arche_757

Neither would have been a better option. A patriot is someone like John Adams, or George Patton. A traitor is someone like Benedict Arnold. Snowden did not betray America. He simply informed the public of a grossly mishandled government "spying" operation targeting all of us - under the guise of safety. I know the "agencies" spy on Americans, but there is a limit to how much power and information they should be able to possess. I have a quote attached to my "signature": "America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." Abraham Lincoln Ironic that our most powerful president would say that; but that quote despite its age, is very poignant and rings true still to this day.

Design+Build needn't be ONLY firms currently doing work in the Heights. My firm has done design+build (I love using the plus symbol) before and we do not exclusively work in that fashion. Many architects will be able to approached and asked about whether this is something they would consider. Coincidentally I recall a few years ago reading about this very topic, and how architects need to start approaching jobs with this type of service in mind. Oddly enough it was in an AIA publication. By the by, GC's in Houston are so busy right now that no one will be very "cheap." And I just can't say it loud enough -- hire professionals when in doubt. It never ceases to amaze me that people wouldn't ever give second thought to requesting professionals when spending $50k, 100k or more for medical or legal work, yet they scoff at the idea of hiring an architect when spending the same amount.

Then it will be easier for you. Otherwise always hire an architectural firm who is used to historical preservation. I should add - probably quite a few architectural firms would be interested in design+build - just ask.

Full disclosure: I'm an architect. And I'll always say "hire an architect" however... A few questions remain to be asked of you: -age of home -budget -how large is this addition & renovation? 1,000 sq feet? 500 sq feet? 140 sq feet? I would approach this issue with the idea that a design build might work. First, find a contractor or architect (who you like) and ask them about their counterparts, and if they've ever done any design build work. You needn't select "XYZ Design Build of the Heights" because you see alot of their signs up. And a "pretty" exterior and neat looking kitchen is not always conducive to quality. Every newly finished building will look nice and neat on the outside. What we've found - particularly in the Heights - is that many of those "cutesy wootsey" Faux-torian homes are not as great on the inside once you start having to think about "How the heck am I going to LIVE in this?" Livability and cost are key. A good design+build team can keep the budget within the means from the get-go. Rather than say, having to revise plans post-construction bid after all 4 of the contractors come in $200k higher than what you ever imagined spending! We've done some design+build in the past - currently have a town home under construct in Galveston that we worked extensively with the contractor on to keep things within a tight budget. Budget is key, understanding that construction today is expensive. Feel free to message me privately if you want more information, or if you have any specific questions. I'm happy to help, and hopefully get you pointed in the right direction.

^He is worried about how the traffic will hurt his ability to drive his Maserati willy-nilly around that area. I agree, its ridiculous. He does make a few valid points - namely the additional traffic added to the area. However, that traffic is coming no matter a 2, 20, 40, 60 floor tower next door to the Cosmoplitun. I don't see this site as a great location for a supertall (the one being discussed above). In fact, I'd rather see some taller buildings clustered closer/on Richmond.

I listen to them. I find the coverage via radio better than the majority of anti-Houston team national sports announcers any day. Besides, I don't stop everything I'm doing just because the Texans are playing.

I'm ok with it being built out from the Theater District, Houston is large enough to support small arts organizations in other locations. A little underwhelming though, a shame they didn't do something a bit more daring... still a better venue and architectural work than the current location.

Nope. The guy went around my car and took my spot. I know how to do it. Now I have a bigger vehicle when I'm driving up in town (my wife drives it during the week) and I don't usually have those problems. It was very frustrating.

^^I see what you're saying about the forced merge... I have been in that situation more than once, and I have even found myself 1 time cutting over to keep some group of "A-holes" from trying to outsmart everyone else and then promptly lost my space in line to the guy behind me! Amazing! Never again!

^I don't know who "invented" them? I do find the scale all too alarming! Thankfully no one has yet to invent the counterpart to the trucknutz! At the end of the day, despite the vast gulf between myself and someone who would want to have "a set" of these danglers, I do wish that it had been my idea.

That's the root of the problem. Most people don't think they will ever hurt themselves. Even worse is the blatant disregard most have for others on the road! And I often times find the worst offenders to be the people who have those annoying stickers showing Dad/Mom/Kid1/Kid2/Baby Darth Vader/Family Cat etc. Or my all time favorite bad drivers are people with those ridiculous truck nutz. I've yet to see someone with those drive with care. Often times those truck nutz will be paired with the oversized "big rig" style exhausts coming up from behind the cab belching diesel smoke when they floor it. These are just my observations from years of driving local freeways/roads.

Quite hostile to the street/pedestrian.

^The assumption is people take picture of themselves and other objects near landmarks. Landmarks are usually something historically interesting - usually. So by preserving more old buildings we create more landmarks for people to photograph.

^Probably so. What is with the second site though? Odd name. Though, even a bogus "school project" some one could google images of Houston and videos of Houston. That and school (colleges) are out and have been for quite a couple weeks for the most part. Seems a little too unprofessional though for something touting 3 residential highrise condo's.

Well... the same video trailed off with night shots of a city that was very much not Houston. Marketing images... "what ifs" if you will. Most outside of the architectural community wouldn't recognize these buildings as existing or proposed for another city. I would assume it is not bogus? Not yet. Guess we shall find out.

Right, lots of Toronto imagery, and there are some Chicago images as well. Could be the same developer/architects who did those projects designed for Toronto? There was another tower shown - the only one from the ground up - those other three were just place holders from what I gather - visuals? Could be wrong? Luckily June 2nd is only a little ways off, so the wait for more information won't be too long.

Great Richardsonian Romanesque style building. I didn't list that one (earlier) since it was so badly damaged by fire in the 1960s that I think it was pretty much impossible to save?

Look at the differences below: Between the rendering and the construction picture. Looks like they've adjusted a few heights and whatnot here and there. Biggest thing is the 3x3 windows near the left-hand edge of the pic(s), seem like they're simply putting in three windows rather than the over-height windows depicted on the rendering.

Toothpicks! Maybe even those flavored ones?

^I keep reading Union Grille as "Onion Grille" And indeed it does resemble the AD Players proposed for down the road.

-How about 1 lane for "speeders"? I drive 67-69 in a 65 and don't NEED to get out of anyone's way if I'm in the middle lane. Couldn't care less if someone wants to drive 90mph in the middle lane - use the LEFT lane. Or, how about everyone drives the posted speed or 5mph over? If the speed is 65, then everyone drives that speed. -Trucks won't ever be removed from the rush hour traffic. By what definition is rush hour? In Houston it is now safe to assume rush hour is from 6-8:30 am 4-6:30pm. -Driving isn't about "moving" someone out of the way. It's about getting from point a to point b safely and in a timely manner. There was a debate about whether we should increase the speed limit to 70mph all over town because some on this board are impatient, or they simply like to drive fast and have high performance cars. I don't think it had to do with obsolete emissions laws?

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/road%20rage I consider anything that involves a person with a hot temper a form of road rage. Perhaps it was coined for another reason, but it is still very dangerous for someone in a 3-5,000 lbs car or truck to follow you too closely, or to swerve in and out of traffic, or to otherwise indicate they are not mentally fully in control of themselves. Houston has its share of dangerous drivers. Whether or not those people are committing "road rage" is one thing, but they are driving dangerously.

Safe to say that Atlanta has so many more than we do because of the 1996 Summer Olympics. Only reason. I should hope that number is DFW, because if it is just Dallas, its likely they outnumber us in hotels by a lot more than what is listed (though I suspect it isn't the whole Metro). I wonder what number of rooms San Diego has?

^You just ****ed all over my bookstore concept.. shame on you! That's my own personal "want" for Downtown, though you are quite correct its a dying breed of stores (which is VERY unfortunate - since Amazon is easy but largely an ineffective replacement for holding a piece of literature and flipping through prior to purchase). I've thought - after having gone to one yesterday off Bay Area - that a Fresh Market or similar would do very well downtown? They aren't the scale of a Whole Foods and they're more of a grocer and less of a pre-packaged foodie porn kind of place than Trader Joes (actually... a lot of TJ's pre-packaged food isn't very good for you! Look it up). You are correct a Trader Joe's would also work. In fact, one might even find enough room for both a TJ's and FM? Particularly if say one of them was over near the Post development in Midtown?