dbigtex56

How about getting people to where people want to go, and breaking this cycle of more cars means more roads means more cars, ad infinitum? The Gulf Coast Institute has information you may find interesting.

Founders’ Memorial Park, 1217 West Dallas

Thanks for that observation. Crossley's credibility just shot up several points.

What a great photo! Gotta love those Heywood Wakefield 'dog-bones' - there's a set of four currently being auctioned on eBay.

Because Shelley Sekula-Gibbs resigned her council seat to run for the House of Representatives (Dist. 22), the remainder of her unexpired term will be filled by a special election to be held May 12th. Here's a list of the declared candidates with links to their respective websites: Andy Neill Human Capital Consultant and Community Activist Andy Neill has announced his intentions to seek the Houston City Council’s At-Large position # 3 in the upcoming 2007 election season. Neill is a political outsider who is looking to shake-up what he says is a “stagnate cabal of City leadership”. Noel Freeman I am honored to ask for your support in the race to fill Houston’s vacant City Council Seat, At Large, Position 3. I am a military veteran, former federal employee and the only candidate with hands on experience serving you at the City of Houston’s Public Works Department—Houston’s largest provider of the services you depend on each day, including water, sewers, engineering, construction, traffic & transportation services, and storm drainage. Melissa Noriega Houston is one of the finest cities in America. It will take competent, effective leadership to make this the city all we want and I believe I am the person that can work with you to make that happen on City Council. Whether in public education, our community or the State Legislature, I've always worked to find common ground to achieve positive change. With your help, we can bring that type of leadership to the Houston City Council. Let's start the conversation now about the great things you see ahead for our city. I would be honored to have your support and your vote. Roy Morales My Fellow Houstonians, Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me, my values, and how I intend to work for you as your next City Council Member. My name is Lieutenant Colonel Roy Morales and I am your candidate for Houston City Council At-Large Position 3. As a retired United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, I have led many incredible and successful projects around the world while serving our nation. While working for the City of Houston, I saw a desperate need for strong leadership in our city. I will provide our community with the needed integrity, vision and leadership to meet the current and future challenges. I am running to build a better and safer Houston. David Goldberg Dear Friends and Neighbors, Throughout my life, I have worked hard to serve my community. Whether it is working at the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina or enlisting in the Texas State Guard, I have lived to better myself so that I may help my community in any way I can. That is why I am seeking the office of Houston City Councilman At-large position 3. I feel I can make a real difference in my community. Over the next few months, I intend to show you, my neighbors, that through innovative ideas, we can build a better Houston together.

I absolutely agree. From what I've seen, they've done a wonderful job with that building. And let's not forget our friend at Hotel Montagu . I'm not sure that some people understand that such an establishment is vital to a lively downtown. Cool is difficult to quantify...but damn, George is cool. He gets it.

Different site. The block in question is still a surface parking lot. It's bordered by Milam, Louisiana, Walker and McKinney. I remember when the former Southwest Tower occupied the southeast corner of that block, and how shocked I was that a 21 story building, less than 20 years old, was so casually demolished. The removal of that absurd bronze statue of the semi-nude woman (it looked like something from a Frankie Avalon movie) which stood in front of that building somehow made it all worthwhile. (She was seriously cheesy; the gal had a pony tail and a two-piece swimsuit. She currently lurks somewhere over by the police station, I think.)

Those intimately acquainted with the Montrose neighborhood may be familiar with a house near the corner of Brandt and Sul Ross; it's surely one of the more lovely reminders of a once gracious neighborhood. (photo submissions appreciated) Movie buffs might recognize it as the home of the bitter old miser (Stacy Keach) in the 1970 Robert Altman film Brewster Mc Cloud. Grateful acknowledgment to HAIF member 'patsy' for providing the following information: The Lucia House was built by Vincenzo Lucia probably in the early 1900's. He relocated his family from West Dallas where I believe he lived above the Magnolia Macaroni Factory which he founded. He was also one of the first board members of the First City Bank which became First City National Bank. His portrait shows him to be a portly prosperous gentleman with a walrus mustache looking a lot like Teddy Roosevelt. His granddaughter, Carmen Lucia Dickerson, has been my best friend for all of my 62 years and I can remember visiting the house on Sul Ross to visit her grandmother on holidays. The house was left to her son, Anthony Lucia who owned Lucia Insurance Agency. I cannot tell you about the future of the house. You can read about the Lucia family in a book of Houston Italian families that can be found at the Italian Cultural Center on Milford Street off of Montrose. It is a very colorful family and the 3 story house was filled with beautiful antiques and a massive dining room table for family gatherings. It also has a basement. The family gatherings all took place before the freeway cut though a lovely neighborhood filled with houses not quite so grand as Mama Lucia's. Another contact would be Gregory Lucia, Attorney. He wrote the article for the Italian Book and I'm sure he could tell you any historical facts you would like to know about the house. ***************************************** Thanks, patsy.

Interesting info on this building here.

Uh-huh. Lawyers, too. But back to the matter at hand; I think TheNiche is to be commended for seeking advice on saving a mature tree; it will benefit not only his own property, but his neighbors' as well. From what I've seen of the East Side, too many property owners seem indifferent or even downright hostile to preserving and maintaining trees. I've seen mature pecans which have had their limbs lopped off and the trunks left standing like grisly trophies. One is uneasily reminded of Vlad the Impaler, or The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Whatever a person's ethnic or cultural background, can we agree that trees usually are (in Martha's words) A Good Thing? and that some people need to have this explained to them?

Tonight I noticed that the ground floor of the Pillot Building is vacant. The portion formerly occupied by Burger King has a sign on the door saying "Closed Indefinitely". Does anyone know if there's a problem with the building, or if this is just a lease dispute?

Do undocumented immigrant amateur whores approach their work with the same brutality as the undocumented immigrant amateur arborists? That could explain why skanky American white trash whores are in such demand.

I don't know about you, but I think nothing screams "Mediterranean!" like a big ol' gaping garage door on the facade. But then, you can't expect too much for $1.5m.

In the 1970s much of the nation had an extremely poor image of Houston. It was known for having a corrupt and vicious police department, toxic air and water, an astronomical murder rate, and overbearing attitudes. Reports of Houston vehicles sporting "Let them freeze in the dark" bumper stickers during the energy crises of the 70's did little to endear the city to the rest of the nation. People have long memories. It takes time for cities to overcome the negative perceptions formed over the years (ask anyone from Pittsburgh or Cleveland). We've made great strides in the past quarter of a century, but it might take a while before the rest of the world is persuaded.

Ah, the Chron does basically the same thing, except they prefer overdressed, bejeweled Botoxed whores. You'll find them in Shelley Hodge's column...

I believe it's the northwest corner - and yes, that's across the street from the block in question.

I think it's irresponsible to furnish pre-teens easily fenced equipment worth hundreds of dollars. Talk about taking candy from a baby! Every crackhead in town will be lined up outside those schools like hyenas at a water hole. Kids that age have enough trouble maintaining and keeping track of textbooks, let alone sensitive electronic equipment. Imagine the hardship replacing a computer would place on a low-income family. On the bright side, this may change the age-old excuse "the dog ate my homework" to "the dog peed on my laptop".

Isn't this the block containing the West Building? Any word on whether that project is officially dead? Seems to me that there's at least one other block on Main (downtown) which safely could be described as "seedy".

It's tempting to mock the above statement; but, in the words of the old song, "She's more to be pitied than censured."

This is a picture of Houston International Airport (now William P. Hobby Airport), not Houston Intercontinental Airport. The International terminal shown was constructed in 1954; judging by the car in the foreground and the newly planted trees, I'd guess this photo was taken at about that time.

When did Terminal C open? I moved here in October of '81, and seem to recall that it had just opened (or opened soon thereafter.)

Unnecessary personal remarks notwithstanding, do you have any substantial argument countering Hizzy's observations?

About 25 years ago some friends and I were touring around the outskirts of Houston. We stumbled across a picturesque little Mission-style railroad depot surrounded by miles and miles of...nothing. It may have been in Sugar Land. Undoubtedly, the area would now be completely developed and bear no resemblance to my memory of the place. Does anyone know where the depot is (or was)? It's my understanding that this architectural style was popular with the Southern Pacific line. I hope someone had the foresight to preserve this beautiful little building.

In themselves, used car lots, taco stands, and other such prosaic businesses are not "hip". However, they have the effect of repelling the non-hip, which is in itself sufficient reason to celebrate their presence.

original thread started by zebra - added poll options