Friday February 6
Eviction notices at historic Wilshire Village [River Oaks Examiner] Swamplot has an active discussion in the comments of its report. I personally spoke to a current tenant who said that he had been threatened with eviction last year and he was taking a wait and see attitude.
Thursday February 5
$180 million poised to go to light rail / Federal funds in stimulus bill would spur construction on north and southeast lines [Houston Chronicle] "Houston Metro is due to receive as much as $180 million over the next 12 months from a huge economic stimulus bill to help jump-start construction of two light rail lines [North and Southest], a House committee chairman said Wednesday...Galveston officials want at least $10 million in economic stimulus funds to help finance an estimated $400 million Galveston-Houston commuter rail project." Here is Christof Spieler's commentary on this story on Intermodality.
GOOD BRICK AWARD WINNERS / Saving the city’s treasures [Houston Chronicle] This article lists and describes the winners of the GHPA "Good Brick" awards: The Clayton family for the Clayton Library for Genealogical Research, 609 Heights by Tim Beeson, 1102 Yale, Pam Lowe, John H. Reagan High School, 22 Willowend, 12923 Memorial, Area 16 Homes for West Sawyer, Friends of Wharton, In Search of Houston's History, and Mod of the Month.
Preservation of history, style secure 2009 Greater Houston Preservation Alliance Good Brick honors [Houston Chronicle] "Good Brick Awards were well received. Causing animosity and soon dropped were Bad Brick Awards for developers, individuals and companies that did not preserve or safeguard architecturally, historically or culturally important sites. Among this year's winners, Bart Truxillo said the restored home at 609 Heights Blvd. was 'without question' the project that best reflects GHPA's goals."
Lowe saves neighborhood and her retirement funds [Houston Chronicle] Lisa Gray's lovely profile of "Good Brick" winner Pam Lowe.
Neighborhood wins fight over odors / Waste recycler sued by the city agrees to move some operations [Houston Chronicle] "Mark Schatz, an architect who lives on Grace Lane near the facility, applauded the settlement. 'It's always been a safety issue,' he said. 'If it goes back to being basically a parking lot, that's a winning situation.'"
Strides made in Long Point Road project [Houston Chronicle]
NEARTOWN/HEIGHTS Residents offer wish list for projects in District H areas including MKT Bike Trail right of way [Houston Chronicle]
Jane Cahill West, president of the combined Washington Avenue/Memorial Super Neighborhood Council, said she was glad to see the MKT (Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad) Trail on the current CIP project list.
"But I urge you to extend the MKT Trail right of way to Memorial Park," she added. The $1.9 million bike trail is being built along the former railroad right of way in partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation...
Mike Marcotte, chief of the Department of Public Works and Engineering, said Dan Raines, the city's full time bikeways coordinator, is putting together a proposal for the next bike trails to be constructed in Houston under its long-range trail plan. Raines would like to hear from residents, Marcotte said, who have identified areas that would fill the gaps between trails or suggestions for new trails.
Tuesday February 3
Ike donations drop but need remains / With damage so great, the millions of dollars doled out don't cover all [Houston Chronicle]
FEMA extends Ike aid deadline / Although 90% recently rejected, Feb. 20 new date [Houston Chronicle]
RESIDENTIAL GROWTH: Updating the Kirby/River Oaks area boom [River Oaks Examiner] Occupancy rates and status updates based on numbers provided by project managers.
Wednesday February 4
Cyclists, runners welcome Memorial park connection [River Oaks Examiner] Christof Spieler, the chair of the Cite editorial committee and Rice Design Alliance board member, gave the interview for this story. Below I give the link to Christof's own report on the park bridge.
At least once a week as part of his cycling regimen, Christof Spieler makes the ride from his residence in downtown Houston to Memorial Park.
This ride along Memorial Drive and especially, crossing Memorial from one side of the park to the other, is not without peril.
“I frequently have to avoid motorists preoccupied on their cell phones, and they don’t even notice you,” said Spieler.
Sunday February 1
Living green / There's nothing like discarded fabric to keep you warm / And recycling makes the project doubly beneficial [Houston Chronicle]
Saturday January 31
Christof Spieler's Report on the Memorial Park Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge Groundbreaking [Intermodality] "The design came out of a 2007 Rice Design Alliance charette, where several teams (anyone could enter) spent a weekend day conceiving and presenting designs for the bridge. The winning design was a “living bridge” by a team from Clark Condon Associates. Clark Condon was hired to do the final design, and it closely resembles the competition design: a curved path whose sides and edges are covered in vegetation."
Backtrack
January 30: PBS talks transportation, the ‘Z’ word [River Oaks Examiner] Covers a discussion involving Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, Houston Councilman Peter Brown, Metro CEO Frank Wilson, Greater Houston Partnership CEO Jeff Moseley, Christof Spieler, Tory Gattis, and David Crossley.
