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jrc

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Everything posted by jrc

  1. jrc
    I live in Orchard Lakes. Love the neighborhood, but that doesn't mean we don't have problems. At the top of my list is the elementary school issue. Not sure why they kept Old Orchard in the Oakland zone (that was our previous school, before we were shipped off to Telfair), but I suspect it has something to do with the fact that Old Orchard was just being started last time they redrew the boundaries. I think Oakland is over capacity now, so it wouldn't surprise me if they moved the Old Orchard kids to Telfair next year. Haven't heard any updates for the most recent development. I did, however, have an e-mail exchange with TxDOT the other day concerning the widening of the southern segment of FM 1464. Here's what they told me: "The current widening of FM 1464 from FM 1093 to Austin High School should be complete by the end of this year. Unfortunately, we still do not have the necessary funding for the FM 1464 widening from Austin High School to SH 99. We are preparing the design plans, in hopes that we will receive sufficient funding soon. We have submitted this section of FM 1464, as well as other roadways on what is being called a "Stimulus Package". That is, roadways which we hope will be earmarked to receive funding in the immediate future with the federal stimulus packages that you have been hearing about in the news. At this time, the best estimate for when this section of FM 1464 widening would be awarded for construction is late 2010. I would anticipate the construction to take approximately 2 years. Thanks for your interest. I recognize that traffic on FM 1464 is growing, and the improvements are needed. Hopefully the funding for this needed project and many others can be resolved swiftly."
  2. jrc
    Don't feed the trolls.
  3. jrc
    Sounds like an attempt to compete with Wal Mart and Target. Interesting article here http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stor.../14/story7.html Also, found this on Wikipedia: Kroger Marketplace is a relatively new style of store for Kroger. The brand started in 2004 in the Columbus, Ohio, area, which lost the Big Bear and Big Bear Plus chains in Penn Traffic's Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The Kroger Marketplace format is based on the Fry's Marketplace stores that the Arizona division of Kroger is currently operating. Similar to rival chains Meijer and Super Kmart, and modeled after Kroger-owned Fred Meyer, these stores contain multiple departments. In addition to the grocery department, they contain a Fred Meyer Jewelers, Donato's Pizza, and an in-store bank, as well as sections for toys, appliances, and home furnishings, something that Big Bear once had in their stores in the Columbus area. In 2005, the company began renovating many Kroger Food & Drug stores in Ohio to give out an expanded and remodeled look, converting them into the Kroger Marketplace format. In February 2006, Kroger announced plans for two new Kroger Marketplace stores to open by the end of the summer in Cincinnati suburbs Lebanon and Liberty Township.[3] The store in Liberty Township opened in July 2006.[4] On October 5, 2006, a new Kroger Marketplace opened in Gahanna. With the Gahanna opening, the number of Kroger Marketplace stores is six, four in the Columbus area and two in the Cincinnati area. Two more stores are planned in 2007, one in Middletown and one in Englewood.[5] Another renovated store has recently opened in Blue Ash.
  4. jrc
    Aliana's Web site is up and running. They also have signs up near the intersection of FM 1464 and the Grand Parkway ... http://www.alianahouston.com
  5. jrc
    I've heard that the City of Houston created Cullinan Park (directly north of the airport) to keep Sugar Land from expanding its airport. Don't know if that's true, but it sure makes for a good story. The land just west of the airport is the Central prison unit. Sugar Land annexed the entire area (including a chunk of land owned by the developers of Chelsea Harbor), and zoned it for use as a business park. Now they want the state to move the Central unit. Not sure if any of the other prisons are being looked at. Here's one thing I don't understand: Why is the entrance to the Jester Units off FM 1464? It's a long drive from there to the prison, all the way on the other side of 99. Since they sold the last chunk of prison farm land (across from the Chevron station), the only remaining prison presence on FM 1464 is a crappy trailer park, and some shotgun-style houses. I believe this is housing for prison guards and/or trustys. With the development of Old Orchard on one side and the new development on the other, these buildings will be really out of place.
  6. jrc
    Ha ha ... Actually, we gave the school board an earful the last time they rezoned us. They know who we are. They blame our lack of a school on the developers, saying they tried to purchase land in the smaller communities, but the developers wouldn't do it. Maybe that's true, or maybe it's a convenient excuse, but I don't see why they can't buy a piece of land outside of a development.
  7. jrc
    Yeah, I heard about that. The story I read said they were "aggressively" pursuing other sources of funding. I know I've read elsewhere that there was a plan to use toll road money to complete non-toll road projects. Not sure if that's an option for 1464, though. Looking at the plans for Aliana, it's interesting to note that the main entrance to the neighborhood will be on 1464, and not on 99. But they will be extending West Airport and West Bellfort to 99, so that'll give people options for avoiding the bottlenecks. Also, 1464 will be widened from Airport to the Westpark Tollway, so maybe that'll encourage people to head north instead of south.
  8. jrc
    Hey, I just noticed you CAN see the prison unit on the developer's site plan. It's the building in the lower left corner, right next to the development summary chart and just above the word "plan." Looks like they're putting a water treatment plant on the other side of 99.
  9. jrc
    Yes, there's a site for an elementary school smack in the middle of Aliana. But that's not a long-term solution for us. Just like the school in Telfair, it will fill up with kids who actually live in the neighborhood, and we'll be forced to move again. I have already sent an e-mail to the school board, still waiting for a response.
  10. jrc
    Actually, now that I've looked at a satellite image on Google Maps, looks like the developer has the wrong road labeled as Owens. The actual Owens Road is a little further south, as is the prison ... Actually, I think the City of Sugar Land is trying to get the state to relocate the Central prison unit, which is near U.S. 90A and Highway 6 (next to the airport). The city wants this land to expand its business park. Story here: http://www.fortbendnow.com/news/3843/sugar...elocation-study
  11. jrc
    Yes, I believe Owens Road leads into the prison. That's over there by the big brown area that is keyed as "future development." Also known as, "um ... we're not sure what to do here."
  12. jrc
    Finally found site plans and renderings on the web. Seemed like it was too big to upload, so here's the link: http://www.gayledaniel.com/files/706425/Al...%2012.15.06.pdf
  13. jrc
    Found this on fortbendnow.com today. Yet another smallish neighborhood for the southern end of FM 1464. The big developments like Telfair and Aliana automatically get an elementary school, but the smaller developments get nothing. So now, in addition to Chelsea Harbour, Orchard Lakes, Stratford Park, and Old Orchard, we'll have another similar size development with another hundred or so kids who won't have a school to call their own. My kids have gone to three different elementary schools in three years, and I imagine when the school in Telfair fills up, they'll be shipping us off again. ### San Antonio Company To Develop Homes On Land Bought From State by Bob Dunn, Feb 04, 2008, 03 24 PM San Antonio-based Great America Cos. plans to develop a
  14. jrc
    Guess I should have said they have Richmond addresses. Technically, I think Orchard Lakes and Chelsea Harbor should have Richmond addresses, but I'm sure the developers pulled some strings with the Post Office when they first started building. Even the Chevron station located between the two subdivisions
  15. jrc
    Just stumbled onto this conversation. I live in Orchard Lakes, which has a Sugar Land address, but is located within Houston's ETJ (if you need proof, check out our green street signs and "City of Houston" manhole covers). Same goes for Chelsea Harbor and all the other neighborhoods north of U.S. 90A (on the east side of FM 1464). Those on the west side, including Old Orchard and Aliana, are in Richmond. The only way any of these neighborhoods will be annexed by Sugar Land would be through some sort of ETJ swap. I wouldn't complain if that happened, but I'm not holding my breath.
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