quietstorm

5 hours ago, UtterlyUrban said:

Your point is well taken, but, Actually, it's even more crazy for a drug store in these days of 24-hour drug stores.

 

I am excited to see this new concept and I am hoping it's more than a pile of apples and bananas, pre-made sandwiches, and some Raman.  While that is good in a pinch, this side of downtown needs an urban grocery.  Something small but jam packed.  Wipe out all of Pheoncias upstairs.  Wipe out that big bread conveyor belt. Wipe out the dessert  counter and the hot dinner counter.  Wipe out the back side cash registers that I have never seen used.  What's left?  The pizza counter, the prepared foods counter, cheese, meets, fish, produce, eggs, dairy, salad bar, booze, soft drinks, coffee, and some packaged foods.  Would all of that have fit into the space in this tower?  IDK.  Hopefully it will fit into Aris.  

The back cash registers at Phonecia are used during weekday lunch hour, which is always packed.

25 minutes ago, jmitch94 said:

 

I agree with you but aside from the trial on the bayou that area is horrible for pedestrians. A bayou with fast busy roads on both sides (the MacGregors) and a major freeway running perpendicular to the bayou makes it very unfavorable for pedestrians. 

This is my community.  I live, work and worship nearby.  In addition to the walking trail on the bayou, there is Calumet Park, Riverside Terrace, the bike trail that goes to Discovery Green, new town homes as well as existing apartments and homes. This is an establish area, that has a mixture of the old and new. I hope that HEB can successfully integrate the pedestrian with cars, b/c you see a lot of both in the area.

1 hour ago, Texasota said:

The site plan makes me sad, but this would be good for the area.

1 hour ago, Texasota said:

The site plan makes me sad, but this would be good for the area.

Too suburban?

My church is the copper topped 2 buildings to the right of the proposed site. It is built on a very high elevation, marked an historic site, and hasn't flooded.  

This is in my neighborhood as well.  Community members, both long-time 3rd Ward residents like my family, as well as those moving in are excited about this project. I'm pleased with my council member's leadership on this issue, and look forward to the community growing in a way that reflects the needs of all residents--a new HEB is a step in the right direction.

Near Minute Maid

Apparently Twitter users have taken "issue" with the use of HTX instead of HOU...

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Houston-Super-Bowl-Host-Committee-boasts-9178252.php

7 hours ago, DrLan34 said:

Prepping for the facade.

The scale of this building is "off" to me, especially in comparison to Post Midtown a few blocks away as well as the fairly new Pearl Midtown on Smith.

On 6/14/2016 at 4:26 PM, MarathonMan said:

I think your use of the term "iconic" best reflects what I meant in my comment.  Yes, Heritage Plaza and the Bank of America Building are very nice buildings, but I'd submit they are not iconic.  Someone not from Houston or someone who's not an architecture buff would have a hard time coming up with "Houston" when shown a photo of these buildings.  In my mind the Williams Tower is the closest thing we have to an iconic structure.  It's a beautiful building, yes, but what makes it lean iconic is its monumental presence in a sea of small boxes.

Yes, Williams (Transco) Tower is imo the most 'iconic' Houston building.  Most people assume it's our tallest rather than Chase Tower given it's location.

1 hour ago, samagon said:

 

I think there may be the assumption that since Coleman's TX House District 147 encompasses part of Midtown, that his efforts in Third Ward involve the use of Midtown TIRZ funds.  Is it confirmed that Midtown TIRZ funds are being used in Third Ward? One issue is whether you agree that TIRZ funds should be used to buy property (I don't have a problem with it, but can understand the argument against).  Another issue is whether Midtown TIRZ funds should be used to purchase property in another TIRZ area (e.g., Third Ward, OST/Almeda TIRZ).  I don't agree with that, but believe their are multiple arguments going on.  

1 hour ago, bobruss said:

i don't see any problem with trying to save the third ward, but you have to admit that quite a few of the properties in the neighborhood are past restoration, either due to neglect by owners or slumlords who have allowed these properties to become hazardous and unfit for habitation. I am very familiar with the third ward as I helped my daughter and her husband purchase a home in the neighborhood a few years ago. We looked at so many properties that were falling apart due to termites or disrepair. It seems that they have an unfair advantage when buying these properties. 

The reason I'm concerned is that an office holder is running this. I don't understand how they can take funds collected from tax assessment  from the Midtown Tirz and apply those funds to a completely different neighborhood. I know the Third ward originally ran to Main street, but the Midtown TIRZ was not designed around what is now known as the third ward. When are they going to start doing something with these hundreds of properties that they have bought and where do the profits from these sales go. It seems like they are keeping the area from being rebuilt.

Of course there a properties that are past restoration by landlords who often live outside of the community. I am not sure what unfair advantage you speak of. Again, I and my family are long-time residents.  I grew up here and we own rental properties and our homes. What you see as an unfair advantage, I see as an attempt by a long-time resident (Coleman) who is also a politician, working to provide affordable housing options, whose efforts were highlighted by the Kinder Institute for Urban Research here.  I'm glad you have family that lives here; however, your familiarity is somewhat superficial.  Case in point---referring to Third Ward as "the third ward" shows a basic lack of understanding of the area. I don't live in Montrose, but I know it's not referred to as "the montrose". We'll just have to agree to disagree here.

12 minutes ago, ADCS said:

 

By improved housing stock, I mean better land uses for the context. Since it's in central Houston, that means denser housing and transit-oriented development. My biggest knock against the townhouse farm is its seclusion from the streetscape.

 

I guess there's the rub - how do you "improve" the area without adding denser housing and amenities that will attract people from outside the area? How do you make any changes to the streetscape without triggering gentrification fears?

Those are valid questions. Not sure how to do it, but my hope is that long-time residents and "outsiders" can come together to answer these questions to create a vibrant, diverse community. 

1 hour ago, ADCS said:

 

What about improved housing stock? It seems that this has been consistently opposed, in fears of tax/rent associated displacement.

Not sure what you mean by "opposition to improved housing stock". The Riverside properties project, Maywood, etc. are building new homes on the area with the support of the community. By improved housing do you mean the types of townhome farms that we consistently deride on HAIF? With that, there are townhomes and McMansions that are being built in Third Ward. Again, the type of rapid/wholesale gentrification that has happened in areas like Fourth Ward/Freedman's Town won't happen in Third Ward. Those who seek to move into the area and improve it are welcome; however, if the goal is to redefine Third Ward into something resembling the west side of Midtown, or to replace long-time residents, it's unlikely that will happen. There are too many long-time professional, politically-minded and civically engaged Third Ward residents.  

3 hours ago, kbates2 said:

Anybody can have outage for their tax dollars being handled in a manner they disagree with.

Your point is valid, but the tax dollars of those who disagree don't supersede the tax dollars of those who agree with the way the TIRZ is spending the funds and have, as long-time residents been paying taxes in the area for years. My family and I have and support the TIRZ efforts. 

1 hour ago, ADCS said:

 

Would you elaborate on what that kind of development is?

Projects that enhance/expand on Third Ward's history (i.e.,Emancipation Park & Dowling Street renovations). Other examples are listed at the OST/Almeda redevelopment site and here:

http://urbanedge.blogs.rice.edu/tag/ostalmeda-corridors-redevelopment-authority/#.V17OivQ8LCQ

On 6/8/2016 at 9:16 PM, BeerNut said:

As a resident of the third ward that frequents midtown I think I'll make it a point to start going to tirz meetings.  I can't find the map now but believe there is a unkempt parcel of land they own within one block of me.

Speaking as a long-time Third Ward resident, I think your attending the TIRZ meetings is a good idea.  Just understand that Third Ward has an active community that is looking for a certain type of development.  I look at efforts by Garnett Coleman, who is a politician, but is also a long-time resident, as positive.  Unlike some other gentrifying areas in the city, Third Ward is still the political and financial epicenter for many African Americans in Houston.  As I've said in previous posts, efforts to significantly change Third Ward won't happen.  There is money and influence with long-time residents.  Instead of looking to recreate greater Third Ward in Midtown's image, consider how you can, as a newcomer, add to and improve what is there.   

3 hours ago, bobruss said:

Why?

It seems that they have plenty of improvement projects they could be doing to improve the east side of Midtown, rather than buying property outside the Midtown TIRZ 2. They have been buying hundreds of properties outside of the TIRZ jurisdiction whose boundaries are 59 east, 59 south Pierce elevated on the north, and the spur and Bagby on the west. At one time Midtown was part of the third ward, however this TIRZ wasn't planned for the 3rd ward. It was developed by a group who wanted to energize the Midtown area. Now they're taking part of those funds for Congressman Coleman and developer David Womack to develop 3rd ward projects. Sounds a little fuzzy.

If I lived within the Midtown TIRZ I would be asking the powers that be, why they are diverting funds to purchase these properties instead of hiring security and making lighting, landscaping and the general improvements that have been made on the west side. I would imagine the early developers owned most of their land on the west side of Main and didn't really care about the East side. Just speculating.

Interesting. I thought TIRZ 7 funds were primarily used for 3rd Ward redevelopment; however, I believe Coleman's legislative district extends into TIRZ 2 boundaries. 

On 6/4/2016 at 5:23 PM, UtterlyUrban said:

I am quite certain that many people like the current amount of planned activities.  I am also certain that many, including myself, don't.  

 

The park needs to reassess its mission.  It was, from the start, envisioned to be an "active" space.  If it intends to continue to be as active (or even more active) as an event space, then it needs to repurpose itself and define itself as an event space first and a park second.  In doing so, it could have much less "green space" and much more "hardscape" space that would tolerate the events.   It could define itself more around catering to those who want to pay to use it for big events or corporate and less around a free public space for families.  That would be fine.

 

Alternatively, it could pull back from hosting as many events and could keep the park more focused on families and greenspace.  That would be fine too and it would inform different decisions on landscaping, people flow, usage, etc.

 

where the park sits right now is that each spring and summer for at least the last several, large portions of it is dust due to over use (by events).  The events have come and gone but the dust remains.  That is unsustainable. Hopefully park management is actively and deeply considering which way it wishes to go because, right now, the "balance" that they seek isn't working.

 

 

I agree with this.  Houston, generally lacks long-term vision/purpose for public spaces. We're getting better in terms of focusing on green/outdoor spaces, but I would agree that form should follow function.

3 hours ago, bobruss said:

Maybe instead of taking a good portion of the funds from the TIrz to buy homes and property in the third ward, they should use those funds to upgrade lighting, streets and landscaping and promote the east side of Midtown more.

Why?

2 minutes ago, nate4l1f3 said:

I'm excited about the progress we've made and am a proud Houstonian but does anyone ever get bummed when looking at other more dense

cities like Chicago and even Seattle?  I seen this photo and kinda got bummed thinking how far we still have to go to fill in downtown.

I don't get too bummed about it.  Houston is a Sunbelt city, which also has multiple areas (Galleria, Medical Center) that would rival the DTs of other urban areas.  We're getting there, but I think its easier to create density in urban areas with zoning laws and natural boundaries (i.e., Lake Michigan, Puget Sound).

Just now, quietstorm said:

 

Cool. My children graduated from there.

8 hours ago, skwatra said:

Several students painted a mural on the south wall of the parking garage last weekend. They are still working on some of the highlights/details.

 

Is anyone else having trouble positing pics to the site?  

View from Main. 

1 hour ago, lockmat said:

 

Good observation. I'm not sure Miller has the same amount of traffic as DG but I still agree with you. Is Miller's grass st. augustine? I'm not a grass expert but the grass in DG is better for looking at and not so much traffic. It's too fine and soft. Its not as pretty but I think they'll eventually have to go to St. augustine. 

I agree - St. Augustine is the way to go.