abs1nthe

Well, it looks like the this project is going full speed ahead, right into the clutches of poor urban planning. This post comes from the Antiplanner:

My wife dropped by the house today. We thought about buying it and renovating it. It looks like there is a contract on the house. My wife was lucky enough to run into the lady with the contract on the house. The lady said that they planned to try to save the house and that her husband is an architect. While I'm disappointed that I won't own the house, it looks like there's a possibility it might be saved! Let's keep our fingers crossed.

My wife says the house is in bad shape, but it looks like it could be saved. If the option falls through I might put in an offer.

Musicman, thanks for the update. Can't wait to have a new and closer Costco to go to.

Scharpe St Guy

crap. with costco coming there is no chance of this thing being the dense development they promised. another vacuous parking lot. how can you possibly want another parking lot? we can only hope they do a parking garage to conserve space for other retail development. why didn't they put the costco some place else that already has a lot of concrete? how about 610 and 290? this news totally ruined my day. it'll be an even worse eyesore than the CVS in midtown.

Perhaps as a public service you could post the more recent renderings here as many HAIFer's may not be able to join AST.

Location: Southmore and Caroline

I know, I know, it feels like I'm teasing the board, but posting the pics here are a bit of a headache for me. The renderings were printed out by Taniguchi and placed on 3 foam core boards. I'd have to go the Asia House office, ask permission, take pictures, reduce the resolution and then post. I'm a bit lazy about these things. I'll ask if they have .jpgs I can post.

A few interesting things:

1. The current design has 5 garden areas, including a sculpture garden on the roof.

2. There is going to be a 300 seat theatre.

3. You'll be able to rent out certain space (theatre, meeting rooms, lobby) for functions.

4. They bought some land across the street for parking

5. You should be able to see the downtown skyline from the second floor.

6. The current plan has a small cafe.

7. The design is meant to provide a natural oasis in the middle of the city.

Apparently, Taniguchi spent quite a bit of time on both visits to Houston thinking about the gardens. He is also pretty sensitive to the fact that there aren't any tall structures in the area. He made it clear that although he came with a model and some drawings, the design can still be changed depending upon Asia Society requirement changes and any new spark of inspiration between now and the summer.

A couple of days ago, I went to Taniguchi's unveiling of the model and the renderings show off the project in a better light than the posted image in the previous post. In fact, I don't think the picture in the previous post reflects the current design. It looks like things are progressing very well for the project. There are a good number of supporters for this thing. If we're lucky, it'll break ground this year.

If you all want to see the current renderings, join Asia Society Texas. Better yet, join the organization I'm with, Asia Society Young Professionals. They've agreed to let the young professionals show the renderings at our next social (late May).

Pizza Joint? Hardly...

Late Night Pie, Star Pizza, those are pizza joints. Dolce Vita is high end pizza restaurant. Valet parking for a pizza joint? I think not. I hate to say it but it's so shee-shee that I'm probably priced out of eating there. Valet parking? C'mon... pizza's are probably $30 at that place.

They have to do valet because there is basically no parking in the area... The food is reasonable. Owned by Marco Wiles (same guy as Da Marco's) Dolce Vita is meant to be a more casual place. They have pasta for $10 and pizza for not much more (yes, they're small). I spent $40 for two (no alcohol) and was pretty full. Before you slam a restaurant, give it a try.

Some more of my thoughts on Da Marco's and Dolce Vita.

Andrew Cushing was so wealthy his estate spanned several blocks. The mansion was nicknamed "Bohemia" and was boarded around San Jacinto Street  This would have been in 1885.

Congratulations and thank you for the pictures! Please keep them coming!

I am a member of the Hadley Homeowner's Association.  We just received a notice on my door that we are dumping our management company and running it ourselves.  We pay > $1400 per year in association fees.  It is BS and such a waste of money. 

2 things you can do: (1) get a copy of the bylaws from your HOA and request an audit, (2) get a lawyer to review your deed to see if there is legal restrictions requiring you to be a part of a HOA.   

I wish our HOA would just get annexed by the larger Baldwin Square association.  My brother is in that one and pays much lower fees...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I just assisted some friends in taking back their homeowners association. I'm an attorney and have noticed a disturbing trend. There are some HOA's that are getting pillaged by the attorneys who set up the HOA in the first place. For example, I helped one community who discovered that their HOA was being managed by the law firm who set-up the HOA. The law firm charged the HOA for doing "legal" work that was suspect at best.

Very disturbing stuff. Be careful out there, especially if you're in a newly created HOA.

Wow, great artist rendering of the condo unit. I guess what I'm asking about is a few dozen feet north of that structure... Anyone with info on that project? They've moved dirt, but haven't put up any structural elements yet.

The steel structure is going to be a condo unit. I think I read that it's called a "midrise" condo. The lot I'm curious about is a few dozen yards just north of the steel structure.

anyone know what is going up on the east side of montrose, just north of W. Gray and south of W. Dallas? I know there are condos going up, but really nearby someone is building something else.