A brand new multi-building mixed-use development is planned for the site of the former Heights Finance Station post office, which shut down at the end of last year after being declared “no longer necessary” by USPS. The land on 11th St. between Heights Blvd. and Yale St. will move on, change its name to a less-stodgy Heights Central Station, and start a new life as the site of multiple 2-story lowrises housing ground-floor retail and restaurants with office spaces on top.
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That’s the plan described by MFT Interests, at least, which also plans outdoor space and bike parking for the complex along with vehicle parking “appropriate for the development.” A representative of the company also says that the company plans the area to be “appropriate in density given its location at the intersection of 3 major neighborhood thoroughfares.” The developers expect the shells of the buildings to be complete around the middle of 2017, though designs are still in the planning phase.
- Previously on Swamplot:Â Last Chance Looms To Mail On Yale; USPS Now Says It Will Close and Sell the Heights Post Office; This Could Be the End of the Heights Post Office
Photo of former Heights Finance Station post office: Karen S. (top), Swamplot inbox (bottom)
All those words just mean it will be a strip center right?
@TacoTruck:
I’m hoping this means something like 4601 Washington, with office stacked on top of retail, with a parking structure in back.
Where will all those who frequent Eight Row Flint park now? The parking lot is quite full of cars most nights from those who frequent the new icehouse.
Let the parking wars begin!!!
On a side note, this intersection at Yale and 11th, on the Post Office to 8 Row Flint walk, really needs a crosswalk. But still not as scary as trying to cross Yale at 7th on the bike path.
If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a car!
Isnt some of this site in an historic district? Those neighborhood nazis (i mean that in the nicest way possible) at the HD are going to love this deal!
finally the much-needed mattress stores the neighborhood is hungry for. As it stands, the nearest one (er, two) is at 11th and Shepherd.
Will they spare the live oak trees on that lot???
The parking has already become an issue ala Coltivare. Drunks are parking on Allston now and quite loud when they come back to their cars. It’s gonna get worse when they lose the post office parking. TIme to call the council peoples. . . . . . .
Aaah. You should talk to Public Works and Engineering. If you look at White Oak – not a single business west of Onion Creek has all their parking spaces meet parking code requirements, yet they were all approved by PW and the Planning Department. How on earth were they approved? That is the real mystery. Parking spaces on those few blocks are routinely too short, too narrow, and sometimes even stacked (so if one car goes in another car cannot – the foolishness of the plan at Gelazzi), and lack adequate handicap access. The parking wars are real, but the PW Department at the City is the real player that messes up the whole scenario. What is the point of a parking lot if no one can use the spaces because they are too cramped? You know what is worse than a huge parking lot? A huge parking lot no one can actually use.
Yeah, shut this down and put up some Fisher townhomes or one of his lovely condos. We need to chase every effort to put retail in the Heights away so a few people who were dumb enough to buy a house a block from a major retail thoroughfare can ruin the Heights for the rest of us who paid a huge premium to live in a neighborhood where we can actually walk to restaurants (and were smart enough not to buy just down the street from them).
Houston, we certainly have a problem. How were those deficient parking lots approved? Who oversees the process at the City?
Old School – thank you
Eight Row is busy now but will the masses fill the patio in Houston’s heat? The bar biz is tough and crowds often move on once the shine is gone. It’s no Coltivare but hopefully will become a more enjoyable neighborhood spot with smaller crowds
The developer is gong to put in a Pannera Breads with a drive through, per the agent that sold him the property.
You couldn’t park for 2 minutes here without getting your passenger window smashed when I lived there.
Multiple comments on the 8-row flint wheat ice house/bar/ parking: this will be fun to observe, as will the car crashes. Because there are no ovens or refrigerators in Heights homes, there is a desperate need for more restaurants and bars. Are the days of sipping suds on the front porch w/neighbors gone forever?
We live in the Heights and everyone here is not against this development. We hope for even more new restaurants, which will increase our property value, the Heights is HOT!!!! Panera Bread would be cool. Those not familiar with the Heights should be aware that the people who live in the bungalows are against ANY development. They complain about everything. Complain because there are no curbs, then the same people complain they want to keep their ditches. Go figure. The tide is changing. There will soon be more “haves” than the jealous “have-nots”. Just my opinion.
Kudos @ Old School! So freakin’ tired of these fuckwits who do not perform their due diligence when buying a house then bitch and moan to no end on Nextdoor about people parking on the city streets and heaven for bid in front of THEIR house. If you don’t like the city and accept city life and all its aspects then get the hell out! There is a gated community waiting for you!
@HouCynic
I agree. Before we bought our house, we made it a point to drive by during different times of day, and especially on weekends to gauge the traffic, parking, and suspicious activity (was a high crime area at the time, and with several bars and a university nearby). We were satisfied, so we bought. We did notice a lot of people parking cars on the street, especially renters of garage apartments, but due to our scouting trips, it was not a surprise – and I was able to keep my panties unwrinkled ;)
I live in Montrose, and the prosti– uh, *workers* at the massage place around the corner park in front of my house all the time. That doesn’t bother me at all.
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There are only a few parking asshatteries that tick me off because of their inconsiderateness for other people:
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– Abandoning your car on the street. The street is not for long-term storage. If you’re going to be out of town for months, find a storage lot. Leaving your car on the street for more than a day is illegal and takes away a space that someone else could be using for temporary parking.
“Sec. 26-93. – Parking in excess of 24 hours.: It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly leave parked or standing in any public street, alley or other public place any vehicle for a longer continuous period of time than 24 hours. (Ord. No. 07-464, § 7(Exh. B), 4-11-07)”
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– Blocking the sidewalk. I have a neighbor who has a lot-line townhouse, a full garage, and somewhere between three and five cars that they regularly try to fit into their micro-driveway. One time, they parked two cars at the garage door, two cars behind those blocking the sidewalk, and the fifth, a giant truck, hanging out into the street.
“Sec. 26-92. – Vehicles on parking lots not to protrude over property line. It shall be unlawful for any person who operates, keeps or maintains, or causes to be operated, kept or maintained, a parking lot where automobiles or other vehicles are parked on private property adjacent to public streets or sidewalks to permit any automobile or vehicle parked thereon to be parked in such a manner so as to protrude over the property line of such parking lot or to obstruct in any manner any public street or sidewalk adjacent to such private property. (Ord. No. 07-464, § 7(Exh. B), 4-11-07)”
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– Centering a car in front of the house. This one’s not illegal, but it’s just inconsiderate to take up two spaces with one car, when you could pull up or back a half-car-length so that someone else could fit another car there. It’s a 50-foot lot minus a single-car driveway, so there’s at least 30-36 feet of curb frontage. Plenty of room for two cars and even a bin on trash day.
I remember well the battles between restaurants/bars and residents as the Montrose started to gentrify in the late 1990s. It never ceased to amaze me that someone would buy a pricey townhome right next to a long-established ice house, and then complain vociferously and try to run the business off. Mark my words, the Heights will reach that same tipping point, if it hasn’t already. As SuperDave said, those who fail to check out their prospective neighborhood at all times of day and night have only themselves to blame. But of course, they’d rather blame the business and try to turn the Heights into some ridiculous suburban “paradise.” That’s what Katy is for, people!
I have to play devils advocate here. What if, as mentioned above, the buyer of a house in the western heights did their due diligence during the day and night before purchasing property. They bought in the area because it is “supposedly dry” and a slower pace than White Oak or Stude area. Then along comes a place like Eight Row Flint and is allowed to sell booze because they are a “club.” Parking is scarce so people now start parking on Allston or 10th or 12th street. Litter, drunk, late night noise. It wasn’t there or allowed when the bought the place so why is it okay now? This happened with the neighbors at Canyon Creek by the park and it will get your butt towed now on some streets..
We all know its growing pains but businesses care about the $$, not hurting neighbors feelings by not having a parking solution. Just look at the Boil house.
@HeightsCouple Your statement “Those not familiar with the Heights should be aware that the people who live in the bungalows are against ANY development.” is completely incorrect and comments that follow incorrect and insulting. I own/live in a bungalow. Me and many in my neighborhood who also are also bungalow owners are not only proponents of, but have propelled development.