Peeping Tom

How much money is that bone-head Culberson ultimately going to cost the people in his district by trying to slow down this project with all his delay tactics. They are not going to stop the University Line any more than they could stop the red line. But I guess that won't stop Culberson from wasting tax payer dollars in his futile efforts.

I wish I could redesign the university line so that it could run right through the houses and businesses of the people who are trying with all their might to keep Houston from progressing. It's disgusting to see people like Culberson thwarting the will of the voters so that they can put their own personal interest above the good of the many.

More like 7 times as big. Discovery Green is 12 acres to Main Street Garden's 1.7 acres. MSG is roughly the size of Market Square. And, it has been open less than a month, so the claim that it has changed east downtown overnight is probably a bit premature.

But, it has been called Dallas' "swankiest park", so I suppose that must count for something. And, they did get rid of a parking garage to build it, so it should get 2 thumbs up from us Houstonians for that alone.

I've driven by Main Street Gardens several times. You can barely notice it. It is very small. I can't speak to the swankiness because I have never walked around. But I can tell you the part of DT Dallas that it is located feels dead to me. There is some large abandoned Mid Century hotel (with a lot of potential) that is right next to it. And lots of homeless people in the area.

I'm sure the Woodall Rodgers Freeway Park will be better situated given it's proximity to the Arts District. But that is also several times smaller than DiscoGreen.

I agree that some of those projects I listed are just announcements and renovations, but I wanted to throw them out there for updates. Compared to a lot of areas in Dallas (and around the country), downtown is doing OK and the area hasn't been completely abandoned by developers. The City is trying to keep recent momentum going, despite the setbacks, to hopefully produce a more vibrant, livable downtown. The sum of all of these various renovations and "small" projects is greater than one or two new buildings that contribute nothing to the urban environment. The new Main Street Garden has changed the east end of downtown overnight, bringing families and downtown residents to an area that was previously desolate. Much like Discovery Green has done for downtown Houston, these new parks are going to change the perception of downtown Dallas.

Downtown is headed in the right direction and we've come a long way in just the past few years. But there are still a lot of transit gaps and underutilized structures in the business district. The new Downtown Dallas 360 Plan is going to merge all previous area plans into one strategic map for development. It includes connecting the disjointed districts with streetcars and sustainable development; creating affordable urban housing options; and expanding and promoting the area's identity. The slowdown in the economy may be the perfect opportunity to reevaluate the area's potential and wisely plan for the future. And until private developers start back with their plans (Victory Park included), the City and cultural institutions will keep up the pace.

Therefore, I'll keep posting about little things that may seem meaningless to readers 250 miles away but add up to big improvements for downtown Dallas. I think Houston and Dallas can learn a lot from each other's small and large scale urban development. Though we both have pride in our respective cities, we're not all that different.

There is no way the Main Street Gardens has made as big of an impact to Dallas as Discovery Green did for Houston. Discovery Green helped to spawn 3 high rise towers and is at least 3 times as big as MSG.

The Dallas Hype Machine isn't working.

I see the mod chose to allow Dallasboi's Houston bashing thread to remain while deleting all other responses to it. Post 154 is an opinion which is as non Dallas specific as the one's you chose to delete (not to mention flaming, inaccurate and barely readable) . Yet it survives another round of censorship.

So I guess it is o.k. to post whatever negative remark about Houston you want to on this thread, but not o.k. for anyone to respond. Maybe we should start calling this site DAIF or DAF for short.

All right everyone,

Here's the info. that I gathered from yesterday evening's (12/9) EarthQuest Institute fundraiser event:

Phase I of the project seems to be ALL of the entertainment portion of the overall development... that is, we may actually be seeing EarthQuest Adventures theme park, EarthWalk retail/entertainment district, EarthQuest Institute non-profit museum, Green Gadget Garage family entertainment center, and Cretaceous Cove water park being built first. The theme park and Institute, however, as the biggest drawing points, will be constructed first.

Phase II of the project is all of the retail/office development along the 59 corridor.

Phase III of the project is all of the residential component on the far east side of the overall site.

EarthQuest Adventures

The theme park is currently divided into 6 sections, each branded with its own small icon. As of today, in Dec. '08, we'll see the following areas clockwise around the park:

Gateway (Entry area into park - signature attraction is a "nighttime spectacular" with fountains, lasers, etc...)

Land (Signature attraction is a big-time roller coaster, the one shown shooting up and out the volcano in the renderings. Also, a family/childrens' show called "Rocks Rock" will be located on the small island near the volcano coaster, which was highlighted briefly in the presentation.)

Life (Signature attractions are initial animal displays, a "birds of prey" show, and botanical gardens.)

Sky (Signature attraction is a big-time roller coaster called "F-5 Storm Chasers," appeared to be an inverted coaster which will have a launched lift, maybe like the Hulk coaster at Universal's Islands of Adventure)

Water (Signature attraction - a family roller coaster currently called Glacier Mountain Bobsleds. An "Ice Caves Maze" was mentioned, likely a high-quality mirror maze experience)

Pangea (signature attraction - a family thrill ride - a submarine-type voyage into watery depths uncovered during the construction of the park - w/ sea monsters attacking, etc.)

For the time being, I have to head outta my house and get to work. I'll write more later about the park, the Institute, the models on display, and my conversations with Chris Brown of Contour Entertainment, as well as "Dino" Don Lessem himself!

Later -

Well done. Thanks for the report.

Did you take any photos of the models? Can you post them? Did anyone in the know talk about a timeline or financial backing? This is such a huge project. It would be so good for Houston but I'm getting a little nervous because I think they were supposed to break ground this year and they haven't (or have they?)

Any more info you can share would be most appreciated.

# 5 has been tossed around for years and is nothing new. That "slogan" is almost pure plagiarism. Guessing someone did a web search to come up with that one.

Honestly it would be sad if that ends up being the "winner". You shouldn't be able to do a web search and find your 'new winning Houston slogan' from web pages 3+ years ago. That would only reflect on the "unoriginality" of the people on this site.

Your just jealous because nobody voted for any of your stale and morbid slogans.

Number 5 is a no brainer, but that doesn't mean the person that submitted it stole it, he probably just forgot to check to see if it was copyrighted, which I'm sure it isn't. Relax already, spiderhater, no one died.

I voted for #6, which is my own submission. "I love Houston: Go Fcuk Yourself!" Not to toot my own horn, but even tho it's a bit tacky, over the top, entirely pornographic and could never be taken too seriously, it IS honest and comes from the heart (and gut) - which is what being a Houstonian is all about.

It is a slogan for all those who are tired of always having to defend the love that they have for this great city to a bunch of clueless people who will never get it.

Although I am honored to have my slogan make it to the next level of this contest. I don't really expect to win as the slogan is really more of attitude than anything that would actually help to promote Houston (even within this little menagerie we love called HAIF). In fact, it really only promotes the people who love Houston and not Houston itself.

If I win I'll donate the coffee pot to the person who thought up #2. That's the one that deserves to win.

Houston: Spiderrollers check in, but they won't check out.

I love Houston: Go F_ck Yourself!

This place, like the astros, is too far out to make a difference.

So are you.

Skylines? Wow that's a great attribute.

Just dumping a dose of reality on the cheerleaders.

Why would you want to dump on cheerleaders? Maybe you can't accept it, but some people REALLY do like living in Houston. And CHOOSE to stay here because they like it. No need to dump on me because that is my honest opinion.

I think you are jumping to some wild conclusions. Forbes sends reporters to Houston all the time. Why would you think differently?

I don't care how much money matters to Tillman. The boardwalk is an asset to Houston. And if it wasn't for Tillman, there would be NO roller coasters or anything close to an amusement park in Houston. Why should Kemah not make a list of best boardwalks in the country just because the owner wants to make a profit.

There are other forces at work here besides just a simple Forbes list. Some people have spent a LOT of energy berating the Boardwalk. What could possibly be the point of this?

Houston: Mexico's other resort.

Sounds like someone has a real problem with Mexicans.

And anyone who was born, raised and lived in Houston all their life..... has a God given right about to opinion about Houston, good, bad or indifferent.

Not if they don't know what the hell they are talking about. And if they decide to post something they better be prepared to deal with the consequences of having their misguided opinions challenged.

Great.

But it's not a Top Ten Boardwalk in the U.S., Peeing Tom.

It IS according to Forbes. What are your credentials for judging boardwalks or any thing else for that matter? And why should anyone choose to listen to you over a respected publication like Forbes. Lighten up a bit and get a life, loser.

SSC here we come. Seriously, could you guys give it a rest.

Yeah Spider, listen to Gary. Give it a rest and shut up already. If you can't offer anything constructive to the conversation or to the promotion of Houston you should just tune in and drop out.

We don't need your stinking negativity! You aren't part of the solution. You're part of the problem.

The ones thinking the Dome should be a movie studio are the ones that are high.

Yea.. people from all over the world will come here... to ... what... stand behind a glass wall and watch a movie being made?

I've lived here all my life... Houston is not some "georgeous" city.... it was "georgeous" decades ago before they knocked down 90% of the buildings, built a bunch of boxes and cardboard strip centers every block, became a homeland for 90% of foreigners coming from south of the border, and every neighborhood from those days became a hood.

Compared to 1975... I'd say Houston is pretty damn fugly.

I take it back. Go find yourself some maryjane quick! It sounds like you need it, bro.

TOP 10 USES FOR THE ASTRODOME

1. Grow House (largest indoor grow house in the world... can tour and test like the Budweiser plant too)

2. Amatuer Porn Movie Studio (come on baby... let's go film a home movie...)

3. Internet Porn Studio (always wanted to start my own internet porn site)

4. Missile Silo

5. Future Home of the Houston Moose Knucklers (after the expansion of the Lingerie Football League)

6. Five Star Dome (how many full size restaurants could fit in there? visualize the TOP 100 five stars in there.. TOP 200?)

7. Food Court Dome (you got it... the largest congregation of fast food restaurants under one roof in the WORLD)

8. Children's Museum (largest on planet earth)

9. Energy Trading Dome

10. Casino

Just kinda popped in my head you know.....

I think you ought to give the maryjane a rest.

Despite the obstacles, at least the hotel and movie studio ideas could really be beneficial to Houston at some point. And if not, at least we could say we gave it a shot. The Astrodome deserves better than to have its destruction come about because some pot head wants to take the easy way out (typical behavior).

I can predict the future as well as those who are predicting movies will be made in the Astrodome.

I predict you will live an extremely empty, dull life with that attitude.

I say we should only melt it down and blow it up if we can round up all the nay sayers, people with no imagination or vision, Houston haters and all the rest of the losers who would try to stop progress from coming to Houston because they are incapable of 'thinking big' or don't have the balls to take a chance on something that really could turn out to be huge for the local economy.

The only "movie studio" concept that could work out in the Astrodome would be if the porn industry wanted to move from Southern California.

I say we turn it into a Coliseum of sorts... for criminals.... Gladiator Dome.

Like you can predict the future. You don't know what you are talking about. On the other hand, it wouldn't take a lot of modifications to the Astrodome to make it look like a giant boob. The Astrodome would be a great capitol for the porn industry. They could rename it the Assholedome.

Yea... I'm sure the Hollywood foke would love to come to Houston to film. I mean, the scenery, history and weather in Houston is something every American should experience at some point in their life. Can you imagine Angelina Jolie down here filming a movie... she can take some "getaway time" and head down to the beaches in Galveston.

The weather in Houston is perfect -inside the dome. Anyway if Houston is good enough for the rest of the nation to seek their fortunes, it should be good enough for ugly lipped weirdos like Angelina Jolie.

I think the idea of this would not be to blow either Austin or Dallas out of the water, but to work with those cities.

I think we should do both. Work with them at first. And then stab them in the back, gloat and ridicule them when Houston becomes the Hollywood of Texas.

It's the Texas way! There's no room for #2 in this land.