GovernorAggie

I saw Austin's city Hall this weekend and thought it was the absolute weirdest looking thing I've ever seen. I guess it fits with "Keep Austin Weird" mantra. It's architecture matched the CSC building on both sides. And that beak-like point over 2nd street is also very weird. I wonder how long it will be before that thing is maligned by some too-tall truck.

This is true, but you and I both know that when the talk of traffic congestion arises, nearly everyone is mainly talking about freeways, not arterials and surface streets (which make up much much more of our surface transportation systems).

I am just waiting on people's responses to Cox's editorial. So-called "open-minded" urbanists have been rubbed the wrong way by Cox for so long that they may think that Union-Pacific paid him to write this article. In my opinion, Cox has not been an opponent of transit, just rail transit, and I don't think he's a proponent of 40-lane freeways either. Either way, i was glad to see him write this.

University Drive location attracts restaurants, shops By KELLI LEVEY Eagle Staff Writer A recent addition to the Gateway development near University Drive and Earl Rudder Freeway South in College Station houses several retail stores including Talbot

I think this is a great development for College Station. First American Bank was also moving its headquarters to a new 10 story bldg to be built in C.S.--but this was before the bank was bought by Citibank recently. I also saw that the Gateway development on University Drive is supposed to be a "Woodlands Mall-clone". I think there is also a pretty sizeable residential component of that project. There's a Pappas Burger under construction as well as an NHL-sized ice skating rink. College Station is easily a bang-for-your-buck town. I am very impressed with this 70,000 person town (probably only 25-30,000 permanent residents, though).

Here's the article on the Historic designations H-Town Man mentioned. Sixteen distinguished buildings on the Texas A&M campus were recognized for historical importance to A&M heritage and for being models for the Campus Master Plan in a ceremony held outside the Jack K. Williams Administration Building Saturday. "These 16 buildings all embody the character of Texas A&M University," said Executive Vice President and Provost David Prior. The Campus Master Plan is set to take place over the next 40 years at A&M and would greatly increase the size and scope of the A&M campus. "As part of A&M's Campus Master Plan, these 16 buildings' markers illustrate the quality of people that came before us and how they still inspire us today," said A&M President Robert M. Gates. The Jack K. Williams Administration Building was built in 1932 in honor of Williams, the 17th president of Texas A&M. It faced the then-new Highway 6 to symbolize the shift from train-to-automobile travel. Other buildings recognized include the Chemistry Building, which was built in 1929 and has Mexican-American influence in its color schemes and ornamentations, Nagle Hall, which was built in 1909 and is one of the oldest buildings at A&M; Bolton Hall, where, on Nov. 24, 1921, William A. "Doc" Tolson, Class of 1923, and Harry M. Saunders, Class of 1922, produced the first live play-by-play football game broadcast on the radio in the nation (A&M vs. Texas); and the YMCA Building, which was financed by students, alumni and the John D. Rockefeller Foundation. Construction of future buildings on campus is said to be based on these distinguished buildings. "What's great about the Campus Master Plan is that it recognizes buildings on campus that model for future buildings, and we intend to create a harmony amongst new buildings by drawing inspiration from the old ones," Gates said. The celebration of the historic significance of the buildings will celebrate A&M's emphasis and continuation of tradition. "Of all the universities in the world, Texas A&M has the heart of tradition in it," said Director of Historic Resources Imaging Laboratory David Woodcock.

The school is heading in the right direction, however, they are planning on demolishing an INSANE amount of buildings. The one I'd hate to see go the most on their list is the Pavilion. One that I wish would disappear is the oogly Harrington Tower and building. My favorite buildings on campus without a doubt, though, are Jack K. Williams and the Chemistry Building. If anyone hasn't been inside of Jack K. Williams, I suggest the effort to see this beautiful structure--even though the elevator is nowhere near as elegant. I also hate the Meteorology building (tallest on campus) and ironically the Architecture buildings.

Well, if I have my information correctly, the tradition for building the Bonfire USED to be that it was designed and built by Corps of Cadets students who were ENGINEERING majors. I don't know what happened to that "tradition/rule" but it seems to me that it was the best way. Allowing regular kids to build the thing was the main mistake. I think that leaving it to Corp Engineering students, or even just engineering students, would have been best. However, it would have only been a matter of time before someone in our letigious (sp?) society sued the school for discrimination or something of the sort for not allowing just anyone to build the bonfire. Nevermind the fact that it was for safety and expertise along with tradition.

NASCAR is the fastest growing "sport" in America, folks. Deal with it. As much as people consider NASCAR an insult (which I think is very conceited from some so-called "open-minded" people) look at the way it's changing. You have tracks near LA, Las Vegas, Chicago, Kansas City, and even in Michigan, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania. Not exactly the "Redneck Country". By the way, coming from North Carolina, where NASCAR was born and has since snatched races away from to put in California, Illinois, etc., I can tell you that the people there would be a lot happier if NASCAR had never gotten so popular. NASCAR is to North Carolina as football is to Texas.

Actually pineda, CincoRanch is talking about the columns further south of I-10. These aren't part of the Katy Frwy. project--they are a good deal further south. CincoRanch is talking about the columns for the mainlanes between the feeder routes.

lol, and I think that the SH 87 bridge built in Galveston will be tolled, with the proceeds going towards the state's contribution to landing Disney here! If Disney bought a bunch of land here, it would not make me think that they were coming. I would think that they want to develop it for other uses, like someone elser mentioned. It's a little known fact that McDonald's makes more money from real estate than it does from food. In fact, McDonald's might be the largest private landowner in the US--maybe even the world. Similarly, I would not be surprised if Disney made all its money in other oh-yeah-now-that-you-mention-it-that-makes-sense ways. Besides all that, Disney was on the verge of being bought by Comcast for $66 BILLION!!! Also, Eisner is stepping down in '06 and Disney will likely change things up with a new CEO. Would Disney come here--maybe. Is it likely? I don't think it is for at least 10-15 years.

I think Disney should come here and take advantage of the open space still available in some areas. I propose a location like Sealy, Hempstead, Rosenberg, or almost anywhere in Brazoria county. Those locations could get a large amount of people from San Antonio and Austin. Especially Sealy or even Columbus. On the other hand, a Disney park, with all it's fairy-taleness and perfection may fit best in the Woodlands

WGG, Thanks for the advice! However, I think that my family could very well be one of those with howling babies! I have a wife and daughter (who turns 1 on the 14th, btw). Ironically, the reason for living in the 'burbs in affordability. My wife and I would prefer a great neighborhood with calm streets, low crime, sidewalks, and plenty of amenities nearby. We have family memberships to the Zoo, the Museum of Natural Science, and the Children's Museum. Couple that with the fact that my wife have a very young half-brother (7 years old) and we make plenty of trips to Herman Park and the Museum District. If we could afford to, we'd live inside 610. Maybe later. The schools aren't an issue since my wife plans on homeschooling our daughter--and part of her curriculum would be numerous trips to the museums and zoo. She also longs for a good park and walking/running areas. She's not so hot on Pearland, either. I think that we will end up buying a house (still a few years away) in the Pearland/Friendswood area or the Woodlands or maybe even the new Bridgelands area. So you can see that I am learning quickly that "when wife's happy, life's happy", lol.

That Frost Tower is very cool. I just wish it was about 100 feet taller.

Well, I can honestly say that Pearland is on the top of my list when I finish here at A&M and move to Houston.

I hope that Baghdad becomes the jewel it was pre-Saddam Hussein. "Cairo thinks, Beirut publishes, and Baghdad reads".

This is my absolute favorite building in all of Texas!

Yeah, I-30 was the first tollway in Texas, called the Dallas-Ft. Worth Turnpike (or Tollway). Virginia also took out the booths on I-95 near Richmond. I remember it was a toll road in the late 80s-early 90s.

Sounds good to me

The Final Four is in 2011 in Reliant

Yeah, it runs into the Beltwy. Harris County is extending it to US 90 (the freeway part south of 610).

Well I was finally on the Grand Parkway for the first time ever last weekend, heading from Sugar Land to San Antonio. I must say that it was a good shortcut, but I don't think it is worth the $4B+ that it will cost. Plus, I sincerely hope that the development near I-10 isn't repeated all along it. I liked the rural areas around it.

I think the next line should go all the way to IAH.

Anyone remember when the city supposedly wasn't gonna allow Toyota's logo on the top of the building? Well we see how much teeth the city has. A nice big red Toyota 'T' on the roof now, and IMO it looks cool!