Triton

3 hours ago, Ross said:

The entire purpose of a TIRZ is to invest the increment in the area covered by the TIRZ. WTH is Whitmire thinking?

Based on what he said in the interview, the TIRZ received $50 million from the city? They'll seek additional funding from Metro for the sidewalks. He's saying he's working with the flood control district to make sure this area actually needs the drainage project or if the money would be better used for a more flood prone area... because that's what initiated this project in the first place... better drainage.

On 5/2/2024 at 1:46 PM, Houston19514 said:

Again, I suggest everyone listen to the interview.  Maybe even with an open mind.

So I listened to it with an open mind. He's saying he's correcting the wrongs of some of these TIRZs directing money to their areas (Montrose being an example) while other areas that have far more pressing issues are cast aside. I think it's a good thing he is doing it and that's the reason he has paused the Montrose Blvd rebuild. Perhaps there are drainage projects that are needed more immediately while Montrose can wait. He also says biking and pedestrian crosswalks are top priority for him as well and he says he's working to get a Westcott crossing built.

Whitmire says a lot but so far his actions have indicated otherwise. As I've said before, time will tell whether anything that he is saying lines up with what he actually does. He mentioned he has a major sidewalk project incoming. Well let's see it then!

3 hours ago, Houston19514 said:

We don't need time to tell us that it is hyperbole to claim that he has completely reversed multiple projects that are nearing completion.  AFAIK, that description only applies to one project (the Houston Ave re-do).

I think you should reread what I wrote. 

I think with Whitmire the general trend of making projects more bike and pedestrian oriented is over while he's in office. That's what I meant by I don't think this is hyperbolic what I'm saying. I have serious doubts now that the city will press forward with the bike lane improvements along N Main and Airline in the Northside and Heights area, and there's a stronger possibility that he'll reverse bike lane improvements if it improves vehiclar congestion. That's what I meant by, time will tell. He keeps saying that these projects are paused and under review for the good of the city but his actions indicate he's focused on improving things for one group... Drivers. 

Look, he could surprise me but so far he's been a major disappointment that I voted for. 

Time will tell whether this is hyperbole or not. So far, the pictures not too bright. 

9 minutes ago, hbg.50 said:

What's his motive @Triton?  

Not sure it's motive as opposed to mindset.

He's used to wide open lanes where cars are the main source of moving people around. But most people live in the loop because they like that there are alternatives to getting around town now. Sure, not all of them are commuting to work on a bike, but they sure are walking their dogs and pushing their child in a stroller down many of the walking trails we've added around the city. If Whitmire had his way, he probably would have thought the MKT trail was a waste of taxpayer's money. Whitmire doesn't see that many of the people moving in are people who want these type of amenities/options and that's why they are willing to spend more money on a home to have them.

4 minutes ago, samagon said:

putting a project in the planning stages on pause is one thing. walking back a project that was 99% completed is something completely different. as is deciding to stop a project that is so far down the tracks that phase 1 is nearly complete and they are planning to break ground on phase 2 later this year.

This.

There's no way anyone can say that what Whitmire is doing is normal. Correct, previously, they paused planned projects if it didn't meet their agenda. We haven't seen them completely reverse projects that are nearing completion because everyone knows that's a waste of resources.

If the Houston Ave reversal and now the Shepherd reversal aren't telling you anything, it's that the march to make the inner loop accessible for everyone.... cars, bicyclists and pedestrians.. appears to be over as long as this mayor is in office. And I don't think that's being hyperbolic at all. This mayor is out to make a statement and he thinks he's cleaning up house when he's actually making a mess of things.

On 3/2/2024 at 2:32 PM, hindesky said:

There were way too many things called "White Oak" it confuses the general public so that's probably why they changed the name. At least they didn't call "River Oaks at White Oak"

 

Based on this shot, it looks like they added White Oak District signage every where in just the past couple of weeks.

Currently looks like we have more development coming to the White Oak Music Hall area as reported by @hindesky here:

Based on the renderings on the construction banners, there's a lot more on the way including retail.

We have these details here https://shopcompanies.com/properties/white-oak

Quote

With its strategic location in the Woodland Heights neighborhood, The White Oak District emerges as a dynamic mixed-use development poised to elevate the area’s vibrancy and charm. Anchored by the iconic White Oak Music Hall and complemented by the newly opened Woodlands Social and HTown Brewing, this destination promises an unparalleled experience for both residents and visitors alike. At the heart of the White Oak District lies a vision for a diverse and inclusive environment, blending multi-family residential with an array of restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues.

20 hours ago, JLWM8609 said:

The schematics show it mostly unchanged. 

Thanks, I can't seem to find the link. Can you please share it?

Any ideas what they plan to do at the Griggs intersection? 

2 hours ago, mattyt36 said:

With the State government clearly in the "Punish the City of Houston and Harris County" mode these days and now having Whitmire as a stooge in City Hall, the more cynical side of me wonders if they will find a way to prevent the caps from being built even if the funding is available.  

OH WELL.  Thanks to those who hated SJL so much they voted for that guy!  Deja vu, 2016!

With Whitmire, he'd probably find a way to turn those caps into another highway to bypass the traffic below.

Wow if the mayor is this stupid on such a smart design for this area then I really don't see how the 11st street bike lanes remain with Whitmore. He's gung ho for everything that helps cars. 

9 hours ago, 004n063 said:

Hmmph

Oh looks like they finally put steel in the way now. I rode past those barricades just a few weeks ago and it was still fully open. Guess that means avoid this area for the next year or so...

They need to get this mayor to walk down the sidewalks of this road with a bunch of people and see just how narrow and broken the sidewalks are in spots. We need wider sidewalks here.

8 hours ago, htownproud said:

The line for the big playground was about 10 minutes when we went (apparently they will have someone there monitoring the gates at all times).  

We talked to the lady who was monitoring the gate when we went yesterday. She said Sunday was so bad that they had to have people even guarding who was entering the slide (the rocket) because there was a line inside the playground just to ride and some kids were trying to come from the bottom to bypass the line.

Either way, sounds like people loved it! My son certainly did and he already wants to go back to the water side next time (we'll remember to bring his swim trunks with us! lol).

There was an hour long wait to get onto the playground, with security controlling entry and exit. Was quite a big event this past weekend!

31 minutes ago, texan said:

Once upon a time he considered it an infrastructure priority. Unfortunately, consistency doesn't mean anything to most politicians if it can be traded for winning.

https://www.texastribune.org/2017/01/24/report-texas-bullet-train-among-new-federal-transp/

Anytime Biden comes in support of something (Think TikTok ban), Trump comes out swinging against it, even if he's the one who first brought up the issue. With this being election season, if Trump comes out against this for "the farmers", consider this project dead in Texas. 

Kind of an interesting aside....

Was in Austin this past weekend for the eclipse and it donned on me that the massive I-35 rebuild will start in Austin along the same timeline that the Houston I-45 rebuild will start. It's sort of wild to think two major cities not that far apart will have complete makeovers at the same time. 

Also driving through Austin, it is wild to see just have fast that city is transforming. So many new skyscrapers under construction.

Perhaps this is the first positive news we've heard about the bike lanes then... 

50 minutes ago, wilcal said:

SOUND THE KLAXONS

https://www.newsweek.com/texas-poised-first-bullet-train-line-us-1888433

President Joe Biden is reportedly seeking to revive a project that would construct a high-speed railway from Houston to Dallas in Texas utilizing Japanese bullet trains.

According to a Reuters report on Tuesday, citing unnamed administration sources, the White House is looking to make an announcement on the project following talks between Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Washington, D.C., this week.

Damn... So now Trump will be against this? 

The only thing I don't see in the news is when they expect this to begin...?

10 hours ago, j_cuevas713 said:

Greenwashing the neighborhood to hide the bigger problem of a 4 lane highway cutting through increasing air pollution for the "parks"

But it's likely going to work. Although there's some that still don't like this project, adding all of these sporting areas and parks and the big shocker, capping parts of the toll road, was a surprise by those here on the Northside. Those on the fence seem more supportive now.

So far, the big complaint I still hear is that if they really are going to build this toll road through, they wish there was greater connectivity with the community it's traversing through. Perhaps add more ramps to get on and off of the toll road besides the one all the way at Calvacade. It's just too exclusive for those commuting to Spring and the Woodlands. At least build some ramps at Quitman. It's difficult to explain but the Northside has always felt a bit... cut off.. from the highway system. Some like that but some also believe that is the reason we haven't seen more development here and another reason why we probably won't ever get a major grocer here except for the Fiestas we have.

5 hours ago, s3mh said:

 I believe that a good bit of the opposition is driven by political ideology

I don't agree with that at all. I know some opposed to it who are ideologically liberal (example provided below). I think there were some just practically concerned people when it came to congestion. I know the majority in the biking community support the 11th St bike lanes but some would have rather seen it go to a less congested road running in parallel to 11th such as 14th St. Although it would have angered some residents to loose their on street parking (see how the bike lanes end at Pecore on 11th... because of on-street parking backlash)... however, it would have been far less controversial on 14th and still would have provided an east-west connection through the Heights, along with the MKT trail.

Prime example... the N Main bike lanes around White Oak Music Hall. Most of the people in the area are not conservative (not a telltale sign but most people here had Beto/Biden signs the past few elections), yet they voiced numerous opposition to the city and Bike Houston during their community outreach because they were genuinely concerned that shrinking N Main down to 2 lanes would exacerbate the already insane traffic when WOMH is hosting live events, plus now the events at Htown Brewing and Woodland Social. Hence now, the N Main bike lanes are up for review again under Whitmire.

Last point.... and, as a bicyclist, this is the part that really makes me upset with the city. On Sunday, I biked the route pictured below. The east side bike lanes (think Polk St) were a complete mess.... either full of water from Friday's rains.... or covered in dirt... or rocks... or trash. There was even a part of Waugh Dr in Montrose that I was biking back on and it looked like a lake in the bike lane! I had to hop into the vehicle lanes until the water cleared. If the city is going to invest in bike lanes, then it also needs to take on the responsibility of cleaning them up.