COMMENT OF THE DAY: A LINEAR SHOPPING DISTRICT FROM HIGHLAND VILLAGE TO THE GALLERIA 
“I love that all these projects are coming to fruition on Westheimer.
As more and more private investment comes to this area of Westheimer between Post Oak and Weslayan, will the city of Houston invest in the walkable infrastructure to make this one coherent district as it fills in?
What would we call it?
East Uptown? Lower River Oaks? Highland West?” [DNAguy, commenting on The River Oaks District’s New Box of Dior] Illustration: Lulu
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Innerloop uptown.
Make the sidewalks wider, and protected pedestrian crossings at the major streets, and it just might work. And parking, don’t forget parking.
I’m voting for EaGal or WeRo.
If it’s East of Uptown and West of Downtown, shouldn’t it be Midtown? Maybe we can rename Midtown SoDo, or LoDo, or Low-town, it’s kind of fitting.
There’s a reason the word Pedestrian is synonymous with a lower class citizen, and it’s truer in Houston than any other place.
More safe pedestrian crossings, wider sidewalks that minimize obstructions, night lighting, and changes to development regulations so as to allow reduced setbacks by-right.
Allowing cut-ins to curbs for on-street parking would also be helpful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJIiFIbkNZ8
It seems like there are going to be plenty of mid-to-higher end shopping options altogether within a small radius: an expanded galeria, BLVD Place, the west houston master plan (if it does happen), River Oaks District, Highland Village, West Gray, Regent Square, West Ave, and even Rice Village isn’t too far. Can’t imagine anything else being squeezed in there, although it wouldn’t surprise me.
EaWeLoo (East of West Loop)
River Oaks District District
Galleria 2.0
Imagination Land (City will never make improvements–area will be instant death for pedestrians who dare to cross Westheimer)
The kind of people who frequent these establishments don’t “walk” anywhere, they’ll drive from one end of the Galleria to the other so as not to have to walk 100 yards, I mean why not, their husband pays for the car, the gas, the charges, etc. My friends who are married to women like this I ask, what the hell does she do to deserve all this luxury thrust on her..she has a maid, a nanny, a gardener, she doesn’t do anything and I can imagine anyone that selfish can be any good in bed..and worst of all, the of all she’s an insufferable bitch..they all answer, that they’ve forgotten why they married them in the first place, they loath the them now but now it’s too expensive to divorce them, totally pathetic…
How about the “Westhirentdistrict”
We’ll probably call it the Big Mall.
I like East Uptown.
People won’t walk.
Dear Commonsense:
“There;s a reason the term Non Pedestrian is synonymous with outta shape fat ass loser
Let’s call it JustIn. As in just inside the loop.
I don’t care much what new moniker might be adopted, if any. As someone who lives, works, and walks in the area — yes, I’m another one of those lower-class citizens — I think some well-thought-out walkable infrastructure would be great. I imagine the many Houston visitors who also clamber around in this mess might agree.
How about the Up/Down District or RODO or ROUP… These silly monikers are just that: silly. It’s still the Galleria Area or Post Oak. The River Oaks District is Lower Briar Hallow, not really sure what Midtown was prior, LoDo?
Magnificent Mile, EaSharp (East Sharpstown), SouEaUp (South East Uptown), EaWest (East Westheimer, nothing worth considering out of the loop), XingAlley (country drivers know what Xing means), CredExpSharkJump (Credit Expansion Shark Jump), and finally … AboSouq (Above-ground Souq, echoing the poo’d-upon basement Souq suggestion for the hell-mouth pit downtown).
People will walk if it works. Ideally, there would be a rail line between Highland and Galleria; the traffic in the area is terrible and getting worse.
How about WeWe (as in West of Weslayan)?
How about “The Big Mistake.” I think this development is wrong for this site. Traffic is already a major problem. I think most of the retail space will be DOA.
Greg-
While I agree traffic can be a problem in that neighborhood, please be aware that there is not a single METRO traffic study ever conducted (for any neighborhood) that even suggests that METROrail will lessen vehicular traffic. In fact, METROrail only exacerbates traffic congestion by removing capacity from the existing roadway.
WeWeWe?
Westheimer West of Weslayan?
A nice, large center median would be nice on Westheimer, probably with palm trees to keep in theme with Highland Village’s misplaced palms. Perhaps they could transition from palms on the HV side of the tracks to a deciduous/hardwood wonderland on the other side. That could be the theme of the River Oaks district. Then a pedestrian could cross the street with less fear of being plowed down by an errant Land Rover or METRO bus.
The area will have traffic congestion regardless if METRO improves transit service (at grade or otherwise). Facilitating pedestrian travel is one way of providing an alternative to sitting in traffic, at least for some trips.
If people aren’t willing to walk, then they can be satisfied sitting in congestion. Nothing wrong with that.
Bobby P., it’s the developer’s perogative to decide if the site is right or not. If it fails because of traffic congestion, their loss. The city should not prevent development through regulation just because it brings more traffic – that’s simply bad policy.
I walk 2.5 miles in the Galleria area everyday. There’s no problem walking there. If people want to walk they can.
“will the city of Houston invest in the walkable infrastructure to make this one coherent district as it fills in?”
No.
“There’s a reason the word Pedestrian is synonymous with a lower class citizen, and it’s truer in Houston than any other place.”
What does that say about Houston? You have cities like New York, London, Tokyo, Paris, the cities that rule the world financially and culturally, all exceptionally pedestrian friendly. The wealthy share the sidewalks with the masses, and they are shady, interesting, beautiful sidewalks. Then you have cities like Houston, Dallas, Kansas City, where rich people view themselves as barons riding in large cars and developing obesity problems while the slender “lower class” peasants are out on foot. The sidewalks are maximum 4 ft wide with telephone poles in the middle of them, and the shade is gone because all the trees were cut down.
Which sounds more civilized, more evolved?
People in Houston won’t walk even if there are the world’s greatest sidewalks. I remember seeing a woman get in her car and drive from Crate and Barrel on Westheimer to West Elm…… it is in the same parking lot maybe 200 yards from each other. Also see the same thing happen all the time in the River Oaks shopping center. Yeah, some people will walk, but a majority won’t.
“I walk 2.5 miles in the Galleria area everyday. There’s no problem walking there. If people want to walk they can.”
True. But the walkable advocates want a sort of Disneyland for pedestrians; little designated paths, sidewalks, pleasant landscapes, perfect trees and perfect people, colorful stores all arranged as if in a dream. Then maybe more people will walk because now it’s an uplifting experience, a mini adventure, visual stimulus. I’m thinking that’s the idea anyway. No one knows if it would actually work like that or not though.
Since an active heavy rail line cuts through it north to south, I propose we call the area BiSecta. And couldn’t those rails be used for local passengers, somehow?
Dana-X – wider sidewalks with trees is the basic idea. Like you see in other cities. When a development as amazing and urban as BLVD Place ends up with 4 ft. sidewalks on Post Oak Blvd. it’s just downright absurd.
most people don’t like to walk in 101 degree heat and 99% humidity….oh and don’t forget your cloud of mosquitos to keep you company….especially if they are carrying parcels from all the stores they just visited.
And how did nobody slap SHANNON up on line 10? seriously? lump all those GD horrible wealthy stay at home wives/moms into one big lazy spoiled bitch category why don’t you? GEEZ! who pissed shannon off? bitter much?
Any “walkable infrastructure” in Houston Texas has only one name: “Sweat Alley”.
No, not bitter, I’m simply stating fact based on years of Scientific not Anecdotal Evidence..honestly, have you ever met one of these women? I’d rather deal with the walking attitude at the Post Office, than deal with one of these entitled, snotty, just horrible women.
I think West Ave.-to-Rice Village will become contiguous before Highland Village-to-Galleria ever will.
kaka
“What does that say about Houston? You have cities like New York, London, Tokyo, Paris, the cities that rule the world financially and culturally, all exceptionally pedestrian friendly.”
Well, Mike, those cities are BRUTALLY EXPENSIVE for the “lower masses” to live a decent life, unlike Houston which is a nice enough place and offers a reasonable quality of existence for many of us who would be “peasants” in those highly evolved civilized cities you mention.
It is pleasant enough to walk down University Blvd, Main St. downtown, White Oak, 19th St, Morningside, Discovery Green, Smith considering many of us might still prefer to live in our spacious cul-de-sacs.
I see many pedestrians, of the “lower mass peasant” ilk walking up and down Gessner, Ranchester, Hillcroft and such. They do what they have to do and don’t give a &#$@ what you anal urban elite types think. I’ve walked those pedestrian routes myself…and have walked my talk. Not like you effete types who love to bash Houston yet don’t know how walk any other type of sidewalk than one that’s wider than a Cadillac bristling with cute boutiques, bakeries and fancy gastro-pubs!