Demolition crew is at work reducing it to dust today.

Milwaukees Best Light said:

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I wonder what the odds are on the high speed rail actually being completed and taking at least one paying customer. +25000?

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Texas is better than California so we'll probably get it running to Huntsville, maybe to Madisonville.

Bless the poor soul who had to sweep the homeless out.

Have they purchased any land between the northwest mall and the first stop?

I think the answer is no.

plus all the flyovers that have to be built

at the beltway, 1960, 2920, grand parkway, 105, etc..,

CW Griswold said:

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FSD technology is advancing fast and should make many mass transit projects unnecessary in the future. Trains are extremely expensive and outdated, but projects like this should do a good job of enriching politically connected people.

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this has where my thoughts have evolved. create long haul FSD only lanes with minimal on/off ramps.

Furlock Bones said:

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CW Griswold said:

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FSD technology is advancing fast and should make many mass transit projects unnecessary in the future. Trains are extremely expensive and outdated, but projects like this should do a good job of enriching politically connected people.

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this has where my thoughts have evolved. create long haul FSD only lanes with minimal on/off ramps.

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If it goes anything like HOV lanes, 1/3 to 1/2 the people in those lanes wont have FSD vehicles but will hop in it to "beat traffic" and then more people will start to use it to the point its clogged just as must as main lanes with one day a month being completely stopped as traffic enforcement will be forced to set up a checkpoint to ticket the violators.

Oh yea, and these FSD only lanes will be tolled because thats how we roll.

What was the name of the old Mexican night club that was there for a few years back in the day during the golden ages of the tine board? El Chaparral? The crime in and around that place was off the charts.

Before Chapparal I believe it was SRO Sports Bar, which hosted an Aggie Happy Hour and/or watch party a time or two back in the day.

https://www.chron.com/news/article/sro-sports-bar-closes-after-27-years-4307397.php

Oh man, I remember going to the SRO Champions locations as a kid. Such a cool place.

Was wild seeing Northwest Mall completely demolished while driving to work this morning. pic.twitter.com/lgdukcVNpG

— Ryan, Perdido en TX (@RyanLostinTX) May 11, 2026

Lost of memories at Northwest mall. I remember my grandmother taking me there for school clothes when I was visiting and riding on the carousel as a little kid.

Saddest moment, was when Roznovsky's hamburgers closed their doors a while back. Those that know the TC Jester Garden Oaks area.

What's more, someone recently demolished the grain silos off of Hempstead Hwy adjacent to Northwest Mall. I thought they were pretty cool structures that someone would repurpose or otherwise keep standing. Willie Nelson wouldn't recognize the area anymore.

The Katy Beer Gardens people own the Cardiff Rice Dryer next door and have been trying to repurpose the space for a few years now. I saw they were going to City of Katy council meetings to try and get the codes changed or designating it as some kind of special historic structure to allow them to bypass newer building codes. I don't know the specifics on what codes were the hold up but I doubt City of Houston would do the same nor would anyone want to sink a bunch of money on really old aging concrete towers in an area that isn't a popular hangout.

CW Griswold said:

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FSD technology is advancing fast and should make many mass transit projects unnecessary in the future. Trains are extremely expensive and outdated, but projects like this should do a good job of enriching politically connected people.

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Yup...people forget that public transit was built in European cities or NYC out of necessity, not because it made the city cool. I'm sure a lot of locals at the time were horrified, but it was the best option for moving workers around.

Same with train networks in countries across Europe. Made tons of sense for small countries with population density in a pre-airplane age.

Those technologies are outdated now and extremely inefficient from a logistics and cost perspective.

The future won't be bloated centralized projects with a fixed tracks running from a fixed A to a fixed B but a decentralized network of thousands of self-driving cars with market-based pricing and any point A and point B you want.

True, just hate to see what left of our agricultural/rural past go.


The existing buildings on the Property were built in 1958 as a rice processing plant and holding silos. The buildings and silos are all original, giving an authentic feel to the entire property. This rustic, original look draws natural attention to the Property. Along with the authenticity of the buildings, the 130' rice silos provide a potential investor to have unmatched heights for signage visibility in the area.

Apparently the listing agent tried to sell it with repurposing in mind.

Quote:

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Similar product like the Silos on Washington have proven to be a focal point for the vibrant Houston culture The Silos at Sawyer Yards features 97 workspaces for over 100 artists, and it offers retail, gallery, and office space for artists and other creative individuals. The silos complex is home to SITE Gallery Houston, an alternative art space housed inside its 34 rice silos. The addition ofThe Silos at Sawyer Yards makes the Washington Arts District one of the largest arts communities in the United States.

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https://loismedia.sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/JSON:Resimplifi:NAT/f10b9138-f892-4fc9-b9a7-8f3a18022fde-0/fd1a3004518dcb10f260ed1c03002d39.pdf

I just saw a reel on IG that the property and silos behind Home Depot just north of I-10 @ Westview are about to be re-developed into a City Centre type of development with shops, restaurants, and a "boutique hotel". The last time I drove by ~2 weeks ago, the underground detention was going in, so I think that project is truly moving forward. You'll have to go there or to Washington Ave. to get your historic agricultural fix.

cajunaggie08 said:

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The Katy Beer Gardens people own the Cardiff Rice Dryer next door and have been trying to repurpose the space for a few years now. I saw they were going to City of Katy council meetings to try and get the codes changed or designating it as some kind of special historic structure to allow them to bypass newer building codes. I don't know the specifics on what codes were the hold up but I doubt City of Houston would do the same nor would anyone want to sink a bunch of money on really old aging concrete towers in an area that isn't a popular hangout.

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See the Astrodome. Plenty of stupid people who love holding on to some useless relics.

I remember when 1/3 of the compartments exploded, was that the early 90s? Waterwall sounds...different.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DWG3arJmZbq/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

I Am A Critic said:

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cajunaggie08 said:

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The Katy Beer Gardens people own the Cardiff Rice Dryer next door and have been trying to repurpose the space for a few years now. I saw they were going to City of Katy council meetings to try and get the codes changed or designating it as some kind of special historic structure to allow them to bypass newer building codes. I don't know the specifics on what codes were the hold up but I doubt City of Houston would do the same nor would anyone want to sink a bunch of money on really old aging concrete towers in an area that isn't a popular hangout.

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See the Astrodome. Plenty of stupid people who love holding on to some useless relics.

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The difference is the Ed Emmetts of the world think your tax dollars should save the useless relics. I just wish a private investor would find a economically feasible way to save/repurpose them. If not, bring on the wrecking ball.

In the long run rail would be the cheapest option over self driving buses etc. Per google

Rail freight typically costs $0.03$0.05 per ton-mile, making it 34 times more affordable than trucking, which generally costs $0.15$0.20 per ton-mile. Rail is more cost-effective for long-haul, heavy freight, whereas trucks provide better speed and direct, door-to-door service

But we have to pony up the upfront expense of the new rail. And the TSA would screw up any convenience the train MIGHT offer. Plus it would be Spirit Airlines dangerous.

I learned a long time ago this town hates any kind of history. Yuppies want everything new, and just keep the bones of a semi historic district. They'll glady go to the Eastcoast or New Orleans instead.