trymahjong

It's hard to understand why shuttles were put in NYC and Washington DC---that's so close together

A map of the proposed changes during Complete Streets----apparently a city permit was obtained that would close that section of Washington Ave, but it was always intended to remain open, just limited to 2 lanes and a center median. The concept of "walkability" seems very popular right now, no matter the geographic location of the city. In Houston, especially in some of the inner city areas, it's hard to imagine or visualize what could be possible, , , , , , let alone understand the steps that need to be taken to achieve walkability. Being able to see what changes Complete Streets (and the other groups they worked with) can bring to Washington Ave will be interesting and I hope it's a springboard for change.

Got this in an email--- We urge you to go to the Metro Public meeting on its sales tax to be held March 11 at 9:00 am in 1900 Main in the 2nd Floor METRO Board Room. Bring your friends to let the METRO Board know of your support for Metro to receive the full one fourth of the transit sales tax back. If you can't make the Public meeting, you can go to an online letter and let Metro hear of your support. Once you have sent the online letter let your friends know about the meeting and urge them to go to the meeting or send the online letter. Importance of the Public meeting on transit sales tax Why the METRO sales tax is important has been explained in commentaries by David Crossley published by the Houston Chronicle and Houston tomorrow Publications. The following are excepts. For his full commentaries please go to <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001TV4qgW4kYUyhFR49Q7Z3z7FoMDqj54phadFdbUEkTanw9qKonEzKP1BoKERiS25KTt8il8viHUqJRd9OcmS1NI7ORsv9_Ls3v7sih5GJSs8_sCgXGA90glUh-LGJEYj4znyS5vBL4UkmFlE2jWqU110UIVxdita_NR-bNlac42PAqi3gcfmU9xiihkYt9utL2cPzLMJ4XEcJXFO19veTxhnLphOT1_yPslqZs3DXI_ddM_p00RlCkqIbx3gCwiVq_NejL53bXYM=" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Houston Tomorrow. According to Crossley, "METRO has allocated over $2.5 billion to the City of Houston and other municipalities through the General Mobility Fund. METRO remits a quarter of its sales tax revenue to the municipalities - the transit agency's only local revenue source from taxpayers. Crossley stated "the percentage METRO sent to the City of Houston and other cities rose as high as 61%, while Bob Lanier was Mayor of Houston". In addition to the $2.5 billion METRO gave away to the cities, Crossley and Reverend Robert Muhammed point out that METRO missed opportunities for federal matching grants, meaning METRO has lost as much as $5 billion in transit revenue since the General Mobility Fund began in 1988." Crossley urges the use all of transit taxes for transit but why? "Indeed, any transit expansion at all other than the current rail construction and two more park-and-ride lots is not going to happen unless we can stop spending our transit taxes on roadway projects." CTC has heard if the one fourth of the transit sales taxe continues to go out to the cities "METRO which is already shrinking will be well and truly stopped" from adding to their systems beyond work currently in progress until sometime around 2030 or later. Worth noting David Crossley said "METRO investment in roads goes way beyond the General Mobility Program. More than half a billion dollars of the cost of the three light rail lines now under construction is for street improvements and utilities, replacing worn pavement and substandard drainage along all of those streets. The massive rebuilding of downtown and Midtown was a $200 million program funded by Metro and federal transit funds outside of the General Mobility Program." Ongoing CTC research so far has found the percentage of tax money spent on roads to be 80%(+/-) and the amount spent on Airport, Rail, Port and Transit 21%(+/-). In the small facts below is economic information to consider. Small facts ARRA presented Texas and other states with an opportunity to improve infrastructure and economic conditions in the areas facing the greatest challenges, as well as an opportunity to try out several different types of transportation investment and evaluate their effectiveness. A recent report by the Public Interest Research Group examined ARRA transportation projects nationally and identified trends that would maximize the economic impact of future investment: * In general, public transportation and road and bridge repairs produce 31 percent and 16 percent more jobs respectively than construction of new roads and bridges; * On average, repair and maintenance projects spend money and create jobs faster than projects that add new capacity. * Smaller projects, such as bridge painting, are generally quicker to start than large new projects and are also generally more labor intensive. * Economic rates of return for new-capacity road projects have been dropping for several years. Source of small facts and further information can be found on http://texasimpact.org/content/transportation

I got this in an email and was very intrigued by that phrase a reimagined Public Place I'm wondering what sort of chance this has to have impact on revitalization of that area. [url=""%5D%5B/url%5DHouston Public Library Placemaking Workshop Your input requested for the use of Houston Public Library's Central Library Plaza Houston Public Library (HPL) Placemaking Workshop Thursday, May 10, 2012 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Central Library Concourse Meeting Room 500 McKinney Houston 77002 HPL invites you to participate in a Placemaking Workshop for the Central Library Plaza. This is a project that will help transform the Central Library Plaza into a vibrant, exciting, active public space and make it a downtown destination for people of all ages and backgrounds. This workshop will be a fun, interactive session to brainstorm on the potential of the space. Light refreshments will be served. Parking is available in the Central Library parking garage or at the Heritage Society, located at 1100 Bagby, Houston 77002. Thanks to generous support from the Downtown Redevelopment Authority and Reinvestment Zone Number Three, HPL is able to engage Project for Public Spaces to help the Library develop a well-conceived and managed re-imagined public space. Such a space could provide a platform for programs and events on the plaza and could even help positively activate this area of downtown.

got this from Ellen Cohen--- soooooooooooooooooooooo now the opportunity to go and express your opinion. . . . . . . . Dear Friend, The City of Houston is currently considering a proposal that would add international service to Hobby Airport. Southwest Airlines and United Airlines are both major stakeholders in the decision, but they are not in agreement regarding the expansion. Whatever is ultimately decided could have a major impact on our City. Public meetings are scheduled through the next several weeks so that the City can share information on this issue and solicit feedback from the community. Please don’t miss the opportunity to learn more about the Hobby expansion and to weigh in on the proposal at one of the following upcoming meetings: City Council Chambers Tuesday, May 8, 2012 9:00 a.m. (MAP) Presentations by HAS consultants, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines Public Comment Doubletree Hotel JFK Wednesday, May 9, 2012 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 15747 JFK Boulevard Houston, TX 77032 (MAP) Presentation by Aviation Director Mario Diaz Public Comment Marriott Houston South at Hobby Airport Tuesday, May 15, 2012 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 9100 Gulf Freeway Houston, TX 77017 (MAP) Presentation by Aviation Director Mario Diaz Public Comment Sincerely, Ellen Cohen

I asked one of the climate researchers at Goddard Institute of Space Studies and Climate Research in Manhattan-- she sent me the orginal article and said this. . . It looks like this is a pretty preliminary analysis. The record they are looking at is very short and noisy. It'll have to be reassessed in a few years! Also, do farmers have different crops or no crops, etc. under the windmills? I don't know. Interesting though

An interesting article on research from State University of New York at Albany on Wind Farms having a warming effect on local climates. Wind Farms May Raise Temperatures Large wind farms might have a warming effect on the local climate, research in the US showed on Sunday, casting a shadow over the long-term sustainability of wind power. Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels contribute to global warming, which could lead to the melting of glaciers, sea level rise, ocean acidification, crop failure and other devastating effects, scientists say. In a move to cut such emissions, many nations are moving towards cleaner energy sources such as wind power. The world’s wind farms last year had the capacity to produce 238 GW of electricity at any one time. That was a 21% rise on 2010 and capacity is expected to reach nearly 500 GW by the end of 2016 as more, and bigger, farms spring up, according to the Global Wind Energy Council (OD Feb.7’12). Researchers at the State University of New York at Albany analyzed the satellite data of areas around large wind farms in Texas, where four of the world’s largest farms are located, over the period 2003 to 2011. The results, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, showed a warming trend of up to 0.72° Celsius per decade in areas over the farms, compared with nearby regions without the farms. “We attribute this warming primarily to wind farms,” the study said. The temperature change could be due to the effects of the energy expelled by farms and the movement and turbulence generated by turbine rotors, it said. “These changes, if spatially large enough, may have noticeable impacts on local to regional weather and climate,” the authors said. But the researchers said more studies were needed, at different locations and for longer periods, before any firm conclusions could be drawn. (Reuters)

thought this was interesting. . . . . .

May 12 3pm on 2000 block of Washington east of Sawyer-- Complete Streets http://houstoncompletestreets.org/ and Better Bocks Houston http://www.facebook.com/betterblockhouston Will transform 2 block stretch of Washington Ave east of Sawyer starting just after the artcar parade ends. Last year two blocks on Holman were transformed. http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2011/04/better_block_houston.php The presentation I saw was remarkable--It gives Houstonians the chance for an upclose encounter to walkability in Houston.

"Love Your Block" New Grant Program Supports Street Block Revitalization Application Due May 11, 2012 Nonprofit organizations are encouraged to apply for "Love Your Block" grants to support volunteer-led street block revitalization projects. The grants will support 20 projects that revitalize green spaces, transform blighted areas and advocate for quality open space. Those selected for the grants will receive a $500 gift card from Home Depot to purchase supplies and equipment necessary to implement the projects. City of Houston community partner Keep Houston Beautiful will support the projects by providing supplies, tools and other resources to offset costs. A grants review committee will provide guidance to align funded projects with existing city priorities. The grant application deadline is Friday, May 11, 2012. Applicant groups must have nonprofit status. Eligible groups include block, neighborhood and tenant associations as well as community garden clubs and religious-based organizations. Grantees will be notified on Friday, May 25, 2012. Funded projects must be completed between June 1 and December 31, 2012. To apply for a "Love Your Block" grant, visit www.HoustonSERVICE.org. For more information, email LoveYourBlock@houstontx.gov or call 832.393.0971. The new grant program is part of Houston SERVICE under the Mayor's Volunteer Initiatives Program in the Department of Neighborhoods www.houstontx.gov/neighborhoods.

http://swamplot.com/...trada/2012-04-1 looks like a Mexican Steak house is coming

in today's paper http://www.chron.com/default/article/Houston-s-green-profile-by-the-numbers-3495536.php#photo-2837284

from the COH newsletter My City Maps and Apps: Your Geographic Portal to City Information Houstonians now have access to a wealth of information at their fingertips through a new dynamic online portal for data and geographic information with My City Maps and Apps. My City can be found online at http://mycity.houstontx.gov/home/ or from the City of Houston homepage at http://www.houstontx.gov/. My City can provide insight into evacuation routes, flood information, land use and planned improvements. Citizens can access mapped information such as aerial imagery, council districts, parcel addresses, permitting, street maps, utility services and much more. Additionally through My City, citizens can find their heavy trash pick-up schedules and view crime data in their neighborhood. My City is a service of the Houston Planning and Development Department. For more information visit .

A friend from the Neighborhood association walked by and saw people working inside they said they hoped to open in a few months.

Free Document Shredding for Individual Houston Residents Begins Saturday, April 28, 2012 To improve services, safety and the quality of life for all Houstonians, the City of Houston, in partnership with Data Shredding Services of Texas, Inc., will offer free document shredding services to individual Houston residents once a month at different locations throughout the city. The Houston Police Department (HPD) will be on hand to provide residents with information on identity theft prevention. Data Shredding Services of Texas will provide shredding equipment to safely and ethically destroy sensitive documents. The first five events are listed below: Saturday, April 28, 2012 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. HPD Westside Station 3203 South Dairy Ashford Houston 77082 Saturday, May 19, 2012 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. HPD North Station 9455 West Montgomery Road Houston 77088 Saturday, June 23, 2012 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Kingwood Metro Park and Ride 3210 West Lake Houston Parkway Kingwood 77339 Saturday, July 28, 2012 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. HPD Eastside Station 7525 Sherman Houston 77012 Saturday, August 11, 2012 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. HPD Clear Lake Station 2855 Bay Area Boulevard Houston 77058

Beginning Wednesday, May 2, 2012, Houston will be one of only 15 U.S. cities to launch a bike share program to make getting around downtown a whole lot easier. The bike share program, known as Houston B-cycle, is perfect for trips that are too far to walk but too short to drive. Houston's initial phase will include three stations and 18 bikes and will demonstrate the potential of bike share in Houston. Houston B-cycle will initially be available at City Hall, the George R. Brown Convention Center and Market Square Park. The self-service bike B-Cycle Station will be available from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day. Bikes can be checked out during these hours and dropped back off at the same location or any other B-cycle station. The bikes can be ridden anywhere and locked up even if no kiosk is available. Houston B-cycle is a membership-driven bike share system requiring a minimum age of 18 to join. Memberships are available by day, week or year. All members have unlimited access to the bikes. With a paid membership, the first 90 minutes are free. All memberships start at the time of your first bike use, not the day and time you purchased the membership. Riders are encouraged to wear their own helmets. Houston's program will be managed and operated by the nonprofit Houston Bike Share, which has the mission to implement, expand and operate a Houston-based bike share program that will be environmentally friendly, financially sustainable and affordable. For the first year of the pilot program, Bike Barn will donate maintenance for the B-Cycle Stations and Bikes. The program is sponsored by the City of Houston, Bike Barn, BikeHouston, Downtown District and Houston First Corporation

The owner of Pictures Plus did buy this property! There is a new Chef driven restaurant called L'Olivier. We tried out their Brunch menu yesterday. The renovations took my breath away! I admit I had only seen the adult DVD from the outside,so I couldn't really imagine the conditions inside. The Chef came out to tell some funny and semi-gross (eye popping) stuff, that was encountered as they were renovating. It's hard to tell it was anything like that now--the patio is very nice also. I hope they are sucessful, I'd love to see the whole streetch of lower Westheimer with thriving businesses.

sorry i misread the sign--guess i'm excited at the prespect of something new and improved going in I have to wonder at the prospect of parking. . . . . . . this place is small but the options for parking seem smaller.

I was walking and noticed this-between the Smoothy King and Interfaith ministries- anyone know what might be coming?

http://www.hemispheresmagazine.com/category/3-perfect-days/ . . . . . . not a bad article. I might tweak it a bit and add my own new favorites--- Haystack and Underbelly--maybe these weren't opened yet when article was researched.

Bike to Work Day Friday, April 13, 2012 Mayor Annise D. Parker has declared Friday, April 13, 2012 as Bike to Work Day to encourage riders to choose pedal power for their daily commute to work and to raise awareness of the City's bikeway network. Organized Bike to Work rides will depart from seven locations around Houston at 7:30 a.m. and end at City Hall around 8 a.m. for a brief presentation by Mayor Parker, Public Works Director Dan Krueger and members of the biking community followed by a free breakfast. During the City Hall presentation, bicyclists will learn more about upcoming projects and green initiatives, as well as talk about how easy it is to travel through Houston on a bicycle and share information about favorite bike routes and trails. Air up your tires, put on your best riding attire and meet at one of the seven designated start locations. All riders are encouraged to wear bike helmets while cycling as well as get a bicycle tune up periodically. Friday, April 13, 2012 7:30 a.m. starting locations: Sun & Ski - Memorial Park Picnic Loop 77027 Bikesport- 2909 Joanel Street 77027, 713.850.2502 Bike Barn- 5925 Kirby Drive 77005, 713.529.9002 Bicycle World & Fitness- 2511 Rice Boulevard 77005, 713.529.0140 Daniel Boone Cycles- 5318 Crawford 77004, 713.526.7011 West End Bikes- 5427 Blossom Street 77004, 713.861.2271 Blue Line Bike Lab- 3302 White Oak Drive 77007, 713.802.1707 For more details visit www.houstonbikeways.org/events.htm or contact Dan Raine at dan.raine@houstontx.gov or 832.395.2692. Bikeway maps are available at Houston Public Libraries, the Downtown Visitors Center and participating bike shops. A bikeway network map is also available at http://www.houstonbikeways.org/ and all city bikeways are viewable on Google Maps under the Traffic tab.

Welcome Home Parade for Returning Iraq Veterans Saturday, April 7, 2012 Mayor Annise D. Parker and the City of Houston in partnership with the Houston Astros will host a Welcome Home Parade for Returning Iraq Veterans on Saturday, April 7, 2012, at 4 p.m. in downtown Houston. Everyone is invited to show their support and honor our military heroes as we welcome them home. Rain or shine, the parade will start at 4 p.m. from the corner of Texas at San Jacinto, proceed east on Texas to Crawford, north on Crawford and conclude at Congress. At the end of the parade, the troops will proceed inside Minute Maid Park for a special on-field ceremony just prior to the 6:05 p.m. baseball game as part of the 2012 Astros opening weekend festivities. For more information about the parade: http://www.houstontx.gov/. City of Houston Office of Veterans Affairs: www.houstontx.gov/vetaffairs To purchase Astros tickets: http://www.astros.com/. NOTE: Area Active Duty, National Guard and Reserves who are still serving in uniform are asked to check in with their unit chain of command who will handle registration by unit.Iraq Veterans no longer serving in uniform are asked to register with Lone Star Veterans Association at http://www.lonestarveterans.org/. <img border="0" />

I'm amazed that a 2 story parking garage is being built by HISD-- ---I was part of the "Master Plan" Committee for Lamar High school (Lamar has the smallest acreage of any HISD high school and parking is premium--300 spaces and graduating classes each year that top 700) when my kid attended--And a 2 story parking garage was discussed and dismissed by HISD as too expensive --this even when some St Johns supporters were approached and thought that sharing parking was a good idea and would also share costs. I don't remember the exact number quoted but I think it was $16,000. per parking space.

Inner West Loop Mobility Study Public Meeting: Thursday, March 29, 2012 The City of Houston Planning and Development Department in partnership with the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) announce a meeting to discuss the Inner West Loop Mobility Study. The purpose of the Inner West Loop Mobility Study is to identify short, medium and long range projects intended to promote better mobility, and to consider and develop a multimodal classification for streets within the study area. Thursday, March 29, 2012 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Open House 6 p.m. Presentation Upper Kirby District Center 3015 Richmond Avenue #250, 1st Floor Houston 77098 Study Area: The area defined as the Inner Loop sub-area is bounded on the east by Spur 527 and Bagby Street, on the west by Interstate Highway 610 (West Loop), on the north by Interstate Highway 10 (Katy Freeway) and on the south by U.S. Highway 59 (Southwest Freeway). Your participation is important. We want to hear about existing issues in your neighborhoods and street networks and how to promote better mobility within the Inner West Loop Mobility study area. For more information about the Inner West Loop Mobility Study, visit http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/DevelopRegs/mobility/InnerWestLoop.html or call Amar Mohite at 713.837.7950 or email amar.mohite@houstontx.gov. To learn more about the Planning and Development Department, visit http://www.houstontx.gov/planning.

this was an interesting read. . . . . http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/16/us/program-aims-to-make-the-streets-of-san-francisco-easier-to-park-on.html