Category Archives: Elsewhere in Houston

Nice to know that downtown Houston continues to be a success story as far as housing goes. Apartment occupancy in downtown is 89 percent, according to data gathered in the spring by Central Houston, a group that promotes downtown revitalization. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

This story tells you all you need to know about why “historic preservation” is basically an oxymoron in Houston. After years of disappointments, Houston preservationists were elated four years ago when the City Council adopted laws that gave homeowners new … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Remember the story about the noise complaint at the bar Walter’s on Washington that turned into a national YouTube cause celebre when the police got a little overenthusiastic? Sure you do – the background is here and here if you … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Via Marty Hajovsky and Sharon Greiff of the Woodland Heights Civic Association comes the following: The third annual Dogtoberfest Rescue Rally will be held this Saturday, Nov. 11, from 1-5 p.m. at the Ginger Man Pub, 5607 Morningside in the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Now this sounds cool. A dinosaur mega-attraction – Animal Kingdom meets science museum – will open its doors in the summer of 2008 in Montgomery County, north of Houston, officials announced today. Creator “Dino” Don Lessem, author of 47 books, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

And speaking of the Bolsover project, there’s an update in the Examiner on the reaction to City Council’s decision to let it go forward. At the annual meeting of the Southampton Civic Club, Councilwoman Anne Clutterbuck said she supported the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Via Houstonist, the latest news on the eventual River Oaks shopping center redevelopment. Cynthia Rice has lived in her home for 18 years, and on clear nights, she said she likes to look at the sky. But that might change. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Houstonist has added the cause of the West 11th Street Park in Timbergrove to its list or preservationist crusades. It’s definitely worthy – there’s nothing like this park anywhere in the area. I need to drive by it and take … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Let me belatedly throw in my support for John Nova Lomax’s Westheimer Walk for charity concept. I’ve never had any interest in the MS150 – I don’t own a bike for starters – but this has appeal and feels like … Continue reading → Continue reading →

At long last, the construction on Studewood between White Oak/6th and Cavalcade/20th has been completed, and the orange traffic barrels are scheduled to disappear. The following is an email from City Council Member Adrian Garcia: Dear Friend: As we have … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Previously, I had noted a new mixed residential/commercial development in the Rice Village called The Piazza. The impression I had gotten from the Chron article in question was that this would be a one city block project: The proposed seven-story … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Houston’s new downtown park has a name. Houston’s showcase downtown park will be called Discovery Green, officials announced at a groundbreaking ceremony today. The name was selected from among 6,200 entries in a public contest, said Guy Hagstette, park director … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The announcement of the winner of the contest to name the new downtown park has been postponed until tomorrow due to the nasty rain in the Houston area. Not clear to me that tomorrow will be better, but you can’t … Continue reading → Continue reading →

One of the things that I love about the Heights is that there’s interesting and odd stuff to see everywhere you look. Yesterday, I was driving along 14th Street when I passed by the International Order of Odd Fellows lodge, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I’m not exactly sure why Houstonist did a post about David Adickes and his forthcoming Beatles statues on I-10, since the Wall Street Journal story on this was back in January and there’s no new links. But I’m not unhappy … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Dwight has spotted a WiFi access point on a downtown traffic signal, and reports that it’s intended for use by the new high-tech parking meters, which in turn will be part of the public WiFi network. Still not clear what … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Also via Houstonist, the downtown development known as Houston Pavilions has taken another step forward. Developers of the Houston Pavilions downtown mixed-use project have secured $140 million in construction financing from North Houston Bank. The transaction makes it possible for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I think when all is said and done I’m indifferent to the question of whether or not Houston eventually annexes the Woodlands. From a strictly Houston perspective, I can see pros and cons to either outcome, as I’m sure our … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Chevron continues its push to occupy all available downtown offie space. After remaining a dark spot on the Houston skyline for the past few years, the former Enron headquarters will be coming to life again next year. Chevron plans to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Sometimes as I approach the I-45 South exit from I-10 during my morning commute, I run into a traffic jam that’s caused by a long backup in the exit lane. Depending on where I am on I-10 and how bad … Continue reading → Continue reading →

It’s goodbye West Gray and hello Waugh for the Laff Stop. The Laff Stop started looking at options when someone else expressed interest in its space. The lease with Weingarten Realty expires Dec. 31. “If we wanted to stay at … Continue reading → Continue reading →

As a onetime PhD student at Rice (long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away), I enjoyed reading this feature story about its notorious grad student pub Valhalla. It’s pretty much like the piece describes, and unless you drink … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I know the name of this project is the Sawyer Heights Lofts, but given its location, I’ll be thinking of them as the Target Lofts. Houston-based Martin Fein Interests Ltd. is building a 326-unit, four-story project known as Sawyer Heights … Continue reading → Continue reading →

City Council took up the question of widening the ban on smoking to include bars yesterday, and bar owners railed against it for the most part. While various organizations have expressed support for a stronger ban, it was clear at … Continue reading → Continue reading →

And now for something a little different. Have you seen Waldo around lately? He’s been popping up around town in Houston and Austin. Here he is on the abandoned bank building at Shepherd and Alabama: Waldo on the bank Closer … Continue reading → Continue reading →

As I take I-10 to I-45 South most days to get to work, I’ve seen a lot of this billboard. My reaction was approximately “Oh, yeah, that’ll make a difference”. I realize that the purpose of this thing is as … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Just wanted to note the latest chapter in the Conroe annexing the Woodlands saga. In the tug of war over a neighborhood in The Woodlands, Conroe Mayor Tommy Metcalf has offered another annexation proposal to protect Harper’s Landing from becoming … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Tuesday’s Chron had a story about the difficulties of developing pedestrian-friendly properties in Midtown, thanks to city laws that require new and renovated commercial structures to have a certain amount of parking available. I’m not going to go into the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Last month, when talk of a wider smoking ban in Houston surfaced, I asked if the controversial no-smoking law that was passed in Austin last year by referendum had had the negative effect on bars that its detractors had predicted. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The Chron’s Lisa Gray has a story about eight simple and not-so-simple ways that You The Ordinary Houstonian can save the Alabama Bookstop and River Oaks Theater. Not all of them are for ordinary folks (#2, Be Like Microsoft Billionaire … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Tory Gattis, in conjunction with Houstonist, brings word of new petition to save the Alabama Bookstop. The difference vs. the original petition is that instead of focusing on Weingarten, this one directly pressures Barnes & Noble to preserve and expand … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I happened to drive by the site of the Breens Braeswood Florist shop on Holcombe at Greenbriar on Tuesday morning, the day after it was torn down, so the picture in this West U Examiner blurb was quite familiar to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Well, I asked for Weingarten to think about ways to deal with the River Oaks and Alabama properties that don’t involve a wrecking ball, so I’m glad to see that they are doing so, if only in a preliminary manner. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

(Note: I drafted this last night – after the little power glitch in my neighborhood – and woke up this morning to see a new story that obviates some of what I’ve written here. That will be in my next … Continue reading → Continue reading →