Houston19514 Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 (edited) It also works with Bing & Yahoo, so I guess they have arrangement with all search engines. One would imagine that competitive search engine companies would come up with similar offerings. Edited December 8, 2013 by Houston19514 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 Really? How does it benefit the Chron? Not really sure. I imagine it gets more page views, kind of a teaser, I guess. Also maybe gets their articles to come up more often/higher in Google searches. The service exists and the Chron, along with Dallas Morning News and many other publications have signed up for it. It's called First Click Free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 An rfp has been sent out http://www.downtowndistrict.org/Home/Procurement/Overview/RetailRFP-120213/Retail%20RFP-120213.PDF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 So I guess its safe to assume we could see some retail begin to establish itself by next yr? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 Might be optimistic. The RFP is looking for a consultant on attracting retailers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 I think this is getting a little stupid... its not hard to attract retailers and spur development if incentives are given much like the housing incentives the city gives to developers. Once something begins to establish itself, the economy will do the rest. Houston is a hot bed for development and I feel like we are taking our sweet time "looking for a consultant" for something that seems pretty much common sense. Just my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonIsHome Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 They Should develop southern downtown as a essential retail district with all the target and what not mentioned above then work on Dallas St. that's what I've been saying.I like how downtown is compartmentalized. I think the shopping district should be in a fresh area of its own instead of being carved from the convention and skyline districts. Like I said in the Town Square thread. Design a nice square, throw up a fountain and statues of Texas heroes, then throw in retail incentives, attract some major anchors, extend the residential incentive program.... it would seem easier to me to start fresh than to rework a weak retail area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted December 26, 2013 Share Posted December 26, 2013 I think this is getting a little stupid... its not hard to attract retailers and spur development if incentives are given much like the housing incentives the city gives to developers. Once something begins to establish itself, the economy will do the rest. Houston is a hot bed for development and I feel like we are taking our sweet time "looking for a consultant" for something that seems pretty much common sense. Just my opinion. I would guess that it is a harder problem than it seems. They need to think through who are the shoppers, what kind of stores would work, how the physical layout should work, etc. If the focus is to be on residents, they would probably want things like a Dominos Pizza, McDonalds, Home Depot and a good supermarket. Downtown office workers and convention visitors would not care for these. I think it will be a really tough nut to crack to come up with a viable mix. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted December 26, 2013 Share Posted December 26, 2013 I would guess that it is a harder problem than it seems. They need to think through who are the shoppers, what kind of stores would work, how the physical layout should work, etc. If the focus is to be on residents, they would probably want things like a Dominos Pizza, McDonalds, Home Depot and a good supermarket. Downtown office workers and convention visitors would not care for these. I think it will be a really tough nut to crack to come up with a viable mix.I don't think planners will be choosing physical layouts or types of stores other than as a suggestion for renderings. A downtown retail district is always going to need to be flashy and oriented towards visitors... a display of the most amazing things we can offer. The essential stuff for downtown residents can go on side streets. Home Depot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted December 26, 2013 Share Posted December 26, 2013 I don't think planners will be choosing physical layouts or types of stores other than as a suggestion for renderings. A downtown retail district is always going to need to be flashy and oriented towards visitors... a display of the most amazing things we can offer. The essential stuff for downtown residents can go on side streets.Home Depot? Well yes, Home Depot. Recently for one reason or another I have been going there all of the time, and it is convenient having one close. What you are saying contradicts the earlier poster's assertion that one residential was in place that retail would grow. I've never been quite sold on the idea of downtown retail oriented towards visitors. On the other hand, I can definitely see the need for retail to support the growing downtown population. That means a different kind of retail, such as Home Depot, that isn't available on side streets at all. Also, retail supporting residential is going to be more sustainable in the long run. I'm not even sure what kind of retail would be appropriate for visitors, other than shops selling Texas souvenirs. How many chic boutiques can downtown reasonably support when there are already scads of them in the Galleria area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted December 26, 2013 Share Posted December 26, 2013 Downtown already has Dominos (and several other better pizza options), plus chicken and burgers galore. There is a CVS in the 800 block of Main... granted, it closes early. For big grocers, Randall's a block south of the Pierce Elevated and a couple blocks from the rail station would be an option were it not for its Safeway - driven death spiral; go north and there is a big Fiesta at Fulton and Quitman a couple blocks from the North Line, just a couple stops past UH Downtown (which, with the closure of the Studewood Fiesta, is getting more Anglo-fied since Woodland Heights types are now going there). The walkable infrastructure for much of the day to day stuff is there, all that is needed is residents to get them to keep later hours. What IS lacking are places to buy clothing and blenders and such. And a dry cleaners - there's gotta be one closer than Midtown, I just don't know where. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted December 26, 2013 Share Posted December 26, 2013 (edited) Not at all. His discussion is centered around a government planned district. Low level retail should develop organically without government involvement as a response to market demand. As I've stated in other threads, I believe that low level retail will develop in downtown Houston once there is a sufficient population to support it. In my opinion, CoH is doing the right thing in that area - incentivize residential and let the market provide the retail once sufficient demand exists. Downtown Management District and the City subsidize businesses that wish to open in Downtown. Georgia's, The Burger Guys, Phoenicia, etc...they all got incentives. Edited December 26, 2013 by kylejack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted December 26, 2013 Share Posted December 26, 2013 What IS lacking are places to buy clothing and blenders and such. And a dry cleaners - there's gotta be one closer than Midtown, I just don't know where. We lost clothing and blenders when the Macy's closed. Wolfe Cleaners at 227 Main is great for drycleaning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarface Posted December 26, 2013 Share Posted December 26, 2013 . I think the shopping district should be in a fresh area of its own instead of being carved from the convention and skyline districts. Then it would feel like downtown/Uptown Dallas.... Contrived and sterile. I think new development is great but i don't want to lose that organic/integrated feel of downtown. Downtown already feels spotty, theater district on one side, then separated by a stretch of tired office buildings, then you finally reach discovery green. My point is, downtown lacks continuity which causes it to lack vibrancy. It's good to see this initiative which will tie other downtown destinations together. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonIsHome Posted December 26, 2013 Share Posted December 26, 2013 Then it would feel like downtown/Uptown Dallas.... Contrived and sterile. I think new development is great but i don't want to lose that organic/integrated feel of downtown. Downtown already feels spotty, theater district on one side, then separated by a stretch of tired office buildings, then you finally reach discovery green. My point is, downtown lacks continuity which causes it to lack vibrancy.It's good to see this initiative which will tie other downtown destinations together.Just because it is new doesn't mean it will be contrived and sterile. Dallas is notorious for overplanning, overdoing and ending up over the top. That area is already flat so anything that goes up in that area will be totally new anyway. I just think it would be nice to steer the development to include more retail. Are you familiar with the area I am taking about? It doesn't give that integrated feel you speak of. creating a district there would integrate it into downtown.Just my opinion, but I think a shopping district would be better on the SE side of downtown. The area around dallas street is too cramped, too established, abd no real incentive to convert those buildings to retail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Work on Dallas St. (wider sidewalks, on-street parking) is expected to begin in November. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 The latest info & more details on the retail district: Downtown Dirstrict Meeting Dec 2013.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted January 18, 2014 Share Posted January 18, 2014 Not sure if anyone pointed this out but I thought it was pretty interesting. This stat in the photo shows the population around major Houston malls and it includes downtown as well. It clearly shows downtown has the nearby population to support retail. Of course, as the paragraph states, what's missing is a convenient way for people to get to retail downtown, which in reality is parking. I hope they get this right, it could really be a draw for downtown for Houston RESIDENTS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted January 18, 2014 Share Posted January 18, 2014 Well yes, Home Depot. Recently for one reason or another I have been going there all of the time, and it is convenient having one close. What you are saying contradicts the earlier poster's assertion that one residential was in place that retail would grow. I've never been quite sold on the idea of downtown retail oriented towards visitors. On the other hand, I can definitely see the need for retail to support the growing downtown population. That means a different kind of retail, such as Home Depot, that isn't available on side streets at all. Also, retail supporting residential is going to be more sustainable in the long run. I'm not even sure what kind of retail would be appropriate for visitors, other than shops selling Texas souvenirs. How many chic boutiques can downtown reasonably support when there are already scads of them in the Galleria area?There is an overlap between retail that residents would want and that visitors would want. It doesn't all have to be chic boutiques and Texas souvenirs. That said, and understanding that some things need to be practical to support residents, I don't think Home Depot would work. Unless they have some urban format that I'm not aware of, the price per sf of land downtown is way too high for them, a 250 x 250 block size is too small, and imagine people buying lumber downtown. Maybe a small Ace hardware would suffice, and if people need more they can drive out. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pragmatist Posted January 18, 2014 Share Posted January 18, 2014 There is an overlap between retail that residents would want and that visitors would want. It doesn't all have to be chic boutiques and Texas souvenirs. That said, and understanding that some things need to be practical to support residents, I don't think Home Depot would work. Unless they have some urban format that I'm not aware of, the price per sf of land downtown is way too high for them, a 250 x 250 block size is too small, and imagine people buying lumber downtown. Maybe a small Ace hardware would suffice, and if people need more they can drive out. Here's one I saw a couple of week ago while I was up in the Northeast. http://goo.gl/maps/5devI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted January 18, 2014 Share Posted January 18, 2014 Ok lol wow, I guess if they have a concept like that it would work downtown. Subdude, you are vindicated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 2/7, GreenStreet FB page: 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 2/7, GreenStreet FB page: Looks like Extreme Makeover hit University of St. Thomas. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shasta Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 When are the renovations supposed to be completed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
infinite_jim Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 So essentially they created a huge pedestrian only alley with retail. Groundbreaking...Snarky comments aside I do wish this project all the success it deserves and really hope for all the new residential units to help make that dream a reality. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chi-Char-Hou-Dal Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Sound out the name of that construction company... back to my scotch%^& 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sellanious Caesar Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 (edited) I'm originally from Sydney and have spent staggering time in Mebourne and that alley with shops reminds me of some of the outer lane ways in Melbourne. All that is missing are some tables in the alley for outdoor eating, some benches, and resi and hotel.Some public art and mood lighting would be a nice touch. Ah look at me blabber away Edited February 11, 2014 by Sellanious Caesar 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tumbleweed_Tx Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Pavilions redo... skyhouse rental office... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 (edited) Really? How does it benefit the Chron? Publications with paywalls enable the full article to be accessed from search engines. This way the search engine can index the full story. They get click-through traffic from people that search words in the story. If nobody ever finds their articles on Google they risk losing relevance. Edited February 17, 2014 by kylejack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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