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wilcal

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Everything posted by wilcal

  1. wilcal
    Ok, so this might not be breaking news, but I totally missed that the city is officially planning on doing a bikeway on Shepherd from Dickson going north to I-10 to connect with the Shepherd/Durham project. They added it to the Houston Bike Plan (or at least updated it) in December. The section between Dickson and Washington is currently in 90% design as is slated to be starting 1Q21. Of course as you mentioned, trying to integrate it with Memorial may be a challenge, but it does appear that there is plenty of ROW for an expanded sidewalk/trail along the sides. And yes, there are so great renderings of a Waugh redesign but there is not only no funding for it, they considered it a "dream" down the road project. Cost would be tooons of cash.
  2. wilcal
    Making sure everyone isn't 100% is almost the goal, right? As a member of the public (and a future planner, hopefully) it freaking sucks that we can't get a protected bike lane between Buffalo Bayou and White Oak. Yes, I-10 and the railroad track are in the way and are both represented by entities other than the city or county, but how is this possible? Honestly, it feels inevitable. Same thing with connecting Memorial Park and Buffalo Bayou Park. It is a simple problem with evidently difficult solutions. Is the Patterson bikeway going to make traveling safer for cyclists and pedestrians? Yes. Is it something that more progressive countries would laugh at our implementation? Definitely. Are we going to have to wait for Shepherd or even Waugh to be developed? Sure. As an aside, funny that you view it that way. I would say that the citizens of Houston are the ones that have rejected zoning and mandated that this density be allowed 😉 Maybe parking wouldn't be as difficult if there was a community parking program that charged a "fair" amount for taking up public right of way, because $32/year ain't it. Just because everyone is wearing XL shirts doesn't mean it isn't an XL shirt.
  3. wilcal
    Choices look good! Pretty sure it is more than that. I think we saw a permit construction amount around $17 million.
  4. wilcal
    I'm going to echo j_cuevas here and to say PLEASE email the city about this. The email address is bikeways@houstontx.gov and honestly, they can be pretty hard hit for public comment. This is something they are talking about right now, so just a quick word would be great.
  5. wilcal
    New Chron article on the topic: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/Historic-home-in-shadow-of-Minute-Maid-Park-on-15937594.php Confirmation from Astros that it'll be used for parking short term. City is paying to move the Cohn House and it'll be in a park east of 59 as mentioned. Also says that Astros agreed to being mixed-use development within four year of May 2020.
  6. wilcal

    Allegiant Airlines

    wilcal replied to wxman's topic in Planes

    Allegiant announced that they are adding more flights from Hobby: Des Moines (July 1) Springfield (May 28) Lexington (June 3) https://ir.allegiantair.com/news-releases/news-release-details/allegiant-announces-major-service-expansion-34-new-nonstop
  7. wilcal
    Bicycle Advisory Committee talked about formalizing a maintenance plan soonish. I think that they said that there would be an update at the next meeting.
  8. wilcal
    Two things: A list of the in design or under construction bikeways in the area as of Jan. 27. This was put together by city planner Melissa who runs the Bicycle Advisory Committee. 52.3 miles is pretty impressive. There is a link to a map at the bottom of the page, but I don't think that the map has all of it on there. Additionally, I was complaining on Twitter about how slow my 311 ticket response time has been on tickets where I have submitted cars parking in bike lanes, and KPRC reached out to me and we did an in-person interview on Polk St near Navarro MS where I pretty regularly experience residents parking in the older bike lanes. The CoH's acceptable turnaround time on these tickets is currently 28 days lol. I was mad it has been taking a week! KPRC reached out to ParkHouston to ask about how many tickets/citations they've written since the ordinance was changed in October and they've issued a total of 1 ticket and 14 warnings. The piece will be on tv on 2/16 👍
  9. wilcal
    Yeah, that's literally it. Well, they said that some of their trucks literally wouldn't fit in their townhome garages as well. And they evidently were in the process of applying for residents only street parking because they were made that restaurant/bar traffic were parking a block or two off of Washington. IIRC, the right of way pinches pretty hard at the railroad tracks, so there was no way to extend a protected bike lane over them. Also, I think that the city checked and not a single home along Patterson between Washington and I-10 was built without off-street parking.
  10. wilcal
    .... knock that ish down 😅 I'm guessing it is probably a signage update, but lets be real, with all of the development happening on Montrose Blvd in this area, and the large number of drug stores, it wouldn't be missed.
  11. wilcal
    They are taking forever getting Cleburne rebuilt. Big PITA to get from the parking garage to campus 😅
  12. wilcal
    I'll guess it is the Christian Science churchthat was sold a block or two from here. I saw you commented on the thread, but I'll link it here for others:
  13. wilcal
    Primary is within 1,000 feet. Secondary is 1,000 feet to 1/2 mile. Buuuuuut... this is how streets are removed from consideration. The two I boxed are likely knocked out a huge chunk of the near northside. The planning department decided that METRO buses don't count. Well, except for BRT buses. Those count. I called for the inclusion of 82, but they said nah. Fortunately, they can make some far-reaching changes with TOD without city council's input! Planning can work with METRO and some city staff to come up with some recommendations and planning commission can make the change. My limited interactions with Director Brown point to her being willing to make these additional progressive changes, but she desperately needs additional public opinion that would match. Same thing applies for expansion of market-based parking. I think that at this point they want people to apply for Walkable Places in most areas instead of getting bonked with a mandatory TOD designation.
  14. wilcal
    The wheels of progress continue to turn. Hopefully it doesn't sit derelict for too long. Big time yawn. And it also looks like it hasn't actually been built, yet. This lot in Dallas is surrounded by the mid-rise 5ish story apartment blocks just like this rendering so it kind of makes sense for there? I'm still holding out hope we get something a little more interesting or taller at least. If it turns out to be something akin to the Whole Foods in Midtown with residential above, then so be it. Having a walkable grocery store to support the Westheimer/Montrose corridor is something positive.
  15. wilcal
    *sigh* I mean, I guess that is fine. They don't exactly have a yard for dogs? TOD only mandatory in the very few blocks immediately around a LRT or BRT stop. There aren't even any secondary TOD streets north of Westheimer in Montrose. Edit: You can find the map of TOD streets here.
  16. wilcal
    Agreed. Walkable Places makes the most sense for this area. Some of the curb cuts are nasty and of course the restrictions only apply as things are redeveloped.
  17. wilcal
    This spot? That would make a lot of sense!
  18. wilcal
    There was a train-themed area in the park render for NHHIP cap park for this approximate section of 59. I wonder if it might end up there some day. *assuming NHHIP gets done **assuming we come up with local money for said park space
  19. wilcal
    I do think this block is pretty great. A lot of that comes from the older buildings that don't have the massive setback imho. Big Tex mentioned in their reply to a news station that the building will: · Adheres to COH Transit-Oriented Development: pedestrian-friendly plaza with 6′ wide sidewalks & a well landscape street façade. · Architecturally designed to be complementary to the character of the Heights: honed brick, la Habra stucco and architectural metal panels That is kind of funny to me since this is not designated as a TOD corridor. I could see this being designated as a Walkable Place corridor, though.
  20. wilcal
    Drove up Studemont today and there were SO many signs with the logo. Ashby PTSD 😅 Pretty big thread on this at The Heights Life Facebook page today. I know this is an aside, but was looking at the surrounding properties to see if this corridor might continue to be developed, and the apartment complex next door, the Lencor Apartments, looked a little long in the tooth for area. Looked up the owner on HCAD and it is a husband and wife who live in Spring who own this one and one by the same name on White Oak across from where Heights VInyl used to be. I googled their name.... and the husband passed away last year and his obit said that he managed the real estate up until he died at age 85. The name, Lencor, is a combination of their names: "Their first apartment building, Lencor, is named after the last three letters of Helen’s name and the first three letters of his." (Cornelius and Helen). Thought that was kind of nice! Anyway, just a random aside and y'all are probably the only ones that would care about that.
  21. wilcal
    There's no way. Astros have to be particularly attuned to optics right now. At least, that is what I'm telling myself. Also, won't really miss home plate. Stopped going there after I went there before a game and they had a pint special yet were bringing me 12 oz plastic cups. Waitress/Bartender/Manager all had no idea why I thought that was unacceptable. "This is a pint" "No, that's only 12 oz". I think I got mad ticked off enough that I submitted a complaint to Texas Weights and Measures but I don't think it went anywhere 😄
  22. wilcal
    You have to think that the proximity to the Ion pushed this one over the edge. It'll also be one of the most convenient transit locales in the city with Wheeler station getting a University BRT stop. This location also falls on a secondary Transit Oriented Development designated street/Transit Corridor street, so they will be subject to pedestrian realm standards. These are listed in the TOD User's Guide as: So at least an 8' sidewalk with a 4' safety buffer. I believe TOD effectively pushes them to have side entrances to the parking garage as well, which is nice. They would also be able to opt-in to a 50% reduction in minimum parking requirements. Nice to see how the TOD ordinance is positive effecting the design of new buildings.
  23. wilcal
    Work continues
  24. wilcal
    I went to one of the public meetings were they asked for feedback on the color palette and I pushed pretty hard for yellow accents on the bike path (or at least on the stripes that aren't put in yet) but I'll have to admit the white/slate looks pretty freaking good.
  25. wilcal
    Correct. That car making an illegal left turn is on Lovett. There is a random greyed out building on the Kroger parcel though. But there's this. Something I learned when I posted it up above 😄
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