went through the renderings, not bad considering all the talk of a parking lot. preserving the history is done really really well.
This is what I've been hoping they do all along. Turn it into some green space while still preserving its history. Hopefully they can get it done.
TBH, the Slattery plan was perfect. However, after viewing this plan, i believe it's a perfect compromise. You wont have the roof but remnants will still be present. The hall of fame idea is brilliant. And the open park area will be versatile and extremely useful. I approve. It will just be hard seeing the roof come down. It is The Dome afterall.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Harris County Judge <a href="https://twitter.com/EdEmmett">@EdEmmett</a> says latest plan from the Texans & Rodeo for future of the Astrodome is "a non-story." <a href="http://t.co/Va7BIWe4Ez">http://t.co/Va7BIWe4Ez</a></p>— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/statuses/487424337142497282">July 11, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> [rQUOTEr]HOUSTON (FOX 26) - Harris County Judge Ed Emmett called a plan commissioned by the Houston Texans and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo that would demolish the Astrodome and convert the area into a park at a cost of $66 million "a non-story." The Texans and Rodeo's proposal, which was first reported by the Houston Chronicle, includes converting the area into a park, much like Discovery Green in downtown Houston. The proposal will also pay tribute to much of the history connected to the Astrodome. "It's really a non-story," Emmett said in an interview with FOX 26 Sports. "Anybody can come forward with their plan for the dome. We've got dozens of plans for the dome and this is just another one. "At the end of the day it's demolition. The Commissioners Court is not there yet." However, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo believes their plan, in conjunction with the Texans, is best for the future of NRG Park. "We at this point see no alternative to tearing the dome down or just letting it sit there and rot, which it's been doing very effectively," said Leroy Shafer, chief operating officer of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. "Let's see what we can do to come up with something that pays tribute to the dome and I think when you see this study, you'll see that it does." Shafer said the plan calls for creating "commemorative columns" that will include plaques honoring the history of the Astrodome that can be sponsored by individuals or corporations. "It really pays tribute to the dome, but it produces a tremendous amount of usable green space," Shafer said. "It produces a park right here in the middle of NRG Park and that's something that we don't have at this point. It's something that's tremendously usable by the Rodeo. It's something that's tremendously usable by the Texans, but more importantly it's usable by all of the other people that come into the grounds. All of the promoters and the organizations that do shows here. It is affordable." Shafer said the cost of the project can be handled through a public-private venture. "We think there's the ability to match public funding on this with private donations and private funding and we think it's an affordable solution," Shafer said. "The Rodeo and the Texans have said all along, if there's something that works for us we'll participate." Judge Emmett does not believe this latest proposal for the future of the Astrodome has any more merit than others he has considered. "I don't think so," Judge Emmett said. "If the decision were to be made to demolish the dome at some point in the future, we'd probably go out and get our own thoughts about how to do it and what to put up in its place. "The dome belongs to the taxpayers of Harris County. It is paid off. The decision of what to do next is a decision to be made by Harris County Commissioners Court, four county commissioners and the county judge. Then if it involves a level of money that requires a bond, then we'd have to come back to the taxpayers and say 'do you approve this bond?' "We tried that last fall. They did not approve it, 53-47(%). We're still waiting for better ideas to come forward." Judge Emmett said converting the Astrodome into a useable facility should not be ruled out. "I still think we need to find a way to repurpose the structure," said Judge Emmett. "It's the only structure in the world that has 350 thousand square feet of column-free space. "The Livestock Show and Rodeo could use it. I've met with them. They said 'oh absolutely we could use it. Put all the food and kiddy rides and things like that in there.' The Offshore Technology Conference clearly could use it. They were way out of space this year. "And the Texans, the fan experience before games, and if could get it done before the Super Bowl (in 2017), think about the week leading up the Super Bowl and the things you could do out there." Shafer said the Texans and the Rodeo will take part in the most significant study yet to gauge public opinion about the future of the Astrodome. "We have commissioned a study," Shafer said. "That study will start taking place relatively soon. It's been commissioned by the Texans and the Rodeo with the Hobby Center for Public Policy at the University of Houston. That's being done with Dr. Jim Granato. It's also being done in conjunction with Dr. Mark Jones over at the Baker Institute at Rice University. "We're commissioning a very valid public opinion analysis. We don't think that's really been done."[/rQUOTEr]
Ed Emmett to announce new Dome plan tomorrow http://swamplot.com/judge-emmett-says-hell-reveal-a-major-proposal-for-reusing-the-astrodome-tomorrow/2014-08-25/
As long as they don't demolish it. I'd love to go inside of it at least once more, the last time the Astros played at the Dome I was like 5.
Ed Emmett has been awfully engaged in publicly trashing and suggesting different proposals without any filter. In particular he has been trashing any proposal that does not include a hotel. Is someone in the Hotel business in his pocket or perhaps he's got a nice gig waiting for him after office?
Same here. I have too many memories in that place, I desperately want to go one more time even if they don't end up demolishing it. I went there a lot with my dad as a kid, he's gone now so it would be amazing if I could go once more. We should see if Clutch has any hookups and can get an exclusive CF tour haha. I heard a few years ago you could sneak in through one of the doors that was always unlocked but I never had the stones to do it.
Saw many Astros games there as a kid, and I like nostalgia just as much as the next guy, but the dome needs to go. The latest rendition looks great to me. Leaving some of the skeleton, green space, memorial "museum" of the domes history. All for it. They're tearing down Candlestick Park for god's sakes, the Astrodome can't even touch a tenth of the history of that park. Let it go.
Well then. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/EdEmmett">@EdEmmett</a>'s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astrodome?src=hash">#Astrodome</a> renovation proposal? Here you go: <a href="http://t.co/cYFDNO4lhi">pic.twitter.com/cYFDNO4lhi</a></p>— Kiah Collier (@KiahCollier) <a href="https://twitter.com/KiahCollier/statuses/504351735406927872">August 26, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I like the Rodeo's plan better. My big question about either plan is the entire property is constantly on lockdown. How will people stroll in and out of a park? Pay for parking at a park? Are these areas strictly for people going to a boat show or something at the buildings on the property?
