CSOM

Sounds an awful lot like the old Texaco building may get a dust off here...

These are great... the progress is really coming along. I never believed the building would've been used for anything else. I used to use that shop for my car until one day when I brought it in about a week or two having my tires rotated and balanced... The guy drives it and tells me the balance and rotation is all out of whack and I need to get it done. I told him I just had it done, he said I should take it back and have them redo it. When I told him he did it, he didn't say anything and refused to call me back whenever I tried to schedule the "redo" he suggested. What is the plan for next door where Don Jacobsen auto's and that little orange building used to be?

Nice Ricco... Not sure that you remember you were in a thread on this back in December/January Link, but that's ok They originally speculated May as opening, but obviously didn't happen... making a lot of progress when I go by now, and will clean up that corner, which is nice. Also, next door there is a sign stating Louisiana/Hadley crossing for variance request, not sure if something else is going up next to it & Pub Fiction, but looking forward to it anyway. FTW - It will be here Google Maps The long white building in the middle will be Howl. The rectangle to the left on Smith is Pub Fiction.

Throw my $.02 in on this one... On musicman's side, I agree there is a big difference between Great and Rubbish... It is a nice new parking garage, taking open land, with retail available, but a better facade and a better location wouldn't be a bad thing. But, with GovernorAggie, no way this thing is complete, it looks sooo raw yet. As for great parking garages, how about floors 2-9 of Two Shell Plaza, all parking garage, no idea from street level.

I would think a lot of people are picky about their shopping. When I lived in Minneapolis there was an "upscale" grocery store right next door that I never went to because Cub Foods was much cheaper. That's sort of the Randall's/Kroger comparison. As for the pan-handling, I'm not sure when you go, but like I said I'm there all the time and I'm never bugged really by anyone. If I am I just ignore it and keep walking. Really it's no different than being hassled at other stores by school groups, etc. that I couldn't care less about. They still want my money and are bugging me for it.

I still believe it's a viable location. I can't imagine that a store couldn't do well servicing the DT/MT market. Plus, I'm willing to wager there are a number of residents that still drive out to the Kroger on West Gray because Randalls tends to be a bit pricier, because they try to be an "upscale" grocery store, whatever that is. The brand hasn't been doing well either, so I wonder how much that has to do with success/failure of this location. If nothing else, Wal Mart Neighborhood Market makes sense like the one that opened in 2005 (?) in Uptown Dallas right off of 75. Again, nothing but a rumor, that I hope to be not true since I do all of my shopping there, and am there at least 2-3 times a week. Randalls on Wikipedia "Stores in the Randalls and Tom Thumb chains tend to be slightly more upscale and expensive than competitors such as Kroger... In early 2005, Safeway was rumored to be attempting to sell the then 138-store Randall's division. Instead, Safeway announced by the end of the year it would close 15 Randall's stores in the Houston area, one in Austin, and nine Tom Thumb stores in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.Following the closures Randall's/Tom Thumb operated 62 stores in Dallas, 36 in Houston and 14 in Austin. Safeway said the move would revitalize the Texas division and that it planned to remodel stores to fit its "Lifestyle" format and introduce proprietary products."

RUMOR A source that services the grocery industry tells me that Randall's is suffering and may be re-evaluating the midtown location. Has anyone else heard anything? That would be a major blow to DT/MT residential if that were to close. I'm thinking Kroger on West Gray or Fiesta on Fannin are the closest grocers otherwise? I can't imagine that would stay vacant too long until Kroger or HEB moved in. It is always busy when I go there.

Hmm... it did when I posted it. It was on a free image hosting, likely expired.

Here's a view of that site a couple weeks ago from the Louisiana side...

I live near there, and the homeless situation isn't that bad. There are 2 bus routes that get a lot of traffic that you may have mistaken expecting riders for homelessness. There is also a shelter about a block away. If they are staying in the shelter, and just out walking, I'm not sure there is anything that can/should be done about that. That does bring up a point for another conversation though: since the city is re-fencing under the pierce elevated with the intent to displace the homeless, where do they go and what does the city do with them then?

And it is now officially gone. Nothing but rubble when I went by today.

This all makes more sense now... None of the places I like were busy, so DT must be dead unless I want to hang out with brown people. Right.

Definately is being torn down. That is a great lot, and a great big space... I'm hopeful, but mostly just hopeful it's not a pharmacy or a branch bank...

It appears that way, all of the curb demolition for driveways appears to be on Elgin. I'll try and snap some pics this weekend.

I have to completely agree about the metal siding so far... stands out in that neighborhood, and not in a good way. Some nice red brick would be good, but we'll see. Mrs. CSOM noted that the name (Bells & Whistles) sounds like a gentlemen's club

Thanks - I had no idea that's what that building was. What is going on with that thing too? It looks striking to me, and seems to be an ok location, very visible and not far from the Aquarium, Bayou Place, Theatre District, and the entrance to the up & coming Wash. Ave Corridor. Marmer, I might drive that way home today just to look around for you... Edit: I drove past there on the way home, and I swear it has to be the Tennison hotel. That is really the only building at that intersection (GHWB Statue, USPS Parking Lot, and old Public Works Building on other three corners). The parking garage is at street level with rectangular openings as marmer said, but its designed with wrought iron lines and leaves, etc. to close the window... I'm convinced.

Noticed yesterday going by that HP is starting to affect the neighboring properties as well. Across Caroline (the block that Josephine's Italian restaurant is on) one abandoned building is down and another one (corner or Caroline and Polk I think) is being gutted, and may be torn down. Behind the building being gutted is just one of those Ticket Exchange places (organized scalping) and a large surface lot over half of the block. This will be pricey property between HP and the Toyota Center. Any rumblings on what might be happening at this block? If looking at this map, the small square white roofed building mid-block is gone, and the larger white roofed rectangle building on the corner is being gutted/potentially torn down. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&...p;z=19&om=1

There is a building, not sure what it's name is, but it is a white-ish brick with green glass and big texas stars all over it at that corner, 2 blocks north of the DT Aquarium. It is about 3-4 stories high and pokes up right next to I 45 (with a Budweiser billboard on the roof) I would assume that building?

Yes, that fence is still there, but there is a rental chain link around that fence now. The 2nd floor lobby/look-out over fanin is all broken out and is wide open now too.

The giant restaurant/ballroom complex at McGown/San Jac seems to have some activity. There is a lot more boarded up and a new fence around the building seemed to appear. Anyone have any insights? Seems like it could be a good location and a spark for that side of the tracks.

Don't forget Verizon Wireless @ Bayou Place, The Engine Room/Jet Lounge by St. Joseph's and the Meridian right across from Toyota Center. True not as big as MMP, TC, but Verizon Wireless is about the size we can expect from HoB, and ER/Meridian get smaller acts as well. I'm sure I'm forgetting about a club or two, but there are plenty of concert venues DT.

Update - the warehouse is down completely... pile of rubble as of this morning (unless my eyes deceived me) so we'll see when they start clearing if it is being built, or if it will just be an open lot with for sale signs. BTW - where is there an apartment complex at Gray and Chenevert? I've never noticed any construction over there.

I noticed that too... I hadn't heard anything, but I suppose most anything is better. I'm not sure how much more market there is with Ellie Lofts, the Tricon buildings, the Urban Loft buildings, and all the new ones up and down Jackson/Crawford. Plus, the realtors are still saying that the Collective will be built. Need some retail/dining to make it more of a neighborhood.

I was on my bike and came by it while the fire trucks were still there. Right in the middle of the building. Based on the building, where the fire was, etc. I suspected Arson but never heard anything about that so probably just a "natural" fire... nice way to clear out some older low upkeep buildings though.

There was a sign for Chase Bank on that block about a year ago (used to live in the Camden right there)... that lot is prime for the taking, as Ibiza in the strip mall generates a LOT of high income traffic, but another bank!?