GovernorAggie

A couple of months ago I asked one of the managers when the tent would be replaced. She said it might be a year or more due to the design and cost. That tent did a great job of shading the store entrance from the hot Texas sun, but I question the use of a material so fragile in an geographic area with frequent windstorms and the occasional hurricane. What was the architect thinking?

Thanks for the info. With that in mind, I guess it says a lot about the material if it lasted this long. I look forward to having it back, because that made that location pretty unique to me--almost festive

A side note on the HEB--what happened to the big tent covering? It didn't look damaged before they removed it--but now it looks stonehenge-esque with the columns and wires remaining.

So at 120,000 sf, that would make it about 2 stories??

Back on topic...

T-Minus 2 months or so until Pavilions opens.

And 5 Allen Center is going to break ground in 2Q09. Its a decent sized building too, but its so far away from anything, I don't understand how it changes the downtown landscape. Its practically in midtown.

I don't think it's practically in Midtown. Unless Heritage Tower and 3 Allen are considered Midtown. This tower is very much downtown and like swtsig said, would dramatically alter all the western views of the skyline, including northwest from the I-45/I-10 interchange, due west from I-10, Memorial, and Allen, and southwest from 59.

think that is the case but i could be wrong.

NOw that you mention it--that makes complete sense.

(I said "More or less" at the beginning because it is my understanding that Finger did not actually buy either of these blocks. He has leased the block on which One Park Place is being built and, as mentioned above, it was reported that he had obtained "control" of the adjoining block.)

That's true. He leased the block from Hakeem Olajuwon. I can't remember the length of time, but it's nothing like the 999(!) year lease that UP and BNSF have on the Causeway railroad bridge.

KD Aubert, I think.

She was also in "Friday after Next" and was one of the Fanta girls.

"Wanna Fanta, don't you wanna?"

Maybe one of the more economically-gifted HAIFers can answer this...does the feasibility of Five Allen Center increase the longer that Six Houston Center is delayed? Or is there no connection?

For what it's worth, I saw a worker tossing junk/debris out of a window today. There's also a wooden structure that's been placed inside the parking garage on the north side, where another worker was standing. Needless to say, I was very excited to see something going on there!

7 blocks? why would they do that when they can do lone star!

Eliminate the 7 blocks with...REV Houston!!!

http://revhouston.com/

Looks to me that if REV Houston uses advertisements for funding, this new hotel group should pitch in big time--win win for the guests, the hotel, and REV, IMO.

Then again, that's if REV sticks around long enough.

I think we agree to disagree. Don't want to drive the thread off topic though,,,

I look forward to HP opening. Does anyone think they'll meet he October opening date seeing that it's roughly 3 months away?

Unfortunately, people have to eventually grow up, hopefully learn from past mistakes and try not to make them again (especially at the risk of losing their shirts). But hey, this boom just started. Give our developers a few years of raking in the cash and I'm sure we will return to the days of irresponsible, grandiose and excessive building.

At any rate, comparing the optimistic, dynamic energy in Houston these days to ANY city in America is unfair and just plain dumb. Look around you. This city is rockin' with positive vibes, high paying jobs, 70's style growth, building cranes, light rail expansion and mixed use projects. And you want to talk about KC, Charlotte and Norfolk. Give me a break.

No offense.

None taken. I did say that I was daydreaming.

By the way, I think that a comparison with Charlotte is more fair than we may think, especially given its current size. The level of activity in their downtown alone would even make big 'ol Houston proud if we had that activity regionwide. That's not to say that our activity isn't also great, because it is.

You actually think comparing Houston to KC is a good thing?

There was probably a day when that was a valid statement. But today's Houston is, IMO, a gun-shy shell of the bravado-filled town that it once was. We've gone from the Magnolia City to the Space City to the Cost-Benefit Analysis Capital of the World. Comparisons with Kansas City, definitely Charlotte, and maybe even Norfolk are valid for Houston.

Maybe what we should be saying is, "You actually think comparing KC to Houston is a good thing?"

I know I may get sliced and diced as a financially irresponsible, impractical, and unrealistic person with my sentiments, but I can daydream can't I?

The rendering may be a little old, but I think it would be cool to have the backside (northern face) of the building up here on HAIF for everyone. The only problem is that I can't upload the pic at the moment, but here's their brocure if someone wants to.

It's worth a look!

http://www.discoverytowerhouston.com/disco...er_brochure.pdf

The north-facing side is on page 14 of 15.

Like I said, it's an older image, but I think it gives a good idea of what the "other" side of the building will look like.

basketball (the U.S. most dangerous sport).

What? Why is that?

Walking a few Blocks in Houston (during the summer) makes my pits look like those "clinical strength" commercials before they use it.

The lighted stain glass window and bell tower are very nice at night.

I think it means they have four months to get them up, since the opening is in four months. This is great!

Wow. Totally. Exhausting.

This discussion belongs in "Other Houston" not HP.

Oh by the way people, don't forget that Uptown is also subsidized and has been for a long time by the State and City.

There, I got my jab in there too.

Rather than just attracting people who are looking to live cheaply or work for an oil company, it would be nice to attract other types of people to Houston as well...

The best sentence of the entire thread.

My two cents on the screens...I think they would be best on the blank walls along Dallas. Each of the buildings seem to have large blank walls. Main Street will still have buzz from the view of the synergy of lights and sounds within and people walking about the breezeway within the HP.

I thought I read somewhere that the existing one is being remodeled--floor by floor.

Why don't we just turn all of the most beautiful historical homes in Houston into parking lots then?

Starting with nate's! lol, j/k

Seriously, it's a crying shame that everything in Houston seems to come down to "how much money can be made off this". Oh well, such is life in my adopted hometown.

And it's hilarious!