Comments on: All That Empty Retail on South Shepherd: A Drive-By Photo Tour

By: Buildergeek

Buildergeek — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 02:54:13 +0000

holly fabian: Just leave now. Please.

By: Brad

Brad — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:06:31 +0000

“From movocelot:

OMG ’stina, I was thinking about 8.0 just this past weekend! ”
-reminisce-
I miss that place, too. I ate there so often there was a menu option named after me, “The Barber Plate.” It was a chicken breast, mashed potatoes and veggie of the day. You could also get the “Brad version” which had double chicken “because Brad likes two breasts.”

Bwahaha, another chuck of my 15 minutes of fame. 8.0 was also where we watched the Rocket’s playoffs on a big screen screaming our heads off. That was where I watched the infamous “OJ white Bronco” game.

The good old days.

By: kjb434

kjb434 — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:51:24 +0000

The City of Houston and some in the Upper Kirby District really want to rebuild Shepherd from Dallas to Richmond.

It’s not the easiest street in the world to rebuild. It’s extreme busy and narrow as we all know. Many businesses are right up to the street.

If you think Kirby is crazy because of the construction, then Shepherd would make it seem like a cake walk.

A rebuild would most likely go to a concrete versus asphalt. The extreme crown on the road would be cut down.

If that project does ever come up for design, it would difficult and fun.

By: bbk

bbk — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:39:37 +0000

The City and Upper Kirby District need to improve the walkability and streetscape design of shepherd drive. The sidewalks are about as un-pedestrian friendly as they come and the traffic congestion is totally ridiculous. They should create a walkable streetscape similar to that of the new Kirby Drive. In addition, adding a turning lane in the middle of the street might ease the congestion created every time someone tries to make a left turn.

By: kjb434

kjb434 — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:34:04 +0000

Schwaghag,

Not having a left turn lane can be a benefit to traffic on Shepherd.

What the city should to is put a simple center barrier on the street except for where signaled intersections are located. Left turns should only be allowed where turn lanes exist. Outside of that, the road would only allow right turns.

The concept is called Right Turn in, Right Turn Out (RTRO). It is very popular in older cities with heavy vehicular traffic. It’s common in a lot of developing nations that don’t have the money or time to build freeways.

By: holly fabian

holly fabian — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:23:38 +0000

I have nothing good to say about new Houston real estate. I have lived here my whole life, and have a deep disdain for all the the building that has torn down history throughout this town, especially in Montrose, and the Heights.
As I drive down every major thoroughfare in this city, I realize that very few have a taste for history…or even sentimentality. Just look at the monstrosities that are being built on every corner. May your stucco go moldy!!
I hope all of you will be happy when corporate America takes over, and ruins everything about this city!!!
I will be long gone by then!

By: DMc

DMc — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:48:20 +0000

Makes me wonder how they will ever fill up Regent Square just a short way up the road.

By: GoogleMaster

GoogleMaster — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:34:50 +0000

All right! This is my hood! If you think there are a lot of vacancies you can see from your car, you should try walking it. I’ve lived here 16 years, and some of those places have been vacant over half that time.

And for the people complaining about driving on Shepherd, I’ll be glad when the Kirby reconstruction is done so you can all go back over there. Sometimes it takes me 2 light changes to get off of my own street.

I will say, though, that it’s a wonderful walkable neighborhood. The only thing I’ve found that’s missing is some sort of drugstore. The nearest are the CVS on Kirby/59 and the Walgreens on Montrose across from Krogay.

Did you count Neon Nail and Land/Sea/Air as vacant? ‘Cuz they are. And did you count the Chicken ‘n’ Egg Roll? It’s on the demo list, but still standing.

That bank — used to be a Rally Burger for a year or two. I sure miss the Dunkin Donuts and the Frenchy’s Chicken that used to be where Hunan Village is now, back when HV was where the MRI place is.

By: RocketSci

RocketSci — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:47:06 +0000

From Delta Associates market information:
“Houston’s retail vacancy ticked up to 15.9% in the 4th quarter of 2008, from 15.7% in the 3rd quarter and 15.8% a year ago. The current vacancy rate is the highest since the 3rd quarter of 2007.”
So, while 22% is high, Houston overall has an awful lot of vacancies, in the top 10 worst nationally. It is a very overbuilt city.

By: Schwaghag

Schwaghag — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 02:47:10 +0000

Oh, and I forgot to mention “no left turn lane”. That’s a deal breaker for me with everyone always trying to get to the right lane at the last minute into the lane with the potholes.

By: Schwaghag

Schwaghag — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 02:45:43 +0000

The problem that drives me away from Shepherd is the traffic–especially driving north at the corner of Richmond and the gauntlet when driving by the Randall’s at Westheimer. Driving south it’s the potholes. I almost lost my transmission–among other things–driving on the right lane in front of St. Anne’s. Then it’s so difficult to get in and out of these tiny parking lots. I take Kirby instead, even with all the construction.

By: movocelot

movocelot — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:58:54 +0000

OMG ’stina, I was thinking about 8.0 just this past weekend!

My kids loved the attention they got there, as well as the little animal decorations on the glasses.

Their mural was an honest representation of where we lived at the time: The Woodlands… planned community with a thin veneer of forest concealing jam-packed building.