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arche_757

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Everything posted by arche_757

  1. arche_757

    Cool Houston Center Pics via IronTiger.

  2. arche_757
    ^You are correct. Sweden/Norway/Finland etc. are all placed on a pedestal as if they are the model country for the rest of the world. One plus that these Nordic countries have over much of the rest of the world is a very high level of education. Not everyone has a college degree, but their primary schools are quite well regarded internationally (which this might be where lack of diversity helps them - perhaps?). Certainly helps to have so many people fairly well educated and literate. But I don't want to pull this off topic.
  3. arche_757
    Just noticed the "hills"... my focus on that rendering was on the blumpy/fuzzy lighted buildings elsewhere. Never a good sign when the building you are trying to pop-out is the second or even third thing you notice. Ziegler probably paid some Turkish or Chinese foreign rendering company a LOT of money for those too.
  4. arche_757
    Sweden doesn't have the population of NYC, the density, or the complexity of Manhattan to deal with. I also don't believe the fact the country is 93% Swede has anything to do with traffic accidents or pedestrian deaths. Just a casual once over of the Chronicle on Monday's shows that drunk driving isn't a white/black/hispanic problem - its just a problem. NYC needs more pedestrian only zones in my opinion - many European cities have entire districts closed off to traffic except the occasional delivery truck. I don't see why this couldn't be implemented slowly in some areas in NYC (more so than what they have already). Given the number of streets and relative closeness of alternative routes it wouldn't be a big deal to close some blocks here and there to create safer pedestrian zones. One really quick way to reduce fatalities is to lower the speed limit: Shifting over to Houston - why can't Post Oak and Westheimer (and all side streets) around the Galleria have a posted speed limit of 25 or even 20? Much of the time people travel through there around that speed any way due to traffic, lowering the speed limit wouldn't cause that much of a headache but it would allow drivers a chance to brake in time, and avoid pedestrians with ease. Just an idea.
  5. arche_757
    What would you propose?
  6. arche_757

    What a boring day on HAIF!

  7. arche_757
    Yep. Things never change. Westheimer is the exact same it has always been, always will be. Of course not!!!! I was only saying that 30 years ago (in 1984!!!!!) city planners should have been some what more forward thinking and outlined a growth plan for major thoroughfares such as Westheimer, Kirby, Main Street, Memorial etc. Things were not done back then despite the massive growth we had and the sudden downturn - which would have allowed us time to "catch up" if you will. Of course I'm looking at things from the present day, so my glasses are very rosy. We know things don't work out that way - but we can always sit there and Monday Morning QB it. Its the American Way!
  8. arche_757
    I was aware. We can still address 2-4 miles of heavily traveled road - our signature street if you will. I'm not advocating that all 54 (some odd) miles of Westheimer be this grand urban boulevard, just that parts of it could have been developed better. Now - like a lot of other ideas in this town - things that should have been done 30-40 years ago are finally beginning to be be addressed. It will take time (as you pointed out) to address these issues. And not all of Houston is a flood prone swamp, nor are all the roads pot holed. In fact I would venture to guess that a good percentage of Houston infrastructure is in fact in better condition than cities like Boston or Philadelphia where roads and bridges were built decades before those in Houston were. Growing big in the 1950s - 1970s may have had its advantages in that one area if anything?
  9. arche_757
    ^This will lead to further sprawl, and in turn a growth in the density of the existing large suburban towns/centers already in place. Housing costs aren't really bothersome but the costs of transportation added in is. Shows that Houston is not the "end all, be all" many have touted it as. Perhaps this will eventually drive an interest in more transit options (whatever that may be)?
  10. arche_757
    Historic and Historical are also different. My point was - typical in Houston we tear down something when the land that could have been used for said new building was/is available across the street (perhaps for more money) but still available. I won't get into it about how valuable 3400 Montrose was, but it was at least a building with some character and could have been used in interesting ways if the right developer with the right money and idea came along at the right time. Just unfortunate that so many of our buildings don't end up with the right developer or right time.
  11. arche_757
    ^Are you referring to Renoir?!
  12. arche_757
    Indeed, however, Westheimer has been a road of major importance in the area for long enough that earlier studies could have been done to adequately address some of the issues we have currently. Perhaps the next big phase of the streets development will be in the realm of public access to it - pedestrian upgrades, transit access (even if it is BRT or even just standard Metro bus), or "livability". Should be nice to watch our grandest road transform from the poorly developed farm to market that it is, into a true urban road that is considered one of America's most important. If only original planners had done something more interesting at the intersection of Main and Westheimer/Elgin... perhaps a large (maybe several blocks across) traffic circle? Obviously this would have had to come about long ago. If only. Oh well.
  13. arche_757
    And here we have a typical Houston vision: Old building with character (not without flaws) torn down to make way for boring/mundane 30 something residential tower when there is actually a bigger lot across the street (in two directions) that would have allowed the new tower without the loss of a potentially eclectic highrise to survive. Now, its gone, I've made my peace - so to speak - so the only thing left is to see what this new building will be. I'll be surprised if its anything greater than the recently built tower at Memorial and Studemont. Very surprised.
  14. arche_757
    Well, that's Houston development for you. Some of us have seen this before, only for a large chunk of projects to fall out of the discussion because the economy tanked for various reasons (Enron, 2008 Housing Bubble Recession, Oil Bust of the 1980s et cetera).
  15. arche_757
    I wouldn't say its outdated. This is being done nationally, not just in Houston. And, despite the majority of people on here wishing we had a truly walkable street in Westheimer - we do not. Eventually is a long time; and while I share your optimism that some day the city will "get it right" with regards to the redesign of this street, I doubt it will be easy to accomplish. We must start slowly, and in small areas. Highland Village would be the first location to start this on Westheimer. These new developments are largely self-contained urban lifestyle centers and focus inward away from the main thoroughfare. What exactly is inefficient about it (playing devils advocate)? I can't think of anything more convenient than parking directly in front of the loan store you wish to visit. Besides that issue, Westheimer (lower/upper/middle) is not quite the pedestrian paradise we wish for it to be. Rice Village (the whole area not just along University) has problems with this as well... but that's off topic.
  16. arche_757
    What? Restore optimism? How? With what? Why? Most of the complaints on this thread (of late) have to deal with the seemingly dangerous demolition that we've seen unfold on the last few floors.
  17. arche_757
    I would hardly go that far. The project - even if windowless tilt wall would be the game changer for that area - and not the architects.
  18. arche_757
    Quite a few places simply do not have the space for parking any place else. At this point I would rather simply get these developments even if they have a few negative design conditions than not get them. I think some well done landscaping can beautify much of this stretch of Westheimer.
  19. arche_757
    Downtown will do just fine. I agree that some on here are being a bit too pessimistic (this coming from an eternal pessimist) about this project. Even if it does get canceled - so what? Plenty of other projects for DT that will help bring new life to that area of town.
  20. arche_757
    Any firm. Architects should be able to design within the constraints that a shipping container allows. Nate99 is of course correct in that it would be difficult in quite a few areas to get a shipping container house permitted. There is one in Galveston, I'll see if I can find the street address.
  21. arche_757
    ^Speaking as someone who has seen it before - if projects aren't under construction (for any reason) there is a chance they will be cancelled.
  22. arche_757
    I would hope a tan brick. Though I believe you might be correct when you say stucco. Cheap. Light (mostly) - if its EFS or similar - and cheap.
  23. arche_757
    How about Westheimer Crossing? Since it crosses two pairs of train tracks.
  24. arche_757
    Hadn't a clue. I will have to look it up. What if we did "Azalea River West" since that's a mass-up of all three major new developments in that area? One could even add heights to the name if they so desired!
  25. arche_757
    ^I've heard it called Highland Village area quite often too. Its not the Galleria or Uptown, and it isn't River Oaks, so the nearest landmark is Highland Village itself. Why not call it "The Highlands" it isn't actually "high" in elevation - price maybe, but not elevation!
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