Category Archives: Elsewhere in Houston

I’m still waiting to receive a copy of the city’s letter of intent with the Center Serving Persons with Mental Retardation, but in the meantime, today’s Chron story provides a few more details. The agreement, which must be approved by … Continue reading → Continue reading →

This article is about the Mayor’s belief that the recent proposal to make permanent the ban on demolitions in the Old Sixth Ward would have widespread support, but what really interests me is the quote from the opposition: The Old … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Here’s what we know so far: The Center Serving Persons with Mental Retardation will pay the city $6 million for prime inner city property it now uses in exchange for the services it provides, city officials said today. Mayor Bill … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Hot off the presses out of my inbox, here’s an announcement that the City of Houston and the Center Serving Persons with Mental Retardation have reached an agreement: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 20, 2007 Mayor Bill White, Officials of the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Do you live in or around Houston and like taking pictures? If you do, Houstonist would like you to know about 600 Sq Mi, its first-ever photography show: It’s a juried exhibition of photographs from Houston, from Main Street to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Meet the neighbor of the Center Serving Persons with Mental Retardation: Renee Davis, executive director of the center that teaches deaf children to speak without using sign language, said she has not been contacted by the city, but she worries … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The following was sent to me by Ed Davis, who is a media contact for the Center Serving Persons with Mental Retardation: Clarification of $1 rental agreement with The City of Houston: Since the original lease was amended effective June … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The moratorium on demolitions in the Old Sixth Ward may be made permanent. City officials have proposed a permanent ban on demolitions of historical buildings in part of the Old Sixth Ward — a proposal that would be the most … Continue reading → Continue reading →

From the Sunday letters to the editor. I’m going to copy it here for future reference. Former city attorney explains In the dispute over the city’s contract with the Center Serving Persons with Mental Retardation, it appears that Mayor Bill … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The Houston WiFi plan may benefit some folks who are not residents of Houston – in particular, the cities of Bellaire, West U, and Southside Place. In a section called “interlocal agreements” the contract said Houston, as the anchor tenant … Continue reading → Continue reading →

And the City of Houston WiFi plan moves forward. Downtown likely will have the first access to the planned wireless Internet network system approved today by the City Council, and the rest of Houston will be added in 100-square-mile sections … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Houstonist provides an update to the Kirby Drive beautification project that’s in the works: For $1500, you can be a part of it directly. To enable families and small businesses to contribute to the Kirby Drive All Stars program, which … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Here are the latest developments in the Center Serving Persons with Mental Retardation saga: Baker Botts lawyer Irv Terrell confirmed Tuesday that his firm volunteered to represent the center after reading that city officials had declared the facility’s 99-year lease … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Apparently, my post about the Chron article that was subheaded Houston panel urges zoning on development in neighborhoods got mailed around a bit, and as a result I wound up speaking to Planning Commission committee member Mark Sterling, who helped … Continue reading → Continue reading →

In case you were curious. The new operator of the SplashTown water park said Monday the attraction in Spring will stay open for years to come, with rides expected to be added for next summer. PARC Management of Jacksonville, Fla., … Continue reading → Continue reading →

According to Houstonist, today’s City Council meeting should be interesting: Join the Friends of Cullen (Cullen is the residence hall at The Center) in going to the City Council meeting on Tuesday April 10th at 2pm. City Council members have … Continue reading → Continue reading →

There’s a provocative subhead if ever I saw one: Houston panel urges zoning on development in neighborhoods. The reality sounds a lot less scary, though. As the city continues to struggle with the impact of new development on its older … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Mayor White has an op-ed in the Chron about the current unpleasantness surrounding the Center Serving Persons with Mental Retardation. I haven’t done a word-for-word comparison, but I believe it’s the same as the memo he sent to City Council … Continue reading → Continue reading →

When I first read about the Center Serving Persons with Mental Retardation, I said I needed more information to know how I’d feel about the issue. I’m at that point now, having seen more news and yesterday’s Chron editorial, with … Continue reading → Continue reading →

sniff It won’t be the same driving by on Sawyer and not seeing the Giant Presidential Heads once they’ve been moved to their new home in Pearland. “This is a natural,” [developer Richard] Browne said. “We can make this the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The recent news about the Center Serving Persons with Mental Retardation has now brought the first wave of backlash, from some members of City Council. “We are going to do the right thing,” Councilwoman Ada Edwards assured the six people … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The city WiFi contract is on the Council agenda tomorrow, and the Chron has some details from the contract. The City Council on Wednesday is expected to consider a $2.5 million contract with EarthLink Inc. that would allow the company … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve driven past this place. I’ve always been curious about its history, and now I know a little something as its future is threatened. For more than 40 years, it has occupied a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

So the Astrodome Redevelopment folks didn’t get financing by the March deadline. There’s always the county to turn to for help. “From day one, we have always known that it is an option to do this as a publicly developed … Continue reading → Continue reading →

A month ago, we heard about the impending redevelopment of part of the River Oaks Shopping Center. It’s now official. The owner of the historic River Oaks Shopping Center announced plans Friday to demolish a portion of the center and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Back in August, Commissioners’ Court approved a plan by the Astrodome Redevelopment folks to secure financing for their much-touted Dome Hotel. They were supposed to have that in hand by March of this year. Well, as Tom and Houstonist have … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Are you ready for another downtown tower? Betting on the continued strength of downtown’s office market, Trammell Crow Co. is planning to build a tower on the eastern end of downtown near the convention center and Discovery Green, a 12-acre … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Back in January, I noted that the Old Sixth Ward had put a series of videos up on YouTube that talked about the need to preserve their historic neighborhood. I’m pleased to report that they won an award for this. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Pasa-git-down-Dena isn’t what you think it is any more, at least not if your impression of it is taken from Urban Cowboy. Pasadena, ever the chameleon, is undergoing its most profound shift to date as the old Anglo culture gives … Continue reading → Continue reading →

A reader named Mike Caddell sent me a couple of great aerial photos that he took of the construction going on downtown of Discovery Green Park and One Park Place. They’re a little big to display here, so I’ll just … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Marty Hajovsky has been beating the drum all week for the Woodland Heights Home Tour, for which you can still order tickets online through 11 PM tonight. If you aren’t sure about going on the tour this year, let me … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Via Houstonist, here’s an update on a story regarding some condo development in the Heights. Heights residents, upset about a possible new condominium development on vacant land near East Fifth and Frasier streets, aim to petition the city of Houston … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I want to highlight a comment from this story about the removal of an iconic Maxwell House sign from the East End plant where the coffee was ground (here are the before and after pictures so you can see what’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

It’s been six weeks since I last checked in on the Robinson Warehouse, and to say the least things look a little different now. I thought they were beginning construction then, but clearly they were not. They were just getting … Continue reading → Continue reading →