gmac

They would only need about 40,000 passengers @$200 each day for 10 years to break even on a $30B initial investment. Unless my math sucks.

5 hours ago, jgriff said:

How many flights from Houston to Dallas and back can you buy for $30 billion? 

Only a couple hundred million if you book early.

5 hours ago, cspwal said:

You can have express trains and local trains on the same line

From TCR's own website:

"The Texas High-Speed Train will operate on secure, separate, closed tracks dedicated fully to high-speed passenger trains with no sharing with freight or other passenger rail services, and no dangerous roadway intersections for vehicles, pedestrians or animals to have to cross."

1 hour ago, cspwal said:

And since the train is going from Houston - Dallas, it's primarily for everyone in Houston & Dallas who would want to travel to the other place.  That's the only thing they could add - local stops in the counties, advertising a quick, seamless connection to DFW or IAH to the people who have to drive hours right now to fly anywhere.

Which would neuter its very purpose of providing a rapid link between the two major cities. Plus, the stations at either end, as proposed, are nowhere near any airports.

54 minutes ago, samagon said:

if you are against the HSR, you must be against the i45 project!

Bingo! Both are huge boondoggles that should be shelved immediately.

I have to believe that everyone pulling for this thing to be rammed through is also fine with the I-45 expansion. I mean it's just people's land, right?

10 minutes ago, Houston19514 said:

 

I hate to be a wet blanket, and I would nothing more than to be proven wrong, but a downtown campus is not happening.  Their new headquarters is/will be in Springwoods Village.

Yep.

Their leader said:

"As we look to the future, our business needs, opportunities for cost savings, and team members’ preferences about the future of work, we have made the decision to relocate HPE’s headquarters to the new campus under construction in Spring, Texas, just outside of Houston."

If they can price these from $150K-$200K, they could be good.

9 hours ago, august948 said:

 

My one time trying them late at night suggests they fixed that problem. That reminds me, though, that you need to keep their donuts a little chilled or the frosting will start to run.

That's good to hear. I bought a half dozen different donuts one day and every one of them was as stale as cardboard. I think they may have been way too ambitious when they started up, and it sounds like they have learned valuable lessons.

Hurts was pretty not good in its previous location. They had no idea how to keep product fresh. Hope it is better now it has moved to a new location.

18 minutes ago, hindesky said:

A-Way-Out Bail Bonds on Congress... very cool mural!

https://abc13.com/high-speed-rail-in-texas-bullet-train-between-houston-and-dallas-tribune-to/8040133/

Not so fast there...

If they cut off downtown and put it out of its misery, I would be satisfied.

I think this would be a very kind thing to do, and if it results in even one job found it will be very much worth it!

There may be some extensive drainage work that needs to be done, like was done on some other major routes in that area.

Boomtown Coffee on Congress?

1 hour ago, wilcal said:

Got a sponsored ad on Facebook and it mentioned condo units start at $239k

 

https://caydonproperty.com/us/laneways-midtown/fitzroy-residences

That's a very unhelpful website Caydon has produced.

6 minutes ago, mkultra25 said:

Saw that as my train rolled past in 1976. Did a double-take.

Luxury flats for rich people, of course!

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/iconic-battersea-power-station-development-is-hit-by-covid/ss-BB18lrTo#interstitial=3

People use convenience stores because they're... convenient. Doesn't matter if they sell gas or not. Just like the old corner store.

2201 Harvard

Lived in one in another city for nine months and it was terrible. I would never live in any kind of high-rise again. Then again, I would never live in a part of town where there WERE high-rise buildings again. I like having some separation from my neighbors.

Plus, I can't afford even the lowest-priced options, I would imagine.

56 minutes ago, mollusk said:

 

Today's vocabulary word:  Defenestration.

That would be a Moscow specialty 😉

Interesting aside... this building was next door to Jimmie Green's place, and he bought it to tear down and expand his business (I assume). It was called the Bible Cyclorama.

Not great quality at all, but this is from the January 28, 1955 Chronicle story about the opening of the dealership.