you think they'll sell off the (3) Tetco locations in the Houston area before they convert?

I finally found the TETCO stores and they do have 7eleven slurpees, cups, propane, and other products. Very happy to see that. My sister was very happy to learn that she can get her slurpees because she just moved to Houston last year. She said that she misses her 7eleven slurpees.

I'm just not understanding why they can't just put the dern 7eleven signs up? Why is 7-11 taking its time to fully convert in Houston?

Scarface, south Dallas has massive amounts of empty land all the way to pretty much Downtown. It's the least developed area of the city. That's why they're getting a station Downtown. Northwest Houston is massively developed even if it's mostly suburbs. the closest you can get to Our Downtown to avoid established neighborhoods and busy streets is 610 @ 288. That's a lot of added miles and time to loop around Katy & sugar land plus the expense of getting from 610 to Downtown. Dallas you could zig-zag over I-45 to the trinity River without harming (or paying for), a fly.

Getting to Downtown from the Northwest mall you'd be crossing some of the most NIMBYest neighborhoods in our city. That's a lot of money spent in the courts, and a lot of negative press and public outcry this project doesn't need. If the HSR line was cutting through let's say Denton to Dallas, they wouldn't have a Downtown station either.

Well is it unrealistic to think that there's a way they could build it alongside the Hardy Toll road or elevate it throughout some of those neighborhoods? They don't ever seem to have an issue when it comes to building massive freeways through our city. Somehow I'm just thinking they're using it as a cop-out.

But why does Houston have to settle? Houston needs to push this and fight a little harder to push this to it's core. Just like Dallas is.

Not trying to make this a Dallas/Houston thing, but it does seem like Dallas is very successful in bringing it's development to it's downtown area. Houston seems like its making some strides, but it isn't enough. It does get kind of flustering.

what is with these bland, dull buildings going up all over Houston. BORing

Truly badass!

man that is cool

You can attack my viewpoint all you want.

For example, Ladybird Lake in Austin has a very picturesque setting and the water is blue. That's not to say this Brae's Bayou isn't very picturesque as well and they are doing an excellent job on the park, but that doesn't change the fact that I'd take bluer water over brown. It's just hard to believe that there's nothing that can be done.

You build a park with the river you have, not the river you might wish you had. Buffalo Bayou is a bayou. It is slow-moving and muddy. I will never be blue. If something were done to turn it blue, it would no longer be Buffalo Bayou; it would be some twisted abomination playacting at something it never was. 

I'm a little late replying to this, but,

This is to be a main attraction built around nasty- looking water?  I always believed that something could be done to reduce the appearance of the brown a little bit. Look at what they have done with Bray's bayou. They cemented the bottom of it and while it doesn't necessarily change the color of the water, it makes it look just a little bit more transparent where it changes with the color of the sky and environs more.

This is going to be a main attraction to the city. While I know we shouldn't necessarily care what visitors think, I just don't want our attraction being associated with muddy, poopy, and nasty. I mean the city is spending millions on this park, why not try to put on its best face?

Well if this does end up coming to fruition, I will have no choice but to tip my hat off and congratulate Dallas as the new tallest city in Texas.

Well thanks for the update JFive. Although someone interested really had to do some research based off the information you gave. LOL. Just messin with ya.

For anyone wanting to know the exact location and address and phone number:

18555 State Highway 249 Houston TX 77070

(281) 477-7561

Let's hope 7eleven doesn't change their mind on this one the same way they did about the Alvin and Sugarland locations.

I think that last sentence by 'Trose1100 is probably what makes still makes Uptown the 2nd boss skyline in the city. (At least to me). But as I stated earlier, Uptown and Downtown have this "entering the city" vibe that you don't get in the Medical Center. This is primarily due to the  fact that UT and DT both have freeways passing directly through where skyscrapers hover over the freeway where TMC does not. UT has the shopping and Upscale Vibe while TMC has the more urban vibe (at street level).

But would you guys say that the UT Skyline is beginning to merge with Greenway Plaza? It seems that since they started building the skyhouse and the few developments directly east of 610 it seems to be leaning in that direction.

I saw a topic started on City-Data regarding this and it raised my question and thought I would bring it here?  I'm also so fascinated by our city when driving on the freeway on how many unique areas with different urban clusters are scattered in this area. Since downtown is in no risk of giving up its crown title of the largest skyline in Houston, I thought I'd take it to the smaller but still largest areas of the city outside of Downtown.

As we all know, the Texas Medical Center has been adding new towers left and right for over the last decade and has really managed to build a very dense skyline. Uptown/Galleria skyline has been recently getting denser as well. Some examples of great views of the skylines are from the Houston ship channel.  You see the Medical Center's dense skyline and also Uptown's taller, yet many scattered skyscrapers, almost giving the allusion of a skyline that belongs in NYC. But the best view to me of TMC is taking West Loop heading north over 59(right before you're literally sucked in to the Galleria skyline), looking to the east at the TMC.

I decided to ask this question because the Texas Medical Center doesn't really have that "entering into the city" feel that Downtown or Uptown/Galleria both have, and that's could be due to no freeways passing directly through the area. But I have seen some really good shots of all the skylines. Texas Medical Center definitely has grown tremendously, but my mind is still programmed to think that Uptown/Galleria is still Houston's 2nd city skyline.

Do you all agree? Is Uptown still Houston's 2nd city skyline or has the Texas Medical Center overtaken it.

(I'll try and gets some pics posted later in the thread)

2112. You may not remember, but I'm still here.

Although i don't post much, I just come here to read on new projects and such. I remember the old Port of Dallas thread that got closed some years back.

I'm not convinced that Westheimer is the busiest street section of any street for a block or couple block distance, but if we're taking the average of all major Houston thoroughfares then it probably does easily win. Another issue I had with that question is whether or not frontage roads to freeways are included. If so, I'm fairly certain I-10's frontage roads in some parts of town would definitely give Westheimer a run for its' money in terms of busy.

Since frontage roads are apart of a freeway, they do not count

I was really talking about Road that carry the same name throughout the course of their span (excluding the name changes). Roads that go through various name changes don't count as the same road in my book.

Yes Little York road is a beast! It stretches all the way from Katy/Cy-Fair all the way out east. Didn't realize that.

So does Westheimer hold the title as the busiest?

Okay as you can see this is a two part question.

1) What is the longest road in Houston?

2) What is the busiest road in Houston?

Is it probably safe to say that Westheimer holds the title for both of these?

Thoughts?

So I'm guessing this is no longer happening?

Monarch!!! you had to say all of that?

Just for your only point (which is moot btw) to be that you're just mad that there's going to be a 2nd holel in NOLA?

You could've said that in three sentences.

CAN YOU IMAGINE IF Westheimer and Richmond actually met eachother at an intersection?

That would be the most nightmare intersection in USA.

But the one i can think of off the top of my head... Kirby and Bissonnet