Awards

Awards
12/03/12 4:14pm

Second Category in the Swampies: Best Demolition of 2012

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Earlier today, we introduced the first category in this year’s Swamplot Awards for Houston Real Estate, celebrating the best and most this city has to offer. And now nominations are open in a second category: Best Demolition.

Sure, demolitions are raw, physical acts, but emotional, historical, cultural, artistic, literary, sonic, and ecological aspects are often hard at work too. What property would you honor as Houston’s Best Demo of 2012 — and why?

If you’re like most people and have a little trouble remembering buildings once they’re gone, you can scroll through Swamplot’s archive of demolition stories to refresh your memory. Then add your thoughtful and well-argued nominations for this coveted award to the comments section below — or send them in a private message to Swamplot HQ. For a more thorough description of the nominating process, see these instructions.

Nominations for both award categories announced today will remain open until midnight this Sunday, December 9. But why wait until the last minute to submit your nominations? Couldn’t you knock a few out now?

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Awards
12/03/12 10:22am

The 2012 Swamplot Awards for Houston Real Estate Begin Now

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Yes, it is that time of the year. Swamplot’s annual end-of-the-year review of the best, most, and much too much of Houston’s local real-estate scene begins this week. Are you ready to help select the winners?

All this month we’ll be hosting the fifth annual Swamplot Awards for Houston Real Estate — the Swampies. This year there will be 7 categories, honoring the designs, developments, neighborhoods, personalities, dreams, and absurdities that continue to make Houston real estate so entertaining. Today we’ll announce 2 of them; we’ll continue with the remaining categories over the rest of this week.

To make the Swampies work — and more important, to make them fun — we need your help. It’s always been our readers’ discerning vision, clever coinages, and careful consideration that have made the awards into a great local attraction. This year is no different. For each category, we need your help to come up with the right slate of official nominees. You be the judge: What was notable in 2012? What caught your eye and wouldn’t let go? What valiant efforts deserve recognition? And what brilliant comments can you add to encapsulate the story?

The Swampies belong to you. All nominations and votes will come from Swamplot readers. We hope you’ll join in the fun!

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Awards
06/27/12 5:40pm

Swamplot Astrodome Photographer Comes Clean, Picks Up Web Award

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Congratulations to tipster Russell Hancock, who won for Swamplot and himself the Photo of the Year award in the Houston Press‘s second annual Houston Web Awards, announced today. Hancock’s mini photo essay about wandering off-course at this year’s Rodeo into a forlorn and mussed-up Astrodome focused attention on the empty sports venue’s state of neglect. Writes the Press‘s Craig Hlavaty: “The resulting photos revealed moldy and torn Astroturf and a litter-strewn building that looked more like a storage facility than the Eighth Wonder of the World. The covert pics also set off a media frenzy, leading first to KHOU’s sanctioned peek at the stadium and, ultimately, a 20-strong public tour for local reporters and talking heads.” Back in March, when Swamplot ran the story, Hancock didn’t want us to use his name, but he tells Swamplot he’s got no problem identifying himself as the photographer now. For taking those photos, sending them to Swamplot, and sparking an important public conversation about Houston’s best-known piece of real estate, he certainly deserves an award.

Photo: Russell Hancock

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Awards
12/30/11 2:27pm

The Swamplot Awards for Houston Real Estate, 2011: The Winners!

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Here they are at last — the results of the fourth annual Swamplot Awards for Houston Real Estate! Who won what in this year’s competition? You’ll find the answers below.

This announcement caps an almost month-long process that began with calls for nominations in 9 separate award categories. Official ballots were were put together from reader nominations. Then voting was opened up — to everyone.

Winners of the 2011 Swampies: We salute you for your unique contributions to this city. It takes a lot to stand out in Houston’s real estate landscape. On Swamplot, Houston real-estate fans have noticed you!

Big thanks are due the many Swamplot readers who took time to nominate, evaluate, vote, and comment on competitors in each category. It’s your judgments, your descriptions and your observations that are featured below. Does this honor roll of award winners — along with the list of runners up — provide a good snapshot of the year in Houston real estate? All were determined by reader votes. Let us know what you think!

The winners of the 2011 Swamplot Awards for Houston Real Estate are . . .

CONTINUE READING THIS STORY

Awards
12/30/11 10:18am

The Swamplot Awards for Houston Real Estate, 2011: The Runners-Up

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Your votes have been tallied. Now here’s the moment you’ve been waiting for! Well, almost: It’s time to announce the second-place winners of the 2011 Swamplot Awards for Houston Real Estate!

But first, a note of thanks — to all of you who voted, commented, nominated, campaigned, and cajoled in support of your favorite candidates. You made this extended moment of reflection, recognition, and honor possible. The Swampies belong to you!

You know what they say about runners-up: Should the actual award winners (they’ll be announced next) be unable to fulfill their duties for any reason, these second-place winners will be ready and willing to serve! Let’s have a big round of digital applause, please, for the 2011 runners-up in the Swamplot Awards for Houston Real Estate — the Swampies!

They are:

CONTINUE READING THIS STORY

Awards
12/27/11 9:20am

Voting for the 2011 Swamplot Awards Ends Today

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Only a few hours are left! The polls for this year’s Swamplot Awards for Houston Real Estate will close soon: today at 5 pm. Is there enough time for a come-from-behind candidate to win? Sure, if enough supporters cast each of their 4 possible votes to sweep it over the top.

Without your votes, will the best candidates win all these categories? We need your help to make the 2011 Swampies the best they can be. Tell us who your favorites are!

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Awards
12/23/11 8:33pm

It’s Campaign Time for the 2011 Swamplot Awards

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The official nominees for all 9 categories of this year’s Swamplot Awards for Houston Real Estate have been announced, and voting is under way!

There are 4 places you can vote for each category. But you don’t have to choose one of them — vote in all 4 if you like:

  • In a comment to the official ballot for the category
  • In an email you send to Swamplot
  • Using Twitter (it’ll help if you use the format spelled out here)
  • In a wall post on Swamplot’s Facebook page

Here, in one convenient place, are links to the official ballots for all 9 categories:

Got a question about voting? You can probably find the answer in this brief voting guide.

Already voted? There’s still time to round up more support for your favorites! Come-from-behind candidates, now’s your chance! All it takes is a little email, Facebook or forum post, or tweet to stir up your friends. Explain your vote clearly when you make it — maybe that’ll inspire a groundswell of support!

Voting in all categories will end at 5 pm next Tuesday, December 27th.

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Awards
12/23/11 7:42pm

Greatest Moment in Houston Real Estate: The Official 2011 Ballot

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It’s come down to this: the final category in the 2011 Swamplot Awards for Houston Real Estate. Here, we set about to choose the Greatest Moment in Houston Real Estate of the past year. The official nominees, culled from your suggestions, have now been posted. You get to pick the winner.

Remember, readers get to vote once using each separate approved method — that’s 4 votes in all for each award category. Declare your vote in a comment to this post, in an email to Swamplot HQ, in a Tweet, or on the wall of Swamplot’s Facebook page. The complete voting rules are here. When you vote, please tell us why you made your choice. We’ll include some of the best explanations for the winners when we announce them next week.

The official nominees for the Greatest Moment in Houston Real Estate of 2011 are . . .

CONTINUE READING THIS STORY

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Awards
12/22/11 4:33pm

Neighborhood of the Year: The Official 2011 Ballot

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Please vote for one of these official nominees in this, the second-to-last category of the 2011 Swamplot Awards for Houston Real Estate. It’s for one of the biggies: Neighborhood of the Year. Where’d all the nominations come from? From you!

You can vote for your favorite nominee any or all of 4 ways: in a comment beneath this post, in an email to Swamplot, from Twitter, or in a post on the wall of Swamplot’s Facebook page. Here are the official voting rules. If you want to start a campaign on Facebook or some online forum in support of your choice, go right ahead. Just make sure all the votes get in by 5 pm on Tuesday, December 27th.

Which Houston-area neighborhood deserves to be called this year’s Neighborhood of the Year? Here are the official nominees:

CONTINUE READING THIS STORY

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Awards
12/21/11 2:11pm

Best Neighborhood Upgrade: The Official 2011 Ballot

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On we go to the “neighborhood” categories in the 2011 Swamplot Awards for Houston Real Estate! First: Which little slice of Houston deserves to win the award for Best Neighborhood Upgrade?

The official nominees, culled from your choices and descriptions, are listed below. Now’s your chance to choose the winner! Add your vote to a comment below, send it in an email to Swamplot, announce it on Twitter, write it on the wall of Swamplot’s Facebook page — or all 4! (That’s right, if you follow these rules, each of you can vote 4 times.) If you think you can drum up more support for your favorite candidate, go right ahead! Just make sure all votes are in by 5 pm on Tuesday, December 27th.

The nominees for Best Neighborhood Upgrade are . . .

CONTINUE READING THIS STORY

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Awards
12/19/11 11:48am

The Swamplot Award for Special Achievement in Sprawl: The Official 2011 Ballot

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And now, a very special category in the 2011 Swamplot Awards for Houston Real Estate is open for voting! What makes it so special? Well, the word “special” is in the name of the award, for one thing. It’s our Award for Special Achievement in Sprawl. Are you ready to vote for the winner?

The official nominees in this category — as nominated by Swamplot readers — are listed below. Now’s your chance to vote — which you can do up to 4 times if you follow our rules: once in a comment below, once in an email to Swamplot, once using Twitter, and once by scribbling on the wall of Swamplot’s page on Facebook. That not enough for you? Then recruit your friends to vote, too! But make sure you get all the votes in by the deadline: 5 pm on Tuesday, December 27th.

And now, the official nominees for the Award for Special Achievement in Sprawl:

CONTINUE READING THIS STORY

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Awards
12/16/11 11:40pm

How To Make Your Swampies Votes Count More

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How can you make sure your votes count more than other people’s in the 2011 Swamplot Awards for Houston Real Estate? Easy: Vote more often. That’s right: You can vote up to 4 times in each category of this year’s awards. Once in a comment to the official ballot post, once in an email to Swamplot, once from Twitter, and once on the wall of Swamplot’s Facebook page. You’ll find more details on how to do each (and how not to have your votes disqualified) here.

Nominations in all 9 categories are now closed; balloting has begun in 5 of them so far: the “No Zoning” Award, Most Notable Recycling Effort, Best Parking Lot Dining Experience, Best Demolition, and Favorite Houston Design Cliché. Did any of your favorites make it to the ballot? Recruit your friends to vote for them. We’ll continue with the remaining categories next week. All votes for all categories must be in by 5 pm on Tuesday, December 27th.

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    Awards
    12/16/11 9:36pm

    Houston’s “No Zoning” Award: The Official 2011 Ballot

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    Uh-oh: Looks like there might be a big storm ahead! That would be Category 5 of the Swamplot Awards for Houston Real Estate: The “No Zoning” Award. What place, person, or effort deserves such an honor? One of the 5 official nominees listed below. You tell us which, with your votes!

    You’ve got 4 of them to spend in this category: You can cast one vote in a comment at the bottom of this post, another in an email to Swamplot, another from Twitter, and another by posting on the wall of Swamplot’s Facebook fan page. (All the rules for voting are spelled out here.) If you want to help your favorite candidate win, start a campaign! The voting ends for this and all categories of the 2011 Swampies at 5 pm on Tuesday, December 27th.

    The official nominees for the 2011 “No Zoning” Award are . . .

    CONTINUE READING THIS STORY

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    Awards
    12/16/11 11:38am

    Most Notable Recycling Effort: The Official 2011 Ballot

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    We are now ready to announce the official nominees for the 4th category in this year’s Swamplot Awards for Houston Real Estate. This year, what was the Houston area’s Most Notable Recycling Effort?

    Let your votes in this category be heard — yes, all 4 of them! You’re allowed to vote once in a comment at the bottom of this post, once in an email to our super-top-secret email address, once through Twitter, and once on the wall of Swamplot’s Facebook fan page. (You can read more about our crazy voting rules here.) If you want to swing the voting toward your favorite candidate, go ahead: Start an email or social-networking campaign. The polls for this and all categories in the 2011 Swampies will close at 5 pm on Tuesday, December 27th.

    The official nominees for 2011 Most Notable Recycling Effort are . . .

    CONTINUE READING THIS STORY

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    Awards
    12/15/11 10:23am

    Best Parking Lot Dining Experience: The Official 2011 Ballot

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    The third category in the 2011 Swamplot Awards for Houston Real Estate now has its slate of candidates! What well-paved institution in this fine city deserves the title of Best Parking Lot Dining Experience? Thanks to your contributions, we have a healthy slate of official nominees.

    You’re now free to vote in this category — by entering a comment below, by sending Swamplot an email, by Tweeting your choice, or by posting your vote on the wall of Swamplot’s Facebook page. Or by doing all 4! More details about voting rules for this year’s awards are available here.

    The nominees for Best Parking Lot Dining Experience are . . .

    CONTINUE READING THIS STORY

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