Houston Architecture Info Forum

Best Snow Cones in Houston?

Thu, 31 May 2012 06:32:44 +0000

The heat is here and summer is right around the corner and I came to thinking about snow cones already. I really have never tried to seek a place in the inner loop.

Does anyone know of a great snow cone places in town?

Alamo Drafthouse Theater coming to Midtown and Northwest Houston

Wed, 30 May 2012 19:28:19 +0000

Houston, We Have Two New Alamos

http://drafthouse.com/blog/entry/houston_we_have_two_new_alamos

Quote

(HOUSTON, Texas, May 30, 2012) – Triple Tap Ventures LLC, owner and operator of the Houston area Alamo Drafthouse Cinema locations in West Oaks Mall and on Mason Road in Katy, Texas, is pleased to announce it will bring two new Alamo Drafthouse Cinema locations to Houston in 2013.

...The first new Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is slated to open in Northwest Houston in early 2013 and will be located in the Vintage Park Shopping Village off of Tomball Parkway 249 and Louetta Road.

...The second new Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, scheduled to open after Vintage Park, is a highly anticipated inner-loop location, which will be centrally accessible and located in Houston’s bustling Midtown area. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema - Midtown will be located at 2901 Louisiana Street as part of a mixed-use project developed by Crosspoint Properties and, like Alamo Drafthouse Cinema - Vintage Park, will offer state-of-the-art auditoriums featuring 100 percent digital projection and sound as well as an expansive and inviting lobby bar which will be visible from Milam Street and boast panoramic views of Houston’s impressive downtown skyline.

lots of great politics and zero posts on Haif

Wed, 30 May 2012 05:50:04 +0000

It has become so weak!!

The Woodlands is on fire!

Wed, 30 May 2012 03:17:07 +0000

I've never seen anything like it. My wife and I just moved here and were amazed at the competition over the inventory. We had our alerts setup and were running around with an iPad on call. One house got six offers the first day. They actually refused to show it to us the next day!

I would be curious as to what percentage of houses that are pending in the 200-500k range in 77381 and 77382. Some of the areas we looked at easily had over 50% as pending/option.

Land for sale next to Klein Oak

Tue, 29 May 2012 22:49:36 +0000

Might be apartments. or some cookie cutter home or strip center.

http://www.newquest.com/Property/Details/166/74-03-Acres-SEC-of-Root-Road-and-Northcrest-Dr-

Taco Bell/Long John Silvers on Kuykendahl and 2920

Tue, 29 May 2012 22:29:50 +0000

I was driving by last week and I noticed that Yum Brands is getting rid of the Duel-branding on the restaurant.

Food & Wine's Best Burgers ignores Houston - and Texas

Tue, 29 May 2012 20:58:44 +0000

Food & Wine magazine released their list of the Best Burgers in the US recently (maybe today). Despite Houston's reputation as having some of the best burgers in the US, the editors seemingly ignored our fair city in this list. In fact, Texas as a whole is ignored: With the exception of #9, the Perini Ranch Steakhouse in Buffalo Gap, Texas (near Abilene), no other Texas location is represented in this list.

http://www.foodandwine.com/slideshows/best-burgers-in-the-us

Now, I haven't been to many of these establishments and sampled their fare, but I would wager that at least some other Texas locations have burgers which would be considered as good - if not better - than many of these.

Any thoughts on the list and this (to me) apparent snub to Texas burger eateries?

Shops at Bella Terra

Tue, 29 May 2012 19:13:26 +0000

Does anyone know what is going in next to Pier One? They graded that section. Site plan I found only shows a building not who is going in.

Thanks!

Car burglary

Tue, 29 May 2012 12:36:17 +0000

Just a heads up to anyone in the neighborhood, This morning between 4:30 - 5:00 am I saw a car burglary in progress.  A man in an older white chevy truck, single cab with a loud muffler, drove down the street and jumped in to a truck parked on the street broke into the tool box pulled on the door handles and took off.

Called the police, who responded in about 3 minutes ultimately with about 7 police cars.  They advised there has been several car break ins in the immediate area ( around Oxford st, W of Stude, North of 11th.).  I was broken into last week myself.

The truck looked real familiar as if I had seen it in the neighborhood before, I even remember hearing it early in the morning,  the loud muffler caused me to look out the window.   It is always a tough call when something is suspicious enough to call the police or just people going about their business.

If you see this truck, especially early in the morning, call the police.

Is this a William Floyd?

Tue, 29 May 2012 01:31:26 +0000

I noticed this house for sale today and was wondering if it was one of the ones William Floyd built in Memorial Bend. There is no mention of it in the listing.

http://search.har.com/engine/403-Isolde-Dr-Houston-77024-4700_HAR80157944.htm

Riverside Terrace Cleanup

Mon, 28 May 2012 17:43:45 +0000

Why does it take so long for the city of Houston to raze dangerous buildings. This eyesore surrounded by some of the most beautiful homes along South Macgregor has sit for years, racking up citation after citation. The city need to step in and tear it down, its is unsafe and beyond the stage where it could be renovated.

Attached Thumbnails

Karst Topography Near Houston

Mon, 28 May 2012 06:44:49 +0000

I was looking at the Bellaire quadrangle of the 1915 topographic maps of the Houston area and noticed something that had escaped my attention previously.  In the area south of Pierce Junction and running westward for about eight miles, there is a band of Karst topography, replete with numerous sinkholes and lakes.  It's not as pronounced as somewhere like central Florida, but its certainly unusual.

It also brought to mind the sinkhole that had opened up underneath Almeda Road.  I did a little poking around on the internet and found this article, which cites the presence of a very fine silt in a soil layer at as little as eight feet below-ground in that area, which is in the band of Karst topography that I'm referring to.

I'm just curious, are there any geologists or geophysicists on here that have specific knowledge of this area.  In particular, are there any risks to building structures in such areas?  What would be required to mitigate the risks, if anything?

What religion doesn't allow ice makers?

Sun, 27 May 2012 19:02:46 +0000

While thumbing through my refrigerator manual yesterday I ran across the following:

Quote

The Holiday Mode is designed for the traveler who wishes to save additional energy or for those whose religious observances require turning off the lights and ice maker.

I guess I'm naive but what religion could this possible refer to and why would the use of an ice maker and refrigerator lights not be allowed?

Bachanon reviews: Beaver's (4/5) on Yelp

Sat, 26 May 2012 21:56:43 +0000

brisket!!!! mmmmmmm. like my dad's....almost as good. the smokey queso is packed full of veggies and they will add meat for an additional $5. the jalapeno poppers renewed my love of this…

Click here to view the full review at Yelp.com

El Tiempo Restaurant Opening on Navigation

Fri, 25 May 2012 19:00:11 +0000

Great news for the East End!

http://www.bizjourna...o.html?page=all

Survey Says: 61% Houston area Support Mass Transit

Thu, 24 May 2012 13:43:29 +0000

Original link, video

Quote

One of America’s most automobile-dependent large cities may be heading into a new era, according to the 31st annual Kinder Houston Area Survey conducted by Rice University. Among the findings in this year’s survey: Houstonians support mass transit, feel better about the economy and say relations between ethnic groups are better than ever.

Stephen Klineberg discusses the survey results at a luncheon hosted by the Greater Houston Partnership and Rice's Kinder Institute for Urban Research. Photo by Jeff Fitlow.

The survey results were released April 24 at a luncheon hosted by the Greater Houston Partnership and Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research.
Mass transit and a preference for urban living.
A large and growing proportion of Harris County residents emphatically support improvements in mass transit, and majorities are now calling for more opportunities to live within walking distance of shops and workplaces. Fifty-six percent of the respondents in Harris County and 61 percent in surrounding counties said that the development of a much-improved mass transit system is “very important” for the future success of the Houston area. A majority (51 percent) of Harris County residents want more taxpayer money to be spent on improving rail and buses rather than on expanding existing highways.
“The romance with the automobile, which has been the essence of Houston for most of its modern history, is clearly fading,” Klineberg said. “The suburbs are more crowded, gas prices and traffic congestion are soaring, fewer households have children at home, and the lure of urban amenities, both in downtown Houston and in suburban ‘town centers,’ is generating a sea-change in area residents’ living preferences.”
In 1999, 52 percent of Anglos living in the city of Houston said they would someday like to move to suburbs, compared with 26 percent of those in the suburbs who were interested in moving to the city. This year, the figures are reversed: Just 28 percent of city residents said they want to live in the suburbs, but 33 percent of suburbanites are now interested in someday moving to the city.

What do you think? I mean, the numbers are in, but does that even matter? As in, Houston people may like mass transit, but not much has been done about it...

Many proposed Midtown mixed-use & multifamily developments

Wed, 23 May 2012 16:30:22 +0000

Maybe at some point in time we should create a thread for each of these projects:

Quote

HBL Architects VP Dan Barnum has been involved in Midtown since the ‘80s, primarily with TrinityEpiscopal Church, which has pushed for improvement in the area. He tells us current development plans around the Ensemble/HCC station will dramatically change the neighborhood, making it more urban and walkable. New projects may also fix the lack of affordable housing and parking. For one, RHS Interests’ Bob Schultz is planning a mixed-income multifamily community (perhaps partially student housing) with retail, office, and a 1,000-car garage, and he’s redeveloping the antique store at Main and Berry into a boutique hotel.

Dan says affordable housing makes sense there for residents without cars, and demand is high, but it’s hard to make the numbers work. Trinity is partnering with an affordable housing expert, and its master plan calls for a 100-unit multifamily complex with seniors, low-income, and workforce housing plus parking. He tells us the old Midtown code enforcement site is selling to an apartment developer, and Camden and Midtown are gearing up a three-part development at the Superblock (a multifamily community, park, and retail/ commercial buildings). Lastly, Urban Deal’s Adam Brackman is redeveloping the old Sunnyland Furniture store (empty since 1989's TS Allison) into a mixed-use retail/office/multifamily building.

http://www.bisnow.co...ory.php?p=24377

IAH vs. DFW

Wed, 23 May 2012 15:11:08 +0000

I'm curious: what makes IAH better off than DFW? Size wise we are smaller. However we have more international airlines. DFW has Qantas. We have Emirates. Are we going to be getting any other airlines that'll help IAH stay competitive with DFW? What carriers do they have that we don't and is there any hope of attracting them to Houston? Lot's of questions but just curious..

Dolce Vita fire

Wed, 23 May 2012 13:12:57 +0000

http://blog.chron.com/newswatch/2012/05/fire-reported-at-montrose-restaurant/

Profile of KTRK ABC 13 news anchor Dave Ward

Wed, 23 May 2012 13:11:07 +0000

The TV industry e-rag, TVNewsCheck, did a profile of ABC13's Dave Ward this week. I'm not sure why, but it's an interesting read.

Quote

The anchor has been with ABC O&O KTRK since 1966, and remains an iconic newscaster who still delivers No. 1 ratings in the No. 10 DMA. At 73, he’s got no plans to go anywhere else. “They’ll probably carry me out of here feet first,” he says.

Linky: http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/59592/dave-ward-eats-sleeps--breathes-houston

Disclosure: A few years ago I wrote an article for TVNewsCheck, but haven't had any interaction with it since. Oh, and I interviewed for a job at KTRK back in the 00's, but decided not to take it.

Inner west Loop Mobility Study

Wed, 23 May 2012 02:30:48 +0000

At Neartown meeting Omar of COH city planning spoke about the Inner loop mobility study-- Area comprising 610, I10, spur 527 and I59.
http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/DevelopRegs/mobility/CMP.html

It started in January, so it's 1/2 through.They studied metro Transit stops, ongoing CIP (Capital Improvement Plan) projects, Bike ways, Pavement conditions, TIRZ, Landuse, Population trends, Drainage.

A broad definition seems to me to be the study of how Houston streets function now and try to predict how they will function in 40 years and how efficiency can be improved.

We were shown graphic maps of Sidewalk conditions (Montrose is the worse)
street conditions (again Montose is bad) Congested intersections ( Shepard street intersections were bad along with Allen Parkway intersections) as examples. All the information was interesting.There are more public meetings planned-- hope they are well attended.

Deed Restriction workshop June 13

Wed, 23 May 2012 02:11:03 +0000

Deed Restriction Workshop
Learn how to modify and renew existing deed restrictions or create new ones.
Learn what restrictions the City of Houston enforces and how.

Wednesday, June 13
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
United Way of Greater Houston
50 Waugh Drive

Presentations from the following experts:

Attorney Reid Wilson, Wilson, Cribbs and Goren, P.C. City Attorney Section Chief, Donna Edmundson

Sponsored by the City of Houston, Planning and Development Department

R.S.V.P: 713-837-7821 before May 31. Seats are limited

Hens for Homes--- allowing back yard flocks

Wed, 23 May 2012 02:07:07 +0000

Heard from Hens for Homes ( I think there is also a Hens for Houston with a similiar goal) at Neartown meeting

info@hensforhomes.com

guess there a few people living inside the loop that would like to have under 6 hens (no roosters) in order to have fresh eggs and want to change the COH ordinances and have a petition

http://www.change.org/petition/city-of-houston-revise-city-ordinance-to-allow-chicken-coops-within-20-ft-of-a-residence

Brande restaurant replacing Ruggles in Montrose

Wed, 23 May 2012 01:54:43 +0000

hear chef Ryan Hildrebrand & his architect speak about their plans to raze the 3 lots where Ruggles stood (Habitat for humanity was allowed to salvage any materials they sought) a variance was requested ---
as far as i understand 58 parking places on side and in back with a 27 foot set back from inside of curb.Planned opening next fall

Hermann Park Golf Coarse

Tue, 22 May 2012 22:27:06 +0000

Is this the highest and best use of this park land? My rough outline of the course and club house is about 125 acres.

Note: Topic title should be "COURSE" obviously. "Coarse" is jargon in my field... Can someone correct the title?

Buried treasure in Cypress

Tue, 22 May 2012 20:10:17 +0000

Has anyone heard the myth of buried treasure along Cypress Creek? I could have sworn somebody told me about this dating back to the 1830's.

Which is more reliable forecast?

Tue, 22 May 2012 18:58:18 +0000

We are going camping this weekend and I checked the forecasts. Weather Underground lists 20% chance of rain on Saturday, 40% on Sunday and 50% on Monday. The National Weather Service lists 0% for Saturday and Sunday and 10% for Monday.

I know we have a few weather-people on here. Which one usually has the more reliable forecasts? And why would there be such a wide discrepancy?

I really don't relish camping with a bunch of kids in a thunderstorm.

Houston Musuem of Natural Science

Tue, 22 May 2012 13:48:38 +0000

( I thought we had an existing thread of the HMNS expansion, but I couldn't find it )

AP put out a story this morning on our new dino exhibit and it's been picked up by NPR, Washington Post, Bloomberg, etc.

http://www.washingto...ALhU_story.html

I've mostly been dissapointed with HMNS and their seasonal/traveling exhibits the past decade. They've all seemed kinda of bush-league and put together on a shoe string budget. The content itself, whether is the mummy, bodyworlds, whatever has been great, but I've always felt like HMNS hasn't been up to the task of displaying these exhibits in a manner worthy of the content.

Sound like $85 million has done the trick. This exhibit is now being hailed in some places as the the best in the country and has artifacts no place else has.. such as triceratops skin. Looking forward to the opening in a few weeks.

Recent figures on realtor commissions

Mon, 21 May 2012 20:32:18 +0000

I might be moving later this year (staying in the Houston area). Has anyone recently sold a home in the area, or if you happen to be "in the know", and can comment on what kind of commissions they had to pay out? Also since i plan to purchase the next home in the Houston-area, I would consider using the same company to buy and sell. I understand this would give me some leverage to negotiate on the commission.... or is that wishful thinking? Any related tips are appreciated. Thanks.

Nice Chron article about east end

Mon, 21 May 2012 16:24:26 +0000

http://www.chron.com...-up-3570008.php

some of the comments are lol.

What do you guys think? Is the area experiencing another false start, or is it a for real revitalization?

I continue to think that whether it's the for real growth, or just another false start it's only a matter of time before the area changes, just like Montrose, Washington, or the Heights. It's a question of critical mass.

When I first moved into the area (almost 4 years ago now) I was eager for people to 'find the area' and build it up, after having lived here, I have grown to enjoy it as is. Light traffic, friendly neighbors, I've come to realize it's already built, albeit a bit rough around the edges.