Tag Archives: downtown

Bike sharing is officially almost here

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

From Citizens Net: Beginning Wednesday, May 2, 2012, Houston will be one of only 15 U.S. cities to launch a bike share program to make getting around downtown a whole lot easier. The bike share program, known as Houston B-cycle, … Continue reading →

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We need a much fuller public conversation about the homeless feeding ordinance

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

As Neil noted, some of us had the opportunity on Friday to ask Mayor Parker questions over lunch on Friday. Not surprisingly, the homeless feeding ordinance came up, and we spent quite a bit of time discussing it. The Mayor … Continue reading →

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Tailgating downtown

Posted on March 24, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Go for it! The Dynamo have been playing at the University of Houston’s Robertson Stadium and have always allowed tailgating prior to games. However, fans won’t have the same luxury at the soccer team’s new stadium because of a city … Continue reading →

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Here comes NBC Sports

Posted on March 11, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Comcast SportsNet Houston, which is owned by NBC Sports, is coming to downtown. Comcast SportsNet Houston, the new regional sports network that will air Rockets games this fall and Astros games in 2013, plans to begin broadcasting in early October … Continue reading →

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Feeding the homeless

Posted on March 9, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I’m still trying to wrap my mind around this. Mayor Annise Parker is asking the council to adopt rules that would require organizations and people who feed the homeless to register with the city, take a food safety class, prepare … Continue reading →

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What’s to become of the downtown post office?

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Lisa Gray writes about the future of the downtown post office on Franklin. In the past couple of years, there have been rumblings that the U.S. Postal Service plans to leave 401 Franklin and sell the 16-acre complex – a … Continue reading →

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Houston Central Station

Posted on February 5, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

This is pretty cool. [Last Tuesday], the Houston Downtown Management District hosted a competition featuring designs from five award-winning architectural firms. The challenge: to design an iconic new Central Station – Main on Main Street between Capitol and Rusk. The … Continue reading →

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Doing business downtown

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. Despite public and private attempts to revive a shopping scene downtown, the retail market has struggled. Some stores like Forever 21 and Books-A-Million have opened, but most of the activity in recent … Continue reading →

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New bike trail into downtown nearing completion

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

From Swamplot: It looks like large portions of the 2.8-mile-long Heritage West Bikeway connecting Stude Park to UH-Downtown are close to completion, but the path along portions of the former UP railway won’t open until summer, according to the city. … Continue reading →

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Comcast SportsNet Houston

Posted on January 22, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

This would be cool. The NBC Sports Group is seeking about $2 million in state and local support to bring a major production studio and 135 jobs to downtown Houston. The operation would be for Comcast SportsNet Houston, a new … Continue reading →

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Here comes the Convention District

Posted on January 5, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see what this turns into. The newest vision for the eastern edge of downtown includes hotels and residential buildings in place of what are now parking lots. Officials also picture a bustling pedestrian scene where shops and restaurants line … Continue reading →

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New parking regulations

Posted on October 22, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Hair Balls last week had a good discussion of a proposal by the city to revamp its 1989 Off Street Parking ordinance. Currently, bars — which are defined as having alcohol make up more than 75 percent of their sales … Continue reading →

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Downtown shuttle service to return

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Do you miss the free trolleys that used to run downtown? A new version of that service is set to debut in the spring. The Houston Downtown Management District, funded through tax assessments on downtown properties, plans to launch a … Continue reading →

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Hardy Toll Road extension gets final OK

Posted on August 25, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

After many years of planning, a project to extend the Hardy Toll Road all the way into downtown is finally headed to the drawing board. The Harris County Toll Road Authority is seeking the court’s permission to begin final negotiations … Continue reading →

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Freetail expansion on hold

Posted on July 29, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Bummer. Having previously announced expansion into the Houston market, Freetail Brewing Co. will announce the indefinite suspension of plans for a second location — citing concerns over access to capital. “As I moved forward with the Freetail Houston project, I … Continue reading →

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The Sundance Theater deal

Posted on June 25, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

When Sundance Theaters announced it would take the place of the Angelika downtown, everyone was happy. The deal that their landlord is getting to make way for them is not quite as joy-inducing. Sundance Cinemas negotiated a lease earlier this … Continue reading →

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Seeing the city the Segway way

Posted on June 18, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

A Segway tour of downtown Houston sounds like a great idea. The tour, led by Apollo Scooters proprietor Matthew Creede, is the first to exploit the scenic secrets of the city’s heart. Similar tours are offered in San Antonio, Austin … Continue reading →

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Freetail to come to Houston

Posted on May 21, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Cool! After months of professional evaluation and fan speculation, Freetail Brewing Co. is happy to announce it has chosen downtown Houston as the site of its second location. On November 2, 2010, Freetail Founder & CEO Scott Metzger announced the … Continue reading →

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The abandoned buildings of downtown

Posted on May 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I thought this Chron story about the vacant buildings downtown and the nuisances they cause was useful, but it left me with one question: What, if anything, can the city do to force the issue? The city has the occasional … Continue reading →

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Downtown living

Posted on May 9, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

There are two things about this Chron story about the residential population of downtown that I find curious. Twenty-five years after the residential development of downtown Houston began in earnest, fewer than 4,500 people reside in the city’s central core, … Continue reading →

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Sundance Cinema to replace Angelika

Posted on April 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Downtown is once again safe for arthouse movies. From the Mayor’s office: Mayor Annise Parker and David Cordish, Chairman of the Cordish Companies, have announced that Robert Redford’s Sundance Cinema will open in Bayou Place in the heart of Houston’s … Continue reading →

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The EaDo decade

Posted on March 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Things are looking good for a wave of development in East Downtown, a/k/a EaDo. Discussions are under way for a six-block-long linear park in EaDo, and there is talk, still in the early stages, of a 1,000-room convention hotel. The … Continue reading →

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Infill growth

Posted on March 9, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Anyone who’s been watching Washington Avenue has seen this. From downtown through midtown and along Washington Avenue, a population growth spurt has taken off since 2000. One buzz word to describe what’s going on is “infill,” said Jerry Wood, previously … Continue reading →

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The Bill King alternative to light rail

Posted on November 19, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

In case you missed it, Bill King wrote a column lat week that was based on an email exchange he had with me awhile back in which he laid out his alternate vision for what Metro ought to be doing. … Continue reading →

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Angelika says it’s looking for another location in Houston

Posted on September 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron notes that the relationship between the Angelika Theater and its landlord had deteriorated considerably. Angelika’s landlord, Bayou Place Limited Partnership, filed suit more than a week ago claiming the cinema was threatening to remove equipment from the theater … Continue reading →

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Angelika Theater closes

Posted on August 29, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Bummer. “After 13 years of continued service to the Houston community, the Angelika’s lease has been terminated by the Angelika’s landlord….” No word yet as to whether the Angelika, one of a global group of affiliated theaters, will reopen outside … Continue reading →

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Market Square reopening next week

Posted on August 21, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Market Square Park downtown, which began a renovation in February, will reopen next weekend. The Market Square Park downtown will officially reopen on Aug. 28, with performances by the John Evans Band and singer-songwriter Andrew Karnavas. The renovated park — … Continue reading →

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Defining downtown San Antonio

Posted on July 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The city of San Antonio is going to take a closer look at what it’s doing with its downtown. How to change the locals’ experience of downtown, and why it even matters, has become Topic A for many — in … Continue reading →

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Let your cellphone be your guide

Posted on June 18, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Have you ever found yourself walking around downtown Houston and wondering about the history of the place? If you have a cellphone with you, you can take a self-guided tour. Launched in March, Downtown Mobile Info begins at Wortham Center, … Continue reading →

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Midtown development

Posted on June 9, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Sunday Chron had a look at some new development coming to Main Street near the Ensemble/HCC station. In it was this observation about what had previously been built in the area: When the Main Street light rail line opened … Continue reading →

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Happy birthday, Discovery Green!

Posted on April 15, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Two years old now. Two years after it opened, downtown’s Discovery Green park has drawn 55 percent more visitors than projected and has emerged as a key asset to Houston’s convention business, officials say. The 12-acre, $122 million park has … 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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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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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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