Original Timmy Chan's

I live about a mile west of Foster Place, in South Union. I've only lived here about 6 years, and I drive through Foster Place occasionally, but I don't have much reason to spend a lot of time there.

From what I can tell, it's not too much different from South Union. It's hit and miss. Includes some well-maintained homes and some abandoned and rotting homes. Today Foster Place is mainly black, some Hispanic...similar to South Union.

Jerome, you can probably share some good information on the area. I'm assuming that's a picture of you, and that you're white. I understand that Foster Place was initially a white neighborhood. One of my old co-workers, a white woman, about 75 now, lived in Foster Place through her high school years at San Jacinto HS (late 1940's/early 1950's?).

I also know that South Union, across Scott Street from Foster Place, was always a black neighborhood. My wife's family has owned our home since it was built in the 40's, and they've always been black.

So...I've been curious what the dividing line between the races was? Was Scott Street the divide between white and black? Or was there a Scott Street back then? When did Foster Place become a black neighborhood? And was it a rapid change, similar to other "white flight" neighborhoods? Any acrimony at the boundary between the races, was it harmonious, or just completely separate? Where did whites in Foster Place go to high school? It's now zoned to Yates.

Lots of questions...

Is that a faculty lot, or are today's students better off than we were at UH?

For the life of me I can't understand why people pass up a great and affordable afternoon of tailgating and excitement at Robertson Stadium to spend hundreds of dollars watching bad football at Reliant.

#21 UH hosts Texas Tech on Sept 26th.

If you're interested in Cruz-Diez, one of his pieces was just installed earlier this year at UH. Intersection of Calhoun and University.

I think this is the design planned for the development, and the other renderings that recently came out earlier this year is just a vision. The Architect(s) are just bored.

It's important to have vision, but you shouldn't stray too far from reality:

i gotta add taqueria mexico to the list. last nite i was forced to go to la mexicana and ordered chorizo. i think it was 7.99. tonight went to taqueria mexico and ordered the chorizo again. it was way better as was the salsa and it was 3something.

I've had some good breakfasts at Taqueria Mexico.

Not far away on Telephone is Tony's Tacos...I've picked some decent tacos there too, breakfast and otherwise. They seem to have improved from when they first opened a few years back.

A NON-favorite restaurant would be Spanky's Pizza. I don't see the appeal of that place. I'd honestly rather have Pizza Hut.

I'll second South Philly Steaks if I haven't already. Great cheesesteaks.

Mandola's Deli...haven't been there in years, but I bet the lasagna hasn't changed a bit!

I think the names are cheesy too, but have you ever tried to name streets?

If you haven't, try making up a few names, then look in the index of the Key Map to see if someone else hasn't already thought of it before.

That being said, just when you think every possible combination of "River", "Prairie", "Hills", "Stone", "Green", and "Park" has been done before, here comes a bigger and better combination.

Sincerely,

The Original Timmy Chan

12321 Northwest Green River Prairie Hills Park Circle

Houston, Texas 77021

They do. And that's the legacy of traditional student housing. But there's been a national paradigm shift over the last decade. Most new student housing is developed by private for-profit entities.

As far as I know, the Quadrangle dorms and Towers dorms were developed by UH.

Cambridge Oaks = partnership between UH/Century Property (1991)

Cullen Oaks = partnership between UH/American Campus Communities (2000)

Bayou Oaks = partnership between UH/American Campus Communities (2003)

Best I can tell from a quick internet search, UH is developing Calhoun Lofts and the new freshman dorms on Wheeler on their own.

So, it appears UH has tried both methods, and apparently has decided to go it alone. Maybe their experience has been that they're better off developing on their own? I don't know...

Btw, this is OT but I've got a friend who is an LVN and that wants to get out of nursing and go back to school for a biochem degree. Seems like it's coming down to either UH or UTSA. How would you evaluate that program?

I have a friend who graduated from UH's biochem program...he's now a successful television reporter in California!

Good to hear that UH has secured its way to tier 1 status.

Not even close to secure, in my mind.

The legislation hasn't been signed by Rick Perry, and he seems to have a particular grudge against UH.

Once the legislation is signed, then it's up to the voters of Texas to pass a Constitutional Amendment in November to allow for the Tier One funds.

And...like I said, most of those Tier One funds are being taken from a fund that's already supposed to benefit UH and Texas Tech (and TSU, TSU, SHSU, SFA, etc.) and it's going to be opened up to be shared by UT System schools that are already funded by a different, vastly larger fund.

That's why I said, although UH will stand to benefit, we're just robbing the poor to pay the rich.

Sounds like there may be other institutions eligible for the Tier One status. Anybody know which ones?

The other eligible institutions are UT-Arlington, UT-Dallas, UTEP, UTSA, UNT, and Texas Tech.

That's a lot of UT System schools, who are already sharing in the $12 Billion PUF funds that none of UH, UNT or TT have access to.

Also...read the breakdown below of the $680 million "Tier One" funding. The bulk of that funding ($425M) would come from the HEF fund that was supposed to be funding the non-PUF schools. So basically we're stealing from the poor (HEF schools) to give to the poor AND the rich (PUF schools).

On top of that, the Lege says UT-Austin and A&M-College Station are eligible to share in $126 million of the Tier One funds. Those schools already get an extra $400 million a year from the PUF!

As a UH alum, I'm happy to see UH POTENTIALLY get access to greater funding...but I don't like the way Texas is going about it.

http://www.star-telegram.com/local_news/story/1413474.html

Tier 1 The Legislature has set up a $680 million package that would allow seven state-designated "emerging" universities to become the next major research institution. They include UT-Arlington, UNT and UT-Dallas. The funding would be set up as follows:

$425 million. Voters will be asked in November whether to redirect money in the state Higher Education Fund to creating Tier 1 institutions. To compete, a university would have to spend at least $45 million a year on research and be designated an emerging institution. It would also need to fulfill four of the six criteria: Award at least 200 doctorates a year; be recognized for scholarship and research; have an endowment of at least $400 million; have high-achieving freshman classes; have a high-quality faculty; and have excellent graduate schools. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board would define the criteria, such as for a high-achieving freshman class.

$126 million. Research University Development Fund. The seven emerging universities and UT-Austin and Texas A&M can compete for this matching money. The money would be awarded based on how much money the schools spend on research.

$80 million. Texas Centers of Excellence Fund. Money would be awarded based on the number of at-risk students enrolled, graduation rates and degrees awarded to students majoring in math, science, engineering, nursing and other high-need fields.

$50 million. Texas Research Incentives Program. This program would be open only to emerging universities. Grants would be awarded based on the money a school raises for research and faculty recruitment. A school that receives at least $2 million would get a 100 percent match; a school that receives between $100,000 and $999,999 would get a 50 percent match.

i need some yard work done and can offer onion, mint and lemongrass for your troubles.

Better than the polk salad I could offer!

I remember going to the Parkview Twin Theatre on Spencer Hwy. (at Burke) in Pasadena as a kid. It was a "Dollar Movie" up until (at least) the late 1990's, and I always remember it being as such. It was kind of gross and dirty with mildly greasy floors. It's now a Hancock Fabric store. Sadly, they gutted the place out and leveled the floor; all remnants of it ever being a theatre are gone. I also remember an old bank being on the opposite corner, as well as an old Wyatt's Cafeteria. They were both torn down in the mid 90's to make way for a Walgreen's and Eckard's (now a PetCo).

Anyways, does anyone ever remember going there? Did they ever show first run movies, or was it always a dollar movie theatre? Does anyone have any pictures of the theatre, Wyatt's, or the Bank?

No photos of the place, but I do remember going there as a kid (late 70's, early 80's.) I believe I saw more than one Zorro move there, and possibly the Jungle Book.

I definitely remember the Wyatt's. My grandpa was a cafeteria connosieur, so I had many meals there. I also remember a place there across Spencer Hwy back in the late 80's that he was in love with, called Smorgasbord. It was an all-you-can-eat, and they had the self-serve, soft-serve ice cream. I had never seen such a thing in my life!

Wasn't there also a Texas Tumbleweeds back in there?

Maybe not (pandemic).

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/top...al/6404221.html

The swine flu outbreak that has alarmed the world for a week now appears less ominous, with the virus showing little staying power in the hardest-hit cities and scientists suggesting it lacks the genetic fortitude of past killer bugs.

President Barack Obama even voiced hope Friday that it may turn out to be no more harmful than the average seasonal flu.

In New York City, which has the most confirmed swine flu cases in the U.S. with 49, swine flu has not spread far beyond cases linked to one Catholic school. In Mexico, the epicenter of the outbreak, very few relatives of flu victims seem to have caught it.

Other interesting numbers from the article (dated May 1, 2009, 11:51 PM):

- 16 confirmed deaths in Mexico

- over 300 confirmed flu cases in Mexico

- 650 confirmed cases worldwide

Those numbers are far different than what we've been hearing all week. Mexico admitted that their numbers may have been inflated.

Cosby-esque sweaters and...boat shoes.

They own the shopping center across the street? What do they use it for? I've noticed a few churches in the area have done similar.

It's been about 20 years since I was over there, but as I recall, they turned an old grocery store into "Sagemont Singles" and also opened up a Christian coffee shop. I think they used the shopping center as additional meeting space for various church groups.

Like I said, I quit going shortly after they opened up the 10 million seat arena back in the early or mid-80's. That was just before they bought the grocery store and drug store and shopping center.

I also know that back when I was going it was still Sagemont BAPTIST Church...I notice they've dropped the "Baptist" out of the name.

It matches the power lines in the background. . .

I spent several years under those power lines (or right across the street). Those power lines, and the fields and ditches around them (pre-Beltway) were our hangout when I was a kid.

I used to go to Sagemont Baptist Church, back when it was still one building. I was saved and baptized there. But even as a 10-year old I could sense that something wasn't right about the building spree they went on. I stopped going to church shortly after they built the gigantic auditorium. It seemed to me, even as a child, that the almighty dollar was bigger than the Almighty.

I recall when they bought the shopping center across the street. I thought they were getting big for their britches.

Now, looking at an aerial, looks like they've exploded.

Pretty good business model, apparently.

They could spend 100 billion dollars on a new dorm, but it's still Aramark food service.

Don't tell me you don't ever get a hankering for some Itza Shitza. I think I can still taste the so-called pepperoni.

This may be old news to some, but UH Regents have approved a new undergraduate dorm to be built between the Towers and the Quad on Wheeler St. The dorm will house almost 1,100 students. This is in addition to the 1,000 new beds at the Calhoun Lofts that are nearing completion.

From the scuttlebutt I've heard, the next move will be to knock down the Cougar Place efficiencies at the corner of Cullen and Wheeler and replace them with another new dorm.

The leadership at UH has taken to heart the idea to build alumni pride (and donations) by putting more students on campus. Those that live on campus are more likely than commuters to build strong ties to the university and become committed alumni.

"In Time"

http://www.uh.edu/uhtoday/2009/02feb/02190...enovations.html

February 19, 2009

REGENTS APPROVE NEW RESIDENCE HALL, RENOVATIONS TO DINING FACILITIES

The University of Houston System Board of Regents recently approved two major construction projects that will play key roles in building a stronger "Cougar Nation."

The regents approved a new undergraduate residence hall and a major renovation to Moody Towers

Maybe it's just me and my spotty memory, but I seem to recall driving by signs for Waterlights District for years now: "Coming 2007", "Coming 2008", "Coming 2009".

I'm not saying it's not coming, but I think the developers were a little optimistic with their original timeline.

Does anyone know the real story? I know their property backs up to Clear Creek...maybe the problems have to do with either approvals to develop in floodplain/floodway or maybe some USACE permitting issues? Knowing where the project is, those would be my first two guesses. Either one of those issues could easily delay a project for a couple years.

There are two Lynchburg Ferries, and I own them both. (Bob Eckels told me so.)

Tomorrow, I want all of you to get off my ferries!

And I see no evidence to suggest that South Union or Sunnyside is gentrifying.

I am your evidence! I gentrified South Union all by myself. We don't need any more honkies, thank you very much.

mom used to drag me to weiners. i hated going there. fortunately, the conroe location closed during my teen years.

Seems all my clothes came from Weiners, the Sears Surplus near Almeda Mall (same shopping center as Millers Outpost, incidentally), KMart and Target. When we left town in the 80's and dad got a better paying job, we actually shopped at JCPenney's sometimes!!!

I recall being embarassed about this in junior high, but by high school I could care less. Mom and Dad buying me some jeans at Sears beat the hell out of me buying my own clothes!

After I became responsible for myself, I realized that even Sears is out of their minds on price! Most of my clothes come from Sam's Club now. I can appreciate $15 slacks, $12 jeans and $15 shirts.

Woah there.

I'm not saying Stewart Cadillac should shut down altogether. And for me it has nothing to do with a green agenda or Smart Cars. I was looking at it from a purely urban-design standpoint.

Stewart Cadillac's buildings are run down. Not shabby chic mind you, they're just run down. And they have a lot of land that they're under-utilizing it by storing cars on it.

Initially, I thought that maybe Stewart Cadillac should be relocated. The more I think about it, the more I think renovation could do the trick.

They could sell some of their land to drum up funds, and renovate their facilities on the rest.

I'm thinking something like what Momentum Volkswagen did near Greenway Plaza. Stewart Motor Cars did it, too, over on Old Katy Road. They built a multi-story parking garage for their cars. Instead of spreading out, they built up.

It's a model that I think is fully appropriate for Midtown.

Of course, in today's economy and with GM bearing the brunt of it, I don't see anything like this happening in the near future. So, really, it's kind of moot.

If land values if Midtown justified it, I'm sure Stewart would be more than happy to build a multi-level "showroom" and sell off part of their land for a profit.

Apparently land values in Midtown aren't there yet. It's pretty obvious that the demand for property on Main Street isn't very high.

I think the name change is appropriate. It will give UH-D its own identity, which should be separate from UH.

Over the last few weeks I've come around to the "City University of Houston" idea.

I think the name would help convey the UH System's desire to make the distinction between the University of Houston as a national research university, and the "City University of Houston" as a more locally-centered school.

Sage was on the east side of the Gulf Freeway just south of Monroe. The building's still there and was remodeled as some sort of school a few years ago.

I was young, but I remember the names Sage and Globe.

If Sage was at Monroe, then Globe must have been the one at Airport and the Gulf Fwy. I recall eating at the Sambo's in the parking lot on a few occasions (now a Denny's I think). My only memories of Globe are being entranced by a bunch of pachinko machines on the shelves.

I think that Globe became a Sam's for a while before turning into the Flea Market that it's been for the last decade or so.