Maybe this should be merged with the Houston doesn't care about history thread. Maybe in a few hundred years the astrodome will be like the roman coliseum.
You know what the existing land use is right? You know what the need is. You know the economics are. You want to preserve the structure. Let's hear something else that fits the criteria and is realistically feasible. It's been 12 years an no "interesting ideas" have caught on for a reason. Sure, they are groovy, but no one will risk their own capital for them and we the public would like to break even please.
They could make it a focal point for a comprehensive "adjustment" of Houston's historical lack of proper transportation -- if it were turned into a major transit hub. But an outdoor park would probably be a good option. I'd imagine it would be a bit of a pain to maintain under the Houston heat, but more parks couldn't hurt. Plus it would offer a great new space for events (like Super Bowl concerts and such).
Why not leave it as is. It is one few historical things Houston has. The first domed stadium. That has to count for something.
There's a difference between the Astrodome and a historic church or something... The thing is an eye sore, will cost a lot to maintain, and takes up a huge amount of space. It was cool for what it was, but I would hardly consider it 'historic.'
How is it an eyesore? You can't see inside of it from the street. It looks like a stadium from the outside, like any other
A transportation hub? Yeah, that's what the Texans and the Rode want, a major transportation hub parked on the grounds of their money makers. A park brings some of the same problems. You are talking about adding crowds, consuming space and parking right next to the Texans stadium. It isn't going to happen. To to mention both of those would bring unsavory elements and plant them on the grounds.
If Discovery Green can work, so could a park by Reliant. It can be public and restricted. It's not like one can currently walk right up to the Astrodome as it is today. Making it a park doesn't mean that would have to change.
I doubt anybody would go to a park around there, other then game days. And even then, people will focus on tailgating and doing what they normally do. Plenty of green space where astroworld used to be that isn't bring utilized as a park.
So does anyone have any idea on what the timeline of them announcing what they will be doing will be?
I just like the park idea better than another parking lot. If they're going to tear it down, put something worthwhile in it's place.
When I said parking lot, I mean, converting the existing dome structure to an 8 level contained parking lot with the integrity of the structure maintained and even enhanced. It would look like The Dome but maybe with a new skin and some ramps. You would preserve the structure, convert it to a useful function, and pay for it with parking fees. There would still be room for an homage like "the history of the dome' in memorabilia and pictures. What makes it of value would be the number of spaces you can get in close proximity to Reliant by stacking them 8 levels high (starting at 30 feet below grade)
^ that might not be the most exciting idea, but it might be the most practical. That would be a lot of convenient parking for events (although, can you imagine the challenge of getting all those cars in and out?), while preserving the structure and appearance of the dome. It's an icon that most in the city would love to keep somehow. There could probably be a whole museum for Houston sports on the first level, with a section dedicated to the dome. Plus, then a lot of the surrounding surface-level lots could be converted to other uses. Although, stripping it down to the skeleton for an open-space park sounds cool, if not practical. The bare structure would still preserve the iconic look and historic architecture that makes it worth keeping.
A place to park vehicles, what a great idea!!! You are a true visionary, Judge Roy Hofheinz would be proud.
Has anybody bothered to study the ventilation in the Dome? If you are going to make it an 8 story parking garage, that is a lot of carbon monoxide.
I think its "far out" too. I kinda like the acid trip aspect of it actually. If it was in California in a place like Los Angeles yeah I'd say its being stereotypically progressive-obnoxious. But in Houston, should replace the symbol of the city's imagination with some more imagination. Just even saying going to "the dome" to do something would even just sound neat again And thats the not overlooked but most relevant part. No one's paying multi-millions out of their pocket for a cultural placeholder sinkhole. Say hello to lots and lots more profitable pavement.
