happytown

That sounds a little premature...at least I hope. That fugly empty lot right in front of the complex probably isn't a huge selling point - at this rate, it will probably remain that way for quite a while. It would definitely be nice to know how well they are leasing... I wouldn't be surprised if they are having a tough time considering the price and the amount of other new complexes in the general area (Alexan on Westheimer, Alexan Upper Kirby, the new apartments in Greenway)

A rail?

Don't get too excited. I believe it isn't funded yet.

Hanover has a terrible business model.

Didnt they get the memo from Ric Campo that apartments over ground floor retail will NEVER work in Houston?

This reminds me that when the Galleria first went up 'experts' said it would fail because Houstonians would never park in a garage to go shopping.

I'm just glad to see that thing torn down. I guess it was considered modernistic at the time it was constructed, but it's a style of architecture I have never cared for.

The writing is on the wall. The land values between Buffalo Bayou and 59 South, all the way from downtown to the loop, are going to go up. They have already gone up in the past year. This will cause rents to rise and will cause more older structures to be torn down.  There is nothing special about Westcreek and if it is a good business decision then it should come down. I know it sucks if you're a renter, but if I were the owners I would be trying to do everything possible to maximize my profits. 

Whatever you decide to do, I hope things work out for you.

Needs more cowbells!

I have nothing to add, except to say that this is one of my all-time favorite HAIF threads. I hope it keeps on going.

I've never tried them, but I love their radio commercials, and I generally hate most radio commercials. The guy that does them has a very hypnotic voice IMO.

Wow, I remember when this project was first announced almost 5 years ago.

Hard to believe it isn't fully up and running yet. It looks beautiful, though. Definately worth the wait.

I just went browsing over to Dallasmetropolis.com and I wasn't there for five minutes before I came across a condo project that was advertising itself as "the place to see and be seen". To me, that ad is a metaphor for what is wrong with Dallas. Far too many people up there seem to be into "image". In my opinion, you don't see near as much of that fakery in Houston.

It will be interesting to see whether the younger generation in Dallas move away from that attitude.

Anybody?

Maybe they're desperate for money and they are selling the trees for firewood.

I agree and I wish I had an "IN" on finding out what more is going to occur in this area. This Possibilty of a high density-urban area from W.Dallas to Washington Ave. is becoming more of a reality, esp. when everything (r.square, archstone, etc.) is 80% built out. Can't wait...

A lot of the Washington corridor is so close to Memorial that it could just as easily be called the Memorial corridor. Ten years ago this area had seen almost no development in years. Now it is booming. I think that it may be generating its own momentum at this point. In other words, each new development is creating more beauty and utility in the area. In the next ten years, we should see more high rises and mid rises, as well as more commercial development. The only question is whether it is more correct to call it Washington or call it Memorial. I think it needs a snappy new moniker. Since it includes Washington Ave and starts at the Municipal Courts, maybe we should call it WaMu. I hear the name is available.

Off topic, I have thouroughly enjoyed reading ALL the comments on this thread and am glad the mods haven't moved them. Great thread.

If the area along the Gulf freeway between downtown and Loop 610 ever starts developing more than it is now, I predict this will be one of the last places developed. Mainly because the trains that come along there seem to be having a contest with each other over who can blow their whistles the longest and the loudest. Not conducive to gentrification IMO.

However, if the city made an agreement with the RR's like they made for the tracks on the westside, and if the trailer park owners ever decided to sell, that could be some valuable property: a large patch of land near the freeway and just ten minutes from downtown.

Funny, you'd think that HSLR or the Texans would've at least put out a press release to that effect.

I got the following from Swamplot. It's from a previous Chron story.There's a lot more over there if you care to look. Like I said, the Chronicle's reporting on this has not been stellar. I believe commisioner's court is being less than frank about the situation, and the Chron needs to point it out in every article they do. The issue is not the hotel.

In the latest installment of the Chronicle

I think it is funny how worked-up people seem to get about the convention hotel...

HLSR and Texans only have events going on for what, less than 2 months total a year? We are going to "protect" those 2 months by prohibiting the development of a $450 million convention hotel in the beloved Astrodome? As far as cost-benefits go, this seems like a no-brainer to me (although I am still skeptical this sort of convention hotel would be totally successful).

In my opinion there is a lot of confusion about this convention hotel project. The Rodeo and the Texans are not against it. What they are against is the attempt to sneak an amusement park in along with the hotel. I have been unable to determine whether the original proposal to the county was intended to be for a hotel only, or whether the poposal got changed. But at this point there doesn't seem to be a proposal on the table for a CONVENTION HOTEL ONLY. Maybe the hotel people were trying to pull a fast one from the beginning. Or maybe they got the idea for the amusement park later. But one thing is certain: the amusement park would impact the revenues of the Rodeo and because of traffic issues probably the Texans too.

Every time the Chron does an article on the Dome, this CENTRAL amusement park issue just seems to get pushed into the background. I partly blame the politicians for this. The more they can confuse the casual followers of this matter, the more pressure they think they can put on the Rodeo and Texans to cave in. But I also blame the Chron. This has always been the central issue and the Chron shouldn't allow it to be fuzzed over.

In the meanwhile, do something about the intersection of Clinton Dr and Fidelity St (in Houston).

I agree. How about changing Fidelity St. to Roger Clemmens Boulevard.

This tower appears to be 'officially' on hold - but given the actual (& soon to be) completions in Victory Park (W Hotel & Condos, The Vista, The Terrace, The House, The Cirque, & One Victory Tower), the delay of this building is by no means a negative indication of the whole project.

If the Victory Project saga has accomplished nothing else, in my opinion it has provided some great entertainment on this board. I remember reading the whole thread from start to finish just couple of months ago or so. I remember people SWEARING that there was a tower being built there, and people SWEARING there wasn't. It was quite hilarious. I doubt there'll ever be another thread quite like it. Thanks for the memories.

Ten years or so ago the Gulf Freeway from downtown to the 610 loop was basically a dead zone. In the last few years, though, it has started coming to life. Townhouses are going up steadily near downtown. UH has significantly improved their campus adjacent to I-45. Gulfgate Center is steadily expanding. The lovely new AAMA school will soon be finished. Strip centers have been build or remodeled.

And today I saw another sign of improvement: The Rodeaux(nee Helena Motel) site at Wayside, which has been an eyesore, at least in my opinion, is being bulldozed to the ground. This will create a freeway frontage of almost a full block. Does anyone have an idea of what might be going on there? I hope it isn't just another strip center.

I think it'll help round out the convention schedule downtown, offering more budget accommodations to convention travelers. Other than that, I couldn't care less about this. It will affect me exactly zero. When I like to splurge on a weekend being a tourist in my own city, or spend New Year's Eve, or eat a great restaurant, I like posh hotels.

I'll never set foot in this place and don't care that it's coming here.

It is hard to tell whether you are bragging or complaining. If you care so little about this, why did you bother to post? I hope you aren't as ugly a person as this post makes you seem.

Well, Allen Square is a great name, coming as it does from local heroes. But I think it would be a bit confusing because of Allen Center and Allen's Landing. I think Parkway Square would be a better choice. Or, since it's just west of downtown, how about WeDo Square? Just kidding.

I'm wondering about the dissapearance of WHAT from this thread. I guess he or she got tired of reminding everyone that this project isn't going to get off the ground.

I think that if Who's on first, then What must have struck out.

I love happy endings.

While I was driving down W Gray, I noticed two variance request signs for Midtown Square Phase III, on the two adjacent blocks to the west of the Post Midtown.

Why is it called Midtown Square when it's in SoDo?

My family moved here 19 years ago. Im 19 years old and i agree with what you say. Sooner or later people will get tired of the few stores that in the towne center. If you look at all of the new "master bland communities" in sugar land within the last 5 years, they have all been "upscale" in the sense of price. I honestly wouldnt be surprised if Sugar Land used eminent domain and forced all of the people behind the sugar factory to move out. Thats the likely plan

They can't move them out to replace them with private developement, though. I think there's a new state law against that.

Full NY post article:

http://www.nypost.com/business/58764.htm

"....At the same time, Barneys' resident hair salon famously ignited a feud when it refused to do big hair, instead pushing shorter, more natural cuts...."

I think they should have a Billboard at the airport. "Welcome to the Metroplex. Home of Big Hair."

Look for the strip denoted by the red-dot to get a makeover. I get my hair cut there. It's a neat little area with a euro-village feel to the layout.

Looking kinda dumpy right now, but I see them trying to keep up with the Jonses'.

Is anyone else besides me old enough to remember when this area was called "Sin Alley"?