VelvetJ

I hate to start a fire but I think the DFW area has more waterparks than Houston, plus their theme park (SFOT) really tops over AstroWorld. But they don't have the Gulf of Mexico, so I suppose that is the reason. Also, to my knowlege, we only have 3, which are Splashtown, WaterWorld, and Adventure Bay (Funplex). Well, we will have 4 with Schlitterbaghn being built in Galveston.

They aren't working Mr. WestGray.

Thanks kjb434, the call was really out for everyone . Anyway, thanks for the response, it at least keeps my hope alive that this will actually be built. By the way, the condos across the street on the tennis court you mentioned, are not going to be tall correct? Won't they be more of the typical 3-4 story apartment homes that have been going up over the past decade?

I really like the design. Hopefully we are done with the whole beige cookie-cutter designs for a while. Anyway, in the opinions of some that may be a little bit more "in the know" about certain things in our fair city, *cough* Houston-development *cough*, what are the chances this project is actually going to happen? No facts needed, just your opinion on whether this will stay in the proposal mode or actually move forward?

At times I think we as complaining Houstonians tend to forget the above statement. I personally applaud metro for it's efforts to make the light rail line succesful with the resources it had. Also regarding the extentions, I also agree that something different needs to be done. The issue is "something different" would more than likely cost more money and too many in this city would scream bloody murder and predict the demise of our city if that were to happen, although "something different" is CLEARLY what's best for the city as a whole.

I'm sad to see you go but I'm glad you enjoyed your brief stay in our beloved Houston. Good luck and I hope Seattle is good to you once again.

I don't know, those prices may be worth it very soon. Have you guys been down there recently? I was just there on Monday evening and the atmosphere there was fantastic. People around the fountain, sitting outside alfresco, walking families, and busy retail. Then about a block away, I saw the construction of the new section of First Colony Mall with the new Cheesecake Factory and the lush landscaping with it's new towering Palms. Not to mention all of the other amenities close by and the other construction going on. All of that is just a hop skip and jump from those new "lofts". Those things are going to be in the heart of a heck of a lot of activity and it will all be walkable. I would love to live there.

kzseattle, from where were your friends visiting? Yeah, Downtown Houston's weekend nightlife is one of those little known secrets about our fair city. I like to think of it as a upcoming cross between 6th Street in Austin and Downtown Ft. Worth.

It's amazing how much more informed people in other cities are compared to Houstonians regarding what is done in our city. kjb434, do you think if enough Houstonians made it known they were unhappy with the "unfinished rusted/rust pooring down the white girder" look, on most of our freeways, something would be done in terms of painting them or replacing them with concrete? Is TXdot responsible for that? Are Houstonians responsible for this look because we didn't speak up in the design process? I'm really being serious.

I would just like to say I think I'm in love with Shasta.

According to the article posted in the HBJ, it will look similar to the Sabine Street Lofts. The Sabine is not a bad project IMO, but it's facade consists of brick. Personally, I am not at all a fan of brick highrises in Uptown or the Riverway areas of Houston. It just doesn't fit well to me. More than likely this 21 story building will have a very similar styled brick facade instead of a much preferred glass or other type of stoned exterior. But who knows, maybe this will grow on me at some point.

Well, I didn't say the views would be as interesting as Miami but possibly the views would be interesting enough to warrant some to want to have dinner or a company party or meeting from that height. Of course the views would be at their best at night, but I personally think Houston can appear quite interesting from certain vantage points at elevated heights during the day. I think it could possibly work. I think of the tons of companies that have their annual Christmas parties in restaurants, and those once or twice a year trips to Mark's on Westheimer for that birthday or anniversary. Why not have your own personal space with great food and service (of course with your choice of soft music if requested, and lounge furniture in addition to a nice set dinner table). The view would be an added attraction. Since there aren't any mountains or hills here, many Houstonians don't get a opportunity to see the city from high locations. This would be another way to do that. Besides, would the view from Downtown or Uptown across the city really be that much worse than the view from Reunion Tower in Dallas, which is quite popular? This was just something that popped in my head after seeing that building. I just thought it would be a unique restaurant experience in Houston. Kjb434- I stand corrected. Urbanerd- We could just make it "Houston" enough. It doesn't have to look exactly like the building in the picture. It could be on the same style but "Houstonized".

Very very exciting. However, I wonder exactly who the clientele will be? Houstonians have a tendency to do things out of convenience. After the initial couriosity visits, we tend to only shop in our backyards. Will this store's product consistently draw those from outside of downtown, or does it need those from outside of Downtown? Personally, I will shop there because I want downtown to succeed, but since teens and hipsters in Clear Lake and Sugarland and Katy and the Woodlands, can't hop onto a train in their communities and conveniently get downtown, will it mostly be downtown employess shopping during lunch?

Oh, I forgot to mention the higher the floor you reserve, the higher the fee.

Ok, I saw a picture of a structure in Miami and thought it would be a nice concept for a restaurant in Houston, possibly in Uptown or Downtown. There would be a typical styled restaurant, however it would have a 40 story "attachment" to the left or right of it. This attachment would be cylindrical in shape with a semi-panoramic view and possible balconies. Each individual floor would be it's own romantic dinning room, or meeting room, or private party space, and would only be accessible through reservations only and for a fee. The structure could sit on 3 or 4 stories of a valet parking garage, so every floor could have a view. Each floor could have a computerized key, which will only allow the elevator to stop on the floor they have been assigned. Four elevators could sit along the back side of the structure (2 for guests and 2 for waitstaff) for easy access. I thought this would be great for the upcoming Ravina Project on Post Oak in Uptown. What do you guys think? Anyway, here are the pictures of a similar styled cylindrical structure in Miami that made me wonder if such a idea would work in Houston. *note- By the way, I chose 40 stories because I figured if the hideous Mercer condo towers can be 40 stories, why not a restaurant? Photos courtesy of ablarc of SSP.

You can't trust anything Men's Heatlh has to say. Look at the size of our city limits. Most cities actual city limits isn't as large as Houston so of course it would appear the way it does. From Downtown out to 1-10 West @ HW 6, in most cities would be in the suburbs, but in Houston it is still our city limits. This explains a lot with regard to their methods.

I've always been fascinated with Buckhead for whatever reason. Believe it or not, I actually prefer it's skyline to Downtown Atlanta. I love the architecture there.

I also would love to see one in Houston they can be interesting if nothing else. I hate to be controversial, but when am I not ? This goes back to what I have been saying for a while about Houston focusing a little more on tourism in the future. We are a business town......that is established, but large international cities being tourist friendly is a common thread that most of them have, and Houston is not a tourist friendly city, despite what some say. When visiting other cities as tourists, not having cheesy places like those Wax Museums can become noticable. If they are nothing else, their presence seems to say that particular city is a place for visitors as well as residents, which is the way most dynamic cities are. Houston doesn't have a Wax Museum but Dallas and San Antonio does. Although Houston is the largest city in Texas, it was the last of the 3 to get one of those ill-faited PlanetHollywoods. Although Dallas isn't a tourist city, it is far more tourist friendly than Houston and they get more tourists for it. I am not saying a Wax Museum is going to make Houston into the ultimate world class city, but for me, those little trivial things or the lack thereof, speaks volumes. NOW, should I tell the story of how I couldn't sleep after the first time I visited one of those places? But the sad part is I was an adult at the time. *Please no jokes*

Yes, unfortunately there is already a CVS drug store south of the building, so the chances of the second tower being built to the back of the first, are very slim. Facing the building from the Southwest Freeway, the second building will be to the left of the current one. And if I'm not mistaken the groundbreaking shouldn't be too far off. I know there is a billboard on the westloop advertising it. It really breaks the heart to know the scar on the Uptown Skyline is about to become even deeper by adding a twin to the current eyesore. But like Trophy Property stated, what can we do about it now? If nothing was done after Channel 11 did a news report based soley on the "ugliness" of this building, it's not going to happen with a few of us here thinking it's ugly.

You bet your bottom dollar it's obvious it was for a buck. We know every developer wants to make a profit. I think that goes without saying. But despite what anyone here says, it is my opinion that in many cases, developers that enter Houston have a slightly different mindset because they know that Houston is a city with a "anything goes" type of environment when it comes to development. Which is why I wonder if this monstrosity could have been designed and built in the heart of the Buckhead area of Atlanta? Or if a highrise with a blank wall facing such a highly visible area would have even been CONSIDERED for Buckhead, or even Uptown Dallas for that matter. How anyone could defend or make excuses for the appearance of this eyesore, despite individual personal taste, is beyond me. The architect of that building knows how ugly it is but doesn't care, and IMO it is partly due to the fact that he KNOWS he doesn't HAVE to care........not in Houston at least.

97saturn, is it safe to assume you have never visited Houston and have no idea what your new home is like? Welcome to the forum by the way.

Most people aren't crazy. Most of us expected and can understand overruns, but $300 million dollars and growing, is not a drop in the pan. This is serious EXRTA money, considering a commuter rail component was foolhardily not included in the project. And kjb434, you are making it sound much simpler than the reality of it. You are coming across like the project could run 2 Billion dollars over budget, but as long as it's posted "out there", it's ok. $300 million and growing is not ok. Maxconcrete- Your last paragraph just floored me. Not to mention you seem to be making excuses for this gigantic growing overrun, but it is your opinion not including rail was wise because of the cost?

VelvetJ said, "I don't believe in a city such as Houston, it's as simple as "if people change you'll see a change in developers". Developers are out to make money, and if they choose to build in a city that allows them to do whatsoever they choose for as cheap as possible, they will do it, and there are TONS of examples of it in Houston". So kjb434, the above statement is untrue in Houston as opposed to Atlanta?

But tw2ntyse7en, I don't think anyone is trying to re-make Houston into San Fran, Chicago, New York, etc. Houston will never look like midtown Manhattan and personally I don't want it to, and I believe most Houstonians feel the same. However, there are benefits and desirability to the type of urban characteristics those places have and I would love to see "pockets" of that in Houston. Just having a more pedestrian friendly/ more urban option makes the city that much better. It's sorta like critics of rail that say rail shouldn't be built because it's not going to solve Houston's traffic problem. Or it shouldn't be built because people aren't going to abandon their cars. No one is saying those things are going to happen, but there are many benefits to rail in a city like Houston, and it also gives Houstonians the OPTION of abandoning their cars. Also, not to mention it's just a cool thing to have. Just like pedestrian friendly styled neighborhoods with people walking the streets living there lives is just a cool environment to be in, IMO. I know what Houston is and I try to be realistic about what it is. But at the end of the day it really is about Houston being the best it can be, and the city being dynamic and offereing different options plays a big part in that for me.