VelvetJ

Houston should just focus on being itself. We are not New York City and don't want to be, so just drop this whole theater near the Galleria kind of talk. I'm sorry I had to.

Hey JasonDFW, you've basically said it all for me . It really is all about preference. I will take the summers I spent in Central Texas over the summers here in Houston anyday. My opinion that I think Houston is more uncomfortable than Dallas is just that..... my opinion. That opinion is NOT based soley upon the past 5 years. Living in Texas for the past 19 years have made me draw my own conclusions. Standing in the shade in Dallas feels different than standing in the shade in Houston to me and no amount of information presented is going to change how the two feel on my own personal skin. Hey Gary, it's called having a life. Maybe you should give it a try instead of sitting around waiting for me to respond to a opinion thread about weather. By the way, I'm a Proud Houstonian.

While on Richmond on yesterday, I saw a rendering that looked similar to this project in an open lot just West of the Best Buy but east of Hidalgo Street there on Richmond. I was driving and couldn't get a really good look but I think it may have been the Turnberry building. Does anyone know if that is the correct location of the project and if so, what is the status of groudbreaking?

Well, Dallas may be hotter but I still say Houston is the most uncomfortable. Dallas does seem to have had a particularly hot Summer this year with regard to high temperatures. And I will say out of the 17 years I've been in Houston, this Summer has been the coolest I've experienced here. I think when looking at the picture as a whole, I still say Houston is hotter, simply due to my feeling Houston is the most uncomfortable, but still Dallas is no joke when it comes to heat.

A giant Disco area? And some people had the nerve to shoot down my idea of turning the Dome into a giant snow skiing facility?

I think it should be something plain and simple like "Comfort Park". I think it's kinda catchy. I can see it now, "Oh yeah, we are having a soccer match at the CP", or "Let's meet today for lunch at Comfort Park". It could work. By the way, if someone would like to use the idea to submit, by all means. Dinner and Astro's gear isn't quite enough to get me excited enough to submit it.

And unfortunately, there are some on this site that actually believe that is indeed the goal.

As I proud Houstonian, I don't know if I agree with this completely. Many times Houstonians try to look down on Dallas' attempt at sophistication and it's strives to be cosmopolitan and fashionable and cool. I personally think that is a wonderful thing if no other reason than it keeps the city progressing and trying to improve itself. So what if they are not, at least they make attempts and in many ways it has payed off. Just as Houston is comfortable in it's grit and warts and industry, I'm sure Dallas is comfortable in who they are as well. IMO, Houston is a bit TOO comfortable with itself, to the point of where it has become a fault. A poster at another site said recently that , " Houstonians don't even realize what's wrong with their city". For the most part I think that is true I believe it all stems from being too comfortable with ourselves. That attitude has created mentalities that believe mass transit is "trying to be like someone else and something we are not". Or it causes us to believe the junky appearance of 1-45 North is a good thing because "it shows free-interprise". And 2112, does Houston really have much room to talk about Dallas' "pretending it's bigger via imaginary annexations" when we claim 4th largest city in the United States? I do admit it has been my experience that those in Dallas seem to be a bit more snobbish or stuck-up and reserved, than what I personally like, but at least they are consistent with it.

Bryon Miranda is apparently gone as of this week. On another note, I thought a weather guy at channel 13 was pretty open about his homosexuality.

I miss new episodes of Texas Justice. I say we start a protest for it's return.

I agree. It's funny how some of our citizens would lable mass transit as "trying to be like someone else", and "trying to be something we are not", but would build a hotel in the Dome with an exact replica of themes as a MAJOR hotel in our sister city to the north. We scoff at creating a SINGLE intersection in this gigantic city of ours that is pedestrian friendly complete with Giant Monitors and al fresco resturants because "we are not New York and don't want to be", though other cities are building similar styled developments (including Dallas), but we would outline one of our downtown office towers in neon green like our neighbor to the north. If the Dome is to become a giant hotel, it should be something that one cannot find anywhere else, PARTICULARLY in another major Texas city. If Houston is to "just be itself", like so many here like to suggest, this Dome project should be unique to Houston and Houston only.

Those days for Houston are gone. The cheapest and most conservative design possible should now be Houston's theme.

Very well stated and true post that I see no one has addressed to counter.

I love Atlanata's individual buildings. It's amazing how a simple spire or a couple of wings can change the entire dynamic of a building. Look at that new Symphony tower in midtown (silver building in Gary's first picture). It really is just a basic design but those wings at the top change the entire building and make it more dramatic. I'm sure the wings raised the cost of building the building but it was totally worth it IMO.

Walking to the bus stop in icy cold freezing snowy weather in St. Louis to go to school is something I will never forget. Not to mention walking back to the bus stop on a clear sunny blue sky 15 degree afternoon to get home. If I can survive that, I can survive walking to mass transit stops during the summer in Houston. Besides, I wonder if $5, $6, or $7 per gallon gas would prompt Houstonians to be willing to walk a few blocks to a rail stop?

Oh my goodness. If this is not an example of how Houston has settled into mediocrity, I don't know what is. Folks look at the design of this thing! I'm not saying the place should be laced in solid gold but come on. Where has the imagination of this city gone and why do developers continue to choose Houston for what appears to be their worst designs? I would rather this not be built at all than to see this terrible design from the early 70's coastal Alabama rise (and it is in close proximity to one of the areas most popular attractions nontheless).

Musicman, it is your belief that 48 percent of Houston's voting public is against rail going down Richmond avenue SPECIFICALLY? I don't believe that. Just from casual conversation I have found that at least 1 resident of northwest Houston, 3 residents of Southwest Houston, and 1 resident in Clear Lake couldn't care less whether rail is specifically on Richmond Avenue or not, they just agree that the most logical route should be taken. I am speaking of the specific Richmond avenue route. If you are making the argument that everyone who voted against rail during the election must automatically be against rail on Richmond then that is a different animal. Those people more than likely don't want rail anywhere at at anytime in Houston. If they are against rail on Richmond, it is because they are against rail in general. Burningng gasoline and electricity may both be expensive, but at this point using an electric alternative would be the wisest thing for us, and I think there are a number of reasons we can point out to why that is. No, I meant Sugarland Town Square and the developments around the Woodlands mall. I am not talking about the entire Woodlands development or the entire city of Sugarland. Those residents love the urban style of those new developments. Being able to live, work and play in a single area has become very attractive. Have you been to the Sugarland Town Square on a Saturday or Sunday evening? Plus, you mentioned this could happen in Houston at the expense of homes and businesses? Are you kidding me? You know you don't sound like a Houston resident right now don't you? The city that has lost half of it's history to new development? A city where someone would even consider the destruction of the River Oaks Theater? A city that will fell mature oak trees and thick forests for a strip center? Now businesses and homes are a concern for more urban development along a rail line? And of course most people wouldn't want a Town Center in the middle of Memorial park, but the sad thing about that is, in Houston it's probably possible. Oh well, at least we know the River Oaks is safe for at LEAST another year. Musicman, you didn't answer the question. Can it be said that most opponents to Mass transportation tend to be supporters of the Republican party? I didn't say all Republicans are against it, I said most of it's opposers tend to be. Lastly, I think it's short-sighted to think this line on Richmond would provide relief to our transportation woes......at the moment. A full network, which we are trying to achieve, will provide the maximum benefit of this particular line. We are trying to achieve a goal. We are trying to complete a puzzle to make a beautiful picture. We can't do that with only two pieces. Those pieces will reach their full potential when the other pieces are added and the picture is complete.

The Niche, maybe I need to make myself a little more clear. In the past, one of the reasonings behind not having rail in Houston was that we are not dense enough. What I'm saying is that is no longer reason enough to fight rail. If we are trying to wait until Houston is dense enough, or try to wait until we reach 10,000 ppsm, we will be waiting long past our lifetimes. Even after all of the money we have spent on our gigantic freeways, congestion is still a problem. Our air quality is far from some of the best in the nation. And I personally believe we will be looking at $5 per gallon gas, sooner than we think. Doesn't Houston, Dallas, and Atlanta share similar densities with Houston being the most dense of the three? What was the point in Dallas and Atlanta investing in rail? Don't they know they aren't dense enough for rail? What fools. Regarding cost, did we not end up having to pay more for our rail line than what we could have? Didn't we do it alone? Maybe I'm clairvoyant? Lastly, Ok, I can accept you not trusting METRO for whatever reason you have, but does this mean you trust John Culberson? Do you think he has genuine motivations?

Well, since I have not quite figured out how to quote individual paragraphs, I will just respond by addressing each one via paragraph. # 1 I was actually only referring to the Richmond Route. The residents in Afton Oaks and a few business owners are indeed a relatively small amount of people to have to re-route the train from the most logical path that will be a KEY connection to some of the most important destinations in the entire region. This line is not like connecting Meyerland to Westbury. As you know, this line is connecting the city's top Universities with two major employment centers. So the efficiency of this line is crucial. It's time for Houston to evolve like it has since it's inception, and that evolution should be with less dependency on the automobile. # 2 Musicman, in your opinion what would be the most cost effective solution that does not involve burning gasoline that the general population would find attractive enough to ride? Also, I think it's time Houstonians realize that we are no longer at the point where CURRENT population density should be the major catalyst (behind cost) for building rail. We have got to get people out of their cars, period. And if that means residents on Mandell walking a couple of blocks to Richmond to catch a train that will take them to a new HEB Grocery store where the Shepard Plaza currently is, then so be it. And I think they will do it if given the option. I think many Houstonians just don't know what they are missing. Look how all of those suburbanites have fallen in love with the new Sugarland Town Square and style of the new developments in the Woodlands. That type of lifestyle could be enjoyed and will be enjoyed in the actual city of Houston if given a chance. Plus if we look at the bigger picture, rail will spur more urban styled development. #3 Well, I never mentioned political parties, but as a strong supporter of the Democratic party myself, just let me say I was FURIOUS with Bob Lanier for just that, simply because I KNEW rail in Houston was inevitable and the longer we waited the more expensive and more difficult it would be to get it, and it would be only a matter of a few years before the roads that Metro's rail money was spent on would be in poor shape again, and the crime wave we experiencing at the time that was used as justification to raid Metro's savings, would pass. So what you stated above was not news to me at all. HOWEVER, can it be denied that the strongest opposition to mass transit tend to be from those that are Republican? #4 (In response to musicman's last two paragraphs) Yeah, I am totally with you here. But now I just wish we could find politicians who place what's best for Houston over making decisions that they know doesn't serve the city as a whole, simply because they are more concerned with being re-elected. METRO is suppose to be the experts here, and I don't think they would have chosen Richmond as a route, just for craps and giggles. I believe as experts they have good reason choosing that particular route. What would be METRO'S motivation behind choosing to place rail along a street that would make the least sense and jeopardize federal funding by placing it in a area that will not generate the rider numbers needed to get the federal money? Does METRO have Houston's best interest in mind......I personally like to think so. I don't view METRO as self-serving. Can the same be said for John Culberson?

Musicman, this actually has nothing to do with your conversation with ssullivan, I just have a couple of questions stemming from your above words. Does the wants of a relatively few amount of people justify the abandonment of the most logistical cost effective route for Metro to take? Are the residents of AO and a Congressman who has placed his own political agenda ahead of what is best for the entire region justified in blocking that route, basically in a nutshell, because they don't want to be inconvenienced? I also find it interesting that you are actually willing to spend more money for what makes the most sense for Houston in terms of gaining riders. I'm not sure if you are a overall rail supporter or not but one of the major factors in rail opponents being against rail in Houston from the very start was due to the cost. Years ago there were many rail proponents that wanted to spend the money to do what was best for Houston instead of doing was the cheapest or what was the most convenient to them personally. There were many citizens who wanted a aggressive rail plan but were shot down due to cost. Now I read you are willing to pay for a effective system. Today I also read in the editorial section of the Chronicle a reader expressing support for John Culberson for "having a spine" by opposing a flawed Metropolitian Transit Authority program because it does not have any long term plans to move people from one side of the city to the other, from the airports to the central city, and to able to move people from their homes to reduce congestion and pollution. What the reader did not know was many Houstonians wanted those things but again, they were deemed too expensive and one of the people that blocked such routes was the very man he is giving kudos to in the Chronicle. Even on my very first ride on the Metro Train, there was a woman behind me complaining that the train was a waste of tax payer money because "it doesn't even go to the airport". and she seemed to have no idea that the reason it doesn't and won't anytime soon is basically because of 2 local politicians with their own personal agendas. Musicman I must say you are a interesting Houstonian. You want what is best for Houston but most importantly, you are actually willing to pay for what is best for Houston. Interesting.

Yes it's true that I-10 could not be moved but if I'm not mistaken, some citizens in that area suggested stacking the freeway, like in many other cities across the world, so a lot of land would not have to be taken along the corridor. But if I recall correctly, that option was dismissed. So no I-10 did not have to move but it could have been elevated. If he listened to those citizens like he is listening to those in AO, many of those business and homes would probably still be in existence on the Katy Freeway. Culberson is a hypocrite.

I saw him on channel 2 on yesterday and it just seemed weird for obvious reasons. I say congratulations to him. By the way, I must say I was correct again. When I saw the title of this thread, knowing Jerome Gray is black, I made a prediction on who I would see posts from before I opened it, and bingo, like clockwork, there they were. The 3 stooges.

By why would METRO want to be diplomatic by not exposing him if he didn't have the power to derail their plans? What would METRO have to gain by doing that to someone that clearly does not have their best interest in mind? I suppose I'm being pessimistic here. Although Federal funding isn't soley in Culberson's hands, I still fear he has enough "back scratching" ability to influence his buddies on the committee from other states to block funding to Houston as a favor to him. I just have trust issues with politicians of his type.

Ok, I will admit I am feeling lazy today and have not read all of the pages, so I will post a few questions and hope someone is gracious enough to answer them for me. Some of the questions are really to residents of Afton Oaks that visit this site. I would really be curious to hear your answers to these questions. Thanks in advance. 1. Will someone please provide a link showing facts and or evidence explaining how and why property values will DECREASE, SPECIFICALLY in Afton Oaks due to rail? A study, a survey, anything. 2. How will the residents and businesses of Afton Oaks cope when Richmond has to be reconstructed? It actually could use a complete makover immediately imo. How have they continued to thrive in the past during constuction? 3. Fastforward to 2011, what are your opinions of what gas prices will be? Will the residents of Afton Oaks be willing to privately pay for a station in their neighborhood or will they be willing to walk to the nearest rail station ( at least 8 months out of the year. We all know why summer would be tough). 4. For the residents of Afton Oaks that visit this site, have either of you lived in a place with light or any other types of rail as mass transit? What was that experience like? 5. Oppositition to the line has been well documented by the residents of Afton, but are there any positive aspects of placing rail through Afton Oaks that the residents there can see? If so what are they in your opinions?