Mr. B

Galvestonians !!!!

Pose a question: What does Galveston and New Orleans have in common ?

Answer: A system whereby people who learn to work the system can come and live for free the rest of their lives.

I think what Niche said is correct it is all a matter of what and how much free services UTMB will dole out to bring back the public housing and indigent population.

Galveston has a chance to remake itself into something very nice unlike New Orleans which choose to go back to the same old ways in many instances.

I love New Orleans as I spent my whole life growing up in South La but they missed the boat after Katrina. Without all the hollywood hoopla and TV exposure NO would be in a world of hurt right now. Galveston doesn't get that exposure but they still have a chance to put things together in a better way and make the island a nice destination spot.

They always seemed busy with a nice crowd when we passed that way. Maybe it wasn't enough and Cinco HOA can be tough to deal with.

Shame cause we really need places like this to succeed out here.

Nothing shocking about this actually.

Unless your a chain you will get no support out here. It has been like that for years.

Support is for the Chains and taking it downtown or the Galleria area. A good portion of the people out here in Cinco and surrounding are takers and could care less about supporting local establishments unless they are well known and their kids can run rampant. Here for a couple of years to make a little money and cash in on schools then poof off to the next best thing for them.

Well looks like another startup has closed rather quickly.

Don't know why but passed by The Angel and Ox today from a Gelato and white paper on the door with security guard standing there. Looks like the place is closed since a couple of people had walked up and then walked away.

Did they make is 6 months ?

There is always Chili's !!!!

Been here 12 years and it has always been pretty much a quiet area until the last 5 years or so as sprawl has made its way.

All in all its still a very safe community but there have been some incidents recently that may show things could be changing but nothing more than most areas face some crime. This area is generaly seen as the place were the money is at so in a sense you gotta kind of think crime is not far behind looking for an easy handout.

Actually on the apartments back here are all very nice and I think that is partly because Cinco Ranch is keeping an eye on them. I hope this continues but I still do not see the need to have 5 major apartment complexes all in such a close range other than money and this is the low end of Cinco back here. As for the one's on the tollway, etc those are unknown who and how they will be run.

From what I can tell most of the one's in Cinco are going for around $700 and above for apartments when I checked.

Nothing really wrong with them except to many of them just don't seem to have a good effect on areas that I have lived in the past.

Time will tell.

Creech Elementary on South Mason and Fry. Behind the massive bank going up and the future auto repair place I was told will be built there (Like we need that).

There was to be an apartment complex built and still may be built but latest word from Cinco HOA is there was some funny business with the owners or managers. Something of this nature that has made Cinco put a halt to if for now until things are cleared up. This is just what I was saying in earlier post it just takes some funny business with the builders/managers and then poof instead of a high end you have who knows what running the place. Cinco did not go into all the details with me but just that something was not right and it has been halted for the time being.

I had questioned them on why they felt they needed a 5th major apartment complex all within a 3 - 5 mile radius. I know they consider this section of Cinco to be the projects as we like to laugh about it (sorry not trying to offend anyone its just a joke) but doesn't mean you have to stick all the apartments back here. I have a friend of the family who used to be on the HOA and she told me that after they built South Park and SummerPointe they were never going to build another section with houses at the $70 - $110 thousand price range again. Not sure if they have or haven't.

Many begged them years ago to use the land to build a very nice park for the communities but Newland said no way the land was to valuable as commercial. So no Park.

Tigz,

Had to go back and look but you are correct it is the Gardere area to give it the proper name.

B

Close

The whole area back off of Starring/Essen connecting with Hwy 30. Used to live in the area and had friends lived back there for a while. Started off as some very nice apartments, etc but after some change in management years ago things went downhill. Was out that way a couple of months ago visiting my relatives that still live off of Starring and it was still the pits in that area. My Aunt told me there were shootings back there all the time.

I believe they are trying to build the new Casino complex not far from there on River Road. Maybe it will do some good for the area.

Bman,

Didn't say its a crap hole, but stated that it has the possibilities to go that route with many of the things being put into motion in some areas. The area is still very nice at this stage but many things are starting to change and many folks don't think that those changes are going to head this area in the right direction. Only time will tell who was right.

Since you have lived here since 1977 you have no clue what mass apartments do to an area. Also this area has never had the amount of apartments being thrown up as they are now. I have lived in other places where this same thing has happened and over the years it did not turn out well. I can point you toward one for example in Baton Rouge, La. One of the most pristine and family oriented areas for years let develpors put up mass apartments under the pretext of upscale living. After some years the owners didn't want it anymore and sold it to another management company who in return decided the place didn't need to be an upscale location. Little by little the tenants changed as the rent dropped. The place is now one of the most crime ridden places and the whole surrounding area now looks like a dump.

If you took the time to read and comprehend you would see where I stated that allot depends on who is running the complexes, who is overseeing the people running it and what protocals are put in place to keep something like above from happening here.

I also know what the prices are and researched them and they are high and you are correct most lower income persons would not be able to afford them without assistance. But assitance is there in the form of grants, etc and many times these complexes have to have so many units to rent out at much lower rates due to government deals and only certain people can apply for these units. At least that is what I was told, if someone with management in apartment complexes can clarify I will be glad to find out.

I don't know squat about Governers place but I do know that there have been 3 homes in the South Park area that just in the past few months popped up with the For Lease signs instead of For Sale and 2 of them were scooped up quickly. The other one just hit the market so will see smaller homes have been selling fairly well but the larger homes have not in this area.

As for property values have remaind basically the same with some slight increase the past couple of years, but my taxes have not decreased so don't know where you are getting that from.

Don't be so quick to say this area won't be a crap hole down the line. I have lived in places where the mass influx of apartments eventually turned very nice areas into crap holes.

Its one thing if the complexes are kept up with high standards, etc but if there are no associations, ect to oversee this I would venture to say that little by little the clientele will start going down and down.

I don't know if any of you all remember but years ago the section now known as Gunspoint was once a very nice area. I had friends who lived there and loved it and I often visited that area but I work there now for the most part only and its a crap hole compared to what it used to be.

Cinco Ranch has 3 large apartment complexes within about 3 miles of each other back on Mason and Fry with plans to put another large apartment complex in next to the Elementary school on south fry. That will be 4 very large complexes in just this one little section not to count all the other units going up not far down the westpark. It doesn't make me happy that when we moved here 12 years ago Cinco lied to us and told us that all land back here was strictly for schools and house only now to have mass apartments surrounding us.

I hope it works out but I can't say I have seen many areas that don't eventually go downhill after some years do to the flood of apartments.

To my understanding you can only dispute it so many times. So they get you one way or the other.

Plus when you have things capped such as the school taxes, etc the only way they have around that is to continually raise your property taxes.

Again they are going to get it one way or the other.

Home Purchase $110,000, current appraised value $180,000. Can I sell it for that much, no (Priceless)

Was out in Galveston this weekend doing some work on our place.

Decided to go take in the island with the nice weather Sunday after the hellashish rain storm all day Saturday.

Seawall side was very nice with many folks on the beach but the strand was depressing. Not much to get out and walk around to see as most still seemed closed except for the bar, etc that seem to be springing back up. Also didn't look to safe (sorry it is what it is) with some of the characters we did see walking up and down the street and along the streets adjacent to the strand.

Shame used to spend many a day in that section but now mostly stay on Tiki, Moody Gardens or the Seawall side.

Wish the Strand would make it back. I know its got to be tough for those folks and doesn't seem like the city can help them much.

It did seem like lots of the buildings were for sail and I wonder if maybe this is why some have not reopened as the owners of the buildings don't want the tenants at this stage, but I am only guessing and can't say for sure.

Anyone know where you can get a good price on an ice chest of shrimp for boiling.

I know the stores around the Galveston and surrounding Kemah but that is not the best price in the world. In Grand Isle I could just go to the boats and get some but figured maybe someone here had an idea.

Well I can't say I have every had rude service at Stadia. In fact on every occasion except one the service has been great. Quite a few of the dishes I like there but will not do the wings or shrimp again. Just not sure if they will make it though as everytime we go the resturant section is empty aside from one or two tables.

I wish I could remember what topic it was under but I posted awhile back that inside information told me the apartment flood was coming. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

I and a few others got flamed because we thought all these apartments were not going to be good for this area. Time will tell I guess.

Funny thing is all these apartments are hoping for these hospital, etc and who knows if ST. Lukes has not put on the back burner.

From information I am getting from a couple of associates I know at KBR they may not be building their campus out here either as proposed. Course if someone who works for KBR can say more on this would be interesting but from what I was told depends on the economy and other factors. Also the fact they may be looking to relocate corporate overseas because of better tax breaks. Again though this is just what I got from a couple of people that work there.

Oh no, no I didn't just hear that about the wings.

I know to each his own and I like quite a few of the dishes at Stadia but have had there wings and buffalo shrimp and they are not even close to BW3, in fact I left the Buffalo shrimp on the table after just one. Heck the place that was there before Buffalo Wings and things had better wings than Stadia Wings.

But that is just my opinion based on many eaten wings.

As I said I understand there are some that want a mall but I still disagree this area does not need another mall. Its great if it works but the past history of malls around here isn't good.

And I still don't understand why there is this certain section of people that think this area needs to be crammed with all the stuff most of the people out here left to get away from. If I want to go to a mall I just get in the car and drive to the one down the road a piece.

Hopefully it means that this Vapor Mall which has been hanging in the wind for 10 years is finally put to rest and dead.

No offence and some probably want it but this area does not need another mall to go bad and bring the area down.

Nicely put and thanks for the info.

Makes it a little easier to understand than the He said/She said info I had been hearing from folks.

You know I am curious as to how many feel toward UTMB. Been on the island for going on 11 years now or should I say we have a place we call our second home and spend much time for the past 11 years on Galveston.

I have talked to about a dozen folks and seems that its 50/50 with people on whether they are happy with UTMB reopening or not. Guess the mix of folks is long time residents and weekenders for quite some time on the island.

Almost all understood having UTMB was good for jobs on the island and as a teaching institution, but many felt that due to the services offered by UTMB or the percieved services they offer to the indigent population that it brings far to many of a class of people that some island residents don't want. Some residents even mentioned they noticed that since UTMB has ceased many of its services that some of the folks living in Galveston for the free stuff shall we say have gone elsewhere.

I do know someone who used to be a nurse there and was told the hospital did offer free services to many which is good in a way cause not everyone can afford insurance. She said there were many cases she knew of where people actually moved to Galveston with no jobs, etc simply because they could get free health care (I cannot vouch for any truth to this as I do not know what services UTMB offers outside of teaching and regular hospital).

Anyone else out there have any dealings with them.

You could also try 1800crawfish and give them a call.

Been getting crawfish from them for years. They are located down off or Hwy 6 and 45, but they do have a couple places in Houston where they make delivery stops you will just have to go meet them at designated location.

They have always told me they go get there crawfish from my neck of the woods in Pierre Part, La. Have no way to prove it but the bugs are always good and fresh although a bit full of swamp crap. Usually run around $1.50 to $2.00 a lb. Bit high sometimes but depends on the season and they do have to go get the things.

Man I miss the days of driving over to the boat launch and handing over $25 for a nice sack of crawfish straight out of the swamps and off the boat. Then agian I used to run traps and catch my own until I got tired of dealing with the damned Water moccasins.

Also as a note buying the very largest crawfish is the last thing you want to do. Stay with Medium to Large.

Just a suggestion though.

I have been watching as they have been doing work on the Diner over on 61st street. Is it going to reopen similar to the old resturant.

Man I miss my breakfast at the Diner + they had some really good club sammy's

Don't see anything about the Cajun Greek.

Check these guys out. Last year they supplied some of the largest crawfish to local retaurants in the area:

http://www.critterrunners.com/

You gotta be crazy to pay that price for crawfish. Your looking at $110 + for a 35 lb sack and you gotta pick it up.

Watch your backside when bending over to pick up your crawfish. !!!!

Was out there today and they had a nice little rally with classic cars.

Course everything else was dead at Noon time on a beautiful day. Santorini's was empty, Stadia had a few folks but only because a little league team was there. Gellato place was empty as was Berryhill's

Typical guess everyone was eating over in the Galleria or Downtown or perhaps Chili's and Chedders