houstonmacbro

I always liked the winning design, but I have to admit that the runner up might well have aged better and not looked so obviously mid-1980s.

The winning design rocked!

IMO, Greenspoint and Sharpstown were once both nice malls in nice areas, but declined. To me, I think the "feel" of Greenspoint is more similar to Northwest Mall than Sharpstown.

I really do feel greater Greenspoint is a much nicer area than what the Sharpstown area has become. They have a very active civic association and several north Houston chambers of commerce which are actively developing partnerships and plans for the area. Also, considering the whole area is minutes from the airport (and its expansion), two major freeways (Beltway 8 and I-45), and it's 'close proximity to downtown' (literally it's about 17 minutes give or take), it has a good chance of becoming a hub again. However, until there is a mixed use development or high end condos to replace the multitude of low-income apartments that surround the areas to the east of the mall, we'll still be talking about this for months in the future.

Of course this has been discussed for years and change is slow, but I would give the nod to GPM.

In a word, cost. The cost of an underground parking space is several times greater than a freestanding parking garage. And for a particular amount of revenue-producing square footage, held constant, the alternative to a separate freestanding garage is that the total structure be taller to accommodate a podium of parking beneath the revenue-producing space. Taller structures require a more reinforced building and typically also that a greater amount of the gross square footage be devoted to elevator shafts and other common area elements of the building's core. Underground parking is often more forgivable for an upscale hotel, as compared to an office building or apartment building, because it is more convenient for valet services.

The problem ought not be considered that a parking garage is separate, but that a parking garage creates blight at street level. Put some store-fronts along the sidewalks and the blight isn't so much of an issue. In fact, by removing a surface lot, the new parking garage could be celebrated.

I like the parking garage by the library. Actually, like is probably too strong a word. It doesn't bother me as much because it has restaurants beneath it (Luthers if I remember correctly). We do need more like that.

To be quite honest, Ive stopped paying attention to the Discovery Tower thread since its no longer interesting to me......the threads that are interesting to me are the ones with proposed buildings not yet finalized. Discovery Tower is under construction, so the thread will be boring until the building is in its finishing stages.

And with the way the Embassy Suites thread is going, after groundbreaking, it will become boring to me too. I guess I might as well start a thread for the "Second Convention Center Hotle" to keep me occupied. LOL!

Now you're talking!

They are lazy, the sign is still up.

I thought a Whole Foods or something was moving in that space. The sign is STILL up? That was what, like two years ago?

If you like to bike, park somewhere else and bike over. I did that last weekend and had a blast. Although I didn't got into the zoo, the park area is very nice.

Indianola, down on Matagorda Bay, was Texas's second biggest port in the 19th century. Until it was destroyed by a hurricane in 1875. They rebuilt, but another hurricane struck in 1886. During the storm, most of the town burned. So Indianola was abandoned. Read about it here.

During Hurricane Rita, a fire broke out in Galveston. The HFD helped--driving their topheavy trucks over the causeway in heavy wind.

All sorts of bad stuff can happen during a big storm.

If somebody's going to commit arson, they can find a more convenient time than during a hurricane. And I doubt they'd bring along a 4 year old.

It's just you.

I suppose so.

Damn.

I am all out of tinfoil.

moonwalk disbeliever too?

Who knows... it just seemed odd. That's all I'm saying.

Is it just me, or did it seem too convenient that their restaurant caught fire and burned to the ground on the same night as a hurricane. I know I shouldn't doubt the official story, but something still seems odd about this.

I like Isla Coqui right there at Durham and I10.

I am on the Greater Greenspoint mailing list. This was in the latest issue of their e-newsletter:

Program Launched to Help Greenspoint Apartments

The Greenspoint District is kicking its public awareness campaign into high gear with a new program targeting the unique challenges of area apartments. In addition to arming the community with information that can reduce the likelihood of being a victim of crime, the District is offering apartment owners incentives for property improvements that enhance curb appeal and make for a safer environment.

Click here for the full story

New Executive Director Targets Projects along Greens Bayou

Bayous have long been a part of Houston's landscape, providing both challenges and opportunities. A local advocacy group has stepped up its efforts to bring flood remediation projects and additional park development to north Houston communities along Greens Bayou.

Click here for the full story

Free Immunizations, Channel 13 Blood Drive

The Harris County Hospital District's Troubleshooters Immunization Program will be at Greenspoint Mall on Friday, March 20, to administer immunizations and flu shots. Immunizations are free and available to anyone age 21 or younger. Flu shots are available for all ages at a cost of $10. The event will be held in the Greenspoint Mall Community Room, near the food court, from 1 - 5 p.m. For more information, contact the Troubleshooters at 713-873-8687.

Click here for the full story

Click here to download the PDF version of this issue.

Okay, I know the mall gets a bad rap but I went there Sunday on my hunt for a new Macbook. I have to say, I was impressed. No armed gunmen jumped me, I guess the roving heards of pirates and thug must have been sleeping or maybe they're off on Sundays, but no one hijacked me or hit me on the head ...even as I walked around the mall and to my car with about $2k of new Apple goodness.

I was there. I heard Equinoxe in 1979 and became a big Jarre fan. When I heard he was actually coming to Houston it seemed like I'd fallen into an alternate universe. I didn't know anyone else into him. I was really drunk before the show and the Reverend Huey from KPFT walked by, saw my "Big Boys" shirt and handed me this weird pamphlet about the Challenger disaster with a picture of Death on the front called "The Challenger and the Champion".

Didn't he do a sister show to the one in Houston in Lyon, France? I seem to remember one of the Rendevous albums had a song he performed there.... could be mistaken, that was a long time ago.

this just seems like a lame attempt to get some cash prior to a crash.

Eureka! For once we agree on something.

The weird part is they are selling in a down economy instead of an up. They should have sold this 2 years ago when they could have surely gotten a lot more money.

What a landmark property with great views of downtown and proximity to the arts district.

Not here to announce the trade, instead I found a lengthy article on the Rox from the NY Times...

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/magazine...t=cse&scp=4

I don't really know these players. Is this a fair trade?

Yes, the sign facing east, at least, is for South Pointe. Saw it driving by earlier this morning... Just had basic info like the developers' names, #s & website.

What are they going to build there? It's been vacant for a few years now right?

I will be very surprised if this doesn't end up being utilized by the medical center or some entity within the medical center.

A great deal of the value of this property is due to it's proximity to the medical center.

We are running out of room over here.

Yeah, medical center can really only move south.

Found this article (written by HRE)...

Excerpt

http://news.prnewswire.com/ViewContent.asp...1391&EDATE=

and this nano blogger doesn't think too highly of the project...

http://cientifica.eu/blog/?p=839

BTW, I have met the principles in HRE and they seem to be a very genuine and dedicated bunch. I like their approach to development.

Way to go HRE!

because I don't want to see some fools dirty boxers or some whores thong and I don't think people with kids should have their kids exposed to that......we wear cloths in America as they do in the vast majority (all) of the civilized countries in the world.....even in liberal europe where topless on the beach is acceptable I am sure most would think one is a fool if they walked around with their pants down to their knees especially if they knew it was imitating prison life...obviously the whole "civilization" thing has been lost on you

I don't want to see it either, and generally don't look. But more than boxers showing, I hate seeing cr*ck! I hate it.

But I also hate seeing people with tattoos, people wearing house shoes outside, and people with rollers in their hair outside.

But again, it's not that big a deal and if that is how they want to present themselves to the world, God bless 'em.

My fantasy for Sharpstown Mall is based on solely on light rail.

I feel it can be revived like Mondawmim Mall in Maryland. It was initially an open-air mall in the 1950s with Sears...enclosed in 1971.

Unfortunately, it lost Sears in the early 1970s and went downhill. A Washington DC metro station was installed nearby but the mall declined throughout the 1990s, until in 1999 when the station was remodeled. Now its a bustling center with no connected anchors but a Target and a grocery store nearby

Scroll down to Baltimore's Mondawmim Center here:

http://mall-hall-of-fame.blogspot.com/2007...01_archive.html

That is what I hope can save Sharpstown.

I lived in Baltimore w/in walking distance of Mondawmin Mall ... I do not remember a metro (train) stop there.

On a related note I heard some economists say that about 50% of all current stores will close down in the next 2 years or so, simply because they cannot make it through this current 'economic situation'.

HEB's crowd/ran-sacked(sp?) store is starting to remind me of Super WalMart.

I am vowing to NEVER step foot in a Walmart again unless it is after midnight and the stores have cleared out. The one on I45 N reminds me of some salvage depot yard sale. People running in and out, kids everywhere, parking lots full of folks hanging out or worse.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metrop...an/6190105.html

Its' not my favorite Houston building but setting fires to it is not the answer. I hope they find the fool that did this.

had a chance to stop by the new Krogers in Shadow Creek and the new HEB off 518...I prefer the Krogers much more compared to the HEB as the HEB was too chaotic and bunched up while the Kroger was laid back and spacious...

once more people find out about Kroger it may change but they have my vote now....

when will the Luby's open?

I've discovered the HEB there and love it. Try to visit whenever I am out on that end of town.

As for traffic. Pearland is getting nightmarish in terms of traffic at those major intersections and all up and down 518 and 2234 (no lights). They better get a handle on that.