bkjones98

I personally think turning the Astrodome into a hotel is a silly idea. Other than the Rodeo or the Olympics, I can't imagine an event large enough to justify a hotel that size in the area. But that is just my opinion.

I know I have said, "Casino" several times; but because I know it will never happen, that has been mostly been in jest. Just give the damn thing to the state and have them turn it into a museum or something. Or The Astrodome Casino (proceeds go to payback the City and the rest goes to fund education. )

Am I the only one who feels confused and/or "out of the loop" on this argument?

This ad lends me to believe it wasn't created by a Houston Ad Firm. Most people in Houston, rich or poor, call Post Oak BLVD plain ol' Post Oak. You say "on Post Oak" to a Houstonian and they know the area you are talkining about. Post Oak is already swank yet this ad seems to want to add more flare to a street that needs no additional identity.

You say Boulevard, most think River Oaks.

Well put.

/my 2 cents

Noticed that 4208 Garrott is undergoing asbestos abatement prior to its demolition, so the same may be true for the Colquitt property (especially since much of the wood is termite-ridden).

That is what I was thinking. They have totally stripped out the building, and all the copper wire was probably stolen long ago; so asbestos is the only reasonable explanation I can think of.

I don't know how many people have actually been inside, but this is a rather nice store. The exterior of the building, however, is far from inviting. Aren

It is definitely different, but that is a plus in my opinion. I think it looks great.

I think the hospital is going on on the sit of the old Fu Kim. There were renderings up on a sign.

Huh, that's odd. In Texas, a landlord can give a tenant 30 days to relocate from one unit to another within the same complex, and if another unit isn't being made available, the tenant only gets 60 days to remove themselves completely. ...must be a PR play, or something.

I'm certainly not an expert in landlord-tenant law, but where in the property code does it say that a landlord can arbitrarily terminate a lease and evict a tenant with just sixty-day's notice?

Did the developer buy that whole block, because the renderings look a little big for just that old apartment lot. Not to mention one of the renderings show a view from Colquitt.

See: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&...c=addr&om=0

hi everyone

long time reader, first time poster

Long time listener to sports radio too, eh?

Following the analogy of my avatar, I noticed more construction crews and equipment out there today.

I can't believe we haven't seen a rendering yet (or did I just miss that).

When a person is buying an apartment for more than two-million dollars, they usually want to pick out all their own finishes--like importing marble from their native planet. I think the logic is that Turnberry could never chose a univeral finish, so just let the super-rich pick whatever they want.

How unfortunate. There are so many parking lots. And uglier buildings.

Sorry if I'm late in the game on this one. It's just frustrating when good looking stuff comes down instead of the things that need to go.

Like most of us, I would love to see the Montague renovated. As noted above, however, it just sat there as a brothel for decades.

The silver lining, as I see it, will be the improved value of the adjacent buildings. I can't wait to see the old Texaco building and its north-Rusk counterpart turned into a swanky hotel or luxury condos. With the addition of Main Place, I think the renovation of these buildings is just a few years away.

Welcome to the thread.

Like it or not, vagrants are citizens too. Just because they are homeless doesn't mean they have no rights ... or that they don't have rights to be somewhere. Now loitering is a different story, but just because someone looks (and possibly smells) bad, doesn't mean they have any less rights than a group of well-to-doers hanging out (loitering?).

You quoted me, but I'm not sure what your criticisms have to do with my opinion. I didn't say they weren't citizens, or that they didn't have a "right" to sleep on the street. Walking in front of traffic and using the street as their personal trashcan and toilet I have a problem with--I don't care what they look like.

If you have actually seen the area we are talking about, and the situation there is okay to you; then we just have differing views.

Yeah, I drove by the other day as well. It's coming along very fast. It seems weird to have such a big structure so close to the road not in downtown.

I agree. It feels like it is leaning over Westheimer and Kirby--I like it!

What is the scoop on the retail tenants?

Does anyone have a day and time for emplosion? I would really love to see it.

God, I drive down San Jac. going downtown everyday, and the homeless problem at Search is awful.

Now I certainly don't mind people hanging out at a soup kitchen, employment finder, or whatever that place is; but that street is bad! I'll be in morning rush hour and vagrants are just strolling across the street, jay walking, drinking beer, and urinating in plain view.

How about we just drop the pretense and start referring to our region as part of Central Texas?

Hay now! Why don't you just drop the pretense and tell me you are an aggy. I'm kidding, of course.

But it doesn't have to be an Alamo Draft House theater. I just like the independent theaters that serve food and alcohol, and play both cult classics and new releases. Both theaters seem to be the right size. They are not, however, big enough to compete with the Edwards 24 monstrosities.

I stand by my Rudy

I must admit, I had to look up on wikipedia what in the heck bocce ball is.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bocce

Never heard of it before. For those who play, is it pretty fun?

It's generally the same principal as washers or horseshoes. Someone throws a Wiffle ball and then everyone takes turns lobbing a cannon ball to land as close to the Wiffle ball as possible. The closest color to the wiffle ball scores. I think its fun, and a perfect game for the park.

I worked in the Federal Courthouse one summer in law school, and I was told that the courthouse was designed during the cold war and was supposed to survive a nuclear attack on the City!

This may sound absurd, but the first few stories have many extra load bearing columns to provide redundant support. For example, the magistrate judges' courtrooms have pillars in the middle of the room. These columns really stand out, and I would imagine that they would be designed around under normal circumstances.

If you're worried that all the out-of-town urban planning experts hate downtown, check out Blair Kamin's appraisal in the Chicago Tribune during the 2004 Super Bowl.

Link?

The new plaza:

"Why should the smokers get all the cool places to hang?" MidtownCoog

I posted this question in the "Downtown" thread, but does anyone know if there will be a Recreation Department where one can rent equipment like baseball gloves, Frisbees, Bocce balls, etc.?

Any update on landmark designation? I've always thought that either or both of those theaturs would make a great Alamo Drafthouse. We really need one of those inside the loop. ...And a Rudy's BBQ, but that's another topic.

One of the people behind Discovery Green contacted me late last week. She's looking for people who play bocce ball. Sounds like her organization would like to have some people out there playing on opening day.

Anyway, if you play or know of a bocce-related organization in Houston, post here or PM me so I can pass the information along.

This may be beside your point, but will Discovery Park have a place to rent things like Bocce balls? It would nice to have a park headquarters were you could rent/buy Frisbees, baseball gloves, bocce balls, etc.