Mister X

I hope after the next EMCID meeting everyone will have their questions answered and that they maintain that the project is still on course. But I'm only interested in seeing the park built. I don't care how they do it. I have little interest in holding McGrady's feet to the fire because I don't see how that will help get the park built. I'm not following this project for the pure enjoyment of watching people burn like some people are.

They probably want to add more apartments since that is now a hotter commodity than when Regency Square was originally designed. Glad to hear something in a forward direction is happening - even if it's only a rumor. This could be such a huge game-changer for Houston and it hasn't been talked about much lately. It might be the biggest and coolest "urban-style" project Houston has ever had if we're lucky.

Despite the harsh realities that a slow economy has brought us, bankruptcy, and the scandal you are trying to invent, Frank McCrady hasn't lost faith in the project and seems to be making every effort to not let people like you derail it. Maybe a weaker person could be bullied into abandoning the project by now. He seems to be pushing for it harder than anyone - at least publicly. Frank McCrady works for an entity that is designed to bring jobs and businesses into his county and that is exactly what he is trying to do. I like that that he doesn't give name calling, time wasting, self-serving muck rakers the time of day. You should be thankful I am giving you a moment of my time. Also, the only chance any new theme park has of being built is with the blessings and incentives that a local govt authority is willing to give. The ECMID is for the project. Not every community would welcome the changes that EQ could bring to the area. ... and since I AM really REALLY into theme parks with no appologies, I applaud McCrady's effort. I couldn't care less how much it cost to build or who pays for it. They can double your taxes for all I care. The resort could be a real game changer for the area, bring in jobs, ect. and make the Houston area that much better to live. Which I am highly in favor of. If EQ isn't built - I'll get over it and hope the next proposal has better luck.

Hm? I wonder what ever gave you that idea? Yes I am. But no more than you are really, really into posting on EVERY thread at HAIF all day long. ...or no more than soapboxmom is really, really into bringing down Frank McCrady and the EarthQuest project. My God, she has an entire website dedicated to it. I must admit it is a challenge being the ying to her yang - especially when there is so much uncertainty currently surrounding the project. But I like to stay positive.

from the article - "So who will pay if EarthQuest isn’t built? You will." - Calvert (opinion) As someone who wants to see this park built (whatever it takes), I couldn't be happier that there is this great new incentive. Seems like it just might be the perfect missing ingredient to get this park built. Don't build it and the taxpayers get screwed. Build it and add jobs, taxable revenue and tourism. By all means - spread the word. Yes. Whatever it takes. I would sacrifice Soapboxmom's first born to Jesus H. Christ to get this park built if I thought it would help. Frank McCrady deserves another bonus for keeping this project on track. So far, he and Tilman Fertitta are my new heros. They are trying to create a tourism industry in the Houston area. That is a good thing. Soapmom and calvert can go jump in lake EarthQuest after it's built. That would also be a good thing and I'm looking forward to it.

I think he always sounds like he has a in his mouth.

That closet case must have wanted in; BADLY! Gay-dar is off the chart with this one. I've never heard of him before, but he's famous now - hope he enjoys all his newly achieved fame.

Hey that looks like fun! East Montgomery county is going to be a lot of fun to visit in a few years. Frank McCrady and Don Holbrook "probably" deserve a raise for "likely" turning East Montgomery County into a place worth visiting and spending Garland, TX tourist dollars in the future.

Cat burglars, graffiti 'artists' and mysterious people in trench coats love hanging out in alley's in the middle of the night, especially the ones behind homes. I hate alley's. As a home owner you are responsible for keeping trees cut, weeds removed and the road passable at all times or face a fine from the city. Also, it is no fun when you have to play chicken with rude oncoming vehicles to get into your garage. Alleys are usually very ugly and I hated having my guest get their first impression of my house from utility poles and the permanent row of garbage cans. Give me a front driveway anytime.

I vote for #30.

New rendering of the new Pleasure Pier. Awesome collection of rides. Better than I was expecting. There will be a 100ft steel roller coaster with 4 inversions with parts of it cantilevered over the water. Never seen one like that before. I was expecting nothing more than typical carnival rides, but it looks like Landry's is going to build some really good quality, signature rides. There will also be a 230ft swing ride and a huge ferris wheel on the end of the pier with LED lights. I think it's also cool that they are building a new log ride too.

Happening. Hey - my guess is as good as Mr. Wernicke's. And so are my supporting arguments.

I bet not one person associated with this project ever even considered for one second that a hurricane might ever hit Galveston. I bet they now wish that they had a person like you working for them so they had not gone to all this trouble. Just because that pier has been standing there for almost 70 years is no guarantee that it will be there for 70 more. I bet they didn't even go to the trouble of refurbishing, retrofitting and strengthening the pier structure during the last 12 months before they started building on it. You would think that Fertitta would have learned his lesson after Hurricane Ike destroyed most of the Kemah Boardwalk. But no, like the bad businessman he is, he just re-built Kemah where the people come in droves to spend money on an amusement park that is destined to be destroyed again and now has gone on to build another amusement park that is certainly doomed to natural disaster. What must he be thinking? Doesn't Fertitta realize just how rickety a 70 year old pier is? I wonder where Fertitta is from - that he isn't aware that Galveston gets hit by hurricanes from time to time. Y'all should check out the construction photos posted on the Pleasure Pier facebook page before a hurricane comes and blows it all into the ocean. Even the facebook page will probably be destroyed soon - so hurry! http://www.facebook....estonislandpier

I'm sure he would if he could. If Galveston or Texas ever legalizes casino gambling for non-Native Americans, Mr. Fertitta will be the first to capitalize on it.

Landry's Inc. is scheduled to reveal detailed plans and renderings on Jan. 30 for its Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier, which is slated to open in May 2012. http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2012/01/27/landrys-set-to-unveil-galveston.html?surround=etf&ana=e_article

That is a great post. I agree 100%. #1 is the definitely the best . Let's hope whoever is judging this competition goes with their heart and not the wallet. You know, saving a buck is great but when you build things for the ages (especially public things) it should be a crime to skimp. Yes. That goes for EVERYTHING! Save a buck anywhere you want, but NOT when it comes to things that will be there for decades and define an entire genre.

I like that they still have these renderings at their website. Gives me hope that this project could still amount to something spectacular as soon as the money starts rolling again.

Like I said...It's completely void of anything other than the opinion of the person who runs it. And yes, I believe you ARE confused. The theme park is the money maker here. Not the Institute. The park is already designed. Don Lessum is no longer needed for any reason to get the project off the ground. Don Lessum is an expert on Dinosaurs, not building theme parks. He was never more than a consultant during the design phase. Anyway, when was the last time anyone (who knows what they are talking about) referred to EQ as a 'dinosaur park'. That is what they called EQ in the beginning, but it has since evolved (YEARS AGO) into a park that is themed to 'sustaining the environment'. Check out the EQ website. It is not a 'dinosaur park' anymore. Don Lessum was involved with the project for years. His good name and reputation didn't seem to attract any investors. For years he was speaking on behalf of the park and no investors were secured. So I don't see how his absence from the project (if that is even true) is going to make things any worse or less likely to succeed. Soapboxmom is the least qualified among us to guess what will dampen the enthusiasm of investors. How many theme park investors has she talked to in order to gage the enthusiasm within unnamed POTENTIAL investors? Contour? Contour says they are even looking at nearby alternate sites on which to build this park on. I say the EMCID has more reasons now to do everything in their power to see to it that this park gets built. It is the only way they will ever get back the money that they have already spent. How's that for an incentive? Contour will get the money. Or someone else will. There is too much money to be made in an underserved market like Houston. Any theme park built in Houston will be a gold mine - warm climate, 6 million people within an hour away - That is why the EMCID has no intentions of giving up on this project. I shouldn't have to remind people that the slow economy was definitely a factor in rounding up money to break ground. Look at all the projects announced in the last few years that just went away. EQ has not gone away. That alone should be encouraging. As the national economy improves and Houston's economy remains strong with thousands more moving into the area, the chances of this project finding a backer will no doubt improve. The EMCID and Contour sound more committed than ever before. Until they give up, I will remain optimistic that EQ will be built the way it has been planned.

Coaster was right about one thing. Realscam.com IS a crackpot website. It's completely void of anything other than the opinion of the person who runs it. Even Hitler made the occasional right guess. Really, nothing to brag about. EQ isn't sunk by any means. It may have spotted an iceberg - hopefully in time to avoid collision. If that is the kind of info Miss Cleo's crystal ball spits out, it isn't worth much.

Sounds like the EMCID has an even bigger incentive to get this park built now. This quote from the article is very encouraging... "If the original site becomes unavailable, Contour has chosen several other nearby alternative sites. “We are interested in that property, but we have also looked at other sites. Our preference is that particular piece of land but it doesn't have to be. The project is not dependent exclusively on that,” Brown said." It sounds to me as if Contour and the EMCID are determined to build EQ. They know that a park like this in an underserved metro will be a goldmine.

y'all should be nicer to each other. There's not much difference between a snob and prick. I wish the homeless, the snobs and the pricks would all just go away and find somewhere else to panhandle, discriminate and/or annoy. NBC Sports is going to take care of the whole lot of you. Well, maybe not the pricks since they already employ so many.

Don't worry, NBC Sports will chase off those annoying, drugged up, smelly pan handlers. They will probably have to delocate to the Galleria parking garage to set up camp.

This was pointed out on another disreputable forum, so take it for what its worth: "According to the bankruptcy filling EMCID owns 50.95% of 'Whitestone Houston Land' - the company that owns the land." How much more does this complicate the chapter 11 if true? Isn't it possible that EMCID has control of the land already and can push the development if they so desire? No answers, only questions but Frank McCrady of the EMCID is seriously pushing this project and claims to have backup plans A,B,C,and D ready to go should Contour not pick up the pieces. Obviously I want to see this project happen, so I stay optimistic about its chances (even after 6 years of waiting), but I still see no reason to assume the project is in serious jeopardy until the EMCID is publicly ready to give up on it - and that hasn't happened by a long shot.

It's hard to be too disappointed right now. The Texans had the greatest season in their short history and they are now an experienced playoff team with many positives to grow on. Next season should be even better. GO TEXANS!

Good luck TEXANS in your second playoff game tomorrow. Never tell me the odds.