ttuchris

Does anyone have any pictures of the site now? I was down there for the demo, but I ran from the dust and haven't had a chance to see what was left.

I went to the Hard Rock Cafe last night downtown. I hadn't been in 7-8 years. While the food is about what I would expect, I thought the building was really lame, especially compared to other cities. Then I began to think about the old Kirby location. I couldn't find a single picture of the old building. All I found was the Chronicle article below and an aerial showing the building from above in 2004. Anyone have any exterior or interior shots of the place? The $2 million dollar building had to be better than what we have now and better than the standard Wells Fargo that took it's place.

http://www.chron.com...irby-drive.html

Houston was the 5th American city to get a Hard Rock and the chain's 9th location. It is amazing how early we got one considering we are not know for tourism.

The tower goes where they own the land.

arrodiii - what blocks are you referring to on Austin and Caroline?

I imagine it is going to take a lot to get that church stable.

This looks great, but does anyone know the reason for the black plate glass on the third floor? I am just wondering why the one floor is different.

Billboards, billboards, and more billboards? This park is getting so cluttered.

How much of the "Super Block" will the park take up?

I found this at the Hillstone/Houston's Restaurant (Kirby@Westpark). I thought it was neat. I wonder how many people notice it or even know the significance of the Shamrock. Anyways, I would sure like one of the bricks. Who knows what will happen to them if the restaurant remodels or closes.

Here is a picture of what is left of the watch company Little Frau mentions. The space is currently vacant, but was Franklin Street coffee house for awhile. The book, Images of America: Houston in the 1920's and 1930's, has a great exterior picture of the watch shop in 1928. The shop was simply called Houston Watch Co. I have also included and interior pic of the sky bridge.

I was picking a friend up from the Bayou Lofts at 915 Franklin this weekend and I noticed a very old sky bridge that connects 915 Franklin with 917 Franklin on approximately the 5th floor. 915 Franklin was built between 1910-11. 917 Franklin was built in 1904. The bridge appears to be added to both after the original construction. It would be interesting to know when and why it was built. It is also visible on Google Street View.

Does anyone have any pictures of the old Fire Station #1 before it became the Downtown Aquarium?

The book Houston Lost and Unbuilt has some renderings and info on this project.

Is it being torn down or did it collapse?

What did the 3100 Travis Building use to be? It is really cool inside and out.

Isn't that the spot where they just started a low income apartment project?

Cielo's food and service is awful. I am okay with them dying.

Didn't this building go up for sale this summer? I have been searching for articles on it, but I can't find anything. What a great building. It really needs to be saved.

I hate them too. My friend pointed out the Austin thing to me. It is definitely the Austin skyline. I think Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, and San Antonio should all be a little irritated.

curious as to why one side is completely windowless. it's an attractive building and then.....nothing on that side.

I believe that side faces an undeveloped lot. Who knows what will be built there and when. If someone wants to build a high-rise there, the windows would have to be covered up.

I just flew them this weekend for the first time. Great experience. They remind me of how Southwest used to be. It will be nice to have them at Hobby.

I was just reading about this on Swamplot. A little off topic from the fire, but does anyone have any pictures of the interior of this place? All I can find are exterior photos.

It is really interesting and sad to see the progression of this building.

It looks like the rendering is from the NW and the cam is looking from the SW. There does seem to be some sort of plaza/drop-off area on the south side of the building.

Regardless, this has been cut back. The rendering is 22 stories, but it is now only going to have 19.

I have always wanted to know the history of these different styles of street signs. I don't recall ever seeing the concrete posts or tiled curbs in other cities. I think they are both easier to read than the current green vinyl/metal signs.

The corners of Willowick @ Piping Rock and Willowick @ Meadowick just outside River Oaks have all three styles on the same corner (tiles, concrete post, green vinyl/metal).

Please let me know if anyone has any info on the time periods that each sign was used.