IronTiger

But they shouldn't have counted years of the economy being fantastic to do those metrics, and usually public projects tend to do okay in times of recession. Either way, if this "potential tax revenue" is anywhere close to correct, building the University Line (at least the Richmond part of it) is probably just a few years away, whether Culberson likes it or not. Unfortunately, I'm betting those charts don't take into account how METRO often bungles the funds they do have.

Primary culprit? Although you're right since METRO is partially based on sales tax, to blame the very late start on the recession seems to be stretching a bit, considering that the economy was still doing pretty well up until around 2008.

Especially with the redevelopment going on in the area, yes. That's one of the buildings I'd be a bit sad to see on the "Daily Demolition Report", along with a few other examples (including the flat that "J" and later, "L" lived in near Rice Village) Aw I like Zachry.

TxDOT did indeed build the HOT lanes in Katy Freeway. The final agreement was a combination of support between TxDOT and HCTRA. Below is a selection of quotes that deal with that.

I remember from another thread that railroad signals east of 610 were few and far between. The Heights Blvd. crossing was one of the few that had lights AND a gate. 7th and Cortlandt practically crossed through the middle of intersection and that apparently didn't have lights at all. San Jacinto, IIRC, had the old gate and light set remaining up until the bike lane was built. I could probably bring it up on Google Street View (new one only, but the resolution is horrible, worse than it originally was)

I never went to Langford for classes (my most recent memory involved me sprinting there to buy some water for a friend who skinned both knees) but yes for O&M and def. Kleberg. I would say Harrington Tower may be early brutalist (not concrete, but has that "look"), Zachry very yes, Rudder no. So as for Houston...we've determined that the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza wasn't brutalist (I never liked it anyway), I like the Joske's/Dillard's near The Galleria, aforementioned JCP at Northwest/Almeda, Neiman Marcus and The Galleria too...and that about wraps it up. It's not my imagination that usually the most interesting/outlandish examples of Brutalist end up getting razed first, is it?

Rice's grocery store: did it close before, after, or during the time the remaining Rice stores were converted to Rice Epicurean? I *think* I read it was 2001, which was while one of my cousins went to Rice, so I'll have to ask her (no, not the two I've mentioned before, "E" has moved to New England and married, "J" has since left Rice and lives in Pearland with his wife and dog, "L" still goes to Rice as a grad student)

Kleberg Center, for reference: Langford: O&M: Of course, as this is Houston-related, it should be noted that buildings on universities tend to have a longer shelf life than buildings in a continuously evolving city like Houston.

Knowing my college, the immediate "retail" area is almost exclusively bars. There's a military surplus store, a CVS, a few sketchy convenience stores, and a tiny vintage clothing store that's accessed through a steep spiral staircase. I wish it was more like Rice Village in at least a few aspects (ethnic restaurants, please)

What would you consider "true brutalism", then? I hold that my A&M buildings (Heep and Kleberg) are rather late-era Brutalist, with massive reinforced concrete walls.

2712 SW Freeway

3401 Palmer Highway Texas City TX 77590 was the Texas City one, according to elsewhere on the HAIF. This became a Wal-Mart, then a Venture, then Kmart (which moved from across the street), and now it's a BP office, unless something's changed. 3401 Palmer Highway Texas City TX 77590 was the Texas City one, according to elsewhere on the HAIF. This became a Wal-Mart, then a Venture, then Kmart (which moved from across the street), and now it's a BP office, unless something's changed.

Gerrymandering is out of control, but it affects both parties, and no politician is going to want to re-draw their district to give power to another political party. If you think it's a Republican-only thing or a Democrat-only thing you're kidding yourself.

Is the Crowne Plaza off 59 (used to be a Holiday Inn Select until around 2011, and was originally a Holiday Inn) considered brutalist? I always thought it was ugly (but unique).

I don't remember the HISD administration building, but I remember passing by (c. 2008) a vacant lot. As for Langford, I'm almost never over there (the building is super weird) but I'm a fan of Kleberg and Heep (west campus), which are basically 1970s-era concrete monoliths. As for Houston, I also tend to be a fan of the JCPenney "New Look" buildings (see Northwest, Almeda buildings)

OK, so we all know that the MKT between 610 and Katy was sold to TxDOT and the railroad had free run on it until TxDOT dismantled it in 1997, but what of east of 610, where the Katy ran downtown? Obviously, it's been gone for years, but was it under the same circumstances of the Interstate 10 abandonment? I have a few notes regarding that: - The line was apparently not abandoned all at once, it seems that the "loop" that went under the Elysian viaduct and US-59 was last...but I'm just guessing on that one. - Chron points a playground built in 1996 in the Heights where children could see trains passing by. This particular article was published after the I-10 stretch was sold, and trains were obviously still running in 10/96. - If TxDOT did buy the line, when did they flip the line ROW to City of Houston? Do they actually own the ROW? Also, if they bought it, it was probably part of a "package deal", but TxDOT couldn't do anything with it. It's certainly not fit for commuter rail...and wouldn't it make sense that if it wasn't going to be used for the Interstate 10 corridor, wouldn't it made more financial sense to just flip it back to whoever owned it, instead of abandoning it and just letting the ROW go to waste for the next 10+ years? What if they did, and UP (who I think had SP at the time) just abandoned it as soon it fell back into their hands? - If TxDOT didn't buy the line, when did Southern Pacific decide to abandon to it? Does UP still technically own it? - If the rail lines were not dismantled at the same time, which one was taken apart first and how long did they other part last? - Regarding the playground, by 1996, it was pretty much decided that the commuter rail would not be happening and the rail line would be abandoned. Were the Heights playground people even aware of that fact, or would they not be if TxDOT didn't buy the line? Any insight on this would be appreciated...

Public safety warning: Smug levels seem to be "high" in inner loop Houston today...

My point was Washington is too narrow and we shouldn't build rail elsewhere in less-well-equipped roads just to screw over Culberson. However, Richmond is relatively poor-equipped (also too narrow) to build rail and one wonders if Richmond was very wide if Culberson would support it. (Probably yes as he seemed to support Westpark south of 59, unfortunately that ROW is too narrow and contact nothing--that is, the part that's right between houses and 59)

At the risk of using a phrase found elsewhere in this thread, THAT would be "cutting off your nose to spite your face".

(you forgot to put a there, buddy...) Anyway...wasn't the Arcade actually supposed to be built for chains, though?

Well, I always thought there was coherence in the district...a classy white-on-black typeface for every shop, even if it's a national chain. I'm not opposed to national chains, I just hope that they don't change Rice Village all that much. For what it's worth, I love just walking around it. It's lost some stuff, like that little hardware store that closed about five years ago or the five and ten, but British Isles is cool, 10000 Villages has other locations but still seems like a right fit for it, and other stores that just won't work elsewhere because they're so specialized (a store of leotards, for instance--but in looking them up, they've closed too--not that I would've ever gone there of course, but you get the idea)

What is an "m/f" high rise? I'm guessing it doesn't mean co-ed.

Good grief. You'll find every opportunity to bash Houston because it's not like other cities, and then suddenly switch sides and discredit anyone else's opinion because "they don't live in Houston", all in the same thread. Good grief.

Whoops. Can my post be merged in with that thread, please?

So yes, I like the idea of expanding the zoo, and I can summarize all my ideas as such, and my ideas could improve the park. It'd take some money and some coordinating planning, but I think this idea will suit everyone, including new traffic patterns: 1) Redevelop the National Guard Facilities at Bertner and OST as a new vertical commercial building. As part of this project, the Kroger will be expanded and renovated (at least renovated). The new tenants of this redeveloped building are moved from the McGovern Campus (old Nabisco plant). 2) Convert the Nabisco plant back into industrial by having tenants move out between Hepburn and OST (roughly). Start by assembling the vacant tracts that are there and close off roads. This will be a new golf course when all is said and done and may encourage new residential development there (already some there) 3) After the golf course is built, the old golf course is abandoned. Optionally, we'll tackle closing MacGregor where it runs through the park, but it still carries a significant amount of traffic, including to the Medical Center. Holcombe, Almeda, and Cambridge will be upgraded in preparation for the closure, including new surfaces, better stoplights, more lanes, parking even. 4) In part of the abandoned golf course area, Hermann Drive will connect to MacGregor instead of intersecting Almeda and dead-ending at the 288 frontage road. That way, you could go directly to Hermann by exiting the 288 frontage road and helping traffic flow. 5) Close MacGregor between Almeda and Cambridge permanently. The pavement doesn't have to be totally removed, at least, not yet. Rename MacGregor between Cambridge and Holcombe as Braeswood. 6) But if we don't want to close MacGregor on expense issues (FWIW, there is a pedestrian underpass), it still doesn't matter for our other plans. 7) Extend Concert Trail to Hermann Drive. What's north of that will become new surface lots. The old surface lots become a zoo expansion, and what's south of that is developed as park space, mostly open lawns and a dog park. Perhaps even a municipal pool. It's a ton of space, and it could be better utilized.