Twinsanity02

I see two Helmut Jahn buildings in the top photo. Sadly, we missed the opportunity to have one in the 80's as the Bank of the Southwest bank building. 

On 5/4/2023 at 4:41 PM, hindesky said:

The Peinier 450 - 20 ton is up but the crew is doing the finishing touches to it.

As the GT Leach guy I talked a while back said they are using a concrete contractor that they had never used before. He couldn't remember the name at the time but it is "Halstruc" out of Katy. Tx. I've never seen or heard of them.

https://halstruc.com

Lewis Crane and Hoist owns the town crane. They are out of Mansfield, Tx. This is the third job were I've seen on of their cranes. They seem to be taking a portion of the tower crane business from some of the others around town. I wonder if they underbid the projects to get a foot in the door. 

http://lewiscraneandhoist.com

Bobcat Contracting was the crane company who erected the tower crane. Out of Hillsboro, Tx. Another company I've never heard of.

https://bobcatcontracting.com

 

For those wondering what Galatians 6 14 means, I had to look it up because I have zero clue.......

“But far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.”

 

 

A letter St. Paul addressed to a group of Celts (whom the Romans called Gauls) living in what is now called Turkey. Many places in Europe with gal affixed to them are places with high Celtic populations such as Portugal, Galicia in Spain as well its neighbor  Asturias,. 

 

On 5/11/2023 at 6:05 PM, hindesky said:

As I told the story once before, one of my co-workers who lives and works in Baytown came to visit a distant relative's restaurant at the Arrive complex across the street. When I asked him later where it was located he said it was downtown not realizing that Kirby street isn't actually downtown. All suburbanites consider anything inside the loop as downtown.

This will make it seem more like downtown.

Unfortunately you are correct. I've lived in the suburbs of Houston >40 years. Most folks think anything in the Loop is downtown including TMC. As a former worker at the TMC I found it irritating. When even my children use the suburban terminology after numerous times of correcting them, I've given up. I think what may add to the confusion are the numerous clusters of highrises within (and just outside) the loop. 

On 4/24/2023 at 1:05 PM, X.R. said:

This all looks so ridiculously well built. And whats crazy is there is relatively little press about the continued construction despite it A) looking great, GREEN, and massive already and B) moving at a brisk pace. The brisk pace is interesting because it makes me wonder how soon some of the entities are coming on-line since when they do, I can only imagine the deluge of announcements that will come about different ventures and such. You'd think local business coverage would be providing regular updates, but alas, no. I wish there would be more reporting about such a large change to one of Houston's largest business engines. Strange.

The media is only interested in reporting scandal and ugliness. I tell my students studying to be nurses and medical techs,  about these projects, and not one has heard of them. 

12 hours ago, 004n063 said:

Never thought I'd say these words, but...this is gonna be one fine lookin parking garage.

There is hope when one can turn a parking garage into something beside an eyesore. The one by the Wortham is also not bad looking.

Is this one going to be larger than the one at Travis and Texas? 

22 hours ago, Ross said:

If they let you sit there, then they have to let the homeless sit there, which paying tenants won't like.

They are "gun shy" about people loitering in that location due to the drug addicts and drinkers which would then begin to congregate there. Most people do not like the smell of urine, vomit, and other bodily ejecta especially if they are paying for the area.  It was not too long ago in which that was happening. 

In my opinion being mayor of Houston holds more prestige than being 1 of 435 members of congress, especially if you do not hold a significant chair in a committee. Regardless, I hope when someone runs for mayor of our great city they are thinking more than about themselves and their prestige and more on the betterment of our city. This being a global city means we have seriously tough competition. Look at the rise of the cities in Asia, not to mention cities like Miami, Dallas, or Atlanta. Slow down or bungle the job and many here will be adversely impacted.

What do all the above posts have to do with the Hardy Toll road extension?  What does Elon Musk have to do with the extension? Is it being built or not? I know several rail lines were moved in expectation of construction. 

I hope it is built. It will make exiting and entering the downtown easier, and I believe revitalize that region of the downtown. It will certainly speed access to IAH.

Any news about segment C?  Seems to be held up by some dispute between a developer and some organzation, both trying to get the parkway through their property. I thought the developer won (no great surprise there), so what is the hold up? Be a bit strange to have segment B, no C, and then segments D through I.

9 hours ago, NB_Brendan said:

Man, who cares about the number of 5-star hotels. Better off staying at a run of the mill Hilton for the price anyways! 

I agree, which is what I do. But the number of 5-star hotels is one measure of a city's power, "prestige", and overall appeal . Examples: Paris London, NYC vs Beaumont (being a bit facetious)

16 hours ago, NB_Brendan said:

ahhh im loving the double helix design. 

16 hours ago, NB_Brendan said:

ahhh im loving the double helix design. 

I agree, as much as my fellow Professors of Biology would wish to add the hydrogen bonds between DNA's nitrogenous bases. Hydrogen bonds are vital . Still, we shall endure.

12 minutes ago, HOUCAJUN said:

Why are we so behind?

This is my hypothesis based on general observation living in Houston for 43 years. Houston until the 1990 relied heavily on its energy sector and to some degree the TMC. Thoughts of making this place attractive for conventions and competing  with other cities was not taken with any seriousness. Our downtown and midtown areas were a wasteland outside the gleaming office towers. The Rice hotel area and market square park were a trash filled urine odiferous areas. The bayou used to host the "reeking regata" which gives some idea of its past condition. This mercifully has changed. But perhaps the powers that be are not selling the amazing change which have occurred.

A hypothesis, not a theory.

11 hours ago, Urbannizer said:

That’s the tower crane height.

Looking through the pages it has gone from 370’ to 397’ to 401’.

Kind of like Godzilla. Grows with every filming.

All of you are correct using different criterea.

The area within the 610 loop is slightly under 100 sq. miles ( interestingly more than twice the size of the city of Paris which has over 2 million people. Talk about density)

The city has an area of under 700 square miles with I think around 2.3 million people.

The Houston MSA is greater than 10,000 sq. miles making it slightly smaller than Massachusttes with the Houston MSA having several hundered thousand more people, now somewhere around 7.3 million.

Anyone know which is the largest parking garage in the city? I would guess the one adjacent to the Chase tower downtown. It appears to have the most levels, but do not know if it is the highest in volume of cars.

3 hours ago, 004n063 said:

I love the project and all, but honestly, I laughed a bit at "easy Metrorail connection to CBD". Unless this project includes some serious pedestrian infrastructure beyond the property lines, it's actually going to be a really annoying walking connection to both the rail and, (though I'm more optimistic about this being quickly remedied) the Brays Bayou trail. Not exactly too far from the TMC stop, but definitely not a pleasant walk.

I hope the district has a plan for this. Would hate to see this become yet another car-centric wolf in pedestrian sheep's clothing.

I would add after viewing the presentation, the "not a pleasant walk" to the metro line as you describe it has had the wonderous effect of completely obliterating the obesity epidemic one reads about, at least for all the people working in TMC Helix Park.  All are shapely and fit. Truly amazing!

I marched several times against the Vietnam war and thought it a terrible mistake, but to go and get snugly with the people killing us ( many were folks my age) was sickening. There are lines which should never be crossed. Such as what she did or the people who attacked our troops, or waved North Vietnamese flags. It was revolting.

On 10/20/2022 at 5:25 PM, hindesky said:

For years, officials in Brazoria and Galveston Counties watched as the Grand Parkway marched its way north from Interstate 10 in Katy, the work moving like the hands of a clock as the tollway was extended north, then circling to the east. 

Officials have continued to press state officials to keep the segment west of Interstate 45 toward Texas 288 a priority.

"The population is coming, it cannot be denied," said State Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood. "You look around. I tell my kids look around and see what is looks like right now because when you grow up it is not going to look like that."

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/transportation/article/The-next-segments-of-the-Grand-Parkway-are-taking-17500080.php#photo-23032058

 

There is a high probability segment C will break ground soon. There is a dispute regarding the route between the George foundation and the Signorelli company, a large scale developer. Fort Bend has sided with Signorelli (no surprise).

Segment B will also be built in the not too distant future but segment A is doubtful.

I drive segment G occasionally and love it. Well built road way.

3 hours ago, 004n063 said:

Am I absolutely insane for wanting a gondola?

I do not think desiring a gondola in Houston is a mark of insanity. But then I am not trained in psychology. Any Haifer trained psychologists out there? 

9 minutes ago, Twinsanity02 said:

My brain is having trouble incorporating this. Hopefully this is not a dream. Let me understand this. In addition to TMC3, Levit Green, Texas A&M growth, the McNair building, this is also going up? Will this be considered part of the TMC?

Brain is now functioning. Answered my own questions.

My brain is having trouble incorporating this. Hopefully this is not a dream. Let me understand this. In addition to TMC3, Levit Green, Texas A&M growth, the McNair building, this is also going up? Will this be considered part of the TMC?

52 minutes ago, kennyc05 said:

Do these oak trees tear up sidewalks in roads because they weren't correctly planted back in the day? And wouldn't the Post oaks on Post Oak Boulevard do the same one day once they got bigger?

The answer to both is yes. As we all know Live Oaks get enormous as they gain years. That is part of their beauty. This is what gives the area around Rice and The Audubon area of New Orleans it's charm. Expect the roots to move sidewalks and work around that. This should not be a difficult problem to resolve.

On 8/4/2022 at 1:23 PM, tigereye said:

It’s cool to see supertalls going up in Texas once again after a such a long hiatus but that’s one ugly ass building. 

People get paid to design this shit? Woof

Trying to be elegant and cool. Achieving neither.