iah77

Omg, would be amazing if they built this. I just bought a small lot down the street. It's so empty right now.

36 minutes ago, Triton said:

You're right. It's more likely crushed granite. Whatever similar material you'd walk on at Memorial Park.

 

Either way, I didn't have any issue biking it but I was on my gravel bike. 😅

Random question but does anyone know why none of the bike trails having lighting? The city wants people to be able to commute on them but some of them don't feel so safe after sunset (which can be at early at 5-6 during winter). 

12 minutes ago, Houston19514 said:

 

Yeah, except the Galleria Neiman's is not on the closing list and is not likely to be, unless the whole company liquidates (which is also not likely).

Yeah it's always in the top 3 performing in the entire company. Crazy anyone would propose trading a Nieman Marcus for a Dillards lol...

On 8/20/2020 at 8:22 AM, Specwriter said:

Is anyone familiar with the Torre de David in Caracas, Venezuela? It is never finished residential tower that was "colonized" by some homeless in the city. The government was either powerless or indifferent to prevent it though the residents were relocated in 2014, some 20 years after some had first move in. There was book published about the building available on Amazon of course. https://www.amazon.com/Torre-David-Informal-Vertical-Communities/dp/3037782986

Actually the government encouraged the invasion as well as the invasion of the SAMBIL mall they expropriated a few blocks away. 

52 minutes ago, Texasota said:

not sure la defense counts as an "iconic" skyline though...

I think the grand arch building in La Defense aligned with the Arc de Triomphe is pretty "iconic" in my opinion.  Besides a few buildings in NYC and maybe Sears Tower, no building/skyline in the US is so probably instantly recognizable to most people with interest in architecture. 

Just now, phillip_white said:

 

Considering the lack of parking in the area, I'm guessing the neighborhood residents would say this is not enough.

During the input process from the community parking was a big issue, especially since it will have a public library in it. 

33 minutes ago, Houston19514 said:

 

How do you know they don't have some plans for lighting of other ways to "pizzazz" it?

I think it looks elegant and clean, I don't think their target demographic is looking for "piazzazz" outside their apartment. 

I love Van LeeuWen, it's everywhere in NYC, they have a really good pistachio flavor... Their shops generally have really nice designs

34 minutes ago, I'm Not a Robot said:

 

 

This is a misleading quote then. 

 

"Arnoldy said he was working the city to assure the project will not overwhelm existing traffic patterns. Rather it will have a “low-rise feel” that better blends into the area."

Existing traffic patterns being the pattern of having no traffic at all lol... 

The Fiesta was already tagged in giant letters facing the freeway which is crazy. 

9 minutes ago, nate4l1f3 said:

Most of our issues with this is the surrounding parking lots but other than that it’s looking pretty cool. 

If those lots are reserved for future towers why is that bothersome? 

1 minute ago, Fortune said:

 

Was the retail at this site successful? 

It was doing well while maintained but then the owner obviously wanted the place vacated so stopped maintaining and went downhill. (Not saying good or bad, just answering question)

Is a second phase going where the old building they also own is ?

54 minutes ago, j_cuevas713 said:

WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is happening faster than I thought!!!!!!! Mayor Turner called us "Silicon Bayou" I like the ring of that

It's literally just an office to sell AdWords lol. Guess it's a small start atleast...

I saw the excavator there last night. That old gas station would have made such a cool ice-house lol. 

1 hour ago, gene said:

and?

Yes but not in Houston...and our city was having peaceful protests...and to that point, when do you exactly think the boards should come down? today? tomorrow? a year? 5 years?

 

Largely peaceful ***

Did you see the looted Veriozon downtown and the attempt to loot Forever 21 in Gallaria?

Stop trying to tell people how to protect their own property. The boards can come down when the store manager of each store feels SAFE. 

You think they like loosing all this business with the boards? They are literally fearful for their livelihood. 

45 minutes ago, gene said:

You know, this weekend as i drove by Highland Village and River Oaks District and even walked around the galleria it was (to me personally) almost offensive that so many of these businesses are still boarded up...

without getting political i will say that this is a huge time of change and our city and businesses need to show more faith. We live in such an amazing city with a diverse group of incredible people. I hope these boards come down ASAP...

 Btw, I love Houston and so proud to be born and live here if you can't tell. 

Did you see the amount of high-end shopping centers looted last week? 

Scottsdale fashion Square in Phoenix , Lenox Square Atlanta ,  The Bravern in Seattle , SoHo in NYC, Nieman Marcus and forty five ten in Dallas?  

16 hours ago, Luminare said:

 

I'm just crossing my fingers for a killer techno/house music club.

I think this one will be a music venue but I do know a techno/house club is probably going in another project nearby lol. 

55 minutes ago, Houston19514 said:

 

Source?  (It seems highly unlikely)

I know, this is literally one of the craziest things I've ever heard on here. Literally a place with one of the highest purchasing power indexes in the United States needs more free stuff for people with iphones and nice cars. People here have clearly never seen what real poverty looks like in a global context  

3 hours ago, Avossos said:

 

It is a pretty cool concept. I like the idea... Doesn't have to be a big percentage at all... 5% or 10% of new buildings are rent controlled or whatever. I wouldn't think those units would be as 'nice' or premier in any way; but it makes for a diverse area.

That's what one would think but it's not how it plays out 99% of the time with the selection process being extremely un-transparent. I can't believe this is still an idea in 2020, especially in a place as affordable as Houston. There are large one bedrooms going for 800 in some areas like woodland heights which are expensive. 

Btw it starts with this idea and then people start demanding that they be equal units or otherwise they are demeaning to the people inside them. 

2 hours ago, samagon said:

 

I'd like to see option 3: every new apartment complex has to have a certain percentage of units set aside for low income. could you imagine a world?

I can for sure because that's exactly what happens in NYC and makes it so expensive for anyone trying to buy a market rate apartment...

Why doesn't everyone ask about modifying existing regulations to help lower cost? Not every apartment needs to be so big, have multiple parking spots etc. Cost could be lowered by not having so many building standards. 

58 minutes ago, phillip_white said:

 

I can't give you an example of a project that restricts housing to only those that work nearby (it's probably illegal). But you can imagine that someone who spend an hour or more on the bus to get to work would jump at the opportunity to live closer without paying a rental rate that is a significant portion of their income.

It isn't legal which is why the local workforce argument never works lol, and I promise these people won't be taking the bus which is why the project will most likely have the same size garage as any other project would. I think it would be visionary if they didn't have a garage to make this argument stronger so people who actually need to be close and use public transportation would actually live there. 

1 hour ago, phillip_white said:

 

I'm sure all of those luxury highrises need maids, maintenance, valet, lawn crew, etc. Projects like this put the workforce near the work. And if highrise people don't want their maid living in the same neighborhood, they should just clean their own home.

Can you give an example of that here because they can never seem to explain how exactly "local" workforce people are going to be given those units versus people who work in other sides of town. All for putting things in high opportunity zones but claiming it is for local maids and gardeners is a farce. 

1 hour ago, Montrose1100 said:

I think the City of Houston should take more initiative to get more companies to move here to diversify our economy. I'd much rather have our office towers fill up and then build new residential/hotel on the many surface lots we have. On the flip side, I'd hate to lose any of our gems due to lack of vacancy.

 

1600 Smith could be turned into a hotel/residential combo. That Crown would make a sweet Ballroom, Bar, or Penthouse. The Allen Center Garage could easily be renovated to not be so damn ugly, and include a fabulous pool and spa rooftop. Could even hold two separate pools for the residents and hotel guests (it's big enough).

 

Esperson would make a great Ritz Carlton or Belmond. 

A Belmond flag hotel in DT Hoston lol. Oil is at 0 now...

But yes our current admin had done a nightmare of a job attracting new companies here not involved with energy. It's painful to watch Dallas and Austin speed ahead in this regard.