brian0123 Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 Drove by yesterday and they are tearing out all units at 9604 S Main (the old America's Best Value Inn) here: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Americas+Best+Value+Inn/@29.679122,-95.426589,3a,75y,305.44h,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sBytyiD3zHAWaelOmoKiDYA!2e0!4m2!3m1!1s0x0000000000000000:0xfe8313a5a4dffe69!6m1!1e1 According to HCAD, ownership changed 1/30 of this year to "9604 S Main LTD" w/ an address that matches In-Town Homes. Anyone know what's going on? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryDierker Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 I don't guess there's any chance Starbucks is expanding that tiny parking lot? Seriously though, I hope they also bought the neighboring property on Buffalo Speedway that has been rotting vacant for so long. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OkieEric Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 Looks like they did buy that property on Buffalo Speedway - address is 9714 Buffalo Speedway. It also references 1520 Oliver St (InTown homes) Obviously we are looking at another large townhome/patio home development, which is certainly an improvement over what was there 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryDierker Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 20150323_153541 by Not.Larry.Dierker, on Flickr 20150323_153538 by Not.Larry.Dierker, on Flickr No obvious work on the Buffalo Speedway property as of yet. 20150323_153508 by Not.Larry.Dierker, on Flickr 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 In better days: 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 Is that a hazmat warning taped to the window below the stack o' mattresses? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Specwriter Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Is that a hazmat warning taped to the window below the stack o' mattresses? I would think so. Used mattresses can be pretty hazardous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plumber2 Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 "The Pantry" on Buffalo Speedway was a notorious convenience store back in the 1970's. Any underage teenager that wanted to buy beer or wine back then could always count on the clerk to descretly sell to us, with a wink and a warning of "ya'll boys be careful now". 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Specwriter Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 I drive past the strip shopping center that faces Buffalo Speedway every weekday afternoon. Last week I noticed a fence had been put up around the parking lot. Yesterday I noticed a pile of rubble on the pavement that was apparently from interior demolition. I also saw a Bobcat (the small front-end loader, not the animal) through an opening in the front wall. I can't imagine interior demolition only is taking place and that the structure is to be saved. Maybe it is just a prelude to the whole thing being knocked down. I'm not likely to stop to take pictures as I am on my way home and there is no convenient place to stop the car but if I see something compelling I will pull into the Starbucks and shoot a few images. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian0123 Posted April 21, 2015 Author Share Posted April 21, 2015 I drive past the strip shopping center that faces Buffalo Speedway every weekday afternoon. Last week I noticed a fence had been put up around the parking lot. Yesterday I noticed a pile of rubble on the pavement that was apparently from interior demolition. I also saw a Bobcat (the small front-end loader, not the animal) through an opening in the front wall. I can't imagine interior demolition only is taking place and that the structure is to be saved. Maybe it is just a prelude to the whole thing being knocked down. I'm not likely to stop to take pictures as I am on my way home and there is no convenient place to stop the car but if I see something compelling I will pull into the Starbucks and shoot a few images.They did the same thing before tearing down the old apartments at Kirby and S Main (where the new ones are going up north of this). Old stuff is pulled out of all the rooms, they salvage what they can (like mirrors/electronics/fixtures), hazmat the gross stuff (mattresses), clean it out then tear down the walls. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Specwriter Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 They did the same thing before tearing down the old apartments at Kirby and S Main (where the new ones are going up north of this). Old stuff is pulled out of all the rooms, they salvage what they can (like mirrors/electronics/fixtures), hazmat the gross stuff (mattresses), clean it out then tear down the walls. That's what I hope they are doing. There is almost nothing in an old building, except the hazardous stuff, than cannot be reused in some way. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian0123 Posted April 22, 2015 Author Share Posted April 22, 2015 You guys aren't going to believe it, but my wife just texted me saying they're currently tearing down the strip mall around the corner from this behind the Starbucks. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Specwriter Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 You guys aren't going to believe it, but my wife just texted me saying they're currently tearing down the strip mall around the corner from this behind the Starbucks. They're moving quickly. Odd since the building sat empty for so long. I'll drive by around 6:30 this evening on my way home. It will be interesting to see how far along they are on the demo. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian0123 Posted April 22, 2015 Author Share Posted April 22, 2015 I need to correct my earlier statement, I went by at lunch and it appears they are actually rehabbing the building. There are a ton of crews there cleaning out the inside. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OkieEric Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 A demo permit was issued 4/16 - not completely sure what this means, though. Given the connection to Lovett, the condition of the building, and the fact that it abuts 9604 S Main I would be surprised if it is not torn down. I guess it could wind up being a Lovett Commerial deal, though. Details Project No: 15034285 Date : 2015/04/16 00:00:00 USE : DB/COMMERCIAL/DEMO/CERTIFCATE OF COMPLIA Owner/Occupant : DIAZ KAREN Job Address : 9714 BUFFALO SPEEDWAY 77025 Valuation : $ 0 Permit Type : 4P FCC Group : Demo; Other Building(s) Buyer : *HERNANDEZ MONREAL PLUMBING CO Address : 2603 KELLEY ST 77026 Phone : (713) 691-1383 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryDierker Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 20150422_171818 by Not.Larry.Dierker, on Flickr 20150422_171831 by Not.Larry.Dierker, on Flickr 20150422_171825 by Not.Larry.Dierker, on Flickr 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Specwriter Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 The plastic sheeting, some of which can be seen in LarryD's second image, now is across the entire front of the building which also seemingly no longer has a wall. That's an odd thing to do prior to demolition unless there is some sort of hazard material remediation going on first. I doubt the building has asbestos pipe insulation since I saw roof top AC units as late as yesterday. There may be asbestos in the old floor tile though. It wasn't "outlawed" until the mid- to late-1960s. It's hard to tell with the plastic sheeting in place but it looks like the entire interior is essentially gutted. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Specwriter Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 I drove by yesterday afternoon and the whole building has been 'tented.' There is a small sign taped to a box on the sidewalk that reads "Danger - Keep Out." I believe there is definitely some type of hazardous material (guessing asbestos or lead-based paint) abatement going on inside. This would have to be done whether or not the structure is demolished. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryDierker Posted May 10, 2015 Share Posted May 10, 2015 Motel is now a pile of rubble. Couldn't get a picture. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryDierker Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 Buffalo Speedway building is now rubble as well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NenaE Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 (edited) Subdude... what on earth are those green things? concrete barriers protecting the kiddie pool? ... that gigantic grocery sign and the store on Buffalo Speedway outlasted many others from the 50's-60's. It stood empty for years. In better days: Edited May 21, 2015 by NenaE 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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