RedScare

Your data appears to be incorrect. There were 319 burglaries in the Heights police beat during 2011. That increased to 266 in 2012, a 14.7% increase (nowhere near double). Almost all of that increase occurred during January 2012, when approximately 60 burglaries were committed. The burglary rate has plummeted in 2013, from 30.5 per month to 22 per month, a 27.9% DECREASE. Burglaries overall increased for a 4 month period from October 2011 to January 2012. Otherwise, they have stayed in the 20 per month range.

Only a couple of hours to the first game. Anyone wanting in needs to sign up quick.

That does suck. I am still trying to figure out why they felt the need to put the height restriction bars over the entrances. It is an open parking lot, not a garage.

Unless...

The engineer lied. As for all those great over engineered houses? Look at how many are gone. Those are the ones that didn't make it. But, again, people try to make these houses sound like something they ain't. One day, maybe you'll pull back a wall and see for yourself. I enjoy working on my house, but I will not lie about how they are built just to sound like an old house homer. My garage, built in 2009, is twice as strong, level, engineered, wind resistant, and everything else compared to my 107 year old house. And it ain't even close. When I added a porch onto the back of my house, the City would not even let me do the same foundation as the house.

Craftsman bungalows have old growth hardwoods and are generally over engineered structurally.  The ranches have the benefit of some more modern engineering and design, but look out if that slab starts to move. 

 

 

Haha! Sounds like we have a Heights homeowner who hasn't yet had the pleasure of peaking behind his walls yet. You are in for a HUGE surprise...assuming you even know what to look for. Even with the added load capability of old growth hardwoods, our roofs are supported with 2x4s, as are our rafters. Floor joists are 2x8s, spaced 24 inches apart. Blocks are spaced up to 14 feet apart. These homes are not over-engineered by any stretch of the imagination. That is a myth perpetuated by those who love old houses and cannot justify why they spend so much money on them.

The one place where they are as strong as new builds is the fact that they used shiplap inside instead of drywall. This has the same effect as putting OSB on the outside of new homes for wind load strength. 

What's with all the good luck? I wish everyone here a proper beat down.

Good point...

Someone who is smarter than me - how much profit in a hypothetical situation would the developer make on that one lot if he got 800k per house?

About half a mil.

Wow! I've never seen this many people sign up. This may be a fun year. For all you new guys, don't let sowanome fool you. She may be a girl, but she always kicks our butts!

Good luck to everyone.

Well, again not in my price range, but bigger home doesn't mean bigger price anymore.  I don't think it will have a hard time appraising.  These are the guys that built million dollar Caceres homes in a time when Rice Military was maxing out in the $350s and seem to be doing well enough there.  My guess is they have a pretty good idea of what they're doing.

Funny that you should mention Caceres. Check it out. Million dollar 4700 foot homes. $280 psf. That's 30 bucks a foot LESS than this Heights house...a house that is WEST of Heights Blvd, by the way.

http://search.har.com/engine/130-Calle-Catalina-Pl-Houston-TX-77007_HAR78961173.htm

http://search.har.com/engine/114-Calle-Catalina-Pl-Houston-TX-77007_HAR90047404.htm

You have picked houses that are on opposite ends of the spectrum for each neighborhood.  East of Kirby is Roberts Elementary.  Good school, but Poe is where everyone wants to be.  Also, being in the shadow of Rice's football stadium isn't as attractive as being a hop and skip away from 19th st.  So, the Southgate example is on the low end of the spectrum for that neighborhood.  Most everything west of Kirby is 1 mil+.

 

The new construction on 18th is way on the high end of the spectrum in the Heights per sq ft.  It is a fancy custom builder who will put in all the high end stuff.  The house will probably sell for $800k.  2900 sq ft houses from an inferior builder have been getting @730k in the neighborhood.  869k is not going to happen, but 780-800k will.  Lots of great stuff happening on 19th st. adding value to that area. 

While everyone is entitled to their own opinion, you may be the only person I've ever met (or not met) who thinks a house on 18th street near Shepherd is more attractive than a house bordering Rice University. And, I am not surprised that you think that price is close to correct. I remember when you were bragging about what you payed for your house a couple of years back.

The first house is overpriced by at least $200,000, maybe 250.

 

d) Bob polish or czech-name, the number 2 sports guy, reminds me a lot of RedScare. Squinty and tan, always looks like he was just doing something outside. He's has a freindly, open face and demeanor and seems to actually really like sports.  I was sad they didn't give him the top spot after Bob Allen left. I feel bad I don't remember his last name.

 

As you can plainly see, I am unemployed. My next post I'll deconstruct the 3 pm slot: Katie v. Ellen. Let's just say they are both a grave disappointment compared to when I was last unemployed and Tyra Banks was on. Loved Tyra.

There are worse people to be compared to than Bob Slovak. Like the Unabomber. Or Billy Ray Cyrus.

I must protest, however. I am not polish/czech. And my hair has not been that color since I was 14. Other than that, I'm good.    

No problem. It literally took 30 seconds to rename the group for 2013.

Yeah, missing a week really kills your interest. Maybe we can PM each other if there are no entries by a certain time.

Funny y'all brought this up. I was just thinking about setting it up. It is now ready. Link is...

http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/28655-college-football-challenge-2013/

OK, here we go! This year's challenge is all set up. Information is below...

http://games.espn.go.com/college-football-pickem/2013/en/group?groupID=9515

Group Name:  HAIF 2013

Password:  Haif

Picks are due by Saturday moring, so don't waste time.  Good Luck!

Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah....

http://www.infoplease.com/business/economy/cost-living-index-us-cities.html

S3mh sounds like he knows what he is talking about until facts show up.

Oh, for a good laugh, compare Houston to Cleveland.   

I don't know what you mean by Irma's being below GST. It is located on the 1st floor of Great Southwest. There is no tunnel access to this building. Great Southwest is currently open and largely occupied by small law firms.

Like Editor pointed out, I was using the APTA classifications.  Heavy rail trains are usually 8-10 cars long while light rail is usually 2-3 cars long.  Capacity is much higher and while our current fleet is capable of going 65 mph, it is very rare for light rail to travel that fast in service.  Btw, our new cars will have a top speed of only 40 mph roughly. 

 

But it is great to agree on something! 

Actually, you AND the editor are wrong. Well, I will give you partial credit. However, you claimed the classification is due to weight, which is incorrect.

Your quote...

Well, us transportation geeks refer to systems like the ones I mentioned as heavy rail.  Due to the fact that the rails are configured for heavier trains..  

 

The bolded part is wrong. But, I am sure you are excited that the editor stuck up for you. Good for you.

The most interesting comments came at the end of the story.

Another risk is overbuilding. Houston, a sprawling 8,778-square-mile metropolis, has no zoning restrictions, a fact that has some investors including New York-based GreenOak Real Estate Advisors, looking elsewhere to buy.

Owners in areas where building is constrained can reap big rewards when demand for space rises, fueling rent spikes of sometimes 20 percent. That rarely happens in Houston, where developers can easily build.

"When you're dealing with a market like Houston, there's nothing to hold developers back," Ryan Severino, Reis senior economist said. "You can literally can go next door and put up a building."

 

Some investors like zoning because it stifles growth. It allows them to jack up rents while other developers are trying to get permission to build.

Look up 533 oxford. Fritz McDonald owns it along with the two lots to the south. He may simply be fencing the lot into the rest of his property. Note that he owns lots 1A, 2A, and 3.

Well, us transportation geeks refer to systems like the ones I mentioned as heavy rail.  Due to the fact that the rails are configured for heavier trains..    What you were referring to is commuter rail.. which is indeed "heavy rail," but it is not referred to as such in the transportation geek world.  lol

Unfortunately, your status as a "transportation geek" did not assist you in getting the definition correct. APATA defines heavy and light rail as follows...

Heavy Rail is a mode of transit service (also called metro, subway, rapid transit, or rapid rail) operating on an electric railway with the capacity for a heavy volume of traffic. It is characterized by high speed and rapid acceleration passenger rail cars operating singly or in multi-car trains on fixed rails; separate rights-of-way from which all other vehicular and foot traffic are excluded; sophisticated signaling, and high platform loading.

Light Rail is a mode of transit service (also called streetcar, tramway, or trolley) operating passenger rail cars singly (or in short, usually two-car or three-car, trains) on fixed rails in right-of-way that is often separated from other traffic for part or much of the way. Light rail vehicles are typically driven electrically with power being drawn from an overhead electric line via a trolley or a pantograph; driven by an operator on board the vehicle; and may have either high platform loading or low level boarding using steps. 

 

http://www.apta.com/resources/statistics/Pages/glossary.aspx

It is not the actual rail car that determines heavy or light rail, nor is it the speed capability of the rail car. The Siemens units used in Houston can reach 65 mph. It is the placement of the track that determines the designation.The weight of the trains has absolutely nothing to do with it, either. In fact, the Siemens units weigh over 100,000 pounds.

If that LA Fitness has a pool, I may actually join my first gym ever.

Much of the real estate beneath the elevated freeways is being used as parking lots. This frees up unencumbered land for buildings. The Pierce Elevated also provides nice shade on a hot day. I enjoyed resting under it while cycling today. Considering the number of posters who advocate for elevated rail lines, I don't see the problem with an elevated freeway. If one is not a problem, neither is the other.