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Seeker

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  1. From NYT, article on zero waste

    At Yellowstone National Park, the clear soda cups and white utensils are not your typical cafe-counter garbage. Made of plant-based plastics, they dissolve magically when heated for more than a few minutes.

    And at eight of its North American plants, Honda is recycling so diligently that the factories have gotten rid of their trash Dumpsters altogether.

    Across the nation, an antigarbage strategy known as “zero waste” is moving from the fringes to the mainstream, taking hold in school cafeterias, national parks, restaurants, stadiums and corporations.

    The movement is simple in concept if not always in execution: Produce less waste. Shun polystyrene foam containers or any other packaging that is not biodegradable. Recycle or compost whatever you can.

  2. City leaders announced Tuesday a partnership with RecycleBank, a New York-based company that rewards residents with points for the amount of recycling they put out for the city to collect. The points, akin to frequent flier miles, can be used at local and national restaurants and retailers.

    The trial program's goal is to increase recycling in a city that a 2008 trade magazine pegged with a recycling rate of only 2.6 percent.

    “Success depends on two things: incentives and convenience,” said Scott Lamb, RecycleBank's chief operating officer. “We're providing the citizens of Houston with the best combination of both.”

    Beginning Nov. 9, the program will be offered to the 22,000 households that use wheeled 96-gallon recycling bins provided by the city.

    Residents get credit for the weight of materials they recycle, which is recorded through a computer chip imbedded in the bins when they are emptied by the sanitation crew.

    No more sorting

    In March, Houston switched some residents to “single-stream automated collection,” which allows residents to put all their recyclables into one city-provided bin without sorting it. Since then, participation has grown from 24 percent to 55 percent in those neighborhoods, said Harry Hayes, the city's solid waste director.

    Hayes said the rewards program should encourage greater participation because of the potential to earn up to $450 a year in credits to redeem at participating businesses.

    “That's real savings for your family,” he said.

    Carolyn Jackson, who lives in the Shepherd Terrace neighborhood in northwest Houston, said she likes the idea of rewards and will be part of the program, even though she already recycles.

    “It's money,” Jackson said. “I don't know if I'll get to $450 a year, but it's good for the community.”

    Officials will evaluate the rewards program, which is funded through grants and corporate sponsorships, after the six-month rollout period. If the incentives help to boost recycling, then the program will be expanded to other parts of the city.

    Already, Houston is poised to expand the single-stream system to an additional 50,000 households with roughly $3 million in federal stimulus money, Hayes said.

    matthew.tresaugue@chron.com

  3. Spotted several green wheeled recycling containers out for collection yesterday on a few streets between Richmond and Alabama just west of Dunlavy (just south of the former Wilshire Village). AFAIK this wasn't one of the neighbourhoods in the pilot program. Is it being rolled out over the City...? Here's hoping. Even with the Chronicle down to four pages or something with the 200% humidity this week my recycling bins easily weigh 30 pounds each.

    I was working on a rental that I own on 1700 blk of W Main, when they were delivering the large green cans. I myself have never recycled, the idea of lifting one of those now old green plastic containers, was too much, plus they didn't take glass. But now they take glass, and the containers have wheels, it's so much easier. Since I have four units they were going to leave four green cans, then I would have eight garbage cans. I took two, but down the street 1800 blk, I saw where they left four cans in front of a fourplex.

  4. that is the law. it's just not enforced as frequently as people would like.

    Agree, however, couldn't any person, neighbor enforce that law. I was walking down westheimer, removing a sign posted by a business on a every telephone pole, a Police car stopped in the middle of the street, he rolled down his window and said, " you know your doing a good thing".

  5. 385K for a lot in Montrose is pretty steep, oversized lot or not. And there's a pending offer on it. Nothing makes sense about this listing.

    The land value, there are several lots for sale in Montrose, one at I think at 1504 Kipling something like 54wide by 125deep, price $400,000. One at 1732 Harold, that sold and is under construction size 50' by 106', sold around $325. Plus a house was torned down on the 1600blk of Kipling purchased from owner, never had a for sale sign, sold for low $300, lot 50 by 125, I believe. The land is getting expensive.

  6. Well, I think that there are a couple forces here.

    1) Glut of townhouses. If you can buy new for slightly more than used, what do you think the average buyer is going to do, particularly when they might get to choose a few final finishes that they can build into their loan? I think townhouses are selling, but the used units are a bit harder to move...not impossible, though.

    2) Price point: I think the conforming limits have a greater impact now than they have over the last several years. I've observed (casually, albeit) that the smaller homes here in the Heights (in good condition) are still demanding strong prices and clearing the market quickly, while some larger homes are listed a bit longer. Does anybody have some MLS breakdown capabilities to, say, look at sales of homes 2000(+)SF and 2000(-)SF? This would include days on market, approximate reduction off original list, etc.

    The banks play some part, as far as what properties they will loan on. I understand condo's, they check out the whole building, if there are several forclosures, forget it. Plus builders now have to presale, something like 70% of the Units. As far as homes, older ones good condition, sell for 1/3 to 1/2 of the new ones, 450-550, new 900+.

    I know back in the 80's(recession) the banks, had a ratio, of something like 60/40, building/land. If the land was worth more, then, most banks would not refinance, or issue a loan. But my point is, some are harder to sell because of the difficulty in arranging financing,during these times.

  7. The truth as stated the "the value is in the Land". There was a bunalow, that sold in the 1600 block of Kipling, last month for $450,000. There was four offers on the first day of the listing, and it sold. I don't think people buy townhomes, because they can not afford a house., it's other reason's,maybe they don't want a yard, or something, beats me. Plus as I look at the HCAD, it's the land value, that increases, the lots on the 1400 block of Bonnie Brae, close to Richmond & Montrose, are around 275,000. I would never buy a townhome, or condo, if I could buy a lot with a house on it.

  8. I've met this woman and she didn't strike me as the drunk/oblivious type so i thought there must be more info on what happened-- this was on the EMCA yahoo as the chron article was being discussed--

    I'm pretty angry about the whole thing. Being an eye witness, besides the sheer horror of what "K" went through, I have to say much of what the cops are quoted as saying in the paper is pure lies...

    -the horses were NOT "moving slowly"

    -they did NOT use whistles

    -no one could hear the "verbal commands"

    -there was no time to get out of the way

    -people were NOT "pouring into the streets"

    -K was the only one "not obeying" ??? The fact is, the horses are HUGE, and they came so quickly, and moved so irradically, no one had a chance to get out of the way. Several people were buffeted by the horses, and K is the one who happened to be knocked down and then under the horse.

    -Once they knocked her down, the horses started moving in circles and backing up - classic "crowd control" maneuvers. That's why she got stomped over and over again.

    -The officers didn't even know they had knocked down and trampled a human being until the crowd started yelling at them to STOP!

    -Furthermore, at least one of the horses was already in an agitated state, as early as 9:00pm - his police officer told me so when I walked over and he wouldn't let me pet it.

    -They're using carefully chosen words to cover for one another. IMO.

    I was on the same side of the street, but on the other corner, I totally agree with the above account. The side walks were open for people to walk, there were no ropes or bariers, this lady was standing next to the curb, people would use the curb to set on, and went the floats came by they stood up, etc., pretty usual. These police men appeared on Horses, when Bill White was walking by, but they circled back around, and became alittle more agressive, by walking with the horses as close at they could to the curb, using the horses head to push people back.

    I had my bike laying beside me, on sanford, the horses turned to go up Sanford and this one horse went sideways over the curb onto the grass, I grab by bike, the horse kick its back legs and landing right where my bike was just seconds before. One by stander called 911, and reported that the Police on horse back needed to leave, because of their behavior. He yelled at the Police they told him to be quiet, he didn't, but he was moving away from them as he yelled, he told the Police he called 911 on them.

    The first ambulance that appeared to help this woman, was part of the parade, they soomed off to get another ambulance with a crew.

    After the lady was taken away, these Police on Horses, started to go back out onto the street, from Sanford to Westheimer, same deal, no one could hear them, this time the Police are pushing from behind, saying move., This one man had a young child on his shoulders, he was a little out on the street, he was lucky someone grab him as the horse, was breathing down his neck from behind, but he never saw or heard the Police, because they used no whiltles, only there voices, they blended into the noise.

  9. i'd have to concur with red here. this service is one of their better ones. if you do know you're going to have a large load, you can plan it for heavy trash OR take it to the dump.

    i do ask neighbors if i can place a bag in their can, when necessary and they ask the same of me.

    one thing the lady in charge of the dept told our civic club a few weeks ago was never put so much trash in the can that the lid won't close. she said they are NOT responsible for picking up the trash should it fall out of the can before it can be dumped in the truck.

    Another thing I do, with large unmanagable cardboard boxes, is to leave when out side to get rained on, once they are wet, they are like paper, they can be crushed, easily.

  10. The other side of this story is that John Hanson, the seller, will move across the street to the new building he is having constructed, and probably many of the tenants from the two office building sold to the University will follow him. Plus he is the owner of the Black Lab, it's his restaurant. The building across the street, will have that beautiful house as the front. I understand he wanted to put a restaurant in that house. I wonder if he will paid rent to the University, assuming he keeps the Black Lab, or maybe he would move it across the street.

    I understand he is looking to build something else as well on the east side of Montrose Bvld.

    Now since the Library is staying as long as it wants to, it will keep that complex, always open to the public. Mr. Hanson I understand gave the sanutary to the city of Houston to use, deeded it over to them. My hat goes off to him! Thanks John.

  11. Yea, it's Trammel Crow Residential project, 244 high-end apt. Expecting to rent out at $1.75 per sq ft. The building will be 5 1/2 stories tall, 1 1/2 stories of parking & four stories of apts. It will be part brick & part stucco. The project from start to finish is expected to take twenty months. During the construction TC will lease the parking lot behind that borders Harold St, and used by Admiral Linnen, to haul in materials. Because the only other way in is Westheimer.

    The Surprising thing I learned was that builder/developers do not have to do a traffic study. Most likely, they will need a light in front at Brun, once the City Of Houston sees there is problem. The apt complex that was there was 110 Units, mostly Hispanic. alot of them used the bus. The new complex will have 400 parking spots. The good news is that all the Oak trees in front will be saved, at least they will try. the apts will have a atrium in the middle so the pools on the second floors will be open. It does sound nice. Club house in front.

    The reason I know so much is because they were originally going to use Harold St at McDuffie as a back/side entrance.

    The entrance now is only on Westheimer. I alerted my neighbors, the Lanier Middle School, Winlow Civic Club, etc. We fought them, the school with all the children, the narrow street, those along with alerting the community help us defeat Trammel Crow, and they had to alter their plans. We even hired a lawyer, and had the plat recorded that Harold could only be used as a 911 gate, for fires, and etc.

    And believe me going to the planning commission at the City of Houston, it is like being in a third world country. One person had to excused himselve, due to a conflict of interest, others probably should have.

    We had an agreemeet with Trammel Crow, they would only use Harold at MuDuffie for a required 911 entrance. This was our third time before the commission. The commission was ready to vote, then one person on the board said that TC should have the right to use any streets that connect to the property that they were purchasing. Then another person on the board said, that is right I walked the property and it would present a hardship for all the cars to have to go out onto Westheimer. These folks probably had there pockets padded by TC, I don't know. But they didn't have the confidents to bring that to a vote. Instead they approved our aggreement that we had reached with TC, Harold would be 911 gate only.

    The sign in front said they would be leaseing fall of 2007, but I was told by Trammel Crow it would be in mid 2008.

  12. Houston Chroncile article, November 11, 2006

    I didn't see this article, I guess I was out of town.

    Business

    Jennifer Gonzalez-Reinhart, left, and Anastasia Pappas curl up with coffee and their work at Diedrich Coffee on Westheimer before the hangout closed last week. The details of what led to the lease not being renewed are not clear.

    Carlos Antonio Rios: Chronicle

    PLAY | BACK | NEXT

    Nov. 12, 2006, 2:03AM

    Community hangout

    Coffeehouse's 10-year run in same spot is over; tenant wanted to stay, but landlord has final say

    Popular or not, the lease is up

    By DAVID KAPLAN

    Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

    RESOURCES

    More on small business

    Q&A: Know routes that can lead to funding

    Resources For the past 10 years, Diedrich Coffee on Westheimer has had a huge following. Many of its regulars considered it the most beautiful and pleasing coffeehouse in Houston. The thriving business doubled as an unofficial neighborhood community center.

    Last Sunday, it shut down.

    Its lease was not renewed, and Diedrich owner Dirk Smith said he doesn't know why.

    Smith said he was about to sign a new lease until landlord Bradford Schmalfuss, vice president of T-Con Properties, suddenly changed his mind with no explanation. Smith said he is perplexed because Schmalfuss once told him that Diedrich was the center's best tenant, although Schmalfuss denies ever saying that.

    "It's our decision who our tenants are" and "what the community feels is irrelevant," Schmalfuss said.

    A decade of popularity

    Diedrich Coffee, located in the Winlow Westheimer District, has been a popular hangout for 10 years.

    It served as an informal study hall for neighboring Lanier Middle School students and teachers, as well as undergraduate, medical and law school students from across the city.

    Sometimes, however, the community's and the landlord's wishes are different.

    The Upper Hand, a salon and spa next door, will expand into the soon-to-be-vacated Diedrich space.

    A flier distributed by a Diedrich customer implied that the landlord and Upper Hand jointly forced out the coffeehouse, but the Upper Hand's owner said it isn't true.

    "It makes us look like corporate moguls pushing Diedrich out," owner Rachel Gower said, but in fact, she and her husband, Brian Williard, learned that the space was becoming vacant after Schmalfuss decided not to renew Smith's lease, and only then did they get the idea to expand, she said.

    T-Con's attorney, Alex Cosculluela, offered three reasons Diedrich's lease isn't being renewed:

  13. The for lease sign, that is hanging on the post in front of where Diedrich's was, is for the furniture store on the other side of the Salon. That sign has been up for a long time, the furniture store I understand has found another location.

    I peeped inside of where Diedrich's was and the bar is gone, they appear to be remodeling.

    I know each side, the Upper Hand Salon, Property Manager, and Diedrich's all were threathing each other with law suits. Now since Diedrich's is gone, if anything comes of it, they would only know, for now. The Property Manager, definitly had the intent, of signing a lease with Diedrich's, that is shown by him e-mailing Dirk a copy of the lease to review & sign.

    It certaining is true that, that center needs more parking, and that effects all the tenants.

    Many great ships go down quietly, I am glad this ship made a big splash, on it's way down.

  14. Houston Chronicle Oct. 25, 2006, 5:28PM

    Coffeehouse closing upsets customers

    Landlord elects not to lease site to Diedrich franchise

    By TARA WHITE

    Chronicle Correspondent

    Jeff Grant is furious that Diedrich Winlow Coffeehouse, 1901 Westheimer, is scheduled to close Nov. 6 after conducting business in that location for 10 years.

    Grant, a loyal customer, has contacted everyone in his e-mail address book and has stood in front of the coffeehouse almost every day for weeks to protest its closure.

    The property owner hired a 24-hour security guard and police were called because of his presence, but he is not budging.

    Grant is not the only person upset about the closure of Diedrich, which serves about 3,500 customers each week. Hundreds have signed petitions to keep it from closing.

    Dirk Smith, owner of the coffeehouse and president of Magna Cum Latte Inc., the Diedrich Coffee franchise in Houston, said his customers are upset because they know the business is being forced to close.

    Smith said it is closing because T-Con Properties chose not to lease the property to him.

    Said Bradford Schmalfuss, vice president of T-Con Properties and landlord for the space, "We have the right to lease with anyone we want to."

    Schmalfuss also said T-Con had no obligation to lease to Smith because the company's original lease was with Diedrich Coffee's corporate office, which chose not to renew.

    The property will be leased to The Upper Hand Salon, which is located at 1905 Westheimer next to the coffeehouse. The lease becomes effective on Nov. 7.

    Rachael Gower, who owns the salon with her husband, Brian Williard, said they plan to use the space to expand their salon operations.

    Smith said he does not understand T-Con's decision.

    "Our coffeehouse has brought thousands of people to the Winlow Center," Smith said. "I have never paid the rent late. Bradford told me on several occasions I was the best tenant he had."

    A letter dated May 11, addressed to Schmalfuss from Diedrich Coffee's corporate office, confirms that Diedrich Coffee did not plan to renew the lease. But it states that corporate officials asked Smith to negotiate a direct lease with Schmalfuss.

    E-mail correspondences between Schmalfuss and Smith indicate that Smith and Schmalfuss agreed to move forward with the lease.

    Schmalfuss sent Smith a draft of the lease agreement by e-mail in late May for Smith and his lawyer to review.

    Negotiations moved forward until June 9, when Schmalfuss sent Smith an e-mail stating that T-Con would not proceed with lease discussions because it planned "to take the center in a different direction."

    Smith said he was shocked by the e-mail, as he had returned only a day earlier to his home in California after a special trip to Houston.

    Schmalfuss requested the trip because he wanted Smith to discuss parking issues with the Upper Hand Salon.

    "I jumped through hoops for him to make sure everything was going smoothly," Smith said. "I don't know what happened in those 11 hours to completely change his decision."

    Gower said some have blamed the Upper Hand Salon for the closure of Diedrich Winlow Coffeehouse.

    "We absolutely did not push anyone out," she said. "As small business owners we would never do that because we know how hard it is."

    Smith plans to fight T-Con's decision until the day Diedrich closes, but he is also looking for a new location and wants to find a temporary space from which his employees could work.

    He said employees also have the option to move to the two other Diedrich Coffeehouse locations in Houston, at 4005 Montrose Blvd. and 1008 Bay Area Blvd.

    Grant said he will continue to do everything he can to keep the coffeehouse open.

    "People have business meetings here. College students come here to study. Parents feel this is a safe place for their children to hang out after school," Grant said "I am going to keep speaking out because I know people love this place."

    • Like 1
  15. The Truth is that the fliers indicate that Diedrich's is being pushed out by the Salon, that the Salon is planning to lease this space, most likely sub-lease it to meassage therapist's, maybe even keep the coffee bar for their customers. Dirk the owner of the Diedrich has not mislead me. The facts are that after November 6, Diedrich's lease will expire. The Salon will have pushed out a tenant, that wants to stay. Believe me Diedrich's wants to stay.

    They are not interested in the lease of the space on the other side, because it is inconvenient, there customers & employees would have to walk ouside, about 10 feet. So they have their eyes on Diedrich's space, with no regard, for how much this is going to inconvenient Diedrich's customers, employees, and all the relationships that ARE tied to this cummunity that excites inside & out side this historial structure. Diedrich's is a wonderful tenant loved by this community.

    The Upper Hand Salon yes has called the Police, ONCE they called and reported that the guy handing out fliers was disrupting their business. There business was being disrupted by Diedrich's customers that were also customers of the Upper Hand Salon, they were upset, with what the Salon was trying to do, push out their Favorite coffee house. The hiring of the security guard was as well, to intimidate, those who are just trying to save something very dear to them.

    How can the owners of the Upper Hand Salon. their employees, their customers, fool themselves and believe that this is in Any Way Ethical.

  16. Here we have a reply from the owner of the Upper Hand Salon. Rachel Gower.

    I think that the people writing and distributing this information really believe that it is true. Unfortunately, it's simple not true at all. Diedrich's corporate office sent our landlord, T-Con a letter six months ago stating that they did not wish to renew the lease. Also, about a month ago we were told that he had found another location and was definitely planning on moving. I think that the new location must not have worked out, and he may be using this as an opportunity to drum up some publicity for his business (and to try to hurt us). Regardless,we have never had any control over whom T- CON leases to. We were very surprised to learn that the space was available and it was only after much thought and discussion that we actually expressed interest in the space ourselves. T-Con had a couple of other businesses interested in the space and would have leased it very quickly.

    The Unfortunate result is that our landlord has had to hire 24 hour security because Diedrich's customers and employees intimidating our employees and clients. The police have had to come twice to intervene. It's all very unfortunate, but, as I said, I think these people have been purposely mislead. We're hoping that Dirk will take responsibility for the situation and try to make it right. He certainly knows the truth. He lives in California, however, so it may not be affecting him too much.

  17. Diedrich's does not have to be closed, it is a old style coffee shop, used by all, kids and adults of all ages, in a sense it is a community center, where a person can hang out, and are not throw out, college students, kids of all ages have a place to go, people with dogs, small children, where there is no allochol.

    Now Diedrich's has been the only tenant, since the old 1920's gas station was converted into a coffee house.

    I am told from a reliable source that Diedrich's was offered a new lease, for less than they were paying, and were also told they have been there best tenant. The lease was in progress when, the property manager, decided that he had changed his mind. Now Diedrich's does bring in a lot of cars, and that could be resolved.

    If the tenants of the center would communicate. Now the building on the other side of the Upper Hand is for lease. I ask why do they want to take the lease of a tenant who wants to stay, and believe me Diedrich's very much wants to stay, instead of expanding the other direction that's vacate.

    I mean no harm to the Upper Hand, several of there employee's and clients said that The Upper Hand Salon, indicated that Diedrich's had a chance to sign a lease and did not take it. I am told again from a reliable source that, they were not doing anything that any tenant probably would do, that is review the lease, not expecting that the Upper Hand had any intention of competing for the space. Plus there was no competion, Diedrich's had the door close on them.

    I am sorry but, this makes me so sad, at a time when people are concerned about old theater's the River Oaks, Alabama, which are nice, and we all know that Most likely the River Oaks Theater if saved will be something more revenue producing, such as a resturant, or something. The old filling station that Diedrich's has put a soul into, used by everyone, there is a community, that exsit's inside and out side that historital structure, unlike and one we can only dream of for either of the River Oaks or West Alabama theater's , Diedrich's has become a santuary for the young, in a city that everyone is concern about rising crime.

    Why would anyone do this or let this happen, when they are so good to so many, and I believe if everything was about board, as we all would expect, things might be different.

    The Upper Hand Salon. may feel that some how in the SCHEME OF THINGS THAT THEY NOW HAVE THE UPPER HAND, but shouldn't Diedrich's that had the place fitted built out for them be the first in line, we'll only talking opportunity to be at the table with the property manager, to discuss the lease, now remember they were in the process of finilizing the lease.

    I am writting this because the pain of regret for being complaisant is much more than the pain of speaking out.

    There is one correction from the original e-mail, the Property manager's is 713-520-7360.

  18. Diedrich's does not have to be closed, it is a old style coffee shop, used by all, kids and adults of all ages, in a sense it is a community center, where a person can hang out, and are not throw out, college students, kids of all ages have a place to go, people with dogs, small children, where there is no allochol.

    Now Diedrich's has been the only tenant, since the old 1920's gas station was converted into a coffee house.

    I am told from a reliable source that Diedrich's was offered a new lease, for less than they were paying, and were also told they have been there best tenant. The lease was in progress when, the property manager, decided that he had changed his mind. Now Diedrich's does bring in a lot of cars, and that could be resolved.

    If the tenants of the center would communicate. Now the building on the other side of the Upper Hand is for lease. I ask why do they want to take the lease of a tenant who wants to stay, and believe me Diedrich's very much wants to stay, instead of expanding the other direction that's vacate.

    I mean no harm to the Upper Hand, several of there employee's and clients said that The Upper Hand Salon, indicated that Diedrich's had a chance to sign a lease and did not take it. I am told again from a reliable source that, they were not doing anything that any tenant probably would do, that is review the lease, not expecting that the Upper Hand had any intention of competing for the space. Plus there was no competion, Diedrich's had the door close on them.

    I am sorry but, this makes me so sad, at a time when people are concerned about old theater's the River Oaks, Alabama, which are nice, and we all know that Most likely the River Oaks Theater if saved will be something more revenue producing, such as a resturant, or something. The old filling station that Diedrich's has put a soul into, used by everyone, there is a community, that exsit's inside and out side that historital structure, unlike and one we can only dream of for either of the River Oaks or West Alabama theater's , Diedrich's has become a santuary for the young, in a city that everyone is concern about rising crime.

    Why would anyone do this or let this happen, when they are so good to so many, and I believe if everything was about board, as we all would expect, things might be different.

    The Upper Hand Salon. may feel that some how in the SCHEME OF THINGS THAT THEY NOW HAVE THE UPPER HAND, but shouldn't Diedrich's that had the place fitted built out for them be the first in line, we'll only talking opportunity to be at the table with the property manager, to discuss the lease, now remember they were in the process of finilizing the lease.

    I am writting this because the pain of regret for being complaisant is much more than the pain of speaking out.

    There is one correction from the original e-mail, the Property manager's is 713-520-7360.

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