Looks Like High Density Was Best For Houston All Along (Spring: lofts, condos)

[Texyn]

All too many articles like the one below:
https://www.buzzfeed.com/peteraldhou...40#.cpRVlY3AJy

[Spade]

The inner loop is actually designed for it. It has the bones to support it. I do see that above ground parking garages make the most sense though if you since have cars.

[ParaguaneroSwag]

Originally Posted by Spade

The inner loop is actually designed for it. It has the bones to support it. I do see that above ground parking garages make the most sense though if you since have cars.

This is so true. Almost every new development within the loop. Even just outside of it to the west are high density developments. Mixed used high rises and townhouses

[Texyn]

I heard that the city has regulations that hold developments back from really using the street-front. As in, a development wants to come in with street-level retail, but the city codes don't permit it unless a parking lot and lawn is included.

[SpringBrancher]

I would gladly trade my ranch house for a condo of the same square footage and a big patio to grill plus a park and outdoor space for the kiddo. Instead they will make this only affordable for single people with no family or they will try to jam a family of 5 into 900 square feet. Or they will add exorbitant condo fees. No thanks.

I'm not opposed to living in a tower. I just don't want THEIR idea of living in a tower. They had a tower proposed for east of downtown that was going to.have micro square footage like 400 square feet for a 300k plus unit. That's totally absurd. I think only investors from NY or Asia were willing to plop down the deposits so the project died.

The only condos built during the oil boom were for multi million dollar units. So, yeah, this is not going to happen soon.

[SpringBrancher]

Oh yeah, and all these towers will be zoned to bad schools. That's the other reason people sprawl, to get away from bad schools without paying 15 to 25 grand per kid in private school fees.

[predatorprey]

Didn't New York flood too with Sandy?

[Texyn]

Originally Posted by predatorprey

Didn't New York flood too with Sandy?

Yes, but with the higher density, there was less (relative) devastation from the floods. The death toll from Harvey in Houston is nearly as high as Sandy's in NYC, despite NYC being the far more populated city.

Originally Posted by SpringBrancher

I would gladly trade my ranch house for a condo of the same square footage and a big patio to grill plus a park and outdoor space for the kiddo. Instead they will make this only affordable for single people with no family or they will try to jam a family of 5 into 900 square feet. Or they will add exorbitant condo fees. No thanks.

I'm not opposed to living in a tower. I just don't want THEIR idea of living in a tower. They had a tower proposed for east of downtown that was going to.have micro square footage like 400 square feet for a 300k plus unit. That's totally absurd. I think only investors from NY or Asia were willing to plop down the deposits so the project died.

The only condos built during the oil boom were for multi million dollar units. So, yeah, this is not going to happen soon.

Originally Posted by SpringBrancher

Oh yeah, and all these towers will be zoned to bad schools. That's the other reason people sprawl, to get away from bad schools without paying 15 to 25 grand per kid in private school fees.

Ironically, designs like the proposed Ivy Lofts (if that was the development you were referring to) may actually start to become more and more likely post-Harvey: that storm made it clear that many areas of land may not be worth building on.

[Mr. Football]

Sandy wasn't Harvey. New York isn't Houston. High-density may work for some, but it's hell-on-earth for many others. Many of those positioned to benefit from Agenda 21 are pushing this type of pro-density development propaganda following Hurricane Harvey.

[Texyn]

Originally Posted by Mr. Football

Sandy wasn't Harvey. New York isn't Houston. High-density may work for some, but it's hell-on-earth for many others. Many of those positioned to benefit from Agenda 21 are pushing this type of pro-density development propaganda following Hurricane Harvey.

It matters what's best for the city, regardless of what people prefer. If people want to live in Houston, given the storms it can get, then sacrifices are going to have to be made.