Detached Townhomes & What Houston Is Doing RIght - Page 9

TexasPlaya · #**161** Posted **May 12, 2021, 8:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LosAngelesSportsFan

Big time. What a mess. How is one supposed to walk anywhere?

Well if you live in a million dollar SFH that backs up to the street choosen.... you probably walk in the sparsely trafficked neighborhood streets until you get to Shepard (the commercial corridor). But mostly like if you had a million dollar home.... you are just walking your dog.

JManc · #**162** Posted **May 12, 2021, 8:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LosAngelesSportsFan

Same with the city of LA... yet another parallel between the two lol

I live in Houston and have been to LA numerous times and there are passing resemblances between the two but LA was already a major city when Houston wasn't even on the radar thus their respective aesthetic reflects it. There are parts of Houston that still look like some small East Texas town despite being in the heart of a metro area of 7 million+. LA has about 50 or so years on us.

TexasPlaya · #**163** Posted **May 12, 2021, 8:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by iheartthed

It's also weird because there is plenty of space to create a sidewalk. I'm surprised this doesn't break some ADA regulations?

A few years ago Detroit got sued and had to make sure that sidewalks were installed properly throughout the city. They also had to install curb cuts uniformly. Because of that you'll see brand new sidewalks through neighborhoods that have been heavily abandoned.

You'll notice where's the no sidewalk, there's also no entrances to any buildings either.

TexasPlaya · #**164** Posted **May 12, 2021, 8:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschaton

Lots of cities have maintenance of the sidewalk the responsibility of the property owner, rather than the city. It's like that here in Pittsburgh. Thankfully in 99% of cases in any urban neighborhood the sidewalks were put in long ago, but you will find busted-up sidewalks which haven't been fixed for decades in front of some houses.

This is the issue with Houston.

TexasPlaya · #**165** Posted **May 12, 2021, 8:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JManc

I live in Houston and have been to LA numerous times and there are passing resemblances between the two but LA was already a major city when Houston wasn't even on the radar thus their respective aesthetic reflects it. There are parts of Houston that still look like some small East Texas town despite being in the heart of a metro area of 7 million+. LA has about 50 or so years on us.

West LA reminds me a bit of Uptown/Galleria. There's a certain chaos that exists between the two that shows up.

JManc · #**166** Posted **May 12, 2021, 8:53 PM**

^ Agreed. As well as some spots around the Montrose area.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasPlaya

You'll notice where's the no sidewalk, there's also no entrances to any buildings either.

Still, the city could eminent domain that sliver of land (pushing fence lines back) and install them. That's a busy area and even for Houston, surprised there are no sidewalks. BUT it is the River Oaks area and they can get away with skirting the rules others places can't...money talks.

TexasPlaya · #**167** Posted **May 12, 2021, 9:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JManc

^ Agreed. As well as some spots around the Montrose area.

Still, the city could eminent domain that sliver of land (pushing fence lines back) and install them. That's a busy area and even for Houston, surprised there are no sidewalks. BUT it is the River Oaks area and they can get away with skirting the rules others places can't...money talks.

I agree for connectivity's sake, but I think this section of San Felipe that borders River Oaks used their NIMBYism. San Felipe has sidewalks in Memorial /The Villages.

iheartthed · #**168** Posted **May 12, 2021, 9:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasPlaya

You'll notice where's the no sidewalk, there's also no entrances to any buildings either.

But what about people who are passing by? The people who live on that street one block from the main road can't safely walk to the Taco Bell a block over, which should be a five minute walk. Do these people drive back and forth to all of the local businesses that are within easy walking distance of their homes? That's weird.

TexasPlaya · #**169** Posted **May 12, 2021, 9:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by iheartthed

But what about people who are passing by? The people who live on that street one block from the main road can't safely walk to the Taco Bell a block over, which should be a five minute walk.

They should probably walk an extra few blocks down Sheppard Dr to Torchy's Taco and skip the diarrhea.

I think the people who live on the southwest corner of San Felipe and Sheppard are doomed to never know Taco Bell or travel north by foot.

Quote:

Do these people drive back and forth to all of the local businesses that are within easy walking distance of their homes? That's weird.

No clue. I certainly wouldn't want to lug my dry cleaning several blocks, probably be something I'd take care of on my way home from work. Although the psychic cottage is something you have to do on foot...

homebucket · #**170** Posted **May 12, 2021, 9:55 PM**

Yikes this is one ugly looking tower:

https://goo.gl/maps/rwFwTyhfuac1AU4p7

homebucket · #**171** Posted **May 12, 2021, 10:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by iheartthed

But what about people who are passing by? The people who live on that street one block from the main road can't safely walk to the Taco Bell a block over, which should be a five minute walk. Do these people drive back and forth to all of the local businesses that are within easy walking distance of their homes? That's weird.

This area looks completely autocentric with strip malls, parking lots, and curb cuts. Like... wth is this? The entire street might as well be a curb cut.

https://goo.gl/maps/r69RFhjVgxniCHQF7

Anyways, I doubt anyone here is walking anywhere. Would you really carry a 40 lb bag of dog food home when you can just plop it in the back of your pick up?

TexasPlaya · #**172** Posted **May 12, 2021, 10:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by homebucket

This area looks completely autocentric with strip malls, parking lots, and curb cuts. Like... wth is this? The entire street might as well be a curb cut.

https://goo.gl/maps/r69RFhjVgxniCHQF7

Anyways, I doubt anyone here is walking anywhere. Would you really carry a 40 lb bag of dog food home when you can just plop it in the back of your pick up?

I wouldn’t say it’s completely auto centric but I get the point and don’t really disagree. I’ve lived over there and would bike to do closeby errands since the neighborhood streets are on a grid and generally not busy. Houston can certainly improve its infrastructure but its inner core is popular nevertheless.

Who would be lugging 40 lb dog food or bags of groceries when you could plop it in the back of your vehicle in most cities?

bilbao58 · #**173** Posted **May 12, 2021, 10:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by homebucket

Yikes this is one ugly looking tower:

https://goo.gl/maps/rwFwTyhfuac1AU4p7

Yes, it's bad. I've always thought it looks like a giant gas space heater.

llamaorama · #**174** Posted **May 12, 2021, 11:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by homebucket

This area looks completely autocentric with strip malls, parking lots, and curb cuts. Like... wth is this? The entire street might as well be a curb cut.

https://goo.gl/maps/r69RFhjVgxniCHQF7

Anyways, I doubt anyone here is walking anywhere. Would you really carry a 40 lb bag of dog food home when you can just plop it in the back of your pick up?

Nobody, they order it from Chewy.com and have it delivered if they can't drive it home, which probably means that in time Petco's business model will have to adapt and that location may not be long for this world. Eventually that strip mall will get torn down and turned into an apartment wrap or podium tower. That will result in more patrons to that Irish Pub.

Crawford · #**175** Posted **May 12, 2021, 11:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by llamaorama

Nobody, they order it from Chewy.com and have it delivered if they can't drive it home, which probably means that in time Petco's business model will have to adapt and that location may not be long for this world. Eventually that strip mall will get torn down and turned into an apartment wrap or podium tower. That will result in more patrons to that Irish Pub.

Urban stores have had fast home delivery for basically forever. NYC supermarkets had faster delivery than Amazon 70 years ago. And granny carts mean any invalid can easily transport a 40-pound bag home.

It just wasn't common in the U.S. until recently because everyone drives around in gigantic tanks, and has no issue schlepping crap. And granny carts are rare outside of NYC.

Anyways this debate always comes down to those who believe that adding density to autotopia eventually brings urbanity, and those who don't hold such beliefs. Count me in the latter, as there's no such example, anywhere in the U.S.

bilbao58 · #**176** Posted **May 12, 2021, 11:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by homebucket

Would you really carry a 40 lb bag of dog food home when you can just plop it in the back of your pick up?

The people living to the east of that street are more likely to be drive Volvos or Subarus or Priuses, to the west are more likely to be driving Range Rovers.

iheartthed · #**177** Posted **May 12, 2021, 11:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by llamaorama

Nobody, they order it from Chewy.com and have it delivered if they can't drive it home, which probably means that in time Petco's business model will have to adapt and that location may not be long for this world. Eventually that strip mall will get torn down and turned into an apartment wrap or podium tower. That will result in more patrons to that Irish Pub.

One thing that Petco has going for it are their pet grooming services. Not sure how Chewy could ever eliminate them with that advantage. Plus, pet care is a fast growing segment in general, so I doubt Chewy is actually hurting Petco right now.

LA21st · #**178** Posted **May 12, 2021, 11:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LosAngelesSportsFan

Big time. What a mess. How is one supposed to walk anywhere?

That looks like LA! S/

TexasPlaya · #**179** Posted **May 13, 2021, 12:11 AM**

LA folks are surprisingly insecure.... No one is saying Houston and LA are the same or look exactly the same.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by llamaorama

Nobody, they order it from Chewy.com and have it delivered if they can't drive it home, which probably means that in time Petco's business model will have to adapt and that location may not be long for this world. Eventually that strip mall will get torn down and turned into an apartment wrap or podium tower. That will result in more patrons to that Irish Pub.

Just a quarter mile to the west, a good super neighborhood management (Upper Kirby), has updated infrastructure. The difference between Kirby Dr (Upper Kirby) and Shepherd Dr (Montrose) is big.

https://goo.gl/maps/1dW2oYdvUf8wreeG7

bilbao58 · #**180** Posted **May 13, 2021, 12:22 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasPlaya

The difference between Kirby Dr (Upper Kirby) and Shephard Dr (Montrose) is big https://goo.gl/maps/1dW2oYdvUf8wreeG7

Psssst. It's Shepherd. Shepherd Drive. Sheppard (the spelling in your earlier post) is in Toronto. At least the one I knew.

Looks like Shepherd is in for the Upper Kirby treatment.

$27M Shepherd Drive expansion set to begin this week

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/nei...s-16012835.php