WesternGulf Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 The dude is clueless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeebus Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 I haven't been down there in a while, but does it look like there will even be a Main St. entrance?Everyone stop worrying about Niche and answer my ON topic question instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WesternGulf Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 The site is still rubble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pumapayam Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 The site is still rubble.I guess he is thinking of another CVS then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmainguy Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 Everyone stop worrying about Niche and answer my ON topic question instead.My guess is there will be no entrance on Main. It's a full block so entrances on Elgin, Fannin and Stuart should provide enough access. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KinkaidAlum Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 The CVS is taking up the full block?Jesus, what a total waste of space. The thing that really gets me is that there are CVS everywhere now. Market saturation gone wild. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwrm4 Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 The CVS was mentioned in the recent WSJ article entitled "Houston's Midtown Vision Falters". In that article, it stated the drive-thru lane would be between Main St. and the CVS building, "angering the Midtown Management District". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barracuda Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 (edited) It is a total waste of space. The horrific CVS on Gray/Bagby is only a mile away. It would make sense to build more stores if they were building walkable, urban-style buildings. But CVS clearly has no interest in doing so in Midtown, despite the wishes of the local community. I only hope the next few dozen CVS stores in Midtown aren't as hideous as the store on Gray.The CVS was mentioned in the recent WSJ article entitled "Houston's Midtown Vision Falters". In that article, it stated the drive-thru lane would be between Main St. and the CVS building, "angering the Midtown Management District".That won't be a very inviting for the folks riding the light rail. It's amazing how short-sighted this company is. Edited November 21, 2006 by barracuda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VicMan Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 (edited) But if it's still rubble, then isn't there a way to reverse this? When the builders come, get a bunch of guys with HUGE picket signs... anything to get CVS to change its mind!"Now CVS is preparing to build another store on a prime block along the Main Street rail line with a drive-through lane between Main Street and its building, angering the Midtown Management District. "We're trying to prevent Midtown from becoming a concrete jungle," Mr. Le Blanc says. Mike DeAngelis, a spokesman for CVS, says the company has made concessions, giving the store a more urban look and agreeing not to surround it with a parking lot" is the text from the article Edited November 21, 2006 by VicMan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barracuda Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 Maybe we could offer a bunch of homeless folks free grub or a few bucks a day to stand outside and protest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwrm4 Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 Somehow the Houston Heights Association go them to modify (somehwat) the design of the one they built on 20th street...so there is hope but, given what CVS did with the one by Farrago, I wouldn't get my hopes up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WesternGulf Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 Maybe I am not paying attention hard enough but what is so different or special about the Heights location? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeebus Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 The CVS was mentioned in the recent WSJ article entitled "Houston's Midtown Vision Falters". In that article, it stated the drive-thru lane would be between Main St. and the CVS building, "angering the Midtown Management District".What a slap in the face of pedestrian friendly urban development. No wonder Houston is used as the nation's model for everything bad in urban planning & architecture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarface Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 People in vehicles also tend to be significantly wealthier than people on the LRT because the LRT is basically a glorified bus-replacement system.i don't like statements lke these. Too general, prejudice, and not to mention a little ignorant. You can't speak for all people who own vehicles and would rather have another transportation alternative. Some people just like the convienence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest danax Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 What a slap in the face of pedestrian friendly urban development. No wonder Houston is used as the nation's model for everything bad in urban planning & architecture.The plan is not having a plan and see what pops up.I shared office space with a guy 5 years ago who ran a company that built Walgreens. He would've loudly guffawed at someone suggesting that he consider the "urban pedestrian environment" of a site. He had a system that was cheap, fast and he was aggressive and ruthless as a businessman. I'm guessing that CVS is the same or worse and couldn't care less about Midtown and, unless forced by those who do care, will muscle in their product when the opportunity arises and will crush all opponents.It's a jungle out there and Houston's urban dreamers are about as high up on the food chain as dung beetles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmainguy Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 Maybe I am not paying attention hard enough but what is so different or special about the Heights location?That's a long story but the short of it is: Walgreens wanted that plat to build a new store. They would not cooperate with anyone-I believe they wanted to place the dumpsters on Heights directly across from the rose garden.CVS worked with the Heights Association and others. The placed the dumpsters on the south side of the building; moved the building closer to the corner of Yale and 20th and put the drive through on Yale. The building is set back about as far away as they could get from Heights so as not to intrude as much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mls1202 Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 Listen, I hate CVS as much as everyone on this board, but I should at least point out that they DID create the most urban, pedestrian pharmacy in town...Main Street Downtown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VicMan Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 Listen, I hate CVS as much as everyone on this board, but I should at least point out that they DID create the most urban, pedestrian pharmacy in town...Main Street Downtown.In other words, there is a chance that they will negotiate with us.I do not mind a single-story store that much, but I would like for its entrance to be a panorama, with part of it facing the rail and part of it facing the parking. OR, have the part facing the rail contain a glass panel that gives a fa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 Listen, I hate CVS as much as everyone on this board, but I should at least point out that they DID create the most urban, pedestrian pharmacy in town...Main Street Downtown. Yeah, great place. Does it still close at 7pm? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 Boy, talk about your basic unsupported, generalized sweeping statements. Nice job, Niche.Tend to be. Observe the population.i don't like statements lke these. Too general, prejudice, and not to mention a little ignorant. You can't speak for all people who own vehicles and would rather have another transportation alternative. Some people just like the convienence.I don't speak for all people. I speak of a segmented population that is not representative of the whole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmainguy Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 I don't speak for all people. I speak of a segmented population that is not representative of the whole.Don't confuse the issue. You speak only for yourself. Own up to your unsubstantiated generalizations and move on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 Don't confuse the issue. You speak only for yourself. Own up to your unsubstantiated generalizations and move on.I have. I will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dream Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 Fannin has a higher traffic count because most people know better than to drive on Main Street. People in vehicles also tend to be significantly wealthier than people on the LRT because the LRT is basically a glorified bus-replacement system.The value of LRT should be as a rapid transit option, but that is not how it has been implemented. If it doesn't save time, the people who will most frequently use it are those relatively few for whom it is the most direct path and the majority who are forced to transfer on/off of it because of bus rerouting. And these people are disproportionately poor. The wealthy that must build up the LRT corridor don't want to ride with poor people...and certainly not when they can get most places faster in their cars.Niche,I respect your well thought response and that you attempted to contribute to this thread. At least you have an opinion and think beyond just complaining about CVS. It does make business sense for CVS to face Fannin with higher traffic counts. It does not fit the ideal and mold to the romantic thoughts of pedestrian friendly dense urban midtown. But reality is vacant stretchs and suffering businesses. How can anyone ride the train and not see what is out of the window or not outside the window? I used Metro busses exclusiely for 2 years at one point in my life and I agree that the working class or less fortunate do use public transit, I've seen it with my own eyes. I was just one of the masses on the buses and enjoyed the anonymity of the experience. I've also been on our LRT about 20 times, I noticed the same thing. On the LRT there seems to be a lot of homeless catching free rides to Autrey House for brekfast and back to downtown for lunch/panhandling. Dream Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 Considering there is not a rail station nearby what's the big deal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VicMan Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 While it does make business sense to add parking (And I don't disagree with having parking in Midtown), I still believe that CVS should make the part facing the rail line look like an entrance even though the entrance is not actually in the said side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 agreeI remember when this was our old hardware store. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KinkaidAlum Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 The development along the Main St. line has been a disappointment in Midtown. Much of this however is due to speculative flippers who have priced anyone other than national companies such as CVS out of the market. It's a shame.Again, I have to ask CVS, why there? There are hundreds of parcels of land in the midtown area that are much more suitable for a CVS style pharmacy. Why build with your back to the Main Street line? Why not find a parcel on the opposite side of Fannin or along San Jacinto or Brazos or any of the other N/S thoroughfares? It's not like this location is surrounded by a neighborhood. They will be relying solely on drive-through traffic. Again, it's a real shame that Houstonians would allow a Rhode Island based company to do as they please regardless of the larger consequences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N Judah Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 (edited) But if it's still rubble, then isn't there a way to reverse this? When the builders come, get a bunch of guys with HUGE picket signs... anything to get CVS to change its mind! Where's Earth Liberation Front when we really need them!??!? Again, it's a real shame that Houstonians would allow a Rhode Island based company to do as they please regardless of the larger consequences. It doesn't matter. In 5-10 years the land it is on will be bought and something else will replace it. Edited November 22, 2006 by N Judah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 The development along the Main St. line has been a disappointment in Midtown. Much of this however is due to speculative flippers who have priced anyone other than national companies such as CVS out of the market. It's a shame.High land prices are what assures us that the development that eventually does get here is high-quality. If the prices were too low, you'd see townhomes along the rail line. Would you prefer that? CVS is merely a placeholder, but the townhomes would have more permenancy.Again, I have to ask CVS, why there? There are hundreds of parcels of land in the midtown area that are much more suitable for a CVS style pharmacy. Why build with your back to the Main Street line? Why not find a parcel on the opposite side of Fannin or along San Jacinto or Brazos or any of the other N/S thoroughfares? It's not like this location is surrounded by a neighborhood. They will be relying solely on drive-through traffic.They chose that spot because it has some really high traffic counts and is highly-visible. They also know that the land value certainly isn't going down anytime soon because it is such a 'blue chip' block of land that'll hold its value, and the cost of the actual store relative to the value of the land is probably pretty low. So when the time comes, they can dispose of it easily to a high bidder and about the only thing that they'll have to write off as an expense is the build cost, which will likely be entirely recouped (and then some) from sales.Again, it's a real shame that Houstonians would allow a Rhode Island based company to do as they please regardless of the larger consequences.Xenophobia? Kinkaid? I'm surprised at you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest danax Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 High land prices are what assures us that the development that eventually does get here is high-quality. If the prices were too low, you'd see townhomes along the rail line. Would you prefer that? CVS is merely a placeholder, but the townhomes would have more permenancy.You mean high quality as in a more expensive project but even a mid or high rise building can be cheaply built, like perhaps Tremont Towers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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