kw_uh97

Pardon if this has been addressed here but what about the idea  of having an Uptown station and a Downtown station (barring cost factor), where the rail is submerged into a tunnel to downtown near the Uptown station. Passengers have a choice of either destinations, Downtown Houston to/from Dallas and Uptown Houston to/from Dallas.

I've been browsing this forum for years and found that this site is very informative as well entertaining. I've always been interested in architecture, development, real estate, etc. but my career path (software development) has never venture towards that direction. What type of business can one should start up that has these interests in mine. Thanks for any advise.

Are you talking the METRO east end line?  where are you getting the 10 million a mile figure?  the railroad underpass is over 40 million alone.

I think the poster is getting the 10 million figure from the East End street car presentation. It's not from Metro. I know I have seen that figure somewhere in the report.

I think that the downtown post office property is ripe for any type of tower, needle, etc. I also think that if Houston was to incorporate any street car transportation the PO property would be perfect hub for connections as well (not for maintainence) just a hub however I will save that for another thread.

Thanks again for all the advice.

You didn't answer the question of who owns the house. I guess I'll assume they both own it. If they both own it, the non-paying sibling can't be evicted simply for refusing to pay the mortgage, at least not by the other owner. The one who is willing to pay can move in to the house presumably, but I don't see how they're going to make the other person leave.

I'm sorry, thought I answered your question with .... The working sibling would like to continue making payments on the existing mortgage that was in his mothers name....so I guess neither owns the house and the answers you all have provided, unfortunately sounds like this is going to end badly. However thanks for the help.

Well maybe inherited is the wrong word. The working sibling would like to continue making payments on the existing mortgage that was in his mothers name and lived there, I recently found out. However the non-working sibling moved in after the mother's death and is unwilling to leave. "convey sole ownership to the non-working sibling", that sounds like handing the property over to the non-working sibling and letting the property go to waste and inevitably foreclosure. Did I understand you correctly?

Hello All

I have relatives that have inherited their mothers home due to her passing away. One of the siblings have the money and wants to repair and renovate. He has not decided if he wants to rent it or reside and take on the responsibility of continuing the mortgage payments after repairs until its paid off. However he has a small problem with the other sibling. The other sibling has occupied the house and unwilling to leave, but is unable to pay the monthly note. The sibling that is able to make the payments is not wanting to provide a place for his non-working sibling and wants the other sibling out. They received the first non-payment notice or foreclosure notice, not sure exactly, however is there anything that can be done by the able sibling to get the other sibling out of the home to move forward with payments and repairs?

Thanks in advance. 

I agree that Navigation is wider and offer a lot of opportunities also I have not been down Canal Street in years but I do recall the street possess a lot of character thus has potential as well. I would think that Polk and Leeland are very close on potential. However, the other streets offer so much more I can see where you are coming from. I was really trying to tie UH and kicking its commuter reputation in this somehow.

Back to my original idea, I really like the skate park idea. I also was thinking that an amphitheatre would be good also. The open air venue could be added to the park to host free Dynamo pre-game pep rallies, some live performances be it music or fine art and other events.

It was just a matter of time before developers, retailers, artists, and homebuyers took notice. I decided to stay/buy in the East End for this very reason....it's potential. I paid a hefty "price" for buying here (not going into details). IMO, development will continue to spread further east. Leeland is a great street, but I think Harrisburg has a greater chance for commercial/mixed-use. Polk has great potential. Canal/Navigation are wide streets, a magnet for retail/bars/restaurants. I often wondered why the huge empty land between the townhomes and Dodson Elementary isn't developed. If I only had the money.

I agree that Navigation is wider and offer a lot of opportunities also I have not been down Canal Street in years but I do recall the street possess a lot of character thus has potential as well. I would think that Polk and Leeland are very close on potential. However, the other streets offer so much more I can see where you are coming from. I was really trying to tie UH and kicking its commuter reputation in this somehow.

Back to my original idea, I really like the skate park idea. I also was thinking that an amphitheatre would be good also. The open air venue could be added to the park to host free Dynamo pre-game pep rallies, some live performances be it music or fine art and other events.

I agree that the area is interesting and has a lot of potential, but seems to lack basic amenities that would attract residential development, like hike/bike trails (although I did see one sign nearby while attending the Dynamo event), parks and well paved roadways. The city should focus on those things to pave the way for additional rooftops.

3rd Ward to the south seems to have not changed from the last time I was over there many years ago. Not sure why. I would say that the Dynamo/Eado area will catch fire from here on out and spread east, not south, as there seems to be nothing but decaying warehouses for miles.

Yea I was thinking more like east rather than south also, in particular along Leeland Avenue. I was thinking the combination of high density apartments and UH finally kicking it's commuter reputation that Leeland Ave. could be an economical Washington Ave type strip. Just dreamscaping. However I too think the skate park would be a better option for the area, not sure about it's redundancy. By the way, the area seems to scream for large sidewalks and some front end parking for whatever is planned.

…or whatever they are calling now.

With the majority of development occurring on the west side of the city these days, the news of the Dynamo breaking ground on their new stadium (on the east side of downtown) was a wonderful delight. I would hope that the new stadium along with its proposed six block promenade entrance will spur more development in the area and hopefully beyond towards the University of Houston.

I was thinking that the area could use another anchor towards the south. An entertainment venue, perhaps an extreme sports or X games Theme Park may be an idea or another skate park to lesser extent. I think they both would be excellent additions to the area. I think which ever park could be positioned between Leeland and Bell, just south of the proposed promenade.

Also, I may be Johnny come lately but East Downtown and the surrounding area has lots of obscure concert venues and the theme park seems to fit well with the area. I would like to hear other ideas for the area or about the chances of new development in the area? Thanks, just curious.

Just re-read the announcement and it is 43 acres purchase. So 593 acres. Yes! Now I just hope we can create something where students want to live and hang around campus instead of commuting.

Looks like UH is closing on the property across Spur 5 soon. So that's approximately 70 more acres to add to the 593. Also Dr. Khator has big plans for the new acquisition.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20602099&sid=arwz0pgUIgbw

Great news.

or better yet have an alumnus as the Governor of Texas.

Perry awards Texas A&M $5 million grant for biofuels initiative...... just the most recent favor I've heard about.

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stor.../09/daily9.html

Seems like the Aggie governor issues other favors as well....

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/steffy/6524624.html

Also, this is a FRESHMEN dorm. Aesthetics just aren't as important... the number one concern is that it's tough (FORD tough lol). Freshmen abuse everything, so a nice spacious set of lofts is probably not the best idea in the first place.

BTW, has anyone noticed that all of UH's new construction projects are Neo-Brutalist??? Talk about bleh.

Ok you all sold me... hey they are freshmen. Just get them in there and they will be ok.

Yea I have to agree, that has the potential to be an ugly building and it does not resemeble the rendering that's in the MasterPlan powerpoint presentation. http://www.uh.edu/about/initiatives/masterplan/. Plus not sure if I heard it here but as I understand it, UH is going the cheap route on buliding the structure. I just hope everything turns out great.

I just completed an errand by using Spur 5 and exited OST. I am sure today's perfect weather played a part with the point I am about to make however as I turned west on OST I could not help but think of this thread and about light rail running in the center of OST and all the possibilities that small stretch offers. Today by itself Mac Gregor Park looked phenomenal and would look even better with rail running down OST. Add some mixed use residential, retail and restaurant(s) development across the street and we got ourselves a pretty nice stretch where people can dine outside and have fun at the park. Just wanted to share my mini vacation for the day. Maybe UH can buy those properties as well and construct my dreams. Sigh

You should never couple your lender's appraised value (what they think your house is worth) and the insurance company's appraised value (what it will cost them to rebuild your house). What you pay to acquire a home and what someone has to pay (e.g. you or insurance company) to rebuild the house are typically different (the rebuild cost is in most cases more than what you pay for the house). You can purchase a River Oaks home for $5 million, but its rebuild cost may only be $4 million. Conversely, you can buy a $40,000 home next to an oil refinery in Pasadena, but it may cost $80,000 to rebuild. This is true especially for older neighborhoods. In a brand new subdivision... where you are the first owner of a brand new house... Your lender and insurance appraised values should be extremely close because you are purchasing a recently built, from the ground up, home.

How old is your home? Where is it located (in general)?

Built in 2006 in Pearland.

Ok we just closed on a home and our insurance company asking us to increase our monthly payments to cover our home in case the worst happens. The reason they are giving is that their appraisal value of the home is more than the lender's appraisal value. Is this the norm, to ask for an increase or do I have a gripe with the insurance company or the lender. Now I must admit that I did not like the appraisal value from the lender myself but for the insurance company to reinforce my displeasure with the appraisal value by asking for an increase only adds to my suspicion that the lender low balled the appraisal value. By low balling the appraisal value by the lender makes it harder for me from eliminating my PMI in the future.

Thanks for any feedback

I'm not Midtown Coog, but did just have a gutter install. It was a real pain at first. I had 3 places come out for estimates and it blew my mind. I live in a new construction 2000 sq ft, 2 story that already had gutters across the front. The estimates ranged from $1400-$2900! I almost gave up as I just didn't see paying that much for gutters (these are just regular gutters as there are no trees to cause the gutters to clog up). Then I decided to call my builder and ask who they subbed the gutter work out to...they told me Southwest Gutters (713-263-7449) would take care of it. Called Southwest, and they had a guy here the same day for a estimate. For seamless alum. gutters on both sides and rear of the house he bid $852 which includes tax. He was able to schedule a crew for the next day because they were doing a install on a new construction in my neighborhood. I was very pleased with the work, and I didn't have to pay a arm and leg for all the extra bells and whistles that many of these places are requiring since Ike. The guy with Southwest said that he's heard lots of stories about high bids after Ike because these places are getting so much work they can get a premium for it.

Let me know how it turns out for you, and Merry Christmas to everyone!

Thanks ssmallen my community just close out about a year ago. I am not sure if my builder will give an option like but I wilk ask anyway. My home is a little more that 2000 but not much more and I would like gutter all aound the house. I will call Southwest Gutters if my builder does not provides any help.

Thanks again and Happy New Years!

Hey thanks for everyones advice. I think its a good start.

Does anyone have any suggestions for berber carpet and installation prices. I would like to compare online prices, houston area carpet stores and Home Depot/Lowes. About the online prices I would need the websites.

Thanks For Any Suggestions.

MidtownCoog i am looking to install gutters soon. How did your experience turn out?

Anyone has any current information on gas stations with gas in the Bellaire/Meyerland/Westbury/South Post Oak areas? Thanks

Excellent idea about a NASA related museum, IMAX theatre, fight similation etc! That is the best idea I've heard for the dome ever. I've lived here all my life, worked for 4 yrs acoss the street from NASA and I can say that its not a place (NASA) that I have visited since elementary school however I know that its all about the tourist(s). I would hope that someone of significance pick up this idea and run with it. GREAT IDEA!