Ducks

Really?

Booze sale? I'll drive up there for that!

Nope. Shipping everything, as we speak, to other locations.

There are two tower cranes in the area between the Cemex building and Specs near Bunker Hill Road. Does anyone know what's going up there?

RIP Specs. Bunker Hill location closing in early September.

It is my understanding it will be medical office bldgs like stated above, however they wont be built for some time. The developer tore down the existing structures to reduce the taxable vaule of the property while it sits waiting for construction.

I imagine the pic posted above is the poster's way of saying s/he imagines the property becoming an empty, unleased strip center like so many around town right now.

"Spring Branch Plaza" is to be built this fall at the corner of Bunker Hill and Long Point. Little strip center. FYI.

Full-length article. Just FYI.

Memorial City stages all-star branding show

Drivers on Interstate 10 will soon be able to tell when they’re anywhere near the Memorial City District.

The district plans to install four obelisks beside the freeway as part of a branding campaign in West Houston.

The gateway markers, five stories tall with lighted tops, are scheduled for installation in late September on both sides of the freeway at the Bunker Hill and Gessner intersections.

Commercial businesses subject to assessments for improvements within district boundaries are spending approximately $548,000 for the larger-than-life landmarks.

Some area residents are less than thrilled with the plan.

“I don’t think anything should be built that close to the freeway,” says Donna Freedman. “It’s going to be a distraction.”

Bases for the obelisks — square wooden structures supported by rebar — have already been installed by the Texas Department of Transportation as part of the freeway widening project.

TxDOT also allowed officials to pick some design elements for the freeway to match the district’s decor.

Perry Pace, project manager for the Memorial City District, says TxDOT painted huge stars on the retaining walls along many miles of the recently widened Interstate 10, and permitted the ones in the Memorial area to carry the district colors.

“It just so happens that our logo was a star, so it worked out perfectly,” Pace says.

In addition, old street signs were replaced last month by new ones adorned with the district’s colors and logos — at a cost of nearly $136,000.

Next up, the district will put in extra landscaping along the freeway.

The star-studded branding project has some area activists upset about the money being spent on these improvements.

Pace assures that revenue generated by the tax increment reinvestment zone (TIRZ) for enhancements in the area is not being used to fund the identifying features.

I think the building facade was ripped off during Ike and never replaced.

Just saw that they put up a new wooden fence around the old Mervins area. There are also a couple of bulldozers in the empty lot.

Looks like they might start construction on the outdoor section of the mall soon.

Interesting that they tore down the Olive Garden for more parking space. Perhaps Olive Garden is going to build in the new outdoor mall area.

Anyone know?

Olive Garden moved to the HEB shopping center at Bunker Hill.

That is F'ing awesome. Very excited by this!!!

I read another related article somewhere describing how unhappy some the nearby residents were about it. Can't remember why exactly... I'll see if I can find that article.

Edit: Now that I think about it, I think the descension is discussed in that article. I just don't know how to login and see the remainder of the article.

So does anyone know what these really nice stone blocks are going to be at I-10 and Gessner & Bunker Hill? Looks possible pedestals for signs, water features or statues. Whatever they are they have conduit or plumbing going to them.

They're going to be four "monuments" so-to-speak to set-off the Memorial City area. I think I read about it in last week's HBJ.

Found it...

http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2009/07/20/tidbits1.html

Drivers on Interstate 10 will soon be able to tell when they’re anywhere near the Memorial City District.

The district plans to install four obelisks beside the freeway as part of a branding campaign in West Houston.

The gateway markers, five stories tall with lighted tops, are scheduled for installation in late September on both sides of the freeway at the Bunker Hill and Gessner intersections.

Commercial businesses subject to assessments for improvements within district boundaries are spending approximately $548,000 for the larger-than-life landmarks.

in case it hadn't already been mentioned...

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/6451680.html

Lupe Tortilla Mexican Restaurant leased 4,000 square feet in the Echo Lane Shopping Center at Interstate 10 and Echo Lane. Jim Smith Jr. and Matt Strange of Smithco Development represented both the tenant and the landlord.

Why not?

because to me, a Supermercado de Walmart does not scream revitalization to an area. i'm probably wrong, though.

I was pleased to see the Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market on Longpoint close, however looks like Wal-Mart will be opening a Supermercado de Walmart in its place. I do not see that as a good thing for the area.

That Academy may be the largest Academy I've ever seen.

Can someone please let me know which shopping center, mall parking lot, etc. has never been victim to crime?

I did not know this, but it was to be the first one in Houston branded as "The City" I went to the 6-10 West location yesterday to shop, and they had bags that said "The City" instead of "Circuit City". They said they sent all the inventory from the Bunkerhill location to this one since it never opened.

I have read about a prototype store being called that, but was the sign they hung above the new store reflective upon this name change?

The logo, for the sake of CC, looks identical, so it is easy to miss, with City being the larger of the two words.

I had not heard this either, but appears you're right. I've seen the sign, but didn't notice any difference.

http://www.frpltd.com/property/west_villageplaza_NEW.htm

I just think common sense dictates certain steps people can take to mitigate the likelihood of becoming a victim. I just happen to believe that leaving your purse on, let's say, the seat of your car in a parking lot, is not very smart.

I feel a sense of obligation, as a responsible citizen, to eliminate within reason the chances of myself being a victim of crimes of opportunity. I leave my garage door closed at night, lock car doors, etc.

For example, if I leave town for a couple of days and leave my garage door open only to find upon my return that I've had tools, etc stolen, I accept partial responsibility for it occurring. I certainly don't place all the blame on the police department, etc. for preventing it from occurring.

But maybe that's just me.

Let's NOT play blame the victim here, okay?

...

There only two places to point the finger of blame in these situations: One is at the asshats who commit the crimes, and other is at the entities whcih fail to provide proper protection and security.

Well, which is it?

If you're going to leave a purse, laptop, Sacks bag, etc in plain view inside your car, you're not without blame.

And finding fault in her for leaving her purse in plain view to encourage a smash-and-grab has nothing to do with thinking that it couldn't happen to us. In fact, I would argue that the folks who do find fault in doing such a thing, would probably be the first to blame themselves if the same were to happen to them. I know I would.

And further to your post above, I think there's a forth group of individuals to blame too, and that would be those that place an overreliance on the goverment to protect them.

Received the following email. For what it's worth....

Sent: Monday, January 19, 2009 11:34 AM

Subject: PLEASE be careful at the new HEB: I was robbed Thursday

As you know, I was robbed and my car was vandalized last Thursday at the HEB off of Bunker Hill and the Katy Freeway. It was traumatizing. I've been hiding away all weekend. I was walking back to my car and a woman came running after me saying that some black guys were about to crow bar my car. As she was telling me this, they drove back around, smashed my windows, reached in so fast and sped off with my purse. We were standing about 15 feet away. This lady was a God-send b/c she ran after the car and got their license. I stood there and couldn't breathe. I can't describe the gut drenching feeling in my stomach as I saw them drive away with my bag. It all happened so fast....less than 5 seconds I feel. God was with me though b/c out of all of the bags that they could have grabbed quickly, they grabbed the one of least value. Granted, it had all my ID and credit cards in there, but the bag next to it was my laptop and the money box for the co-op. Angels were with me....no joke.

I don't recommend going to the HEB at all. When the cops came, they said I was the 3rd case of the day....from different assaulters. Not to mention, that HEB has been cutting down on security b/c of the holidays. This happened at 12:35 in the afternoon, and security was not required to be there until 4 PM. To top it ALL off, as we were doing my police report, ANOTHER woman walks up and says she wants to file a police report b/c the following week her purse was jacked from her in the same parking lot. The day after (Friday) an old woman was abducted from this lot.

I am telling EVERYONE not to shop there b/c it is clearly not safe. Please simply head to another location for your safety. I cannot tell you how truly fearful I am of my identity theft. They have my address and tried to charge my card in different states already.

Thank you for reading this, and please be careful.

Hugs,

Well it appears Circuit City will not be opening now...

Is Chick Fil A going in here? Are they one of the lease pendings?

According to the latest info, it doesn't appear so. Unless it's one of the leases pending.

http://www.frpltd.com/property/documents/V...ePlazaFLIER.pdf

I think he was being sarcastic.

I feel so stupid now.

Probably because of our weak economy relative to the rest of the country. That section of Katy Freeway would appear to be especially hard hit.

Two things:

1. Am I wrong, or isn't the economy in Houston fairing much better relative to the rest of the country, and

2. Have you been to Mem City Mall lately? It's packed and you can't find a parking spot.

http://www.discoverytowerhouston.com/image...ry/Render_5.jpg

Here's an outstanding shot. With the garage, you get two blocks knocked off with one project. Combine that with Disco G and OOP and that's a lot of real estate transformed in what used to be a dormant part of downtown.

Now I look for someone to come along to rehab the old Days Inn on the south end to help spur redevelopment own there. Once upon a time, that looked like it might have been an Ed Wulfe special but alas...

If they were going to show Discover finished, they could have finished the apartment complex across from 5HC too.

Saw that myself. Definitely much needed. I am loving my purchase in the area... things are a changing. If only the apartments around here would go... the values in this area would absolutely skyrocket if that happened.

It's my understanding that an apartment complex can only apply for an apartment "permit" every 15 year, and many of the complexes are coming up on their second renewal...at 30 years. I'm told that many permits wont be getting renewed and the apartments will be torn down.

I know nothing about this aside from what I was told by a crazy neighbor.

Looks like the shopping center at the Northeast corner of Blalock and Westview is getting a much needed makeover.