dbigtex56

I noticed a sign on the Travis Street side promoting the block, and that the nightclub (former restaurant - 3512 Main, spanish-style old building) has been orange-tagged since April of this year. Any news or rumors?

At one time there was such a thing as civic pride. Look at the courthouses, city halls, schools, libraries, even the jails built in the 19th and early 20th century. Some resemble palaces, with fine masonry, marble, ironwork, woodwork and stained glass. For some reason, that all changed sometime after World War II. Suddenly civic pride was replaced by government resentment. Anything built by the government that wasn't pig ugly was viewed as a waste of tax dollars ("What are they trying to do, build the Taj Mahal?"). Yes, we could probably build something attractive just as cheaply as something ugly, but people would complain. They want ugly. They expect it.

All the cities you mentioned have zoning laws, many quite strict. In Houston, movie theaters can be built wherever someone chooses to; usually where land is cheap and within a reasonable driving distance of a market. In other cities, businesses are restricted to specific areas, and the critical mass that is required for a thriving downtown is achieved. Coupled with efficient mass transit, no wonder they're able to support multiple theaters in their downtowns. With land prices in downtown Houston going up, and the slim profit margins of movie theaters, it's easy to see why no one has taken that chance yet. Why bother, when you could make just as much money by operating a surface parking lot until someone makes an offer too good to refuse for the land? I believe a step in the right direction for the revitalization of downtown is to tax the hell out of surface parking lots, thus making higher, better use of the land more attractive - including movie theaters. This change would have to be approved by the Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector's office, an elected position. Since the interests in question are major campaign contributors, don't hold your breath.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong (and I'm sure they will...) Houston's claim is that we have the second greatest number of seats in a designated theater district outside of NYC. This is not to say that other cities don't have as many (or more) seats in an equivalent area, or more theaters, or more performances, or greater attendance; it's just not designated as a Theater District.

"Three little girls from school are we...."

"The Katy Prairie lies in the Texas Coastal Plain, and encompasses over a thousand square miles, (Wermund, 1994) bounded by the Brazos River on the southwest, pine-hardwood forest on the north, and the city of Houston on the east." (courtesy Katy Prairie Conservancy website). This area is vital for wildlife - not only in Houston and Texas, but throughout the Americas. Migrating birds rely on this stopover to rest and refuel before continuing their journey. In addition, there are native species which are endangered due to shrinking habitat. For more details, see the Katy Prairie Conservancy website - and thanks for your interest.

No, it wouldn't. It would be terrible. Leave the Katy Prairie alone!

Good news: one caveat. Hope they don't 'streamline' it to the point that the few restrictions on developers that we currently have on the books are overlooked, specifically the 90 day hold on demolition of historic properties. I'm still fuming over that fiasco in the 6th ward. Link

"has acquired"...the two sweetest words in the English language (and wonder how you say it in French? ) So happy to hear the Plaza has been rescued from those ninnies. Wonder how they'll address the parking issue?

I agree about access to the Main site being better served by entrances off the Travis exit from Spur 527, and perhaps Alabama. There's a bit of that "you can't get there from here" confusion in surrounding streets, due to one-way streets and left turn restrictions. I'm sure they'll work it out. Here's hoping that plaza shown in the rendering will face on the corner of Main & Alabama - it will be a welcome addition in an area that could use that amenity. Wonder when groundbreaking is scheduled?

Now why does that remind me of this song ?

First Joey, then Dee Dee... Johnny Ramone died yesterday, of prostate cancer. BBC obituary A moment of silence seems inappropriate...let's have a moment of LOUDNESS in his memory! Love da Ramones

Good point, ssullivan. Is it just me, or is everyone unsure as to the fate of the printed page and brick-and-mortar stores? Will we dinosaurs still have those options in a few years, or will everything come into our homes through this little cable? amazon.com seems to be doing a booming business, and many newspapers and periodicals are available online. I hope the next generation will have the pleasure of browsing through books and finding new interests of which they were perhaps unaware. The efficiency of computers is sometimes a disadvantage.

When Disney starts buying land AND politicians, we'll know it's serious.

Worked admirably for the old Woolworth's. I used to drop by and coo at the parakeets on my way to lunch in the tunnel.

but it might keep the bums awake...

Baba Yega on Grant New Orleans Po' Boys on Main Barnaby's (Fairview) Niko-Nikos That Cuban place on Main, near Preston Station Mai's And there's (was?) that little hamburger place on Dennis St. near Mason, which seemed like a little slice of Mayberry.

Another problem with Main Street Square is its proximity to a couple of very cruddy little convenience stores, which seem to be magnets for drunks and panhandlers. I doubt if they would do much to enhance an outdoor dining experience. This is a rare example where maybe CVS isn't such a bad thing. With any luck the competition will force those stores out of business. And I doubt if CVS will put up with loiterers.

Hope no mushrooms sprout around that statue...the folks from Conroe would have a fit

Renu's, a Thai restaurant on Westheimer near Commonwealth. They had a dish called "Tiger Cries", and I'm drooling just thinking about it.

One of the funniest segments on Letterman is when he has two stagehands give expressionless readings of actual "Oprah" transcripts. "You go, girl", in a dull monotone...it just kills me.

Underground electric service would certainly be more attractive than the wires and poles that clutter the urban landscape. But jeez...it would be VERY expensive. The streets would have to be torn up and repaved, and every business or residence would have to install new service drops at their own expense. Also, underground electric service is a pain in the neck to maintain. I used to work for HL&P, and have fielded a lot of calls from people whose underground service drops had failed. Why? Beats me. Maybe there's something caustic in our soil, or maybe it's the effects of the gumbo expanding and contracting with each rainfall or drought. For whatever reason, these poor folks would have to rent a temporary by-pass, and hire someone to dig up the old drops and install new ones, and resod their lawns. And some of these houses were only 10-15 years old. Unless technology has improved, underground service remains a luxury many people cannot afford.

ok

Here's a slightly off-topic rant: Just because you got a job at at a snobbier fast-food (coffee) outlet than Burger Boi, doesn't entitle you to a tip jar. When you give service at a table, you're entitled to a tip. When I have to place my order AT A COUNTER, you are a counter service person. I tip for service, not attitude.

And this is why Houston is such a wacky town... On the previous board, I related how Channel 2 news reported that (approximate quote) "And now that we're building a new courthouse, the old one will be torn down." This was about a year or so ago. well, no. No. I called some people who I don't even know, and they gave courteous replies. People at the National Register of Historic Places; and they assured me that Channel 2 was wrong. They're not going to tear down this building. Forgive me if I keep mentioning Channel 2 as a source of bad news; it's because I have personal experience. This - our- Harris County courthouse building is only one of which we Texans should be proud. Even the most humble Texas county usually has a substantial courthouse. Many of them are even nicer than our own. Whatever your particular fondness for architecture, you must admit; Texas has built some great courthouses. The building that currently houses family courts is part of our history. More importantly it's part of our present. This is an example of tax dollars going to the right place.