skooljunkie

On 11/3/2021 at 2:48 PM, editor said:

 

A buffalo gar, for which Buffalo Bayou is named.  Which doesn't explain why there's a bison on the Buffalo Bayou wayfinding signs.

The Karankawa indians used to make farm implements outta them fish.

That looks like an alligator gar.

Pretty sure Buffalo Bayou was named after actual buffalo: https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/houston-bayou-names-origin-15613757.php

Based on the October Board packet, TIRZ 5 (Memorial Heights) is planning to expand its boundaries next month (see attached map). Here are some highlights:

• The annexed areas would include Shepherd/Durham between White Oak and Buffalo Bayous, Washington, Center, Westcott, and Waugh from W. Dallas to Allen.
• The city and TIRZ 5 have submitted a grant for 700K to study the Washington/Center corridors. With this annexation, the corridors would now completely be in TIRZ 3 (Downtown Market Square), 5, and 13 (Old Sixth Ward); all three entities could collaborate to fund infrastructure rebuilding/redesign.
• The Waugh Dr. bike lanes/resurfacing being completed currently by TIRZ 27 (Montrose) would be extended to Buffalo Bayou Park by TIRZ 5 in some fashion.
• TIRZ 5 would oversee the rebuilding of Shepherd/Durham from Washington to I-10, the missing link. 
• No timelines were given. I'm assuming some of this is years out, but this is good progress in my opinion.  

annexation map.pdf

Hopefully the repairs are made in time for the next flood! 🌊

This broke ground today. 

This building is a nice addition to downtown.

Bike plans always look pretty on maps.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/transportation/article/M-K-T-Bridge-reopening-now-uncertain-as-repairs-16451735.php

Summary: Workers found more damage. More work will need to be done. Additional design work and permitting to follow. Finish date is uncertain.

Classic.

13 hours ago, Justin Welling said:

Lol did they really fence in METRO's trash can? 

😂 It will finally be emptied. 

Pretty sure the city is buying a sliver of land here to add a left turn lane as they rebuild the road. I think I saw that a while back. 

per the Houston Parks Board social media. It's happening!

16 hours ago, j_cuevas713 said:

I wonder how much money Houston will get from the Infrastructure Plan passed by Congress 

I’d like to bid $0, Bob. 

Also, it hasn’t officially passed through the Senate yet, right? Not gonna hold my breath. 

5 hours ago, trymahjong said:

About Waugh improvements…..

I haven’t gotten to zoom MontroseTIRZ is a while…but if I remember correctly..

Waugh and Commonwealth  beginning at Westheimer ( at least that is what I remember)will have bike lanes,

Correct. Though I’m talking about Waugh between Washington and Buffalo Bayou. It started getting ripped up a week ago or so. Separate project but little to no information available about it.  

17 hours ago, trymahjong said:

No transparency on why that was done, nor any explanation given.

This lack of transparency bothers me lately. Take Waugh for example. For a year now on the “Build Houston Forward” website it’s been an improvement project shown as “third party funded” with very little information provided. The road just randomly starts getting ripped up just last week south of Washington with no notice. What’s being done? Who is funding it? Why this segment of road and not others that are worse. 

21 hours ago, samagon said:

do you appease the local residents and not ED any land, make it 1 lane in each direction, and add bike lanes, beautification, and up the bus stop game?

do you appease the car commuter users and ED enough land

The right lanes of lower Westheimer have been known to cure my ED….yowzah. 

On 7/7/2021 at 10:07 AM, j_cuevas713 said:

https://communityimpact.com/houston/heights-river-oaks-montrose/transportation/2021/07/05/officials-seek-new-funding-sources-as-lower-westheimer-is-left-off-houstons-capital-improvement-plan/

This is ridiculous

Sigh. Maybe the city should just sell the road to developers then use the proceeds to rebuild something else. Two holes, one pot. 🤔🤭

The dang road needs a diet along most of the long stretches. Throw in traffic control, wider sidewalks, trees, etc. and it would be an economic boom to the area.

18 minutes ago, jgriff said:

So it’s no longer a hotel?

The initial two buildings currently under construction have always been residential. 700+ units in both combined.

There are still plenty of large warehouses along Shepherd/Durham just north of I-10! Perfect for Lowe's. The sheetflow from the parking lot can dump straight into White Oak. No problemo.  And I'm still waiting on that 945-pump Central Houston Buc-ee's. I hope all these developers leave 20-30 acres for that.

Sigh.

At least the little trail they built will be well lit by the headlights of semi-trucks unloading Up & Up and plywood.

So, there’s usually never a Home Depot without a Lowe’s right around the corner. Just sayin’...

2 hours ago, hindesky said:

I doubt it, the elevation is pretty high compared to to the rest of the area. Studemont to the right is pretty deep because it goes under the railroad and the terrain drops of dramatically to the north towards White Oak Bayou from this site.

Right. The adjacent railroad wasn't built between the bayous just because it was convenient. It's the high point. I'd assume the property is a foot or more above street level and then it's another foot or two to get into all the vehicles. I would think most cars that flood in garages are parked on subterranean levels. Even if 100-200 cars flooded, I'd say that's preferred to 50-100 apartments that would flood at a wrap apartment. A centimeter of water will ruin a home's floors, but it takes a lot more to get into vehicles. I actually see this podium style as preferred.

12 hours ago, Squirrel said:

Wonder what types of renter this will attract. It's not that much cheaper monthly than the rest of the cookie cutter wrap apartments, and probably more per square foot. And you miss out on the pool, gym (?) etc. I'm assuming it has an elevator but maybe just one slow one. I don't know how much the savings on the structured parking and amenities will actually be passed down, and having a multistory parking is great for hurricane season.

The 2/2 townhome rentals at this property are about the same size/price as my place. My neighbors who rent them out lease them within days and rarely even get a sign up in the yard. That size townhome (1,400-1,500 sq ft) is hard to find still. It looks as if they are leasing for about the same price per square foot too. I don't see pricing for the apartments, but $50-$100/month can matter to a lot of people. Even if the price per sq. ft. is about the same, I'd say it's really the overall annual savings that matter more to most people looking to reduce expenses. If I wanted to save cash but needed to live in the area (save on gas/insurance/not waste hours driving), I'd sacrifice 100 sq. ft. and a pool to save $1,200/year. No question. Ditch the car and your savings pile up quick.

Meritage Homes is working on a 243-lot community on the AMC site on Dunvale. I know I'm a little vacant in the head sometimes, but I thought there was an Uptown/West/Energy Corridor subforum? I didn't see it today. 🤷‍♂️

DunvaleVillage.pdf

Well this is looking interesting. 

Details presented at the TIRZ 27 meeting confirmed that one travel lane in each direction will be removed from Waugh between W. Dallas and W. Gray. Also, 6' bike lanes on Waugh; 5' on Commonwealth; both with a 2' buffer. Parking will remain on Commonwealth w/ narrower, 10' vehicle lanes. Construction setup starts next week and will last 6 months. Also some minor curb/sidewalk/ramp improvements will be made on Montrose between Fairview and Westheimer and at Montrose and Westheimer as a stop-gap until that all is redone. Vague commentary by the Board essentially confirms that the Waugh/Allen/Memorial gap in the bike system is targeted by another TIRZ or City....my guess is it's all part of a bigger plan to redo that whole clover mess and lane reduction/redo on S. Heights/Waugh from Washington to W. Dallas.

8 hours ago, aachor said:

It also seems like there is little consideration in many buildings for keeping foot traffic separate from vehicle traffic in the spaces between garages and retail. 

This has been a complaint of mine at the H-E-B at S. Heights and Washington. The garage has no pedestrian walkway perpendicular to the parking aisles. Carts, full of water jugs and TP being hoarded for the next disaster, must be squeezed between vehicles.

11 hours ago, j_cuevas713 said:

REALLY excited about this. Finally Waugh is getting some much needed attention. I love that this extends all the way to West Alabama. Now if West Alabama can get rebuilt you’ll have some serious walkability with S. Shepherd about to kick off as well. Lower Westheimer is the missing link along with Richmond which will become BRT at some point. My only complaint is the section from W Dallas to BBP won’t get these upgrades. Anyone know why?

Me too! Regarding the last mile stretch: for one, that stretch of Waugh is not within our fragmented TIRZ boundaries. It's surrounded by TIRZ 3 (Downtown), 5 (Memorial Heights), and 27 (Montrose). TIRZ 27 is overseeing this big project and TIRZ 5 is about to construct the W. Dallas lanes from Waugh to Dunlavy. One of these three needs to expand their boundary. Alternatively the city could oversee an extension.................but I'd almost prefer a TIRZ do it based on outcomes I've seen in other parts of town. It's frustrating for sure but, hey, at least something is happening.

On a similar note, I'm also curious about the "third-party" improvements to Waugh listed on the "Build Houston Forward" (rebuild houston) map. Last year I noticed this project pop up. I'm assuming this may be improvements done by the Buffalo Heights developer---but it's unclear. I've yet to ask the city.

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