Trae

http://www.portstopl...s_2009_8x11.pdf

Did anyone else catch I-45's new identity on the map? That's great proofreading!

Speaking of I-45, when is it going to be extended north to Kansas City?

Is Denver Pavilions enclosed, too?

Nope.

How about we think bigger, so it has a larger impact to justify making it an interstate.

How about expanding Interstate 27 south of Lubbock into Austin (where it would connect to 290) via US 84 and US 183. Then expand I-27 north of Amarillo into Denver via 287. The new Interstate would connect the Rocky Mountain region (and using I-90, the Pacific Northwest) with the Port of Houston and the Gulf of Mexico.

How about that?

As for I-69, Im all for it ...resign now!

I like this idea. Would especially be good when the Panama Canal expansion is complete in a couple of years.

There were plans for a Simon mall at the northeast corner of I-10 and 99. Now it's changed into something called "The Grand", which is going to incorporate the existing JC Penny, Cinemark, Red Robin, and La Madeline. Who knows if anything will come of it, but at least there are a few things popping up there every once in awhile.

http://www.page-part...nd/TheGrand.pdf

The Grand is the actually mall in the middle of the ring road. The JC Penney and Cinemark is just the "lead in" into the mall (or lifestyle center...whatever they want to call it). Then, you have the Westside Marketplace from Mason Road over the 99. I think they are trying to make this area of Katy resemble the Stonebriar area of Frisco, Texas (North Dallas suburb). They should just make it another enclosed air-conditioned mall, because that lifestyle center stuff is getting old.

Well, I think my knowledge of DFW has gone up pretty high since moving here months ago, so I can help with posting developments and things.

Haslet, Texas? There is nothing in Haslet. I can see Keller though. As far as Katy goes, there is definitely a lot of potential retail growth, especially when the Grand Parkway is finished. The mall at the I-10 at 99 intersection should be open by then.

What kind of help would you need?

Nothing ground breaking here, but I got to talking to this guy on our bowling league the other night and found out that he just moved to The Woodlands from Michigan. Anyway, he works for Exxon and he said that the development at the Hardy and 45 is on the fast track and will break ground sooner than later. He said it is DEFINITELY happening and that all offices from Denver, Fairfax and some from Dallas and Houston are all moving to the Spring/Woodlands location. So there ya go. At least it's not 'dead' or on a 'hiatus.'

Don't think anyone thought it was, since the study wasn't even suppose to be complete until this year anyway. As far as Dallas offices moving here, I doubt Exxon is moving their corporate HQ to Houston (already said they won't). But, Exxon strangely picked Irving randomly for their HQ years ago, so maybe they change their mind at the last minute again and relocate to Houston.

Houston needs another oil boom. A big one.

I think it's coming with the way they're talking about gas prices going up.

Isn't there suppose to be a mixed-use development at the Wheeler Station? This could be it... And who knows, with the economy looking like its on the rebound and with Metro hopefully starting construction on the University/Blue line soon, maybe it'll happen. I'm pretty sure some kind of TOD will go into the Wheeler Station area.

Yeah, because I think Dallas is the only Texas city with a NYE event (though I'm sure SA has one). They're clever, in that they always have a Stars game that lets out right when "Big D NYE" starts. Hopefully Glowrama grows. I believe the Rockets usually have a NYE game at home. Maybe they could try directing a lot of the crowd towards Discovery Green (what a great development this is turning out to be). They need to put some fireworks on the top of the GRB.

http://www.bizjourna...-slam-dunk.html

Magic Johnson and his new investment partner plan on turning the Hotel Icon Downtown into either a W Hotel or Ritz Carlton (within the next 45 days). Just in time for the Final Four this April, too.

Interesting. Nice to see the Katy area continue to grow up.

Ah skeet skeet skeet skeet skeet skeet....

Wider streets = more traffic = greater intimidation factor for a pedestrian. Since you've brought Europe into the discussion....I'm not saying Europe gets it right all the time by any means, but there is, in my experience, generally more acknowledgement of the existence of people who don't get around by car. That's why I think the type of development in Midtown is to be encouraged.

But I agree, if there were more retail close to the sidewalk, and wider sidewalks, the traffic factor wouldn't matter as much.

Have you been to New York City? Or even Los Angeles (which is probably a better example)?

Katy is really growing up. I remember when there was literally nothing but a couple of strip centers and big box stores from the Katy Mills Mall area to Highway 6. Now look at it. The last two big parcels of land left is between Westgreen and Mason and Mason and 99. The plot between Westgreen and Mason is suppose to be one of those "Main Event" entertainment centers. The other is suppose to be that big mall that won't be built anytime soon.

If by 'look' you mean a personal style, I would say not at all. That said, I think Houston should milk the cowboy stereotype for all it's worth. It's nothing to be ashamed of. Who doesn't like cowboys?

In terms of the physical environment, I think the look of Houston is defined by the miles of development along freeway feeder roads.

I don't think Houston really has a cowboy stereotype. DFW to me feels more like that. Especially from its freeways since they have a lot of wide open spaces along them. Houston's freeways are more built up.

Interesting info I found from the Travel Industry Association tia.org

So it seems the Houston area will be the main ones supporting this thing, not tourists.

The percentages of those on trips with children

engaging in various activities are as follows

• Shopping 37%

• Outdoor activities 21%

• Historical places/museums 14%

• Theme/amusement parks 15%

I think this will be true at first, but it'll definitely attract more tourists outside of the Houston area.

Eesh... Time for additional patience:

http://www.hcnonline.../46emcemcid.txt

I'm still absolutely ecstatic about EarthQuest Resort as a whole, and really always will be, but at this point I hope EMCID and Marlin Atlantis really concentrate on getting just the bulk of the ticketed EarthQuest Adventures theme park component constructed and opened so revenue will start pouring in... Get the themed rides in there, open it with all the roller coasters/thrill attractions planned for... Locals will still absolutely swarm to spend a day at a well-done park... The rest of the development will be great as it's phased-in. (My opinion is that the ticketed water park component should be the very last thing funded.)

Doesn't sound like bad news and still appears to be moving forward.

The next chain that needs to expand in Houston is Chicken Express. They have one in Magnolia and a little north of Conroe (New Waverly, IIRC). Don't know why they don't expand into Houston, as Houston does not have a chain like them. Their sweet tea is really good. They have them all over DFW.

H&M is the "upscale" Gap.

At one time in the 90s I believe Metro's OTP was at 96%. That, much like ridership, went into a freefall around the time Metro decided to focus on rail expansion.

I remember when it was common for a bus to flag (skip) stops if they were behind 10 minutes or more. I remember one Metro exec was looking over a report about a particular trip on the 37 - El Sol route. At one point the bus was 12 minutes behind schedule but when it reached the end of the line it was two minutes early. I suggested that the driver must have flagged several stops to accomplish this. His reply was, "When you're 12 minutes late, I don't care who you pass up." The days of buses playing leapfrog is over as well. During rush hour in the 90s when bus ridership was healthy and rising, bus bunching was common during rush hours. If one bus caught up to another it would leapfrog around it to pick up passengers and allow the later bus (or buses) to drop off only or flag stops. Now however, if one bus catches up to another, it follows it which in turn makes it late as well since it doesn't pick up the excess load but instead waits while the late and overloaded first bus picks up all the passengers.

Wow. The solution to Metro's problems would be.....common sense.

Yeah, if the buses were more reliable and on time, I think more people would use it. But, I think you need to expand rail first. In my opinion, I think more buses would be on time if a lot of their former routes have been replaced by rail. Baby steps.

completely misleading post... nothing is said of the consolidation and campus near the woodlands being scrapped, only that the official XOM HQ would not be moving here. the 4M SF (or whatever # it is now) campus is happening, it just won't be XOM HQ.

Exactly. All of Fairfax, Virginia is still moving to the new campus, as well as some other offices around Houston.

Awesome, maybe they will renovate some of the team while they are at it .

I like the youth the Astros have now. Excited for this upcoming season.