flatline

The best map to see Houston's true reach is the Major Thoroughfare and Freeway Plan Map.

If you've got a quick link to that handy I'd like to see it. . .

If you look at a recent roadmap of the Houston area, you see that towns like Pearland, Alvin, Sugar Land, etc. have long spindly arms of land incorporated into their city limits along highways and major roads. Obviously those cities are looking ahead to the future growth along 288 and 59 south. I can see where Houston will be hemmed in along its southern border by those bedroom communities a la Richardson, Addison, Farmers Branch, Carrolton to Dallas.

I'll miss the easy walk as well, and AMEN on finally getting a fully stocked store.

The corner of Yale and 11th would be the perfect location for a Starbuc. . . oh, wait, nevermind. Heights Association has already chased them off. . .

{Dear HHA: you do a lot of great stuff for the neighborhood, and I appreciate you, but why can't we have one measly Starbucks for Pete's sake?!?!?}

The CVS location at 11th and Yale (the old Eckerds) now has a for sale/"call for information" sign. CVS will definitely close the old location.

Rumors running rampant in the 'hood that Landry's has purchased the parcel on the northwest corner of 11th and Studewood, where the Someburger stand is currently located. . .

Berryhills is open. The place was packed last night. The food is excellent. They are still working out some of the service kinks, however. The building looks great. There is actually a salon in the same building. . .sort of a mini-strip-center. But you wouldn't know it from a quick glance at the building.

I'm glad the Chronicle caught this, but how in the world did it take three months for this to get reported!!!

Thanks for the historical info Heights2Bastrop!

As for the eckerds-now-CVS on 11th and Yale, I would speculate that CVS will shutter it when it gets its new store up and running on 20th. Bad for me. . . it's an easy walk from my house.

Bad news. Drove by yesterday. . .saw a "For Sale" sign in the window.

The renderings of the park are great. I'll try to post them soon.

We're going to hold you to that! Can't wait to see them. . .

Bill White scores again. Awesome news! Since the seller is Crescent, I'm guessing that some of the future park is Houston Center Gardens land. That would be great in that there is already 15+ years worth of tree growth built in. . .will be fairly mature for a new park.

From the Woodland Heights Assn. Website www.woodland-heights.org:

(excerpt from the September 14, 2004 Woodland Heights Civic Association General Meeting Minutes)

The speaker for September General Meeting was Helen Huey and Chad Moss with Property Commerce. Property Commerce is the developer and will also manage the Sawyer Heights Village (the

My own wild, unsupported, uneducated speculation is that the developer was looking to sell a few of those to Rockets players, given the proximity to Toyota Center. . .

I have a good friend that goes to that church. As Subdue noted, it's a pretty tiny congregation, so it's tough for them to come up with a large amount of cash. The building needs a lot more than $325,000 worth of work. But it will allow them to put a new roof on the building, which in turn will stem a lot of the water damage problems they have.

http://www.houstonheights.org

My guess is that HHA is already involved. . .or at least kept informed.

Something, anything would be better than what they propose.

Anything???? Easy, now. . .

Kincaid's argument is not against suburban development in this case, but against suburban development AT ALL, in any case. I understand, appreciate, and agree with most of his arguments in a utopian world. BUT, being a realist who needs to buy toilet paper, laundry detergent, and the occasional pair of cheap sunglasses, I love Target.

I can virtually guarantee that there is not an antique shop, tea room, deli, high-end men's clothier, or beautician on 19th street that will be harmed by a Target + other development going in at I-10 and Taylor. Indeed, I would bet good money that the owners of those 19th street establishments anxiously await Target's arrival, so they can buy toilet paper and laundry detergent there.

HeightsGuy is right about the bike path. Great move. That was probably a bone that the developer had to throw to the Heights Assn. and the Woodland Heights Assn. to keep them happy.

The Woodland Heights Association has posted a land use study/site plan for the new Target that is slated to go in the industrial area south of I-10 on Taylor:

http://www.woodland-heights.org/Neighborho...PLAN8-10-04.pdf

The retail center at White Oak and Heights is in a dry zone. Nevertheless, I am surprised that it has taken so long to fill the center up.

Don't have any information on the building between Yale and Heights. My own rampant speculation would be condos, of course, but I have no actual information on which to rely.

There is also a sign for more townhomes going up on Yale south of 11th.

Update. . .this month's Heights Association newsletter mentions that CVS is going up on the lot. According to the newsletter blurb, CVS worked with the association to create a store design that was more pedestrian friendly.

I had heard a few years ago that Walgreens wanted to put a new store on the block, but that their store design had the loading dock facing Heights Boulevard. The association tried to get them to change the design, but Walgreens refused, so the association protested permits with the city and eventually stopped the store.

I know CVS got a bad rap for the Midtown store, but they should be credited for working with the Heights association to adapt their building to our neighborhood. Walgreens will probably regret not working with the association and letting their biggest competitor come in across the street.

FYI, I took the family to Hermann Park Saturday morning. What a gem this park is!! The renovations to the reflection pool and McGovern Lake are fantastic. There have also been a lot of reforestation projects undertaken that will pay dividends in a few years. We should be proud of Hermann. . . it's a great urban park. Do yourself a favor and spend a couple of hours there soon. It is a good stress reliever. . .

Anyone know what's going on with the abandoned building on the southeast corner of 20th and Yale? A few weeks ago a sign went up on the building about a notice of variance request from the city. That's a prime commercial location in the Heights. . .at the northern end of Heights Boulevard.

Before Berryhill came in, this spot was a tire repair shop. Before that, it was a beer joint. Sure, some development with "vision" would be great. But as I posted PH (pre-hack), beggars shouldn't be choosers. We are dying for retail in the Heights. A new restaurant on a commercial street on the wet side of town is a pretty good vision in my book. . .

The Berryhill folks have made an effort to make the restaurant fit in the neighborhood . . . It's not like it's some gaudy TGI Friday's or something. I think it's a great addition of a Houston-based establishment to our neighborhood. I am anxiously looking forward to being able to drink a margarita on the deck this fall, and I know dozens of my Heights neighbors who feel the same way.

BTW. . .I like Pappasitos. I like Andy's and Spanish Flower too. I'm a uniter, not a divider. . .