Specwriter

57 minutes ago, C2Ag93 said:

 he perhaps stayed on Main to Pierce and Pierce to the 45 feeder street.  

All other portions I am quite confident in.  

I had a similar thought. My mother lived in the Aldine area in the 1960s and worked at what was then called the Hermann Professional Building on Fannin (directly across from Hermann Hospital). Interstate 45 (U.S. 75) stopped at Pierce so she would take Pierce to Fannin then head toward the medical center. It may be that the part of U.S. 59 that we know today - elevated over San Jacinto, etc. - may not have existed as such in 1962. Can any "older-than-me-timers" weigh in on the freeway configurations at that time.

Thanks for sharing C2Ag93. That is interesting to know. I lived in the Park Place neighborhood from 1989 to 1993 and Garden Villas from 1993 to 2000. I know the area and the route well but I imagine there were some differences in what was along the route in 1962. I also lived in West U from 2016 until earlier this year but who doesn't know where Rice Stadium is. 🙂

3 hours ago, Subdude said:

#15 on University Blvd was in business until the very end of Weingartens.

Is that the store that became a Rice Epicurean?

Who owns the Nissan dealership? Tom Peacock (or whoever the current owner is) has both a Nissan and Cadillac dealership on the North Freeway.

On 7/4/2021 at 9:02 AM, arche_757 said:

"TV is chewing gum for the eyes"  - Frank Lloyd Wright

I like this quote, arche. Conversely, chewing gum is TV for the mouth - little to no nutritional value and probably damaging to functionality.

On 7/14/2021 at 9:20 AM, Texasota said:

Pretty sure if he were real, Howard Roark would be in hell, not resting in peace.

The Howard Roark character was full of himself, no doubt, but if every architect who acted like him (and not all do, at least THIS one tries not to) went to Hell it would be a very crowded place. 😄

On 7/15/2021 at 9:57 AM, kbates2 said:

It is certainly a hinderance which is why you were able to name very few players. The people who have thrived and are below average height for the sport are the exception and thrive as a result of extreme levels of talent. The pool of potential NBA players that are under 6'0 is WAY larger than the pool that are over 6'5 but the number of players historically that are over 6'5 compared to under 6'0 is a clear indication that height gives you a huge leg up.  Honestly this point isn't even really debatable in basketball and is only debatable in certain positions in the other of the big 3 sports.

I concede the argument doesn't hold well for basketball but the level of talent of those few arguably does overcome their below average height. Basketball today (especially NBA and top-tier college basketball) seem much more physical than it did twenty years ago. Advantage: big and strong players.

On 7/14/2021 at 5:51 AM, heedmm said:

What y’alls opinion on the outlook of the neighborhood?

Give it time. It seems the pandemic gave most development a kick in the gut. I think this area is poised to be the next Heights or mid-town. I just hope the marketing types don't give it a stupid nickname. 😒

I have no idea but my guess is that the most direct route from Rice University to the Ambox building would be down Holcombe to OST to Telephone Road. From Ambox to Hobby I cannot think of any route other than Telephone to Airport Blvd. that would make any sense. I too am hoping someone can answer this seemingly trivial mystery. The route may not be significant (or maybe it was) but the president's visit to Houston in 1962 was very important for NASA and what that meant to the city overall.

Our collective obsession with physical appearance is concerning in many ways. Height is not necessarily a hinderance in baseball nor even in basketball. Spud Webb and Calvin Murphy come immediately to mind. I don't follow football very closely but I am aware there are running backs who are much shorter than their teammates and opponents who tear it up with their speed and agility.

 I will say from watching professional sports over the last half century that the athletes of today seem to be more obviously muscular than their predecessors. You can certainly see that in Jose Altuve's arms.

12 hours ago, urbanize713 said:

Saving judgment until it is complete but so far this seems to improve with every picture update. 

I agree and it is not a neo-classical temple front. Howard Roark can rest in peace. 🙂

On 7/4/2021 at 9:49 PM, dbigtex56 said:

That's either the world's smallest Volvo wagon, or Altuve has had a spectacular growth spurt.

I met Altuve about two years ago. I'm 5'-9" and he must be 5'-7" but no less. He doesn't look short standing next to the average person but next to Jordon Alvarez, Aaron Judge, or Carlos Correa . . . By the way, he seemed to be a real gentleman and yes he is a bit shy or at least reserved. 

So much has changed along the stretch of I45 between the Shepherd curve and Aldine Bender in the past 60 years. I wonder which buildings are still standing that existed in 1961, the year my parents moved into their house in Hidden Valley.

In fact they arrived exactly 60 years ago this month, just in time for Hurricane Carla which hit Texas on September 11th of that year. Dad said they never lost power (there were no trees to bring down power lines then 🙂) but the wind did drive the rain water under the window sashes. Fortunately, the house had ceramic tile window stools; something I have rarely seen outside of houses built in Hidden Valley in the early 1960s.

Jayro, you have spent considerable time, anguish, and money so far. Get an attorney who specializes in these matters (the local bar association can provide a list) and determine if the previously approved applications are still valid or if they are a basis for a new application to build in the easement. Good luck.

23 minutes ago, ChannelTwoNews said:

 Weird to think one of them is no longer with us and the survivors are now both retired.

 

I remember when Dave Ward, Ron Stone, and Steve Smith were newbies. I travel to other "big cites" and catch the local news in my hotel room. I can honestly say Houston has, and has had, some exceptional news reporters and anchors.

8 hours ago, Urbannizer said:

Now listed on Pickard Chilton's website as proposed so maybe there's still hope for this one.

https://www.pickardchilton.com/work/ro

Looks great. I do hope  PC gets on with it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10 hours ago, august948 said:

In the far future all restaurants will be Starbucks.  😛

There was an episode of The Simpsons where the family is walking through the mall and every store morphs into a Starbucks as they walk by.

And what is there now? a Starbucks of course.

Thank you for posting ttuchris. This is great.

13 hours ago, hindesky said:

I think the crack heads will destroy the screens and make them impossible to see.

Yep, "cracked" screens don't work. I've had to replace a couple of i-phones for that reason. 😁

Since everyone seems to be walking around staring at his or her i-phone do we really need information kiosks? Besides, those distracted pedestrians will probably walk right into the stationary kiosks then want to sue the City for putting them there. 🙂

I am pleased to see the C3 banner on the fence. If you are not familiar with the organization go to the web site (the address is on the banner) and learn about this excellent organization.

Great image. Thanks hindesky. I wonder what killed the vines growing on Christ Church Cathedral. Or were they just removed for the sake of the brick?

20 hours ago, BeerNut said:

This seems like a huge buildout in a prominent location for a brewery's first foray.  

Then it is our duty as citizens of this great metropolis to make sure it is a success - if the product is good. 😄

With the Mercedes-Benz dealership just down the freeway and a Volkswagen dealership lurking somewhere on Richmond this will be German automobile central. I don't believe Volkswagen does this (I haven't looked at one lately) but the other three need to get rid of  touch screen poking up on top of the dashboard instead of integrated in it. It looks like someone Velcro'd his iPad to the dash. IMO it is not a good look for a supposedly high-end automobile.

I do like that the appearance of the most recent Benz "dashboard." That is two LCD displays together across at least 2/3 of the fascia but i can see the $$$$ if or when they need to be replaced.