Comments on: Hark, a Fence!

By: Kokatat

Kokatat — Thu, 02 May 2013 15:50:56 +0000

They now have the SWPPP sign up, silt fences installed, and they have something staked. If they are starting the construction of the Islamic town center I’m very surprised how smoothly its going.

By: Ian V

Ian V — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 01:55:15 +0000

I hope it’s a huge Islamic center with lots of bold red arabic script on the front. Then I hope fundies get all worked up about it, so I can taunt them relentlessly. Yes, this will be excellent.

By: movocelot

movocelot — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 21:50:31 +0000

Yes @ PYEWACKET2, that’s a cool bldg.

By: PYEWACKET2

PYEWACKET2 — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 18:24:36 +0000

How will this be different from the center in downtown at Main/Franklin/Travis?

I banked there in the late 60s when it was Franklin Bank. It had a beautiful lobby.

By: TheNiche

TheNiche — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 15:42:13 +0000

@ HTX Rez: When the Foundation failed to build a religious facility on the site within three years the first time around, they were back-assessed for all of the property taxes due for three years including penalties and interest.

It was a whopper of a tax bill. They’ve paid far more than their fair share at this point. And if they were to fail to build something by the end of 2014 (for any reason), it may happen a second time. So yes, there is sometimes justice in taxation. It doesn’t happen often, but it happened here.

By: Matt Mystery

Matt Mystery — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 22:02:55 +0000

When the Aga Khan announced that the center would be built in Houston several years ago he said it would follow completion of the museum in Toronto.It will serve as more of an “embassy” than anything else. And be connected to the foundation, the university, and the development network.

By: movocelot

movocelot — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 21:56:03 +0000

Aha judah!
I knew there had to be a relationship between those statues and that parcel. It would otherwise have been impossibly random. IMHO

By: RuhRoh

RuhRoh — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 21:31:11 +0000

I forgot about that awesome warehouse that was on that corner. I had always hoped someone would find a way to reuse the building. New construction bites.

By: htownproud

htownproud — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 20:23:53 +0000

Matt,

Why do you think it is likely that the culture center will begin next year after the completion of the building in Toronto? The last I heard, after Toronto is finished, AKF was going to decide whether to build in LA, Paris, or Houston (I believe they own land to build in all three cities, but can’t recall for sure).

By: Cody

Cody — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 19:09:30 +0000

HTX Rez: “if i put together a multi-family super fund tomorrow…
.
If you do that, please call me, kthxbye :)

By: Matt Mystery

Matt Mystery — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 17:54:57 +0000

http://www.akdn.org/museum/

By: Matt Mystery

Matt Mystery — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 17:54:13 +0000

The Aga Khan Foundation has focused on the completion of the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto which will open next year. So more than likely the Cultural Center, which will not be a mosque, will begin sometime next year. As for the suggestion they “take it to Sugar Land” they already have. The Tom De Lay types see the Ismailis as some sort of cult. The rational types see them as a progressive and very peaceful sect within Islam. The Aga Khan is a direct descendant of the Prophet Mohammed. The fundamentalists do not particularly like the Aga Khan. But then our fundamentalists don’t either. And no doubt when ground is broken they will all be on the radio screeching about the Muslim invasion. So much for tolerance. But then they aren’t real big on tolerance. And proud of it.