Impossible-Heart-540 t1_j46jf1b wrote on January 13, 2023 at 2:50 PM

We need more housing supply, luxury or otherwise, a bigger tax base, and more construction jobs are good.

But it’s a hell of a lot nicer to walk around DC or Paris with their height/zoning restrictions than it is Houston - and we paid planners to advise us of this obvious fact, we adopted those guidelines before we even removed the highway, then made all developers (so far) abide by them.

Moreover, its present location is going to be surrounded by the new RIPTA hub, and the Brown Medical school-hardly a desirable set up for luxury condos.

The wise answer which NO ONE WILL DO - is trade this parcel for the one behind Turks Head, or the parking lot at Weybosset and Union, or Westminster and Snow (you know, where all the high rises, restaurants and other urban amenities already exist) and have him build it there.🤷🏼‍♂️

dishwashersafe t1_j46o77f wrote on January 13, 2023 at 3:22 PM

Thanks for the most rational argument against this I've heard so far. I'm not familiar with the 195 commission guidelines or how they were arrived at, but I'd like to learn more. My pet peeve is all the zoning restrictions and yet every project seems to get a variance. Either decide the zoning should change, or follow the rules!

brick1972 t1_j46m8zj wrote on January 13, 2023 at 3:09 PM

There is also the parking lot across from the civic center that was supposed to be a tower (former public safety complex).

Impossible-Heart-540 t1_j46n13o wrote on January 13, 2023 at 3:14 PM

And while it may be too close to 95 for Mr. Fane, that one the city presumably owns.

Dextrous456 t1_j4b2fcs wrote on January 14, 2023 at 1:00 PM

It's owned by the Procaccianti company, the same one that demolished the police and fire building.

smokejaguar t1_j49pqxy wrote on January 14, 2023 at 3:32 AM

>The wise answer which NO ONE WILL DO - is trade this parcel for the one behind Turks Head, or the parking lot at Westminster and Union, or Westminster and Snow (you know, where all the high rises, restaurants and other urban amenities already exist) and have him build it there.🤷🏼‍♂️

Sounds like you put more thought into this than the state did. When I seize power and become dictator, you'll head up the ministry of urban development.