totheskies

So what main line hotel chains are not in downtown yet? Maybe a Conrad??

Good for them I guess. I'm not going to be eating there, as they are an aggressively anti-*** business. Blanked out word rhymes with "day".

Yep... The Woodlands is going to be its own city soon... Houston's other "metroplex" anchor.

I'm no D/FW expert, but I lived in Arlington for about 1 year and have lived in Houston for 5. I've also lived in various parts of the city... Northshore on the East Side, Meyerland Southwest, Inner Loop east, and now Montrose. Houston is more centralized than D/FW. Period. Our largest business districts are a mere 6 miles apart... it's like having downtown Dallas, downtown Ft. Worth and downtown Irving all close together. We still have a few outlying BDs (Greenspoint, Mem City, etc.), but it's very different from how far D/FW metro's "serious" jobs are located. D/FW is more aesthetically pleasing and more user friendly. Things like shopping districts, employment centers, etc. tend to be in a more predictable pattern up there. Whereas in Houston, you have to get to know the city a bit before it's feels user-friendly. If you're going by freeways, you'd think that there are no shopping districts at all inside the loop. But two of our best are not located near a freeway. Stuff like that takes some getting used to. D/FW has a great (if under-utilized) rail system. Houston is still working on ours, but right now we've got one little train that basically connects DT and the Med Center. Just a few thoughts.

My problem is the implication that Dynamo fans are all of a "lower class" than other sports fans. It's rude, and racist. I see every type of fan imaginable at Dynamo games.

Huh??? What are you talking about?? I'm sure many people will be staying at the hotel BECAUSE OF the Soccer Stadium!!

Wow just imagine if Congress were to magically pass Obama's Jobs Bill in tact. These lines would have enough money to get finished!

I'm very late to the discussion (like several years late), but I think that some of the past points need to be visited/re-visited. Because Houston is so car-oriented, it makes our next steps for tranist difficult to achieve. We know some things are coming up soon though. 290 is about to be re-built because it is now unsafe to drive with the amount of traffic volumes that it handles every day... that's an emergency situation IMO. I-45 in either direction (especially inside the Beltway) is also becoming a safety issue quickly. As a region we have to decide the best way to move forward with these places. I think for Houston, the best way is to do a combination of road expansion and BRT outside the loop, and focus on rail transit inside the loop. But real BRT with its own separate lanes and something that could be upgraded to rail in the future. This system would be perfect for nodes like Memorial City or Greenspoint. Even connecting these places to the Red Line alone could be a profitable venture (we already do this during Rodeo time on a small scale). As diffused as our city is, there are a few activities that still draw people to the central city like sports events, the museum district and the medical center. Start with that, and promote the hell out of it.

Wow thanks for the awesome updates!!! They are flying on the new Stadium garage. They must be doing the garage and the expansion simultaneously. This Fall is going to be TOUGH having lost so much surface parking, but at least we'll gain it back once the garage is built.

Pretty simple... increase revenue by raising taxes, and give some of the money to METRO for the rail lines. Use the Hire Houston first policy so we can get these lines built!

Really sad to see this go, but at least they're being honest about it. If the service didn't catch on, there's not much more they could do.

Agreed this is COMPLETELY skewed logic. Higher density would equate to less driving if the neighborhood is sufficiently populated with retail to where to you don't need to drive as much. I recently moved from Eastwood to Montrose. Now I live within 3 mins walk from Kroger, several very nice restaurants, the dry cleaners, music stores, radio shack, you name it. It's literally MORE of a hassle to get in the car and rangle around for parking than it is to just walk to these areas. The only life activity I'm further away from now is my work, but the buses on this side of town are far more reliable than in Eastwood, so I've stopped taking the car to work entirely as well. So far my money savings in gas have been huge... like $50 less last month than the month before. Also extending the life of my vehicle by the savings of wear and tear, along with more exercise for me. This article is silly.

I don't see why they couldn't just scrap it now... work out something with the few remaining tenants, bull-doze the thing, build the mixed-use venue, then ask those very same tenants (and more) to move back in. It's a win-win situation if you do it that way. But as it stands now, that shopping center is horrible. Kroger is finally upgrading, so there is hope.

Btw on the stadium garage... 15F is going to be an actual Stadium seat expansion. We'll still lose the parking, but it's not going to be a garage. This campus is truly mad with construction right now.

New pictures of the developing developments (LOL)

Wow I'm really happy I started this thread!! First paragraph... you describe you. If that is the way you are, then great!! You can be *** and not have to live or adhere to some large hyperbole persona... there's nothing wrong with that. But the point of Pride in my opinion is to celebrate the *** community in all of it's shapes, sizes and colors. As outlandish and as ridiculous as it may seem to some of us, for many *** men and women they feel more comfortable in skimpy shorts or in drag. It's just the way they are. They wake up in the morning dressed as "regular people" and all they can think about is the next pair of six-inch heels to buy. The crazy thing is (quote Lady Gaga) they were born that way, just like you were born the way that you are. I think when you talk about gays leading by example, you're missing the point. We are doing so, and more people are doing that everyday. But I don't feel the need to have to conform to current society in order to lead by example. My example is that I am a good man, and that I care about my community and my city. I mean we've got one of the best "examples" in the country right now in Annise Parker... elected mayor of one of the largest cities in the country, in a commited relationship with her partner, and they raised three kids together. AP is literally the religious right's worst nightmare. That is AN example that should be set, and I'm so glad to have people like AP doing it. But for others the example is to show society that it's ok to be ***... whatever *** means for you. IMO the *** pride flag and colors encompass the whole rainbow because the *** community is so diverse... much moreso than the straight community. The only thing that GLBT people have in common is that they like members of the same sex. Beyond that, every type of person you can imagine can be ***. All races, all religious backgrounds, all social segments... you name it. Pride SHOULD BE a time for us to put aside our differences and just celebrate the one thing that we have in common. Just so you know, I'm more like you in that I don't dress in drag or anything like that. You're just as likely to catch me at Lucky's Pub (by the ballpark) as you would at JR's. I view myself as a regular guy, but I am very thankful for all of those in the *** community that are brave enough to show who they really are. We have come a very long way in 42 years (since the Stonewall riots).

It seems to be an extension of the developments that they are already making along Harrisburg. I really like what they're doing so it makes sense to revamp other streets as well.

Well just FYI... I am a finalist for this year's Houston Pride SuperStar (formerly Houston Pride Idol). So not only will I be performing to kick off the parade, but I'll also be riding on a parade float. Something I've never done before. BTW the competition is down to the Top 5 and I'm still in (the only guy left)!! I'll post an update of the results when we have them.

I'll be ready to buy in 2-3 years once I get my mom's house settled. Considering how fast EaDO/ Eastwood is building up, I'd really like to buy my first house in that area. The new stadium and rail line should bring lots of improvements and attention to the neighborhood.

Nah, still a renter. An apartment in my friend's complex opened up, and since I love the complex and LOVE the location, I had to snap it up before it went back on the market. I like Eastwood, but Montrose is just so much fun, and I spend a lot of time there anyway.

Just a personal note, I have to celebrate that after 3 years of living in the Greater Eastwood area, I have finally made the move to Montrose!! I am very excited to get to live in such a fun and vibrant neighborhood!! Now back to the thread topic... This year's Pride Festival and Parade promises to be better than ever!! Great festivities, live performances, and lots of good cheer!! For more info on Pride Houston, check it out here: http://pridehouston.org/ The official site for Pride Houston https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pride-Houston/339266352854?ref=ts Facebook page. See you there!!

I just signed the petition... on my LAST official day as an East End resident. I just moved to Montrose.

Midtown is definitely in a building boom. So glad to see!! Speaking of, does anyone have the scoop on a very fast construction at Louisiana and Hadley. My guess is a Taco Cabana, based on the store layout. I LOVE Taco Cabana!!!

I agree... people from out of town don't know anything about the East End. But that's because there's still a HUGE contingent of Houstonians that don't know about it. At least they don't know that people actually live over here. Working at UofH, I'm simply astounded to know how many people have never, and will never cross the other side of I-45 from here. Just heard some faculty in my dept discussing Italian food for lunch, and how one could really go for a good lasagna. So naturally I directed them to Mandola's and they were blown away. Loved the neighborhood feel of it, and were interested in what called the "transition" of the neighborhood. Now they live in Cypress and Katy respectively, so I wouldn't expect them to know every nook and cranny of this area. But they have worked at UofH for at least 10 years. Locals are moving to the East End because they're being priced out of other areas, but still want some convenience to downtown and other inner loop areas. I think were in the beginnings of an East End boom here, and for far more reasons than just the soccer stadium. But out-of-towners learn about our neighborhoods from locals they meet and online resources. Until the East End gets the word out that it's "improving" no one else is going to know.

I love love love this place!! So laid back and so "real" and with food that is excellent every time I go!! BTW they now serve alcohol, and have St. Arnold's brew on tap!!! Can't beat that one. So go to Mandola's, and you can support 2 local businesses in one trip! BTW I like the patio where they put it, but it would be kinda cool if they built a deck and raised it up a bit. Even a few feet higher would help expose the KILLER skyline view they've got!! I salute the Mandola family for being on the leading edge of the curve. The East End feels like it's coming together now.