kdog08

Thanks for the update, nice looking building. I really like how this building compliments its neighbors. Next time you are in the area if you go a little bit further down Eldrdige, I believe there is another midrise office building of similar size under construction for Transocean.

s 2 or 3 spires.

I love the way this building looks. However, I am a little bit disappointed they only stuck a few glass windows on the parking structure, instead of having more glass in the rendering.

I am lazy like you.

I appreciate your honesty.

It doesn't matter how much of their budget is being spent on dorms. In economics, there is a concept called marginalism. As it applies to the cost-benefit analysis of a portfolio of potential projects, it holds that feasible projects should be undertaken in descending order according to IRR until the capital budget is exhausted. As projects are sequentially green-lighted as one descends the ordered list, each of the remaining uncommitted projects becomes the top priority. If UH's capital budgeting program was carried out professionally, then at some juncture new dorms would've been the highest-priority (i.e. the highest-yielding IRR) uncommitted capital expenditure, surpassing the merit of any other potential uncommitted capital expenditures. There you have it. Priority.

At least, that's how they teach the analytical procedure for capital budgeting at UH.

Given my professional knowledge about student housing, and also a compelling theoretical framework to assess the attractiveness of a university to potential students and how that relates to its reputation and the fulfillment of its mission, I am dubious of the merit of university-owned student housing as a capital expenditure as compared to alternative projects.

Can you field a compelling rebuttal?

Many other universities that aren't nearly as large as UH have attracted private student housing developers. I know for fact that at least two such firms have evaluated UH for opportunities in years past, however they have not been able to justify projects (even when capital was freely flowing through the CMBS markets). If the private sector cannot justify student housing at UH, it seems extremely unlikely that a student housing development would hold its own as proposed by UH itself, especially under the antiquated SRO paradigm, which is what this project sounds like. Therefore it stands to reason that UH is propping up the project from elsewhere in its budget, depriving some alternative project of finite funds.

If student housing can be provided by private developers, more power to them. However, if that's something that they're able to provide, then there does not appear to be a market failure such as would justify intervention on the part of a public entity.

Well my expertise is in biochemistry and microbiology so all this information is new to me. I do enjoy learning new things which is why I like this site. However, after your lengthy response, why then is UH doing exactly what you just said shouldn't be a priority. Why are universities investing and building dorms that aren't worthwhile then?

I prefer things that I don't understand to be broken down primarily because making assumptions about a line of argument that I don't understand results in frequent errors and miscommunication. It's just good form.

If this were a board room meeting I would agree but this is the internet yo. Not everyone who presents a response to you or makes a statement is obliged to indulge you by providing a cost-benefit analysis. I know you are smart guy and could look things up for yourself, but if you are lazy like me then say so.

It is obviously a budgetary priority because they're allocating resources to dorms instead of to other programs. They had many options and they chose this one.

I guess it depends on what a priorty is to you. Do we know how much of UH's budget is being spent on dorms? We could start having a meaningful discussion about priorities if that was known.

Alumni donations were suggested previously in this thread as the reason that a larger on-campus residential population would be justified.

So were a few other responses that aren't mentioned by you.

Do you feel that private for profit entities shouldn't be developing student housing? Or are you simply waiting for data to make a decision?

I still fail to understand how dormitories as a budgetary priority is fitting with any aspect of UH's mission as a university. It's not that they aren't nice to have, it's that there are 1) better programmatic uses of the funds, and 2) way to achieve better bang for the buck with respect to a program enhancing brand awareness.

I still want to see research linking dormitory use with alumni donations. Even if there is significant alumni giving as a consequence of dormitory use, which I am dubious of, it seems like the rate of alumni giving would peak 20 to 30 years after a person graduates. Consider that the discounted value of $100 at 5% interest 25 years from now is only $29.53.

Opportunity cost is a b.i.t.c.h.

LOL. Like I've said before, figure it out for yourself. Obviously, being a lurker for the past 5 years, I know you are the kind of person who needs things to be broken down in order to understand things you don't get or don't agree with. Furthermore, like I said I don't really care about researching anything for you in this thread because I could care less whether or not you agree. Even furthermore, who said it was a budget priority or that alumni donations was a driving force in building dorms? Lastly, it's intersting that a UH alumni like yourself seems to know less what's going on their campus than someone who never set foot on their campus.

Talk about a buzzkillington.

This isn't the greatest quality image, but I took this photo today...

Thanks for the update. I love the comparison shots, it really puts things in perspective.

Not even close to secure, in my mind.

The legislation hasn't been signed by Rick Perry, and he seems to have a particular grudge against UH.

Once the legislation is signed, then it's up to the voters of Texas to pass a Constitutional Amendment in November to allow for the Tier One funds.

And...like I said, most of those Tier One funds are being taken from a fund that's already supposed to benefit UH and Texas Tech (and TSU, TSU, SHSU, SFA, etc.) and it's going to be opened up to be shared by UT System schools that are already funded by a different, vastly larger fund.

That's why I said, although UH will stand to benefit, we're just robbing the poor to pay the rich.

Ah I see your point. Well does anyone know how Cali funds their universities, they have the most tier 1 universities in the country (I believe NY is second)? CA is definitely not a fiscal model but maybe they could give us some ideas on how to expand our system.

I feel you about the job search. I've got multiple heavily-quantitative degrees and a bunch of work experience, and I'm in the same boat.

I agree about the problem, namely poor brand awareness. But I question whether dormitories are the appropriate advertising vehicle to promote brand awareness. UH is very easily on par with and in some areas handily exceeds Texas Tech's offerings. The only discernible reason Texas Tech gets more press is because of their football program.

I wouldn't say dormitories are a means of advertising but part of the means to achieve some of the goals laid out by the President. Having a larger on-campus student population can create lots of opportunities for UH. The two years I spent in the dorms were great, the school really had a lot programs to promote social ties among students and various school run activities. I think it stands to reason if you are living on campus you are more likely to become involved with school activities.

I've got a niece going to UT as a freshman and she's living in an apartment way off-campus. I don't see that particular freedom as something that detracts from the school's reputation. And in the context of other universities, both which do or do not allow freshmen to live off campus, UH holds its own pretty well.

But to be clear, being informally considered a "commuter school" is not the same thing as allowing freshmen to have choice in their housing situation. UH's reputation is complicated, and it actually varies by ethnicity. I've been told that it is reputed as a party school among South Asians, but that wasn't my experience at all...nor did I want that to be my experience. Having said that, my commute from off-campus was only a few miles and could've been pulled off by bus if I didn't prefer to work instead of racking up student debt. I had the option to live on campus, but it was too expensive and didn't make any sense for me. I got a much better deal off-campus. If the situation is similar for present freshmen going to UH, then I don't see that they'd be done a favor by being denied the option to live off-campus. And if the new housing is being subsidized by funds that could've been routed to other university programs, then they're losing out too.

I don't find anything wrong with on-campus housing, but I do think that people ought to have a choice to live there and I don't think that it ought to be considered a priority over just about any other program that UH might offer instead.

It's unfortunate that this is the case, but if UH wants to increase its appeal and make it a first-choice school the way that UT and A&M already are, it needs to vastly improve the reputation of its football program. High school seniors (on the whole) respond to brand awareness that is tied to pop culture rather than academics.

Dang it's 4AM and I'm responding to a forum, this job market sucks for newly graduates, even biology graduates. What it comes down to is brand awareness, which UH just doesn't have in my opinion. UH isn't on the same level as Texas Tech, UT, and A&M in my mind and I would wager a sum of money most Texans would feel the same way. To be clear, I'm not advocating that all freshman should be required to live on campus but advocating that UH should do more to promote more students living on campus by building more dorms or whatever they want to call them.

Great pics of the temples. I live a stone's throw away (a Houston stone's throw) from the Stafford temple and drive by it a lot. I left for college in 2004 and recently moved back home and it's amazing how much diversity there is in my part of SW Houston. They recently opened the Turquoise Center and India House (I see them playing cricket a lot in the field by the building) off W. Bellfort and I believe an Orthodox Jewish Temple/Center off W. Airport and BW8. Not to mention the few mosques that have sprung up in the area.

Good to hear that UH has secured its way to tier 1 status.

Nah, you advanced the idea so I'm gonna let you support it. Have fun.

Haha. I really could care less whether you believe me or not and I really don't care about searching the web to validate something trivial on an internet forum. Furthermore, I don't keep up with UH's policy so I don't know if they are requiring freshman to live on campus and I was just responding to your query with my opinions based on my experience. So I am having fun, thank you.

It doesn't. Does TSU? How about Sam Houston State or Stephen F. Austin? And if they do have a strong alumni association, how's that working out for them?

Maybe UH is just better-run, but from where I sit, they've done really well in terms of academics and facilities in spite of not having a mandatory on-campus residency policy of any kind. And their reputation is vastly better than it used to be.

How about UT, A&M, and Texas Tech, I wonder how there alumni association is doing compared to UH? How about LSU or USC?

I will agree from what I've heard the UH is doing much better than previously, but I still hear remarks about Cougar High and commuter school. Furthermore, from what I've heard UH doesn't want to known or considered as a commuter school, especially as it goes after tier 1 status. How many commuter schools aren't recognized nationally? I don't see how having a larger on campus student population would do any harm, except maybe UH will become more of a party school (which can be good or bad depending on who you ask). It probably will even attract a better quality of freshman. The exception is you though, who apparantely wanted to go to a commuter school. Somehow I doubt most high schools seniors are clamoring to get away from home to go to a commuter school in Houston. But what do I know huh?

Can that be quantified in terms of academic performance or compensation after graduation? Can it at least be shown to translate to more generous alumni donations?

I can only speak for myself, but the freedom to live off campus was a primary factor for me going to UH instead of a different second-tier school.

I am sure it can be quantified in terms of academic performance and alumni donations but you can google things just as easily as I could. From what I've heard UH doesn't a strong alumni association.

I'm pretty sure that freshmen make up >25% of the student population. Also, it sounded to me like they were going to set a policy that all freshmen must live on campus the first year? Why?

Gets more students involved with UH, more school pride, closer ties to UH, etc. Having came from Texas State U. where they require all freshman to live on campus it does really make the "college experience" more worthwhile.

Has anyone heard about UHs tier 1 status? Any updates?

I see that now, guess I skipped over some posts.

Bu buy parking lot! This may be the last photo you will ever see of this parking lot.

Which parking lot is being used for ES?

Thanks for the update.

Is this rendering consistent with reality? I thought this was just going to be big and boxy? From what little this reveals, I like it.

It was dead on. I don't remember if that tall metal structure in the middle was built.

Drove by those apartments yesterday and they are almost completed on the exterior.

^ I hope it still looks like that. Of course I would like something better but compared to many of the ES I've seen, this one looks decent. Plus its not completely a box.

I like it too. It looks pretty sleek in my opinion and will look good in uptown.

How tall will this tower be compared to OPP? I'm terrible at gauging heights.

I hope this project ends up looking like the rendering on the website: GrayCo. It doesn't look too flashy but seems to blend in well in my opinion looking at the rendering.

Thanks for the photos. They're taking for-ev-errrr

I know what you mean, Hess Tower seems to be shooting up but MainPlace is bigger.

Does anyone know what the commute would be coming in to the medical center from Westbury? Most likely I would take Main St/Hwy 90A. Thanks for any help :-)

I would take Braeswood if I was going from Westbury to Medical Center. I would say around 20-30 minutes if you are leaving around 7.

Personally, I think that once we have light rail, we'll be more like Dallas.

:shrug:

Personally, I think once Houston has its core light rail, along with our park&ride, we'll have a transit system superior to Dallas's.