- Nearly 6-Acre Vacant Galleria Property at Post Oak and Richmond Sold To Unknown Buyer [Prime Property; previously on Swamplot]
- Boxer Property Acquires Northwest Crossing II Office Space at 7676 Hillmont in Northwest Houston [Prime Property]
- Sage County Opens in Former Wonder Bar Space in Midtown, Inspired By Dives You’d Find on I-45 Midway Between Houston and Dallas [Culturemap]
- A Peek Inside the Brand-New Red Dessert Dive on Studewood [The Heights Life]
- Watermark Properties Planning 368-Unit Luxury Apartment Complex at Hwy. 96 and Walker in League City [Galveston County Daily News ($)]
- Proposed Policy Change Would Increase Height Limit for Billboards Along Texas Interstates and Major Highways to 65 Ft. [Houston Chronicle ($)]
- 311 Has Been ‘Inundated’ With Calls About ‘Funky’ Houston Tap Water [KHOU]
- Mapping Houston’s Best Public Restrooms and Drinking Fountains [Not of It]
- 10 Billboards Along I-10 Between Beaumont and Brookshire To Display Quotes By Gertrude Stein for Next 6 Weeks [Glasstire]
- Montrose Rollerblader Juan Carlos Makes It to the Next Round of ‘America’s Got Talent’ [Houstonia; previously on Swamplot]
Photo: David Elizondo via Swamplot Flickr Pool
Headlines
Quite a transformation for the rollerblader guy. I noticed his new hair several months ago… I guess this was the reason.
How about no billboards? That would be nice
TxDOT media director Veronica Beyer: “We are proposing this change {from 42 to 65 feet!} because of data that shows drivers have a better chance of seeing these signs at 65 feet when driving 60–75 mph.â€
I wonder how high the billboards will need to be if Texas ever builds a bullet train.
Though I can’t think why TxDOT should have a compelling interest in ensuring that highway motorists be successfully distracted by advertising.
I think what she meant to say is that TxDOT is proposing this change because the sign industry asked them to, but it came out wrong.
The hearing’s over, but comments may be emailed to RuleComments@txdot.gov, subject line “Right of Way,” by Juy 14th. After looking them up on “Who Represents Me?”, I’ve also contacted my state rep and state senator, asking them to try to bring TxDOT to heel next January. Or at least to propose a bill requiring TxDOT to feature a different monster billboard each month on the cover of its magazine “Texas Highways,” the “Travel Magazine of Texas.”
luciaphile, can you imagine how amazingly impartial and professional the report for this study of “advertising at high speeds” must be? surely someone could round it up with a public records request, right?
joel, you are cynical! I’m sure that study is as unimpeachable as the one showing that a well-placed billboard, combined with the adrenaline surge accompanying speeds of 60 to 75 mph, causes men to suddenly want a vasectomy reversal.
Heard the buyer at Post Oak and Richmond is “De Norte” a Mexican Bank…might only be part of the tract.
…Bank is prob tenant in McNair’s deal…
“Though I can’t think why TxDOT should have a compelling interest in ensuring that highway motorists be successfully distracted by advertising.”
Indeed!
I don’t know if this is the document in question, but it touches on the same topics:
http://www.usscfoundation.org/USSCGuidelineStandards.pdf
Chapter 2 of this book is related:
https://www.planning.org/research/signs/pdf/contextsensitivesignagedesign.pdf