J.A.S.O.N.

By Laura Elder

The Daily News

Published September 21, 2006

What slowdown?: Looks like Landry

Photo by Chad Greene

Tearing it down

Galveston Island’s Sea Arama tourist attraction, behind the seawall on the West End, was being demolished Tuesday.

Published September 20, 2006

Oh, I see. Small town mentality. When I left McAllen in 2002, that kind of pattern had just about then established itself. They didn't get a Starbucks until a couple years later, but when they did, I heard about it from EVERYBODY. Same thing had happened a couple years before I left with the arrival of a Hastings bookstore. Any second-rate national chain that lands in that town is considered a validation of the town's sense of self-importance.

I didn't realize that that would apply to Galveston as well.

I don't think it's a "validation of the town's sense of self-importance" thingy going on in Galveston. There is a certain arrogance that goes along with being a B.O.I. or Galvestonian. Nah, that couldn't be it.

You haven't heard of the "Galvestonian's view of Texas"?

I think it's more or less, we would like to enjoy some of the brands and chains as the rest of the metro. While tourists view Galveston as a retreat or escape from the norm, Galveston's non transient residents view is totally different. There is still no electronics store, or shoe store on the island. I know the folks here would sure appreciate a Best Buy or Foot Locker. We'd even keep it on our side of town so the tourist wouldn't have to see it. Before Hastings arrived a couple of years ago, there was no music store on the island. I take that back, one. Colby Cole's (rip). He was open three days a week, for a couple of hours a day.

I beg to differ about the service industry folks residing on the island. Certainly a fair number do, but land values are appreciating very quickly and if you keep in tune with City politics, you'll find quickly that affordable housing is an issue of great concern. On the one hand, the City recognizes the growing need for Tax Credit housing, but on the other, there's always the NIMBY problem. Developers would love to put this stuff up, and could probably get away with many hundreds of units if the City would allow it. Instead, the working poor will commute.

You correctly say that "Galveston was bound to develop," but if you're trying to make the claim that Fertitta is the cause, I've got to disagree. Galveston is not where it is today because of Joe's, Rainforest Cafe, or the San Luis Resort/Convention Center. You were also correct to note that "You can't duplicate the island's combination of architecture, beach, history, and character in our metro." But you can easily detract from three of those aspects. Tilman sure found a way.

By the way, I realize that these are merely my elitist gripes...no more meaningful than the gripes of Heights residents that find the McMansion craze to be obnoxious. The only difference is that I don't advocate government interference. So take these gripes at face value. They mean very little in the real world.

I'm happy to entertain your gripes TheNiche. As many on this board know, I just love talking about Galveston. I'll let this topic rest...

I will say however, it is funny how the responses differ from Galvestonians and this message board. I could say to another Galvestonian, "Hey, we are getting a ____________ (fill in the blank with a national chain)", and the response would be "Cool, I've always wished we had one of those." This has been happening a lot lately.

A forumers response to the same question would go something like, "That's unfortunate".

It's pretty funny, but true. Gosh, if only I had a video camera to prove it

So Fertitta created jobs on the island. From where do you think most of the employees are commuting? Galveston needs to focus on bringing more residents. Jobs aren't really much of a problem except with the chronically unemployed...and Landry's isn't going to hire them.

Also, I personally prefer the "wasteland" to "Disney World". At least the wasteland was authentic.

And Tilman's restaurants do far far less to promote the growth of the island's housing stock than does the Gulf of Mexico. If not for Tilman, there would have been somebody else. An island that is an hour from downtown Houston will be built up. That's just the way it goes. No hero worship necessary...and if anybody has it coming, it'd be Mitchell for having invested in the Strand.

I'll give him that. I don't think that his motives are in any way malicious and I respect him as a person. I just don't like his choice of decor.

One of Galveston's core stregnths is its uniqueness. That is what draws tourists and new wealthy residents. And if Landry's created a set of complimentary but unique non-chain restaurants, then I'd be more into their involvement in Galveston. But to put the same ol' same ol' just anywhere (especially along the Seawall or as a replacement for a venerable institution) is doing Galveston a great disservice. I see the Joe's along Seawall Blvd. as an opportunity lost.

Those employees aren't the ones who are commuting. The service industry in Galveston is staffed by Galvestonians. The professionals that work at American National and UTMB are the ones who commute.

Galveston was bound to develop, but when? And why did it take so long in the first place ( almost 30+years). I think you are in the minority when it comes to enjoying the Galveston of old. You should see the line at the Rainforest Cafe on the weekends, seriously! LOL, just read Editor's discription of this subforum...

"Paradise on the sea, or crime-ridden tourist trap? After a hundred years, why can't the city get back on its feet again?"

I'd see you're point, except Galveston is seeing more tourist than ever (albeit the gambling years.) Fill the seawall up with national chains, and people will still come. You can't duplicate the island's combination of architecture, beach, history, and character in our metro.

^^ George Mitchell (and his wife) also did a lot to promote historical preservation here on the island in the '60's. George is also very benevolent to the city's poor, and gives to UTMB and TAMUG. We know about George Mitchell, but I don't understand why people can't see that Fertitta has also been good for the island.

Tilman simply putting those businesses here was enough. They bring money to our city. His restaurants are always packed from what I can tell. When someone invests as he has, that will and did encourage others to build. That brand new convention center on Blvd was a joint venture between him and the city. Have you forgotten what Galveston used to look like after gambling left, a wasteland. Much of George Mitchell's contributions were downtown. A bunch of mom and pops dotting the seawall couldn't have contributed half as much as Fertitta has. I don't know of his philanthropic contributions, but I sure am glad he had brought jobs and contributed to the industry.

Yeah, and he's made a lot of money from those investments. But what has he done for Galveston? Put a Joe's crab shack on the seawall? Put a Joe's in the Hill's Pier 19 place! They made the best shrimp po-boys! Now its just another ho-hum place. The food isn't even that great.

Hill's was an institution. He took that from Galveston.

He has made a lot of money in Galveston, so does everyone else who invests in Galveston now. Galveston wasn't on anyone's radar in the '70's-80's. He took a gamble on his hometown and won, and more power to him. Blvd wouldn't look half as good as it does today if it wasn't for Fertitta. There is no denying that.

Hill's, never heard of it

I wish Frittata had never heard of Galveston or Kemah. He is RUINING our area.

Anyone have an Uncle Guido we could call on?????

He's from Galveston

I don't understand what's so bad about Fertitta either. He invested in Galveston at a time when no one else did.

My wife and I stayed at the Gaylord about two years ago, and it was very "Texas". There a the huge stained wooden columns, Tex-Mex restaurants, country music, etc..... There is even a faux Alamo in the middle of the atrium I would like for Houston to do something different. I'm not a fan of the stereotypical "Texas" theme either guys. Houston's convention center should play up the NASA and Gulf Coast themes, imo.

If this is anything like the Texan, these are some examples of how the Gaylord is decorated

The Texas flag is EVERYWHERE!

The Texas star furniture

The huge longhorn mural

I'm struck at some of the randomness of the locations of these murders. In someone's front yard, at the convience store, River Oaks!

This has to qualify as THE "What In The Hell Just Happened" moment of 2006

"Voyager of the Seas"

In the fall of 2007, the ship that revolutionized the cruise industry, Voyager of the Seas, will offer 7-night cruises from Galveston Island, marking the first time that a Voyager-class ship will sail from the Lone Star State. Next winter, the Voyager will offer alternating Western Caribbean itineraries, calling one week on Montego Bay, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, Mexico; and the next week on Cozumel; Roatan, Honduras; Costa Maya, Mexico and Progreso, Mexico...

http://www.guidrynews.com/06April/10206POG.htm

He wouldn't have to add many more restaurants, because most of them on the wharf are his anyway. Landscaping and amusement rides are all that's missing!

Downtown would be bustling bigtime with a boardwalk type attraction. I do think that Kemah would suffer ultimately however, even with its proximity to Houston. The only way I could see both surviving is if the attractions were vastly different.

Tilman has his vision for that whole area, and it would involve a boardwalk similar to what has proven to be so successful in Kemah, with family entertainment and a lot of attractions,

zaphod, Almeda isn't exactly what I would call nice, but it isn't a dump either. Kinda just in the middle.

Baybrook and Almeda are the ones I frequent the most, they're o.k. Frankly, I've never heard of most of those malls

It'd be nice to see some palms used in the landscaping instead of those trees

I agree the Texans need an O-line and a secondary, but you cannot pass up a guy like Reggie Bush. Hopefully they can trade Dominick Davis for a lineman or two.

Yep, keep Bush and shop Davis

Your pretty Smart

You're about the only smart person that figures things out. Most people wants a new park to be on the island.

say no to Galveston

But as thinking on the island theres not alot of land to fit one on Galveston and yes say no to the pier it would make it pretty difficult to have it on the island of creating more traffic along the roads in Galveston as people would try to go to the park. We are looking at a larger larger park ahead of time and as for that looking at building a hotel and large large parking lots would be hardly no where to put. "Say no to Galveston".

My Idea

Id figure to put or relocate a larger park just along south of Highway 288 south of Pearland about at least 15 miles futher down. its morley country along that path. If they do they should rename that freeway 288 the name given to the amuesment park to make it easier for people to find the new park. Just only if they do.

There is sufficient land on the west end of Galveston to support a park of that magnitude. Have you ever seen the pastures out past 8, 9, 10, 11, & 12 mile roads?

Front Page

  Galveston is very much a historic town in itself and all of this new development and modrenization of things chips away at the character of the city.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

There is nothing historical about anything west of 61st, which is where Galveston's amusement parks are located.

Also, don't worry about anything of historical significance in Galveston. The historical foundation is not having it, period. They will spare no expense in saving those structures.

Thanks for sharing those jb4647, I've never seen that Astroworld before.

A theme park near Splashtown or the Moody Gardens/Schlitterbahn area would be cool.