VelvetJ

Yes, that would be great but one would also have to ask why the rail tracks were removed from along the Katy freeway, and why the rail tracks were removed from alongside Westpark all to be replaced by tollroads? I say the same fate awaits the Heights despite the faux pacification of the idea of this is not a guaranteed thing or it's at least 10 years away. We all know this will more than likely happen due to the short sightedness of the powers that represent this region. NEVER in my life have I seen a place where roads take such precedence over people and neighborhoods and quality of life, and safety of the people in a city, like I have in this City of Houston. Roads and money literally come before EVERYTHING in this city. Some have scoffed at me in the past for suggesting the "coincidental" removal of existing rail lines across Houston was all done on purpose and it is all linked back to Tom Delay somehow with his fight against rail in Houston. I still believe that. But I suppose the last thing the leaders of this city would want is to have a electric high speed train packed full of people zooming along the Katy freeway past all of those oil companies in the "Energy Capital of the World". I mean, how would THAT look? I hope the residents of the Heights fight to the death against this. Out of all the neighborhoods in this city to destroy, the Heights should be one of the last. Shame on the leaders of this region.

One thing I have learned in life is, "what comes around goes around". Tom Delay's clandestine motives for doing certain things will come back to haunt him. It never fails. And as a Christian myself, I am totally surprised that he do the things he does, without what seems to be a consciousness of the fact that God knows his TRUE motives, even if his supporters don't. I now live in Ft. Bend County and will do my part as well. But one ray of light is the fact thatmore and more people seem to be waking up to his antics. With each election, it seems his numbers are shrinking. We can only look to the future.

Nov. 22, 2004, 12:28AM SOUNDING BOARD Disregard that misleading transportation statistic By JAMES HOWARD GIBBONS Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle Before the Metropolitan Transit Authority's referendum in November 2003, Reps. Tom DeLay and John Culberson said they would honor and respect the will of the people. The referendum, which authorized the expansion of Metro's light rail system, narrowly passed, but the two Republicans have adopted a curious way of showing their respect. DeLay, when the subject turns to mass transit, is going around saying that it doesn't make sense to spend 23 percent of Houston's transportation dollars to serve 5 percent of the people. (Sometimes he arbitrarily drops it to 3 percent.) Culberson, who advertises himself as his own man, says much the same thing. Newton and Leibniz invented calculus simultaneously, each independent of the other, so DeLay and Culberson could have concocted this meaningless and misleading pseudo-statistic, each on his own. In all likelihood, they collaborated. The truth is that no one, certainly not Metro, is proposing to spend almost a quarter of every transportation dollar to benefit 5 percent of the people. Consider the following points:

^ Oh my bad, I took your statement as 59 was worse in appearance and more depressing than other freeways in Houston. I actually love that our freeways are lined with office buildings and businesses, etc., it's just I think it could be done a whole lot better in some places (I-45 is a big pet-peeve of mine). Houston sprawls, and is what it is, and I actually have always had issue with the reasoning of those that believe that any place that is spread out is not a city. So when you are traveling up 59 and don't feel you are in a city, that is a opinion that I think many in Houston would disagree with. Oh well, to each his own.

There is a interview in this weeks Houston Business Journal with Metro Head David Wolff regarding Metro. Near the end of the interview he made a statement that was a little discouraging yet not surprising regarding a "elected official" who promised to help Metro if the people approved extending rail in Houston. This is a quote from the interviewer and the Mr. Wolff: "Q: How would you characterize your first year as chairman? A: I came into office thinking that a lot of issues had been resolved by the referendum, only to find that there are some people who did not accept it. And a lot of effort has to be ongoing to build the consensus which I thought had been arrived at. Q: What issues are you referring to exactly? A: Certain elected officials said if you have a referendum and the people approve it, then we'll work with you. But I have been educated that there is, "Oh yes we'll help you if you get through the approval process" -- which is not much help at all -- versus "We are going to go to the mat for you." The Federal Transit Administration is a federal agency. Any federal agency wants to know what the federal officials representing a region feel about a request. If they express themselves vociferously and unanimously in favor of that request, the federal agency will review it more favorably than if they stand with their hands at their sides. There is no doubt in my mind that rail will change the city. That doesn't mean that you won't have tremendous growth in the suburbs, absolutely you will. But it will give people an alternative desirable lifestyle, which is what a metropolitan area has to have to compete with other metropolitan areas. And anybody who doubts that we aren't in competition just doesn't understand cities. " So did Mr. Delay lie to us or did he just not tell us the whole truth? For the entire interview, it can be found at the following site : link

No please, go ahead.....I'm a big boy.

If I may ask UrbanLandscape, did you get off of 59 and actually go into the Town Square to see what it was like? Also, if you find 59 depressing, what freeway in Houston do you find the most exciting? I-45 north or south, I-10 East or West, 290, or some other Freeway?

I will only say, I have asked my God to change my heart with regard to Tom Delay. That is the only thing I can personally do. Will someone please post the interview from the Houston Business Journal with Metro's head, David Wolff? I should have known it was too good to be true. With Tom Delay, things are never the way they seem. Always some fine print somewhere. I spit at his ethics. And I again, shake my head at his supporters.

I actually just left there and say what you will, but this place looks great. To actually see residences above retail (a lot of it is open by the way) in a city like Houston is a accomplishment. People were walking along the sidewalks on their way to the restaraunts and stores, couples were sitting on the steps of City Hall by the fountains, and the storefront retail along the sidewalks was very inviting. None of the residences looked as if they were occupied at the moment but seeing residential windows above those storefronts just made me lust for one. I'm sure they are going to be very popular. I hope the city of Houston and some of the developers that are allowed to develop in the city, take note of what Sugarland has done and how inviting that type of development is to actual people instead of soley thinking of the automobile. I'm aware the types of developments like Sugarland Town Square come a dime a dozen in this country, but in Houston it is like something dropped from Heaven.

I say good for Dallas. They are doing something unique for Texas and that's more than I can say for Houston right now. I have said before and I still say, Houston always seems to be a step behind. Personally, I would love to see a pedestrian area with Giant digital billboards that show videos near the Galleria (Post Oak and Westheimer) or in Downtown Houston (on Main). It would give the areas more life IMO. Add a few outdoor cafes, a fountain, a couple of shops and boom, you've got a gem. I think some here are blowing the whole New York thing out of proportion. IMO fewer people than some realize, are going to see this thing and instantly say, "Oh Dallas is just trying to be like New York". It's a cool technology that many cities would kill to have in a outdoor pedestrian area. Also, not to mention it's next to a rail station at the AA Arena. And as Los Angeles builds theirs, and Dallas builds theirs, and New York, and Vegas, and Tokyo continue to enjoy theirs, we can drive down I-45 looking at our billboards and tractor rental businesses proudly with the comfort of knowing that we aren't trying to look like New York. This is going to be a fantastic project as a whole, that will draw many. Again, I say congrats to Dallas and don't loose that forward vision.

It boggles the mind. The tape last week of Osama, sitting serenely in his cave, issuing warnings to the U.S... Any "thinking" person would have looked at that and said, "Hmmm...here it is, over three years after 9/11 and the biggest threat to this country is still running around making videos, while we've been expending all of our energies in a country that wasn't a threat to us in the first place." THIS is an administration that's making us "SAFER"???? Again...it boggles the friggin mind.

I think H-town Man was exactly right. Houstonians seem to become numb to the overall appearance of our city. We then develope narrow views like the owner of the Zone D'Erotica who probably didn't ask himself why he possibly shouldn't have opened a store of that magnitude in the most prestigious upscale shopping district in the city. Or Jim McInvale who stated, "I am proud of the appearance of I-45 because it shows free-enterprise". It's sort of like those that don't care what the city looks like, just as long as their particular subdivision is kept pleasant. IMO, it's not so much as the trash along our freeways (which is a major issue) as much as it's the "trashy" looking businesses along the freeways. It's the single story motels next to the sleazy strip clubs, next to the Bean Bag company, next to the tractor rental place, next to the vacant lot, next to the fast food joint, next to used car lot, next to the Walmart Supercenter, next to the cheap furniture store. It all gives the city a trashy look especially if every freeway looks that way. I honestly can't think of an answer particularly for I-45 from our airports. If designed walls and trees are planted like the stretch of the westloop south through Bellaire, it would block those businesses, which the city is not going to allow. A "uniformed" look of the businesses and the types of businesses that can be allowed would be viewed as zoning and restriction. What can be done? Is it reversable? I responded to this because I also get the same feeling as some of the other posters. After returning from Atlanta or even Los Angeles, Houston can look like a junk yard, and in a "shockingly/ slap in the face" type way.

Hey Mr. Houstonretail, can you tell us why this fell through?

Love it. Over the past 3-5 years, I have really been liking the designs of the new Condo Towers going up in Dallas and Atlanta. IMO, most of Houston's stuff looks like it has come from the same old cookie sheet.

On November 1, I will be right there.

I couldn't have said it any better ssullivan. I am suspicious of anything that man does.

2112, I think TreaderCRC meant compared to most other major American cities, Houston is indeed conservative. It's not the Most conservative, but definitely one of the most conservative. There are exceptions such as Dallas, Salt Lake City and Nashville, but overall Houston would be considered conservative when we are talking American cities.

I love Houston just as much as anyone on here but I do not miss the relentless Dallas bashing. Glad it's gone. I, however do miss southendTEX. Hey, are you out there anywhere?

Houston19514 stated: "Yes, as a matter of fact, the ads were incorrect, as were the Chronicle's headlines both then and now. Houston does not have and never has had anything approaching the nation's "dirtiest air." Air pollution is comprised of a number of components (I think 5 or 6). The ozone count is only one of those 5 or six components, and the ozone count is the ONLY component for which Houston's air has an issue. Many other cities have issues with more than one component, and while it is very hard to come up with a conclusive answer to the question of which city has the nation's dirtiest air, I believe most experts agree that it is not Houston. Atlanta is a better candidate and I believe Dallas is at least as good of a candidate". Well, if I may quote Subdude, "Wouldn't it be better for our reputation if instead of trying to claim it was all wrong in the fine print, for our city's leaders to come out and pledge to do what it takes to improve our air quality within a fixed number of years, without excuses? It's going to take some bold action". And as we are bowing to recieve the coveted crown of "Nations Dirtiest Air" yet again, I hope our leaders (of all parties) as well as all of those experts you spoke of Houston19514, are eager to go to the national media to explain what you have just explained above, to dispute it.

Brown may have been the mayor but who is more powerful? More know Tom Delay than Brown... where was he? What did our fellow Houstonian, and once self proclaimed "environmental President", George H. Bush have to say about these "lies" about his hometown? If Lee Brown sat and "let" them do it, our Republican "powerhouses" should have stepped up the plate to dispute it if they knew it wasn't true. You never saw anyone get defensive.....no, not even the local Republicans. None of what you stated negated the role Delay and his "friends" have played in the quality of Houston's air. There was no substance behind Houston being "randomly chosen" for those ads, correct? It was out of pure coincidence Houston had been "chosen" as worst air in the nation those two years.

And how have Tom Delay, John Culberson, and the Republicans affected our air quality? Talk about writing the book on "Business and Profit Before ALL Things, Including People". If action had been taken earlier, maybe "a new one" wouldn't have had to be ripped for Brown and the Democrates to "let" happen. Besides, were the ads incorrect? Never ceases to amaze me.

Yeah, it's about time for some more bad publicity.

One of the absolute SCARIEST things about our current President is his sense of reality. Being a leader and making tough decisions is one thing, but making a bad decision and not being able to admit it, or even worse, not being able to SEE his mistake is another. All signs point to the fact that the situation in Iraq is getting worse. By simply watching the news and reading the newspaper everyday makes that clearly obvious. Colin Powell himself recently said the situation in Iraq is getting worse. But last week, when asked why his view of what is happening in Iraq is so drastically different than what recent reports and evidence are showing, our fearless leader said, "The CIA is GUESSING at what the conditions are in Iraq". Did you guys read what I just typed? Our President said our Central Intelligence Agency is GUESSING about the conditions and what is going on Iraq, despite OBVIOUS chaos happening there. In other words, the American people have lying eyes. And the sad part is, so many Americans are falling for it. Also, I am really surprised how so many Americans seem to be impressed with the ability to stand by a bad decision (not only the Iraq situation). Call John Kerry a flip flopper because he can make a decision, assess the situation and if things need to be changed or if he gains further clarity on it, he actually is human and can change his mind. God bless him. Lastly, I will give George W. Bush credit for the ability to escape tough questions by playing on our sympothy by stating how he wants peace, he want America to be safe, he values family, he believes Education is important, he believes in America having a strong economy, etc. But, the obvious question is, who doesn't? Unfortunately, this happens all of the time and leaves the impression that is what HE and only HE stands for. That is what we ALL stand for, but he uses it to make it appear those outside of the Republican Party, don't believe in those things. Brilliant, but sad for the American people, because too many of us eat it up and don't read between the lines. A lot of us need a dose of reality.

Those were very nice shots. I never tire of looking a pictures of Southern California.