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GovernorAggie

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Everything posted by GovernorAggie

  1. If it's what I think it is, I think that some people (including HBJ, which wouldn't be a first) have this confused. If it's form-based, that's all it is--form. It's not just building size, but also setbacks and parking placement. I think it's a good idea if its presented as kind of a "pre-packaged" option for a developer to choose if he wants to build a development that's different than the prevailing ordinances in place. Otherwise, he has to spend time going through time consuming and money-consuming variance requests and processes to reduce setbacks, parking, etc. I think its harmless to at least have the options.
  2. Agreed on Wells Fargo! It's my fave DT. It seemed to have some issues recently. The neon seems to be in several segments and many segments wouldn't light up so it looked discontinuous. Hopefully they fix is b/c that was the best lighting scheme of all the dominant west facing towers. I do like Reliant, Continental, and Chevron, though. Too bad more isn't done with Heritage Plaza. I'm thinking rooftop spotlights to highlight the temple-crown of the building. Same idea for Pennzoil. I don't know what I'd do with JPMC.
  3. I think I'll call it, "the Frankenstein Interchange" mwahahahahaha!!!!
  4. Oh don't get me wrong, I would prefer an ESPNZone WAAAAAAY before a Virgin MegaStore. I went to the one in DT San Francisco and really didn't see what was so great about it--there was nothing there that you can't find in say...FYE. Although they did have a great selection of figurines (Thundercats, XMen, Transformers, etc.). I just posted the article b/c there seemed to be such an early desire on HAIF to have one here. I also saw that ESPNZone was snooping around the Park Shops back in 2003, but nothing ever happened. They even said that tey have no plans of expanding their concept (I emailed them a few months ago about a Houston location). Nonetheless, I would think that HP would be better suited than Park. Park feels much more...isolated...and even INsulated to me. Who knows, maybe they'll come after all and compete with FOX Sports Grill in some respects.
  5. Could Virgin MegaStore come to Houston? Maybe at HP? Maybe elsewhere? Check this out: http://www.topix.net/content/kri/390288619...013332998563454 "Despite the chain's recent contraction, the suits at Virgin are mulling another Texas location, this one in H-Town. 'We are considering Houston as a new market,' Wright confirmed. 'But there are no definite plans to open a megastore in Houston at present.'" ------------------------------------ I'm a little concerned about the fitness of Virgin, and I wouldn't want the store in HP if all it'll do is shut down two years later. Nonetheless, it is 'interesting' at least that they are 'mulling' a Houston location.
  6. Highway6 got a a pic of the construction on One Park Place. Could someone (stjky perhaps?) get picks of the heavy equipment currently at the HP site? It's impressive from gorund level, I'm sure it is from above too!
  7. It's 31 stories now, but the story said it could grow (basically double) to around 50 stories based on demand. And they purchased the option on the next block! But I agree with H-Town Man--I wouldn't mind a dozen towers of 30-40 or so stories in place of say, 5 60 story office towers. If we can somehow get more mixed use towers (residential/hotel/office for example), then I think taller would be better. Taller ones would come if several 30, 40, even 50 story buildings quickly filled up because of the large blocks of space available. Either way, great news! Even greater news is the 6 Houston looks like it will be built on spec also, and Hines really is planning a new tower, likely for the "last seedy block of Main".
  8. I would have to agree. I have been to the MarqE several times--more than I can count. And I've only been there on Friday nights. I have never seen anyone get in trouble--for that matter, I've never seen a heavy security or police presence there. I have also never felt threatened at any time by the youngsters who are there. Do many of them dress like they're out of a rap video? Yes. Do many girls dress in ways that you wonder how their parents let them out of their houses wearing belts (or what they call "skirts")? Yes. Do you wish that the kids would use a little better language? Yes. But have I ever seen a fight there? No. Have I ever seen any gun-waving? No. Have I heard gunfire? No. Actually, the only time I have ever heard gunfire in Houston was on *prestigious* Kirby at 59 (not 610--WOW). For that matter, wasn't there just a shooting at the Shell station next to the Galleria? Is the Galleria now a "thug" hotspot? After all, I see people wearing wife-beaters and hip-hop jerseys with their pants hanging past their behinds in the Galleria too--and they're of all races.
  9. UPDATE!!! Pavement is now being broken up and removed from the Main St. lot!!!
  10. Thanks for the pics of Mecca. I think I need to head up for a nice Fatburger and a Shakes frozen custard this weekend.
  11. The Main St. lot was completely fenced off this morning. There were cars there, but I suspect that it may be contractor parking.
  12. I thought about this this past weekend and I personally think that it may go on the parking lot north of 5 Houston Center. At least I hope it does!
  13. It is indeed the West Bldg. block. I will be glad to see it all go. I also hope that it will include retail on the lower level (or levels!). Maybe this could spur some activity with the buildings north of the new garage (Domino's and defunct Murphy's).
  14. Yeah, last time I checked it was still intact. I would guess that its work will be a little more tricky with it being next to Main and everything. The first parts of construction on the new parking garage at Main and Walker required a lot of extra coordination with the trains, traffic, and construction equipment. This will be the same here I suspect.
  15. I agree that it's good. Even if it is gonna help bring on yet another mall. As far as those wanting to incorporate Cypress...like others said here, Not gonna happen. The difference bet. the Woodlands and Cypress is that the Woodlands has a pronounced sense of place and community that is individual and independent of its surrounding area. Dare I say, it's a "community" with almost definite boundaries. Cypress--where is Cypress? Where does it start? Where does it end? If Cypress incorporates, how will it know where it starts and where Spring and Copperfield stops? You can't tell out there. Jersey Village is even incorporated and you can't tell where it stops and everywhere else starts.
  16. Back on topic--work on two of the three lots has gotten pretty intense pretty quickly!
  17. Touche. Been to Clear Lake. Forgot Ellington was even there--whatever that means. I still think it's a good idea--even without closing Hobby.
  18. Niche, I didn't realize you were so young, man! Welcome to the party! That being said, first of all, I was stunned to see what you suggested--and I like it! I think is the least bit you'd get Brazos Valley politicians on board because they've been crying about being "the largest metropolitan area in Texas (maybe even the US) not on the Interstate system". I know the same can be said for the RGV, but at least they're slated be get their link through I-69. Secondly, I like the idea of closing Hobby. The Stapleton redevelopment in Denver could be a good example of redevelopment, but Hobby is also not terribly too far from NASA, so it could emerge as a hub of more aerospace supporting industries--revitalizing that entire area. Thirdly, I like the idea of Maglev as a technology instead of "proven" high speed rail. This is Texas, right? We are supposed to do everything everyone else does, but bigger, better, and faster. If it can happen anywhere, why NOT Texas. And I think that people would ride it--plenty of people. I think that it would provide a new travel option for Texans and even for people traveling to the State. Business could be conducted in an entirely different way, especially if tickets cost less than an airline ticket--particularly on short notice. To fund it, I think that you would have the state build it, and if the state showed its willingness enough, you could probably even get a huge amount of funding in the form of demonstration project funds. I would even not rule out seeking money from the airlines. To save on land costs, I would try building it in current state ROW as much as possible (maybe using Interstates, SH, FM, RM, and other roads). It would have be to elevated given the high speeds, so you have no traffic conflicts. I also would have no problem with a Cintra-esque arrangement of allowing someone to build it, charge a fare (with the ceiling provided by the state) and allowing them to lease the state's air rights at stations for development. I'm just thinking that as a Rockets fan, if I want to see them play at San Antonio or Dallas, for the price of a round trip in my car plus wear and tear, I could leave after work, go to the game, and come back all before midnight. I also think that development of Galveston and Corpus would explode because a once-in-a-while trip for North and Central Texans to the beach will easily become a monthly thing. The money that would've been spent on a hotel can be spent on a train ticket, because if it only takes a couple hours--the time of watching a DVD--to get from Dallas to Galveston (instead of the 5+ it now takes), it becomes a simple trip to make.
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