An indoor park is an awful idea. How do they come up with this ****. That's the kind of fiasco that would make Houston a joke. The best proposal so far has been removing the walls, keeping the pillars and dome and making it into a covered green space and outdoor concert venue. That would be awesome.
I haven't seen any drawings or details about the indoor park idea but I was thinking it could be something like this. http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/home.html
All of these if only and why haven't they proposals are just fantasy land. No developers want to develop an old busted stadium in a bad area into something that there isn't any demand for anyway. Houston isn't calling out for a new hotel or convention center in that bad area of town. There is no good development plan that exists that is viable and that a developer would care about.
Self contained high security domed city near the medical center? Complete with it's own soylent factory? Think of the potential!
Seriously? You can't think of any reason a kid would enjoy an indoor park in houston?? How does May, June, July, august and September sound? I for one can see the appeal for a world class indoor park/recreational facility housed in the most iconic houston structure of all time. For once I would like to see this city NOT turn it's back on its history and actually try to preserve some of its former greatness. If done correctly - with real vision - costs will not be an issue; it should be able to recoup any expenses through the appropriate channels.
How much would it possibly cost to wash and paint it or something so it doesn't look run down. Most people who want to tear it down cite the fact it is an eyesore and it will be expensive to do anything with it. So it must be cheaper to just maintain it better, pretty it up, than tear it down. 29 million was the cheapest of the bids. Some were as high as 78 million.
First of all, its not as simple as just "washing" the building. We're talking about a 50+ year old building with materials that just weren't going to stand the test of time no matter how long it was designed to be used for... there's areas rusting, wood rotting, and the chronic exposure to the dirty Houston air has taken its toll on the overall building. Even when it was "clean" and in use, the Astrodome was never something pretty to look at from the outside. It was the first of its kind, it was impressive in the 60's, its still unique when you're on the field looking up at the lamellar roof... but there's not much happening on the outside that makes you go "woah" anymore. You could always give it a major face-lift... but If you have to change it that radically to make it aesthetically acceptable, and to the point where the "original structure" isn't really as recognizable any more, what's the point of keeping it around then?
People still go outside in the summer because it is fun to be outside. No one is going to drive 30-45 min to drive there,park and walk to the dome to hang out under a roof. You don't put that much work to hang out at the park. Plus, are they charging to get in???
Just give it a minor face lift. I mean spend 1% of what a re-purpose would cost and make it look presentable on TV. If razing it would actually cost 30-80 million dollars, what does 3 million get?
How many people drive 45 minutes to a park? Hermann park is awesome but if it wasn't less than 10 minutes from me I wouldn't visit it.
Considering there already is convention space in Reliant Center and all of the uses for Reliant Stadium I am surprised there hasn't been more of a demand for hotel space. Further hotel and convention space feed off and mutually reinforce the other. If high quality hotel space were very near the NRG complex you might see a greater demand for those.
I'm saying even if the structure looked "brand new"... it still looks dated, and isn't all that aesthetically pleasing.... and you're still dealing with the upkeep to try to keep it looking "good".
I think any empty stadium that sits without a purpose is going to be an "eyesore".... even if its not dirty looking. If the Astros ever leave MMP, and it just sits there un-used and gets run-down, its an eyesore (even though right now, I consider it the BEST sports venue in Houston, by far). Add in the fact that the Astrodome is a 50+ year old building (that was actually built to look "modern"), and its a lose-lose proposition.
What if it were an indoor concert pavilion like cythia woods. That would be something useful. Again have LEDS on the inside of the roof for a badass lighting effect.
There is no demand for high quality hotel space because nobody who wants high quality hotels wants to stay over there.
