travelguy_73

serious question time...

Are they going to tear down and build a new structure, or are they going to keep the existing structure?

If they are going to keep the existing structure, are they going to keep the mural on the back of the building?

If they were to tear down the building, would they consider keeping that one wall with the mural?

I might be wrong, but I don't think the building with the mural on it is part of the property Wal-Mart is purchasing (at least it doesn't appear to be).

I was initially against a Wal-Mart being built there, but given the increase in retail it might bring, and the improvements that existing retailers like Kroger and HEB would be forced to make to stay competitive, this could turn out to be great for the entire area. I'm not generally a Wal-Mart shopper (the S Post Oak location, even given its proximity to very expensive homes, is still rather trashy), but this might be what developers and lenders need to get other projects off the ground. I do feel for some of the local business, like Martini Hardware for example, that might seriously suffer.

Yes, traffic will be a MESS, and I think this will end with the property owners on the north side of Wayside giving up some land to allow for a dedicated turn lane. The revised drawings show two entrances off the feeder road, so that's an improvement.

There are reps from Idylwood and the city council getting ready to meet with Wal-Mart to start discussions on the impact to the neighborhood. Hopefully heads will stay cool and Wal-Mart will throw a bit of extra money for dense landscaping along the edge of the property that is closest to Sylvan Rd.

I guess everyone can't share my viewpoints. I just can't understand why anyone would want a dark and subtle skyline for the 4th largest city in America.

I'm not saying there aren't improvements to be made (I haven't been following this thread until Wells Fargo lit itself up), but I think they need to be in concert with other buildings, so that downtown as a whole benefits. Wells Fargo already has a strong presence just due to its stature, and with a bright strip of light on top, it completely overwhelms now.

I absolutely love the new Wells Fargo lighting. I liked the color changing scheme it had last night but agree they should slow the color changing down just a tad. It was so busy, it almost reminded me of the Reunion Tower Ball in downtown Dallas, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, I just don't want them to give stupid residents a reason to start complaining and thus ruining it everyone.

There really is no nighttime skyline to ruin. The Wells Fargo lighting is simply adding character to an otherwise dark and drury skyline. What are you talking about?

Unless all of the buildings are dark at night, we absolutely have a nighttime skyline. With few exceptions, the lighting is subtle and the buildings don't compete with each other for attention. When the second(?) tallest building in the center of downtown decides to show off its height, it attracts too much attention to itself and disrupts the way the eye flows across the skyline. That is what Wells Fargo is doing for me, at least.

Just saw that for the first time driving into work .... all different colors were flashing... I really liked it... they should maybe slow down the colors a bit but I like all of the different colors.

It so dominates the skyline and upsets its harmony, that it almost makes the building look selfish.

Sorry I don't know which building it is, but one of them is on hyper crazy mode right now.

Red, green, blue, white, and all in between.

It's cycling at a frequency of about one color every half second.

I'm gonna try to video it, but doubt my camera has good enough zoom.

edit, yeah, video looks horrible. go outside and check it out though.

That's the Wells Fargo building. I can only hope they are trying to pick the perfect color to ruin the nighttime skyline with. Any will do.

The new C-class interior looks nicer than the el-cheapo current version, but the rest of the updates are blah. Not that the exterior needed messing with, it's already pretty attractive.

2012 Ford C-Max,

Link

We had a Mazda5 rental a couple of years ago, and I was impressed with it, though it was pretty underpowered. If you have a small family, it really does fit the bill. Hopefully by adding a second model in this niche, more attention will be paid. I would really like to see the German automakers get into this segment as well.

One styling trend I really like is the more creative use of lighting on new cars. This is really starting to become as much of a brand statement as the common grill shape or (the bad trend) of taking the same car and blowing it up to 120% (7-series), or shrinking it to 70% (3-series).

IMO, BMW started it with the angel eyes way back in 2001ish, and now it is finally catching on with nearly all automakers. Cooler shapes and lighting of taillights, LED DRLs (which are running the risk of becoming passe), LEDs all over the interior, etc.

While I'm a bit partial, I thnk VW/Audi has nailed it. My CC doesn't have LED taillights, but I love the "alien-eyes" effect at night. My favorite might be the 2011 Q7's taillights. Beautiful!

http://blogs.houston...leria_tower.php

This gave me a hearty chuckle when I read it.

I like me an office tower pretty much anywhere, but the Houston Press is right...West Loop and Galleria area traffic in general pretty much does stink like no other. This will be a nice addition to the look of the area, but i feel sorry for the people who have to drive in that area.

I have to drive from Williams Tower down Post Oak to my kid's day care each evening, and it's a 20 minute exercise to go through three lights (Alabama, Galleria crosswalk, Westheimer). Even worse during the holidays or when the 610 SB feeder is backing Alabama up. Adding a garage full of traffic coming out of this building onto Post Oak (right turn only?) will just add to it. At least downtown has a nice grid for alternative routes. I can't even imagine how light rail will impact this (well, I can), nor what traffic engineers can do to improve it, outside of creating more paths to the 610/59 feeders.

I think I read somewhere that all of the tracks going through east end were supposed to be set to quiet zones at some point.

There was a link to a City document posted over the in Washington Ave quiet zone thread that noted the intersections in the East End that are proposed to go quiet...eventually.

Depending on which part of the building you are in, you can feel the train rumble. Quiet zone or not, you can't do anything about that proximity. A few years ago, I knew a number of people who lived at the Alexan, and I loved each of their lofts...very unique spaces and common areas. I also like that the pool is separated from the building so that if parties get loud, residents aren't disturbed.

If it were me, I would focus on units that are on the other side of the building from the track.

LOL -- I hear ya....we're getting old !!

I'm still a HUGE R-class fan, but I can't get my partner to even consider the "black hearse" as he refers to it. *sigh* it would look great in the driveway.

That's just weird....blech

Compared to the new Odyssey, I like this box better. However, I actually like the Sienna the best. OMG, I can't believe I'm opining on minivans styling...

2012 Volkswagen Eos

Link

I jsut read on VWVortex that the Golf Cabrio is coming back. If they can get the cost down, it will be a sure hit. But where does that leave the EOS? I know they don't run in the same circles, but I think a lot of people (i.e., women) buy an EOS but would be perfectly happy with a cheaper Cabrio. Or maybe it will be another Europe-only option. All I know is VW has some pretty serious sales goals and they aren't going to make it with the Jetta and NMS alone!

The developer and the tenant don't care about a vacant property the new tenant is leaving. As long as the new one is filled...right?

As long as that tenant wasn't in one of your other properties!

I envy your sleeping porch/sunroom off of the master bedroom. What a great space...

Oh yeah, that was one of my favorite features on the entire tour. That, and the zen-like side garden at the modern house (which I enjoyoed as well, love when reallyl modern homes are sprinkled into old areas).

I forgot to mention how much I enjoyed peeking through the back and side curtains of many of the homes to see the views of neighboring homes. We are pretty fortunate to have a well-kept newish home next door to us, a decent brick-duplex on the other side, and landscaping to hide our back neighbors falling down garage. I now see that not everyone is so lucky! I think I would have paid to have some of my neighbors homes painted by now if I had those views, LOL.

I heard, or maybe read somewhere that the owner seriously believes if he paints it or fixes it up, his taxes will skyrocket!

It's ironic, because it is primarily lot value anyways. Maybe he should also put some sinkholes in to decrease the land value as well.

Oh another note, if anyone is looking for a potential reno for a (seemingly) great price, this one at 4325 Coyle certainly fits the bill. I could see it as next year's work in process house, complete with box fans and glamour shot RE agent.

http://search.har.com/engine/doSearch.cfm?QUICKSEARCH=coyle&FOR_SALE=1

marmer,

we visited with you and one of the homeowners in her upstairs seventies themed fun room. i've never seen so much charlie's angel's memorabilia in one place!

i wondered if you were a haifer!

there is house i love at the intersection of telephone and mckinney. it needs paint! it would have great street presence if restored.

google map link to my favorite eastwood house

*Everyone* loves that house, and I have a feeling the owner knows it and doesn't do anything to it out of spite, LOL,

We enjoyed the tour as well, and took our new neighbors along who were excited to see how other homes have been renovated in the area. We had also remarked at how much more casual the tour was compared to the Heights or Norhill, most of which are overdone, and make you stand around in a room listening about the homeowner's collection of snowglobes, rather than tour the house at your own pace and take it all in. I look forward to seeing the McKinney work in progress duplex as a tinished product on the tour next year.

We will definitely be going, any excuse to take a peek inside other Eastwood homes!

Man, Lotus came out of NOWHERE with those beauties. The Elite is absolutely stunning.

...speaking of Mandola's.

Heavy equipment is on site. They're moving dirt. The TABC must've greenlit their project!

They approved it ages ago, but progress has just been super-slow. I still wish they could put the patio between the deli and whatever that historic building is next to it, but they apparently the parking requirements are forcing them to locate it on the "loud" side of the building. With all that street parking on Leeland, it is a shame!

I ended up pretty much ditching reading my blogs on the web and switched to Pulse for the iPhone. I think it interfaces with Google reader as well, so if you switch to Google, you can use Pulse on your phone. It's very elegant.

Can't believe I missed this post! Oh well, we have a new baby and he takes all of our time, LOL.

I have owned in Idylwood and now own in Eastwood (a house that was in bad shape when we bought it and is now one of the best on the block), in the section between bounded by Leeland, Sidney, Coyle, and Ernestine. It's the oft forgetten about section of Eastwood because the homes are from the 30's and 40's, as opposed to the craftsman style that Eastwood is known for. Crime hasn't been an issue *at all*, unless you own a Dodge Ram pickup--those seem to be popular with thieves. We have really enjoyed our three years here, and have some terrific neighbors. I think my street is mostly single-family, but there are enough duplexes and garage apartments to keep things feeling more like an old city with diverse housing stock than an "urban suburb" like Idylwood. Deed restrictions are also tougher in Idylwood than Eastwood, though I think both are stronger than the Heights, if that makes a difference.

There is a triplex on Pease, in the same block at state rep Rick Noriega's house, that I think would make a terrific single family home. It's priced very low price/sq ft, which means lots of value once the reno is complete. A good friend of mine is selling her Idylwood house due to a job transfer, so that's an option if you are looking for something already done.

Good luck!

2011 Dodge Duango - Finally something new for Dodge.

I saw a grand cherokee on the road yesterday, and really like the new lines. If they can get the quality up, it or the Durango might be a good replacement for our XC70. I like the idea of three rows of seats in the Durango.