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Washington Avenue Information & Developments


mhh222

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The area is really sketchy, 3 girls and we were approached by 2 individuals to pay for public parking because their house was "right there" we almost left.

The club line last night was full of a mix of people, the doorman let us wait for 15 min and let in alot of his friends first, once inside it was good but it was quickly too crowded, we are used to a nice mix but later on the crowd became very spanish and the music changed as well, we left around 130ish. On the way to the car we were again approached and went back to the door to have the off duty cops walk us to the car (they asked us for our for phone numbers). All in all, decent music, seems like it could be better, drinks were $6-10 (average) better alternatives, the area can be downright scary, no lit streets or sidewalks, and even if you are on the list or have a table reservation the doorman or promoters cannot handle it, give it a few months and if it survives and adds parking it may be cool, otherwise take guys with you to avoid the "parking fee", and maybe know the doorman, basically cheap suit local guy, 2 smiles and a nice "hello" to get in.

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The area is really sketchy, 3 girls and we were approached by 2 individuals to pay for public parking because their house was "right there" we almost left.

The club line last night was full of a mix of people, the doorman let us wait for 15 min and let in alot of his friends first, once inside it was good but it was quickly too crowded, we are used to a nice mix but later on the crowd became very spanish and the music changed as well, we left around 130ish. On the way to the car we were again approached and went back to the door to have the off duty cops walk us to the car (they asked us for our for phone numbers). All in all, decent music, seems like it could be better, drinks were $6-10 (average) better alternatives, the area can be downright scary, no lit streets or sidewalks, and even if you are on the list or have a table reservation the doorman or promoters cannot handle it, give it a few months and if it survives and adds parking it may be cool, otherwise take guys with you to avoid the "parking fee", and maybe know the doorman, basically cheap suit local guy, 2 smiles and a nice "hello" to get in.

Yes, please be scared of the hood. All of your parking is making us locals very testy.

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The area is really sketchy, 3 girls and we were approached by 2 individuals to pay for public parking because their house was "right there" we almost left.

The club line last night was full of a mix of people, the doorman let us wait for 15 min and let in alot of his friends first, once inside it was good but it was quickly too crowded, we are used to a nice mix but later on the crowd became very spanish and the music changed as well, we left around 130ish. On the way to the car we were again approached and went back to the door to have the off duty cops walk us to the car (they asked us for our for phone numbers). All in all, decent music, seems like it could be better, drinks were $6-10 (average) better alternatives, the area can be downright scary, no lit streets or sidewalks, and even if you are on the list or have a table reservation the doorman or promoters cannot handle it, give it a few months and if it survives and adds parking it may be cool, otherwise take guys with you to avoid the "parking fee", and maybe know the doorman, basically cheap suit local guy, 2 smiles and a nice "hello" to get in.

Holy h...I mean, I can make a mean margarita, come to my house with your friends and I'll mix 'em up. Bring your $10, I'll put in my 2 weeks notice.

But seriously, drinking at bars not during happy hour sucks.

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  • 4 weeks later...

I saw a new listing today for a ~9000 sq ft lot at Washington and Malone that is going for sale:

http://search.har.com/engine/dispSearch.cf...mp;backButton=Y

I believe it's right next to the Wabash Antiques Store. Who do you think may be interested in a lot like this? It seems like it would be a great location for businesses (near Cova and El Tiempo). Do businesses ever purchase land like this or do they typically only lease? Hopefully it'll be something good!

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I saw a new listing today for a ~9000 sq ft lot at Washington and Malone that is going for sale:

http://search.har.com/engine/dispSearch.cf...mp;backButton=Y

I believe it's right next to the Wabash Antiques Store. Who do you think may be interested in a lot like this? It seems like it would be a great location for businesses (near Cova and El Tiempo). Do businesses ever purchase land like this or do they typically only lease? Hopefully it'll be something good!

The bars around there may buy or lease land for extra parking or to support a valet operation.

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The question is how long will it take to sell?

With the credit markets in the trash and a lack of liquidity that exists...we may see a valet space for a while.

At $70 per square foot, it won't sell one way or the other to anybody. The parcel's size limits what it can be utilized for commercially. I'd suspect that a more realistic price is closer to $45-ish psf, regardless of the availability of credit. And the owner definitely needs to clear the lot.

I forsee it eventually becoming townhomes. Eventually. For now, the good news is that if the owner really is serious about selling it, they can unload it at a sufficiently low price that credit is still available from smaller community banks.

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  • 1 month later...

http://washingtonquietzone.com/

Anybody who is living in the Washington corridor, it's in your best interest to participate in this initiative. It sounds like the organization has some dedicated leaders and succeeded in moving the priority up.

The Washington Corridor has moved up in priority from a Tier III to a Tier II!!!

I didn't know that the 120 decibel whistle is considered a safety hazard!

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the site never mentioned how they propose to notify pedestrians/drivers/citizens that a huge unstoppable train is coming THROUGH (if the horns are gone)

I -HATE- the trains as much as anyone. The horns wake me up several times a week, but they do serve a small purpose.

The horn's "replacement" would also tie in to why the city would need funding instead of just telling the train dude to stop honking.

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the site never mentioned how they propose to notify pedestrians/drivers/citizens that a huge unstoppable train is coming THROUGH (if the horns are gone)

I -HATE- the trains as much as anyone. The horns wake me up several times a week, but they do serve a small purpose.

The horn's "replacement" would also tie in to why the city would need funding instead of just telling the train dude to stop honking.

It will be just like the crossing on Westheimer by Highland Village. The law is that there has to be visible barriers up that prevent people from circumventing the rails that come down when a train is coming.

Obviously the West U'ers and River Oakies were the first to implement these quiet zones in Houston. Hopefully that set a precedence for the rest of us little folks.

I've got four kids. From the din that pervades our house from 5am to 8pm, I haven't heard the train in eight years.

How can I get my house moved up to Tier II.

Lol, probably the best way is to build a time machine and set the date to whenever your kids turn 18 and then kick them off to college.

Other than that, you'll have to suffer with the rest of us! :)

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The club line last night was full of a mix of people, the doorman let us wait for 15 min and let in alot of his friends first, once inside it was good but it was quickly too crowded, we are used to a nice mix but later on the crowd became very spanish and the music changed as well, we left around 130ish.

The Spanish do love their Mallorcan trance dub anthems. With Catalan just down the street, I guess it's only a matter of time before we're calling Washington Avenue "Little Iberia". Watch for the paella trucks scoping out locations...

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Where is Washington Centre located at exactly? Isn't there a three story empty building at Washington and Bonner? (Currently occupied by a single bank only)

I figured I would have noticed construction on a 3 story shopping center with a parking garage, but I haven't seen anything of the sort yet. Seems like the only available space would be across from James Craig and Raia's.

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Just like to add that I travelled down the entire length of Washington (downtown to the WOW) for the first time in maybe three months and I have to say that, even in a down real-estate market nation-wide, I'm impressed by the amount of activity under way or about to get under way, especially near the intersections with Durham/Shepherd and Heights/Waugh.

If only we could see more momentum on the decayed properties east of Sawyer and west of Houston Avenue.

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  • 2 weeks later...
I heard that Daily Grind os closed - it may be a bar soon. Is this true? I hope not.

I noticed "John Klotz" mentioned on a couple of recent records for the property - on one together with Jack Gregory, who I think is (was?) the owner of Daily Grind. Don't know if that has any significance unless it's the John Klotz who started the Local Charm location on lower Washington with Rory Miggins, and stayed on as co-owner of the Rhythm Room when Miggins left. I don't see a current liquor permit for 4115 Washington, though. There is one for the property next door - 4105, where Reign Lounge is supposed to be opening.

HCAD lists the owner of 4115 Washington as Robert Mize, who owns several properties in the lower Washington/6th Ward area, including the Catalina Coffee building.

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  • 1 month later...
Historic Fire Station No. 11 is Saved! On June 13, 2007, the city council voted to sell Fire Station No. 11 to Mr. Matt Tabrizi for $350,000. According to the plan approved by the HAHC (HoustonArchaeological and Historical Commission) also on June 13, Mr. Tabrizi plans to convert the first floor into retail/restaurant space, and the second floor into livingspace. The exterior facing Washington will be restored as original. Because of the hard work of Barry Whitehead (Architect and Project Manager for the Houston Fire Department) and Randy Pace (Houston's Historic Preservation Officer), Fire Station No. 11 was designated a protected landmark in May, 2006. A protected landmark is a new designation which requires mandatory compliance after due process
Edited by NenaE
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Many of the local businesses and restaurants along Washington Ave. are hosting a "Catch the WAve" event on March 7 with pedi-cabs shuttling people around for tips. For details, and a map, stop by Raia's http://raiasitalianmarket.com/ (the brochures are on top of the Houston Press stack). Other businesses on Washington probably have the booklets too, but the owner of Raia's told us about the event this weekend and gave us the brochure... (I can't find a website on it!).

Apparently they did this event last year, but I didn't know about it and I live 3 blocks from Washington.

Seems like they are trying to do something like "19th on 19th" in the Heights... yay!

Edited by Htowngirl
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