lwood

No statements or statistics that Heights crime has increased....either substantially, or at all.

At least you actually stated a number. How many robberies occurred on this street last year?

More anecdotal evidence, plus a graph of LAST year's statistics....no comparison with this year. So HPD logged 10,000 calls. What is a normal month? 1,000? 100,000? Using those 2 numbers, calls are either up 10 times a normal month, or they dropped 90%. I do know that overall crime in Houston was down 2% last year. What I do not know is whether the Heights is up, down or the same as previous years. I also know that you did not provide anything that will give me my answer. The only thing I DO KNOW is that LAST year there were 5 murders in an area generically called "Greater Heights", and this year there have been 3....2 if you do not count store clerks shooting shoplifters as a murder. So, does that mean crime is down 60%?

Here's the point, to musicman, Vertigo, and every other poster who uses Channel 2 News as their crime statistics. One crime televised by a breathless bimbo on a crappy news show fighting for ratings does not a crime spree make. Neither does having a friend who heard about a burglary a couple of blocks over. Crime is a fact of life in inner cities, suburbs, and across the country. It is a fact of life in the Heights, as well. But, make outrageous claims that you have no evidence to support is as ludicrous as me claiming that no crime exists, just because my house has never been burglarized.

If you guys want to smack talk your own neighborhood, have at it. But, if you are going to smack talk mine, at least base it on something a little more reliable than Channel 2 News or a lame anecdote.

Note to Heights residents: If you have something a little more solid than the schoolgirl gossip displayed above, please PM me.

Check out the HPD website's statistics. Within ONE block of my house there have been 7 cars broken into in a 6 week period. I don't watch channel 2. Just the facts.

I was a little surprised this hadn't been mentioned yet this morning. Pulled from Click2 this morning...

HOUSTON -- A convenience store clerk fatally shot a thief late Wednesday, officials told KPRC Local 2.

Houston police said a man stole three 18-packs of beer from a Conoco station on Studewood Street near White Oak Drive shortly before midnight.

The man got into an argument with the clerk outside the store, investigators said. The two struggled and the man used force to fight the clerk away, police said.

Officials said the man reached toward the right of the driver's seat. The clerk feared for his life and shot the man once in the chest, police said.

The clerk called for police and paramedics, but the man died in the parking lot. His identity has not been released.

The clerk was taken into custody, but not arrested. Police said the case will be reviewed by a grand jury.

Officials said the man was also driving a stolen car.

Unfortunately I'm sure many people assumed this was eventually going to happen. I frequent this store weekly and am sad to hear that the kind gentleman running it was put in this position. I don't necessarily agree with the outcome, especially death. I guess I'd like to hear some opinions on the matter.

I don't usually stop at that store but I will in the future.

The photo that includes The Parklane is great. I've always liked the looks of the Parklane. The original sales literature described it as "nautical" in design. Thanks for the photo.

Hi

I need to replace my windows and framing for my unit on 8th floor. They're made of wood and am looking to replace with something sturdier and more soundproof. Any recommendations on a good company to help me with this?

Thanks,

DD

Your Declaration of Condominium or homeowner's association probably has limitations on what you can do to the exterior of the building. Which building are you in?

Gulf Coast Windows has a good reputation and a good product.

Got this from HHA today...

City Councilman Adrian Garcia and the Houston Police Department are meeting with citizens that are concerned about crime and safety issues in the Heights. The meeting will be held at St. Marks United Methodist Church, 600 Pecore, on Tuesday, August 28, at 7:00 P.M. If you have any questions please contact the Heights Police Storefront at 713-803-1151.

This meeting is tonight. Please plan to attend if you live in the area. We want Councilman Garcia and HPD to understand our problem.

Any recommendations of a good BBQ place? Inner loop/near Rice would be preferrable.

I've only tried PAPPAS which was terrible.

McKenzie's in Conroe and Huntsville is very good. Family owned and operated. Great burgers, too.

I'm not sure. Since I've moved back here I find that it's very hard to find any info on Houston's rail plans. I can find a little here and there but nothing good. From a jpg I found (http://www.westhouston.org/06-2005-Phase-2-Map.gif) I'm assuming it will be further down at eureka rail yard in cottage grove and then will head out of the city via Hempstead hwy.

From houstonheights.org

"Of particular interest to the Heights is the 50-foot right-of-way being reserved for future high capacity transit along Hempstead Road and US 290. No particular transit technology is proposed as part of this project, although the METRO Solutions plan envisions a commuter rail there in the future. Our concerns as a community have always been how a transit line could be built to serve - and not disrupt - Houston Heights.

At the September 10 General Meeting, a project representative will present the current plans, answer questions, and take our input on the plans".

Does anyone have any recomendations for companies that install custom driveway gates? I need to get some estimates.

Thanks!

I used Art Fences and Burglar Bars, Julio Lozano. NEVER AGAIN.

My wife and I are in the process of building a new custom home in the Braes Heights neighborhood. We have retained the services of an architect and an engineer, and we have come to a crossroads.

Due to the fact that our house is in the floodplain, we will have a crawl-space foundation with flood vents. The question is, what is the best material to use between the pier & beam foundation and the bottom of the first floor. Apparently this "pony wall" can be constructed out of CMUs (concrete blocks) or pressure-treated lumber.

The argument goes like this: if the neighborhood floods again, and water floods underneath the crawlspace, you don't want any wood in the "wet" area, therefore CMU would seem to be the best material. However CMU is significantly more expensive than wood, and the frequency with which the crawlspace floods (in my opinion) should be rare, so is it worth the extra money?

Of course the engineer recommends the CMU style, but says that using PT wood is also a "viable" option. I get the sense that the architect and the engineer don't want to come out and say "wood is fine" in case there is a problem down the road, even though the risk seems low.

Does anyone out there have experience with these types of foundations and/or recommendations of what we should do?

Thanks!

I was facing the same question two years ago in the Heights. A wall around the permimeter (on piers) was used going about 8-inches above grade. The treated wood was then used on top of the perimeter wall. This design was totally above my pay grade so I had a meeting with the engineer and architect and this is what they decided on, based on the soil reports.

Does anyone know what's up at the Kirby Lofts on Main St? Was full after Katrina, but doesn't seem to be very occupied now. Especially compared to other downtown resid. props.

We toured the building yesterday. One bedroom units overlooking Main were in the low 200's for roughly 1,100 sq. ft. A corner two bedroom was in the 260's. The downside is that the building has no parking. Maintenance fee if 44 cents/sq. ft.

Anyone have the scoop on Kirby Lofts?

They look neat.

There are on Main next to CVS/1001 McKinney.

I just spoke with the listing agent. One bedrooms overlooking Main Street are priced at $204,900 on the third, seventh and eighth floors. Not a bad deal. 1,191 sq. ft.

I noticed they are now selling these units and some are listed on har.com. I wonder if these would be a good investment with the new park, Houston Pavilians, and the new building replacing the New West Building.

$195K for 1100 sq. feet doesn't seem too bad for downtown; I just wonder what the maintenance fee is?

The listing agent said the maintenance fee is 44 cents/sq. ft. The listing states that some units face Main. It is probably like the other lofts in that the lower priced units face a back alley. I do agree that the price seems reasonable depending on what the maintenance covers.

Karen recently sent this update to those people who attended the hike and bike trail meeting on May 5:

TxDOT Austin is happy and considers the MKT ROW property matter resolved. The "new" updated project contract letting date is between 12/07 and 1/08. Construction should then get underway 7/08. The city says it should have eight trail projects ready for TxDOT to build within the next year. We'll see what happens. The city and TxDOT have never had that many trail projects going at the same time before.

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE WAS RECEIVED FROM COUNCILMAN GARCIA'S OFFICE TODAY:

"I appreciate your inquiry about the Hike and Bike Trail .... please be advised that the project is slated for construction in the late fall of this year. I have been in contact with the local state officials also, and encourage you to do the same .... in an order to keep up to date.

If you would like for someone from the City to speak to your group about the plans, let me know -- date, time, location .... etc.etc. I hope this information is helpful to you and your neighbors, and if there's anything else I can do, let me know!

Take Care,

Jason J. Cisneroz

Council Aide, District - H

Office of Council Member Adrian Garcia

(713) 247.1638 - Direct Line

(713) 449.2364 - Cellular Phone

(713) 247.1252 - Fax"

MANY THANKS TO JASON AND COUNCILMAN GARCIA'S OFFICE FOR KEEPING US INFORMED. PLEASE CONTINUE TO CONTACT THE CITY AND STATE OFFICIALS TO MAKE SURE THIS MOVES FORWARD.

I noticed a sign on the beach in Galveston for Endeavor @ Poretto Beach.. It's the same kind of building built by the same developer on the beach side of the seawall, around 10th and Seawall Blvd. (aross from the nasty Jack in the Box and the $8 motel).

Anyone know anthing about this "Endeavor"?

The people at Endeavour said the project at Poretto was about 18 months out. Their project on 61st and Broadway will start first. It is currently being advertised in the Endeavour magazine that is mailed to you free for the asking. A very slick publication.

Yesterday the manager at Krogers on 11th told me that they are adding 25,000 sq. ft. to the store. Construction is to begin after the first of the year with a construction time of 4 to 5 months.

One of the managers on duty this week said they are taking in the area all the way to the bank. TSO is re-locating to another part of the center.

We are considering buying a condo in this building. If you have ever stayed or are familiar with this building, please let me know your impressions. We really like the beach on this side of Galveston because it is very quiet.

Any info will be appreciated.

It's interesting that the high rise buildings constructed 15 to 20 years ago are half the price of the new ones. It seems like a much better value.

Similar buildings to Islander East would be By The Sea and The Breakers on the western end of the sea wall. The location would not be as quiet. I would think Palisade Palms would help the value of Islander East.

This email was sent over the weekend to those who attended the gathering Saturday morning. PLEASE contact Councilman Garcia's office,

Heights Proposed Hike & Bike Trail.

What now?

Next steps to help make it happen.

Yesterday, Saturday May 5, Heights residents, friends, and cyclists came out to make their feelings known on the 8-year-long on-hold status of the Hike & Bike MKT Trail. We had probably 100 people, many who asked what the delays have been and what else we can do to help this long-delayed trail become a reality.

The Mayor

The point I'm trying to make is that Galveston ain't the prettiest beach on the gulf coast...BY FAR!! Nobody on here can have a difference of opinion unless you and your cult join together to insult somebody. If you think that Beaumont is responsible for the Texas...not just Galveston, waters looking like mud, then maybe your the one that needs to do research. So I like Destin. So what! Just because I found the only group of people in Houston who feels Galveston is natural "beauty" does not mean everybody has to agree with you!!!

Comments made with tact are more productive and puts a better light on the author.

Cityview Lofts had an open house this weekend and I took a look at these lofts. Cityview says they are 65% sold and the units should be complete by early 2008. The prices aren't too bad (for dowtown) and the maintenance fees are only $.20 per sq. ft. They are also trying to preserve as much of the building as they can.

This area seems prime for development wth the ballpark so close and all of the surface lofts. I figured this side of downtown would be a miniture Wriglyville by now but that hasn't hapened. Does anyone see this area booming within the next few years? Do the Astros own all of these parking lots, or are they privately owned?

What was your opinion of the building? Have you seen other loft conversions that you could compare it to?

Mikeybob2...Those pics were hillarious!!! . When talking about vistiors...most of those are Houstonians who can't afford to drive anywhere else. As someone who lives here, I wouldn't go to Galveston (for pleasure) to save my life. We do drive the 628 miles to Destin, FL were you can lay in sand instead of laying on sand that's hard as concrete. Brown is Galveston's como. I believe many other people would drive away as well if gas wasn't so expensive. There's not very many beaches that have one of the nations largest cities 47 miles up the road. Also some vegitation would be nice, you know, palm trees and such. Refer to the pics of Key West above.

Rivers drain in other parts of the country...not just the Texas Coast. There is no excuse, besides lazyness, why the beaches look the way they do. If they'd clean them up and clean that town up, people would be tempted to go there and development would also boom. The more development, the more people that come. Raise the standards! The Mississippi coast (pre Katrina) had brown water as well, but the beaches were nice and the town of Biloxi was clean and had lots of stuff to do! I'd go back. I'd go there before I would ANY Texas beach...that includes South Padre.

Wow.

You are so right. Since I've been coming to galveston in the last year I think it has a lot to offer. But no product will sell without marketing and advertising. It makes me wonder if the city doesn't want that kind of growth so it is purposely not promoting it any more. It's almost like they have said " we achieved a lot, and it's just right for us now, so let's not change it."

With Houston so close it is a natural place to visit since travel logistics to Houston are so easy and plentiful.

The Endeavour Condos publish a very slick quarterly magazine to primarliy advertise their locations in Clear Lake and soon in Galveston. You can request a free subscription via their web site endeavourcondo.com. I've also seen it in businesses along the Strand.

Anyone know how Kirby Drive got its name? I found an old story from the 1986 Chronicle about street names, but it doesn't talk about Kirby. Anyone know?

The Kirby mansion still stands at 2000 Smith.

Perry is one of the good builders...

Perry still does not use radiant barriers or ridge vents. I would be leary of a builder who doesn't cover the basics but talks about granite and stainless steel appliances.

Yesterday the manager at Krogers on 11th told me that they are adding 25,000 sq. ft. to the store. Construction is to begin after the first of the year with a construction time of 4 to 5 months.

I've picked up a project for a CDC here in Houston as sort of a feel good project for me.

I need to find some shotgun style home plans though. 25' wide, approx 1500 square foot. Anyone know any good stock plan resources that might have some good plans for these?

Your help is appreciated.

Try this: http://www.katrinacottages.com/plans/