Nate99 Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Didn't the storm doors get installed after Allison, or were they always there?I'd think that any future flooding would be more isolated as a result Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate99 Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Didn't the storm doors get installed after Allison, or were they always there?I'd think that any future flooding would be more isolated as a result Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samagon Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 My memory is from going on trips to the tunnels back in the 80s with my mom around Christmas to watch the First Interstate Bank do their Christmas singing thing, or to visit one of my dad's college friends that owned a jewelry store down there in the 80s. I seem to recall that they had big doors between different sections.They were probably fire doors, to seal the areas off, and not storm doors though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 Read somewhere (Wikipedia?) that after the floods, large submarine-style doors were put up at the entrances to prevent flooding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bach Posted January 16, 2013 Share Posted January 16, 2013 The downtown Above & Below (tunnel) map is posted on the downtown information website, www.downtownhouston.org, under Maps. There's also a downtown Google map you can link to from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted January 16, 2013 Share Posted January 16, 2013 I don't want to see where the tunnels go...that's common. It just doesn't show what's IN the tunnels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted January 16, 2013 Share Posted January 16, 2013 It's 95% big restaurant chains, and they shuffle locations all the time. Ninfa's, Alonti, Whataburger, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
infinite_jim Posted January 16, 2013 Share Posted January 16, 2013 (edited) There's also a lot of duplication in the tunnels (2 Otto's BBQ, 2 Subways, 3 Alonti's, 3-4 Seattle's Best, 2 Salata's, 2 Jason's Deli, 2 Droubi Bros, etc). Even street level lunch places are duplicated in location like Zero's Sandwich shops and Pappas BBQ, although you will find better lunch places in general on the street level (something about rats in the tunnel eateries). Edited January 16, 2013 by infinite_jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate99 Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 I don't want to see where the tunnels go...that's common. It just doesn't show what's IN the tunnels.Any area in particular, or are you just looking for everything?I think Alonti probably has the record, they seem to be in or under every other building. Murphy's deli is close behind. There are more independent jewlery/watch repair places than I thought would be economically sustainable. Eye doctors, dentists, convenience stores fill out the spaces not occupied by quick lunch places. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
infinite_jim Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 (edited) That gift shop across from the credit union in the Shell Tower I tunnel is pretty cool. Modiva (sp) or something... Edited January 17, 2013 by infinite_jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Plumb Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 I would like to solicit everyone's experiences and opinions on CELL PHONE service and reception in the downtown area as well as in the TUNNELS. I am currently w ATT and my contract is up soon and I am trying to see who has better service. Right now I get sporadic service on the 13th floor and almost zero signal in the tunnels. And feedback is MOST appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 Sprint. Good service on 19, little service in the tunnels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrodiii Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 Tmobile - decent service on 38th and 45th floors. Very spotty in the tunnels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 Doubtful you'll ever get good service in the tunnels due to interference. I'd be looking primarily at what kind of service you get near your office. When I used to work downtown I'd have to go to a nearby window to make a cell call. That was 10 years ago so hopefully the above-ground situtation is better now, but it would take a major infrastructure project to light up the tunnels with a decent signal. They could do a few hot spots if they wanted, but I'm not sure that's on any of the carriers to-do lists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bach Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 There is an effort underway to put radio and cell signal in the tunnel system, but I don't know when it'll be installed. Â Has been discussed for years, but HPD jump-started it. Â Cell service is good and bad, the bad part being that downtown needs more people walking at street level! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 (edited) Doesn't help much with phone calls, but several buildings provide wifi in the tunnels for internet. Can at least get some internet in many places. Edited January 31, 2013 by kylejack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Plumb Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 I see many people deep in the tunnels on the phone. I am assuming they are on Verizon or so I am told. I figure I might as well switch over to the carrier that would at least halfway work down there. Thx for the insights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 Doesn't help much with phone calls, but several buildings provide wifi in the tunnels for internet. Can at least get some internet in many places.That could be an option. Some carriers, like tmobile, allow you to connect via a wifi connection. Not as seamless as having a direct cell signal, though.I don't know about downtown, but Verizon has a pretty good network out in the country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 That could be an option. Some carriers, like tmobile, allow you to connect via a wifi connection. Not as seamless as having a direct cell signal, though.I don't know about downtown, but Verizon has a pretty good network out in the country. I think that only works from your home wifi connection that is configured for it. Regardless, I converted my Sprint number to a Google Voice number. This means I can text message people from my regular number and check voicemails any time I have a wifi connection, even with no signal. Pretty handy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 My wife and a friend are going to the observation deck at the chase tower today. First time - really excited. Also, my wife has always wanted to go to the tunnels am I haven't been since I was a kid.Are any tunnel areas better than others?Also, are there any other observation decks in The area or cool lobby's we soul be allowed to go into? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
infinite_jim Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 My wife and a friend are going to the observation deck at the chase tower today. First time - really excited. Also, my wife has always wanted to go to the tunnels am I haven't been since I was a kid. Are any tunnel areas better than others? Also, are there any other observation decks in The area or cool lobby's we soul be allowed to go into? Thanks! Â Go to the wells fargo tower skylobby, you can get a good view of the east by south-east. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 My wife and a friend are going to the observation deck at the chase tower today. First time - really excited. Also, my wife has always wanted to go to the tunnels am I haven't been since I was a kid.Are any tunnel areas better than others?Also, are there any other observation decks in The area or cool lobby's we soul be allowed to go into? Thanks! There's also a pretty cool observation floor in Heritage Plaza. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Go to the wells fargo tower skylobby, you can get a good view of the east by south-east. Does it have public access? I just called them and they said they don't have an "observation deck" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 (edited) My wife and a friend are going to the observation deck at the chase tower today. First time - really excited. Also, my wife has always wanted to go to the tunnels am I haven't been since I was a kid.Are any tunnel areas better than others?Also, are there any other observation decks in The area or cool lobby's we soul be allowed to go into? Thanks! Chase and Wells Fargo face roughly opposite directions, so you can see pretty much everything from those two. The only other high public floor I know of is the Bank of America building, which looks down Allen Parkway. Wells Fargo's is called a "Sky Lobby." There are two Sky Lobbies at different levels, and yes they are open to public. Can ride up from the tunnel level, actually. Edited March 29, 2013 by kylejack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Does it have public access? I just called them and they said they don't have an "observation deck" They not observation decks in the formal sense. They are sky lobbies where the elevators meet to get access to the uppermost floors. You'd likely get the same answer from all three of these buildings (Chase Tower, Wells Fargo Plaza and Heritage Plaza) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brijonmang Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 My wife and a friend are going to the observation deck at the chase tower today. First time - really excited. Also, my wife has always wanted to go to the tunnels am I haven't been since I was a kid.Are any tunnel areas better than others?Also, are there any other observation decks in The area or cool lobby's we soul be allowed to go into? Thanks! Just so you know, we are expecting some pictures from you on this trip. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trymahjong Posted May 15, 2013 Share Posted May 15, 2013 I read this article in todays chronicle.http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/Narrowing-the-distance-between-street-tunnel-4516479.php I'm not sure where the funding would come from but I like the idea of connecting the levels--- An open space that allows you to view a bit of what eateries and retail are on the lower level.   Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livincinco Posted May 15, 2013 Share Posted May 15, 2013 (edited) We actually had some discussion about that already on another thread. Absolutely agree with your idea of creating dual level plazas. I did hear that suggested at one point. http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/27906-what-is-holding-downtown-down/ Edited May 15, 2013 by livincinco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted May 15, 2013 Share Posted May 15, 2013 For visitors, it might be good to have some very visible signage showing the above-ground entrances to the tunnels. Something like what other cities do for subways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Plumb Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 With the recent talk about new towers and new tunnel connections I was wondering how exactly do you go about constructing them?  Is it done by a simple open trench when available or some sort of tunnel boring machine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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