MidtownCoog

That's one very odd way to look at it. Too bad it makes zero sense.

What the Tollway needs is more lanes. Not cameras. Even with fancy flashing signs there are not a lot of options when there is a wreck along the Beltway.

Oy vey! At any rate, it's one nasty block as it stands to be in the "skyline district". What a silly name. Always with the names.

Dubai is a trend that won't last. No matter how many fancy buildings they build. PRINT IT

The Wedge has a parking garage attached to it. Or either I was in la-la land when I went from the Lobby to the parking garage.

Good news. The Hyatt and Doubletree were booked solid this week, so another choice for my travelers will be nice.

Kingwoodians are in a foul mood lately. They are fighting TXDOT. They won't be allowed to have a new "Kingwood" sign after construction since they are now in the city. TXDOT will only allow a sign to say "Houston" or "The Liveable Forest".

Someone should start an off topic thread on "ghetto". My Mom used the word once at at home owners meeting and people went crazy.

I just can't get excited about this building. From an engineering perspective, sure, it's a modern marvel. But from every other perspective it's just silly. As far as impact on the Arab world, well, who knows. The only place this building makes any sense is Dubai.

Yawn

Kingwood is "built out" from what I understand. Where is this "new" development?

The freedom to choose. Car free in Big D is still a self-imposed hardship. You should be proud of yourself for being a trailblazer.

Car free loft living... Sounds like prison.

I stand by my Hoochie Mamma statement. I have two daughters and would not do this. Especially in the dangerous suburban ghetto that Football and Parrott describe.

Good point.

Leroy Hermes wrote that this week and sent it to The Chronicle editorial board. Hopefully we'll see it in Sunday's paper.

Sounds like an SNL skit!

From Leroy Hermes, Chairman UH System Board of Regents: The Houston Chronicle recently published an article regarding the University of Houston's enrollment. The following opinion editorial piece, which has been submitted to the newspaper, addresses the issues noted in the story and the questions and comments posed by readers on the Chronicle's online blog. Houston, we have an opportunity. The University of Houston is 80 years young, and has been a state university for just over 40 years. In its short history it has educated leaders for Houston, for Texas, and for the nation; and it has been home to many important scientific discoveries. We are flexible, aspiring to be even better, and determined to make this university a world-class asset for Houston and Texas. While we are changing, we find that sometimes it is a tough task to wrestle to the ground old, outdated impressions. Today's University of Houston is not your father's or your grandmother's university. We are the state's next flagship university. We are being more selective in our admission standards. We are enhancing our academic and research programs. And we are changing our physical presence thanks to a new master plan that will result in a significant increase in resident students. Over the next twenty years, our alumni from past decades will hardly recognize us. As Houston Chronicle reporter Matt Tresaugue's article outlined earlier this week, along with these changes has come a temporary enrollment dip. But there is more to the enrollment story than a decrease in the number of students. The good news is that the number of UH freshmen in the top quartile of their high school graduating class has gone up more than 10 percent in the last few years. Our freshman applications are not only increasing, but also coming from across the state at a much higher level than five years ago. Recent high school graduates are seeing the University of Houston as a competitive university and a place with top programs and opportunities. As we raise our requirements, some students choose to go to other area universities and community colleges, returning to UH to complete their final two years. They are a strong and welcome addition to our student body. I read the comments at the end of Mr. Tresaugue's online story with great interest, and I appreciate the number of Houstonians who took time to offer their support and to suggest areas of improvement for the University of Houston. It is worth noting a few of the issues the online readers raised. Campus Safety: UH is safer than many college campuses across the state and country, and experiences fewer crimes each year than the Galleria area. We work hard to ensure everyone's safety with more than 300 monitored cameras across the campus, new lighting, increased foot and bicycle patrols, and emergency call boxes in every parking area. Tuition: As a taxpayer and a regent, I am passionate about keeping costs as low as possible for our students. The Texas Legislature has determined that each university's governing board should set tuition for their respective institutions in order to build the higher education resources needed by the state's growing population. As a growing research university, we are strengthening our academic programs, and students are helping make that happen through tuition and fees. We work very hard to minimize increases and to identify new scholarship funding whenever we have a tuition increase. Getting to Campus and Parking: We are partnering with Metro to bring increased bus and future rail services directly to campus. We opened our first multi-story parking garage last year and have another one on the books to open in 2008. Bringing the University to the Student: We are working with suburban communities to bring our educational programs to outlying areas of Houston. We currently offer degree programs at Sugar Land, Cinco Ranch, and the Woodlands. Our attempt to bring UH to the Northwest area was temporarily stalled, but we are working diligently with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to bring degree programs to this burgeoning area. Infrastructure and Administrative Issues: Many of the comments from readers indicated that our faculty members are held in high esteem. And a number of readers pointed out the dedication of many UH staff members. Nonetheless, the need for increased support for advising, financial aid, admissions, and other key student service areas is one we take very seriously. The Welcome Center, which opened last fall, was a first step in bringing enrollment and student services together in a customer-friendly setting. We will continue to find ways to improve these critical areas. UH has come further and faster than any other university in the country. The bar is raised and the new University of Houston is under construction. Today's UH students and programs are more highly competitive than those of five years ago. If you believe you can compete at the new University of Houston, we are building something here that we hope you will investigate with a fresh pair of eyes: Houston, we have a new UH. As chairman of the Board of Regents, I want to say this to prospective students, parents, teachers, and guidance counselors: as with some Texas universities, we are experiencing an enrollment lull that many experts think is partially caused by the vibrant Houston economy and the availability of jobs. But the most important story at the University of Houston has to do with our progress and evolution. Look around and count the building cranes on the UH campus up a residence hall adding 1,000 new beds on campus, a new business school classroom building, a second architecture building, additional parking structures, and that is just the beginning changing. So Houston, send us all the bright young people you have. Send us students who want to experience a traditional campus life. Send us students who are young married parents, working in a bank or a business and wanting to get ahead with an MBA at hours that work for them. Send us every waiter and part-time worker in town with a passion for learning and a desire to become the first in their family to finish college. And send us your National Merit Scholars who are looking for an education second to none. We have a place for each and every one of them on a UH campus undergoing a moment of profound transformation guided by a master plan and a set of strategic goals that call for raising the bar for everyone who can make their way to this campus. We are forging a University of Houston to meets the needs of an ambitious city and state. It is an ongoing process for there is never an end to the building of a great university and, in this case, the building of a great flagship university for Texas right here in Houston. We invite you to be part of our success story. Leroy Hermes, Chairman UH System Board of Regents

My friend in Ft. Worth (west) car pools to Love Field every day. It just sounds so lame.

Chevron and Baker Hughes have active van pools. And not just to downtown. It's not exactly "dead". Native Texans like me enjoy our freedom, even if that freedom is being stuck in traffic or paying a lot for gas each month. Not to mention who wants to share a ride a bunch yahoos in the morning? I need my news and coffee in peace. I really don't see the TaBurbaScursions drivers complaining about the prices. They have the cash. It's usally the tree-hugging hybrid drivers who complain the most. Oh, and Hillary Clinton with her "oil profit tax" scheme. Like that'll work.

Ch 13 said she left her car running and got out to check the hours on the door.

This story does not align with the TV news versions.

Sure, blame Metro! I blame the dumb hoochie-mamma who left her SUV running with her kid in it. It is against state law to leave your vechicle running with a child in it.

Two people ride in my hot rod to downtown every day. We have cut our transporation expense in half. And driving in the HOV is actually cheaper than taking the bus.

It's not that bad. You sound bummed out. Don't let what other people have bother you. 59 and Little York will be great for that area. Although I am still mad at Home Depot for clearing a forest to build a parking lot.