dbigtex56

Hey Tex. Next time I see you on the train or Kroger, I'm going to holler you down. You've not made the last several haif-happy-hours.

please do!

DB = DOUCHEBAG! Ricco Suave, latin stereo-types, Jersey Shores, etc. Or, simply put, those that treat individuals differently based on appearance. (Did I spell Ricco's last name like the shampoo? Oh well.)

We kind of got a DB red flag - not in this hood you don't!

Can you give me a hint?

Inspired to make a little slide show on Youtube.

Great job on the video, devonhart and a fascinating find. I'd never heard that Houston was known as "The Magnolia City" (per the Main @ Bell photo caption.)

Hope it doesn't unnecessarily confuse the patients.

From the email announcement:

You are invited to a free

Historic Window Repair and Weatherization Workshop

Saturday, May 22, 2010

9 a.m. - noon

City of Houston Building Materials Reuse Warehouse

9003 N. Main Street

Houston, Texas 77022

In celebration of National Preservation Month in Houston , the Education Committee of the City of Houston Archeological and Historical Commission is offering a free and informative window repair and weatherization workshop. Historic windows are vital to the character of a historic house, and in many cases they can be repaired and made much more energy efficient. During this 3 hour workshop, learn the skills needed to keep those old windows. Topics include understanding window elements, weatherization and basic repairs.

Join this informative session! Remember, preservation is good for communities and the pocketbook and plays a significant role in fostering development that is more environmentally and economically sustainable. Space is limited. To RSVP or for more information, please contact Joy Tober at Houstonpreservation@houstontx.gov or 713-837-7903.

If this is an older Heights house, you might consider checking out the supply of used/vintage brick at Historic Houston Salvage Warehouse on W Clay.

New brick might be a bit jarring.

Underpass! Ha ha!

Here is a 1905 plat of Hyde Park from the block books.

http://books.tax.hctx.net/v018/AE1997_17-18_0261.jpg

looks like Upas was originally Garfield.

a later block book page (no date) shows it as Upas

http://books.tax.hctx.net/v018/AE1997_17-18_0262.jpg

and the detail page has it mislabeled as California and then crossed out.

http://books.tax.hctx.net/v018/AE1997_17-18_0276.jpg

Another interesting find - thanks. Where is the home page for this info? Have Googled myself silly with no luck.

The detail page also misspells Van Buren.

Grant, Lincoln and Van Buren still exist - wonder why Garfield was replaced by a poisonous Asian tree?

upas: noun. a tall Javanese tree (Antiaris toxicaria) of the mulberry family, whose whitish bark yields a poisonous, milky juice used as an arrow poison ...

That is to say, I won't back just any position. It has to be the correct position, even if that position is that I don't know the correct position.

That's what she said!

Another find: Upas St. (which runs south from Fairview one block to Hyde Park, between Van Buren and Waugh) is called 'Underpass' on the Precinct 37 map.

Why 'Underpass", and when and why was the name shortened?

Perusing the block books on the Harris County Tax Office website, it appears that Bissonet was originally 11th Street, with teh East/West streets to teh North counting down the numbers. Here's a few links:

http://books.tax.hctx.net/v036/AE1997_35-36_0335.jpg

http://books.tax.hctx.net/v036/AE1997_35-36_0345.jpg

http://books.tax.hctx.net/v036/AE1997_35-36_0362.jpg

I don't have aclue as to when the change was made or why. Note that Yoakum was Chestnut St, and Bayard was Sycamore.

Ross, thanks so much.This is a bit of Houston history about which I'd never heard.

Could it be that the numbered streets were renamed so as not to be confused with the numbered streets in the Heights?

-HEB wants to make the store neighborhood friendly.

Easily accomplished. Don't build it.

It was never credible.

As I recall, you also said that claims of environmental damage from the ruptured oil well in the Gulf were not credible, either.

What litmus test makes something credible? For that matter, are litmus tests credible?

There is already a Westheimer Dr, a Westheimer Ct, a Westheimer Way, and a Westheimer Pkwy. Why not a Westheimer Blvd?

Why not, indeed; except that's not the name of the thoroughfare in question. It's Westheimer Road.

I'm wondering how W 11th Place got its name (Google map incorrectly calls it W 11th St.). This small dead-end street runs south off Bissonett, two blocks west of Montrose.

There are no other numbered streets for miles around, let alone 1st-10th streets. There are only eight listings for properties on this street on the HCAD site, and three of them date from 1920, so I'm guessing that this is when the street was named. At that time Houston had recently undergone many street name changes to avoid confusion with existing street names (due to the annexation of Houston Heights), so it seems especially illogical to have come up with such a confusing name at this time.

Any theories?

More info,

http://www.citywestplacehouston.com/CityWestPlace%20Development%20Brochure.pdf

On their renderings a major street is referred to as "Westheimer Blvd".

Does Westheimer Road change names at some point, or is this ignorance/affectation on the part of the developer?

do yall think they'd welcome a non-neartown resident? I emailed their secretary but she did not reply.

I don't see why not - this isn't Arizona, I doubt if they'll be checking IDs.

Certainly hope more restraint is used this year. Last time a committee got together ("Plan for the intersection of Montrose and Westheimer" - 2009) to offer suggestions for that intersection, the design looked like the architectural equivalent of this:

What exactly did the kid do to recieve the beating?

According to the teacher, he was making fun of (bullying?) a learning impaired student.

Oh the dear old Melrose. What a crappy hand it has been dealt..

Yes....gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em

If only the Melrose would serve as a cautionary tale for those who would recklessly update a building, and thereby seal its fate. Whatever charm this building possessed has been 'improved' out of it, and neglect has finished the job.

This was downtown's first modern skyscraper. When it was first built in 1952 it must have looked like a vision of the future. Originally the spandrels were turquoise, which would have helped it stand out more. They were replaced with brown panels in the 1970s.

How strange - both the Melrose and the Prudential buildings were built in 1952, and are nearly the same height (93.88m, 21 stories vs. 95.1, 21 stories, respectively.)

Prudential (Houston Main) Building

Melrose Building

Hate to use the cliche' phrases but this is an eyesore and a blight. Its only useful function seems to be as an impromptu urinal for those who have no where else to go (wordplay intentional.)

Surprising how one dreary block can contaminate the surrounding area. The Melrose Building is on a high traffic street; this is not a good setting for such a creepy and nasty artifact. Shouldn't downtown be held to a higher standard?

Interesting choice to integrate the existing building into the new design. Any info about it?

There was a house on Westheimer which was moved by preservationists around the corner to Bagby several years ago. I think it was next door to the only existing house in the 100 block of Westheimer - (116 Westheimer), the white one that's been vacant for so long.

This might explain the notation about remodeling on the HCAD record for the Bagby address.

Michael's Outpost 1419 Richmond Ave.

(713)520-8446

They have sing-alongs some nights- call for info.

I have several very large trees which need to be trimmed. Has anyone used a good, and preferably reasonably priced, tree trimming service in the Heights? Thanks in advance for any input.

Thanks for a timely reminder. Hurricane season starts in less than a month, and now is the time to make sure that trees have been trimmed well away from utility lines.