trymahjong

I’m not sure who went to Montrose TIRZ meeting last night at The Montrose Center.

of course there was the same few people doing their yadayadayad

But the information given disturbed me.

I have posted here before at how puzzling it is that the Mayor wants to meddle so with the civic improvements that were in place within Montrose. All of those improvements seem hard wo;, if you consider Montrose never had a CIP request approved before.

But now, apparently, the Mayor has no accountability— it’s his way or the highway? He decides what can and can’t be done? What should Montrose have gone to the trouble, to establish a TIRZ if the Mayor can literally Stomp it down— replace any TIRZ board member at will— refuse to listen to District C — all with impunity.
WTH?

I drove by

Of course the building is beautiful. St Thomas University has plans for it I’m sure. The new library had an outside deck up in tree tops— I was charmed by that notion. 

I wonder if Mayor Whitmire realizes Galveston sends its senior citizens to the same place he is afraid to have Children.

It’s puzzling that the current Mayor seems to want to assert so much authority upon Montrose?

I am so disappointed he is trying to ax the New library at Montrose collective.

I wonder if our Mayor understands how much positive PR COH got for Montrose “most walkable”

usually those types of Walkability stuff are’t through adult entertainment venues—are they?

sigh-

I was going to post that I’ve finally notice some progress upstairs at what I thought was going to be our new library.

11 hours ago, editor said:

That turning lane should be shared with a single-car trolley, or some other tracked conveyance.  There are few places in Houston more perfect for it.

18-19 years ago when the metro train was first talked about- a bunch of us went and pitched the idea of a raised metro line—- on Westheimer—oh my— the blowback we received.

i’m trying so hard to be a voice in the wilderness about - all types of alternative to try and limit our car dependence……..but still keep traffic manageable. Somehow nothing ever gets heard.

I always expected it to pop up on “secret Houston treasurers”

Is this the place with a kazillion stained glass lamps?

It’s more about returning Lower Westheimer to what is was in the past— three lanes- one in each direction- then a turn lane.

Without major reconstruction of widening Westheimer what can be done when the bus width is literally wider than the lane width?

We went to Chelsea and noted the "posh" intentions- if that's the correct word but the food didn't stand up. Those sort of intentions seem to come from Marmo and Graffiti  Raw also but food seems better. I don't mean to lean in the notion of "posh" as synonymous with price point. Just seems like a restaurant with a less serious attitude might be more successful...........imo..... 

--- Nextdoor to Elro

Hope that "third ward bar at Emancipation and Wheeler" gets a little of the laser focus Chief Finner has started along Emancipation Blvd. I spent years taking up time at the South Central PIP pleading for extra patrols. 
That corner seems a lightening Rod for noise and trouble.

I drove by

I'm thinking a shaded waiting area with swings ( like the car wash at Montrose and Dallas) might be nice😃

Maybe a way to clean, vacuum, windex out my car🧐

uhmmmm WiFi maybe, with plug ins to recharge my phone😍

ooooow one of those fancy Japanese (or Swedish) food and drink machines?😁

a tiny free little library up on a pole?🥳
 

On 3/16/2024 at 7:39 PM, hindesky said:

That blue backdrop seems the perfect place for a new Mural!

Gotcha

i have that same problem with the pro- trees =>anti 10 ft sidewalk posters of the Montrose Blvd proposal. 
 

Geez, like counting hens teeth  to try and present facts to them-- lots of knee jerk snipe shots my way as I seem to be in their cross hairs-- just because, I came to a different conclusion after I read all they had to post but just didn't agree with them.

It didn't seem to take much for those Nextdoor discussion threads to turn dark.

Neartown brought in three "knowledgeable" people from Metro to explain what could be expected on their Westheimer (610 to Man street)upgrade. Attendees really only interested in Shepherd to Bagby. 
First  off, as far as I could tell, the Mayor demanded, his view on changes be incorporated in ; Metro complied. It is mostly, just a "redo" of street surfaces around ( scraped down then spread)18" deep- this might be fine but if unearth concrete is cracked, this won't work so well- double down that it might not work at all if underlying brick street is uncovered from Montrose to Bagby. New curbs cut in driveways- commercial driveways 8"----private driveways 6". LED lights within bus shelters, but no "green" nor artificial shade for bus stops without shelters.

Buses on route 82 will remain same width (wider than current lane width) and same weight ( the weight that has torn up that part of lower Westheimer in first place)

A little something interesting-- the original research and plan of the lower Westheimer approvements, weren't viewed or reviewed by Metro--- just the Mayor saying "Do this now!"

Yes there will be sidewalks tweaks, more handicapped cuts at curbs and distance between bus stops will be increased slightly so improve "speed" that is currently around 18 miles per hour. There was no mention of moving current bus stops that are located just before an intersection to beyond the intersection; that would allow traffic to right turn behind buses so traffic flows more efficiently.

 Don't really have a crystal ball, but think after this " lick and a promise" is completed" any chance at meaningful improvements for lower Westheimer will be gone forever. 
 

sigh

10 hours ago, j_cuevas713 said:

Yeah maybe 6ft is you're standing shoulder to shoulder. Who walks like that though? 

Walking shoulder to shoulder?

For the most part, I find myself walking hand in hand with grandkids on either side who are probably yammering to hold the hand of someone on the other side or the leash of the dog or the handle bars of trainingwheeled bike etc etc etc- you get the idea

10' sidewalks solve a lot of potential walking configurations.

4,017 - Total of sex crime reports reviewed.

399 - Number of forensic interviews scheduled with survivors.

1,767 - Officer visits to last known address of victims.

91,824 reviewed of 264,000 - Department-wide incident reports reviewed.

1/3 - Reports that have been reviewed within eight weeks.

3,462 - cases that have been cleared, suspended or inactivated, mostly due to no additional leads.

“The remaining reports are being investigated. Any incident will be reopened should a complainant contact us and provide additional information or evidence,” Finner said.
 

That very last thing made my stomach sink.....what would  it take out of a person, who had suffered the trauma of enduring rape, realizing HPD had shelved that complaint, understood that after " investigation" HPD had closed it, then finally knowing it would would be up to the victim to get it up and going again.

Yup! Side by Side

is a concept that people escorting preschool bike riders know the importance of.

I have a 3 wheeled electric bike - one of the grandkids has tiny pedal bike  with train8ng wheels, but you can't forget the double wide stroller that usually comes along to sort of act as guard on the other side for pedal bike........if we all go side by side we take up more than 6 feet wide-- at 10 feet wide, there is possibility of someone else either going in our direction or the opposite direction can also use sidewalk.

This seems to be a hard concept for people to understand.