banking214

If Houston is the Energy Capital of The World, you would think if would approach greener energy practices. I think Mayor White has done a good job thus far in proposing or initiating certain "green" practices. Personally, I would like busses, taxis, and city/county owned vehicles switched to more efficient technologies. I think we can be the Energy Capital of The World, while at the same time being known as a leader when it comes to a greener city.

I was not sure where to place this. Was interesting and worth a look.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/116784/page/1

I actually drove on on Gessner yesterday (in heavy rain, so traffic was crawling) and as I was coming south from I-10 I was stunned to see a structure that looked like it might be a future skywalk (I know we talked about it briefly on here) on the mall side.

As I looked over to the Hospital, I noticed the vertical pillars that seemed matching the lines (more or less) and seemed to confirm this.

I was super early for an appointment so I pulled into the mall (Damn! I forgot my camera!) and as I got closer, I noticed the facade of the mall was well...a fake, complete with fake windows (Yes, I'm at the very top of my eloquence today, its Saturday.) that seemed to cover (DUH!) way for the walkway to directly hit the mall.

I'll try to meander my way back there this weekend to take a few pics.

The walkway is now up. It really changes the look of Gessner as you approach it.

Driving by the area, I took my usual view of the Hospital under construction when I looked at the old Hotel (Renaissance hotel?) and saw that it at a "Four Points" logo on it now.

Is this thing already open and when did THAT happen? I always thought that building might be demo'ed or another use of it would be done.

The logo for Four Points has been up for a few weeks. At one point in time, I remember reading about a possible demo. However, that changed last year. After Katrina, I know it was at capacity for an oil comany (I think oil).

Flat roofs can require work, however it is not a reason to tear down a house.

We have historical districts here in Houston. Someone else probably remembers the rules to become one better than I do. Memorial Bend is a target for Houston Mod as a historic district, but it is a major undertaking. And by the time the district is old enough to be historic in Houston it is usually gone.

Is your district in Dallas mid-century housing?

Jason

No, it was more tudor, rustic, and spanish style homes.

http://www.hsmna.org

Memorial Bend is such a treasure. I just hate seeing these great homes being torn down and some faux villa erected.

I am not too sure how the process works, but could you set up a conservation district? I lived in an area in East Dallas that was set up as a conservation district. We could not even paint our front door without the approval of the board.

Bummer, great lot with a nice looking home.

I do have to say that this particular builder constructs very nice homes. While I may not be a fan of the faux mediterranean look, his tend to incorporate higher quality materials.

I was watching TXCN and they had a piece about this event. It looks like they had a great turnout.

I noticed that there was a thread below about 12939 Memorial, so here's a link to an article concerning at neighboring house at 12923 Memorial:

http://www.examinernews.com/articles/2008/...nity/comm01.txt

The original article in the Memorial Examiner contains a photo, but the web article doesn't.

The article also contains a link to the very informative Memorial Bend architecture page:

http://memorialbendarchitecture.com/bend.htm

It will be interesting to see whether the residents will be successful in obtaining designation as a historic district.

G

I think it would be a wonderful idea for this neighborhood. Memorial Bend is such a unique and ecclectic mix of mid century homes. I live in Bunker Hill and drive through Memorial Bend from time to time. I am always so saddened to see McMansions replacing homes with real character.

Which is worse, the DMN, or the Chron?

I prefer the DMN over the Chron. I think the Houston Press is better than the Chron.

Don't ever thank that U guvment gonna give U local guvment ANYTHING free. Anytime U big brother guvment give U local guvment sum'n U can bet U have either paid for it already or gonna have a long term comittment to do so. One reason that dollar is losing its value is because U guvment loves printing worthless paper called money. Day/nite {24/7} them printing presses @ treasury are churning out the worth currency.

Just my 2 cents worth{mo/less}

Respectfully

Danny

English please.

There isn't a sales center in that strip, or the other one across Woodway. The one across from both along Voss is completely vacant, and I assume where the Sterling tower would be located. I was out that way about an hour ago, so unless it was in really small letters or only in a window... I don't think it's there anymore.

It has been a few months since I was in the center, but they did have leasing space across the street. I did Google and found the site, however it is down.

yeah, you're right. guess i didn't look too closely at the map i'm right next door to those old wooden office buildings, so either way i'll have a good view. wonder what's in store for the property on voss where the retirement community was slated to go?

From what I know, the retirement facility is still planned. You can visit the sales center across the street. It is next to Buffalo Grille.

I am sure the homeowners in Farnham Park are really going to love new neighbors peering down on them.

If you are going the route of buying a foreclosed home, you may want to look at HUD (www.hud.gov).

Also, you can check with lenders on there REO listings. One of the Houston lenders that is now defunct currently has a site you can view listings. https://www.aegissvg.com/REOListing.aspx. I think someone mentioned this before, but sometimes the homes are not in the best of shape. Upset homeowners have been known to loot the house of the kitchen sink, fixtures, etc.

I actually really enjoy the Angelika... it's in downtown so it's close to home, plenty of restaurants (not Bennigans, etc.) around it, not very many screaming kids, reasonable prices, etc... It's our new favorite theatre.

Ok, it may not have every latest blow-em-up "blockbuster" flick, but we've seen a lot of regular release films there this year including Ocean's 13, The Simpsons, Harry Potter and Knocked Up. Add the new east end rail coming near there and we're all about it.

I agree that no screaming kids is a plus. The only thing that is annoying to me are the hours. I recently moved to Houston from Dallas and was bummed that the Houston location is closed during the day. I would see movies at the Mockingbird Station location during the days and crowds were decent.

Dallas does seem to be on the map with new, exciting projects currently being built or on the boards. I wish Houston could think bold.

This was a friend of mines parents house. They built it and moved in around 85 or 86.

I think the home has some major structural issues that need to be addressed, not 100% sure though.

Does anyone know what is going to be built on the northwest corner of Bunker Hill and I-10? I have heard it is going to be an HEB, not a Central Market.

The Icon recently was sold to some group out of L.A. called Lowe's. Maybe that is why these fellas are leaving it off the list?

Lowe's is a great, smaller chain.

They have a great hotel in Santa Monica and Miami Beach.

...Back to the W Hotel

Check this out. It looks like the newest version of Highstreet.

River Oaks District

The W is in several of the renderings and two hotels are shown in the site plan. It also has three towers (as a previous poster suggested the development that the W was part of would have) as well as a smaller office building.

The renderings show several tenants:

Prada

Burberry

Barneys (Flagship facing Westheimer?)

Rolex

From the Flash version of the Leasing Plan:

Apple

Scoop

Intermix

Ted Baker

Coach

BCBG

Tommy Bahama

Benetton

Tootsies

North Face

French Connection

Original Penguin

Burberry

Barneys

There are many more, but I can't make the names out. Who knows if they have signed anything.

The W pictured is the W in Dallas.

I do agree that this would be an awesome as well as incredible shopping destination.

One difference is that the World Trade Center (as part of the overall Dallas Market Center) is not open to the general public.

As I understand, it is a wholesale center for merchants who need "credentials" to visit and attend the shows.

I thinks Dallas' closest equivalent to Harwin are the shops around Harry Hines in Northwest Dallas.

Regarding this thread in general...

The name "world trade center" has no specified meaning and can be used in so many different ways that I am suprised that this discussion/comparison even exists.

You can't just walk in the door and enter a showroom, you have to have a pass to do so. It is the same case with the Design Center on Woodway.

You just contradicted yourself.

I am told it is a go and has been greenlighted.

That being said, with the current market, I would think the developers would want to see a 50% pre sale before they break ground. I am contstantly amazed to see new projects announced in a constricting market.

You have got to be kidding me.... You misunderstood what I was trying to say. There isn't enough money to go into these high-end condos. People can't afford them, and if they could, why may so much for a small space in a city like Atlanta or Dallas?

Trae, I believe there is enough money to go around for a project like this. Developers are not going to build a project of this scale without doing their due diligence. This project is a go from everything I have heard.

That being said, I would assume that if they do not pre sale 50%, then this project would not happen.

It is a little bizarre. But it's well known as that kind of place. I'm not sure Jerry Hall is cozyed up to the bar, but the Mrs. Robinson profile actually fits the type I was referring to.

The Black Swan is a great place. They never checked ID and if they did, slip em a $20 and that would be the end of that.

I personally think the W is a great chain. I have do not think it is as trendy as it used to be, many people now see it as another great chain. I think of trendy as being The Mondrian in LA or The Hudson or Gavensport in NYC. Out of those 3, I was a little dissapointed in The Mondrian. Too loud, dark hallways, and slow bar service at the pool.