totheskies

Yeah, the comparison of Uptown in Dallas to the TMC is completely off.  But uptown Dallas to midtown Houston is a much closer comparison. 

In terms of actual residents , I think midtown Houston has just about caught up to uptown Dallas.  What we're still a little lacking in is mixed use retail, or a more predictable pattern of retail throughout the area.  We're still letting far too many developers come in and just build whatever they want.  More is about to come on line, so that will help. 

I'd say the two areas are about the same size now. 

Yeah, I'm still really uncomfortable with how this went down. If the Trevino story was truly why Wayne Dolcefino got fired, then someone needs to tell KTRK that they're not doing their job.

Well I'm pretty happy/hopeful at the moment that Downtown is getting another mega-hotel... somethin Houston desperately needed. 5 Allen Center is still very much a possibility too.

DART Rail is far from perfect, but it's really great for the few people that take advantage of it. The reality is that Dallas needs BOTH Commuter Rail and inner city rail to make the system work properly. I am a big rail supporter, but the truth is that Houston's HOV system moves a lot more people than stretching rail out to the metro fringe. Good for Rowlett, Garland and Carrollton that they have a direct link to Downtown (if they ever even go to Downtown), but what about the urban neighborhoods? It seems borderline ridiculous to have no rail connections through Oak Lawn or Uptown.

Of course who is Houston to be critical? After all, Montrose, River Oaks, the Heights and Rice Military have no rail hopes in sight, while 2nd and 3rd Ward connection is under construction.

I did a post about DART Rail back in July. I tried to be fair about the system, from an outsider's perspective.

http://texasleftist.blogspot.com/2012/07/darting-around-dallas-transit-trip.html

And the new downtown hotel will be... a Marriott Marquis!! 1,000 rooms! Council just approved it 16-1, no discussion.

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/City-to-offer-hotel-developer-138M-in-incentives-4109932.php?t=e58f23689fcf61987c

Well one thing's for sure... it's not likely to have any of the "accompanying retail" that we've seen to wall in the Heights Walmart. At 185,000 sq. ft. on a relatively small parcel, they can't build much more than the store itself, and parking.

Last I heard, it was supposed to open "mid 2013" but I guess they're running behind schedule now.

What I love even more than the hotel rooms, the cool design or the height... this development has AWESOME potential for the street level of the area. really excellent.

Can't wait to see all of the new Conventions Houston will attract with this beauty!! And we'll finally have the hotel rooms to garner some larger customers!

Is that sarcasm? I can't tell.

Of course not. These are types of investments that our community needs to be making... not just to educate visitors residents alike about our past, but also to build for a better future. Like it or not, tourism is a very real and lucrative industry. Houston is making the right move by placing a keystone of opportunity in downtown.

I wonder if this will only highlight the historical sites of the region or also focus on some of the cultural centers as well. I'm thinking they have the chance to make tourists aware of the museums, or theaters, and then send them on the light rail to these destinations.

There is great potential to highlight many of the city's features if the all work together. Hopefully it is not just the historical markers.

The Swamplot article says that is precisely their goal.

This is exactly what I've been hoping Houston would do... develop a center for Heritage Tourism!! This will be a cornerstone for downtown and the region, just like George R. Brown and Discovery Green have become. Look at all of the economic indicators... heritage tourism is a rapidly growing field. Good for Houston that they are being proactive to take advantage of this coming opportunity. Kudos to Mayor Parker and the business leaders on this one!

$55 million is a big investment, and I hope they don't skimp.

I think I'm going to call them and ask about patents for the gift shop. I already have some ideas!!

How many people use the HOV lanes daily? How would a light rail line from the Galleria to UH help the people commuting from Katy, Spring, etc? What should the outlying residents get for their tax money?

Ask anyone that ever has to park on UofH campus. They'd probably say it would help a hell of a lot.

It ain't rail, but definitely better than nothing!! IMO, the University Line should still be the top priority.

I think interstates do matter though, especially to visitors traveling to and from a destination. An interstate implies a standard of travel, with rest stops, gas stations and food stops at regular intervals, and better signage to actually "advertise" the places that you're passing through. Interstates invite lots of business opportunities once they are built out. It may not mean much within Houston proper, but the towns in East Texas are in a complete uproar to determine where I-69 will go. Texarkana has almost finished a new interchange with I-30 at US-59, and they're nearing completion of a full, interstate-quality freeway loop around both sides of the city. In fact... Arkansas has left BOTH Texas and Louisiana in the dust in planning for both the I-69 corridor and I-49 extension in the area.

http://www.interstate-guide.com/i-130_ar.html

I only say that to point out that the I-69 traffic is coming, whether we like it or not. People want to and will come to Houston from both directions, and we need to better facilitate that while we have the chance.

The rendering appears to be 1000 rooms. I counted and it's 20 by 25 starting at the 3rd story.

I don't like the architecture as much as other parts of Midtown Square, but I do like the fact that it has got ground level retail. It's hard to complain when these guys are the only people adding retail in a new apartment building in Houston right now.

Let's hope they are starting a trend!!

This is nothing more than wasted taxpayer money and is a glorified changing of a couple of signs for Houston.

Like Mister X said, it doesn't mean much inside of Houston, but the process has to get off the ground somewhere. I drive US-59 to Arkansas frequently, and the work there is VERY slow, but it does continue in a piece-meal fashion. The way our government works today, you almost have to throw up propaganda to get things moving any faster, and make people notice. My hope is that the new signage will get the process moving along in the state.

Also worth noting that Indiana is going full speed ahead with a new segment of I-69. Their portion should be done by 2014.

This is a top priority for Downtown Houston and the whole city. Even if the hotel doesn't look exactly like the rendering, there's no way they would "skimp" on a project this substantial. We didn't skimp on One Park Place or BG Group Place either.

Jewelry store?? I thought it was like a car-wash or something. LOL

happy about the ground floor retail too. however, what retail, other than restaurants, might be feasible in this location? you can't bank on convention business alone. there aren't enough residents or out of town shoppers for clothing. chain stores not dependent on the success of one location perhaps?

Besides restaurants, the next best thing to have is Touristy stuff... knick-knacks, sports gear, and "I'm in Houston" souvenirs. That will ensure a steady flow of conventioners, and maybe some Discovery Green visitors. After that, I'd go for a CVS/Walgreens/Rite-Aid that's ACTUALLY open 24hrs. Put those in right next to the Convention center, and you can't go wrong.

yeah, it was a pizza hut way back when, it's 'china star' now. Cheap chinese food. I haven't tried it, although I bet I will venture over there at some point during my new adventure

our hours aren't set in stone, but we absolutely will be opening early enough for people to stop by before class, and late enough for people to study into the night in a relaxed atmosphere. probably like 11 on weeknights, and 2am on weekends.

Very cool! Keep me posted... I know lots of frat guys and music majors!

They have to name it in sections, based on which areas are already connected to an existing interstate. Though I think this law has just changed, which means that the nominal process will move a bit faster. I think the next segment to be named will be 59 south of 610, and then finally the portion inside 610.

I'm surprised so few people are talking about the newest stretch of Interstate in Texas... Houston is now home to a portion of I-69.

Though it's co-signed with US-59 now (and probably will be until complete), this represents more than just changing a couple of signs for Houston. This will increase traffic flow and visibility for the city of Houston and its surrounding areas.

What are your thoughts on the new I-69?

The drug dealers and prostitutes in this area scare me. What I don't get... they're concentrated in a few apt buildings. Everyone in the area knows where they are. Why doesn't the city just force them out? The property values have to be skyrocketing for that area by now, and I know the city wants residents to be safe.

Not technically owned by, or on UH property, but it's surrounded by UH property.

The developer received their final permitting and started turning dirt on this site for a small strip center.

https://maps.google....001635&t=h&z=20

The really exciting part (for me, and hopefully for anyone at UH, and even East Enders) is my friend and I signed a lease for a portion of the space and will be opening a coffee shop at the location! We're targeting July of next year as our opening date.

I'll be snapping some pictures of it this weekend!

Exciting indeed!!

A quick pointer to keep steady business... I work at UH and use the Campus Rec gym.

If you can serve smoothies and be open around the gym times, I think it would be a great move. Smoothie King's hours are really fishy, and they need some competition anyway.

But even if you can't, the more options we have on/near UH Campus, the better. It has swelled now to over 40,000 students, and when you throw in faculy and staff, our daytime population is right around 50k people. Congrats on the bold venture!!

But then it has to be paid for. And that costs money. You get taxed. And that means that you have less discretionary income and that your lifestyle will suffer in some other way. If the luxury of choice of transportation modes is foisted upon you by government, then the only choice that you are left with is which other luxury you'll consume less of.

But freeways also cost money. And so do cars.

Texas drops billions and billions of dollars each year on new freeways, and no one ever gives it a second look. But the very second someone mentions rail, everyone is up in arms about it. The amount of spending for public transit that is spent in this state is ABYSMAL compared to the golden calf that is our never-ending freeway budget.