rci2145

Really excited about Potbelly and Torchy's! Hopefully they can make it look non-suburbish.

Les Givrals is better anyway

Unless I'm looking at the wrong block, I don't see any construction activity yet.

Early 2013 - http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/05-30-12-14-12-alamo-drafthouse-is-heading-to-midtown-houston-suddenly-has-movie-options/

That's not for the Midtown one, the Vintage Park one is opening in early 2013.

I think Alamo Drafthouse will be the biggest thing to happen to Midtown since Post moved in. When are they expected to open doors? I never saw a date.

The tIme horizon is 30 years. It's a place she would live in for a while and then rent out until the mortgage is paid. I'm curious why you think the returns would be higher than the west side. Baldwin Park already seems built out. I don't know what else is going to make it much better. The light rail will bring in a constant flow of vagrants. Also, the neighborhoods on the other side of 59 aren't going anywhere soon. Don't get me wrong, the area looks nice. I just wonder how any of the current problems will go away.

My girlfriend is thinking of buying a town home near Baldwin Park. I don't know much a out the area but the surrounding areas look dangerous. I was wondering if you all had any input. Is the area improving, or is it as good as it will ever be? Are there a lot of crimes down there? Would buying a town home there be a good long term investment? Thanks.

Those guys that wave you into your parking spot are very talented

My idea for a coffee shop there would be to open a New Orleans themed cafe with fresh beignets, jazz music, and even Community Coffee.

The problem with Aperture is that it did nothing to set itself apart. I loved the space for doing work but their food offerings were horrible and you can get the rest of their stuff at Starbucks.

There was a different coffee shop there before Coffee Groundz that failed. Also, the original owner of Coffee Groundz sold the business to an Asian family who eventually remodeled it into Aperture.

I went to Aperture Coffee (formerly Coffee Groundz) yesterday and a note was on the door saying that they were locked out by their landlord for not paying the rent on their lease. It looks like yet another coffee shop in this location has bitten the dust.

New York City pays for one way tickets out of town. Not a bad idea.

I don't see what the past has to do with the argument. If you live in a residential area and you don't want businesses to open that attract bums, you have every right to voice your complaints. Who cares if vagrants used to roam and currently roam the area? People in any neighborhood should want the best living experience for themselves going forward. Neighborhoods evolve. The past is irrelevant, especially when you are talking about homeless people who don't own land or pay taxes. We all want the best for less fortunate people but there is no reason why an increasingly residential area like Midtown should have to brunt more and more burden.

We all know there will always be homeless peopl in Houston. But there is no reason we shouldn't be concerned when buildings that attract the homeless are built in our residential areas. Why not build them in commercial areas? Once again, I'll bring up the example of Uptown in Dallas. It's everything Midtown should have been.

The fact that Midtown homeowners bought in this area knowing about the vagrant issues does not mean they should not be concerned about current vagrants roaming the neighborhood. Many of us, (including me) thought that Midtown would continue to progress over time into a more and more pedestrian friendly and resident friendly area -- and it has.

As residents we should continue to pursue our goals. We all know there will be vagrants but they should be controlled as much as possible. Unfortunately, the city doesn't care much. In Dallas, they cultivate urban neighborhoods. Uptown Dallas is light years better than Midtown Houston. It's too bad, because Midtown could have been just as good or better if we had smarter city planning.

Just to add to this dialogue. My townhome near Bremond and Helena was broken onto over the weekend while my girlfriend and I were sleeping. They took a bunch of stuff but thankfully we are ok. I have an alarm system but it wasn't turned on. My girlfriend's car has been broken into twice over the past two years as well.

I agree with above about the parks. The Superblock park looks like homeless paradise. I doubt there are going to be families with their kids dipping their toes in those miniature pools like they show in the pictures. A homeless guy passed out with a 40 in a paper bag is a more realistic vision.

Kylejack, I was referring to the rail between midtown and downtown, not between Midtown and the Med Center.

After reading the article, I think we should all calm down. From this distribution center, Meals on Wheels will deliver meals to home bound needy people. It's not like they will be passing out food to bums walking around on the street. Also, the building looks nice and will improve the aesthetics of the block.

The question is, why would they buy expensive land in Midtown when they can buy cheaper land elsewhere? I think the answer is, the light rail. Every time I've used the light rail downtown, it's nothing more than a transportation system for vagrants who don't pay. There are very few professionals who ride it from midtown to downtown. The light rail is also right next to the Greyhound Station. Because of this, the area around Main will always be dangerous and loaded with vagrants.

I feel bad for those who bought property near there. It's kind if sad that Midtown is the only pedestrian friendly urban neighborhood but is also the most most homeless friendly neighborhood.

There was also a story on the news about it. It wasn't just inner looped. Plus, until now, all responses from public officials were vague.

Maybe the uproar did in fact help the cause because it appears that they really aren't expanding to 3 lanes.

The problem is that they will likely make it 3 lanes and have on street parking. This means less room for pedestrians. Bagby is already a fast moving street when there's no construction. Adding a 3rd lane is unnecessary. I've lived in Midtown for 5 years and have never once experienced traffic on Bagby. In fact, cars drive way too fast already. Adding a 3rd lane is pointless.

This was mentioned in another thread but it definitely deserves it's own thread. The plans to reconstruct Bagby to help make Midtown a more pedestrian friendly area are being scrapped.

http://innerlooped.com/1840/very-bad-news-for-bagby/#comments

The Director of Public Works, Daniel Kreuger wants to make Bagby a three lane street to help make cars move faster. This will obviously mean there will be less room for expanded sidewalks and improved landscaping that were originally planned. Commuters interests' are once again being accomodated instead of the interests of residents, pedestrians, and small businesses. To me, it makes no sense since Bagby has always been a fast moving street in the first place. I guess they want cars to drive 45 mph instead of 35? Apparently, the fight is not yet over.

http://innerlooped.com/1851/bagby-street-hoopla/

If you feel as angry as I do, please email the mayor, Annise Parker and the director of public works and tell them how you feel about making Bagby a 3 lane road before it's too late.

1. 
   Public works director Kreuger:
   pwe.director@houstontx.gov
2. 
   Mayor Parker:
   Mayor@houstontx.gov

I just emailed the mayor. Anyine here who owns property in Midtown should think about throwing a fit at these city planners. We are going to lose out financially big time because of this BS.

EDIT: I just read the response above and have simmered down a little. I will post the Mayor's response as soon as I receive it.