trymahjong

urban land institute architect renderings

the charrette was sponsored by the Neartown Asso and ULI the community leaders, businesses, residents and interested parties were asked to gather and tell what should be "in the Mix" for the "buckle" of Montrose-- the intersection of Montrose and Westheimer-- Walkability, multi-use -less traffic-- more parking--public art

were all elements--this is just one possibility

you're right about the trade off-- walkability is what i moved to avondale for-- still -- i have to admit to more than my share of frustration at Boheme--I was at the meeting where he assured everyone that all of the available spaces front and back would be made into parking--in addtion to the places he'd provide by pulling his frontyard fence back--that's the prickly part--that lingering feeling of resentment at being lied to-- but sure----walkability is worth it --doesn't mean i aint cranky about the parking stuff--and it's soothing to have a venue like this to vent--- and really makes me wonder why COH didn't think about a reliable bus/train/rail system back when the monorail dreams were floating around--

there might be a another bar at morgan and fairview-- have you seen the renovations of the old post office building? i hear that the owner of boheme is renovating upstairs for apartments and down stairs for cafe/bar/? space ------the parking nightmare will only get worse

maybe Eclessia is moving after all--is there another thread on Eclessia?

A friend sent me this:

did you catch this HAIF post by 'RS' on 4/8/09? Not the first time to hear this. Stats (if accurate) are interesting. Posting:

Somewhere up the thread, The Meridian was mentioned. I've got several friends who work at a church/coffeeshop/art gallery at Taft & Welch (Montrose/Midtown) called Ecclesia. It is, for lack of a better description, a "hip/artsy" church.

In late 2007, as a favor (I'm not affiliated with them formally), I ran a statistical analysis on their attendance. 80% of the congregation was under 35, and lived in Montrose or Midtown. They have three services on Sunday -- maybe 200 people showed up to each then; my guess is that's increased since.

The rumor mill tells me that Ecclesia has bought The Meridian and plans to vacate their current space on Taft (I used to live nearby, and parking and noise had become major problems for their neighbors) and move in to The Meridian. My guess is, also, that the Ecclesia management has a pretty clear hypothesis on where "20-something hip people" are migrating in the next 5-10 years or so.

--

I'm wondering if the HPD hesitency might have something to do with the "church" label?

HPD might not want the PR nightmare of "going after those churchgoers---

my $.02

most of the people incharge at

eclessia including chris seay the head guy seem very friendly and positive-- but they also refused to obey the firemarshall's ban on meeting at the venue because there were too many people for that venue--eclessia just removed the firemarshalls proclaimation paper from the door and held services as usual----and when councilwomen adams office investigated the "no permit" thing--

eclessia onl offered up their permits for the coffee shop and gallery--both of these don't require as much parking to be available.

most of the EMCA residents are very good and tolerate people also--many have been residents BEFORE Eclessia -I know many avenues have been explored to resolve this---but no resolution has been found so far-- there are rumors now that the church is moving---maybe that's best--the whole parking/traffic and big-amp-sunday service has made me avoid the whole place anyway-- so i don't get to enjoy the co-op or coffee anymore--

it's a shame-- i love my neighborhood and can't understand why

eclessia can't find a way to be a GOOD neighbor

There is a historic house at Rosalie and Bagby (grey house-- 3012 Bagby on googlemap it was moved there from corner of westheimer and bagby before strip shopping was built)-- thought it was going to be a lawyers office but now im told a a liquor license permit is posted?

Anyone know what is going on?

That rendering spans from Montrose to Roseland Street. If you look at the rendering you can see part of the arch of the Montrose bridge in the background.

What will happen to the brick house presently on the lot?

Based on the map in the Chron it would be Montrose Blvd itself

there is bit of an area south of I59 montrose to binz to grustark other wise it's over to shepherd west and dallas is the northern boundary--

last oct-- Neartown-- along with other organizations gathered for a "community forum" on what should/could/would be possible for montrose---along the lines of a "master plan" there was lots of conversation about "doing" something to the intersection of montrose and westheimer-- on april 23 a meeting is to be held at st stephans to give the results of "input" gathered from residents,business, developers, civic, charities, community advocates etcetcetc ---blue print houston is heading up the info gathering plus Houston Endowment,gulfcoast institute as well as Urban Land institute are participating, along with city council, metro etcetcetc-- i know there is a thread similar to this and thought it might be good to revisit it--

Cotton Brothers Inc. (400 Fairview) is a blue corrugated metal building near the northwest corner of Fairview and Morgan.

It has nothing to do with the Cotton Exchange or clothing. They fix brakes on big trucks.

Any further word on Dean's II? I'm not clear as to which building is (was) under consideration. Is it the brick one, on the northeast corner? Or the formerly brick one on the southeast corner, which has been remuddled beyond recognition?

Dean's is a green and cream buiding that is having the interior second story torn out for a high ceiling main floor and building a

roof top bar--with a pretty good view of downtown--

they've gotten their liquor permits and signed "good neighbor" papers with the residents assoc-- how soon will they open? hmmmmmmm haven't heard--but a lot of the gossip at the green market was about BABY BARNABY'S moving into the vacated market on taft and fairview---any info on that?

i went to the donut shop in this strip shopping center and the lady said she, so vino and osaka restaurant were leaving? she thought it was because the rent was raised and no one can afford it-- 2 othere business have tried to make it there and failed--

if it goes empty--then what? is it too new to tear down and build apartment building like the ones being finished on LOvett blvd?

guess the bohemes and gentrifications and whoever else makes avondale their homes are satisfied that deans won't be too negative an impact on neighborhood or parking etcetc------------dean's has asked for a "late night permit" what ever that is-------- everything seems set to move forward---TNT will lease out their parking to dean's after they have closed---never heard of that before--how will you know those cars are going to dean's? i know plenty who park there and go to ziggy's---and "jewels" has closed---sad since that little strip could have been a funky little magnet for other retail--maybe? but guess everyone will pounce on that parking space also---i was told that "boheme" the wine bar/cafe (althought it doesn't serve food and is mainly full bar not just wine) got a $$$ fine for setting up tables in their limited parking spaces---now those tables on side and in back and new parking next door in front of scuplture house---

and now there is interest in the older building across the street---fairview and morgan---used to be a post office? the talk is that is was tied up in divorce thing--now divorce thing settled (?)--maybe another bar in the future?

there used to be a railroad that lead to the fairgrounds on fairview--one of the bars on crocket and fairview still has a loading dock--- the folks at the avondale historic architecture tour --have come up with pictures of the trolley car that made a left turn at taft and ran rail towards first montrose commons--

i love finding out all these little details---

Are they closing their current location, or will this be Dean's II?

Parking seems to be a limiting factor. A few years ago, Montrose had a younger, poorer, more adventurous population. Many people didn't have cars, and bars could do a decent business with a (literal) walk-in trade. Things have changed - just look at the area surrounding the Pacific Street strip. Several buildings have been razed to provide parking for out-of-neighborhood patrons. People who want The Montrose Experience are more likely to commute these days, and the bars have had to provide parking to accomodate them.

Parking at the Cotton Exchange? The Cotton Exchange I'm familiar with is at least a couple miles from Fairview and Morgan, in downtown Houston.

The proximity of other bars shouldn't be a problem. They're not in direct competition. You won't find many Ripcord people at Meteor, or vice-versa.

I imagine the neighborhood associations will be taking a long, hard look. There has been an influx of people who want the glamour of 'the bohemian neighborhood', but without, you know, those darn bohemians.

this is supposed to be a second location for Dean's--and the cotton exchange is that old old building across the street that repairs extra long trucks---Dean's will only use that parking lot after the business closes--but one of the worries is that lots of times tow trucks will just leave those disabled trucks in the parking lot at night---

Dean's Credit Clothing has begun preparing to move into the new constructed building on Fairview and Morgan---meeting with local civic asso and contracting for additional parking at the cotton exchange--but i was wondering with ziggy's and boheme so close --meteror to the east---baby barnaby's and the country bar to the west----can this little neighborhood support another bar?