treehugger

yes, the condos start at $480k. This does not include the $2000/month service fee for living there. This price in consistent with the higher end senior living condos my parents have shopped in Texas, including Austin, Dallas, and Fort Worth. They are interested in houston because they spend their Summers in New Mexico at 8000 ft and like our mild Winters.

I sat through on of the sales pitches on their behalf, and must admit, the units are pretty fantastic. I can only assume they will hold their value, based upon the other values I've watched on the Waterway. They are having the same development problems averyone else in the Woodlands is having, but they are hoping to complete construction at the end of 2008.

The plan is to have the trolley come all the way down past the Sterling, towards the lake, so residents could hop on the trolley and get all the way to the mall or market street without having to drive.

There is also a good BAR-BQ resturaunt off of highway 105 in Montgomery. Great hamburgers, and I believe they also serve breakfast all day if I am not mistaken. I don't know the name of it but it is off of HWY 149 and 105. It is out of the way but if you go out that way to the lake then it is worth it. Good prices too.

Yes that's Vernon's that I referred to. A half mile further down that road is Vernon's seafood (read catfish) which is supposed to be excellent.

Is it a shame that we have to stretch to Conroe in order to fulfill your request for good non-chain restaurants.

As a member of the WAC, I have a lot of info about this. The WAC is scheduled to be "phased out" in 2008. The WAC has already been "taken over/merged" with the Woodlands Country Club. The Club offered a discounted membership to WAC membersto join the country club. Apparently, they do not feel the expense of updateing the electrical and plumbing etc is worth the potential income. Additionally, they will probably include the newly acquired land with the land across the street to develop condos on Lake Harrison.

There is a lot of talk among members of the masters swim team and other club members about possible options to keep the club around, but no one is too optimistic. It will probably be scraped.

A real shame considering all the history of the WAC. Olympic dive champions trained there, as well as many champion swimmers.

The country club does not even own the tennis courts at the resort any more. At this time, my understanding is they sold them to the Resort and conference center with the golf courses, but the CC still leases them back for member use until they can develop some more.

It's all confusing and ugly.

I read somewhere that WalMart has an entire group dedicated to nothing but selling off old buildings and property.

http://www.walmartrealty.com/

This appears to be their site. The article I read this in suggested that as WalMart converted from the smaller original concept to Supercenters and other large concepts, it created a lot of excess inventory, necessitating the real estate group. They supposedly are very helpful in converting the buildings to alternate uses.

I don't know enough to contradict your statement, but the article I read suggested otherwise.

I do not pretend to be an expert. I can only note my past observations. It is certainly possible that the "shells" I have watched in the past have simply been unable to sell. Keep in mind that I despise Walmart and most of my observations are a bit biased in that direction. That being said, I hope something positive is done with that prime piece of real estate.

Try Molly's Pub on the freeway.

19th hole just off sawdust.

Chuy's on freeway.

Is The Tin Star a chain? It kinda' feels like it, but I really like the creativity of the menu.

If you're willing to drive to Conroe, Vernon's is excellent (BBQ, hamburgers, atmosphere)

I tried PHO Be (sp?) on Sawdust. It was quite good, but pretty expensive.

CJ's on Sawdust is pretty good too. Nothing fancy, but good menu.

An excellent choice is Spartilo at the resort. My wife and I go there all the time. Not crowded, don't need to be a guest or member. Wonderful menu. Nice brick oven for pizza. View of Lake Hamilton and golf course. Service is average, but servers are very nice. Atmosphere is fantastic. Try the steak sandwich or Chicken sandwich with sauteed peppers and cheese. My mouth is watering.

Chuy's on I45 is a chain in that there are 4 in Austin and some in Dallas, but it has managed to shed a lot of the problems "chain stores" get.

Are there any Wal-Marts in the area that are scheduled to be closed? I heard that Wal-Mart loves to close older locations and build brand new ones in close proximity to old ones.

Maybe a closed Wal-Mart can be turned into a C.E.P.

Unfortunately, Walmart has a bad habit of holding onto their empty property, so they won't have to deal with competition.

I am a landscape designer in The Woodlands area, and often have buildings and additions that require "sealed" drawings to pass the Home Owners Association. Currently, I need drawings for a covered patio (attached to a home), but I would like to build a relationship for ongoing projects.

281.296.5788 glenn@gcdesigns-online.com

I am a Landscape Architect Graduate working in the Woodlands. I need an architect to create construction drawings for clients to submit to the homeowners association. I usually draw construction documents myself, but The Woodlands requires sealed documents. Currently, I just need simple drawings for a covered porch, but I would like to build a relationship with someone to do many projects over time. Thanks.

281.296.5788 glenn@gcdesigns-online.com