VelvetJ

Yeah but if you think the folks in Dallas are jealous of Schlitterbahn, you should do a little research of what's going on up there with regard to waterparks. Schlitterbahn in Galveston is really nice but it is far from the type of park that is in New Braunfels, and it has nothing that Dallas does not already have or will have in the summer (including the indoor/outdoor year around waterpark concept). Schlitterbahn in Galveston is better than the one on Padre Island but several around the country are just as comparable. Well Redscare, that may be so but if this thing is built, let's see how many Houstonians it attracts.

Well, with all of the criticism this thing is getting, it is a heck of a lot more than what Houston is doing. If Houstonians want to ski on more realistic snow, drop plans to turn the AstroDome into a hotel (which will be a total rip-off of what's in Dallas complete with the fake Riverwalk) and turn it into a Snow Skiing facility. Houstonians could snow ski, then be on the beach in 80 degree water within the same hour. How many American cities could boast that? Any type of progress being done in other cities is viewed by many Houstonians as "corny" or "trying to be like someone else", while we sit back doing nothing or waiting until other cities have done it before we decide Houston could benefit from some of the same projects.

It actually was at capacity within two years of it being finished like which appears to be the case for most new freeways in Houston. You are correct about that wait between Main and 59. It is insane.

I'm not sure if I would place Dallas along with those cities but I think you seriously underestimate it's place in the Fashion Industry.

Well, Houston could actually use a bit more glitz imo. Believe it or not, glitz is capable of actually carry some benefits. Houston has become "Glitzlessly" to a fault, imo.

Well, I didn't recall expressing wonderment of how to average units but thanks for showing me how (I regret missing all of those primary school days), but that was not why I posted the square mileage of each city. My point was, compairing to the two based upon city limits is pointless to me considering the obvious differences in city limit size (that is why I posted the square mileage of each city). But then, I am coming from the perspective of being in Arlington and still considering myself in Dallas, just as being in Bellaire I still consider myself being in Houston, though technically they are different places. In cases such as Dallas/ Ft. Worth, and Houston/Galveston, the Metro areas are the TRUE indicators as Niche acknowledged, but as it was mentioned that would be too time consuming. With that, I DO wonder if Houston would still be on top. With regard to "hype" and the Victory Development, while I understand Torey's point, I also believe a factor in why Victory as well as Atlantic Station in Atlanta in particular, appeared to get so much publicity while Houston's seem to practically get none is those type of Developments in Houston are JUST NOW getting off of the ground. While BLVD Place and Pavillions were still being drawn up, Victory and Atlantic were under construction or almost finished. He may have a point with other projects, but with regard to Victory, I believe there is more to it's "hype" than lack of affordable units due to Dallas having zoning. "W" and "Mandarin" alone were legitimate reasons for the hype of Victory.

Houston City Limits- 601 square miles Dallas City Limits- 385 square miles For me, the above facts makes the difference in his blog. A development in Clear Lake as well as one near Willowbrook Mall could be counted as the city of Houston. If he compared metro's and Houston was still building at a greater pace, not to mention Houston's Victory styled projects are JUST NOW getting off of the ground, I would then be impressed.

OH MY GOODNESS, someone in Houston finally admitted this?!?! nmainguy, you are correct in good architecture doesn't always require a lot of money, but embracing a habit of building on the cheap certainly can open the door to mediocre designs, and that hasn't been more evident than in Houston over the past decade.

No but they DO currently have 48 miles of lightrail (and growing), some of which runs underground. Does that count for anything?

Yeah, 16 years ago. Madonna has had several tours since then, with the last two covering the United States pretty extensively and the closest she got to us was Atlanta and Chicago. According to chatter online, many Houstonians that saw her flew to Atlanta. I personally feel she has stayed away due to her political perceptions of Texas (she hasn't been to Dallas either), and that is just unfortunate. But oh well, Ted Nugent has been to Houston at least twice since Madonna was last here so we can pat ourselves on the back for that. By the way, just from perception, I doubt there are very many outside of Houston that would say Houston is more International than Chicago.

I can't speak for her but is it possible she meant high-rise condominium construction, which Houston has appeared to be a step behind in the general recent years compared to some of it's comparable counterparts? I'm sure she is aware of the highrise condo buildings in Houston.

Jason Brewer anyone?

Casinos in Galveston now.

I don't have the hard numbers (and I really don't feel like looking right now) but yes there are currently more buildings going up in Atlanta. However, in terms of numbers of buildings, Atlanta is really trying to get where Houston and Dallas has been for years. I think someone mentioned on another thread that Atlanta is going through or at least entering the last phasings of their "boom" and Houston's time was in the late 70's early 80's. This is just Atlanta's time. But again, that is not my concern. I would just like to borrow some of those people who are choosing the designs of the buildings going up in Atlanta's skylines and force them to choose for us for a spell (barring 2727 Kirby and the new Memorial Tower in the Medical Center, which has really grown on me). A couple of more shots of this Aquarius Tower for Atlanta:

This is the latest Design Atlanta is presenting to the world. I am so jealous of the designs of the new buildings being chosen for that city. I really couldn't care less that they have more buildings going up than Houston or many other American cities, but again what gets me are the great designs that are being chosen. This would look great somewhere near the Medical Center or near Memorial city imo.

Because the Katy Freeway, " was already there", as Culberson says, didn't some of the residents in his district ask that the "stacked" freeway option be explored and considered more? The Katy freeway couldn't be moved of course but it could have been stacked, particularly on the segments that most affected businesses and homes. Did Culberson legitimately consider that option? Did he listen to those business and homeowners that preferred that option like he is listening to some in Afton Oaks, on whom the rail would have a lesser effect on as the widening of the Katy did on those residents and business owners along that project? Also, yes he has secured funding in the past, but was it because he wanted to? Because I can be somewhat of a conspiracy theorist, I hold to my belief that the fact that Houston's Energy Corridor sits in his district, has played a heavy hand in his rail decisions, and someday that will be proven.

Your above statement may be true but it is true for today. Yes, the extensive rail systems that have been built in Dallas and most other cities of the world was about relieving traffic now, but it was just as much about the future as well. The tone of your post suggests those places were foolish to invest so much into rail systems, while Houston outwitted them all by placing most of our eggs in the freeway basket. I don't believe that is entirely accurate. The massive amounts of concrete Houston has focused on obviously has shown benefits but drawbacks as well. And we all know Houston's lack of an extensive rail system has come back to haunt us more than once. Rail isn't the "Holy Grail" of answers to congestion, but freeways aren't either. It's a combination of things and I think that is what Houston is just realizing.

Nope, Ultra Twister was used as well. If I am not mistaken, it came from New Jersey after one of the cars fell down the lift (the lift was actually completely vertical before AstroWorld got it. After the incident, they moved it here and pulled the lift out at an angle resulting in the lift we remember. Plus it made it easier to unload passengers if needed). AstroWord and Houston were short-changed on so many levels when it came to Six Flags and Houstonians didn't even realize it. And most of those who did know didn't seem to care. Settling in mediocrity was once again at work in Houston.

By the way, I think the best place for a park doesn't necessarily have to be in Houston's city limits. IMO, the best place would be somewhere up 59 North the Eastex Freeway area possibly not too far from Liberty. There the park would have legitimate room to expand and build what I call truly large rides. However the main reason would be because of the well established natural shade. It would be great if a park could be built out 288 but the lack of trees would be a killer in the summer, and waiting for newly planted trees to mature to the level of AstroWorld in a park there would be just as painful. Northwest Houston's population is growing too fast and I think there would be strong opposition there. Northeast Houston would work best imo, if no other reason than the shade.

I just needed a little validation. DJ V Lawrence, I just would like to say that everything you have been stating is absolutely right on and were things I had been saying for years. I could kiss you just for being someone on this board that recognizes Houston could use a legitimate tourist element. In fact I'm surprised you haven't been greeted with, " Houston is a business town and don't need or want tourist attractions or tourists". I was a AstroWorld employee for 5 years in a former life, and everything you stated about it with regard to the rides and the position Six Flags put it in, to why the park wasn't as successful as it probably could have been, was 1000 % correct. I knew I wasn't crazy.

DOUBLE DITTO!

Well, I just read it will have a Western Theme so something more in the lines of "The Shootout" or something will more than likely be chosen. A interesting note about this is this thing will sit on a little less than an acre of land but will be taller and longer than the Texas Cyclone. That is amazing.

I am so very excited about this coaster. I say it should be named the "Kemah Kurl", or the "Fertitta Pita" or the "GB Express" (Galveston Bay). Just as long as it's not something like "The landrys.com Coaster". I can't wait.

Take a guess. That first sentence meant there were those that visit this site and have certain opinions about it due to the increasing numbers of bigoted comments, BEFORE this thread or Isiah Carey's blog on it appeared on December 1. Members of this site expressed their notice of the growing number of certain types of comments appearing here, previous to December 1. I sat in the House of Pies in October and overheard two guys mention this website and some of the comments posted here, BEFORE December 1.

The growing reputation of this site did not begin with Isiah Carey's blog. It precedes his post a few days ago. Isiah Carey apparently has just realized it himself. More people visit the site than possibly you realize and all do not post or are even registered. If you think his post is the cause of people hearing about the idiocy of many of the posters here, you are giving his blog more credit than it deserves for it.