TheJudge

Its within 1000 feet of Middle School property line. No way to work around. Can't sell liquor. If it going in, its going in without liquor.

The South boundary of original City of Houston Heights, which was annexed to the City on September 15, 1918, runs along the then current course of White Oak Bayou, generally bound by a line running near Herkimer, and a line running between Oxford and Beverly. Thus, the boundary of the City of Houston Heights never dropped much below what would have been 2nd and Courtlandt, and several blocks north of Washington. Thus, if you want your kissing cousins to be part of the family, let Washington in, but according to the legal definition, no part of Washington ever traced through the original City of Houston Heights. Thus, all of Washington avenue remains wet. If it was otherwise, no liquor could be served. This of course, is what makes Washington Avenue the "stateline" of the Heights.....where teenagers race on Friday nites to get a sip of liquor outside of their dry neighborhood....

I've decided to put a gate up on one end of my alley (the other side is already gated by a neighbor a few houses down), and use it to store my extra vehicle. I'm the middle of the block, so not disturbing anyone. The city hasn't cleared the alley in 5 years. So I'm just going to claim it for myself. If the City asks, I'll give them a key to the gate. It will also keep the hooker from dragging her mattress back there to turn tricks.

The property is contaminated. It was a drycleaners years ago, and to get building permits the top 24" has to come off. Wheat has told me he is holding to sell to highest bidder.

In addition, the neighborhood in the area is extremely vigorous, and active, and has successfully affected the commercial development in the area. As such, I don't anticipate anything with a "less than extremely friendly" attitude about building in the Heights will be met with a warm reception at that location.

Boy, I sure didn't realize how many bigoted snobs lived in the Heights. Not sure this is the right neighborhood for you if you do not enjoy living in a true urban neighborhood. Move you and your snobby white families back to Jasper and get out of our neighborhood.

Still think the setback is wrong on garages against alleys. City approved my new construction of a garage on the back property line with no setback, and the alley is only 15 ft. Said no setback requirement as long as it was a firewall.

Well, we have some western drywood termites swarming in and outside of our home. The home was tented about 8 years ago, but appparently they have come back with a vengence. We noticed kickout holes probably 4 years ago, and it has kept up since then.

We are skeptical to retent the house. Particularly with a baby, and no real comfort that the deadly gas won't somehow cause me and my family to begin to glow 25 years from now.

I've heard of heat-treating, but it won't work on the bungalows in the Heights because they are wood framed. I guess the other alternative is to just replace boards that have the infestation.

According to the fumigation folks, these western drywoods are much more pervasive than the traditional drywoods. The fumigation guys said that the termites came in to Montelbano's lumber several years ago, when the Mexico fires forced them to buy lumber out west, and that these western termites have cut a swath through portions of the Woodland Heights and the Heights every since. Has anyone heard this story before?

Anyway, does anyone have any thoughts on what to do? Some folks have said just let them be, while others are quick to recommend a tent. Anyone?

So I heard the old gas station at Beverly & 11th is preparing to sell, and the developer is going to tear it down along with the two bungalows, and put it in a Blockbuster video? Seems a shame.

How to get rid of a fence? Pull the damn thing down. Blocking the alleys is a long time settled issue.

Yes, Northwood, I have an standard alley behind my lot.

I replaced my entire garage last year, and put the new back wall and side wall right up against the left property line and the edge of the alley, no set back. Inspectors said no setback was required because we built the walls as "firewalls." Essentially, this only required us to put 2 sheets of drywall on those walls, instead of 1. Permits went off without a hitch, and it now fits snuggly in the back corner of my lot.