samagon

Right on Lotus, I agree with everything you wrote. East End, by 59 is picking up big time. It can only spread east from there. I hope the charm of my neighborhood isn't lost, but I also secretly despise the neighbors chicken that tear up my yard.

hookah bar? nice. it sure feels like midtown is moving and building a lot faster this year than over the past few. good signs for the economy as a whole? like banks are making loans again, or more people moving to the area and business is noticing? or just the timing of it all?

Well, whether or not they say they are officially part of the East End or not, I've always thought of the East End starting at 59 and going all the way to 610, and then from Buffalo Bayou on the north to 45 on the south. What I think something is and what something actually is, are usually not the same.

preface: I'm not saying it's ok, or alright, or that we should accept it the way it is, or will be. Head over to Bellaire between BW8 and Dairy Ashford on any given Saturday morning. You have not seen traffic until you have experienced that. I've never sat in as much traffic, ever. If I had somewhere to go, I sure as hell never took Bellaire. Between Kirkwood and Boone you wait at least 3 to 4 cycles to get through the stoplight. That's pretty bad, but it's just the primer, warming you up for what's to come. Once you pass Wilcrest you can't count how many reps of a light on the beltway before you get through, because you can't see the light from where you stop. You can count on stopping a half mile behind the light at the beltway and just sitting. Between Kirkwood and the Beltway? less than 2 miles. I never calculated how much time it took because I was always too pissed, after I endured that 2 or 3 times I decided another route was best. Anyway, as I said, not saying that level of traffic is remotely close to acceptable, just offering a bit of perspective. We have it extremely lucky out here on the East End with as little traffic as we have, and relative to that, yeah, Wayside is horrendous traffic already, but relative to other areas? Not even in the top 100 of Houston. I hope there is some consideration put into this regarding the streets and traffic flow (and especially with the amount of peds and bicycles in the area). I absolutely hope that they think about how this is going to affect the neighborhoods that offer direct access to the 45 feeder. You can almost feel the number of people who will use Dismuke, or Sunnyland as through streets (coming or going that direction). and you can definitely see some people going through to Maxwell via Idylwood or Sylvan.

You seriously championed a ordinance that you have no idea of the contents, didn't you? I really think you should spend the time, rather than making ludicrous claims in here, reading the ordinance in full. I've linked it in other threads, and here it is again... http://www.houstontx...ed_20101013.pdf Go ahead and go to page 27, they talk about what you can and cannot do with a noncontributing structure that is located in a historic district, that only counts for additions, or renovations. and guess what, they still have to get approved by the HAHC. I assume (it doesn't state it anywhere) that if you rip out a noncontributing structure in a historic district (actually very easy), you would have to replace it with a contributing structure, since there is no longer a noncontributing structure, and you are in a historic district. With that in mind, all you have to do is get the 10% for the consideration of a historic district that includes the land you don't want some 7 or 9 story tower on, and go to town. again, with the support for historic districts, this should be easy. There is nothing that says a historic district can't include land used for other uses than residential by the way. So, the question again is, what other tools do you need? With as much support as your group has, and with all of these people up in arms about their precious sunrise, making everything in the heights that you care about a historic district should be easy as the worlds tallest pie, which should be really easy, because no one's ever made the worlds tallest pie, all you have to do is make a pie that is taller than a standard pie, and there you go! oh yeah, and to your point that you have to have a certain number of structures, didn't see that in there either, just that the council would decide whether it was worth a vote from the people living in the proposed district or not. even if it did have something like that, if a full block went in for the HD designation, that apartment complex is on that block, and it only gets one vote (even if it owned by multiple people). so if there's 20 homes and 1 apartment complex, obviously (well, outside of the people on this forum that are against it) every homeowner would vote in favor of the district, so then guess what, the apartments become a noncontributing structure in a historic district.

Was just thinking, and I seriously doubt something like this would happen, but I'd like to see a movie theater like Edwards grand palace open here. Anyway, it would not happen, but would be cool to have a nice theater in walking distance of my house.

This thread reminded me, they have redone the bridge, it looks really nice.

Hope you're right about that. I do not like the name at all.

yeah, but 2nd Ward is just a part of the East End, Eastwood is just a part of the East End, Magnolia Park and Harrisburg too. They're all parts of the East End. eado (which was once upon a time called many things, but most recently it was known as the Warehouse District) is also just a part of East End. As far as why and how the East End got it's name, I don't know, I never heard my grandmother say it, but heard my mom say it, just as smooth as she would say any other name she's been using to call any area of the city that she's been using forever. And she grew up on Truett and Dismuke (or close enough). I suppose I could ask her how long she's known it as the East End, and why they call it that (if there is another reason than the obvious one that at one point it was truly the east end of town. As far as the eado name (other than my personal wishes that the people who came up with the name should eat doodoo) I am afraid it may be inevitable for that area to be called eado. look at uptown, I still defiantly call it the galleria area, but 9 times out of 10 someone corrects me now and I don't have the patience to tell them why it's called that, and they likely wouldn't care either. 20 years from now is anyone even going to remember the name galleria area? Are we going to have the same thing here, someone says warehouse district, and then 9 times out of 10 someone will say 'where?' and when you tell them just east of 59, they'll say, 'oh, you must mean I-69, and it's always been called eado.'

Wow!

don't get me wrong, I never said I didn't enjoy them, just saying that because you are, doesn't mean that everyone is. And if that were passed? I'm sure there would be something else that would be a reasonable addition to the rules... Ah, see, this is funny. I can see you typing (in the hypothetical future) when zoning were approved. of course it does, and by your own statement, there is towering support for historic districts, and such, so why is this a hurdle? I don't see a problem, your group has so much support, it should be a cake walk making the rest of the heights a historic district, even if you don't stop this monstrosity, you can keep others from being built (even if they would be in an area that includes this tower, cause the tower is a non-contributing structure). but why stop there, with as much support as your group has, you should be able to make everything a historic district, to preserve sunrises for everyone!

not really. what he was saying, is.. that without a rule stating 'cats and dogs cannot be on a patio' a restaurateur has the option of saying: you can't bring pets. or you can bring pets. as a patron, if you disagree with either position, you can choose to eat somewhere else. with a rule stating 'no pets allowed' there are no options: as a patron, if I want to bring my pet with me to dinner, there are no options, I cannot choose anywhere else.

but, but, but, $8 beer night, and generic 80s-90s music!!!

I would imagine that they have to follow the same noise restrictions as any business, or otherwise. if no one reports it though, nothing will happen.

common sense and government aren't on the same page. I think this is in direct response to the initiative that the transportation secretary passed down last year... http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/26/transportation-department-embraces-bikes-and-business-groups-cry-foul/ so yeah, they just want to ensure federal funding, so are creating their own rules that mirror what the transportation secretary has asked for.

I think it will depend more on the time of year, and where they are standing as to whether they will get to enjoy the sunrise. I don't get to 'enjoy' the sunrise from my house on weekdays as I'm generally either getting ready for work, or driving in to work. on the weekends I'm asleep during the sunrise. I don't think many others are different, or put as much stock into seeing the sunrise from a specific spot on their front porch as you appear to. I could be wrong, I certainly haven't canvassed your neighbors to find out. I'm much more into the deep colors of a sunset reflected off the clouds in the afternoon. How about you go with the rules that are currently there? you can always create a historic district, or deed restrictions. what other rules do you need? Why are those rules not sufficient to encompass what is being done? those are both two very powerful tools that can do exactly what you are wanting, you just have to get people to agree to it, judging from the support you claim to have, this should be no problem at all. So I don't see the problem? Why do you need more rules? How is it that either of those rules wouldn't have fit to keep this site from being developed as it is currently? How is it that either of those rules won't work for future developments?

Irvine, CA is really a great place to go to see an amazing job of zoning, and restriction. Disney Imagineering at its finest. I think they even have people that go around and scrape the gum off the ground, just like disney world.

it really is hard to believe that a short time ago, I was going to the garden in the heights. Now it's just a bunch of townhomes. When my parents first started dragging me there, no one lived in the area, when I started going on my own it was surprising how much the area around it had changed. And finally the last event I remember going to before they closed, it was a crazy juxtaposition. once upon a time, the garden was well maintained and very nice, the area around it was run down. the last time I was there, the garden was a dilapidated old structure that was one loose nail away from falling out from under someone, and the area around it was all clean and new again. Part of progress though, the ale house is another great example (and actually, now that I think about it, it was my search on the internet for some old memories of it that brought me to this place!). There's new places that are unique and are great examples of why I still love Houston, I suppose some day those will go their way, and be replaced by new! Then there's places that are still here and still part of the storied Houston lore, and hopefully will be for years to come... wow, sorry about that ramble, thinking about washington ave got me remembering the garden, and it spiraled out of control from there! to get on subject... I think it is awesome to not only get to view snapshots from time to time when I go through an area, but to live as part of the changes.

heh, I listened to that on pandora Sunday while preparing food for my SB party. Are all of these places going in where roc bar was? I only went 2 or 3 times, but it didn't feel like it was 18000 sf. I'll probably go to the 80s 90s place at least once, so they're doing something right, it takes a lot to get me into a club these days, when it isn't because someone else wants to go.

My theory is that the charm and culture of an area is defined by the people that live there, the people that work there, and the types of business that occupy the area. The structures that comprise that area create a visual aesthetic that may enhance that charm and culture. I look at Montrose as a guide and example of that theory. Yeah, there have been a fair number of homes that have been replaced with townhomes, and some storefronts that have been replaced by new (and bland) strip centers. But what made Montrose what it was? Not the buildings, it was the people, and the places. The same is true for any neighborhood, or area of a town. zoning, no zoning; historic, not historic. I don't know, I guess it's different philosophy on what is important. To me, I found a house that I liked, the size, the flow, the construction materials used, in an area that I wanted to be. The last thing on my mind was what comprised the rest of the neighborhood, or what kind of structures rested within a mile or two of my house. I won't be disappointed if my neighbors remain the same people they are (along with cars in the yard, chickens that roam free, and everything else), or if they are replaced by different people (along with their luxury German cars, super sized houses that engulf the yard, and whatever else that comes with it). I also wouldn't be unhappy if the industrial building behind my house stays as it is for 40 more years, or is traded in for a 10 story mixed use condo. Heh, to be truthful about that, I feel sorry for the people who peek in my backyard and see me watering my flowerbed in pajama pants and flip flops. My next door neighbor has learned it is best to not look out of his side window when he hears my lawn mower! Life moves, life changes, and I've found it's a lot more enjoyable if I accept that, and don't sweat the small s**t.

what about a laundromat, or payday advance?

is there anything similar for cats on patios?

how tall can one make a pie? interestingly there are multiple resources online for different types of pie, but they are usually for the largest pie, not for the tallest. http://www.roadsideamerica.com/set/pie.html http://www.foodmall.org/entry/the-largest-pumpkin-pie-in-the-world/ http://www.recipesource.com/desserts/pies/12/rec1267.html I guess the arena is wide open for going tallest!

I think what we have is a misunderstanding. No, I'm saying it is Ok to do this based on historical precedence. What is your argument that it shouldn't? Oh yeah, because you think the people who will live near it won't want it, and you don't think it fits. No, the mistake is to stop someone from building somewhere that someone doesn't like. That is what you are saying you want. You should get away from using descriptive adjectives that are based on opinion, as there is no legal reason for your opinion to be a reason to not build something like this. There we go. Now, I'm afraid it is you that doesn't get it, the word appropriate only fits within your historic district. It is your fault (as a proponent of the historic district) for not making the area of inclusion within the historic district larger. I'm sure with all of the fans of it, you would have had no problem getting it passed on a larger scale, but it really is too bad that you didn't. As a result of your failure, this is not within the jurisdiction of any group that can say whether or not it is appropriate based only on opinion. Again, there you go with opinion, which is your own, and really gives you nothing. Other than the fact that you are saying that you don't like it, I don't get your point. See all that this whole response was from you was you saying, I don't like it. You could have saved yourself a lot of typing (and me) by just saying that, here, let me help you: I could have responded with, it doesn't matter. Honestly, you should start to get used to this being there. they have their permits, they are going to build already in the process of building. However, please note that unlike you, I do not revel in the fact that you will be unhappy to live in your house because of this structure which will tarnish your stay in the heights forever. I do not wish for a developer to put up a structure like this near you, just to spite you.

Dbags are aholes, just more-so. From the urban dictionary: Dbag: Someone who has surpassed the levels of jerk and asshole. you'll usually see them wearing Affliction, Ed Hardy, or Tapout t-shirts. Generally, in high numbers they make a place less desirable to be, unless you are a dbag yourself. I think it's safe to assume a dbag would never homebrew beer. regardless, good beer joints are hard to find. and of the ones that are out there, it's nice to toss in some variet, I'm looking forward to it, and will go at least once.