ooires

His post was #966. It wasn't meant to make you look like an idiot, just to let you know that it was already posted by a different user.

I meant that the browser made me look like an idiot, not you. No harm, no foul. Just a technical glitch and possibly some inobservance on my part.

You will now be returned to your regularly scheduled program.

That link was already posted above by DrLan34

Yeah, originally, my browser at work didn't show any messages beyond 952. Made me look like an idiot. (Sigh).

Drove through downtown, I looked up and noticed that the turbines were gone! That explains why the lights were off.

Anyone know the story?

Ooops!!

http://swamplot.com/pieces-of-wind-turbine-fall-onto-street-from-top-of-hess-tower-downtown-blades-on-lockdown/2011-01-13/

todd duplantis now of channel 26 news was one of the vj's

Yeah, but back then he called himself Todd Stephens (or Stevens). TV 5 (Hit Video USA) was great in that, because MTV had these (possibly illegal) exclusivity deals on music videos with some of the record companies, TV 5 would show some of the lesser known videos and artist who were making very good music.

Stations like this existed back when local stations actually had a local "flavor and personality".

I think Todd's in Beaumont now, but I'm not sure.

Has anyone seen Mia Gradney's outfit today (on the 5 o'clock broadcast)? I'll just say I was very captivated, interested, and will be tuning in much, much, more. VA-,VA-,VOOOM.

I see the Inwood Forest Community Improvement Association has a petition to have the City of Houston acquire the space. I'm not totally clear on the proposed goal after the acquisition. Here is the IFCIA web site: http://www.inwoodforest.net

I found some details: http://www.ifcia.info/stgs/

FWIW, HPD records show that the population in Greenspoint has grown 48 percent since 1991, and the rate of major crimes has dropped 42 percent.

Of course, these are statistics and are subject to the bias of those who compile them. What they categorize as a "major" crime may have changed since 1991. They could be accurate, but . . . .

I'm not sure if it's "worth" redeveloping, but there are a couple of organizations wishing to try an preserve the more valuable areas and promote economic and small business development. Here are some links:

http://www.houstonhope.org/Neighborhoods/IndependenceHeights/tabid/70/Default.aspx

http://www.ihrchouston.org/index.html

I see the Inwood Forest Community Improvement Association has a petition to have the City of Houston acquire the space. I'm not totally clear on the proposed goal after the acquisition. Here is the IFCIA web site: http://www.inwoodforest.net

can her blouses get any tighter?

I hope so!!

I've always thought Melinda Spaulding was pretty hot. She also seems very nice and down to earth.

Melinda Spaulding at KRIV

I was there the last year it was a Jr. High School (1980-1981). I never got to go to a 9th grade prom since, after my 8th grade year, they converted to a "middle school" and I became the first 9th grade class (Vanguard only) at Jesse H. Jones High School. (Sigh) Such is life . . . .

For my money, I think Maxie's at 5111 Griggs Rd. is a pretty good spot. Plenty of barbers, and a manicurist.

Inwood Forest Update

In reference to the sale of the Golf Course: On April 12th, City Council Representative Toni Lawrence's office sent me this e-mail.

More information can be found at http://greaterinwoodpartnership.org/

After talking with the City of Houston Planning Department the owners of the Inwood Forest property will be establishing a public hearing date for May 10, 2007. They will be announcing this at the planning commission today.

On what grounds are you convincing yourself that Washington and Riverside Terraces are part of the third ward? They're totally separate subdivisions, with different layouts, built for different income groups. The Heights doesn't call itself the sixth ward, and Rice Miltary doesn't proclaim itself as the first ward.

We forget that the "wards" were the precursor to what we now call "city counsel districts" and each ward contained several "neighborhoods" and "sub-divisions".

We ususally use the term "ward" in it's historical sense. As I recall, there were at least six wards prior to the "change" in city governemnt.

Isnt the lake really an extension of the Gulf and so has always been connected to the Gulf? If so, how could it be crystal clear given that the water in the Gulf isnt clear. By the way, looking at the pictures, water really doesnt seem brown. It isnt clear, of course, but I thought that it's as brown and muddy as flood water and it surely isnt like that (unless the pictures didnt capture the true colors)

Believe it or not, nearly every bayou, creek, stream and, yes, the Cleer Lake used to have clear water flowing in them. The proliferation of sewage treatment plants, flood control districts, commercial fishing and shipping, industrialization and urbanization have changed the visible condition of the water to what you see today.

Back in the early 1980's the body count coming out of the Gunspoint area was tremendous. There was even a cop kidnapped and later found burned to death in her vehicle. Then it was over run with gangs not shoppers, heck there was more stealing than buying. Needless to say after that reputation got foothold it was down hill from there. Hence the big public relations campaign in the media to change the image. I chuckle everytime I hear it. Like I would want to shop in Watts. Heck the only reason anyone from the outside came there to shop was there was no other place to shop. (1980's)

Actually it was the early '90's; it wasn't that long ago. In the early '80's, Greenspoint was a model of what a suburban mall should be. It was beautiful and had great anchor stores. The beginning of the end was the closing of Montgomery Wards in 1991 or so and the kidnapping of that HC Sherrif's Deputy. After that, they begin to lose other stores. Dillard's converted their store to an outlet. The Woodland's mall opened and the rest is history.

People in the city tend to prefer shorter distances; exurb residents are accustomed to their 45-minute drives.

I hear a large proportion of crimes in the Greenspoint area are vehicle-related. At least that makes one feel a bit safer, biologically.

Actually my experience has been different. Those I know who live in Clear Lake, Friendswood, Katy, The Woodlands, Kingwood, etc. hate driving into town. They like shopping, recreating near their homes. If the arenas/stadiums/theatres wern't downtown, they'd probably never make the trip.

Inner city dwellers tend to be ready to drive to any suburban mall, pavillion, theme park, restaurant, etc.

Just my experience . . . . .

ooires... sorry, i totally missed your post 68 previously (somehow?!)

my wife and i have driven oaks of inwood many times. we like the west side, because it seems more like a neighborhood than the east side, which is just a few houses. However, the east side has a few empty lots, so if we decided to build we could do what some of the others have done - buy two lots. i'd like the land/space.

Oaks of Inwood is still on our list. Since my wife isn't working, we have a baby due in a few weeks, and I'm in sales, I'm a bit more cautious with the spending right now. If my year works out, we'll probably move somewhere. I plan to keep this house, too, which is what makes $$$ an issue (until I can get it leased out.)

or maybe i can do a project or two with ldogg and make it bigg.

I went to the GIP meeting. It was very informative. It was not a general meeting, but a meeting of the board memebers. Those individuals are doing quite a bit and I think they could really use some help.

Later that night, while web surfing, I stumbled across the IFCIA web site. As it turns out, the IFCIA president is on the GIP board! Whodda' thunk it.

Yes, many times. But then, Michelle and I were members there. She had been a member for quite a few years, and I for about 4 years after we started going together. The food is OK, and some dishes are really good. But overall, I was rarely impressed.

I did come close to getting thrown out of the restaurant once. They had an all-you-can-eat special on lobster one Sunday. After the 8th one, I started getting dirty looks from the new manager. I quit after the 13th. I could have eaten more, but I didn

The strangest thing just happened. I asked earlier if anyone had heard of the Greater Inwood Partnership. Well, I had attended a one of their board meetings well over a year ago. I asked that they send me some info on becoming a general member. They never got back in touch with me. I never called them or attended another meeting.

Well, several minutes ago, out of the blue, the VP gave me a call. They are having some sort of meeting on 07/27, in the clubhouse, and asked if I could attend, mostly because they don't have any representation from Oaks of Inwood.

Also, they now have a web site: http://greaterinwoodpartnership.org. I haven't looked at it yet, so I don't know what's all there.

I do know that they have been working with the Near Northwest Management District and the Super Neighborhoods organization to improve the community in and around Inwood Forest. At least somebody is trying.

For those of you who have a soft spot in your hearts for Inwood Forest, maybe this or similar community organization would be a good one to get involved with to affect change. At the least, you could start with your HOA meetings.

I'll be the first to say that I've done none of it. For whatever reason, I've never been able to attend an HOA meeting as long as I've been in Oaks of Inwood. Firstly they are usually held around 7 pm, one Thursday in the month. I'm not usually home until around 7 pm. Either that or me and my family are just sitting down to dinner around then.

But, I've resigned that I need to sacrifice that time once a month to start getting involved. I really hate the way the neighborhood around Inwood is going. The neighborhoods themselves are wonderful and beautiful places to live in, but Antoine (upper and lower - south of Holleyview and north of Gulf Bank) really need some help. And the Inwood Oaks strip center (where Chuck E. Cheese is) . . . ., well . . . all I can say is it can't stay that way if we want to live in a place that continues to thrive and improve. I figure any little bit these organizations can do to help can't be bad.

I know GIP had a lot to do with that park that opened up across from House of Pies. Of course, it could be better, but it won

the space on tc jester is going to be strips and affordable housing. i don't mind afforadable housing that isn't apartments.

strips, generally, suck.

i'd go to a starbucks at victory and antoine, just to keep it there. perhaps, if the rumors of the increase in the gay population (and their disposable income) in IF is true, a starbucks will come... i doubt it.

i'm so sad about IF. and i don't know where to move...

Have you considered Woodwind Lakes (over on Fairbanks - N. Houston)?

My daily commute on Antione Drive does pain me. How I long for a Starbucks or a nice restaurant or gourmet shop to appear! I expect it will be a long time if/when that ever happens. However, those things do exist nearby; at the Antione Dr. exit off 290, right on my way to-from work every day, there are a number of decent shops including a new Starbucks and a Randalls.

You know, before Randall's closed I always thought the perfect place for a Starbucks that abandonded retail space at the NW corner of Antoine and Victory. But, alas, Randall's has closed (and replaced with Foodarma from Antoine and Gulf Bank) and half of that retail space now houses a "pay day loan/check cashing place". I dont' think there is a chance in H-E double hockey sticks that Starbucks would ever approve of a franchise next to a check cashing place (not that they would have approved at any time considering all their "neighborhood income qualifications"). As you said, at least there is Antoine and US 290.

P.S. Why not extend T.C. Jester Park north beyond where it currently ends (near Tidwell, I think) all the way up to Inwood? There is a lot of undeveloped land along T.C. Jester that could be incorporated into the rest of the White Oak bayou greenway with bike paths and trails that terminate at Inwood. (Ashame to see the remaining open space developed into additional strip malls, Dollar Stores or God forbid low-rent apartments!)

Well, I fear that is exactly what's going to happen. Most of the land along T. C. Jester has been declared as commercial land and it will proably be sold for non-related and uncoordinated retail space.

TAK,

I'm a resident of Oaks of Inwood since 2001. I'd seriously suggest you take a look there. There are only 251 homes in the division.

I live on the west side of T. C. Jester. The homes there are probably what you are looking for, many have pools, and the neighborhood is ultra quiet. I mean, there just isn't much happening over here (crimewise). You might want to verify that with you local security patrol guys, but my subjective observation as well as my conversations with the neighbor hood busy body hasn't revealed very much crime.

The Texas state representative for the area lives in the neighborhood, and W. Little York park (just behind Oaks of Inwood 2 - east side of T. C. Jester) is finally being developed (It's been renamed after the state rep., Sylvester Turner).

Unfortunately, Oaks of Inwood is suffering from the same economic issues as Greater Inwood, but he natural barriers coupled with the limited access (only 3 entries/exits on my side and 1 entry/exit for Oaks of Inwood 2).

The biggest (eyesore) is the 2 apartment complexes adjacent to Oaks of Inwood on W. Little York. I've always wondered if there was something that could be done with that. My idea was always to tear 'em down and extend Oaks of Inwood to W. Little York.

As for flooding, I, as well as most of the neigborhood, was not affected by Allison. Some along Athlon got some flooding (there is a small north/south creek flowing along the western boundary of the neighborhood), but nearly everyone else was spared. Also, I don't believe there was any flooding in Oaks of Inwood 2.

If you don't have to leave the country, consider looking just down the street.

Also, as far as the Acres Home development, check out Masfield and De Soto between T. C. Jester and Wheatly. Quite a few mini mansions have been built there in the past couple of years. The land tracts are HUGE in that area.

Lastly, what do you know about the Greater Inwood Partnership and how do they compare to IFCIA? I did speak with GIP once and they seemed to be involved in some revitalization of Inwood, esp. along Antoine. I believe they are responsible for all the new trees and greenery along the esplanades.

I've often wondered if it would ever be possible to make Antoine look similar to streets like Clear Lake City Blvd. between State Hwy. 3 and Space Center Blvd.

Also, has anyone ever eaten at the Inwood Forest Country Club restaurant?