Fringe

http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/bellaire/news/neighborhood-protection-houston-council-passes-buffer-zone-between-homes-high/article_e4033c27-897f-59af-9973-b95c956e59b5.html After months of discussion, debate and refinement, the controversial buffering ordinance, which requires a 30- to 40-foot buffer between a 75-foot or higher building and adjacent residential neighborhoods, was passed Monday by the Houston City Council. But, even after those months of discussion, the ordinance still had to undergo one last heated debate before passage. The debate surrounded Councilman Oliver Pennington's proposal to delay the vote on the ordinance for 60 days, or until administration saw fit to present it again to council. Pennington said he had received requests from representatives of the Super Neighborhoods Alliance to delay the vote because people in their communities didn't fully understand the ordinance, specifically, how the major activity centers as designated by the ordinance (such as Memorial City and the Energy Corridor, which are exempt from the buffering ordinance) would be impacted by it. Later, Councilwoman Brenda Stardig said she had received similar communications and asked how single-family residential areas adjacent to major activity centers would be affected. Councilwoman Jolanda Jones said the people who contacted her about the ordinance said they had not been fully apprised of its intention. "There should be more discussion, not less," she said. Outgoing Councilwoman Sue Lovell spoke adamantly against delaying the vote, telling the council that, since it was her last meeting, she would speak to them as a private citizen, and made reference to the potential development at Lancaster Square at West Alabama and Dunlavy, which she said was in her own neighborhood. The permits for development, she said, could be processed within the 60 days requested by Pennington, meaning the development would be subject only to the ordinances in effect at the time the permits are issued. "Please vote to protect your neighborhood, my neighborhood," she said. Lovell also pointed out that the Super Neighborhoods Association had been presented with information about the ordinance. As previously reported by the Examiner, the planning commission met with the Super Neighborhoods Alliance in November. She added that delaying the vote would only lead to future complaints by residents." If we delay on this now, we will have people here next year asking 'why are they building a high-rise 10 feet away from a door?'" The current buffer requirement in Houston is 10 feet. Mayor Annise Parker also spoke against delaying the vote. "There's nothing to be gained by slowing this process down," she said. Councilwoman Anne Clutterbuck said the resistance she had heard from the community was that the 30- to 40-foot buffer zone wasn't enough, but said opposition to the ordinance on that ground was a risky game. "This is a good ordinance. It's not the best...I've got people saying it's too incremental...But sometimes, that's how we do it," she said. "If we want stronger restrictions later, we can have the council amend it." Councilman Stephen Costello agreed. "We will never have something that everyone is going to like. What we have is a compromise, and I think it's a good compromise." The motion to delay was defeated, and the ordinance passed 10-5. Pennington, Jones, Stardig, Councilman James Rodriguez and Councilman Mike Sullivan voted against the ordinance.

Based on the recent pictures on their website, that was quite a restoration project.

Wow. I think I have been in that house. (Many, many years ago). Is it on N Braeswood between Endicott and S, Rice?

LOL. I knew the title alone would generate a lot of controversy. Just don't shoot the messenger. Comparisons aside it does sound nice. I remember talk years ago about turning Buffalo Bayou into kind of a river walk like San Antonio to generate more tourist. Maybe this is the first step.

First I have heard of this. http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Project-to-transform-stretch-of-Buffalo-Bayou-2406589.php

Very true. Of course Bellaire was a different town back then. Still mostly blue collar and despite being surrounded by Houston it still had a small town feel. They were afraid to progress then. It's a whole different make-up today although still stagnant in growth.

You have to remember the history of the property. Marion and the Catholic Convent was originally sold to a developer in the 70's that wanted to tear everything down and build a second Galleria type shopping center. Despite the fact that the development would have brought in a whole lot of needed tax money the good citizens of Bellaire were worried about the traffic congestion and what-not and blocked his repeated attempts to develop the block. Finally as a way to get back at the city he sold the property to Episcopal (at a great loss from what I heard) so the city would end up with a large trac of land they had to provide services for but not be able to tax. Episcopal just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

That did bring back some memories. It was a great place when it opened but as the Alief area went downhill, so did Fame City.

Good. It's stupid that a private school could block the license. Heck, there's a private school on just about every block in Houston.

There's one on the west side of Fort Worth that I always pass on the way to the ranch. I will have to check it out next time I go up there.

Doesn't mean you won't get a citation and have to take 2 days off of work just to get it dismissed.

Interesting. I wonder who is running the site. Most of the content is not active so I'm thinking whomever it is they don't pay much attention to it. Probably just a tribute site.

I think you may be right. I remember eating at PoFolks a lot, just can't remember for sure if it was at this location or not. Seems like they had one in Sharpstown also. They had really good chicken fried steak as I remember.

I'm sure your referring to the end of Greenwillow as it enters the field. I don't remember there being any other streets and this aeriel view from 1973 does not show any. Perhaps they were proposed but never materialized. http://www.historicaerials.com/aerials.php?scale=4E-06&lat=29.654765859779&lon=-95.4494877127064&year=1973

I have mixed emotions about this move. On one hand having a real rivalry against the Rangers will be fun but on the other hand it's the dismal American League with their stupid designated hitter rule.

I'm glad Tanya is now a member and that she posted her new website. She had previously had her stuff on an old Westbury High School website. I've been meaning to compliment her on her new site ever since she sent me an email about it a few weeks ago. It really is one of the best Houston historical sites. Way to go Tanya. You found the right audience here.

Well that cuts my shopping list in half.

Wife and I ate at Oceanaire in the Galleria a couple of months ago and it was very good.

Actually as was discussed in another thread here about Trader Joe's, they still are opening one at the old Alabama Theater but this one in the Woodlands is likely to open first. The third one is supposed to be in Sugar Land although they are still negotiating the location.

And: http://swamplot.com/your-early-photos-of-the-trader-joes-in-the-woodlands/2011-11-08/#more-33683

Nice. I would love to visit there some day.

That just "S-word".

Makes you miss the good old days before political correctness.

It was the first one I was aware of. When it first opened we thought if was the greatest store ever. Fresh made tortillas, great produce section, and lot's of international stuff you couldn't find any where else.