Ed's gotta pay for his $1.1 million Rice Village home somehow.

He is lining his pockets with one hand and wiping his ass with County Astrodome operating money with the other hand.

The fact that the Astrodome is still standing and wasting Harris County money pisses me off way more than Sumlin or Aggie football can make me.

Wtf does his home have to do with anything? You think he just moved there or something?

Looks more like a humpback whale flying over the dome.

What did Emmett do before politics to accumulate his wealth?

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What did Emmett do before politics to accumulate his wealth?

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He is a transportation "consultant" and expert. Made tons consulting . And ,of course, that was that $600/month state rep gig.......

Just another get rich at the public trough guy....

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http://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2016/01/26/135536/harris-county-will-study-building-a-parking-lot-under-astrodome-as-part-of-its-repurposing/

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I'd love to know how much total money has been wasted on "studies/plans" for the Dome. All of which will never happen.

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It isn't wasted money if it is used to buy political campaign contributions.
/politics

http://www.chron.com/houston/article/New-Astrodome-concept-would-turn-the-landmark-8196601.php

http://www.adomepark.org/

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Looks like the ultimate quinceanera destination.

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Wait a minute...You're on to something here.

The pinata possibilities are endless.

How much will it cost to provide A/C for an open structure like that?

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Richards' concept, by contrast, would transform the dome and the surrounding parking lots into a 40-acre outdoor park, placing underground parking under the structure. The hope is that the green space would bring the same economic success that Discovery Green has ushered into downtown.

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Discovery Green, while certainly a great asset, didn't usher economic success into downtown. Being the CBD for the 4th largest city in the country and the energy capital of the world ushered success into downtown.

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How many times do voters have to vote to tear it down before that happens?

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Fact: There has NEVR been a vote to tear it down The vote for FOR or AGAINST a redevelopment proposal. Not a single word about tearing anything down. People ASSUMED that a NO vote sealed the Dome's fate but that may or may not be the case.

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Richards' concept, by contrast, would transform the dome and the surrounding parking lots into a 40-acre outdoor park, placing underground parking under the structure. The hope is that the green space would bring the same economic success that Discovery Green has ushered into downtown.

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Discovery Green, while certainly a great asset, didn't usher economic success into downtown. Being the CBD for the 4th largest city in the country and the energy capital of the world ushered success into downtown.

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Well, Houston has been the fourth largest city and energy capital of the world for the last 25 years. The downtown resurgence has been in the last ten. What changed?

Obviously, there was increased investment downtown (plus friendly tax incentives), but I think it's disingenuous to dismiss the park's role in this. It was a great decision to build it, and its always crowded with people whenever I'm there. Id say it is a rousing success.

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How many times do voters have to vote to tear it down before that happens?

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Fact: There has NEVR been a vote to tear it down The vote for FOR or AGAINST a redevelopment proposal. Not a single word about tearing anything down. People ASSUMED that a NO vote sealed the Dome's fate but that may or may not be the case.

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Since the voters have voted NO to a redevelopment plan for the dome, what exactly needs to be done to get a vote FOR or AGAINST tearing down the dome?

Do we need a petition to get something on a ballot? Does a city councilman/county commisioner have to propose a movement?

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How many times do voters have to vote to tear it down before that happens?

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Fact: There has NEVR been a vote to tear it down The vote for FOR or AGAINST a redevelopment proposal. Not a single word about tearing anything down. People ASSUMED that a NO vote sealed the Dome's fate but that may or may not be the case.

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Since the voters have voted NO to a redevelopment plan for the dome, what exactly needs to be done to get a vote FOR or AGAINST tearing down the dome?

Do we need a petition to get something on a ballot? Does a city councilman/county commisioner have to propose a movement?

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I don't believe that there is a petition mechanism for the county. There is one for the city but the Dome is county owned. I suggest that you lobby your County Commish or go speak to the Commish Court on Tuesdays.

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Richards' concept, by contrast, would transform the dome and the surrounding parking lots into a 40-acre outdoor park, placing underground parking under the structure. The hope is that the green space would bring the same economic success that Discovery Green has ushered into downtown.

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Discovery Green, while certainly a great asset, didn't usher economic success into downtown. Being the CBD for the 4th largest city in the country and the energy capital of the world ushered success into downtown.

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Well, Houston has been the fourth largest city and energy capital of the world for the last 25 years. The downtown resurgence has been in the last ten. What changed?

Obviously, there was increased investment downtown (plus friendly tax incentives), but I think it's disingenuous to dismiss the park's role in this. It was a great decision to build it, and its always crowded with people whenever I'm there. Id say it is a rousing success.

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Actually the downtown resurgence started in 2000 when they built Enron field downtown, that is when the bars and restaurants started popping up, then the lofts being built and Toyota center.

I remember when the only people you would see downtown after 5pm would be those going to the Theater district and eating at Birraporettis.

Discovery Green wasn't built until 2008, but I definitely think it has been a plus to downtown.

A 1999 NYT article:

http://www.nytimes.com/1999/05/16/travel/american-cities-downtown-houston-gets-a-makeover.html?pagewanted=all

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two funny things about this one: 1) looks like they are overlooking an entirely flooded out area 2) the family is white. No way that'll be the main demographic.

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Why do they feel the need to put in a carousel and want to turn everything into some cheap kids area.

Though the look as an outdoor concert venue would be pretty sweet.

Its not like it would be a carnival year round, probably only for the Rodeo. I like this idea overall. It would be way more affordable than all the other weird things proposed like an indoor theme park..

It would add parking underneath, free up more parking in the lots, and be an interesting venue/place to visit once every few years.

this is what I have said for three years.
It gets rid of the subsurface they have to pump out
It gets rid of all the you can except the iron structure , which is were the real cost is
It allows a place for carnival , which frees up parking

I don't dismiss that Discovery Green was a rousing success.. Downtown's economic recovery in the last decade is probably much more tied to $100+ oil than a splash pad and some movies in the park.

I think the City's downtown living initiative will do great things for downtown. I'm not sure it will necessarily be worth their investment, but it things will certainly start to pop with all of those new rooftops downtown. Also with so many more hotel beds downtown, there will be more business for bars and restaurants. Downtown is certainly trending in the right direction.

I wish I wasn't old and lived halfway to Katy as I love the scene downtown. I just rarely get to enjoy it more than two beers into happy hour.

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Why do they feel the need to put in a carousel and want to turn everything into some cheap kids area.

Though the look as an outdoor concert venue would be pretty sweet.

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Maybe they're trying to entice Tilman to have Landry's be the named sponsor. If they were being less shameless, the renderings would have just plopped a neon blue ferris wheel in the middle.

Yea, I agree it's not all on the park. But I believe parks/convention center/hotels/bars/restaurants are all multipliers off of each other. The park has been a success, and it just adds overall to the downtown scene.

Back to the dome plan. I like this one, hopefully this cost estimate is reasonable. I believe they said before it was $60mil to tear it down. So for an extra $100mil we get to keep the structure and get park use out of it and still add parking? I think this is the first plan that makes sense.

Plus I'm a structural engineer, so I really like idea of preserving the structure as a show piece.