A reader sends these photos of the dirt that’s been moved at the corner of Meadow and Baron, where a rep from Urban Lofts says a new pack of townhouses will soon stand. (Presales haven’t yet begun.) West of Jensen and just a few blocks north of the former KBR property, the site bumps up against Swiney Park; it’s catty-corner from another 30 Urban Lofts townhouses on Sydnor, all of which have sold.
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- Previously on Swamplot: What’s That Cooking on Bringhurst and Clinton?, Improving the Dirt at the Old KBR Site, Helicopters Over Clinton?, New Mystery Owners of 136 Acres in the Fifth Ward, Along the Shores of Buffalo Bayou, The Clearings on Clinton
Photos: Swamplot inbox
Uh, I think you might want to check your facts again. This is over 1 mile to the nearest rail station and would probably be a 20+ minute walk for most people. There’s clearly no good reason to build any residential inside the Loop this far from a light rail stop.
Perhaps you meant another location?
Eiioi…wha?
Rail wasn’t even mentioned. Maybe your confusing this with the EaDo Station Project in the other article. This development is in…”Bayou’s Edge” was it? :-0
I think eieio is a closet LightRail supporter… like the guy who is loudly homophobic in public. Yet, in private …
Every issue is about rail …. even if it isn’t
Well, we can obviously see what’s on your mind, Jeff. No one brought up that issue. Unless you have something constructive to say in regards to the topic, it’s probably best left to another website.
And yeah, you got me! I AM a light rail supporter when money is spent wisely and people are aware of what rail can and can’t do. If citizens are led to think their tax dollars going to a couple light rail lines will give Houston walkability like an old East Coast city within 5 years … or if their tax dollars being spent on the Katy Freeway means they won’t see rush hour traffic again for 25 years, I think it is entirely appropriate to bring them back to reality.
The argument which keeps popping up recently is not “derp, I’m infatuated rail” vs. “derp, I loathe rail”. It’s the extent to which rail spurs additional development, and even the extent to which it concentrates it (what would’ve been built anyway moves near rail).
Since it keeps coming up here, I don’t it’s out of line to state my opinion on it.
But if you want to keep thinking that everyone who opposes rail is homophobic or a Tea Partier or racist or whatever, I probably can’t change your mind.
Why would anyone want to live in a neighborhood known in the drug trade as The Nickel?
eieio
I’m actually very open to different opinions… I don’t assume you are homophobic , tea party , etc. and I apologize if the intended humor didn’t translate. my point was simple .. You were on an anti rail rant when rail wasn’t mentioned in the piece… But now that it is part of the conversation… I understand how taxpayers should be irritated about the amount of $ invested, and that the project has taken WAY too long to come to fruition… And in a year when two more lines are operational, Houston will still (like you said) not be substantially more walkable than it is today. I think the deception however, comes from anti rail politicians. When voters get the chance to make an intelligent decision about funding the project, the ballot is created in a way that confused every person I talked to who was interested in voting.
Yet more and more people do. I think your missing something, Common.
This ain’t The Nickel anymore, it’s Clinton Heights and it costs a lot of coin.
Jeff,
I don’t think anti-rail politicians are to blame for many people’s misguided assumptions that Houston is suddenly going to become a walkable city when the light rail lines are built.
While there are plenty of pro-freeway or anti-rail boosters out there who spin things their way, you have to admit that there’s quite a bit of pro-rail wishful thinking out there.
Eiioi – Nobody…NOBODY believes that Houston is going to become walkable “Suddenly” nor does anyone beleive that Rail will be solely responsible. But, it is generally agreed that “becoming walkable” is what most residents want…and we are making progress. Rail is a result of this will and will help greatly in this goal. It must also be accompanied by better sidewalks, diverse neighborhoods, probably streetcars in areas but most of all a vision of our citizens and our government. I guess I am just unclear to what you vision is. What Is your Vision, eiioi?
This area is too far away to be considered for walkability to the light rail. It does however have excellent access to a bayou that we voted to clean up and clear…. Houston City Council… Any day now
From commonsense: “Why would anyone want to live in a neighborhood known in the drug trade as The Nickel?”
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Big cheap homes while still being in the loop, minutes from freeways, downtown, midtown, med center, rice, montrose, etc.
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I’ll take 5th ward over Sugar land, Katy, Pearland, etc. Though I’d go with 3rd ward before 5th.