N Judah

I also learned something new...so it was a constructive visit:

http://www.amigoenergy.com/web/page.aspx?pg=company_news&ch=company_news_2

Is that the link you meant to post?

I don't see it as a problem, TSU playing football there fixes it

(wishful thinking, I'm sure)

Hmm, actually you might be onto something.

Not just quite yet. But once my military enlistment (prompted by the failure of the real estate development biz) goes through and I get trained and shipped off, I'll be sure to communicate back the number of confirmed kills.

Army?

LoL. Maybe one day people can get this worked up about corporate incentives. I know there was never this kind of outrage about, say, the 100% cost overruns on the Katy Freeway.

Could be worse -- at least it's not cricket!

http://news.scotsman.com/world/Actor39s-cricket-view-sparks-riot.6062034.jp

N, Thanks for asking. I became an American Citizen ( The legal way ) 25 years ago. I brought my family here, as I feel this is the very best civilization in World history. I studied, and deeply admire all the founders.

No...I meant to ask: did you just move to Texas? I would be surprised if a longtime resident of Texas was unaware of soccer's popularity in the state. It is huge at the participation level, and now it is gaining ground at the spectator level.

Let me state my observations another way: I don't see any area jumping up, and begging the soccer franchise to come their way. I see all the politicians avoiding this like the plague. Which is strange to me, because the business model is something I cannot deny, has merit, and promise. If no one is courting you, then you must be rejected.

Houston jumped up and invited the Dynamo to move here, promising a new stadium which has yet to materialize. I don't think we will vote on it, since I don't think we usually vote on incentives like these. If the city/county cannot make good on the stadium I am sure the Dynamo could easily be wooed by another city, as MLS has many cities clamoring to get a team.

I don't think there is a ground-swell of interest in this game in Texas period.

Did you just move here? Do you follow sports in general?

So BP is building a brand new suburban building for themselves and KBR won't? Is KBR poor?

Didn't read any Davis article. I got it from someone close to the East End Chamber.

Oh, OK. I was only wondering since you didn't mention a cite or a source. Anyway, another "inmate processing facility" would surely kill the ambience. I'm intrigued that all of this began once Annise Parker was elected.

Edit (since it does not let me edit that post anymore): Actually if "inmate processing facility" is what they call jails now then yes Annise Parker said that. But I am not sure why they would put another jail right there in downtown by GRB, MMP, Toyota, and a new light rail line.

Also does anybody have a link to this master plan?

I'm surprised people can't figure out why being near the confluence of 2 LRT lines, on infrastructure already built to handle stadia, would be considered a good thing. I think the real question is: why Bellaire? Of the several people who have suddenly appeared out of nowhere to denigrate the East End location, none have actually explained why the Galleria would be a good place for a team whose supporters consist mostly of Spanish-speaking tailgaters.

I believe Ms. Garcia and Mr. E.F. Lee have different ideas for the East End property. Heard something today about a new jail location.

That one sentence at the end of today's Glenn Davis's article, right? I wouldn't say that's based in reality.

In the meantime the Chron is reporting that BCM Bonds are on the S&P watch list.

I don't trust these rating agencies anymore. If they're downgrading it it means they have a plan in mind.

I think the East End location makes a lot more sense.

These are great results. I think the City of Houston needs to take a volume-based approach to these little Discovery Green-size parks. Eminent domain the living crap out of anything they can near the city center and future LRT stops. Then put as many as they can until they can no longer be projected to pay for themselves.

I'm too lazy to scroll up and read. Did we already have the discussion about why things like this don't seem to get built downtown? What did everyone decide was the reason?

According to their website they have restaurants in Houston, Dallas, Austin, and in a couple of cities somewhere in Florida.

a Houston-themed gift shop, a Metro RideStore, a nice Western wear shop like Cavender's.

I agree. Also, a U. of Houston "bookstore" (merchandise store) could work as long as the football team is successful.

I think that any city that comes up with tax breaks and incentives to attract corporate HQs can have lots of Fortune whatever companies too.

http://www.thedailycougar.com/funds-push-uh-closer-to-flagship-status-1.2028385

A number of criteria must be met before a public research university can attain flagship status, and Birx said UH is close on all metrics except the research aspect.

“One of the biggest criteria for achieving (flagship) is based on the level of research funding,” Birx said. “What usually follows is (that) expenditures increase and the University starts moving strongly to being a key metric tier one institution. Why that is a measurement that is used is because (research) is very competitive.”

http://www.thedailycougar.com/uh-deals-with-parking-1.1995223

Two more parking garages are also being built to add to the existing Welcome Center garage. The east garage across from Calhoun Lofts has 1,500 spaces and is scheduled to open Nov. 11.

The third garage will be located at Robertson Stadium. It is expected to have 2,000-2,400 spaces, and completion is slated for July 2011.

The University is also searching for alternative resources for a fourth garage.

“We are attempting, and we’ve applied for some Federal funding, to help support the cost of a garage near the transit centers, a multi-mogul garage that we can tie into the light rail,” Browand said.

Any news on the new student center? I think that project in particular has the broadest appeal -- commuter students, on campus students, grad students, undergrads, etc. all use it. On-campus living at most schools usually has a lot to do with school clubs, so accomodating those clubs with a nicer student center should have been the main priority for a school serious about improving its "community" feel. I know they made a master plan, but have they found a construction firm yet?

Don't forget the UH motto..."In Time." Rome wasn't built in a day, neither will the learning/scholar/research community. I will say that when I was in school in the early 90's, a similar "community" was in place in the Quadrangle. Several of the Quad dorms were Honors Program dorms, in which Honors Program students were given priority. We had some non-Honors students in the dorms, but it was mainly Honors students. I thought it was quite a success. We were not always the most diligent and studious students, we had a hell of a great time too. It was kinda like being in one of the colleges at Rice, except without all the multi-sided dice!

Again, I'm talking about Calhoun Lofts, where the only barrier to entry is the ability to pay to live there.

Well, we hit that level ($100 million in research) this year!

I meant to say ~$100 million/yr from the state legislature.

TIER ONE BABY!!! DONE!

What's next?

Well, now you just have to convince everyone of your definition of "Tier 1"

Quote from Dude, Where's My Car??

"The continuum transfunctioner is a very mysterious and powerful device whose mystery is only exceeded by it's power."

Such is the case with Tier One

No mystery here. The school spelled it out in a report about their initiative. "Tier 1" (to them) means ~$100 million/year and in return they will bring venture capital $$ into the local economy.

I heard from a usually reliable source that some of the new Calhoun Lofts tenants are planning to sue the University for changing the grad student-only policy. They signed leases on the assumption that the lofts would be a grad student facilty, as advertised, and instead are living around underclassmen. Interesting. Unless the policy is spelled out in the lease, I can't see having a case. In any event, will try and find out more.

I overheard a guy at the Den saying that he wanted to sue to get out of his lease since he signed on with the understanding that there would be a grocery store. I understand his frustration since he claimed to not have a car, but like you I don't think they can say much without a lease specifying it out. My understanding was that he was just hoping the university would acquiesce rather than go to court.

I guess that's what you get when you have a building full of law students

To me, the ends justify the means.

Use whatever slogan necessary, as long as it results in greater alumni giving, better corporate support, and more support from our state and local governments.

"Tier I" is a pretty amorphous term, but it is being used (successfully, in my opinion) to push UH to a higher level, both in public perception and in reality.

Well then this goes back to my original point. If they are using "Tier 1" to justify things they do across-the-board in the same way they are throwing around "learning/scholar/research community" to justify building Calhoun Lofts then I am not enthused. You can't spin your way into the upper ranks. And in the meantime, other schools are improving themselves too.