kjb434

The roof is a massive steel superstructure with a paneling structure on the underside. From another New Orleans thread, I read that the top was spray on plastic roof that is ver energy efficient and durable. It lasted since the building was completed in the 70s to now. There was link in that other thread too to the company or the supplier of the roof. The overall damage to the dome wasn't that bad. The structure is 30 year old now and held up well.

Yeah, the menu isn't limited, but they had that menu for years. I guess they aren't trying to give you options to where you eat there everyday. Just go when you want a variation of chicken strips on a sandwich, in a box, or a salad.

Well it is the same crap as Target, just better priced. Why pay more for the same stuff? Seems kind of stupid. Also, Target is no different than the other big boxed stores anyway. All of their stores in the Metro are big box stores. So they built a couple urban stores in the US. Wal-Marts' customer base isn't in the urban area. Why build a store where you don't feel you'll make money. I bet if Wal-Mart build an urban store in Midtown along the LRT with apartments above it, people will still go after them eventhough they are doing exactly what peopl want them to do. Actually they tried in New York city, but the got some backlash. I don't know where the story is now. People see Wal-Mart (and Microsoft as mentioned earlier) as a punching bag. If the store not looking really nice was a negative for Wal-Mart, then why are they on top. Maybe because their customers don't care much about that. Wal-Mart has realized that they have there current customer base locked in, now they are going to go after Target and K-Marts. It isn't hard to make a store look upscale. Some coats of paint and better signs with some nice smocks for the employees to where. If that's what gets you into a Target, is seems kind of shallow and baseless. But it seems Target was right in betting some people will pick image and looks over price. I guess they realized that these peolple that think looks are more important are willing to pay to believe they are getting better. Every community that mounted large opposition to Wal-Mart (upscale neighborhoods) and lost have seen the Wal-Mart flourish. I guess the opposition wasn't really there.

So they were or weren't from Houston? Either way, it doesn't matter.

Cool, my partner is the head of store at th Gap. I'll hit up when I go down there. Thanks.

Are you sure. The follow the trend in many other threads. If he is just joking, then he should be pulled a poster just while back.

^^ Agree very much. And also, I see a lot people walking in there area in the aftenoons down the street. I see some families, but most people in the area the standard single, young couples, and empty nesters. Give it some time and families will show up.

Remeber, Target and K-Mart started off as low end discount retailers. Target and K-Mart only started to change to "APPEAR" (stress appear alot) upscale since Wal-Mart was beating them in the customer game. Wal-Mart ran both of these into the ground in markets where they are competing. Target and K-Mart decided to re-image themselves conceding Wal-Mart won. Target realized there is a chunk of peope that either hate Wal-Mart (for stupid reasons at best) and people that think spending more means higher quality. Target now brands themselves not against Wal-Mart, but more upscale. Customers are buying it and shopping there. I don't have any preference over the two, but truthfully I would shop at a Wal-Mart if it was closer than Kroger and Target for most items since it's cheaper. I shop at the Kroger on 11th and the Target on San Felipe because there are no other places that are closer. If Wal-Mart came in I'll drop the other in a heartbeat for a cheaper price. Faux quality at a higher price is worse than low quality at a low price. Both (as mentioned before) get their products from china and sell them here. Target just charges more and people think are beating Wal-Mart by shopping there. A fairly childish attitude in my opinion.

Where on Kirby? I may have to try them?

And? I could not care at all about the project and suggest and contribute at all. I know several engineers at TxDOT. I've talked about the project with them. They are willing to work to make the project more acceptable, but they can't do anything as long as the neighborhood is so hostile. They are going to give in to anything as the long as the neighborhood takes the stance they are holding. I don't blame them if after the public meetings they don't do anything for the subdivision. TxDOT has a job set out by state law and guided also by federal rules. I routinely dislike them being persecuted for doing there job and doing it well. They get called names and belittled constantly. I can see why they don't like doing some of these public meetings. Also, the neighborhood doesn't have to be a rich neigborhood to get things done. The heights have an advantage that the freeway is alread depressed. More of the work would be dressing it up. The only real right of way crunch is at north main which will affect mostly businesses. TxDOT can't touch the graveyard on the east side. I wish the citizens realized they can really make something out of this than just trying to stop it.

But I conversed with several who did who are in WOBA (White Oak Bayou Association). We get regular updates of the activities with I-45 and the meetings. The lady that relays to us pretty much gives a play by play. She also takes our minutes down since she is good at detail. The reason I didn't attend meeting also is that had other activities already planned. I don't live right by the project since I live in the Cottage Grove area.

To me, I don't care if someone is fat or thin or muscled, as long as they are happy. If they die young, so what, they chose that pattern for there life. I chose to work out and lift weights and I think I feel better for it. I just don't like people who are perpetually unhappy with there bodies and don't do anything about it. Those are the people who really get on my nerves. Despite what some people might say, it's not hard to eat right and excercise. You just have to be dedicated. It's not a something that is a second thought.

Good article, but Bourbon Street and the French Quarter are still not flooded. Downtown and the French Quarter are on the higher parts of the city eventhough they are still below sea level. Fox News last night was in the french quarter where several bars opened back up with candle light and people were back on Bourbon Street. It seems that even a Hurricane can't stop the party.

Neat tidbit. The founder of Whataburer is from Houma Louisiana where he is retiring and opening more restraunts. Louisiana is getting a tast of Whataburger too like Houston is getting Raising Canes. It is true Whataburger is a Texas gem since it began here. Think of other outside restraunts to move to Houston, being from Louisiana I know of Popeye's. Ruth Chris is another one although not fast food.

I realized the productivity of the meeting wouldn't be there when I looked at the fliers. If the goal is to prevent expansion and improvents and not comprimising on what's best for everyone, I don't want to be a part of that. I've told several of the coalition members to look at the I-45 expansion and figure out what can it do good instead of demonizing it. I would like for the neighborhood to support a concept that would turn I-45 into an architectural asset versus looking on it as a blight. Why could the coalition back a concept like the central expressway in dallas? or the depressed portion of US 59 south of downtown? I-45 can really become an asset to beautify the community and make things better. TxDOT is more likely to work with someone who is for comprimise than complete obstructionist. TxDOT would rather spend a little more money to beautify the project to the community's liking than to just piss a bunch of people off, but its hard when the people you are dealing with are coming to the meetings already against you. The I-45 coalition should band together like the Katy Freeway Coalition and get more what they want than just a generict freeway. Imagine the North Main overpass having planter and a wide sidwalk? Imagine a light scheme through the section that is architecturally pleasing while not sending light into the neighborhood. The I-45 coalition should look torwards the Pegasus project in Dallas (south downtown freeways) as a model for making the freeway more an assent than a blight. These examples are where communities (business and residential) came together to work with TxDOT. Also, I think downtown interests would be willing to get involved with a group that may want to make one of the main approaches to the CBD a pleasing one. As long as the communities just fight TxDOT, they will not get what they really want.

Good explanation. I remember METRO was very pro-rail under brown and wouldn't sell the land. If the METRO wasn't pro-rail at the time, I could see the Westpark Toll Road using the full right of way. The Houston Freeway's book also goes through this event pretty well.

I live in the loop. I don't see how living in the loop either should mean I'm anti-freeway. All freeways have a maximum point of expansion where it doesn't become feasible anymore. Katy Freeway will hit this mark with its final configuration. US 290 will hit that mark when the companion tollway and widening of the free lanes takes place. I-45 is the next candidate for HOT lanes. Trains can't solve the sheer volume our highways move. The HOT lanes are just improving a currently very effective mass-transit corridor. Go to the CTC website. They give a very good rundown of how Houston already has an effective commuter rail concept in place with the Park-and-Ride system. Just a different name. The Katy Freeway expansion is just upgrading the Katy to the current urban freeway layout of 8 main lanes and 6 feeder road lanes to put it on par with other freeways in town. Placing rail instead of widening the freeway wouldn't have solved anything. Sure it would be cool, but not effective. Crying wolf everytime freeway expansion occurs and claiming the unfounded accusations about problems freeways cause is from the same playbook that has been thrown around for years. After four years of college which included courses in transportation and transit taught by the former assistant minister of transportation of Britain, I feel I have some background to my opinion. Everyone claims how Houston is just building freeway and won't build rail and be like other world cities. Other world cities in Europe and Asia are building freeways left and right because the mass transit can't handle everything. Houston and TxDOT aren't doing anything different. We are also still commited to rail, but in corridors that truly need it. The US 290 and US 59 (SW) corridors are the first major candidates. I 45 (gulf frwy) is the next corridor. These corridors are experiencing high demand with no immediate relief. The Katy Freeway will provide much needed relief with little or no need for rail now. Maybe in 15 to 20 years the need may materialize. I can't support only rail or only freeway. I want to support the best option. The Katy Freeway expansion was the best option when everything is considered.

It's all ready partially a freeway from the Fred Hartman to Seabrook. The converstion in that area would be easiy. The Galveston County part would be harder. SH 146 was originally planned to be a freeway, but it never materialized with funding shortfalls.

Thanks for the info.

Young college grads are large part of Houston's growth. I along with 1000s of students have moved to Houston because of opportunity. Houstons sprawl is no different than Chicago, New York, London, Paris, Los Angeles. The all have sprawl and lots people that drive on large freeways. Zoning will be like putting a band aid on Houston by encouraging sameness. I aggree with Redscare completely on this. Downtown shouldn't become a destination to visit, but also a viable community where people can live also.

A nice summary of all the projects we've been discussing. Too bad the article doesn't give any certainty to the construction and completion of these buildings.

Also, the condo market in downtown New Orleans is red hot. Proposals are coming in left and right. Many get stuck in the Historical commission becasue they are planned for the old warehouse district. Trumps tower was more in the CBD. Harrah's has a large hotel going up and wanted to build more rooms than there initial tower will hold. Most of the problems with crime in New Orleans are targeted in a few isolated areas. For the most part the city is quite nice. The population drop is from the typical aspect most cities felt with people leaving for the suburbs, but the inner cities near downtown is moving forward fast. Maybe a little slower now, but Hurricanes won't scare developers away. It didn't along the any of the Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi coasts.

not bad. I was expecting worse. Most of the French Quarter turned out all right. Some building as shown above had some damage to old bricks which crushed some cars. New Orleans fair pretty well.

The city will most probably wait until the MUD pays off its bonds and becomes solvent before annexation.

Most of the large existing fort bend neighborhoods are in currently incorporated cities. Same with Brazoria county also. The woodlands can be incorporated though.