Tag Archives: construction

Sneak peek at new light rail stations

Posted on March 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

With all the allegations of naughty emails and debates over whether or not the two U lines will get built, it may be hard to remember that we do have three light rail lines in the works. We’re still a … Continue reading →

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All your empty lots are belong to HEB

Posted on March 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The empty lot that once housed the Wilshire Village apartments will be bought by HEB. Cyndy Garza-Roberts, director of public affairs for H-E-B, said the company is studying the feasibility of the acquisition and didn’t have an estimated closing date. … Continue reading →

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Here comes the Sports Authority

Posted on March 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Ready or not, here they are to ride to the rescue. The Harris County-Houston Sports Authority agreed Monday to talk to city and county officials about its possible involvement in a soccer stadium for the Houston Dynamo. The authority will … Continue reading →

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More on the Sugar Land minor league baseball push

Posted on February 27, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s an update from the Chron to last week’s news about Sugar Land’s pursuit of a minor league baseball team. The preliminary discussions about the ballpark put it in the Class AAA compatibility range, typically requiring a seating capacity at … Continue reading →

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More on streetcars in Fort Worth

Posted on February 25, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The TCU Daily Skiff writes about Fort Worth’s plans for streetcars. The city of Fort Worth plans to move forward with bringing in a nationally recognized consultant to finalize aspects of a modern streetcar system that would consist of an … Continue reading →

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Radack’s Hill gets set to debut

Posted on February 20, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Anybody feel like doing a little soapbox derby racing? If so, County Commissioner Steve Radack has got what you need. Radack’s crew is putting the finishing touches on a $2.3 million soapbox derby park. The first races are scheduled for … Continue reading →

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Sugar Land moves forward on getting a baseball team

Posted on February 19, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

They couldn’t get the Dynamo, but the city of Sugar Land is making progress on landing a baseball team. The city council of Sugar Land agreed this week to work with a company that specializes in getting cities to build … Continue reading →

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Bellaire officially opposes Dynamo Westpark Stadium

Posted on February 18, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Bellaire City Council unanimously passed a resolution Monday night that opposes the construction of a Dynamo Stadium on Westpark. “To ignore it and not speak up for our residents would be the wrong thing to do,” said Mayor Cindy Siegel, … Continue reading →

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IH-10/White Oak detention facilities public hearing

Posted on February 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Via email from the CTC: TxDOT is working toward adding frontage roads to IH-10 inside the loop and separating the depressed section of IH-10 from White Oak Bayou. TxDOT is required to provide new flood mitigation facilities to offset impacts … Continue reading →

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At long last, the Ashby Highrise Lawsuit

Posted on February 11, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Ashby Highrise developers have filed suit against the city. The developers of the Ashby high-rise sued the city of Houston today seeking more than $40 million in compensation after repeated denials of their permit application. “The city must learn … Continue reading →

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I-10 frontage road update

Posted on February 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Via email from the CTC: More than 120 residents attended an informational meeting January 6th convened by State Representative Jessica Farrar concerning proposed IH-10 frontage roads inside the IH-610 loop. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and District H Council Member Ed … Continue reading →

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Breaking ground on Market Square renovation

Posted on February 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Moving along. When [Market Square] reopens this summer, it will feature a dog run, a seven-day-a-week food kiosk operated by a popular Montrose Greek restaurant, an artwalk and a history corner. In September — the park’s second phase — a … Continue reading →

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Austin’s rail service to get started in March

Posted on January 31, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Austin’s long-awaited rail service, which was approved by the voters in 2004, is finally ready to roll. After what seems like endless series of problems and delays, Cap Metro has announced that light rail service will begin in March. Service … Continue reading →

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Bellaire versus Westpark Stadium

Posted on January 30, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Still more on the proposed Westpark location for Dynamo Stadium: The Mayor of Bellaire doesn’t like the idea. [Bellaire Mayor Cindy] Siegel has scheduled an executive session of the Bellaire City Council Monday following the 7 p.m. State of the … Continue reading →

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More on the Dynamo’s Westpark option

Posted on January 29, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s an updated version of the earlier story about the Houston Dynamo and the possibility of their stadium being built on Westpark. “The deal downtown started stalling a little bit. We started wondering if that stadium could make sense at … Continue reading →

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The Dynamo contemplate their options

Posted on January 27, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Is the future of Dynamo Stadium on Westpark? Could be. Dynamo President Oliver Luck is in talks with a developer about building a soccer stadium on private land about a mile south of the Galleria. The Dynamo have not abandoned … Continue reading →

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University Line FEIS filed

Posted on January 25, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Again via Swamplot, here’s another Examiner story about the current state of light rail construction, in this case the University line. The light rail alignment for Metro’s University route will require the acquisition of about 23 acres of land, much … Continue reading →

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A hippie bohemian flashback

Posted on January 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Remember this? Those were the days, my friends, those were the days. These days? Not so much. Three years ago, developers got the city to shut down Bolsover Street so they could build the seven-story complex, but those plans stopped … Continue reading →

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Public meeting for proposed IH-10 frontage roads on January 6

Posted on January 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The following is from the most recent Citizens’ Transportation Coalition (CTC) email newsletter. Recognition that segment E of the proposed Grand Parkway is not “shovel ready” freed up more than $180 million of federal stimulus funding for other mobility projects. … Continue reading →

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Metro does historic preservation

Posted on December 31, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I was sent this press release about Metro workers getting some interesting training as they prepare to build the new light rail lines, and thought it was worth sharing. ‘Hardhat and blue collar’ was the dress code for training classes … Continue reading →

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More on Market Square

Posted on December 19, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Back in October, we heard that the historic Market Square Park downtown was set to get a facelift. Now Nancy Sarnoff has a few details. The renovation will include an area for pets, art installations, a 9/11 Memorial garden and … Continue reading →

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A preview of the Uptown line

Posted on December 16, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Swamplot has a preview of the Uptown line as currently envisioned by Metro. The main focus of the Examiner story that Swamplot cites is the potential effect on vehicular traffic. Following the construction of the Uptown light rail line, Post … Continue reading →

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The new Saint Arnold brewery

Posted on October 31, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Opening today just north of downtown. [T]he 15-year-old craft brewery will debut to the public a new plant in a converted warehouse with fabulous views of downtown and easy freeway access. It’s the result of a $7.5 million renovation and … Continue reading →

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School construction update

Posted on October 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

As I read this story about the progress of school construction authorized by the 2007 bond referendum, it strikes me that we picked a heck of a good time to do this. Piney Point is one of about 160 campuses … Continue reading →

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Once and again with the Ashby Highrise

Posted on October 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

There was a town hall meeting on Wednesday night on the status of the Ashby Highrise at Poe Elementary School just as there had been back in 2007 when the project first came up. Given that the developers have finally … Continue reading →

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Kirby storm drain construction update

Posted on September 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Times are tough all over for retailers. They’re especially tough when the street you’re on is all torn up. The four-phase project to install new storm drainage along Kirby Drive started in 2004. The latest round peeled back the asphalt … Continue reading →

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UTMB’s comeback

Posted on September 20, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This is great to see. A bigger and better University of Texas Medical Branch is rising from the debris of Hurricane Ike, with more than $1 billion in repair, refurbishing and new construction under way or being planned. The UT … Continue reading →

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New light rail line begins service in Dallas

Posted on September 19, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I so look forward to the day when this story can be written for Houston. When the trains begin running today on the opening segment of DART’s new Green Line, the transit agency will unveil the longest expansion of light … Continue reading →

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Parents get their vote on HISD school construction projects

Posted on August 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The battle between a parents group and some HISD trustees had been waging with HISD Board President Larry Marshall over getting a vote for some school construction projects that the parents said had been promised during the 2007 bond referendum … Continue reading →

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Bonding Metro

Posted on August 27, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

It wouldn’t be Metro if there weren’t drama. Metro has not obtained performance or payment bonds to cover all the planned construction of four new light rail lines, and some officials say that could put taxpayer dollars at risk. Metro … Continue reading →

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No vote from HISD on several school upgrades

Posted on August 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Last week, I noted that a parents group and some HISD trustees were complaining about there not being a vote on three school construction projects that were promised as part of the 2007 bond referendum. Even though we now have … Continue reading →

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Ashby highrise approved

Posted on August 21, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

That sound you just heard was a massive freakout in the Southampton area. More than two years after they first applied, the developers of the Ashby high-rise will receive permits for a project that generated protests and a renewed debate … Continue reading →

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Crabb River Road and FM762

Posted on August 19, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Fort Bend County Commissioner Richard Morrison emailed me the following link from his blog: I am seeking the support of my neighbors in Greatwood, Tara, Canyon Gate, Bridlewood Estates, Brazos Lakes and Brazos Gardens to widen Crabb River Road and … Continue reading →

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Metro light rail groundbreaking

Posted on July 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Asa we know, today was groundbreaking day for Metro on the North and Southeast lines. Here’s the coverage I could find: an oddly negative story from KTRK, stories from Fox and KHOU, and a story from Texas Cable News that … Continue reading →

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