Montrose1100

On 9/12/2021 at 7:32 PM, Loca local said:

Hola, everyone, I’m new to comment here and one of the weirdos behind Localist. I’m a fairly avid reader of HAIF over the years and it actually helped inspire the project. Indeed, Localist is basically an art project between friends in Houston and NYC. We are spending any extra cash we make each month to keep the website going and make posters in an attempt to engage our communities in a discussion about place making. 
 

I’m an urban planner by education, and my friends are retailers and writers in NYC. We’re all pretty tired of our favorite places being torn down or closing, so it hit us that we could make a forum to discuss. 

I’ve read some of the comments here and am actually fairly flattered that some of y’all think we’re some sort of savvy marketing firm! Although, we do hope to actually host honest conversations. 

Anyway, would love any feedback y’all are willing to share. Are our visuals too slick? Are we just too audacious? 
 

Thanks so much! - E

Welcome to the forum. Where were you when Meteor closed their doors? Feel like that was a place to save more so than a suburban style grocery store on a major urban thoroughfare.  

32 minutes ago, iah77 said:

Yeah these look like they are going to age very badly...

Sometimes I wonder how an area or building will look in 20 years. Perhaps there won't be a need for affordable apartments in the vicinity, because these will age and unlikely be revamped, and be cheaper than newer builds. Rinse & repeat (which is a good thing - not everything needs to be overpriced). By that time, 45/10 may be done, and they will be torn down for a new development. "Historic Hardy Yards". Or remain an affordable option for those living close to Downtown. 

21 hours ago, Andrew Ewert said:

Generally I think painting brick is kind of a sin, but this place could really use it. With all the various patch jobs on it, it looks pretty janky.

I also think they'd be missing a huge opportunity if they didn't use that huge expanse of brick wall fronting Emancipation for an EaDo-worthy mural. Could define the neighborhood.

IDK, I don't think every single building in this neighborhood needs a mural.

Alright, everyone relax, and get back to the great addition to Downtown.

@Luminare if you ever have any issues with anyone, please feel free to discuss with another Mod, or the Editor.

21 hours ago, Ross said:

The foundation people lied to you. There is no bedrock in Houston until you get down to about 30,000 feet. There may be a layer of gravel at 22 feet, but no bedrock.

While I agree the foundation people were lying, I'm not finding anything to source the 30,000 feet. There's likely limestone/sedimentary rock not too far down. Although after reading a few PDFs I'm not seeing any confirmations. Anyway, suppose that's another topic.

I know Industrial/shipping is not everyone's cup of tea for décor, but I really love the renders.

7 hours ago, Kim Brown said:

 

I can't help but think how the 2nd, 3rd, and 5th worst high-rises in Houston could be in such a nice view. At least the Hotel looks good at night. 

The green dry wall looked more interesting, but at least the housing authority is keeping up with trends around the city to blend in. 

The heavy rail train in the rendering almost makes us look legit.

On 9/18/2021 at 7:15 PM, hindesky said:

That picture is at least 4 yrs old, notice the red tower crane that was used to build the parking garage addition to Memorial Hermann. That building is my favorite one in TMC, I like that they change the colors on it frequently.

They photoshopped the crown of the tower, and made the deciduous trees BLOOD red. Hermann Park never looks like that.

24 minutes ago, H-Town Man said:

Exxon added its last highrise there in 1994 and it was a nice one, so the office district still had legs into the 90's. For the mall, the "Gunspoint" reputation had already set in by the early 90's. Whoever thought of that little nickname really did a number on the place, let me tell you. It said something when even your parents knew the slang term. The blame I've always heard is on all the cheap apartment complexes that were built around the office district. That's what brought the bus routes.

 

Wasn't that Andarako's HQ before going to the Woodlands?

I work adjacent to Greenspoint (lucky me), and the area was looking well prior to the pandemic. Going to Ichibon - against my will, the area's new patios were filled with people eating lunch outside, multiple buses zipping by, it was kind of pleasant. Greens Road, despite the condition, is a beautiful drive until the Hardy. The mature trees and crape myrtles are gorgeous. Some of the apartments have been repainted and look groovy from the road.

There's a handful of decent places to eat, but not much. FM 1960 is a bit of a drive, so anything special like Korean BBQ is a +2hr lunch. When my colleagues come to visit, there isn't much to do in the area. Maybe 1 decent car wash and 2 barbers. 2 good Vietnamese places. Speaking of FM 1960, that area looks worse every time I go there. 

Personally I'd rather be Downtown or Upper Kirby, but I don't make the decisions. Until then I'll try to not complain about my 21 minute commute on the Hardy and explore more of the small businesses/restaurants in the area. 

1 hour ago, mkultra25 said:

That sounds like the place I took my dad to earlier this year for the first visit he'd had to a barbershop since the pandemic started (not the first haircut, as my wife had cut his hair a couple of times in the interim). On Greens Road in the same strip center as Brown Sugar's BBQ, and the barber on duty there only spoke Spanish. Don't recall if they had bars on the window but they did have loud music and a pool table in the front of the shop. I think for a basic haircut it was around $15 including tip. 

I may have to check that place out. I go to 45 Barber Shop next to... not sure, just a bit further down 45. They always play country music after I walk in, and I want to tell them to keep it on the Spanish club music. 

Anyway, I'm surprised we don't have more of these in our hood. 

On 9/22/2021 at 11:10 AM, mkultra25 said:

I have yet to be convinced that the haircut one gets at a "craft" barbershop justifies the price premium over the haircut one gets at any number of old-school, no-frills barbershops. To each his own.

I work in Greenspoint and go to a barber where only one guy speaks English (not complaining, just pointing it out). They did a really nice high fade and beard trim. I thought I was going to have to shell out +$60.00. Freaking $20.00! I was shocked, but then remembered they had bars on the window, loud Spanish disco music, and not an IPA or cold brew in sight. Kind of miss living closer to Harwin in that respect. Westheimer is littered with good barbers that don't charge gentrification prices.

Anyway, Ambrose Barber on Milby is decent, but prepare to spend 2-3 hours there.

58 minutes ago, Luminare said:

This also isn't just you, but I'm curious why everyone is so amazed that their are at-grade crossings? We have at grade crossings on every railroad in this country. Every country that I've been too that has HSR also has at some juncture at-grade crossings. There are points in planning where you will have to work with what you got. Planners, Architects, and Engineers don't have the luxury of working in absolute terms. I'm sure TCR really thought it was possible to have no at-grade crossings at all, but then you get into the planning/design stage, and that absolute meets reality and reality wins out every time. Does that mean TCR lied?

It's not that Deep Luminare. Drivers are idiots. Particularly in this state. When TCR said they would have viaducts for animal crossing I assumed they meant the Texas Motorist ;)

1 hour ago, august948 said:

I don't think it's fair to compare to Japan. We live in Houston where people run into the light rail. 

15 minutes ago, BigFootsSocks said:

Since when has it had at-grade crossings? I thought that there were none? 

Yeah that sounds extremely dangerous. Not to mention, wouldn't that slow it down? Unless it's around the stations I guess.

On 9/5/2021 at 1:51 PM, samagon said:

update, the background music in the Kroger this morning was straight out of Club 6400. welcome, but very weird.

Last time I was in there, "There Must Be An Angel" by Annie Lennox was playing on full blast. It was surreal. 

1 hour ago, EastEndHeritage said:

The Trumpers got to eat somewhere I suppose. I went to the one in Rice Military several years back. It was empty and the food was bland and overpriced. Never went back and that was before the shenanigans from below.

https://houston.eater.com/2020/4/23/21232948/memorial-federal-grill-harris-county-reopening-coronavirus

I've been to the one on Shepherd a few years ago and it was decent. There's too many grills. I thought this was the old Confederate House (based on your comment), turned State Grille, then wondered why it didn't show up in City Centre - which is the Capital Grille, and they're good... for a chain. 

Anyway, a decent Steakhouse would be nice round these here east parts. If anything their bars are always a nice stop. 

Please share your opinions and disagree with each other without resorting to flame wars/name calling. Thank you.

1 hour ago, trymahjong said:

So Chris Shepherd is moving, Georgia James, Hay Merchant his others from their Current locations. Higher rent was problem a big factor. 
it’s so puzzling…….

Businesses that barely made it during pandemic can’t afford higher rent. Land owners, who probably felt a huge blow from the pandemic, want to make back their money.

But still, losing good businesses in your neighborhood is awful.

not sure there is an answer but hard to watch this process.

The Culture Map article stated the space Hay Merchant was in was old, and they needed to replace the A/C. Also, construction on Waugh and the Skanska lot catty corner were major factors. I can't imagine a modern space in a luxury development is cheaper than the location they were at? Or if the owners want to sell the land and push out the renters? 

Do you have information on rent prices at their current location vs the new?

30 minutes ago, Naviguessor said:

There doesn't seem to be much overlap from the list which was found/shared a few months back.  Here is what I can see from HEEC photo.  It's not all readable:  

Proposed:

1. Ace Bounce (a Ping Pong, shuffleboard, Beer Pong party bar) from Chicago...  mmmkay

2. Federal American Grill

3. Duo Coffee & Pliates

4. Cutthroat (Barbershop) 

5. Waterside or Watershed 

6. Plank

7. Orange Theory

8. Hopdoddy Burger Bar

9. HS

 

In Negotiation 

1. Ambriza (Social Mexican Kitchen)

2 Astorian (Event Space / Rooftop)

3. Lick

4. Urban Dental

5. ES

6. ??

 

 

 

Urban Dental would be very welcomed. And don't act like you and I wouldn't play pong at Ace Bounce... at least once.

KPF design for Heritage Plaza 1981. Source

1 hour ago, dbigtex56 said:

I ask myself the same question. 
It's a way to test my memory, and my powers of observation and deduction.  And it's fun. 

You and maybe others might enjoy this piece of history on Heritage Plaza. I've never seen a rendering for a previous design, but I think I'll take the pyramid over whatever KPF thinks this is.

Anyway, found it while trying to nail a construction date on the building. 

Edit: And to steer completely off-topic, in the link, it mentions a project on 1212 Main which is what bankrupted the original developer - not this project.

12 minutes ago, wilcal said:

That freaking sucks

Hay Merchant is a cool place, and there's still time to enjoy it.

However, this little bit is interesting:

Quote

Leaving the current building also removes Georgia James from potential disruptions by imminent street construction on Waugh and whatever closures take place as Skanska redevelops the property at Montrose and Westheimer that previously housed Spec’s and Half Price Books. The aging building, previously home to a lesbian bar named Chances, needs significant work, according to Shepherd, and he's ready to be in new construction that will need less of his attention.

11 hours ago, rechlin said:

Might it have been summer 1984? Is it possible Heritage Plaza was that far along by that point?  He says that his family left Houston in 1984, and I didn't think he moved back to this country until much later so it seems unlikely it was after 1984. But maybe he's remembering wrong when he moved away, because it doesn't seem likely it would be that far along by even the middle of 1984.  TC Energy Center, Wells Fargo Plaza, 1400 Smith Street, and the JPMorgan Chase Tower are all complete in this photo, but all of those were finished in 1983 so it's really hard to date this, because I can't identify anything other than Heritage Plaza that was completed over the few years following 1983.

600 Travis was completed in 1981. As @samagon mentioned, the visible heat plumes off the buildings rooftop HVAC is a feature in cold weather. This is somewhere between December 1984, or as late as mid February of 1985. According to the almanac February 15th was the last big cold front to make the air close to freezing. And it looks like the first big cold front in December 1984 was around the 5th. The rest of the month heats up almost to the 70s, in true Houston fashion. 

Heritage Plaza began construction in 1984, the same year 1600 Smith & 1301 Fannin were completed which both appear freshly in the photo.

If the OP is correct and they left 1984, this was around December 5th, 1984. Why do I care so much about dating this photo? And why did the Almanac get mad at me for refreshing the dates so many times?