JJVilla

So you think that all those luxury buildings with resort style living and luxury furnishing has REALLY and CLEARLY added value to our education system.

The analog that jumps out to me is what I've see is the school situation here in New Orleans. We have a kid in Pre-K3 that costs $5k in a great area while my of my co-works is looking at almost $15k for Pre-K3 in New Orleans Uptown. Yes, the location is slightly richer but the average salary from where I live and Uptown NOLA is very similar. So do you think that the extra luxury of the other school is work $10k at this level.

Getting back to the exact question at hand - I know that those luxury amenities on campus (not even talking about private housing off campus) has not helped the education at UT (or would wager that at any other or not many school that's built them). I know for a fact the ranking of my department (according to US News) has NOT moved at all since I graduated (when these luxury amenities were being opened) compared to the present when they've been open and expanded exponentially. People that have graduated in that last few years would tell you this too since I've spoken with them myself regarding this waste of resources and is the main reason many of don't donate to any University-wide fund! It's just put much more money in the Administration's and construction company's pocket.

Yeah no that's cleeaaaaarrrllllyyyy all I hear from this argument and I'm glad I typed out my eloquent analysis on the state of American higher education on a small localized architecture forum in so few words at 1 in the morning...

The crane is where the elevators will go?

The great news is that Wal-mart has already started to decline since their demographics and source of cheap products will soon be exhausted.

Drove by today, and I must say that this is an absolute game changer for Houston, plus it compliments West Ave further down Kirby. I was in absolute awe, and trust me when I say, the more these dense mixed use developments get built, the better for Houston. They add so much to an area its unbelievable. With the addition of BLVD Place, Regent Square, and River Oaks District, Houston is going to be a home run urban city with nice organic infill like Rice Village.

Yes, the development of the inner Houston/Loop and projects like these are catching many people's attention. I spoke to someone that works for Archstone here in LA who stated that they will be developing 2 projects in the loop area and will keep this in their area of focus.

Just more bad news to pile on the plate:

http://finance.yahoo...-013013400.html

Southwest literally beat the snot out of United in Denver. Southwest has been serving that market for just a few short years and they've totally chipped away at United's market share.

Also, Southwest announced double daily nonstop flights out of Hobby to Indianapolis and a single daily nonstop to Orange County starting in November. Looks for United to stop flying to Rio de Janeiro as a result.

OC to HOU would be great for me.

An article supporting various points mentioned here:

Cincinnati, Ohio and Houston/ Bush had the highest air fare averages at $504 and $494, respectively.

While Long Beach finished second to Atlantic City, it closed the gap, as the East Coast airport's average flight cost rose from $167 to $189 over the course of the quarter. Las Vegas was third at $267

http://www.presstele...urce=rss_viewed

http://www.bloomberg...n-busy-hub.html

They would also do well to add some flights to El Salvador when this expansion goes through.

So it's interesting that this heating up and going the logical course so far - people wanting more competition, better quality or at least cheaper despite the United scare tactics. On the way to work yesterday I heard that LAX was rated the worst airport in the nation, which after the hellish experience on 3 out of 6 flights last year, I have avoided like the plague and am glad I have many other options that allow me to get cheaper and better quality airport service.

Just 10 days, 6 hours & 5 minutes till opening game!

The toll booths, when entering or leaving one area, just sounds too funny (odd) and impractical to be implement. Not sure why but this kind of reminds of our company's consideration, and quick rejection, a few years ago of charging consultants/contractors for using our office space to reduce costs because it would just be passed onto us via their charges/fees anyway. So deemed a "non-starter".

Normally the comments on Chron.com are way off base BUT this time they have generally pointed out some reason - why is that City Council is so opposed to having competition? Competition that will wake those slobs at United thus maybe improve quality or at least drop prices by reducing their monopoly.

Living in SoCal I can take advantage of flying out of LAX, LGB and SNA within 30 to 45 minutes drive, which means I can get higher quality and/or lower prices because of COMPETITION. I can get RT ticket to SFA from LGB (5 minute drive from home) for less than $100 or just above up to Seattle! You can dream about that with United, which will probably send you luggage or carry-on items they forced to gate check to the wrong terminal (which happened to my mother when she visited from Houston) or just make the flying experience much worse than it used to be a few years ago.

I work mostly from home, because it's my office that is too distracting. I am also a night person and my most productive hours are 12am-6am.

Some people work better at home and sometimes I can work better at work when less people are around (late night or weekends) but you need the structure of the office for many jobs.

Why don't they make the former tenants pay for the upkeep? That would probably make the decision a bit easier.

Now I know the reason for the large police presence we saw in Midtown on Saturday evening and closure of the highway! We passed right by there around 6:15.

Saw the sign for the pub & eatery early this week! That will be "interesting".

Are they planning to expand to near my soon-to-be-former home near San Felipe and Bering?

On a somewhat related note with regards to my move to Long Beach (I am working and have temp living by City Hall, in downtown). Just because you build something very nice and urban doesn't mean that all your urban problems will away and consumers will leave their comfortable areas to the new place (still urban areas). The development here is geared for urban professionals and looks nice/inviting to me but you've got to be very young or adventurous to live just 4 or 6 blocks north of the beach in some areas (where the place is). This is a nice looking, mixed use area I am referring to but deceiving (from what I have been told) and still attract problems/crime. Maybe the co-workers comments were a bit off but they have some basis.

Just thought I'd share a somewhat related impression on some issues of putting some of these of developments in an urban, developing area and it's downside. Of course this has some to do with economic slowdown over here and in general.

FINALLY!!

NRG bought Reliant. When did that happen?

Another reason not buy those crummy extended warranties.

These type of companies sell hype and quality that they can't or won't need to deliver on. Just buy the products wholesale or at skip these "warranties".

Not sure of the Spence closure but the location is difficult to access. RB was way overpriced so if Spence was the same, in this economny and easy access to better value (online, wholesellers), then they would also be in trouble.

I was there on Saturday and it was busy. Parking was a pain, though.

Man these DT downers post were a bit to way off and I was hopping they were somewhat right this weekend when I was looking for parking! So if the parking was a sign of activity then there's plenty going on in DT these days.

It's a unique building for sure, definetly like it. Better than all those beige boxes we have these days.

While I like the rusted steel, we all know they're gonna paint it.

Anyone know what color it will be painted or care to make a guess ?

While i agree with both of you that the design is a natural fit with the bayou, I wouldn't mind seeing a vibrant color chosen.

It would be an unexpected surprise in our city of neutral colors. I'm rooting for Canary Yellow.

Orange would be my vote.

This is great news and suitable fit for BG's US HQ.