LegacyTree

Really enjoy these flix from the Seattle area. If I ever had the chance to move up there I'd go in a heartbeat.

From the RDA:

http://blogs.chron.c...n_for_site.html

I like how everyone ignores the issues brought up in this article, how very Houston.

addressing issues such as energy use, storm water management, urban heat island, pedestrian scaling, neighborhood compatibility, shared parking, and connection to public transportation. For instance, a tighter site plan with wide sidewalks and a door by the street, rather than one at the end of a long parking lot, would help pedestrians. While some progress has been made, the distance between the community that endorses sustainable urban development and the developers appears great. In a meeting with the developer, neighborhood resident and architect Monica Savino asked if they had considered vertical parking. "They just sat there for a long time without saying anything," recalls Savino. Finally, they just said "no."

This hesitation is incredibly disturbing. It suggests two equally bad scenarios: either the developers have actually never considered even the most basic motion toward a project that might ultimately be called "sustainable" OR they are coyly answering the uncomfortable questions posed by concerned citizens, knowing ultimately they are unchecked and may proceed as they desire. This situation positions those interested in realizing the vision of a more thoughtful and planned city against those obligated to do what makes business sense. In Houston, virtually all the power is given to the latter.

Perhaps 380 agreements could put some teeth to these issues.

Gangs are a support substitute for family structures. Fix education and quality of life issues and you solve the symptom of gangs.

As a recent grad, I'm looking for a neighborhood in town in need of a couple of urban pioneers who are willing to do the dirty work for some lucky landlord.

Weighing the pros and cons, we just want a place where we can experiment with neo-masonry and structural plastics. More than anything we want a place that's safe during the daytime and has a tabula rasa sense of freedom for weekend warriors. The only catch is that our jobs are downtown so our commute should be no longer than 15 minutes by freeway or 30 minutes by public transportation.

So if you were in your mid 20's and made about 50k/yr where would you start looking?

The interior design is much like the new Hyatt Regency's.

Overpriced.

Who are these greedy people who think the music scene can support a dump like that at 13k/month. That's alotta underage drinkin!

Have you ever looked at Phoenix from google earth? Wow that's kinda boring, I see it's growth configuration like an overgrown west texas town. It at least has the desert backdrop but it's downtown skyline is nothing to write home about, or the fact that it has 1-1/2ish skylines. Houston has 3-4 depending on who you ask.

A wiki based off this website. Just gleaning through searches one can find multiple threads on similar buildings/projects/areas, if the verifiable and correct information were extracted it would greatly enhance the building/architect/place directory. DIY tutorials would be nice too, especially if your a new home owner/1st time renter/novice home renovator. Perhaps since the website would be a .org you could elicit support from Houston's two architecture schools for ideas.

I came across an interesting presentation the other day about historical preservation in Europe and the USA.

The idea was essentially that b/c of the way the preservation works, a brand new building or even a building not even built yet can be considered for historic preservation. They took the flipside approach and declared that there needed to be an ordinance for the destruction (not preservation) of junk (not historical buildings). This may be what Houston really needs instead of preservation.

See image below:

Pt. 1

Pt. 2

Pt. 3

Both issues are examples of religious intolerance not tolerance.

2/3rds of New Yorkers, one of our most left leaning cities, feel the mosque should be built elsewhere.

It's a truly great thing that private property is not subject to the tyranny of the mob mentality.

Should we vote/poll people to determine whether the Pastor should have the right to burn the books?

There apparently isnt enough Fear of God to balance out Fear of Allah in the world today.

To be fair there are more Muslims from poor countries with lower educational expectations & therefore more prone to violence. We don't "tolerate" it, we just deal with it. We have come to expect better behavior from Americans.

The issue here is how can normal, educated people seriously be emotionally affected by contrived "news" stories?

The IDEA has already been planted in society's consciousness and can/will spawn copycat meme's. The best part about all this is that burning a Koran is the proper way to dispose of it. If you really want to insult them, throw it in the trash or step on it.

The evidence of America's failing school systems is piling up...

I heard the Imam Rauf is thinking Thom Mayne or SOM!

I think the area hangs more heavily on what happens with the KBR industrial site before projects like this can even be realized. Also agree that high rises are a ways into the future, perhaps mid-densities are more desirable and achievable in the short term of this new decade. Now is the time to contract renderings and programming exercises on the cheap.

Houston does generic better.

Is this citykid?

It's an overall improvement by creating more shade and clear unprogrammed space but the security fence around the dog park is pretty is ugly with it's light grey trellis pattern.

Market Square Park needs more public balconies like La Carafe.

Studio Red is doing the interior renovation design work.

If only the opposition could have realized that a "no means no" approach to this development would yield them an almost reactionary suburban scale development that will mostly encourage more automotive activity in the area versus pedestrian activity. Had they channeled their energies into being constructive, the site planning might have been developed much differently than what has been presented in the renderings.

My first suggestion would be to NOT turn the store's "back" to the neighborhood. Neighborhood traffic is now guaranteed to increase behind the Wal-Mart in access to Washington Ave. and will be moving faster without any noticeable curb cuts. Also the extension of Bass St. to the feeder will also filter cross traffic into the neighborhood. Taking that fact into account, maybe the store could have backed up to the rail ROW and anchor deliveries to the southeast corner where the Yale underpass is. This would allow easier access for pedestrians in the neighborhood to the south, west, and east. In terms of greenness, an elongated East-West building of this scale has a better solar performance. Just a few passing thoughts...

Another off the cuff question regarding the site plan; Is there any way pedestrians from the north coming down Heights esplanade can access the esplanade in front of this development without having to enter the roadway on Yale or Heights Blvd at White Oak Bayou?

Looking good. All I ask for Houston is one Supertall! Just one and I'll never ask again, promise.

Where would you locate it?

Also great pics editor!

McMansions are a great snapshot for what's wrong with America's middle class delusion. The finest social engineering subsidies since the 1930's to the tune of "Debt incumbent home owners don't go on strike."

We used call them Flakey Lato back in the day. This is mildly exciting.

Council vote on preservation ordinance sets stage for debate

The city plans to begin negotiating with developers, property owners and preservationists in the coming months about permanent changes to the law, a process Mayor Annise Parker, an advocate for stricter preservation controls, said is likely to end by September.

The 4" is to prevent kids from poking their heads through and getting stuck or worse falling over the edge.