C2H

You called that one right!

Actually I got more replies than I thought . I thank you for your contribution and hilarity

I know this has been talked about over the last few years but I just wanted to say that downtown Houston's skyline is looking 10xs better these days without those tacky looking white Christmas lights on top of the buildings. The blue ones on top of the Amegy bank building look so good. It seems that some of the letters sent by some members on here, including myself may have done the trick. I know many didn't care about this issue like I did, but I was always a strong advocate of removing the Christmas lights.

I think I remember reading on here that once the H/P opens up, it will have newer features as far as lighting up downtown. I think there's supposed to be a special feature on the new Houston Pavilions skywalk bridges. Downtown Houston's shaping up.

I don't expect to get many replies but what do you guys think?

the development of the 22 -story Embassy Suites is on hold as the developers look for new financing due to the credit crunch.

Development X

bummer!

Quick question. What ever happened with the Video Screen proposal? Last I heard, it was pre-approved but it would only allow the developers to put the screens up by the opening date. I've been downtown a few times recently and see no indication of any screens or anything going up. Isn't the grand opening only 2 months away?

Surely they won't be able to get them installed within a month?

Any Info is appreciated.

Well, Denver is better light rail wise for now, but that's it.

Have you been to Denver?

I'm in Denver Colorado this weekend and I am nothing short of amazed on how active downtown is. I knew it was always active but it seems like they're adding more things. The Nightlife here is awesome.

And Denver's density is even about 150p/sq mile less than Houston. So maybe memebag was on to something in her post. Denver is a model that shows that you can have an active city core without having the highest density numbers. But again, Denver doesn't sprawl like Houston and has a far better mass transit system.

Yeah but we're spinning off Houston Pavilions and how it could possibly bring residents and shopping back downtown which would spawn future developments, thus creating a higher density both downtown and inside the loop. So it is a relative topic.

from the recent articles in various national publications, sounds like they disagree with you too. there is no reason to drive long distances to do things in houston unless you want to.

care to post any sources or links?

I don't think that's necessarily true. If you've got everything you need/want within walking distance and don't need a car, that's great. If you have/need a car, I don't think that the difference between 5 miles and 15 miles matters too much to people.

Just remember Essence fest 2006 for an example. Maybe what I said in my post wasn't COMPLETELY true but that is a complaint that I hear of Houston alot from both business travelers and tourist. They say it's too spread out and they waste half their trip driving. And i was being quite generous about the 15 mile claim. It feels more like 30.

I'm not saying Houston is the only city that does this, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Phoenix, and plenty of other cities have destinations far out. Many of you may disagree with me on this one but I primarily judge a city by the success of their downtown/ inner city area. I am giving downtown credit for it's "comeback" that's currently in the making.

when i cut thru freedman's town a few weeks ago, i'm not sure vibrant is what i was feeling.

C'mon man, Let's be sensible. Freedman's town is a historic area where freed slaves lived. Impoverished people and houses dominate the area, with exception of the Fourth Ward regentrification efforts within this last decade.

I see what membag is saying, but I don't agree with it. I uncderstand Density creates gridlock, traffic, longer waiting lines at shops and restaurants, etc. But that's the difference between a CITY and a small TOWN. If you want a town atmosphere, don't live in the city. You can't speak for everybody and say that's not what most people want. On the flip side, Density also helps create the vibrant feel in the city.

When people come to a city, they don't want to have to drive 15 miles from one attraction to the next. I was quite disappointed that Houston had such a lousy downtown area in terms of activities, although it's making a turnaround. Denver, Colorado has done a very good job with its downtown area. If Houston could at least Denver's success, i'll be happy. Houston will never be New York though.

VelvetJ speaks the truth..... UNFORTUNATELY

My thoughts was that what you see in the rendering will go around the "tin box" somehow. I could be wrong of course. It's House or Blues... it's going to look good... they all do.

I agree, i think the exterior portion will probably be installed last. Maybe that's me being hopeful that the final design will turn out to be like what's in the renderings

^^ always complaining.

I'm with tierwestah, how can we confirm this to be true about III forks being out. There was no source or anything explaing about the backout of 3 forks. Just an HAIFer's arbitrary claim.

Even if 3 forks is out, that'll make more way for hopefully fewer restaurants and more retail or entertainment. How bout a arcade?

Wow, alot has been talked about since i've been away. Video Screens? Cool. Bring em on!

I don't know what some people's problem is. Houston could really use something that can entice people to come to a certain area. I'm not saying that video screens and lights do it by themselves, but they are attention grabbers. Look at Vegas. I don't think Vegas would be so well known like it is today if it didn't have the attraction of the well-lit up strip.

And i agree with the above statement. The few residential isn't going to make a huge impact on the success of H/P. One Park Place was made available to fall back on. It will probably end up causing spurring up more residential development or conversions. Some of you need to quit trying to hold this city back in yesteryear. Times are changing. For Houston to become a world class like the leaders want, it needs to keep up with the times, not itsef.

Sometimes I wish we would just accept downtown for what it is: A place for business, business related activities and special events.

We are so focued on making downtown Houston look like other downtowns we can't see the forest for the trees.

Think how much there is to do a stone's throw from downtown.

I see what you're saying but the first sentence of your paragraph will not keep Houston in the competitive cities list. Houston is trying to be a world-class town so improving its city center is vital.

I agree with Jax saying there are other stores around Houston to compete with downtown. I personally think having a solid mass downtown is essential because its suppose to be the city's centerpiece, it's the birthplace, it's what most people see when they come to a large city. I think Uptown, River Oaks, Rice Village, etc should just be the icing on the cake rather than focal points to Houston.

I noticed that most of the downtown skyscrapers have turned off their outertrim lighting. I'm very happy they turned off those ugly white christmas lights (even though Chase Tower's still lit). However, i wish Wells Fargo Plaza, Wedge Tower would continue to light up at night.

Could they be moving toward bringing some better lighting for the downtown skyline? It would be nice if they did more color hi-lights and things of that such. I'm really thinking once the Pavilions, Disco Green, and surrounding development open up, it may start a new trend from the white Christmas lights (I'm praying). Anybody have an idea or scoop? Does anybody even really care LOL ???

You know i think that has to be the first time i've ever seen houston development go off on someone !!!

I think Niche is black and white in terms of what constitutes 'journalism' and has been quoted incorrectly in the past, but Nancy merely lacks attention to detail.

I understood the first sentence of Niche's paragraph but i couldn't relay the last part when he was talking about what i said being torn apart. I wasn't meaning to be difficult but i just wanted him to clarify what he was saying at the end.

Black and White..!!

Nancy is far from perfect, but my experiences in dealing with her have been far better than with her collegues. It's the difference between a small specific error or lack of grammatical clarity and having what you've said torn apart, words reconfigured, meanings butchered, all within what was supposed to be the safety of quotation marks.

what?

I hope the above is true but based on some comments i've read on this forum regarding Nancy Sarnoff's lack of accuracy, i question if her information can really be trusted.

They started on the Fannin side, eh?

so much for my clear view down to the med center.

You still got Main St.

The bridges are very wide. When you have a chance C2H, stand under them on San Jacinto. You really do get a better appreciation of their width from that vantage point.

Today I saw the bridge underneath Fannin as you suggested. I must say it was alot wider than it was when I first saw it. I think they've been adding on alot over the last couple of weeks.

Nah, its on the SE corner of the Beltway 8 and I-10 interchange.

Thanks Trae. That kind of makes me even more mad that they left light rail out of the I-10 plan. What were they thinking? That could've really drawn more pedestrians from around the city. I don't see how a pedestrian development won't be Transit oriented. Bad planning Houston, Bad planning!