SpringShadows

If that's true that sucks.

Agreed, keep in mind folks this is the demographic center of Houston and the highest earning zip code in Texas (and likely the south). This won't fly just anywhere. I love that people call this the burb's. I live in Spring Branch (obviously Spring Shadows) and I work in the Galleria, I can drive to work in 12 minutes in the morning. It takes about 15 minutes to get to downtown. Outside the Loop isn't the burbs anymore, it's the city. It's the demographic center of the city, it's memorial, it's the best school district in the city. Like it or lump it, it's Houston and in 10 years when it has many more high-rises no-one will think any differently Gessner looks like a dump north of I-10 but mark my words it's changing fast. Spring Shadows is filled with 80 year olds who've been dropping like flies and every time they get replaced but very successful 30-somethings with kids like myself. I've seen more luxury vehicles on Gessner than pick-ups recently and that's unusual. We've had 2 attorneys move into our cull-de-sac this year. Our neighborhood is very family friendly, I know the names of everyone on our street and they know me, we exchange emails and look out for each other. The changes I've seen in just 4 years are crazy. Especially around Bunker Hill. Westview is now littered with HUGE new homes, and every day there is another one added. Money's run out of room south of I-10 and has now crossed the freeway. My home value, even in this economy, has gone up nearly 60k in 3 years (I had it appraised to re-finance). The 35 story building you all hate so much brought 35 stories of professionals to the area who want to live close to work as has the new C-Mex building. We bid on a house on Westview, 1600 square feet listed at 140k, we offered 162k, it sold for 200k. The comps can't even keep up. Buy now, mark my words. The branding in this area expands every day (street signs, pavers, 12 new (matching) schools, obilesks, gateway markers, flowers) and when light rail, City Center expansion north of I-10, Memorial City expansion north of I-10, and Gessner re-build happens you'll wish you did.

You make a good point, but context of his comment to me was not in mimicking but more of an "American Slant" on European. I may not have communicated that as well as I could have in the original post. But they specifically mentioned how they had never seen anything like it. It was a very, very positive experience for everyone. Also, and not to say anyone else here doesn't, but I travel to Europe many times a year and I have never seen "modern European" if you will done in the size and consistency of City Center. I've seen buildings like the ones seen in City Center, but not in such a mass. Also, you would not normally see decks like the ones in City Center in Europe (usually smaller Bistro style), however they are very common in the Med. and South America. It's like Architectural fusion. Lastly, there is a lot of Southern Stones (like Austin Stone) used in City Center and NY style Bricks, so European Architecture would be very different.

Just passing along some positive feedback, as City Center was well hyped by the overseas contingent during OTC. They said the buzz amongst most Oil and Gas folk from abroad was that City Center is THE place to go. When I brought the folks I was entertaining from the Netherlands, some of whom lived her for over a year, they said "I never expected something so beautiful and so European in Houston". They also used the words I always rely on "Generational Beauty" saying this district needs to expand to both sides of the freeway and that they thought City Center would still look great 100 years from now. Also, they mentioned that if the hotels are smart, they'll advertise in next years OTC promotional publications and ride off of this year’s hype. Now if we could get City Center to make a "Dubai Style" train that at least looped from City Center, Memorial City Mall, Bunker Hill back through Community College Campus and ending in City Center. You could run a shopping tour hitting the hospitals, hotels flats, and apartments along the way.

City Center is a reference to this area being the Demographic Center of Houston, it's also conveniently located next to the richest zip code in the state. It's all been discussed in this thread and is posted on the City Center website.

FYI, the contract to replace all the street signage along the major thoroughfares in Spring Branch is about to be awarded.

Yard House looks amazing. Went to Ra this weekend, the place was mad busy.

New landscape markers for Kudela & Weinhimer

Not true. It drives me nuts on these forums that people keep posting this speculative crap. I've posted many times in this forum on this very subject that there was a problem with the windows in both the Tower and the Hotel. That's why things are moving slow, period. I've seen people posting that funding was pulled, that Metro National was going belly up, etc. I don't get it. I remember that in a thread about the new condo's going up on the south side of I-10 and Bunker Hill someone was going ballistic about the faux-stucco being used over the entire face of the building when it was painfully clear to anyone that they were simply pulling the parking garage veneer around the front of the building for ascetics. Of course I posted that observation and now one can see I was correct. I know that forums are built around the principle of speculation but why does everyone err to the negative rather than the positive when we're talking about any project happening outside of the 610 loop?

Images of the Gateway Markers here: http://www.memorialc...tch_Current.pdf and here: http://www.memorialc.../mcd_info_1.pdf and finally: The Gessner Road Widening Projectwill transform this great urban boulevard into a pedestrian-friendlythoroughfare and create a signature entryway to welcome residents and visitorsto the Memorial City area. These improvements includemore lanes, wider sidewalks, improved drainage and picturesque landscape. The Gessner Widening Project is ajoint effort between the TIRZ-17 Redevelopment Authority and the TexasDepartment of Transportation to rebuild a better street. Construction will begin June, 2008. The project is forecasted to last 18-months. Widening the section of GessnerRoad, which runs parallel to the Memorial City Mall and the Memorial HermannMemorial City Medical Center will improve traffic flow south of I-10 with the addition of a fourthlane in each direction. Additional lanesfor turning movements will be added in both the north and south bounddirection. These dedicated turn laneswill minimize traffic flow disturbance caused by the heavy access demand foradjacent businesses. All of theimprovements are imperative because Gessner Road is a busy commercial corridor home to retail,medical facilities and restaurants. Improved drainage and reducedstreet flooding are two more benefits of reconstructing Gessner Road. Two five-foot by eight-foot box culverts willreplace the single smaller pipe that currently conveys the rainfall runoff todrainage channel W151. Increased watershed storage from the oversizedculverts will benefit W151 by providing detention during big rain events; thetwo proposed box culverts connect into an existing 60-inch pipe that conveysthe water to ditch W151. The existing60-inch pipe acts as a restrictor limiting the flows from the new box culvertsto W151. A larger storm sewer is also advantageousto W153, also known as Buffalo Bayou, by reducing overland sheet flow. Another welcome addition to theGessner Road Widening Project is wider sidewalks. Currently, Gessner Road lacks a sufficient sidewalksystem for friendly pedestrian traffic. That’s because the sidewalk is either too narrow on the west side or isnon-existent on the east side. A new network of eight-foot wide sidewalks willconnect residential neighborhoods to shopping, transit and work and convert theMemorial City area into a walkable community. Other scenic street designs tobetter accommodate pedestrians, shoppers and tourists alike includetheater-style street lamps, improved signage, bus stop enhancements andlandscape planting. More than 100 largeshade trees, along with hundreds of shrubs and flowers will transform thisactive city street into a scenic streetscape people will want to visit. In the end, the Gessner WideningProject will reveal a scenic and bustling thoroughfare to serve as the gatewayto connecting people with businesses within the Memorial Cityarea.

Yep.

People complain about anything. Seriously, I travel globally all the time and the biggest thing Houston lacks (besides mountains and beaches) is monuments & statues. This is a huge step in the right direction.

That is F'ing awesome. Very excited by this!!!

So does anyone know what these really nice stone blocks are going to be at I-10 and Gessner & Bunker Hill? Looks possible pedestals for signs, water features or statues. Whatever they are they have conduit or plumbing going to them.

Thanks again as always. Many of us in the area are extremely enthusiastic about the developments in our neighborhood, hopefully the people instigating these wonderful changes catch wind of how happy many of us are. My wife and I are very successful 30somethings returning to where she grew up to re-invigorate this neighborhood. We could have lived in the Heights but we believe in Spring Branch. My wife wanted to contribute by being a school councilor to some of the more at risk children. She has a masters from Saint Thomas and kept a perfect 4.0, she could have worked anywhere she wanted, and left a much more financially lucrative job to do so. Before she graduated, while in school, she worked ias a teacher recruiter and worked very hard to place the best talent in our district as well. We are trying to stack the odds in SB's favor!

I know what you are talking about. There appears to be electrical conduit and maybe PVC pipe sticking out of the wooden boxes. I assumed it was going to be some kind of sculpture or water feature like the ones by the downtown rail. It will be going to the new addition to Memorial Mall, there was a rumor/rendering that showed an aquarium, some thought it may go there. Otherwise I am sure it will just land in whatever retail space fills the gaping hole in the side of the mall. As far as I know the improvements off Long Point will continue. Look at the Long Point thread, there is lots of promise there.

Amazing post, thank you so much for the information. SBDM.org has been added to my bookmarks and I will tune in regularly to see the updates. The pdf's were packed with great info.

All very interesting, thanks a million.

LOL, even though it's not really funny.

Hey everyone, I've been looking high and low for detailed information about what the plan is for the Long Point Re-Development that's been happening. I see signs saying "Stop The Long Point Land Grab" but I can't find any information on what that means. Then this weekend the wife and decided to get dinner at Otilia's and we noticed the intersection just before it is amazing. All new, very beautiful brickwork inlaid in the street. Is this the plan for any more intersections, all of Long Point? Is this a result of the "Land Grab"? Sorry, I'm new to all this. I just wanted to get smart on the area, this was our first house (Spring Shadows) and in 2 years it has appraised 50k higher than we paid. Our 20% load was literally swallowed when we refinanced and locked in at 4.5. Thngs in this area have been getting better, but I am very interested to see if the momentum behind this transitioning of Spring Branch will continue. I noticed they installed a car meter at the north side of the feeder of I-10 and Gessner, hopefully a sign of more things to come. Also, of course we have 12 schools being replaced, but other than this site I really can't find a good resource for new information and existing plans. Like, are they going to re-build Gessner, the street looks terrible from I-10 to Clay? Can anyone fill me in on anything else they know of that hasn't fallen under the "Bunker Hill" post?

Hit Feebirds this weekend, very very good burritos. love the vibe. My wife and I also hit El Ray, very good food here as well. The new Academy is nice. Bang for the buck, Freebirds killed it. Plenty of healthy options with a cool vibe.

Went to studio movie grill this weekend. Very nice, I would say it is dead even with Alamo Drafthouse. Pros: Much better screen/sound (digital) Arguably Better Food (opinion only) Full Bar Cleaner More Screens Better Tables Cons: Less Character Less Beer Squeaky Rolling Seats My wife, friends and I went for a walk around. It is simply amazing in there, doesn't feel like Houston. You can't hear the freeway and you can't see anything but City Center when in City Center. I must say, when the beer bar, wine bar, sushi, etc open this little spot will have it all. Color me very impressed. I have been all over the world and the beauty we see here will translate into generational beauty which is rare in this city.