livincinco

Are the numbers the underlying factor preventing a high speed transit system connecting most major TX cities? I have viewed several ideal maps connecting most major TX cities ( sorry El Paso, Lubbock etc.) and wonder why we don't take all that oil $$$ and build a world renowned transit system! I mean, to connect HTown, SA, Austin, and Big D, with College Station, Waco Temple and Killeen in the mix; I am not sure why such an endeavor isn't taking place. OK, HAIFers, bring it on. I am ready for recriminations!

Are you familiar with the Texas Central Railway proposal to build a HSR link between Dallas and Houston? That seems like an awfully big step towards building what you're talking about.

The majority of the comments favored the tunnel option.

 

I haven't seen any tally of the comments, so I can't comment on the truth of that, but it's still irrelevant because those comments don't consider cost and general feasibility of the project.  Comments are one factor in a decision nothing more.

Pathetic. What's the point of having public comments if you just ignore them. This is very similar to the metro gm payments situation last year. At this rate out best hope for change is just for the old ruling generation to just die out.

 

That's outstanding.  The point of soliciting comments against several options is to assist in the process of eventually arriving at one option and then executing it.  I'm sure you'll disagree with this, but I'm going to hazard a guess that there were public comments in favor of several different options.  Therefore, somebody's comments are always going to be ignored.

 

Let's not get into this again. Per the International Building Code (as of 2009)...

202 Definitions: This change provides a definition for “high rise building”. It’s defined as “A building with an occupied floor located more than 75 feet above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.”

Damn you and your "facts"!

The downtown Houston Macy's was profitable. They closed the store because the land got sold from underneath it. That said, it wasn't a stellar profit, but it did make money.

 

Profitable really isn't the issue, opportunity cost is.  Let's accept that the land got sold out from underneath them.  They clearly weren't making enough profit to relocate and open the store in another downtown location.  I don't know what their rent was at that location, but I'm going to guess that it was below market value (which could have also contributed to their profitability).

 

I don't have the data to say for sure, but there just doesn't seem to be evidence that street level retail in downtown is a good business investment at this point.

It doesn't matter when they knew Macys was closing or how much the mayor supports the Dallas corridor. The project was anchored by Macys and isnt much without it. Corridors like these need major tenants to pull it together. A couple of small clothing retailers, a deli and coffee shop will do nothing to build a string retail district.

It doesn't matter what hilcorp does, unless they can pull of a Macys or even something lesser like a Target, the area isn't going to evolve as planned.

Parker can support the area till she is blue in the face but she cant dictate where the market heads. Undoubtedly she will improve the area, but I don't think the reality will be anywhere near what was planned.

MACY'S is gone, Sarcowitz (sp) will remain a parking garage. Don't mean to sound like a downer but I don't think the project can be anchored by greenstreet. To me, too much depends on commitments from other parties.

Like I said, I do believe that downtown will develop a strong retail component, I just don't think it's going to be on Dallas. I think it's going to be in a newer area of downtown. Walking around Dallas up to the shops at Houston center is rather depressing. So many concrete walks instead of store fronts. Conversions are going to be expensive, parking is a problem...

I just think that newer developments will build wiser and incorporate retail components at ground level and that will be the area that retail will make a resurgence

 

There's a key point that you're missing here though.  Macys closed their store because it wasn't doing enough business.  It's great to speculate about how nice it would be to build storefronts but they need to be able to do business and there just isn't any evidence at this point that sufficient retail volume exists to do that.  Pavilions/Greenstreet has had success as a entertainment/dining destination, but hasn't been able to generate any significant retail presence.

 

The only way that you draw a department store anchor at this point is by giving a large 380 development agreement.  I would argue that money is better invested in drawing residential for the near term and then letting the retail develop organically from the increased population.

 

I...didn't realize that you could write full sentences!

Last I heard though the fees aren't set for the new canal yet, so the projected increase in business is purely speculative. There's some concern that Panama is going to jack the usage fees up so high that it will impact volume.

I think my original post got taken a bit out of hand - or I didn't explain myself correctly?  Either way I'm pleased they are in Houston, and even more pleased they are absolutely moving forward with the highrise downtown.

 

I'll refrain from posting any "insider" information in the future since everyone gets so worked up.

 

Chevron has a chemical division that's headquartered in The Woodlands?  Could your source potentially be referencing that entity?

 

The renderings give completion dates of 2015 and 2016. Is this a different site or were the projections way off?

 

Both of those buildings look like they're going to be done a lot earlier than that based on current progress.

That area really needs something like this. I'll be surprised if this isn't a big success.

Looks like coach Kube is surveying the possibilities of starting Keenum in Kansas City. What do yall think is the likelihood of this and are you for it?

 

Why not?  TJ certainly didn't look impressive and it wouldn't hurt to give Schaub the additional rest.  At least Case brings a different element by being able to move around when there's pressure.

I'm less concerned with Schaub at this point than I am with Kubiak.  I really think that he's taken them as far as he can and that it's time for a change.  Their offense is just too predicable.  Teams on sitting on the routes.

I kind of liked the concept behind Cotswolds where they were a little more subtle. How about Cotswolds - the new millennia?

I agree. Seems like its just a matter of time before they start issuing speeding tickets on the toll roads based on the scan times at the different stations. On that same note, saw this today.

http://t.nbcnews.com/technology/careful-what-you-tweet-police-schools-tap-social-media-track-4B11215908

What's happening in Ft. Bend really reminds me of how Orange County, CA developed. It never developed a dominant city. I can see Ft. Bend ending up with multiple mid sized cities in the 100k - 300k population range that blend into one continuous urban area.

What I find both exciting and terrifying are the implications of "big data".  For example, Nordstrom recently admitted that they were using store cameras to track shoppers, identify them by age group and gender, and then track their walking patterns through the store to improve their placement of merchandise.  I'm fine with targeted marketing, but...

 

 

Hrm... are not the culinary offerings in that area very homogeneous?

Homogeneous aka typical bland chain restaurants?

Nice stereotyping. Try driving down Mason sometime. You'll find a pretty wide variety of small family-owned restaurants tucked into the little strip centers there.

This has become a great area for grocery stores. In addition to Trader Joe's, we've got Whole Foods, Sprouts, the big HEB, and the new Kroger Signature all within a couple of miles. I need to start cooking more.

Have you ever heard the Vince Lombardi quote "when you get to the endzone, act like you've been there before." 

 

The same thing is true of first class.

I don't know how familiar you are with the history of Southwest, but offering first class and lounges would be a pretty radical departure from their business model.

R.I.P. Foleys, "the largest department store in the Southwest". (That's quoting a billboard they had on 288 North, the main road from Angleton into Houston years ago.)

That store occupies a prominent place in my childhood memories for a number of reasons. Will Houston ever have another 10-story department store (1 basement + 9 floors above ground)? It was a vestige of an era in which downtown was the premier shopping district of Houston (as in other cities).

I doubt that anyone in the US will build another department store of that size. Those days are gone.

Does anyone think they will eventually tear down the four points?

 

I think that they'll renovate it and integrate it into the project.  Makes complete sense to have a mid-price hotel attached to it.

Fair enough, but how come you do not feel the same way about suburbs? At one time, there was no such thing as a thirty year mortgage. Banks did not want to give out thirty year loans, which makes sense. However, once the government stepped in via the creation of the FHA which insured loans, then banks were pushed to offer them. Is this organic growth? I don't think so. You make a good point but stay consistent.

That is completely unrelated to this thread.

There is a lot of low level retail that you're choosing to ignore as well.

Not at all. His discussion is centered around a government planned district. Low level retail should develop organically without government involvement as a response to market demand. As I've stated in other threads, I believe that low level retail will develop in downtown Houston once there is a sufficient population to support it. In my opinion, CoH is doing the right thing in that area - incentivize residential and let the market provide the retail once sufficient demand exists.

That being said, I think that a Fig At 7th type development would be great in downtown and would be worth incentives, but this looks like this is more of a push to create a Michigan Ave type of environment.

I agree it needs the neighborhood retail to make it easier for the people that do live there and possibly want to live there. At the same time sayin you think something isn't realistic just because you say so is disingenuous.

 

Actually, I can pretty much say that I don't think something is realistic for any reason that I want.  I stated what I clearly identified as an opinion, but I'll expand anyway.  Let's use LA as an example.  LA has created a pretty vibrant population downtown, but it really hasn't generated retail in that process.  LA Live has become a major draw strictly based on entertainment and restaurant venues.  They recently launched a retail center that I think is very much in line with the kind of development that would work well in Houston - Fig at 7th which is anchored by Target and Sports Chalet (comparable to Academy) along with an upscale food court.