arche_757

So does anyone think that they will reach their goal of no traffic fatalities?  I don't, so I'm against this.

What would you propose?

So you thing Westheimer was the same street 40 years ago that it is now? I left town for a few years and came back and westheimer had drastically changed. So I know 40 years ago that street would have been completely different.

Fact of the matter is if we wanted a cross between urban and suburban that looks nice we would have been copying LA ages ago and tightened building codes.

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!

You have to keep in mind too, that Houston isn't the under 50 sq mile city that san Francisco and Others are.

Micromanaging 600 sq miles pf flood plone swamp isn't easy.

They can barely keep the city from flooding or littered with potholes let alone conjure up impovements for miles and miles of road.

Fact is these improvements have to be undertaken in fragments and by sub agencies. These things are just too much for the city to do on its own and do a good job at it.

Look at the improvements on Gray in midtown.

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?

^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)?

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.

^Are you referring to Renoir?!

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.

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.

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).

...it's a heavily outdated retail model and very inefficient. It clutters up the street environment pitting people against cars for space. The worst offender is University Place on Rice Blvd. and Kirby!

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.

Holy Crap! Must I be here to restore optimism in every single thread xD Come on people!

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.

I think more than anything, Lake Flato Architects, is a "game-changer". They are sorta the hip architects in Texas right now and are getting national recognition. The fact them and Studio RED are investing resources in Houston is BIG (hmmm maybe another firm to drag down here ). Anyway I love this project. Very contemporary. The architecture looks Texas with a dash of industrial. This really gives this area an anchoring point for future growth!

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.

hmmm never got to see all the renderings until I landed on here.......front of store parking *sigh* WHY!? ughhhhhh This is the biggest problem with Westheimer is all the front of store parking! Yuck.

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.

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.

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.

^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.

What does the tan material above the red brick look like to everyone else? I hope it's not stucco.

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.

How about Westheimer Crossing?  Since it crosses two pairs of train tracks.

Because there is already an area named "Highlands".

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!

^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!

^Hmmm....  Hopefully still happening?  Maybe they'll move down the line a bit into Midtown?

Sure would be a nice fit for the Stowers Bldg.  Oh well if that's off the boards.

^Yes that's what I understood.  Still would save the three I listed before.

I count 7 floors.

the Galleria added its name to that area because it really lacked a cohesive/defining characteristic.  Uptown (as its now called) is more than just a collection of highrises and shops centered around the Galleria.  That's my take on it.

Highland Village is Highland Village.  I don't mind Mid Lane - name of the street, central portion of Wesheimer between River Oaks and Uptown, and its not a quaint area.  One can think whatever they want until they get there and see what it is, once there few will identify that area as "quaint".

It will probably not be anything.  River Oaks District will be that.  Highland Village will be that.  High Street will be that.  Since only Highland Village really, trully, plays on to the strength of Westheimer (the rest are inward facing) that's the only one of that whole area that is rightfully identified with that street.

The way I read this is : Pick three buildings already gone that you wish we had saved.  And those three buildings remaining will not remove from existence the buildings that replaced them.