Mayor's press conference announcing the March 22 2009 Tour de Houston [Photo by Raj Mankad]
Headlines February 7 to 15
Sunday February 15
25 random things about Houston [Houston Chronicle] Lisa Gray infects Chronicle readers with an incessant Facebook meme.
Tinsley’s legacy – in her words [Houston Chronicle] Eleanor Tinsley, former city council member and great leader in improving Houston’s built environment, died of cancer last week. She is quoted from an oral history project: “I started what we called SPARK school parks. The idea is to use school grounds that we, the public, already own…”
Mourners recall woman of strength, humanity / Activist leader also lauded for her ‘will of steel’ [Houston Chronicle] Words of praise for Eleanor Tinsley, whose memorial service was Saturday.
Officer’s message: Stay off the tracks [Houston Chronicle] “We have critical schools, predominantly in the East End and Fifth Ward. Working with the Houston-Galveston Area Council and Houston Independent School District, we mapped out schools in proximity of railroad tracks and coupled that with schools that have railroad tracks where kids get hurt or where trains routinely block crossings.”
On the Streets of Montrose / It comes with the territory / Neighborhood deals with reality of street life [Houston Chronicle] A perplexing article on Montrose sex workers.
Saturday February 14
WHEN BIG BOXES PACK UP AND GO / As large stores in strip centers close, neighboring businesses are hurt, too [Houston Chronicle]
Friday February 13
The gentle radical / Refined, collegial and visionary, Eleanor Tinsley helped shape modern Houston. [Houston Chronicle] “It’s now a commonplace that with every new bit of green space, Houston’s quality of life and allure for new residents blooms. But when Tinsley campaigned for these improvements, many thought them too trivial for the city to bother with. Now they are the capital on which Houston is building its future.”
Thursday February 12
Alamo School among state’s endangered sites / Galveston’s Strand/Mechanic district also one of 11 sites listed [Houston Chronicle]
District C residents seek more from city of Houston [Houston Chronicle] “Dan Menendez of the city’s Public Works and Engineering Department, said there was about $45 million in projects under way or scheduled for District C, which encompasses the Inner Loop, Neartown and Sharpstown areas.”
City can’t help repair theater / Restoration will have to come from foundations, mayor says [Houston Chronicle] Barry Moore, from the Gensler firm, said the Capitan is the best of the four remaining movie palaces in the Houston area.
Access for local riders still needs some work / Advocate feels Harris County doesn’t have plan for people to get around on bikes [Houston Chronicle] “The county’s road-improvement projects, observes cycling advocate and safety instructor Peter Wang, invariably trade shoulders for curbs.”
PASADENA / Park and ride coming [Houston Chronicle]
GALVESTON AFTER IKE / Museum derailed by storm / Despite suffering $7 million in damages, officials hope Galveston facility and its trains can be refurbished [Houston Chronicle]
A home away from home / Friendswood’s Verla Perry helps care for historic house in the city [Houston Chronicle]
ALVIN / City seeks stimulus funds / Money would be used for wastewater plant, road project [Houston Chronicle]
Ike report urges state to take lead in disasters / Lawmakers criticize feds for slow response [Houston Chronicle] “Recommendations ranged from expansive measures such as restoring a Level 1 trauma center at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, to simple steps such as requiring that every asphalt shingle on Gulf Coast roofs be secured with six nails rather than four.”
Wednesday February 11
1926 ELEANOR TINSLEY 2009 / A genteel public crusader / Billboards and school segregation among her targets [Houston Chronicle]
Love those live oaks / Houston’s favorite trees pose no threat to our power lines. Let’s plant more of them. [Houston Chronicle]
Tuesday February 10
Ike recovery plan is called inequitable / Officials say proposed funding would shortchange areas in need [Houston Chronicle] “Harris County Judge Ed Emmett said the plan short-changes the county’s unincorporated areas and small cities such as Shoreacres, where almost 6 out of 10 houses were destroyed or suffered more than 50 percent damage.”
Monday February 9
Metro is eager to put stimulus funds to work / Brochure lays out $410 million plan for HOV change, expanded rail [Houston Chronicle]
Residents blast proposed overpass / East End leaders, owners say Metro’s plans for rail line project would harm community [Houston Chronicle]
Paying for tracks / With transit money scarce, Metro’s light rail expansion needs stimulus dollars. [Houston Chronicle]
“According to Frank Wilson, Metro is looking to eventually receive about $800 million from the federal government for construction of the North, Southeast, East End and Uptown/Galleria lines that are slated for completion in 2012. The more controversial University line, including a stretch on Richmond, will require additional funding and will be the last to be completed, possibly in 2013. ‘The serious money will come from the transportation reauthorization bill and that’s a year, worst case two years away,’ says Wilson. ‘University will be at the front of the line with all the engineering done and all the contracts negotiated and ready to go when that reauthorization bill is approved.’ The line will cost more than a billion dollars, with Metro hoping the federal government covers half that amount.
Sunday February 8
After the whirlwind . . . [Houston Chronicle] Lisa Gray on Dan Havel and Dean Ruck’s latest work.
Developer thinks small [Houston Chronicle] “One of the nation’s largest home builders is rolling out a new model: an 881-square-foot house designed to appeal to singles and couples without children. The apartment-size homes are being built by Los Angeles-based KB Home in Willow Springs, a subdivision off Texas 249 west of Interstate 45…They start at $63,995.”
Saturday February 7
HOUSTON PAVILIONS’ UNLUCKY BREAK / Funding problems put opening of bowling alley at entertainment site on hold [Houston Chronicle]
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