GovernorAggie

Some company just took up a huge chunk of it as their headquarters. You can see the sign from 45. It's called The Planet or something.

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Calm. down. niche. I should know your reasoning on this board by now but here goes anyway... No one has explicitly said verbatim "development for the sake of development". I said it as a part of my comment. However, a lot of attitudes in this town is that development is better than none--even if the development may not be optimal. Otherwise, what development are people fearing would leave or not happen in Houston in the event of more guidelines. Truth be told, Houston may have more requirements than any other city--I think the people here are just used to them. I also don't disagree that it's for people, but do you disagree that people's choices are shaped by other stimuli than their own independent, unbiased thoughts? People are guided into decisions sometimes. We are sometimes guided into what we want. Houston's energy bust has made people 21 years later afraid to say the city is in a "boom" time. The point is that do you think that people would flock to a development because the totally want and like it exactly--or because its there? The CVS on Gray does not reinforce that its development style is ok with people--it just reinforces that there is lack of services in that particular sector for that area, in my humble opinion. Lastly (since the topic has really taken a tangent) it's clear Niche that you believe that private endeavors and ventures are almost always superior to public-based alternatives--if nothing else for efficiencies. The biggest reason, IMO that government tends to be more ineffective (at least in perception) than the private sector is that private sector ventures have many fewer masters than gov't. People feel (rightly so) that gov't has to answer and respond to everyone. The fact that no two people are alike already puts gov't on a "bad" footing. That being said, private ventures fail every blue moon too. Small failures usually don't affect the general population like a gov't failure would. However, if the venture is large enough (Vegas Monorail, the airlines, steel and textile factories, etc.) the threat of failure can have an equally adverse effect on people in general.

One word: schools. It can't be taxes because people in Cy-Fair pay out the nose for things like "Educational Support Centers" with property taxes. Other than that, I would argue that the suburbs have MORE barriers for entry than Houston.

Niche, Thanks for the responses to my post. The biggest statement IMO is that we are relegated to theory. Theory. In a "prove it to me" city. That being said, I don't think traditional zoning fits Houston, but some regulation is needed. And while they may seem inefficient, I do in fact trust one planning commission to handle the issues related to land development. Give the people a little credit. After all, the worst that would happen is that Southampton would whine and complain and the Ashby Tower would either be reduced in scale or not happen in this location. Development for the sake of development is not always optimal. It's harder to unscramble eggs than it is to crack them--meaning that a mistake is harder to undo than it is to prevent (such as your dislike of the Costco development on Richmond--would it have been better for the Planning Commission to work with the developer for a better arrangement of the site?). Regarding the Woodlands, I should have read my post and finshed my thought. What it should have said is that once it becomes a city in 2014 or whenever, the Woodlands may have the strictest zoning in the region. I realize that it's a private venture today, but in less than a decade, it will be an EXTREMELY heavily regulated city--in fact I wouldn't be surprised if it wouldn't be the most regulated in the State. I would be extremely surprised if the people of the Woodlands who take so much pride in their look would allow the area to go to a fragmented deed restriction system. Instead, it will have a strong comprehensive plan with zoning (or some land development code similar to form-based or zoning). I almost feel like I can guarantee that. Which presents an interesting thought--you yourself don't trust the public sector (or maybe just the COH) to make good decisions, but the Woodlands is turning itself into the very system that you don't trust. Is this going to hurt their development or economy? I would hope not. If their economy is so fragile that a silly zoning ordinance would hamper or kill it, then it wasn't strong in the first place. I would say the same about any city--including Houston. It's not too dissimilar to a person living paycheck to paycheck--highly susceptible to outside influences throwing their financial solvency out of whack. Lastly, regarding your last response, the only parallel to zoning is that the City is trying to change its involvement in land development issues (note that I did not say land use). Zoning in and of itself is concerned about land use and many will tell you has contributed to many urban problems today.

I can't say that I agree totally. Does it represent a barrier in some form? Yes, but you are implying with this statement that ALL barriers are bad, which I disagree with. Also, I don't buy that Houston's barriers of entry will be some sort of hindrance that forces development outside of the city. The reasoning is that if Houston was to use zoning, it would likely apply to the entire ETJ, which stretches to Timbuktu except for when it buts up against Sugar Land, Missouri City, The Woodlands, Baytown, etc. That might be an issue except that we all know that Sugar Land has really REALLY strict zoning requirements--down to the color of brick that can be used IIRC. Missouri City has strict regulation and we all know that the Woodlands may have the area's strictest zoning requirements in the region. Does Sugar Land and the Woodlands look bland to a lot of people? Sure. But they are also some of the hottest markets in the area for you-name-it development. One could mention school districts as another x-factor to development, but my guess is that if/when the day comes when Sealy, Rosenberg, and Fulshear's school districts are viewed better than Sugar Land's or Missouric City's, they won't drop their zoning requirements as an effort to remain competitive. So where would the Houston-bound development flee to? Waller? New Caney? Cleveland? Winnie? Because there's a lot of regulation to go around in-between. You may know better that all of us that the feasibility of a project in Houston doesn't necessarily equal feasibility in Prairie View (which also may have some sort of zoning regulation). Developers know that Houston as a whole is growing like gangbusters. They also know about pent-up demand that may exist for closer in development in response to worsening traffic among other reasons. Something as piddly as a zoning regulation will not make or break a deal in Houston. After all, it's not like Post or Hines or Transwestern or Trammel Crow haven't seen *gasp* a zoning requirement or a form-based code requirement before. I'll admit that smaller developers that have only developed solely in the City of Houston may have trouble with new regulations, but they will adapt if they want to continue to prosper. If those developers have managed to make the numbers work in Sugar Land, then I attribute their claims to sound and fury signifying nothing. Speaking of, I have never seen proof (numbers/costs) of the actual increase in costs to the individual public citizen that zoning (or something like it) would bring. Is it $100? $1000? If I can't afford a house that $251,000, then I really shouldn't be buying one that's $250,000 either. On the other hand, if zoning or a park ordinance or any other regulation is going to make a $250,000 home cost $275,000, then we can have a discussion. Until the numbers are presented, consider me skeptical of the claim. It makes me wonder what the outcry was like when Houston told developers that they couldn't build in a whole 25' space in the front of their property. They adapted then. They'll adapt to whatever is new. Zoning (or non-zoning) is not the great equalizer that helps Houston compete with its neighbors--it's being home to over 2 million in its city limits and more than 3 million in its ETJ with millions more to come.

Did anyone attend this?

I think I will be glad when we get a newer Federal Courthouse. The GSA really seems to be making some statements with its more recent architecture.

I think 45 was supposed to come back up and go over the Bayou. There was supposed to be a grand, signature bridge (cable stayed) to go over the Bayou.

FWIW, the old Shamrock leasing trailer is gone.

I personally think there are several better locations (as everyone else has said). However, I don't think you can say that this is "developer" versus "homeowner". They are both landowners, and it seems to me that in the City of Houston, they are equals. The "developer" also worked hard to get the income possible to buy the land and build on that spot. It's not the developers' fault that he has the money to do this project and his upcoming new neighbors don't. When Houstonians speak of defending their individual property rights--they are also speaking for their neighbor's right to do what they want with their property--no matter if the neighbor is an individual or a company. To think otherwise is hypocrisy or admitting, "oh, we didn't envision this." It may be an unintended consequence, but a consequence nonetheless. Speaking of--has anyone gotten the Houston Property Rights Association's views on this whole issue? If they don't support the developer, then they are not worth the paper that their name is written on. People seem to forget (or be ignorant of) the fact that had this been a zoning case (and I'm not advocating zoning in the most traditional sense of governing uses--but in a sense of form), EVERY neighbor would have been notified within 200 feet of this property that the developer was applying to construct a building larger than the surrounding buildings (which would have resulted in a density designation change from the rest of the area). These same neighbors would have thrown a fit, but to the planning commission in a PUBLIC, recorded hearing, who would have then turned the development down or forced them back to the drawing board. People automatically think of something like zoning as the City making decisions for neighborhoods and property owners from an ivory tower overlooking everyone else. This is not the case. There's a reason why other cities have "rezoning battles"--it's because of the same issue as Southampton. The difference is that HOA dues would not have to go to pay for Rusty Hardin to fight a winless battle--instead it would have been their taxpayer dollars (that they already pay) at work through planning department employees and planning commission public meetings revealing development plans before they are done deals. This development is, for what it's worth, a done deal.

Tell me about it. Worrying about using the word "boom" certainly brought nothing to the city. Embrace that Houston is trying to step into the BOOM times of this decade. There. I said it. BOOM! BOOM! B-B-B-B-B-BOOM!!!!!

Let the construction begin! Maybe they can make it 43 stories instead!!!

Work continues to be done on the back half of this place. It looks to be home to a new retail spot. Frames are up for a new store front. I hope it's not Super Stop relocating, though--or worse yet a pawn shop or check-cashing place. I really can't think of any other type of business wanting to share a building with the Main Food Mart...then again, it IS Houston and juxtaposition is the order of the day. With that in mind it may be a Tiffany's

You know, this is just pitiful. Do nothing about the building, but construct a pedestrian protection barrier since we know that the building is a piece of junk. Is think how to get around safety codes? Is that what an absentee landowner should do to a slum property--just build a gate around it so no one gets in?

Unless I'm missing something, this would be the tallest hotel in Houston, right? Or at least one of the tallest.

It's looks like the Astroworld site, but I think that this is one of DPZ's sites for Frank Liu, and IIRC, he doesn't own the site, but some group out of Conroe does.

Great story! They also said a La Quinta was under consideration near MMP. I'd like for it to be nice and tall--but if all it does is take up an empty parking lot, it's a small victory in my eyes.

If the developer owns the property, let him build what he wants, right?!! Houston at its finest!

I think that travel to Abuja should be ok. It's Lagos that's the risk of your own life and well-being. It's too bad because Lagos was going to be one of the world's next great cities. It had a long-range plan (completed by the Wilbur Smith and Associates consulting firm) that included land use, LRT, and so many other great enhancements. And then the military took over the country and used Lagos as its pilfering central. I have friends from Lagos and while things are looking up, they have a LOOOOOOONG way to go! They are also building a new domestic terminal at their airport and are building new subdivisions and master planned communities left and right--just like what you'd see in Houston. Lagos is also getting a rather surprisingly large number of 5-star hotels. By the way, Lagos went from like 300,000 people in 1950 to (by some counts) anywhere from 7 to 15 MILLION today!!!!! Depending on the agency, it's also predicted to be among the world's 10 largest cities by 2010 (IIRC). Order or none, growth that fast is bound to throw things out of whack.

Saw some people doing work on this place today. The blank yellow wall between the entrance and the Sakowitz was opened revealing the empty space inside, and the workers seemed to be putting up some newer type of tile in some places. Maybe it's something...but chances are, it's nothing.

The good thing is that airports (due to airlines, it seems) tend to follow through on their plans--no matter how long they may take.

The Rock's new movie ("The Game Plan" or something like that) has a Houston flyover in its full trailer.

And it's not summer is it? It's gotta be winter b/c Houstonians DO NOT go outside in the summer!!!

Is it just me, or do the Chronicle forums REALLY stink? I thought people on HAIF were skeptical, but wow, those folks take it to a whole new level. Every news item can be traced back to immigration, Metro, government in general, and Mayor White. Who knew that all of Houston's problems led back to 4 main issues?