aslowdodge

Hi, I used to own a beachfront house in Galveston a few years ago. In short the house was sold but there was actually 2 lots. The lot I still have is closest to the beach. I have attached an aerial picture. The row of houses is where my former house is. The row of lots closer to the beach is where my lot is. When I bought the house and lot the beach front lot was unbuildable because it was too close to the public beach even though as seen in the picture there a house on the same row-maybe it was on the GLO list back then? 

I understand things might be different because of a decision by scotex last March that the Beach Act is no longer  valid? If so I was wondering if I now can build a house on my lot since now there is no rule about building XX feet close to the edge of the public beach.

Anyone have any idea?

No, not at all. Vacation homes and second homes need to be thought of as luxury items. Problems with mortgage markets are multiplied for that kind of product.

But I'm less concerned with mortgage markets than I am with the fundamentals, chief of among them, location. A bayside condo development works nicely if it has a private marina. Otherwise, I have a very hard time believing that people are going to buy >$400k condos with lots and lots of fees attached for soemthing that isn't on the beach.

What are homes on stilts selling for down there, these days?

I completely agree. The demand for bayside homes is way less versus beachside homes in Galveston. Everyone want the ocean. if not they want access to the water and the marina would be very important.

Thought I'd throw this into the mix as there has been accelerated developement on the coast (not necessarily on the barrier islands) between Rockport and Surfside.

A lot of people in the Metro Houston area will be buying there because of the proximity and other reasons.

Feel free to move this to a more appropriate thread.

what are the reasons for buying on these islands instead of Galveston?

Thanks for all of the awesome photos. This is why I love Galveston.

Hey Jax, I saw you made the sloth cam. I have it on my Mac!

as always great pix to look at. Sometimes when I miss Galveston I come over here and dig up the picture threads and just visit.

Nevermind indeed. We could be up all night trying to figure out what makes department store clerks in wooded areas (not you wxman) so negitive on Galveston but there's no point. It's not like anyone is going to stop enjoying it. The beach parties and new construction will go on with or without wxman's blessings.

You posted an apology before I hit the reply button...so I decided to delete my own original brilliant post. Damn. It was good too. But now it would read as if I were trying to add fuel to the fire when all I want is the insults and death wishes to Galveston to stop (and hopefully be removed before they cause any more flame wars).

Now that that unpleasentness is behind us, people can go back to making suggestions about how to improve our beloved Galveston without trashing it - verbally.

being from california I don't consider galveston beaches to be ugly. Yes florida has beautiful beaches, California decent beaches, but better rugged coastlines. Couyld galveston look better? Probably. But consider it's convenience to Houston I think it nice for them to have galveston. The beaches work and some people just plain like them. If they were so bad beach front homes wouldn't be renting year after year for thousands of dollars per week. Galveston is just a neat spot to me. Not just a beach.

I agree that Hooters is a nice addition to galveston. I personally never go to Hooters as i think the food sucks and if I want to see T & A I'd go elsewhere. But a lot of people do like it and it just gives visitors another option.

Most chains look at areas pretty carefully before they move in to see if it is an economically wise decision to move in.

So I'd say that is a good sign for galveston.

A while back someone said that the flagship might be converted to a boardwalk. Any new news on that?

Call Island Bibyble Company and ask for Tom or Jeff - they have great rentals. Located at 18th and Seawall.

Was that a typo? Island Bicycle Co right?

My point is that if New Orleans can capitalize or embrace on something that can be changed, Galveston should be able to do the same with something it can not, (ie mother nature). Moody Gardens is constantly expanding its attractions. The only thing Galveston is lacking as far as becoming a national destination is advertisement. I don't see any Galveston commercials on TLC or the Travel Channel. I agree that gambling would help, but wouldn't Galveston just become a regional gambling attraction without national exposure?

You are so right. Since I've been coming to galveston in the last year I think it has a lot to offer. But no product will sell without marketing and advertising. It makes me wonder if the city doesn't want that kind of growth so it is purposely not promoting it any more. It's almost like they have said " we achieved a lot, and it's just right for us now, so let's not change it."

With Houston so close it is a natural place to visit since travel logistics to Houston are so easy and plentiful.

Get an aluminum (aluminum alloy) bike... it won't rust... it'll oxidize a little, but just enough to be a bit hazy and protect the bike from further oxidation/corrosion...

the chain will probably rust.

thanks. Can I get one at costco or is that a specialized bike from a bicycle shop only?

thanks but I am back in california now

History indicates your opinion is very correct. Flower Mound has been a place that black people have avoided for a while (ever). It is about 3% black and over 90% white. Your friend would get a little bit better treatment by moving just a little bit to the east to Lewisville or much more east to Little Elm, Frisco, etc. Or, if he's rich and really wants to be treated even more "different", he can move to the other side of grapevine lake - into southlake.

i get stopped a lot, too - i use a traffic attorney to keep all of those "violations" off my record.

So as not to threadjack.... As for parts of Galveston - they used to get pretty shady at night. I don't know about now. I've thought about buying in some of those areas, because I can't imagine the areas behind the convention center staying 'bad' for much longer. I wish I could get some time to spend down there. I've only been about 4 hours this spring. I'd like 4 days... or years.

What I like about galveston are all the different pocket areas. When i return I think I may rent a bicycle and do slow explorations of areas. I'd buy a bike, but I think it would rust out in a year.

Cool, thanks for the feedback! Wow, your friend lives on Tikki Island and has never seen Cedar Lawn?

I wouldn't know difference in race relations, I've never experienced California.

well he is a workaholic and is spending a ton of money and time fixing up a place on Church st. The city is giving him a lot of grief as are some of his workers. Seems no one is willing to work a 40 hour week. They just show up when they feel like it or never show up again. I can't understand why the city is giving him such a hard time. He's fixing up an eyesore and threw out the squatters who had drug problems. He's certainly helping out the neighbors improve the neighborhood. So all he sees is Tiki, home depot, lowes, and the drive straight to church st. He says I know Galveston better than he does and I live in California,

IMO it seems like black people in California enjoy a better status overall than in some parts of the south. California is very diverse and liberal so it makes sense. My black friend says he enjoys living in Texas and has lots of friends of all races, but does have to walk a bit more of a tightrope than when he was in california.

I knew a black person when I worked at UPS and everyone pretty much talked to each other as equals. He traveled to alabama to visit relatives and spoke his mind just as he would in California. When he didn't come back to work we asked where he was and was apparently stabbed for speaking his mind in the south.

anyways I won't be back to Galveston until october so I'll be thinking of Bennos, saltgrass, and bronco donuts.

the friend i took thru cedar lawn lives on Tiki Island and thought it was so cool he was going to bring his wife back to see it.

The other friend used to live in California and now lives in flower mound which is north of dallas. When we drove through the "hoods" he was a little uncomfortable after dark but fine during the day. I guess I am just naive about if the area is truly dangerous or not, but he said we should avoid it at night. BTW he is black so i guess he knows better than me. I just like exploring different neighborhoods.

On another note it seems black people have it pretty rough in Texas overall. My black friend says he gets pulled over constantly even though he has lived in Flower Mound for 10 years now. My other friend in Tiki who is originally from California and is white says he thinks black people are treated much worse in Texas than in California and feels badly for them.

water balloons at cars on 45th lol!

so i returned home from galveston last night.

Ate at Bennos 3x. On sat I stood in line for 1/2 hour and it was packed.

I tried some of the suggested places

Rudy & Pacos- it was okay. Didn't realize there was a dress code so my buddy felt underdressed since he had a t shirt.

Leon's-Ok this place still looks closes when I drive by it.The ribs were very good, chipped beef was tasty, but very fatty.

Donut shop-great breakfast burritos and sooooo cheap. 3 bucks! I took a local friend there the next day because he had never heard of it, but they were closed when we got there.

Explored some neighboorhoods and my friend thought i was crazy for driving through some areas which didn't look that great too him.

Drove through as little tract called Cedar Lawn off of 45th. I love the homes there and might consider owning there some day.

I understand you can protest your property taxes. How is this done and what reasons do you use?

A local realtor suggested I sell my homes on the west end beachside at 25% lower than what I paid for them in early 2006. Is this a valid reason? It seems property values have gone down so it would reason that the taxes should be lower too.

leon's closes at 6? Maybe that's why it looks so slow when i drive by looking for dinner.

I'm going to try your recomendations next week when I come into galveston.

As far as off the beaten paths I was meaning neighborhoods, oddities, historical place etc.

I don't know how I missed Darragh Park as I go down Curch st all the time and my buddy is retoring a place at 16th and Church. I'm going to go and look for this place.

thanks for the new photos. I always enjoy it when you take more images.

Some areas I recognize. Are there any other areas off the beaten path that only the locals know about and tourists don't?

I drove by Leon's a few times but it always looks like no one is there or it's closed. Is it popular?

Where is the place that has the sign at the beginning with thwe bbq & sould food?

Is it Kappa or something? Cool nonetheless. That pink BMW is not the greatest though.

I don't know if it was the official kappa beach weekend, but i heard a lot of locals refer to it as such.

I had heard the numbers really declined over the last 2 years. If it was more crowded than what the pictures show, I can see why a lot of people don't go that weekend.

editor-how long ago was it that crowded on weekends and is it still that way. I only visit monthly Oct thru May and have never seen crowds like the pictures

Some are, but the first couple aren't. I apologize, I should have made that clear in the initial post.

Galveston Daily News pics, and a Christian group took a couple. I edited the first post.

so is this considered average, less than average, or crowded for beach weekend?

I don't think the kid has a black eye.

So was it pretty calm or a mob scene there?

The "One-Ways" will give you the true essence of Galveston imo. They run down avenues O & P from the east end to the west end, to about 53rd street. They are on the south end of the island (the beach side of Broadway). Of course, there's Rosenberg (25th street). Also, the rarely photographed Cedar Lawn neighborhood on 45th street should produce some nice photograhs for you.

I just read the Scottish Rite Masonic Lodge ( 2128 Church St) is giving a very rare tour of the interior this weekend thru May 13th. You should check this place out. My favorite structure on the island!

Here's a good read about the place from Tuesday's print of the Galveston Daily News...

http://news.galvestondailynews.com/story.l...4003359f924e4cc

thanks everyone. I hope to actually get to photograph this time. Everytime I go there is always something that needs to be fixed at the rental.

I dunno if I will post the pics because i saw what you guys have taken and it's way better than my stuff!

Funny thing is i am a photographer by profession

for those who know and photograph in galveston, where are your favorite spots to go. I would like to find places that capture the flavor of galveston as well as places that are good for black and white. I'll be going to galveston again in a few weeks.

Can't wait to eat at Bennos again.

Death to all the giant Cockroaches!

The lizards or the roaches?

the lizards-although after seeing that big roach I wonder if there is a 4 foot ferocious roach roaming around

My father-in-law loves to pick those suckers up and squash them in his hand. He thinks is so fun to gross us all out!! *gags*

I keep monitor lizards and they would love to dine on those big roaches. It would be like a crunchy creme filled snack to them. They are 4 feet long and very quick. ferocious predators.

Money generated for people in Galveston who get jobs. Being from the Lake Charles area I can attest to the positive impact that gambling had on that area. Lake Charles is the one that will suffer when gambling comes to Texas.

Well it seems like gambling is a pretty good source of revenue and an important part of the economy in Biloxi. When Rita took out most of the casinos they said they would not rebuild unless the law could be changed to let them build on land. The fact that an exception was made for them shows the value of the casinos. I hardley ever heard about Biloxi before the casinos except for the movie "Biloxi Blues".

Some people say it would bring in only low paying jobs. I can't see the hundreds of jobs being provided being that low. I am sure there are lots of lower paying jobs in galveston now and a lot of people would jump to earn what a casino pays.

I agree property taxes could go up if property values skyrocket.