dbigtex56

Again, notice that Judge Eckels and Mayor White are careful to qualify their statements by specifying "toll road". When they attempt to put a road on this ROW, their butts will be covered.

For those who haven't been there, St. Louis has some wonderful buildings - many, alas, which have fallen into decay. They regularly tear down buildings which make our local historic landmarks seem rather humble in comparison. Here's a site with some great photographs and insights:Built St. Louis.

Judge Eckels didn't get to be a judge by choosing his words carelessly. Note that he does not deny that a road might be built on the ROW - only that no toll road will be constructed. I remain skeptical about the future plans for this land acquistion. Whether it's a toll road or a non-toll connecting stretch, the impact would be the same.

Ain't gonna happen. Guess you'll have to find someone else to annoy.

If this is going to be a high-rise, I'd assume that the existing building would need to be demolished. Certainly it wasn't engineered to be expanded vertically. And I wonder how this will impact people who might be considering the Shamrock on Main? Personally, this looks more viable to me.

Oh good - it's not just me. Tenneco will always be Tenneco, and Transco (I think that's what you meant) will always be Transco. Same with Allied Bank, Republic Bank, Texas Commerace Tower, and the Enron Buildings. I even kind of gag at Minute Maid Park. Does Chrysler still own the Chrysler Building? I'm guessing they don't...but the name remains the same.

hehe! As Linda Ellerbee (who got her start in TV news in Houston) wrote in "And So It Goes" - it's called "riding the elephant". Whoever is the newest on the job has to cover the circus when they come to town, and there's always the point where they unload the elephant, and the corresponant is expected to give a live report while, you know, riding it. One of the dues people pay.

By sheer chance, I was in this building a couple of months ago. Did you know that medical researchers sometimes randomly call people, and ask them to volunteer? It's true. Someone called, and asked for my basic demographic information, then told me that they were looking for someone like myself, as a control for a cancer study. As luck would have it, their offices were located in the Prudential Building. I was impressed by the circular area above the main lobby, and the mural - also the fountains in front of the building. The rest of the interior was unexceptional. If you stand back and look at it as a whole, it's a respectable (typical) mid-century high rise office building, and a pleasing design. I hope it's lovingly photographed before its inevitable demolition. So far as it being some sort of iconic structure, I don't see it. While I'm sorry to see a nice example of mid-20th century architecture go down, it's not so exceptional to rate the outcry about its destruction IMO.

All these years I thought I was the only one... I used to go into abandoned buildings all the time. There were some lovely ones in upstate NY - factories, mansions, apartment buildings, theaters, stores... And when (and not until) they were demolished, I'd salvage some great things. That's how I furnished my first apartment. I've posted this link before, but it bears repeating - the abandoned subway of Rochester, NY. Some good links, too.

For the lazy but curious, a definition of 'crapulence':Excessive indulgence; intemperance. And I too am curious as to whom qualifies as an artist. Is formal education required, or forbidden? And must I get something pierced? I make my own greeting cards...will that get me a reduction in rent? Pragmatically (oh, look it up yourself), I'm glad that something is being done to preserve this building. Put a roof on it and sort out the finances later. And btw. I like those yellow tree trunks.

As a newcomer to Houston (quite a while ago) I enjoyed "Ray Miller's Houston" I might not otherwise have known that Lyndon B. Johnson was once a resident of my neighborhood. In the early 30's, he taught school in Houston and lived at the southeast corner of Hawthorne and Garrott. The house is still there.

This seems like good news. I wonder if this has anything to do with another post I saw about councilmember Michael Berry having land for sale in this vicinity?

Perhaps the whole question of facilities, attractiveness, etc. is moot. Does anyone recall that Salt Lake City got the Olympic nod because the officials were a bunch of corrupt crooks? And has that changed?

75th game, 74th win.

Maybe if someone could kick Radar, the Channel 2 Weather Dog, off the air for a moment, and bring this to peoples' attention...

If you're oversensitive, perhaps you should reconsider your major. When Channel 2 promotes how one of their employees found her ideal mate due to their tips on 'how to find a man'... must I continue?

Nubians and a sedan chair

Automobiles and pedestrians will always have an uneasy coexistance. As a pedestrian, I understand that for many (most?) people, driving a car seems to make more sense. Often it does. Today I bought a TV set, and went through hell getting it home, due to a comedy of errors about finding a taxi driver who understood where Sears customer pickup site is located (same place it's been since 1939...but that's another story). We currently have a section of Main Street on which automobiles are banned (Main Street Square). The lack of cars hasn't improved these blocks for pedestrians, because most people don't want to be there to begin with. No offense - the fountains are lovely, and the landscaping is appreciated - but there's nothing going on in those blocks. The most vital pedestrian area I've seen in Houston was in the early 80's, when Lower Westheimer was jam-packed with both cars and pedestrians. In those pre-Jerry Springer/MTV days, this was a sort of zoo for alternative lifestyles. Traffic was bumper-to-bumper and people crowded the sidewalks - not all of whom were transsexual prostitutes. It was a tourist attraction. Merely eliminating cars is not going to attract pedestrians. There has to be some sort of draw to begin with. On the other hand, there are places where pedestrians are treated in a spectacularly poor fashion. Ever try to catch a bus at the corner of Westheimer and 610? Before you do, I'd advise reviewing your will. And the W. Alabama/Spur 527 reconstruction project has left pedestrians no option but to rely on quick wits and fleet feet, since sidewalks have been obliterated. Creating pedestrian-friendly areas is somewhat like promoting retail downtown - there has to be a critical mass, enough to make it worthwhile. We're back to the chicken-or-the-egg question.

According to an article in The Chicago Sun Times (May 24, 2002):"The Denver based Chipotle chain, acquired by McDonald's three years ago, is popular for its freshly made burritos and tacos." Interesting article. As someone mentioned on another thread, McDonald's has considerable real estate holdings, albeit through a holding company called System Capital Corp. and its spin-off, Real Property Corp.

Wasn't a child care facility built adjacent to the new Enron building? I don't know if it's in operation or anything about its reputation - but the location might be convenient for you.

Last I heard, Richard Pryor is still alive.

Click on the underlined TABC in my earlier post - it's a link to their site. And I got my unzipper unstuck, and there is no liquor license currently listed for this address.

The term I've heard used to describe this phenomenon is "Generica".

A hearty hello and welcome, squatterkid. I knew people who lived at Allen Park Village just before much of it was destroyed (squatters), and they were decent folk. Likewise, I remember when lower Westheimer had abandoned buildings which were respectfully occupied by non-paying residents. I'm still mystified that people can own buildings and not want to do something with them.

Welcome to HAIF, jkosmin I've also heard that Galveston was called "The Ellis Island of the Southwest", because so many people from so many countries first entered Texas (and the US) through this port. Galveston was growing as a financial concern, due to its ideal location as a port and distribution center (railroad connections) for a growing America, with plenty of financial backing. The 1900 hurricaine and growth of other cities froze Galveston at the turn of the 20th century. I believe that this will be its saving grace. It holds such potential for restoration of its late Victorian buildings.