jtmbin

Young_Rendering_1.pdf

I liked the press pictures I saw. Does anyone know how that neighborhood finally ended up and how the houses are selling (sold)?

We visited the model homes a year ago or so and were quite impressed, especially with the fixtures, finishes, attention to detail all around, attention to natural light, and with floorplans and elevations that were far better than the usual suburban drivel. The overall quality of the product was equal to or better than some of the better custom home builders here inside the loop. The only downside was that they were only being built and sold in Katy, a couple miles past Katy Mills mall. We weren't interested in living in East Austin, even though similar houses in our neighborhood would cost at least 3X as much as these.

We went back out in December and were very surprised at how few had been built. Frankly, they would have sold much better closer to town, much closer. I think that people who move out there are looking for big, bigger, and biggest - not for quality in design, or execution. These homes are competing with other new houses in the area that are much "bigger" for the same prices, even though they may be designed and built like total crap. I reach this conclusion in part from overhearing the rather loud comments from, literally, every other group of people also touring the models during both of our visits, and from visiting nearby developers that are/were selling homes that we would never consider buying. The housing stock out there is just constituted of every exurban cliche known. The KB/Martha homes were great, just out of place.

OK. So, I have received two mailings (actually one was a personal delivery via my mail slot this afternoon). Apparently, there is a SHOW-DOWN FOR CONTROL OF THE BOARD OF THE HOUSTON HEIGHTS ASSOCIATION between people who believe...well, let me excerpt

Not to confuse you either, jt, but I tire of the schizophrenic Houston complaints of not enough spent on _______(insert slighted pet project here), while complaining about high taxes somewhere else. And, you don't even give the City credit for the 15 million. The numbers you cite do not include the bond money, only the operating budget. If this gripe doesn't apply to you, ignore it, or add to it. But, I am tired of people who gripe about taxes then complaining about services. THEY are the REASON the services suck. This is analogous to picking a fight, then claiming self-defense. One cannot have it both ways.

BTW, this year's budget is $18 per per person.

Doesn't apply to me. I'm one of those people who actually understands that ALL of the things that I want government to provide like libraries, roads, police, etc. have to be paid for and that the currency is taxes. I've not once ever advocated for tax cuts because for 1)ta xes here are incredibly low, and 2) tax cuts equal service cuts and there is not much I want to see cut. I do argue for greater efficiency and less waste - anything and every process can be improved. Frankly I wouldn't mind a tax increase if it resulted in better library service, more streets with sidewalks, more streetlights, more police, better schools, better parks - not just brown fields and rusting equipment, more rail sooner than later, etc, etc. Bring it on, I'll vote for it. No, I'm not one of those lunatics whose home value doubles and then complains about his property taxes increasing. Those people should be shot. Just kidding, sort of.

Typical Houstonian. The City just finished spending $15 million on renovating the main library, and you complain about how little they spend.

Not to confuse you Red, but I wasn't complaining about the money spent on the renovation, bond funds, although I could. I am complaining about how little we appropriate for operating the system, annual budget from tax revenues, because it is too little for a city this size.

AND you can have any (circulating) book from any HPL library sent to any other HPL library in the system, typically overnight, to be picked up at your leisure with just a few clicks from your home/work computer. You can check it out for up to six weeks. All for FREE. (yeah, yeah I know your taxes pay for it) Try that at Borders.

It is amazing that the Library Dept manages to accomplish anything at all with these numbers:

"According to federal statistics for 2006, Houston's library system spends $17 per capita to operate each year

Coming late to this discussion, I know. But I would be very surprised if 100% of both lists are not widely available at numerous branches throughout the system. Same with the Brazoria County Library System.

AND you can have any (circulating) book from any HPL library sent to any other HPL library in the system, typically overnight, to be picked up at your leisure with just a few clicks from your home/work computer. You can check it out for up to six weeks. All for FREE. (yeah, yeah I know your taxes pay for it) Try that at Borders.

Cheesy is good.

At least it doesn't have that red, white and blue big bird looking sculpture (now in front of GRB in Discovery Green).

That's progress in and of itself.

A bit of info on the "cheese". The patterns and colors in the plaza are themselves the result of a civic art project, not a planning meeting. Sorry to disappoint you, H-town. The pattern is a super-graphic of the floor tile pattern in the historic Julia Ideson Building, the former central library adjacent to the plaza. It is meant to show a connection between the old and new central libraries. The colors are the same colors that will be used in the upcoming LED light sculpture that will be installed in the plaza this summer. The lights in the plaza will be programmed in part by software designed by students at UH-Clearlake. The software uses the library's online computer activity to activate the light patterns. The busier the system, the more active the lights. In effect, the lightwall becomes the LED heartbeat of HPL's electronic/internet/online life. At least, these were the artist's intentions.

Additionally, the plaza has been wired for performances and concerts. Three shading devices will be installed in a few weeks that spell out "Houston" "Public" "Library" in the varying gauge of the screening. The shadows of those words created by the screening will move across the plaza has the sun moves across the sky. It will be a cool visual from all of the neighboring skyscrapers.

The edges of the plaza will be lined with very red planters filled with very tall-growing bamboo. There will be outdoor seating for the new Inversion Cafe, and new decking has been added under the oaks adjacent to the Ideson.

Some may think its all cheesy, but compared to the lifeless half-city block of brown brick pavers inhabited by nothing but the homeless that was there before, some may welcome it.

those were the words guy hagstedt used. guess there is a lot to do before then. they also interviewed robert del grande who'll be operating the two restaurants.

They are rushing because the project is behind schedule because it rained for TEN straight weeks this summer.

I noticed that the angled corners which we thought would be entrances, are actually not. One of them is just a window (maybe with a display of some sort in it?). The other is a drive through. So I guess there will be no entrance near Main!

While it kinda sucks for midtown, it doesn't surprise me too much. Until the rest of the neighborhood develops (I am talking about the abandoned buildings and empty lots along Main), it's unlikely that anybody is going to try anything risky in this hood. I would have rather seen an urban styled store but if it's cheaper and more profitable for them to do it this way, and zoning laws are non existent, who's going to stop them? Everybody here loves the free market, and this is a good example of how the free market works.

At least we don't have an empty brick wall facing the rail. At least there is a window on one of the corners...

"at least", that about sums up most development in Houston these days, and since this city's administration demands nothing more and its citizens expect nothing more, we get what we deserve - the least.

Wow, this is very nice looking! Where is it located?

HPL seems to be doing very well with their new facilities. This is a great addition to the system, as was the branch on Stella Link a few years ago. And I really like the old church conversion on Montrose. I look forward to the completion of the central library renovations downtown.

http://www.houstonlibrary.org/branches/loo_home.html

HPL Looscan Neighborhood Library

Phone

832-393-1900

Hours

M 10-8; T 10-6; W 10-6; Th 12-8; F 12-6; Sa 10-6

Address

2510 Willowick

Houston, Texas 77027

(Key Map #492S)

Directions

From the corner of 59 and Weslayan go north on Weslayan. The library will be on the left just past Westheimer.

I read an interesting article recently about the changes being made in new libraries.

They're starting to be designed more like a combination of Starbucks and Borders in order to draw in more people.

One of them, I think in the Northwest, actually (*gasp!*) dropped the Dewey Decimal system and has organized its books the way bookstores do -- by topic.

I love the library. My wife hates the library. She'd rather pay for a book at the bookstore than go through the hassle/wait of trying to find it at the library.

It is interesting that your wife thinks that it's a hassle. She can search the catalogue of the entire HPL system from the comfort of her home computer 24/7 and have any book, CD, DVD, book on CD, etc. delivered to any one of 36 locations around town within 48 hours, typically. The item will be waiting with her name on it on the HOLD shelf. In many libraries, she can walk in, grab the book off the shelf, check it out herself using a Self-Check machine just like at the grocery store and be out the door. This might take five minutes. If the book isn't ready immediately, say you want Harry Potter on Day One and all 300 copies are reserved, you'll be sent an email telling you when it is waiting for you on the HOLD shelf at the library of your choosing. She can renew the book up to two times for a total of six weeks of check out time, all online, without risking a late fine. She can track and store books that she browses online, track books she's read, blah, blah, blah. I could go on, but I guess you get the picture.

Regarding the retail model, libraries have simply stolen the customer service page back from the retailers, or at least they are trying to by offering amenties that people have come to expect. Comfy chairs, a cuppa coffee, wi-fi, and later hours are all parts of the equation. It is notable that while the city's wi-fi initiative is on hold, HPL completed adding free wi-fi service to every library last year.

Very pretty library, it just makes you want to wander around and check out the books. I love libraries and this is a very pretty one.

It is very different from the last new HPL building, the Stella Link Neighborhood Library which opened two years ago. That one is very contemporary, very colorful, glass and steel. It is also one of the top two most popular branch libraries in the city. It will be interesting to see how Looscan stacks up when the performance numbers start rolling in.

Yeah, sorry, but they're not coming up for me either.

Try this link http://web.mac.com/bindana/iWeb/Site/Looscan%20Library.html

Pics from the Opening of the new Looscan Neighborhood Library.

http://web.mac.com/bindana/iWeb/Site/Looscan%20Library.html

i wonder what the library's fate will be?

The library will remain for as long as HPL chooses to use the facility to provide library services from the building. If HPL ever decides to discontinue using the former church building as a library, control/ownership of the facility reverts to the owner - now UST.

Where on Kirby is it?

It's actually on Gallery Row, on Colquitt about two blocks west of Kirby @ Colquitt. It'a a high fashion women's boutique that specializes in new cutting edge designers. It was formally located on Kirby across the street from the 2727 Kirby condo lot, but it's building was demolished for the new development going in at the corner of Kirby/Westheimer.

Yep, sure do. Now THAT is a flashback.

But the buildings are still there, I think, and occupied.

That's an odd part of town.

The Houston Public Library's Young Branch has been located in the Palm Center for several years. It's smaller than most HPL libraries but it has free wi-fi (like every HPL facility) and you can check out a laptop for use in the building. Palm Center is alive and well.

http://www.hpl.lib.tx.us/branches/you_home.html

As would my Godparents.

Actually my friends and I are happy to hear it. We worked out at Larry North in the Houston Center for the last two years, switched to FIT last month after nearly joining the new YMCA on Stella Link because it has something that none of the other fitness clubs have - a swimming pool. Stella Link was just too far away. The Masterson YMCA will be great. I swam and played racquetball there a dozen years ago before the YWCA management let the place fall into disrepair. The view of downtown from the pool when the giant doors are open is awesome. With the excellent management of the YMCA, compared to the disaster that is the YWCA, this location will be very popular and fill a service void in the area.

The good news is that the Taft Architects designed post-modern Masterson YWCA will not be demolished afterall. The YMCA has purchased the property and will restore the facility completely and reopen as a YMCA next year to serve the fast-growing Washington Ave Corridor, Heights and Montrose.

Still missing:

Sunset Tea Room

DISH

Driscoll Street Cafe

The Spud-U-Like

Cookies, Goodies, and More

Empanada House

the original La Strada

Frenchy's on Shepherd

Sabine

Armandos

Quilted Toque

Sierra

The Magic Pan Crepery

and many more

I don't want to talk about the war, at least not here on an architectural/development message board. My point (which apparently went right past you) was to object to your sly approach of trying to have it both ways... i.e., you get your "dig" in about the cost of the war while imploring others not to respond in kind. I'm quite familiar with the approach.

Your smugness might lead you to believe that your "cleverness" went right me. Get over yourself. I don't need to make digs about the war. If you want to debate the war or Cheney policies or liberal vs. conservative theory - I'm game. "Bring it on" - is that familiar to you?

Otherwise, try not getting your nose bent out of shape because someone took an item from today's news and asked a question relevant to that news and to this forum. I do not care if you think it's relevant or not. If you don't, the easy, mature action to take is to not post to the thread. Let it go. If you are that sensitive, you might want to avoid public forums.

Here's a thought...

If you don't want to talk about the war, and don't want others talking about the war, then don't start a thread TALKING ABOUT THE WAR.

What does this thread offer beyond the other recent thread "what would you do with 15 Billion Dollars?

It's not much different I suppose. I never saw the other thread. I don't read ALL of them. Besides, if you WANT to talk about the war, start your own thread. AND lighten up! If new threads could never be similar to a previous thread - this forum would have died a long time ago.

$72 billion per year is $6 billion per month, not day.

And if I had $6 billion to spend, I would spend it ALL on freeways and streets. Well, maybe I would set aside a couple hundred million for parks.

Sorry - BrainBurp

CNN reported today that the US is spending nearly $6,000,000,000.00 a month to be in Iraq. $72 billion a year. So, without getting into a lengthy pointless debate about the "war" - PLEASE!- I'm curious to know this from you all:

Since we apparently have this money to spend (no debates about this either), what if instead of spending it on a war, we gave $6B to each of the nation's 12 largest cities next year.

Considering that Houston/Harris County spent nearly $1B on the Toyota Center/Reliant Stadium/Minute Maid Park combined or that Chicago spent just $500 million on the incredible Millenium Park or that Seattle spent less than $200 million on the most incredible library I've ever seen, etc. It's a lot of money.

What would you have Houston spend SIX BILLION DOLLARS on?

Before you answer, consider:

ALL of the recent improvements to Hermann Park costs only $32 Million.

A new Central Library is estimated to cost $200 Million.

The entire Buffalo Bayou 20-yr Plan will costs $800 Million

http://www.buffalobayou.org/financing.html

The new Downtown Park will cost $81 Million

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/thiswe...ws/3445523.html

You could finance all of these and still have nearly $5 Billion left.

What would you do in Houston? (This means not Katy/Sugarland/Pearland/etc)

One Rule: Not a dime can be spent expanding or enlarging freeways.