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arche_757

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Everything posted by arche_757

  1. arche_757
    I think expressways or freeways with a limited number of lanes helps, and provides options for moving around town not just for students at UH but anyone driving through. If TxDOT builds the rest of this(?) it should be kept away from future capacity expansion for at least 10-12 years. 2-lane (ea. way) freeways or divided highways work fine as an alternative to the bigger interstates and toll-roads, that is until TxDOT starts expansion.
  2. arche_757
    It doesn’t bug me as much as it used to. Of course there are FAR worse buildings around Uptown than these little faux-techture structures of RD.
  3. arche_757
    Well... things are looking up. Literally! Hoping we continue to see some better architecture in Uptown. And man..! Does anyone want to guess # of that rebar for the foundation? And that would be size not quantity to the lay-person.
  4. arche_757
    I understand your frustration. Galveston is a frustrating place! I think (having dealt with the permitting process for commercial properties there many times) that Galveston has the right mind set, if perhaps a somewhat flawed set of development guidelines. The Land Development Regulations, more specifically the Height and Density Development Zone mandates that projects provide public interaction, and engage the street frontage (among other things). That said, these same standards have, to an extent, limited what can be built within the same zones where the City mandated density. These standards have no doubt chased away some good developers who don’t have to deal with such oversight in other jurisdictions. For example: a mid-rise project requires an investment of affordable housing (on the project site). Presumably these units could be built elsewhere on the island, but this has scared away development of that I am sure. This applies to ANY project, any typology - not just a multi-family construct. While admirable, this sort of regulation isn’t conducive to further promoting the isle as a viable investment area. And - while affordability is extremely important, Galveston needs meaningful investment and not just from locals. As is too often the case - I feel Galveston cannot get out of its own way.
  5. arche_757
    @Reefmonkey I should have stayed out of this discussion altogether, as I really don’t care either way. I should add you seemingly took a defensive approach with my comment(s). I understand that the Galveston sub-forum has devolved into some ...tense replies here and there. I’m not here to challenge your opinion, or that of others - everyone is welcome to express what they think.
  6. arche_757
    Yes I’m aware of those developments. They’ve been around for years. I think the assumed “large manmade body of water” was a Crystal Lagoon or similar.
  7. arche_757
    The idea of a large body of water that is manmade that is inviting and perhaps a part of a larger resort setting would be good for Galveston. Instead... we’re getting that in... Texas City!!
  8. arche_757
    I am not trying to force anything. I’m merely stating that fuel costs will increase at some point in time to levels that are too costly for us to ignore alternates.
  9. arche_757
    Well, not just misery, but expense will force individuals to look toward alternates. Eventually we will enter into an era of pricey fuel again - this will drive investment in transportation options. I think the concept of a self-driving car is novel, and sounds romantic. That said, if I owned a car with these capabilities (even in a world where 1:6 have one) I would be hesitant to allow others to use it. Public transit gets worn down, mistreated and generally abused - what would keep the average person from doing the same to someone else’s car? A camera? Maybe - would it be linked to a device that would shut the car down until the police arrive? I can smell some constitutional lawsuits brewing already, particularly given the idea that these aren’t publicly owned but are using public row’s. There are too many questions that start to arise regarding the problems these quasi-egalitarian billionaires think they’ll foist upon the rest of us. Novel concepts though they may be.
  10. arche_757
    Turn it into a giant climbing structure?! Would be pretty neat I assume for rock climbers? All the while it would provide for a use while the economics of either demolishing it, or renovating becomes favorable. Besides 2 working elevators (not sure code would allow just 1?), and some minimal restrooms/lockers, you’d be able to maybe carve out some parkour areas too? Within the lower floors?
  11. arche_757
    BRT will be largely automated in the next decade (same with rail), and will be efficient and maneuverable in ways LR isn’t. If traffic is bad busses will re-route thru designated streets, and avoid crashes/obstacles on the routes where possible. Don’t get me wrong I think we need more LR, but the busses will do the job. I do think the rail should serve as a spin with the busses as limbs extending forth.. maybe Station Houston will be the home to the autoBus startup that’ll change things?
  12. arche_757
    Can confirm! Been to Verdun (circa 2007). Routinely travel down Richmond. Richmond has more holes! More a**holes too! In all seriousness Verdun, France is really impressive and immensely somber to visit. Well worth the detour from what might be a more common travel path from Paris to better known provinces.
  13. arche_757
    It takes a lot of concrete to build high on this soil!! On another note: I had a rambling post about how these developers should work towards more reasonable solutions... but that was a tiresome paragraph. Ultimately, what we have is a new, and soon to be much more common problem here in Houston, specifically in Uptown and Downtown. Highrise overcrowding. Which is a welcome problem as we add density. Downtown won’t be quite as impacted thanks to the street grid, but this could become a bigger issue than Randall Davis’ little faux-deco and this much nicer 40something Tower.
  14. arche_757
    Nice picture. You know... I remember when Victory Park was started. Everyone should note that it clearly takes a decade + for large scale urban renewal projects to materialize into true unique/identifiable areas.
  15. arche_757
    The Shamrock was a icon, but the Prudential Building was a better work of architecture. As for medical construction in this town - time and again we've seen medical construction stay the course through oil busts/downturns.
  16. arche_757
    ^Yep. Hence why I compared it to that museum. Very similar.
  17. arche_757
    I always did have a feeling that this - museum to showcase our museums - was completely unwarranted and unneeded. Sad that this actually got kicked off before they found out they couldn't afford it. But this leaves room for something better than a cheap rip-off of the Bob Bullock Museum in Austin (which is a really sad museum for a "STATE" museum of history).
  18. arche_757
    Just to nitpick.... Germany and England were at TOTAL WAR in WW1. You cannot discount the spies working for both countries. Oh, and the Zimmerman Telegram? The Brits wanted needed to draw America into the war. I wouldn't doubt they would try whatever means necessary. But then considering the 8-20 million people who perished during that conflict...hard to make a case for the sinking of 1 ship as something akin to the US government blowing up the WTC. Again I ask (to play devils advocate): If the US did/was some how involved in the WTC destruction - how many people would have known something was amiss? Hundreds certainly, possibly thousands of people. Why then if this is the case - was there not 1 or 2 people who would come forward to the NYTimes or CNN or someone (like Snowden did for the Guardian in the UK) and whistle blow? Even if faced with being dismembered violently there would be some guilty conscious out there that would tell.
  19. arche_757
    Is it? Most building cores are large. Remember this is a 40 floor apartment tower. They've got to provide emergency egress for the hundreds of people who will live here. Not to mention the US does not allow emergency egress via elevators (despite them being housed in 2-hour rated firewalls), so stairs are the ONLY way to evacuate in an emergency that is allowed by code.
  20. arche_757
    Umm.... I ...uh... think these are conceptual?! Based on what I saw on their website. That and there's no way that the first building has any HVAC/structure etc. taken into account based on shallowness of the floor depth between floors. Could be they are pumping air and have run plumbing etc. around a core? But that seems kind of odd. Few other condos have that. Limits having a spa tub or shower with a 12th floor view of the skyline! Seems very conceptual to me. Could be wrong?
  21. arche_757
    I don't think the Anglo population is declining? I think that the other populations are growing and the anglo population is stable? Regardless I think the voter ID laws are a way of combating some democratic votes... Frankly I'm in favor of Texas splitting into 5 states! No reason Houston should EVER be affected by some senator or congressman/woman from Pecos or the Valley or elsewhere. Won't ever happen, but if it does - I won't fight against it.
  22. arche_757
    Gulfton is the most densely populated area in Texas. It is an example of what other parts of Houston will become. We cannot accommodate another 4-5 million without looking towards high density neighborhoods like this. I agree with Slick that its interesting and there is some really fascinating cafes there. Though I think there are certainly lessons to be learned. I wouldn't ever call it charming. But I do not think of it as the single worst area in Houston.
  23. arche_757
    The armpit of Houston: the 1/4 mile either side of I-45 from 1960 south to the 610 North Loop interchange. The "armpit of Greater Houston" : Bacliff and/or San Leon. Enough said.
  24. arche_757
    I never said it wasn't logical. Unfortunate. I've never been too impressed with Anadarko...from their architecture on up.
  25. arche_757
    1/3? Exxon? I read it to be 12%. Never mind. I think you were refering to Anadarko. Oh well. Huge number for them to cut, but they're also taking one of the most pesimistic approaches from any of the energy firms cutting costs. I think it odd they'd go to that extreme, yet firms like Halliburton (who rely on actually drilling) aren't cutting figures to that extent. Probably because Anadarko is not as strong of a company as previously thought. Also, not all the jobs at places like Nabors are people in Houston. Nor are they jobs we might think they are. Some are guys pushing hand-trucks (as the English would say) in a warehouse making whatever minimum wage is+$2 extra. Its not all doom and gloom, but its certainly alarming how quickly things crapped out here in Houston. Sad really that the rest of the local economy couldn't have started enough momentum to really augment the slip in energy spending. Oh well. That's reality.
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