jt16 Posted February 27, 2005 Share Posted February 27, 2005 I'm not sure if this is already a topic, but I was in Midtown last night and noticed that the warehouse south of specs was half torn down. There's been a sign on that block for years with a restaurant/retail build to suit. I just passed it off since every block in Midtown has a similar sign. Does anybody know what's going on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFC Posted February 27, 2005 Share Posted February 27, 2005 I'm not sure if this is already a topic, but I was in Midtown last night and noticed that the warehouse south of specs was half torn down. There's been a sign on that block for years with a restaurant/retail build to suit. I just passed it off since every block in Midtown has a similar sign. Does anybody know what's going on?<{POST_SNAPBACK}>Might be where they are putting a Walgreens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midtown_resident Posted February 27, 2005 Share Posted February 27, 2005 Might be where they are putting a Walgreens<{POST_SNAPBACK}>you are JOKING right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFC Posted February 27, 2005 Share Posted February 27, 2005 you are JOKING right?<{POST_SNAPBACK}>I know there is a Walgreens going into Midtown....In fact it is one of Heather Chappel's Properties (I think she is Westside properties, but I am not 100% sure) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
111486 Posted February 27, 2005 Share Posted February 27, 2005 you are JOKING right? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> lol. and i am pretty sure it will bw the same design as the CVS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt16 Posted February 28, 2005 Author Share Posted February 28, 2005 disappointing if that's the case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themidtownguy Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 we should act now if you guys want an urban design Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFC Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 we should act now if you guys want an urban design<{POST_SNAPBACK}>I will find out the exact location of the walgreens today....if it goes in then another strip center across the street is going too..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFC Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 I have confirmed that the Walgreens is going in on McGowen/Smith/Brazos...right by the Specs. It will be a wrap around style like the CVS. We can all thank Westside Properties for selling out on Midtown again. This is another example of them selling out the Urban design several of us would like to see for Midtown.Also, as I said before by doing this is will force another company to put a strip center I believe across the street. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N Judah Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 well, walgreen's is no stranger to urban environments...i can't help but wonder if the ordinances requiring huge parking lots (and the variances that would be required to build it any other way) are what's making the developer build it like that. i mean, it's tough to fault them for taking the path of least resistance. if only the mayor would hurry up with those revised ordinances and 'planning guidelines' before any more damage is done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasboy Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 edit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 WTH???!!! There's already a CVS like only 5 blocks away from there! This really sucks... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayLSU Posted March 1, 2005 Share Posted March 1, 2005 WTH???!!! There's already a CVS like only 5 blocks away from there! This really sucks...<{POST_SNAPBACK}>seems a bit ridiculous to me as well. stuff like this makes me question wtf is going on in midtown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike Posted March 1, 2005 Share Posted March 1, 2005 WTH???!!! There's already a CVS like only 5 blocks away from there! They build 'em like that in the suburbs, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midtownguy Posted March 9, 2005 Share Posted March 9, 2005 Wow. I'm late on this thread, but I'm STUNNED that the suburbanization continues. Well, it's started. Midtown is becoming Sugar Land. I can't believe this. I am not buying in midtown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midtownguy Posted March 9, 2005 Share Posted March 9, 2005 Then again, maybe I SHOULD buy in midtown. That area needs a strong group of pissed off, fed up owners with a stake in things to shake up the managment district. As a renter, my influence only goes so far. This is getting outrageous. I moved to Midtown for a specific reason, to experience urban living. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston Retail Posted March 10, 2005 Share Posted March 10, 2005 Then again, maybe I SHOULD buy in midtown. That area needs a strong group of pissed off, fed up owners with a stake in things to shake up the managment district. As a renter, my influence only goes so far. This is getting outrageous. I moved to Midtown for a specific reason, to experience urban living.<{POST_SNAPBACK}>Midtown guy, please don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midtownguy Posted March 10, 2005 Share Posted March 10, 2005 Houston Retail, Great point. I am a midtown resident, which is enough to give me a voice. Maybe I will show up at a meeting. I think t here's one in april. Thanks for the kick in the ass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted March 10, 2005 Share Posted March 10, 2005 Way to go city leaders!yay for incompetency! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kzseattle Posted March 10, 2005 Share Posted March 10, 2005 Houston Retail, Great point. I am a midtown resident, which is enough to give me a voice. Maybe I will show up at a meeting. I think t here's one in april. Thanks for the kick in the ass.<{POST_SNAPBACK}>Perhaps those who cannot attend the meeting can try emailing them. They have listed email addresses at:http://www.houstonmidtown.com/midtown.cfm?a=cms,c,34, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted March 10, 2005 Share Posted March 10, 2005 who the hell put them in charge anyway? how can we replace the idiotic members? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trophy Property Posted March 10, 2005 Share Posted March 10, 2005 who the hell put them in charge anyway? how can we replace the idiotic members?<{POST_SNAPBACK}>It amazes me that Walgreens is going in right there. When it is fiished there will be 3 Walgreens within 1 mile of my house and 7 within 3 miles. The one on West Gray and the one on Montrose are equidistant. And now they are going to build another one. The new CVS in Midtown is always empty. I never see anyone in there. I asked the Pharmacist about the traffic and he told me that business was in fact real slow. I think he liked that, he was moving pretty slow. Something has to give. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elecpharm Posted March 11, 2005 Share Posted March 11, 2005 in san francisco, they have nine walgreens within a one square mile area in a part of the city. it does not bother me that all of these new pharmacies are being built. what does bother me is the lack of design and reluctance to mold these stores into more than the typical suburban outfit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjb434 Posted March 11, 2005 Share Posted March 11, 2005 I agree with elecpharm. I no issues with a CVS or Walgreens on everyblock. If they make money or not, it is there investment and they have right to try. My biggest beef with them is that they can easily design these stores to be more urban. They can stay one floor, but just put the parking lot in the back of the store with a back entrance. The fron of the store can front the primary street the borders the lot. The street entrance takes pedestrian traffic, the back takes the patrons who park. Very similar concept to River Oaks Shopping center and the Alabama shopping center on Shepherd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted March 11, 2005 Share Posted March 11, 2005 The street entrance takes pedestrian trafficThat's All well and good in the textbook, but Houston is a city of automobile drivers. Pedestrian traffic pretty much comes to a halt by July. I think the Walgreens on Lovett at Montrose is a great example an suburban store in an urban environment.So what if they would have placed a parking lot in the back? I just don't see how that really changes anything in a city full of drivers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjb434 Posted March 11, 2005 Share Posted March 11, 2005 It's mostly for appearances. Everbody always harps on street front retail. In reality, the business still needs to provide some parking. Most New Urbanist believe in the concept of putting the business up to the street with the parking in the back. It'll just hide cars. That's all. Look at the little shopping center at the corner southwest corner of Hazard and Westheimer. All the parking is in the rear. The front of the place is pedestrian friendly even with a coffee shop and outdoor seating.Midtown would be great to have this kind of development also. Cars are a fact of life in Houston. These are just suggestions so that they can coexist with the pedestriant friendly atmosphere people want in an urban setting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HtownTX Posted March 11, 2005 Share Posted March 11, 2005 in san francisco, they have nine walgreens within a one square mile area in a part of the city. it does not bother me that all of these new pharmacies are being built. what does bother me is the lack of design and reluctance to mold these stores into more than the typical suburban outfit.<{POST_SNAPBACK}>Right, in SF they blend into the city, and are very useful (bought groceries, toiletries, etc for 6 months there in 2004). If Walgreens can adapt there (forced b/c of real estate costs, I know, but still) they can adapt here..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjb434 Posted March 11, 2005 Share Posted March 11, 2005 Also, Walgreens has built facilities in the French Quarter and in Downtown New Orleans. They kept the historical qualities of the buildings and are great for workers, tourists, and intown residents to use. Wal-mart attempted to the same with a store. It would two stories and use a historical abandoned building. Who would have thought of an urban Wal-mart. I haven't heard of the progress on the Wal-Mart in a while. I think they were working with the historical commission there.I wish the Midtown Management District and the residents would work with Wallgreens and CVS to produce some they'll like. You'd be surprise how they will work with you. Remember that these companies realized how much money they can make at the location they chose. Also, any extra construction if not too large is acceptable. After all, they can wright off the costs as a capital investment on taxes anyway.The heights just finished working with Walgreens or CVS (i forget) to build a store that they can live with. They were smart. Instead of just opposing it, they decided to work with the store to produce results that make everyone happy.A good example in midtown is Randalls. The minor parking in the front with a parking garage underneath. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted March 11, 2005 Share Posted March 11, 2005 historical qualities of the buildingsWell this is Houston, and if it's too old, we just tear it down. A neat idea, but not likely in Midtown any time soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjb434 Posted March 11, 2005 Share Posted March 11, 2005 good point.In Houston, it would be just build the new buildings that emlpoyed the same urban concepts. This doesn't mean they have to look historical either. They can be completely modern as for as I'm concerned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.