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bobruss

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Everything posted by bobruss

  1. bobruss
    Well Montrose is going to get a 30 story high rise at Hawthorne and the Chelsea down near the freeway so this gap is being filled in now. Then if Hines does develop the Southmore the museum area will get another hi rise. They just added another building to the cluster that has grown over the years around Richmond and Montrose, and sometime in the next 5-10 years the project on Westheimer and Montrose will pretty much fill it in. Also the 21 story Ziegler Cooper apartment building on West Dallas between Montrose and Waugh takes the Montrose slice all the way up to Allen parkway. I'd say that's pretty even infill.
  2. bobruss
    Don't they have to vote on the variance on Thursday?
  3. bobruss
    If nothing else just the fact that this has become a discussion worthy of the paper and other public forums is a move in the right direction. As the density levels go up and more retail and service related projects get developed I'm sure we'll see a larger segment of the inner loop community on foot and bicycles. Now that the city has adopted a livable street plan to be developed with all segments of mobility included in the plans for new street construction you'll see even more focus on this kind of growth. Obviously it wont happen soon enough and some parts of town will never see it, but areas of the Heights, Montrose and the village will be the first due to the density levels and the wonderful canopy of trees that already exists in much of this area. Ever since David and Jay Crossley's group started fighting for walkable streets it seems like there has been a new momentum developing and thru their tireless fight they were one of the reasons the Mayor went with the new street plans for future construction. In watching them work it is obvious that with more attention focused on this situation more has been accomplished. I highly recommend anyone really interested in making these dreams become reality to get more involved in letter writing, speaking before city council,and getting active in Houston Tomorrow. It will make a difference. The squeaky wheel always get the grease!
  4. bobruss
    Quite a few buildings don't have a 13th floor. I was told it was a construction/ design / client superstition although I'm not sure which one makes the decision or who's superstitious. I'd like to know more, if what I was told is not right. Seems like I remember being given that explanation back in the 60's.
  5. bobruss
    All said how did we digress so much. I wanted new info on The Kirby Collection. Is there any word on whether they got their variances and when will they break ground?
  6. bobruss
    The sign says welcome to Houston, but its almost impossible to read. It looks like part of the bridge superstructure, Like a last second thought. I think they ought to take it down and rethink the entry to the city. At least the entry at Bush is colorful and I think pretty nice.Especially at night when lit. I know in the larger realm of things this isn't very high on the list but come on we can do better than this. I vote for some kind of water feature like the artist Olafur Eliasson created in the Hudson River or something along those lines. Something that brings attention to the bayou downtown to link the city to the bayou. Not only would it be attractive but it would generate more interest in people coming down and touring this urban stretch of the bayou on over to Allens Landing.
  7. bobruss
    It cut off the rest of my message, but what I was suggesting is some kind of tall water feature shooting up out of the bayou that would be lit and have different heights and shapes of water. Whatever i think we ought to at least get rid of the ugly wall. Besides you cant even read the Welcome To Houston on top and it just looks weak.
  8. bobruss
    Here are two images that I took today with Ipad sorry for quality. I'm sorry but I looked and couldn't find the thread for the coffee bldg. at Allens Landing but this is from today. I didn't realize they were going to strip it completely to the floors. The second is a somewhat discouraging looking Welcome to Houston entry right on the bayou coming in from I-10. To me this is one ugly uninviting welcome matt. I think the city needs to have a competition and create a new more inviting welcome . Since this is right in front of the bayou which runs below.
  9. bobruss
    In response to the questions about rooms and the convention center there is a report that the GRB commissioned in 2011 which clearly points out how we stack up in every category and was probably the catalyst for everything going on around this area now. I tried to download it but it is too large a file. It pictures every major convention center their capacities, sizes, hotel rooms and much more. Its called the George R. Brown Convention Center 2025 Master Plan. I'm not sure where I ran across this but it's over 100 pages and full of interesting info. Its 9.5MB so it wont go on here. It is a very thorough evaluation of what we have and what we need to compete with every major convention city. I hope you can find it if interested.
  10. bobruss
    So if you all agree that he puts up schlock why were so many upset when I suggested two of his highrises in Uptown were two too many? He has the worst taste and he's spreading it all over town. Enough already!
  11. bobruss
    The mayor also agrees. She thinks its a "catalyst" for growth Culturemap today Parker also noted the project, located on a light rail stop in booming Midtown, will serve as a catalyst for development. "Midtown is exploding with the young professionals who are changing the face of Houston," she said. "We have an opportunity for this new facility to become not just a catalyst for development in the immediate vicinity, but to allow us another huge step forward in recreating Houston as a city in which one wants to live, where we are in competition for the creative class here in America and around the world."
  12. bobruss
    Definitely the views from the east side of town show much more density.
  13. bobruss
    You have a very good point. I remember when theonly people you saw in that stretch of land were not people you would want to visit with on the streets . Even in broad daylight. I still think that this will help the momentum and bring in new energy.
  14. bobruss
    Great shot! I love it when we get one these kinds of opportunities to see one of these buildings from a view we haven't ever seen before.
  15. bobruss
    Here are the latest images from this week. This is just about to rise above the fence and we should start seeing it above ground very soon.
  16. bobruss
    The reason I called this a game changer is twofold. One, its right on one the rail stations on Main and it will bring hundreds if not thousands to this area who wouldn't normally venture into this part of town, some even riding the rail from the north side or down on Harrisburg. There will be concerts, plays, dance performance, art events and just a sense of community that has been lacking. It will attract other organizations and more restaurants and arts related businesses. People will like the feel of urban life and more will be attracted to living and working in the area once they've been there for an event.
  17. bobruss
    Urbannizer It's just about level with the street. I'd say by next week will see rebar sticking above ground. I'll get some new pics tomorrow.
  18. bobruss
    I know we talk about game changers in different projects, but this really will be a catalyst for so much additional development and in creating a real walkable neighborhood. This is going to be amazing for Midtown. Really happy to see this get off the ground!!
  19. bobruss
    Here are images from yesterday5/4/14
  20. bobruss
    For anyone who has not been on this site, you should go down and see the view of downtown, the property itself and the proximity to the bayou. I just think there is a much better land use than jail and courthouses. This site would provide room for residences in an attractive section of the bayou, especially if we could get Franklin rerouted to Preston or Washington. Larger infrastructure projects are tackled all the time. The county owns most of the land along Commerce and Franklin east of the courthouses, and could trade a property with the city so a new county/city mixed use facility could be built. It would be convenient to all of the courthouses and allow the Post Office site to become a positive space instead of another jail. Besides the Post Office site is not really that close to the courts anyway. This site intersects with Bagby. The courts are on Franklin and San Jacinto and farther East. Sometimes its more important to think about aesthetics and the future of the area and I just feel that it would be better served by a well planned mixed use development. We only get this chance once. lets not screw it up.
  21. bobruss
    That was probably one of the worst ideas. Thank goodness city council agreed. We already have someone putting out tacky concrete public sculptures and we don't need any more.
  22. bobruss
    Your right, but a few years back that wouldn't have stopped them from razing it on a Sunday, when no one would be around like another old historic building in that same area a few years back. I think the brick from it was used in one of Pappas's first restaurants. This is such a pivotal project along with the other market square hi rise that's proposed. I know the restaurant owners and retail have to be excited about all of this new residential to give them a boost. The theater district and the Sundance theater are also going to benefit from all of these new downtown residents. Definitely an exciting time!
  23. bobruss
    I like that they aren't getting rid of the old Cabos bldg. I ran the bar at night when it first opened a few years back. What a crazy place, and I've always loved that part of town. Once a few more high rise buildings get built down there, the Cabos building will be similar in setting to the original P.J. Clarkes in Manhattan , which is a great institution and one of my favorite places for a cold beer and burger during happy hour. This place rocks! Good oysters too.
  24. bobruss
    This is going to be exciting to watch this area develop over the next five years.
  25. bobruss
    In case anyone took my comments as negative. No I wasn't suggesting that the refugees from New Orleans were criminals. Just that we had sheltered thousands of people there before.
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