DrLan34

Did I miss something here? This seems very random.

Brookfield's comments on the Allen Center Parking Gararge

"Description

Located in the heart of the Allen Center/Cullen Center complex, the Allen Center Garage could accommodate an office building above it. The site fronts on historic Antioch Park and would have unobstructed views to the west."

British Isles in West U. You can also buy them off of their website.

http://britishislesonline.com/

BTW, just noticed that British Isles also carries Vegemite.

I recently started selling my family's Jerusalem spices (the company is Old City Trading Co) at JuanMon's Internaitional Sandwich Shop in Midtown Houston. Just let me know if you have any questions. The spices are mainly blends.

http://www.oldcitytrading.com/

http://de-de.faceboo...shouston?v=wall

Empty lot.

Ya I notcied they broke up the earth at the lot earlier and closed off the parking but then the construction equipment has since left. I look forward to ground breaking on this place.

Seems like there is a lot of activity in Midtown right now.

http://innerlooped.com/?p=298

"Landmark Houston Hospitality Group has started demo of the Old Boy Scouts building in Midtown. Workers have started taking junk out of the Old Boy Scouts building in wheelbarrows, and the lot across the street is starting to be torn up for a new ground level retail/seven story parking garage. InnerLooped will continue to cover the progress of this development."

http://doublecrossvo...s/PR_121010.pdf

Landmark is also the same company that opened the new martini bar on gray... interesting.

http://innerlooped.com/?p=349

http://www.lamaisonmidtown.com/index.html

"I noticed this new bed and breakfast in Midtown slowly coming to life last year when it was under construction, but never knew when it would open. Well La Maison’s website is up and running and it appears they have been open for a couple months now. The place looks fantastic on the outside, and their website describes some of the great rooms available on the inside. Even TripAdvisor has it currently rated the #4 B&B in Houston (granted only two reviews available). One cool thing I discovered about La Maison is that they offer guest access to the 24 Hour Fitness in Midtown. So do any of you know anyone that has stayed here? Room 304 sounds like my kind of place…"

Good news, first Carnegie Vanguard High School and now this...

"To update you on the plans for the creation of The Marthannie School:

A Public Hearing was held on Wednesday, January 19th at 6:30 PM at the First Presbyterian Church, 5300 Main Street, Museum District, Room FH 259, Houston, Texas, to discuss plans for a proposed Charter School in the Houston area for grades kindergarten through 12. The school will offer a curriculum that focuses on creative approaches to teaching and learning.

The founding group and those who support the school envision students who are leaders in the 21st century, who dare to imagine the impossible and who set out to accomplish it.

This college preparatory school will venture into realms of education previously unavailable to students in Texas. The Marthannie School addresses parents’ requests for pre-collegiate academic preparation of the highest quality in math, the sciences, history, literature and foreign language, as well as the simultaneous accomplishment of superb visual and performing arts education for their children. We will be meeting the needs of students who may not under ordinary circumstances have the accessibility or opportunity for these benefits.

The first year will commence with Grades K-1 and each successive year, we’ll add at least one higher grade until all twelve grades become a reality. With this strategy, we will prove our strength and ability to produce pre-collegiate students who are equipped for success in the 21st century. We will also inspire the Marthannie student to develop a life philosophy that includes a humanitarian spirit, productive habits, higher aspirations, the excitement of a lifelong insatiable curiosity, and respect and enthusiasm for a challenge. These traits will define the Marthannie graduate.

Our plan is to locate in close proximity to the theater district in order to ensure accessibility for students, teachers, and our performing arts organization partners. The school site will be one that inspires the children and the community we serve and lures the world’s finest academic scholars, artists, and musicians to our city and to our campus. We have determined that our charter application will name Midtown as the chosen location for the school. This decision was based on the interest shown by the Midtown residents and the proximity of the area to the resources we need to support the school, i.e. rail system, museum district, theater district, etc. We are presently looking at options to either lease or purchase property. Perkins + Will Architectural Firm are working with us on facility acquisition."

I already view the area as sustainable. Just wait until the economy rebounds... Midtown is going to explode.

Everything that I've read says there will be ground level retail with parking above it. Based on the culture map article and list of prospective tenants... I don't see how they'd all be able to fit in the Boy Scouts building along with Landmark's planned office spaces.

http://innerlooped.com/?p=298

"Landmark Houston Hospitality Group has started demo of the Old Boy Scouts building in Midtown. Workers have started taking junk out of the Old Boy Scouts building in wheelbarrows, and the lot across the street is starting to be torn up for a new ground level retail/seven story parking garage. InnerLooped will continue to cover the progress of this development."

http://doublecrossvo...s/PR_121010.pdf

Landmark is also the same company that opened the new martini bar on gray... interesting.

Hmm, what's this now? You're not talking about the planned Beer Garden across the street by La Carafe, are you?

I'm not sure, maybe the worker was confused... I was grubbing there on Saturday and noticed that the were doing work ON the park itself... so I just asked and that is what he told me.

If the beer garden is suppose to be on the empty lot next to La Carafe then this is definitely something different as I understand it.

I'd agree with that, I'm just wondering when it'll start? The odds are pretty good they're going to have to shut down the access from the feeder road for a few months. That would make some pedestrians in the area happy.

haha ya it will be interesting to see this area without any cars...

according to the website it will start in Q3 2011.

I have to say I'm impressed. It came out nicer than I expected.

I was told they are building a new storage area and a place where you can get beers on tap next to the current Niko Niko's hut... would be sweet

http://www.dallasnew...gn-district.ece

I'm definitely impressed with Dallas' residential developments in the core of the city. They are making good progress in walkability and public transit options.

so I saw on here that the North and Southeast lines are under construction again but is the East End liner still scheduled to open in 2014 as well?

http://www.ridemetro.org/news/pdfs/chron_editorialjan22011.pdf

You can't really judge the quality of the venue by costs alone as that variable can affected in so many ways with just where the location is. For instance, At $120 million dollars, Philly paid more for their new venue then the the Dynamo will pay for their new digs in the East End. But if you were too look at each stadium's design and amenities respectively, you'd see the Houston clearly is getting the better venue of the two, for a cheaper price.

sweet

http://www.droppingtimber.com/2010/04/stadium-construction-around-mls.html

This is kind of interesting.... looks like our stadium will cost something between a high end and an average stadium

http://www.cantwella...ace_Houston.pdf

nice, looks like this will be a good amount of infill for a good cause...

macht schnell!

ok, so I don't have many chances to use my only German.

This sounds like one of those places where someone decided what sort of skimpy waitress outfit they wanted to use and built the theme around that.

haha that doesn't sound like a bad idea

Bar Munich is going in next to Ruby Tequilas and should be opening in mid-Febrauary 2011.

The slogan says something like "celebrating oktoberfest everyday"... Anyways, the sign on the door says "Wunder Bar" but a much newer (more official sign) says Bar Munich...

http://www.facebook.com/barmunich

http://barmunich.com/

http://houston.backp...arbacks/9793312

Glad to hear this. I've been to Barcadia last weekend and last night... each time I wondered why they didn't expand into the adjoining space w/ more games. The place is really cool.

Barcadia has their new "Sunday Funday" menu out:

"mimosas $4 ea

bloody marys (w/three olives tomato) $4

fresh fruit mojitos $5

$4 u-call-its from 3pm - 2am"

http://barcadiahouston.com/

"Gray Street Pedestrian Enhancements

Right-of-way improvements along Gray Street from Hamilton to Brazos. Enhancements will include sidewalks, landscaping, street furniture, brick pavers, and accessibility ramps.

Bagby Street Reconstruction

Street reconstruction and utility upgrades on Bagby Street from St. Joseph Parkway to Tuam St. Project is currently in design phase with construction scheduled to start in 3Q2011."

Just some stuff from the Midtown website... not sure when the Gray Street Enhancements will start...

The Gray Stret Pedestrian Enhancements are going to "probably" start within the next 6 months.

Also, Bagby Street Reconstruction will include some pedestrian enhancements as well as reworking the street itself.

I reluctantly agree. It seems that the most walkable neighborhoods are the result of preservation, not retroactive measures (I'm thinking of neighborhoods in Manhattan, the French Quarter...)

Once cars have made inroads (pun intended) it's difficult if not impossible to restore the fabric of a community which once made an area pedestrian-friendly. Wish it wasn't so.

"Gray Street Pedestrian Enhancements

Right-of-way improvements along Gray Street from Hamilton to Brazos. Enhancements will include sidewalks, landscaping, street furniture, brick pavers, and accessibility ramps.

Bagby Street Reconstruction

Street reconstruction and utility upgrades on Bagby Street from St. Joseph Parkway to Tuam St. Project is currently in design phase with construction scheduled to start in 3Q2011."

Just some stuff from the Midtown website... not sure when the Gray Street Enhancements will start...

Google alerts just sent me this blog post with interior pictures and more info about this property... http://bambooleasing...has-new-address Looks pretty nice.

Hopefully 2011 and 2012 bring some nice residential infill to Houston's inner loop...

"Hines will probably be looking closely at “infill” locations such as “inside the Loop” in Houston, Baughn says. Finding sites where old, small commercial buildings can be torn down to render a prime apartment location will be a priority for Hines.

Expect to see Hines developing four-story apartments with parking garages in urban locations, as opposed to two-story garden apartments on far-flung suburban land."

http://culturemap.co...llow-the-craze/

It may be time to move this to the "Going Up" forum!

According to sources on BigSoccer that are close to the team's Front Office, ground breaking will take place on Saturday, January 29th.

Then there's this from Metro to add fuel to the fire...

And here's fresh Stadium Renderings of what is likely the final renders, which shows a covered supporters side on the south end, sideline suites in the middle of the full 360° bowl (zoom in close, you'll see the boxes), the scoreboard on the north end, and the elimination of the tower lights on the corners that we've seen in previous renders. Lighting will now likely be tucked under the sideline canopies... Enjoy!

Sweet that's exactly what my neighbor said, I forgot to ask her who she works for but it might be BigSoccer...

That's because the geography isn't exactly conducive to building massive freeways like ours, not to mention the population is well over 7mil pretty much forces people to options other than personal cars, which is more expensive to the average median income in the area.

According to the all mighty Wikipedia, a sizable portion of the city was developed before the car was a factor there and are mostly dependent on broad avenues.

Wikilink.

so I saw on here that the North and Southeast lines are under construction again but is the East End liner still scheduled to open in 2014 as well?

Went to the new location last Friday for a friend's birthday, much bigger than the original, and a ton of people considering it was opening night. Music was too loud to talk to anyone though.

seriously? sucks that the music is so loud but i'll stop by anyways and see how it is

Yeah, New Year's Eve is the last night. They're supposed to re-open, possibly on Caroline, but I don't know where exactly.

I went to this place, I like it a lot, chill crowd. The bouncer said he thinks they will be moving into the former Italian place across from HOB.

so I was having a party the other day and to make sure i didn't disturb my neighbors/get the cops called on me... i invited my neighbors. one of the girls works for Dynamo and is apparently helping to organize the ground breaking event. She says "fingers crossed", they hope to break ground next month. I have no other insight into this actually happening other than what she said, so we shall see....

I ran into my neighbor again this morning on the way to work and she said they will hopefully break ground "next Saturday", so I think that would put it at the 29th?? She also said they will be having a press release either Wedensday or Thursday of that week with more details and some more renderings (but these are probably the same rendeings posted by ChrisPHous). Hopefully she's right.