02/18/09 1:32pm

The new Belle Sherman Kendall Library in West Houston will have a little something extra inside: a half-court basketball gym. The ceremonial groundbreaking took place Monday on the site near Buffalo Bayou:

Besides housing a library and a community center, the building will be the first three-story building in the Houston system, and the first to have a drive-up window.

The site at 609 N. Eldridge will also serve as a city park and a trailhead to Terry Hershey Park. . . . At Kendall’s drive-up window, users will be able to return books, pick-up books they’ve reserved, and pay fines.

Image: English + Associates Architects

10/31/08 11:48pm

It’s the final weekend before Election Day, which means you might want to use some of your open-house time for a bit of last-minute canvassing. And what better neighborhoods to do either in than two of Houston’s many New York- or Robin Hood-themed subdivisions! Westchester and Nottingham Forest, two Kickerillo-pedigree expanses above the northern banks of the Buffalo Bayou, are waiting for you. Knock on some doors!

14707 Broadgreen Dr., Westchester, Houston

Location: 14707 Broadgreen Dr.
Details: 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths; 2,694 sq. ft.
Price: $325,000
The Scoop: Slightly-dolled 1969 transitional Mansard Modern in Westchester. Central atrium. Paneled walls in Den. Laminate floors in Kitchen. Mirrored wall in Dining Room. On the market for a little more than a month.
Open House: Sunday, 12-2 pm

This way to more homes, and a brighter future:

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10/14/08 10:36am

Doll in Master Bedroom, 14543 Misty Meadows Ln., Memorial Club, Houston

And here’s a view of the spacious 16×12 . . . uh, Master Bedroom in the home at 14543 Misty Meadow Ln. in Memorial Club. Plenty of room for . . . anyone!

The 2-story townhouse has 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. It’s been waiting patiently for you — on the market — since early May.

After the jump: There’s Bugs in the Den, too!

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06/10/08 8:42am

New Embassy Suites Hotel at Energy Plaza, Houston

A new Mini-Me for Energy Tower I is now going up at I-10 and Kirkwood. It’s an Embassy Suites Hotel!

The 216-room, 14-story hotel at 11730 Interstate 10 is Mac Haik’s third project in the development and will be situated just east of two office buildings. Energy Tower I, a 345,000-square-foot, 14-story building, is 100 percent leased, and Energy Tower II, a 428,979-square-foot, 17-story building under construction, is 90 percent preleased . . .

The developer is considering a third building, which could be a twin tower to the 17-story building or could be expanded.

Rendering of Energy Plaza Embassy Suites: Mac Haik Realty, via the Houston Chronicle

05/30/08 5:47pm

Neighborhood Guessing Game 9: Family Room

So much fun in this week’s Neighborhood Guessing Game! We have a winner . . . but only barely. Plus: shenanigans!

Three of you guessed Meyerland, and one guessed “outer Meyerland,” including Marilyn Estates and Barclay Square South. Braeswood got two guesses and so did Champions. Shady River in LaPorte, Prestonwood Forest, “the subdivisions along Cypresswood between FM 1960 and Kuykendahl,” Briargrove Park, Nassau Bay, Westbury, Huntwick, Briar Forest, “close to the Energy Corridor,” Shepherd Park Plaza, Lazybrook, and Timbergrove each attracted one vote.

The top prize goes to Jeff, whose guess included the magic phrase “close to the Energy Corridor.” Our panel of judges has determined that to be good enough. Plus, his entry had a lot of imagery going for it:

OMG, this is complete cheddar. All thats missing here is a disco ball, an overweight swinger with a thick mustache and gold chain, and some Bee Gees pumping out of the 8 track set upon the shag carpet. Attention Swamplot: John Holmes called and wants his house back.

This week’s honorable mention for commentary goes to Marc, who got the date of the house about right and identified a few telling details, though sadly forgot to include an actual guess of the neighborhood:

So when will Colonial be all retro and hip? Ha! I guess late 60’s to early 70’s ….Recessed fluorescents in the baths, light fixtures. Who switched the breakfast nook light? Cool swag light in the family room. Let’s celebrate the bicentennial all over again.

But special honors go to Karen, who has the distinction of being the first to try the Neighborhood Guessing Game version of shooting the moon. She happened upon the actual listing after submitting her original guess and a follow-up comment, then doubled down on her Nassau Bay deception with this comment — clearly meant to throw her competitors off the heavily-vacuumed scent:

Jeff, this is definitely NOT in the energy corridor! I’m sticking with Nassau Bay – I know it’s a total WAG, but all that blue tells me they were inspired by the sparkling blue waters of Clear Lake. I definitely detect a nautical theme in the decor.

I can’t explain why a house so obviously near NASA is not vacuumed with more attention to directionality and linear patterning. That is just sad.

Was her obfuscation effective? Jeff won anyway, but hats off to Karen for stirring things up! (Note: Any of you interested in following in her footsteps, please take note of item 4 in the rules.)

After the jump: The house’s . . . yes, blueish exterior, and the actual name of that near-the-Energy-Corridor neighborhood!

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05/14/08 10:55am

Energy Tower I, Kirkwood and I-10, Houston

A reader asks about some new construction off I-10:

There’s a tall crane setup at the NW corner of I-10 and Kirkwood, next door to the existing Energy Tower I. I haven’t seen anything about that anywhere. Another office tower by Mac Haik Management? Energy Tower II??

Answers, anyone . . . ?

Photo of Energy Tower I: Flickr user Steven2005

01/11/08 11:28pm

Got some extra energy to spend househunting? Join us for a quick look at six homes for sale in West Memorial, in subdivisions huddled at the T-shaped Energy Corridor’s left armpit (between Highway 6 and Eldridge Parkway that is, south of I-10 and north of Buffalo Bayou).

You can visit them all this weekend — or just gawk as we drive by:

727 Last Arrow Dr., Houston

Location: 727 Last Arrow Dr.
Details: 3-4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, 3,051 sq. ft.
Price: $329,900
The Scoop: Lots of 1980s-era wood paneling in a gated community. Three months on the market; one price drop.
Open House: Saturday & Sunday, 2-5 pm

There’s more below the fold!

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01/02/08 12:02pm

Front Lawn of 10926 Leaning Ash Ln. in Ashwood, Houston

This three-bedroom, three-bath, 3,504-square-foot home on a half-acre lot in Memorial is notable for three reasons: The asking price was dropped to just below $650,000 only a few days after it went on the market, shortly before Christmas; it sits on a street whose name Susan Vreeland-Wendt probably wouldn’t approve of (foundation problems and fires generally aren’t the kinds of connotations you look for these days); and its main MLS listing photo features a remarkably bad Photoshop hack job.

What is it that’s been covered over on that front lawn with a hundred rubber-stamp-tool grass plugs? Is it just that the real sod isn’t taking underneath all those pine trees? Or is this a photo from heavy trash day? After the jump: more (presumably undoctored) photos of the house on Leaning Ash Lane.

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