CSOM

20 minutes each way, Midtown to Galena Park

As crazy as it is though, I do work DT some days, and it's either 30 minutes door to door (lights, parking garage, walk, elevators) or 25 to take the MetroRail - so rail it is, but it takes me longer to go 2 miles than it does to go 15... frustrating

I know of the farmers markets and such, but are there any really good fish markets or meat markets in town to buy good, local, fresh food? I would prefer to start eating something fresher than what I can get at Randalls/HEB/Kroger...

Any ideas? (Inside the loop preferred as well, if possible)

Is this the Rise Lofts we're talking about?

Are these the $300K townhomes that are right next to a freight line? No thanks....not for that price.

Yes - those are the lofts

No - they are not near a freight line

Procrastinating tonight.. so I decided to make some fantasy rail maps.

First up is my approximation of the LRT map that will exist ~2012 if everything is built as planned.

Now, my fantasy map.

Alot of goals with this one. Basically I wanted to put rail down two relatively high density corridors -- Kirby running N/S and Holcombe/Bellaire running E/W.

This has the main benefit of opening up the TMC/Rice Village to increased housing and business opportunities. The TMC is extremely space constrained. Increasing rail commuting reduces the need for on-campus garages, sparing land for core TMC institutional use. Much of the value of the TMC is in fact because of the extreme proximity of the institutions -- actual walking distance (a rarity in Houston, I know.) So it's important to keep the core campus as dense as possible, and move parking to the periphery or offsite. Additionally, based on my experience, many of the people who work in the TMC are amenable to urban lifestyle and transit use (it already has a high % of transit commuters.)

The Holcombe/Bellaire line continues West until it hits Chimney Rock, when it turns North and runs through with the Uptown line. To the East, it goes along OST until it runs meets up with the Southeast (?) line. This has the benefit of connecting TSU/UH directly with the TMC. This will be extremely important if UH tries to go for a Medical School. Secondary goal of the line is to increase transit availability in Third Ward and Gulfton. Of course, it runs the risk of just causing gentrification instead. Holcombe/Bellaire is already fairly developed, and I think could sustain increased density with appropriate transit. The jobs to drive it would be just a few stops down the line.

The Kirby line aims to increase mid-rise/high-rise residential along the Kirby corridor (dovetailing with existing projects like West Ave) and with quick TMC access. It starts from Fannin South Station, runs along the OTHER side of Reliant Park to pick up TMC riders from CondoLand. It crosses the Holcombe line for transfers. It hits the Rice Village going North, and then into a heavily developed stretch of Kirby that runs until Westheimer. It skips over to Shephard via some undecided mechanism and then runs North through the Heights. Lots of room for NIMBYism in this stretch I suppose.

The third line is a large extension of the East End line. It's a nobrainer to run down Washington and then meet up with the Uptown line at the mall. I also think that continuing the line east and then running down Broadway is the best way to reach Hobby Airport. I think it'd make more sense than running the SE line down Mykawa/Airport Blvd.

Anyway, I'm not a transit planner, so there are likely unresolvable flaws in my ideas

I like it... only a few thoughts from my POV.

I have spent a considerable amount of time in London, and on their Underground. I know that is one of the transportation systems that all others are measured by. HOwever, I get the sense that the speed of those vehicles is much greater (as well as capacity much greater) than our one line, due to the lights... If there is no way to tunnel or elevate on Kirby or to Hobby, I just see the time taking way too long. Airport connection is a must however. I also do like and see the need for a rail stop at Kirby & Westheimer.

I rode to reliant a few times this weekend from the house (midtown) and that trip taking 20 minutes is a bit ridiculous IMO.

4 miles? Why wouldn't you walk or bike?

As someone who drives four miles roundtrip to work, that would be a wonderful.

My biggest question is always, why can't homeless people use the sidewalk? Why do they always have to walk down the middle of the damn street?

I can understand riding a bike in the med center and downtown. I wouldn't go far though. Riding a bike in the street is not only dangerous for you but those around you also. It doesn't matter how careful you are if other people are not.

Same with cars though... doesn't matter how careful you are if the other driver is an idiot.

Y'all need to come out with me sometime. I ride probably 1,000+ miles in innerloop Houston per year. No accidents, I can count the number of close calls on one hand, and they were all the drivers error (wrong-way on a one way street, not yielding at a light, etc.). It really is safe, but you have to be smart about it. Pick streets with good surfaces, managable stop lights and speed limits and multiple lanes if traffic is high (i.e. Westbound on McGregor at Hermann Park - Yes 3 Lanes - Eastbound, No - 2 Lanes).

I live in Midtown and most of my driving is Downtown, Med Center, Herman Park, Memorial Park, and the East End. Memorial Park, if you really are going you can hold 25+ to get where you need to go and really don't hold up traffic much.

Are you basing this on recent findings? I ask as it sounds like the quality of food (including produce, of course) is what they aimed to improve upon as part of this grand re-opening. Things might have changed. I don't have enough experience with Specs/Rice Ep. to say anything about them but I can say that I thought the produce at Randall's looked pretty good to me--a person with a suburban HEB background.

They have expanded their organic produce section, other than that I haven't noticed much of a difference in the "new" Randalls.

But, since all the money they sunk into it, I guess the rumor that they were in trouble (I was the one to start the thread) looks pretty much dead.

Yeah, I was really impressed with the city lots and the shuttles. It is just as good if not better than the private lots.

My only beef with the parking cents lot, and the reason I stopped using them, is that their lot is SOOO big, that there were nights I would spend literally 20-30 minutes on the shuttle in the lot, just waiting to get dropped off in some seemingly random sequence. I took to just getting off at the first stop and walking as it was much much quicker.

Remember that lawsuit against Spy a few years back by a group of Asians? It really went nowhere. It was kinda funny seeing a girl who i used to hang out with sitting at the press conference with that group...lol

I was just confused how not allowing MEN into a club is RACE discrimination...

Happens all the time. Me and a friend have been denied access to certain clubs in midtown because we did not have any females in our group. Or "No guys allowed in right now, only girls..." You can hear that phrase every night all night at clubs. Isn't that discrimination based on race?

Race

Both variance signs have the 2005 hearing date on them, so they've been there for a while. I think the sign with the rendering has disappeared since the demolition began though.

Rendering and Info sign is gone today and so are the variance signs...

My guess-o-meter calls clearing land for a sale...

I have been pretty pessimistic (sp?) about this project ever happening, however, as I type this, they are knocking down the old gas station building that was sitting on the lot.

It's completely down and in rubble as they were working this morning... now does the old brick collective building come down as well is the question.

That's one thing I miss while growing up a block from Eastwood Transit Center was the seasonal football game sounds/celebrations from across the freeway. As soon as we heard we opned the front door and had a free firework display from U of H parties! Your right though it was questionably louder. Apparently today's pyrotechnics have been improved. Maybe homes will shake from now on? Go Coogs!

I thought it was gunfire at first too since I didn't see any fireworks.... crazy.

My dog went nuts.

What's it cost at the Y?

CSOM Gal and I pay $66 per month... there are various discounts (young member, corporate, etc.) as well that you can sometimes take advantage of.

Can anyone tell me the story of Club Houston in Midtown? When I go to their website, it looks like a homosexual workout facility.

I think you're right... I had checked it out when I first moved to midtown in 03 and I got the same impression.

Thanks everyone for your responses. I went by Fit Athletic on W. Gray yesterday and really think that gym meets my needs. New, clean, friendly staff, lots of equipment, classes, great location to home and work, and good promo prices (corporate rate). Think I will be joining in the next few days!

Glad you found something .... out of curiousity, why no interest in the DT YMCA? I've been a member there for 5 years and love it. Reasonable prices, good sized weight room, decent cardio machines for CSOM Gal, dedicated spin rooms, class rooms, huge locker rooms, a women's zone, and things you don't find at most other gyms in its price range: multiple basketball, raquetball, volleyball, handball courts and a swimming pool.

In addition to the Midtown location at 59/Gray? Jumping in big time in central Houston I guess.

still nothing happening here huh?

These are the ones on Elgin right? 1 of 8 has sold to the best of my knowledge...

They are akward inside, the model had an elevator in it for crying out loud.

They are reduced to the $360's, so as the rest of Midtown creeps toward those prices, I'm sure they'll go soon. The Tricon's were $290's and they sold very quickly, the Waterhills are mid-$300's.

God, I drive down San Jac. going downtown everyday, and the homeless problem at Search is awful.

Now I certainly don't mind people hanging out at a soup kitchen, employment finder, or whatever that place is; but that street is bad! I'll be in morning rush hour and vagrants are just strolling across the street, jay walking, drinking beer, and urinating in plain view.

Jackson & Crawford between Pierce Elevated and Gray is bad as well. But that's mostly because of the church, bread of life, and that's where some vans pull up to distribute food..

I don't know the answer, but when I figure it out, I'll sell it to the city.

This bugs me sooo much, I've waited for something like this. Now let's see some enforcement.

normally true, but the one in downtown Austin is very tightly packed with no parking lot, only underground valet.

But if our CVSs, Walgreens and branch banks are any indication... its parking lot will take up more space than than the actually building.

I think of East End as the old Chinatown/warehouse area behind the convention center downtown extending East (not sure how far though).

Right, but North of the Gulf Freeway... South of the Gulf is the 3rd Ward.

If that's what you like, then more power to you. I give you my lifetime share of anything from American Apparel.

I'm with you... I'm not sure I've ever described any pair of underwear I own as "fun"

What does this have to do with Midtown? Isn't it going to be in the East End?

No, not really... it is right by where 288 & 59 split, just a few (6-8) blocks from Baldwin Park. It is on the East side of 59, but not what I would consider true East End... more traditional 3rd Ward.

I know, i'm frustrated that this developent is not including a movie theater in it like they have in Denver Pavilions. Angelika Movie Theater isn't really a movie theater to me, its an art show!

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.