kylejack

Uhh. I original said it's NOT like they demanded Gus Wortham.. And then you responded saying "That's exactly what they did".. So tell me how you weren't the one accusing the botanical garden people of demanding Gus Wortham.

Evidence.. Lulz. You have no evidence that the botanical garden people specifically seeked out a city owned golf course prior to having knowledge that the properties were being put up for lease.. Just give it up and stop slandering an organization with a fantastic vision for the city of Houston and its residents.

The properties were never put up for lease prior to botanic gardens expressing interest in 2013. The botanic gardens wanted Gus Wortham and asked for it. There was a deliberative process with plenty of input from all vested interests and it was decided that Glenbrook Valley would be better, and that HGA would renovate Wortham.

I'm pleased with the outcome, and it seems like you are too. So I don't really know what we're arguing over.

You've got to be kidding me.. "Over" a year could very well stretch back as far as "2013". You're assumption that the botanical garden organization just up and came in demanding Gus Wortham/a golf course lease is completely false. Again, if it weren't for the city offering these unprofitable courses for lease in the first place, none of this would be possible. Oh, and as for Gus Wortham.. If it weren't for the city offering it up for lease/a potential botanical garden showing interest in taking over, then the "friends of Gus Wortham" or whatever likely wouldn't of had nearly the incentive/support of all the donors who forked over the $15 million dollars needed to renovate it into a better course.

If you have some evidence that the City offered this course up for lease prior to 2013, I'd love to see it. 

I'm glad that a good deal was worked out for all parties. We'll have a botanic garden replace a little-used course and HGA will renovate a historic course that a lot of people love. 

Officials have discussed for more than a year whether one of the eastside courses would give up golf operations in favor of a garden, amid a backdrop of stagnant or falling revenues at most of the city's municipal links. 

Over a year, eh? Exactly my point. The botanic gardens people were targeting Gus Wortham at least as early as 2013. This discussion began and they ran in to this opposition because they were targeting a historic golf course rather than buying their own land.

As I said a few posts ago, I'm glad they have found a successful plan at Glenbrook Valley.

As to profit, I don't expect public services or facilities to turn a profit, I expect them to provide a public service. Parks like Hermann Park or public services like METRO aren't turning a profit either, nor would I expect them to.

Im pretty sure it was the City of Houston that determined the property was losing money and would be better served leased to someone else besides a golf course, thus putting the site up for lease.. It's not like the Botanical Garden people just came in demanding the golf course..

That's exactly what they did. It was driven by the botanic garden people pushing for the Gus Wortham golf course to be switched to them, not by COH looking for another use. They were speaking at public comment session at City Council, and making their case elsewhere.

The conflict arose because the botanic gardens people didn't want to secure their own land but wanted to take over existing land that was already in use for a golf course. Nobody had a problem with a botanic garden existing... the problem was that they wanted to take over something else rather than buying and building on their own.

They got massive pushback at Gus Wortham because it has a deep connection to the community there, because it has a long history,  and because it's a pretty good municipal course (important, because municipal courses allow those with less money to get into the game rather than having to be a rich country club kid). They got only minor pushback on Glenbrook Valley because it's not quite as nice, doesn't have the deep history, and isn't used as much. The objection at Glenbrook Valley was mostly people a few people that use the course for jogging. I think they ended up at the right place, in the end.

By golly, who knew trees, flowers and gardens would be so threatening to Houstonians. Honestly, the East End should be kicking itself silly for protesting and passing up on such a positive project. Instead these lovely gardens will now be sandwiched in between a dank freeway and a smelly petrochemical plant. As for "saving" golf courses, I don't understand the nostalgia for them, especially when the local mentality is to tear down almost everything historical in the first place. These gardens will serve the public so much more than any golf course ever could.

Gus Wortham is the Texas' oldest golf course, there's history there and not everyone wants to tear down all history.

That was a City of Houston Public Works building until recently. Always lots of activity.

There may be diminishing returns, but that does not mean there are no returns to further widening.  I highly doubt that increasing from 26 to 36 lanes would "not help at all." 

Say you're in the fast lane. You need to get over 12 lanes to exit. You're getting in a lot of people's way to get off. At some point widening the freeway may not help but actually hurt.

Yeah, I know it's a fairly well-known theory.  That does not reduce its idiocy.

 

 I think it has to do with the fact that there's a point of diminishing returns. Increasing from one to two lanes can help, but increasing from 26 lanes to 36 lanes might not help at all.

Aw man, Turner's jumped on the induced demand bandwagon too?

Citylab is one of these nutjob anti-car sites, so they may be only grabbing certain parts of what he said.

If we expand Katy Freeway to 40 lanes, we're going to wipe out a bunch of cool businesses that contribute to the economic vitality of the city. At some point we are going to have to change the way things are done, or the freeways will eat the entire city and everything in it.

Nice, the walkway is completed past the legendary Donnellan Crypt!

The walk from the rail station is just fine. Intact sidewalks, a convenience store, some decent houses, nothing scary really except it could be lighted better.

Oh I didn't know Me il owned houses over there. Are they specifically for artists? That's interesting

Menil owns practically every property in the area for blocks and blocks. It's why all the houses around Menil Collection are painted gray, to create a sense of place and atmosphere. There are very few holdout properties left. 

Rents are reasonable because Menil likes to have a stable and high occupancy rate, which helps to finance the free museum. I lived at 1525 W Main years ago, and my fiancee used to live in a 2 story on Branard. Menil is a great landlord who is very responsive. As a side benefit, they have a security officer who patrols all their properties.

And when Menil wants to expand their campus, they just tear down one of their houses, or part of the Richmont Square Apartments. That's how we got the new restaurant, and the coming Drawing center. Expect the campus to get bigger and bigger in the coming years.

Does a gravel lot count as permeable for the rain tax?

They poured new sidewalks along the streets. Looking good.

I lived Downtown for 7 years until a couple years ago, and it was a great comfort. It was good to grab a quick canned good or posterboard or whatever. The store continues to exist because there is an economic demand for it. Sorry, but Downtown just isn't ready for a Books-A-Million yet. Certain types of businesses can work and certain can't.

99 cent store sells Tajin seasoning, which is the best to put on chicken. You can find it at Fiesta, but they don't carry it at HEB or Kroger.

Did people walk there from the rail stop?

I did.

There's a big parking lot that was well-used, though.

I went last night as well. The front side was the music hall and had a good band performing. The back side has a sizable bar that is fairly segregated from the front to where you can get away from the loud music if you want, along with a big patio and yard with tables and games, and another smaller stage. The backside overlooks the bayou. The tower is sort of in between the two major areas. Cool place.

With work this major, don't they still have to get a sign-off from a city inspector before opening, or no?

What happened to the Cotton Exchange? It is/was something else (Public House?), are they still open?

Yes, Public Services is still operating. Seems to be getting more popular.

Live Sports Bar is still a go, they're just moving at a snail's pace even though they took down their Facebook. Here's a screenshot of their patio last summer before they took it down

Is it the same guys that previously operated Live?

Wow, terrible beer on account of dirty lines, but they've been there since 1987. 

ahhh thanks

#14 has something going on I thought

Yeah, something from the Salt N Pepper group that owns Moonshiners and Beer Market, etc.