Why Casual Visitors To Houston Area Skip Downtown

[Porchman]

http://www.downtownd...feCleanProgram/

With a focus on hospitality and safety solutions, the Downtown Public Safety Guides (DPSG) provide a customer-friendly and visible presence serving as additional eyes and ears for downtown. They strive to offer a professional relationship with all local law enforcement and social service agencies, business and property owners, private building security companies and City entities. All Downtown Public Safety Guides receive special training in first aid, safety procedures, conflict management and customer relations.

The Guides patrol downtown daily focusing on the busiest pedestrian areas and also offer extra support for special events. Through high visibility and consistent coverage, they focus on:

- Deterring crime by reporting problems to the proper authorities

- Discouraging aggressive panhandling

- Assisting the homeless population in distress by connecting them with social services

- Checking in on businesses

- On-street concierge service, assisting visitors, residents and workers with maps, directions and information on where to go, what to do and how to get there

Edited January 26, 2011 by Porchman

[kylejack]

Yes, I am skeptical about this new program. We shall have to wait and see the specifics.

[LTAWACS]

http://www.downtownd...feCleanProgram/

I saw this a report about this on last night's news... the guys they showed looked like regular thugs. I wonder how long before someone impersonates them in order to commit a crime.

[DrLan34]

Cielo dying, but Bombay Pizza and Samba Grille are successes.

The place going in next to Front Porch in Midtown says "Mi Cielo" on it... It is the building where Lemon Tree used to be.

[LTAWACS]

Sounds like just another texmex place.

[Subdude]

Those churches that come to downtown from way in the hell out there (katy) should be castigated.

Yes, these churches should be stopped from engaging in charity work.

[LTAWACS]

Yes, these churches should be stopped from engaging in charity work.

Perhaps not such a drastic move... but they should be made aware that they are only making the problem worse. If they care for them so much they should take them in.

[brian0123]

Perhaps not such a drastic move... but they should be made aware that they are only making the problem worse. If they care for them so much they should take them in.

I've always wondered why larger churches don't do that. They have huge gyms, admin buildings, (some have bowling alleys) etc. I always thought they could at least spare a couple rooms and put some people up temporarily... offer counseling, job placement help, etc. Seems like they would change more lives through a program like that then just handing out food and leaving the people to go sleep on the street.

[LTAWACS]

I've always wondered why larger churches don't do that. They have huge gyms, admin buildings, (some have bowling alleys) etc. I always thought they could at least spare a couple rooms and put some people up temporarily... offer counseling, job placement help, etc. Seems like they would change more lives through a program like that then just handing out food and leaving the people to go sleep on the street.

Either the megachurches dont know there are homeless here in the same town as they (since they are always planning trips to other parts of the planet)

or

They don't care.

[Houston19514]

I've always wondered why larger churches don't do that. They have huge gyms, admin buildings, (some have bowling alleys) etc. I always thought they could at least spare a couple rooms and put some people up temporarily... offer counseling, job placement help, etc. Seems like they would change more lives through a program like that then just handing out food and leaving the people to go sleep on the street.

Like this?

[editor]

Like this?

Shhh! How are the members of the New Church of Internet Atheism going to feel morally superior if you go around introducing facts into the discussion?

[Gary]

Shhh! How are the members of the New Church of Internet Atheism going to feel morally superior if you go around introducing facts into the discussion?

LOL! You took the words right out of my mouth. I'm constantly amazed by the anti Christian elitism by many on this forum. The facts are that the homeless around the country would be in far more peril it weren't for the Christian ministries that help them.

[kylejack]

Convey Sushi (conveyor belt sushi) has opened on Market Square, next to (and owned by) Les Givrals.

[samagon]

Either the megachurches dont know there are homeless here in the same town as they (since they are always planning trips to other parts of the planet)

or

They don't care.

their is a third option.

You can positively effect more lives for less money abroad. My friend's father runs a missionary in some African nation (I never remember), and for the 3000 dollars he raises with each fundraiser it is amazing how far that goes in a different country, buildings, clothes, food, teachers, etc.

The amount of red tape one has to navigate in the USA is immense (reference that church from where ever that didn't know they had to get a permit to distribute food).

Anyway, so yeah, they can positively affect more peoples lives by going somewhere else to end hunger. It sucks, cause we do have our own problems here at home, but ultimately, it's their money and they would rather have their money affect as many people as possible.

Edited February 8, 2011 by samagon

[DrLan34]

Check out this article on the revitalization of downtown Dallas, pretty interesting.

"On Main Street, for example, the plan encourages street-level retail, in part, by phasing out retail and restaurant uses from the underground tunnels and changing street-vending ordinances to attract carts and kiosks."

http://www.houstonto...re-of-downtown/

Edited March 11, 2011 by DrLan34

[roadrunner]

Check out this article on the revitalization of downtown Dallas, pretty interesting.

"On Main Street, for example, the plan encourages street-level retail, in part, by phasing out retail and restaurant uses from the underground tunnels and changing street-vending ordinances to attract carts and kiosks."

http://www.houstonto...re-of-downtown/

That's nice, but downtown Dallas is absolutely dead compared to downtown Houston. I understand what they're trying to do, but Houston would be stupid to take that approach. The tunnels are a big reason why many companies are located in downtown and are a huge amenity for the buildings. The street retail and life is picking up with the Main St revitalized, Discovery Green, the stadiums, new Market Square, etc. I like DT Houston's conservative, yet progressive plan.

I would like to see Houston change their ordinances downtown to attract food trucks, though. Maybe only for certain areas that are lacking food amenities (Jones Plaza for example).

[TheNiche]

Check out this article on the revitalization of downtown Dallas, pretty interesting.

"On Main Street, for example, the plan encourages street-level retail, in part, by phasing out retail and restaurant uses from the underground tunnels and changing street-vending ordinances to attract carts and kiosks."

http://www.houstonto...re-of-downtown/

Uh huh. Yeah. Does the below image ring a bell?

And clearly this article was written by an oracle of truth. Oh yes, indeed...

[DrLan34]

agreed, the tunnels are way too integral to downtown Houston's success and it is not something can be phased out... and the tunnel system is massive.

[TheNiche]

agreed, the tunnels are way too integral to downtown Houston's success and it is not something can be phased out... and the tunnel system is massive.

The other thing about tunnels is that...when the weather is nice, people return to the street. On Wednesday, I had to walk about from one side of downtown to the other and back (in a suit), and was stunned at the sheer number of above-ground pedestrians. But how many days are so perfect in Houston?

We're not San Diego; neither is Dallas.

[kylejack]

Yes, corporate types like to be coddled. If we didn't have the tunnels in downtown Houston, more companies would be developing their own mini-cities. Example: AIG's 5 buildings at Allen Parkway and Waugh are all interconnected with a series of skywalks. There are a couple shops in there, a credit union, a barber, etc. We can't just eliminate the tunnels and expect downtown street-level retail and restaurants to take off. Better to let it gradually develop when there are places that have a particular draw. Bombay Pizza is busy most nights now.

I do miss Kaveh Kanes, though.

Edited March 11, 2011 by kylejack

[samagon]

Yes, corporate types like to be coddled. If we didn't have the tunnels in downtown Houston, more companies would be developing their own mini-cities. Example: AIG's 5 buildings at Allen Parkway and Waugh are all interconnected with a series of skywalks. There are a couple shops in there, a credit union, a barber, etc. We can't just eliminate the tunnels and expect downtown street-level retail and restaurants to take off. Better to let it gradually develop when there are places that have a particular draw. Bombay Pizza is busy most nights now.

I do miss Kaveh Kanes, though.

the saucer as well, is always full.

[LTAWACS]

love that rendering.

[DrLan34]

downtown district incentives

http://downtownhouston.org/site_media/uploads/attachments/2011-02-11/2011RetailGrantPrgmGuidelines.pdf

[htownproud]

roadrunner--nearly all the places you mentioned are thriving because there is no tunnel access. in my opinion, the tunnels kill any chance of downtown becoming a residential hot bed. to the extent there is residential in downtown, there is poor tunnel access.

[DrLan34]

someone's trying to get downtown going again...

http://www.centralhouston.org/Home/Programs/PlanningandDevelopment/

"Programs : Planning and Development

Central Houston leads or assists in comprehensive planning advocacy, working closely with the Houston Downtown Management District, City of Houston, METRO, Harris County and area development associations. The following are planned or anticipated downtown or downtown-adjacent projects. Projects are closely aligned with implementation goals of the 2004 Houston Downtown Development Framework.

• Development – Dynamo Stadium. Support role to stadium design and construction development, including LRT construction and operations, access from East End, and prospective mixed-use development south of Stadium.
• Development – Regional Tourism Center | Reconfigure Avenida de las Americas. Support role to the City of Houston for a reconfigured block between GRB Convention Center and Minute Maid Park, to house a Regional Tourism Center including relocation of the two historic houses. North- & south-bound lanes to be reduced from four- to two-lanes at 600 block of AdlA, with 700 block used for lane transitions.
• Development – 806 Main Street Hotel. Collaborating with developer, City and METRO to review proposed hotel and LRT operations at Rusk and Main. Investigating street design options to assist with hotel traffic.
• Downtown High School. Participate in confidential negotiations with HISD Trustees and Administration to identify downtown site for HSPVA.
• Development – Convention Hotel and International Zone. Support role to private development for hotel and mixed-use development east of GRB Convention Center and SH-59 at Polk and Chartres streets.
• Development – Convention Center Hotel | Block 99. Support role in ongoing conversations for future hotel development, particularly in regards to LRT construction and GRB Convention Center plans for expansion.
• Residential & Mixed-Use Planning – Warehouse District, Northeast Quadrant and Southeast Quadrant. Prepare “neighborhood sketch plans” to initiate activity and inform comprehensive downtown master planning or guidelines for a refreshed framework, integrating the projects with related projects such as the H-GAC Livable Centers study.
• Master Planning - UH Downtown. Support the University’s planning efforts in their development of master plan; collaborate with University’s planning team to provide information for future expansion.
• Master Planning – Mixed-use Retail Core Area. Project in the first half of 2011 to develop conceptual design to re-vitalize downtown’s Shopping District.
• Master Planning – George R. Brown Convention Center | 25-Year Planning. For the City, lead master planning project with Gensler to develop master planning documents for future expansion of GRB.
• Master Planning – Downtown | East Downtown Livable Centers. Work with numerous entities and the design consultancy team for a nine-month master planning transit-oriented development project of 168-block area bounded by Preston, St. Charles, Pease and Austin. Coordinate multiple projects and consultants within study area.
• Bayou Improvements – Austin Street Portal Repairs and Maintenance. At blocks 6 and 7, substantial repairs to a guardrail separating surface parking and Buffalo Bayou. Guardrail was damaged during a drunk driver incident in November 2009.
• Bayou Improvements – Buffalo Bayou North Channelization. Participating as a stakeholder in the Buffalo Bayou Partnership’s Master Plan and working with the Harris County Flood Control District, long term planning for channeling the bayou including street, bridge and bayou path improvements. Short-term coordination with HCFCD and downtown businesses to assist with cost benefit analysis of channelization.
• Bayou Improvements – Sesquicentennial Park to Travis Portal. Engineering design project to suspend a bayou path bridge from street bridge as the link along a discontinuous portion of the hike and bike trail.
• Bayou Improvements – International Coffee Building. Serving as the funding recipient for TXDOT providing match grant to Buffalo Bayou Partnership for historic renovation to the ICB.
• Tranquility Park. Provide ongoing stakeholder involvement for future redevelopment of Tranquility Park, based on 2008 conceptual planning. Collaborate as a leading stakeholder with Parks & Recreation in all phases of future work.
• Jones Plaza. Provide ongoing stakeholder involvement for future re-development of Jones Plaza, based on 2010 Visioning Meeting as led by Gensler for Convention & Entertainment Facilities.
• Pocket Parks & Pets. Identify parcels and ownership who may consider development of pocket and / or pet parks distributed throughout district; goal is to provide more neighborhood park amenities to downtown residents.
• Lighting Improvements – LED Street Lighting Pilot. After testing fixture performance and evaluating economics during a pilot phase, make a recommendation to Board for phased upgrading to street lights on certain thoroughfares.
• Lighting Improvements – Main Street OCS Pole Lighting Pilot. Based on past performance and low-level lighting output of “sail” fixtures along Main Street, south of Texas, select with CenterPoint new street lights to be mounted to METRO OCS poles.
• Lighting Improvements – Theater Pole Relocation to Northwest Quadrant. Based on development of area south of Minute Maid Park and due to METRO | LRT construction on Capitol & Rusk, existing theater pole street lighting to be removed and relocated to new areas to be identified in areas north of Texas Street.
• Lamar Street Pedestrian Lighting Pilot. As a test pattern, install 10-12 light fixtures on south side of Lamar from Crawford to Austin. Based on fixture performance, develop plans for pedestrian lighting particularly within the “Z-Corridor” linking Convention Center, hotels, retail, Main Street and Historic District.
• Sidewalk Improvements – Travis to Fannin from Clay to Jefferson. Support and overview of current project design and anticipated construction in expending currently allocated TIRZ funds.
• Sidewalk Improvements – Southeast Quadrant. Support and overview a project to design and construct sidewalk and related amenities (landscape, lighting) per downtown guidelines. Coordinate improvements with property owners. Leverage right-of-way design for future developments.
• METRO | LRT – Capitol & Rusk Streets (plus Hamilton, Texas and Buffalo Bayou). Ongoing stakeholder leadership on the downtown segments of Southeast Line, including tree mitigation coordination, station and transfer station design, garage access, owner representation, and construction coordination.
• Street Improvements – Crosswalk and Intersection Paver Repairs and Maintenance. With long-term maintenance issues related to 2004 construction on downtown transit streets, particularly at intersections surrounding Main Street Square, work with engineering consultant to develop and test alternative installations of pavers within roadway.
• Street Improvements – Dallas from Crawford to Caroline. Streetscape modifications including wider sidewalk at south side of Dallas, new landscaping, new pedestrian lighting, new street lighting, underground electrical utilities from current overhead; continuation of previous street improvements from Bagby to Caroline linking hotels with Convention Center.
• Bike Share Program. Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) pilot project to develop a public bike share program based on downtown’s density. Following testing phase, program to be implemented in other areas of Houston region.
• Neighborhood Connections – Elysian Viaduct New Bridge and Roadway. Continue design studies related to Elysian Viaduct and connections between downtown and near northside.
• Neighborhood Connections – Hike & Bike Trails / East Downtown to Buffalo Bayou. Collaborate with adjacent management districts and Buffalo Bayou Partnership to improve recreational and modality connections through downtown; integrate with HARC bike share program.
• Wayfinding Improvements. At street level, comprehensive upgrade to primary, secondary and street-level kiosks signage, including lighting and painting maintenance. Planning for an additional 30 kiosks to supplement the current 20 kiosks. Coordinate wayfinding improvements with adjacent districts. At tunnel level, as-needed updates to tunnel signage to incorporate new developments and tunnel connections. Comprehensive upgrade to tunnel map kiosks."

[DrLan34]

http://www.coydavidson.com/2011/02/11/top-10-most-expensive-us-office-markets/

Houston, 7th most expensive CBD

[LTAWACS]

Is this good or bad?

[samagon]

Is this good or bad?

Probably

[LTAWACS]

Cool!

[lockmat]

I was gonna start a new thred but I guess this one will do.

I was wondering what the future of downtown will be? Last night I went to a birthday party and met a guy from Shell. He said most of Shell is moving out to west Houston and he thinks there's only a small remnant in downtown, is the remnant part true?

Then Exxon is consolidating most likely to the north, will their downtown people be moving there, too?

I know we've seen a couple of buildings pop up downtown the past few years, but I'm just wondering, if your powerhouse companies are moving out, who are the ones staying and moving in? Guess we'll possibly see with a couple of buildings in the pipeline.