Downtown Houston is flourishing!

[DavePa]

Originally Posted by the topper

Actually, it's getting to be as good as Center City: 50 million sq. ft office spaces, 10,000 hotel rooms and in just few years, balloons to over 25,,000 people living in downtown core, not including more than 1 mile radius. Remember: it has what Center City doesn't have: stadiums/arena, aquarium, Discovery Green interactive park and etc. It's actually a bigger downtown: 50 million sq. of office space vs 45 million Philly.

This Houston Aquarium is NOT a true museum kind. Its a very nice tropical featured restaurant ands small amusement park of sorts. I think its exterior is a awesome oasis of a more banal surrounding by the bayou with some parkland and off a busy expressway. Love the look. I'd love to see a Tropical looked more prevalent in downtown Houston too. Locals will tell you even this Aquarium is a restaurant with pretty fish tanks.

Philly's regional true Aquarium museum is ... The Adventure Aquarium, formerly the New Jersey State Aquarium, is a educational entertainment attraction operated in Camden, NJ just across Center City, across the Delaware river by way of the (Golden Gate looking) Ben Franklin bridge.

Wasn't long ago ..... you were hyping downtown Philly as the best in the Nation and over NYC, Chicago and of course .... SF you diss. What haaaaappened and this change? Interesting.

I wouldn't say Discovery Green park is anything to rave on. Just decent for what it is. I won't address office space or hotels. But you surely know that there is still a huuuge gap.... with a much higher live-in population in CC Philly.... you brought in. Downtown Philly too. It might not have many flagship stores... but as you noted once. It has boutique shops and plenty of eateries.

Its about time downtown Houston gets more activity. But the tunnel network still hurts street traffic and lack of retail and business street-level. You can do more of that in the tunnels. From banking to haircuts. I can't believe Houston never got a Dallas based Neiman Marcus either? Sadly it lost its Macy's too.

Downtown Houston still has the largest banal looking parking garages there are and building more for these new apartment buildings that are separate from the high-rise. They even place them at intersections killing them with nothing at street-level.

I noted in threads before ..... the podium-style high-rise works better over separate garages to take up more space and kill intersections. Time Houston required some attributes street-level for any new garages at least and forget on intersections and main corridors. But even Houston does podium examples badly lacking street-level offerings ....

But more live-in residents clearly is a improving situation there. Not sure if a office building with nothing required street-level will improve anything much .... but more jobs to increase demand for high-rise living there that you note as a plus going on today.

[Svensk08]

DavePa, Neiman-Marcus opened its first Houston store on Main Street in the early 1950's. Downtown had dozens of stores, large and small. It was where everyone shopped back then, as Houston's large suburban malls were several years in the future.

[Jack Lance]

Originally Posted by detachable arm

I don’t understand this place sometimes. On one hand there is a thread with an article saying people are leaving Harris county more than they are moving into it, with the inner loop / urban core taking the brunt of the population loss. And that was pre-Harvey. Then on the other hand, things are flourishing, everything is greater than it has ever been, etc etc. What is really going on and what has this boardturned into?

The population loss for Harris county was for one demographic "domestic migration". There is still overall population gains for Harris county from natural increases and international migration.


I'm sure even domestic migration will begin to increase in Harris county soon if it hasn't already.

[mingna]

Downtown is certainly blooming, and is a desirable living locale for many folks of certain demographics. I appreciate the easily accessible and seamless integration of nature and urban offerings.

It's nice to be able to start with brunch overlooking the verdant views from the Dunlavy, followed by a long walk/bike ride/kayak along Buffalo Bayou through the heart of downtown, with accessible stops along the way to sights such as: the Waugh Bat Colony, the Cistern, the Aquarium. Sam Houston Park, the Heritage Society, Theater District, Market Square, City Hall, historic Allen's Landing, and numerous eateries and restaurants. (All better done in cooler weather, of course.)

It also appears to be hosting many music and art festivals this spring, especially long the Bayou.

[madrone2k]

I want to ditto Svensk08's comment. As a little kid in the 50s and 60s, I remember downtown Houston as a vibrant place, with Neiman Marcus, Sakowitz, Battelsteins, Foley's, Palais Royal, and more. Several classic movie theaters that started as Vaudeville venues back in the day. Lots of smaller shops, hotels, and restaurants. But ... Houston really went with the transformation to a car-based suburb-oriented culture. I still miss the original James Coney Island that opened in the early 20s. Oh, heck, what was the cafeteria in the basement under Walgreen's that advertised itself as the largest cafeteria in the world? Many other cool places that don't exist anymore.

So ... while 8000 current residents isn't really a lot, at least its a start. It doesn't have to be for everyone, but it is good for our city to offer viable choices for where to live.

[mingna]

I think the demise of brick and mortar retail shopping is a national phenomenon. Not in Houston, but I can remember getting an ice cream from the counter soda fountain inside Woolworths.

It’s a shame more of the historic movie theaters weren’t saved, such as the one currently occupied by Trader Joe’s in Montrose. I believe the only one currently in operation in Houston proper is the River Oaks Theatre, and that one is sorely in need of a refurbishing.

But how neat is it that, technically, you can paddle over in your kayak to catch a performance by the Houston Ballet?

[Svensk08]

Originally Posted by madrone2k

I want to ditto Svensk08's comment. As a little kid in the 50s and 60s, I remember downtown Houston as a vibrant place, with Neiman Marcus, Sakowitz, Battelsteins, Foley's, Palais Royal, and more. Several classic movie theaters that started as Vaudeville venues back in the day. Lots of smaller shops, hotels, and restaurants. But ... Houston really went with the transformation to a car-based suburb-oriented culture. I still miss the original James Coney Island that opened in the early 20s. Oh, heck, what was the cafeteria in the basement under Walgreen's that advertised itself as the largest cafeteria in the world? Many other cool places that don't exist anymore.

So ... while 8000 current residents isn't really a lot, at least its a start. It doesn't have to be for everyone, but it is good for our city to offer viable choices for where to live.

The cafeteria in the basement under Walgreen's was the L&C. The Rice Hotel (now Rice Lofts) also had a cafeteria in its basement. There was another cafeteria downtown called The Forum, which had spectacular High Art Deco glass murals and light fixtures, but it closed in the late 1940's-early 1950's. Seems like cafeterias used to be very popular here in the 1930's-1960's. My family's favorite was Weldon's on Main near the MFAH.

[madrone2k]

Yeah, I think i was mistaken, the LC Cafeteria was under Woolworth's, I think. It occupied an entire city block in the basement of a building downtown. But, yes, the classic cafeterias were a thing in those days. The ones that are left seem to have become hangouts for elderly people, which is fine. My dad enjoyed the Luby's that used to be in Town & Country Village. I guess Furr's has gone under, since there don't seem to be any around Houston these days.

Sorry I never saw The Forum, that sounds pretty cool.