MaggieMay

I walked to 1MC today from OST--wanted to try the cafeteria again because I can't eat at Luby's every day.  Pickings are slim in the area.  

The sign for this place certainly caught my interest.  There will be food!  Still no construction, but it will improve the area.  

So, I was glad to see this thread had been so active.  I use light rail most days as part of my commute & I've been wishing for better shopping downtown. Wasn't Macy's closed because someone else wanted the land?  It only used half the Foley's building, but that part did have customers.  Between commuters & the new people living downtown, I'm sure more shopping could be supported. Phoenicia is great--just a few blocks from the rail; many of us like to walk or ride bikes. (I knew Georgia's was doomed the day they had no caffeinated, unflavored coffee beans.  That was months before it closed.)

Alas, I found no news about the shopping area on Dallas. Isn't there a better place for "Light Rail Sucks" posts?  Things have improved downtown since it was finished even though there's plenty of room for improvement.  And no, buses are not better--the (fairly) recent bus route upgrades were great but the rail part of the commute is always more pleasant.  But what do I know?  I ride public transit in Houston--I don't live in Chicago. 

So, what's up on Dallas? 

Great new!  I wait at the light rail stop across from the old Gulf Building four days a week & I've been wondering what will be going in.  The MFAH had a walking tour to support Sculpted In Steel & we got to check the building out.  The bank lobby is spectacular & will probably remain as it is. The corner being reno'd was originally Foley's.  Also liked the frescos mentioned in the article--here's Modern Houston!   

The Isabella Court was the jewel in the crown of last weekend's 2017 Good Brick Tour.  The interior features one large courtyard & two smaller ones, and numerous levels of stairs linking the courtyards & apartments.  Tile work, wrought iron, paint, plants, chandeliers and an ornamental well are part of the decor--there's a picturesque vista everywhere you turn.  

Three apartments were open for inspection--two of them the larger corner apartments.  Each apartment also has multiple levels--and interior windows that are part of the ventilation system.  Yesterday's cool weather illustrated how well that system worked.  Each place also has a kiva-style fireplace--once with open gas flames, now strictly ornamental.  (There's now central air & heat--those window units I remember from long ago are gone.)  Kitchens & bathrooms were neat but minimal--those who must have glossy, modern surfaces may look elsewhere. 

The area's doing well--with galleries on the ground floor & rail access. New construction is going in but nothing will ever match the Isabella Court.  I believe rents have gone up considerably from the figures quoted earlier in the thread.  And the waiting list remains quite long. 

I left kicking myself that I hadn't made an effort the first time I heard of that waiting list.  That was many, many years ago. 

At least there was one bright spot in last night's electoral fiasco.  I live in the non-dry Greater Heights Area (which isn't as much of a hellhole as I've heard it described), so I couldn't vote on this item.  But the Heights residents spoke.  

I'll be glad for a nearby H.E.B.--which I much prefer to Kroger.  Warning: I ride Metro, so I'm one of those "bus riders."   I'll try really hard not to pass out in a pool of vomit as I tote my baked goods, produce & 6-pack of 5 O'Clock Pils home through your neighborhood..  

On 9/12/2016 at 0:36 PM, sevfiv said:

Yeah, this is definitely not a (NOT an!!! ugh) historic renovation - it is a modern renovation of an old shell of a building that was badly neglected for a long time. But those are just nitpicky words - I'm glad to see prime waterfront property repurposed by a nonprofit entity any day....

Love Street was a dump.  Some fine music went on there.  And the surrounding area was site of some interesting hijinks.  

But the old building itself was hardly memorable.  It started to crumble as renovations began, so something useful was constructed on its bones.  

This source seems pretty good.  Hedgecroft was located at 5010 Montrose. 

The building was originally the home of Neill Turner Masterson, son of Harris Masterson I and father of Harris Masterson III. The Masterson family only lived there until about 1925 and it became home to the Sterling Mutual Life Insurance Company.

Beginning in 1949, Hedgecroft Hospital was located on Montrose Blvd. at the current site of the Museum of Fine Arts Houston Administration Building. The Hospital, opened in 1942, was run by Nell H. Stone and underwent a 10,000 square foot modern expansion in 1952 to house polio patients ... Later it became a mental institution and then was torn down in 1970.

I seem to remember that Roky Erickson was a patient at one time...

Do you even live in the Heights?  I had a slice at Pinks with my kids just this past weekend.  They love sitting at the tables with the stools that spin around.  Gelazzi served ice cream.  They never served a drink.  Neighbors were upset with Coltivare and presumed that Gelazzi was subterfuge for a Washington Ave. bar.  It wasn't.  it was just a hard working couple who opened a little ice cream shop that is loved by the neighborhood that can't serve gelato made with liquor ('cause everyone knows that if you want to get rowdy drunk, you eat a bucket of 5% ABV gelato).  The crawfish place on 11th shut down last year because the crawfish season was over.  They are back open with lots of people gobbling up mudbugs and peeing all over people's porches all weekend.  They had tables too.  Better call the city and shut them down.  Maybe they can share the pad Funky Chicken left vacant with Connie's pizza so our neighborhood can stop being so damn walkable and full of great places to eat.

Thanks for the reality check.  

I was wondering--which Gelazzi are they talking about?  I thought they just served frozen treats.  (Delicious frozen treats.)  

So, I was not hallucinating....

The goal should more be to make downtown bustling and attractive enough that a different business (say Target with a urban concept) comes in and says "I want to lease this space and I'm willing to pay more than what the food mart is"

 

It's the market at work.  The government is best when it sticks to incentives (i.e. the DLI) and stays away from restrictions (building moratoriums, zoning, parking minimums)

I agree.

When I caught the train at Central Station (while watching Foley's/Macy's being destroyed), I used the convenience store a few times.  It's in business because people find it useful.  I don't blame them for the sketchy street scene.  

Sure, make the area a thriving retail center so that other retailers make better offers for the space.  In the meantime, let the store be run by people willing to be retailers downtown instead of begging for tax breaks or waiting for massive street reconstruction.  

This is the train of thought that has led to Houston's reputation as having a lack of regard for historic preservation.

Don't omit the racism....

It just hasn't been the same since Freaky Foods morphed into the Shell station.

Ah, yes.  I remember when that little grocery was the only place open 24 hours. For those who got a craving for a tasty snack at an odd time, for some reason...

Not sad that it's gone but not happy that the stuff going in seems rather dull.  A pity about light rail....

Homeless or not, they do attract a lot of attention here. 

I don't live downtown but commute there by bus to catch light rail.  Originally I waited at Main Street Square; there were often folks congregating on the sidewalk but rarely at the platform. Then the bus switched to the Bell Street stop; the number of people lying on the sidewalk was sad & distressing but they didn't bother anybody in the morning. After The Big Bus Switch, I walk through some lovely skyscrapers to the Houston Central station; one or two fellows are often sitting on the benches by Jones Hall. Just sitting; is the location limited to The Very Best Street People?

After work I'll often check out a bar or restaurant; I'd spend more time downtown if there were more retail than The CVS in Nieman's. Still, I have few problems. Perhaps eyes front & a brisk walk make me seem an unlikely target. (I'm not in the Forever 21 demographic.)  I've seen plenty of street people in other cities--mostly unnoticed because they were outnumbered.

That's my experience. Perhaps this thread would be a good place for others to post their experiences, complaints, suggestions, etc. 

So the next time I notice the thread on the Bar Scene bumped--it will have new information on bars & restaurants downtown.  And action in the Main Street Improvement thread will indicate work on the aforesaid Retail Problem....

Uh, no. Lots of low lying places have underground rail. You just have to build it correctly. Of course, that might be a struggle for METRO.

 

Who will give METRO the money?   We're not talking about digging a subway tunnel in virgin soil--a real tunnel, not linked basements.  We're talking about digging deeply--around or under the foundations of some very tall buildings.  

I ride light rail.  I'd prefer to block all other traffic from lanes used by the rail & synchronize all traffic lights to give the train priority.  Really--this could be accomplished cheaply.  However, lots of motorists would delicate flower.   (This last phrase substituted by the program rather than allow a word for "complain" that refers to a female canine.)  Yes, the drivers would not be happy!

So, I was hoping to see some information on Main Street Improvements.  Instead, it's yet another screed on Those Dreadful Panhandlers. 

I doubt there'd be "no question" that if it was tunneled or elevated for a short stretch there'd be fewer riders, in most cases grade separation increases ridership.  Especially if it were integrated with the downtown tunnel system. 

Houston's "tunnel system" is various basements, connected by slender tunnels built under the streets.  It's also only open during Business Hours, 5 days a week.  Real subways run through purpose-built tunnels. 

To go from the tunnel to the train, walk upstairs.  (Or take an escalator.)  Then go outside.  

ew, car-oriented

It appears to be on a couple of Metro Bus routes!  

I dont think its location next to those places mattered. I do think that the inconsistency of their food and drinks does. Its a nice small location. 

Recently in the Houston Press :

Interestingly, Ken Bridges of Delicious Concepts announced this morning that Witchcraft Tavern & Provisions Co. will re-emerge as Republic Diner + Sojubang, “the area’s only kitchen and bar offering a Korean menu.” 

 

I liked the curries at their original place. The Witchcraft Tavern was handy for a high-class burger & craft beer before or after a visit to Kroger; also for the occasional happy hour, with interesting snacks at the bar. 

Never made it to the "new" place.  The revamped bus system has made access less convenient (while making many other places more convenient).  And the "no lunch" policy made it useless on the weekend.

Location might matter for a place with what appeared to be a trendy, pricey, mostly-appetizers menu. Perhaps more suited for those hitting another bar or restaurant nearby, or looking at some interesting shops or galleries. Bundled with a trip to Kroger, Ross or Tuesday Morning, not so much.  Hope the new plan works out. 

Meanwhile, the El Cantina Superior remains shuttered. Their site promises a "Relaunch" but there has been no sign of work.  (I think a Brewpub was mentioned.)  Too bad.  The location is great & they put a lot of work into the place. But, except for the period when the Liberty Kitchen people had their hands in, their Tex-Mex was definitely sub-par......

i dont get this huge thing about their burger, its really nothing special. since the new owners came in, their fries are AWFUL

Yeah, burgers at the White Oak location suffered after the ownership change. Still, hope the downtown Christian's does well.  (How many years has the ground floor of the Scanlan Building boasted that "Live Sports Bar Coming" sign?)

Meanwhile, I'll plot my next visit to Jackson Street BBQ. Definitely out of the way but well worth it. 

At the risk of sounding harsh... this is one of the dumbest ideas I have heard. Just because you don't want your precious senses assaulted by the lower echelons of society doesn't mean the jail and related structures should be shoved into a different part of town.

 

Why should those people have to put up with the issues you decry? Just because you want a pristine downtown where you can sip coffee and eat trendy dishes in sidewalk cafes while you pretend Houston is the Left Bank? YGBFKM.

 

The current set-up is probably as efficient as it could be in a city this size.

Last time I had jury duty I was impressed by the setup.  Potential jurors wait in neat little auditoria, underground but lit with filtered daylight.  Free WiFi & a snackbar made the wait convenient--until most of us were told we weren't needed & could leave. (We could either pick up our tiny checks or have the funds contributed to various charities--who take checks to the bank any more?)

From the street, the jury duty room looks like a pavilion set in a garden. Tunnels take jurors to the various courts without leading them through the streets. The entire courthouse system--including the imposing Original Courthouse--takes up many blocks & is not going anywhere. 

Are there people in jail who should not be?  Are mental health services inadequate? Probably. But these are societal problems, not to be solved in this forum.  In the meantime, the best way to deal with the homeless downtown is to outnumber them. With people living there (in those many new projects going up) or just hanging out before we continue our commute.   

The Big Bus Overhaul lets me walk through a few blocks of famous skyscrapers to catch light rail at the Central Station. If I reverse the route home (there are alternates if I'm not in a hurry) I can catch the bus at Franklin & Main--with the option of getting a drink & a snack at any number of fine establishments within a couple of blocks.

The old commute involved Bell Station, where I had to walk around people sleeping on the sidewalk in the morning. Not scary, just sad.  This thread began with "Let's Move the Jail" but the OP made the link between those unlovely buildings & the street people.  No link having been proven, I've chosen to vote for continual improvement of the City & the ability to enjoy it even before perfection is achieved.  

Since the topic's been bumped, I though I'd remind everybody that there's been a La Madeleine in the center for some months now.  It is a chain, too.  I've been to Freebird a couple of times.   But, as convenient as Target is to my home, there are non-chain eating options even closer....

I've been riding the bus for years & have found that they're generally on schedule in the early morning.  The stop is one block away & they come every 15 minutes or so.  They are sometimes late but almost never "early."  

The new system will cut buses on that (renumbered) route by 50%.  Another feature--they apparently won't be "scheduled."  On arriving at the stop, I can scan a doohickie & tell when the next one is due.  Which will be great for later in the day, when they definitely get off schedule.  Or evenings & weekends--when a schedulef bus will just not appear--or, my favorite, a bus with the destination sign "TO GARAGE" will zip by about the time the last bus was scheduled.  I've learned that, if I'll need to return home latish on a weekend night, it's best to have cab fare.  No matter what is "scheduled." 

But, as I said, my bus has been on schedule early in the morning.  Knowing the schedule lets me know when to set the alarm, how quickly to get dressed & when to leave the house.  The new setup sounds counter-productive for getting to work.  Other riders & most of the drivers agree.  Oh, well.  Buses will be free for that first week....

Light Rail is never "scheduled."  A train comes by every 5 or 6 minutes at "peak" times--until 7 PM Monday through Friday. With such frequency, it works fine.  (Well, there's the occasional "incident.")  The train's less frequent in the evening & on weekends.  (If only they would stop sending single car trains on weekends--they tend to be packed.) 

Wonder if all those businesses were informed they were donating to the recovery of a 3 time convicted felon for possession and dealing.  Why would they go after the most dilapidated shack on the street just for money? 

Probably more people know & care for the guy who got beat up than for Anonymous Dude who joined up just to pass on some "shocking" information.  

I'm sure it will be. The decor and colors are beautiful.   Food is OK at best and yes they are getting your money. Im just saying if you explore a little, there are many hidden gems around the area.....for so much less $$.

 

What is real Mexican food? Depends, if your in Mexico, its there. Youre in Texas, so there goes your answer.  

Since new management took over at El Superior, I've determined that it's worth my money.  On occasion. 

I've lived in Houston for many years & do plenty of exploring.  

These prices at these restaurants are just ridiculous. Ive lived here a long time and its comical what some folks think is good food. How are you going to open a Mexican restaurant that doesnt serve REAL Mexican food? Putting a car on a building and hanging up colorful lights doesnt do it. The food folks. Its the food.SMH. I'll just keep on making a trip to the other side of 45 or East Houston for some authentic Mexican Food. 

Since the Liberty Oyster crew took over, The El Cantino Real Superior food has improved considerably.  As has the service.  Of course it's their spin on Mexican food--but it's tasty.  

(What is REAL Mexican food?  Tex-Mex?  Or from some region of Mexico?  Which region? High-brow or low-brow?  Seafood? The city boasts fine examples of all those subtypes & they all get my money in turn. El Superior is, at last, a good addition to the neighborhood.)

Where do you get the idea there will be a blank wall facing Main Street?

 

I changed my post a bit since you quoted me.  But, standing at the train stop, all I can see being built is a parking garage.  

Are there plans for retail on the first floor?