Last Chance to Speak Out on River Oaks Demolition Tomorrow

I wonder what was there before the theater was there? seriously, out of curiosity....

I don't mind tearing things down, but not for another copycat megastore (Barnes & Noble or whatever...).

 

I wonder how often the Weingarten representatives had lunch with Addie Wiseman this week. I'm sure it was a nice lunch, a bunch of rich folks sitting around discussing business.

I doubt anyone on the city council gives a damn what the citizens who speak will have to say - they're already deep into the money & contracts world that Weingarten inhabits.

And it looks like, from this, that the center will be granted landmark status just as it's being torn down. I hope I misunderstood that.

 

so they're going to tear it all down then? If so, then that's pretty damn sad. This city already lacks any sort of historical identity so I suppose tearing down what little history we have shouldn't be surprising.

 

??? I didn't realize they were gonna scrap the strip center and theater on Alabama, too!!! Isn't there a Bookstop in that theater?

 

that is sad.....i grew up in houston but never ventured much out of my burb until after college but i really liked how unique it was.

now just great
another starbucks inside another barnes and nobles.

 

boycott $tarbux and bn.

 

The River Oaks Theater is NOT the Alamo. Let the demolition begin!

 

Already done. Starbucks has never received a penny of my money.

 

Isn't that the same place where they have the two starbucks across the street from each other?

How many more do they need?

 

I've lived in Houston pretty much half my life but I didn't really know about that area of town until college. I haven't been keeping up, they've talked about tearing that place down for a while now so I thought it's just all talk. What's the word? Is it definitely a B&N and Starbux???

 

the sad part is that the new development will probably not be pedestrian friendly...just like everything in Houston

 

Yes there is a strip center there - including a pet store-previously occupied by Whole foods. A friend at whole foods told me there were issues with lead in paint and Asbestos material in the building that would have to be remediated-and it made it more economical to tear it down than revamp the shopping center. Unofficial rumor- take it for what it is worth-nothing. The land will be used to it's highest return on investment value.

Sad- because River Oaks shopping center is an attractive -somewhat historic property for a "new " city. I really like that area-unique look

 

I hate to lose the River Oaks shopping center and Alabama theatre too. On the lighter side-- There is some sentiment growing for preservation in Houston- recall in Oct '06- The Magnolia ballroom on Buffalo Bayou- On Franklin- near Club TOC' has gained historic preservation status with tax benefits. The Owner is keeping it rented - so there is income - which helps.

 

Per Jeff:

"Second, the first portion to be torn down is the north side across from the theater. The leaked plans from Weingarten will put in a Barnes and Noble as well as a small center that will include some of the former tenants - Three Brothers Bakery, specifically"

Jeff- have you heard if the area where La Griglia is now will be torn down too? I guess the whole area huh? I know where three brothers bakery is -so that gets torn down- Is that the North side of West Gray?

 

I highly doubt the teardown will go that far east of Shepherd. Jos. A Banks just moved from their old location a further east (but still west of La Griglia) because of the development. Unless they had to spend absolutely $0 on building out the new location and/or got a sweet rent deal, it woudl have made no sense for them to just move into another location to be redeveloped shortly.