brian0123

I couldn't justify having to heat and cool all that extra space. Plus, it's not like I walk around the house looking up

Good for you if you want Victorian with fine mill work. Frankly, I want a solid place to live in the loop in a safe neighborhood that's easy to maintain and room to grow. I love 8 ft ceilings and single-storied. I looked at the Heights before Knollwood (and could have easily bought), but did not like the houses and neighborhood. As a liberal I was hoping to like the Heights since it seemed like a place I would fit in, but I just couldn't stomach the kind of house and lot size for what I could find elsewhere in a better location.

But again, South Braeswood: http://search.har.com/engine/3206-Drummond-St-Houston-77025-1920_HAR96818694.htm Double the lot size, more sq footage, better schools, safer neighborhood, one story, 84k less.

I agree about the commute past the Galleria... but that should be alleviated a couple years from now when they widen 610. As far as the "feel", I'd rather have a larger ranch house than a 2/2 "quaint" shack... but that's my opinion. Yes, Knollwood/Linkwood/etc. is more suburban... but it's in the middle of the city and kids/neighbors mingle freely (I have to dodge kids on bikes and playing soccer in the street on the way home), and the limited access points mean far less riff raff walking the streets (only neighbors and kids). Plus, we have larger yards than the Heights so kids can actually run around, play football, and have fun. I don't mind the suburban feel when I can walk to Reliant or bike to Rice Village. It's urban suburban with good schools:)

Agreed. That's why we bought in Knollwood Village (South Braeswood area, just south of West U). The homes are newer/better than the Heights (like living in 1950's Leave it to Beaver), you get more for your money, WAY less crime, more families, and zoned to better schools (Longfellow, Pershing, Bellaire). I like the Heights as well, but I don't understand why a family would spend the crazy amounts of money to live there when you can get a 3/2/2 or 4/2/2 for around the same cost in S. Braeswood. Our neighborhood is nice throughout... unlike the Heights where certain streets have some really sketchy places. Plus, we have deed restrictions that will keep it at single-family. For those reading this forum and trying to look at the Heights and finding it unaffordable, listen to Marksmu and I.

I say let Katy have it. I'd rather Houston focus on the city rather than the far flung burbs.

I initially thought all of these projects were a little much until I recently helped my wife's cousin find an apartment (new job is bringing him to Houston). I called around and learned that everywhere is full and leases are sky-high. I used to live in an apt in the loop and rent several years ago is nothing to where it is now. I was quoted $1900/month for a 600 sq ft apt over near Allen Parkway. Pretty much anywhere considered decent was at least a minimum of $1300 for a tiny one bedroom. Apparently there are thousands of people like him (young, single, lots of disposable income) coming to Houston because that's where the jobs are. In fact, he'll be out of country every-other-month for the job... but those employers have setup shop in town and are hiring like crazy. Other professions like healthare are also booming. I live near the Med Center and I keep seeing new families move in every day where at least someone is a doctor. Just look at all of the construction going on in the Med Center and that will give you some idea as to the expansions taking place.

I don't understand how anyone on this board could argue that shade is not a good thing or would improve life for pedestrians. It's a no brainer and anyone who would argue otherwise is either an idiot or a lizard that needs the sun to warm themself.

The thing is that people come up with ghost stories to explain the things they don't understand or are afraid of. Pretty much everything has some sort of logical/scientific explanation. It sounds like you've realized another thing that is just silly about all of these stories. People die every second in a multitude of good and bad ways, and the sheer volume alone would suggest that we should have ghosts floating around everywhere (especially on the freeways). The stories have the same thread because those that believe in them only further build them up in their heads, read other ghost stories, buy the books, etc. It's just like alien abduction stories and how they all have the same thread.

I'm confused. While I like the idea, what would happen during a hurricane? We don't live in Dallas or Austin who don't have to worry about coastal flooding from a hurricane. If power were to go out and pump systems failed, would we have a major highway needed to bring in supplies buried in water?

When I lived in Midtown, I did a ton of shopping/spending money Downtown. We had tons of awesome restaurants, but that didn't stop me from eating Downtown as well. My wife even shopped at the Houston Pavilions. Yeah, for groceries I'd stay in Midtown. But Midtown/EaDo have tons of residential, restaurants, and bars. Little else as far as "shopping". Heck, I had to drive all the way over to Sawyer Target for the rest of my shopping needs and I hated that. I would have loved to have had an option Downtown instead.

Ah, so the Williams family made money by writing a book (which turned into a movie) and gained fame by spinning ghost stories about their poorly constructed house with plumbing and electrical problems in a place w/ ants and snakes? Got it. I love how all ghost stories involve either slaves or Indians that are ticked off that someone is living on top of them. I'd think they'd be more scared of our modern technology and would be clueless on how to operate tv's and clocks (even flushing toilets).

Sorry, I was referring to a link in the article where they showed the "ideal" intersection with the millions of cars buzzing through it and no traffic lights and having automated robotic delivery drivers A system like that would require that every car be connected to the system so that the system can control the vehicle.

I found the article interesting. However, I doubt you'll be sleeping in your car anytime soon. For one, the cost to rig every single intersection with a server to manage the flow would be astronomical. I'm not sure who would pay for it, but we can't even get free wifi to everyone yet. More likely would be that you drive to the main highway, and turn on driver assist (like cruise control). Secondly, this will require that every car in the US be driverless... meaning that freedom-loving conservatives (this IS 'Merica!) will have to give up their right to drive a car. Seeing as how we still have those that think they should be able to own a cannon in case of a govt takeover, I doubt they'd be willing to part with their Hummers anytime soon for fear that Obama might tell the cars to drive them into the ocean. I agree that driverless cars are coming... I just think it will be a VERY long time before politics and society knows how to actually get the best use out of them.

There is no good chunk of ROW's available around Memorial City and the energy corridor. The spoke system already exists around the other centers you mention. The best plan to accomodate a Houston of 2040 is to capitalize on our current ROW's near centers and build them out. In other words, build out the other plethora of empty lots Downtown/Midtown (probably have enough space there for another 100 years)... in the Med Center buildout further south down South Main towards Reliant, and then just build more Park N Ride's for those in the burbs. Simple, and it allows us to utilize our existing rail and freeway systems.

As a former owner in East Midtown, I'm glad to see the section in the SE seeing more development. To me that was one of the major trouble spots. The other problem isn't necessarily the shelters, but the flophouses that are interspersed in the neighborhood. Those are the places that are unregulated, people just come and go all the time, and they throw trash on nearby properties. Close those down and the east side would get a lot nicer. You are correct. The only loitering that will occur is what MOW allows. I think this is better than the empty lot that was there... I just wish it meant more tax revenue for the neighborhood.

Thanks for the links. Yeah, I live in Knollwood Village (Braeswood Area) and was hoping to learn about possible improvements along the bayou within loop 610. I was hoping for a dedicated trail bridge instead of having to cross on Buffalo Speedway.

So I'm a little confused about long term plans for Brays Bayou after the recent vote that will expand greenspace and parks along our bayou systems. I've emailed the city (which just added me to pointless email list), I've found a website for the Buffalo Bayou Master Plan, but I can't find anything that talks about how this vote will impact Brays Bayou. Is there a master plan for it somewhere? I did find a website from the Flood Control District called http://www.projectbrays.org/ but that looks geared towards flood control improvements by 2014 only.

The problem is that they end up coming off of Midtown's tax rolls. Then, crime calls tend to increase around them for complaints on vagrancy, loitering, traffic, panhandling, etc. Midtown's Constables end up fielding extra calls because of these places (which comes out of Midtown taxpayer's pockets), yet the budget to hire extra police hours has decreased. I don't think Meals On Wheels here will be a magnet for crime, but I do think that it could attract vagrants that will want to target the workers/visitors. If Meals on Wheels has to keep calling the police, then they're taking man hours away from Midtown residents and businesses that are paying taxes for the extra protection.

Here's your pop quiz. Hanover West Gray... or a jail? https://maps.google.com/maps?q=jail&hl=en&ll=29.76434,-95.357224&spn=0.00139,0.001966&sll=29.764224,-95.357594&sspn=0.00278,0.003932&t=m&radius=0.14&hq=jail&z=19&layer=c&cbll=29.76434,-95.357224&panoid=IAfTJZBwGLSrxoXsWMxmvQ&cbp=12,323.46,,1,-25.63 Here's another one: https://maps.google.com/maps?q=jail&hl=en&ll=29.763762,-95.355783&spn=0.00139,0.001966&sll=29.763341,-95.355564&sspn=0.00139,0.001966&t=m&radius=0.07&hq=jail&z=19&layer=c&cbll=29.763762,-95.355783&panoid=lwzj9D-Zu02NwEEcca3ixg&cbp=12,251.57,,2,-23.57 I failed the test.

Man, I can't stand this thing. It reminds me of the Harris County jail Downtown (that building is even better looking) or a college dormitory.

What what what?!?! Go to Tacos A Go-Go over Chipotle (they have a big burrito as well). The vietnamese places in Midtown have better coffee than Starbucks (Midtown already has one anyways)... also give Double Trouble a try. Midtown has a ton of better options than the places going into this location.

I actually saw a Zip Car near Rice University the other day.

Can someone clarify the ski dome idea? Would they be on real snow, or a fake/plastic type of material? I keep hearing about this concept but never heard more details on it and how it would work. I'm still in favor of stripping it to the frame and making a park under it.

I never understood why people care about what happened in a house prior to the owning it. If someone had died in my house, it would probably serve as a converstation starter at parties. Even if ghosts were real, am I'm supposed to worry that one would return to haunt me even if I had nothing to do with their parting? And if it's possible for a place to be haunted... that would be an awesome money maker because I could rig webcams throughout and charge a monthly subscription for access. I'd be a millionaire in a month.