12 replies to this topic

[WTx]

Good article on the Lancaster plans. This should be a great addition to DT and will make the T&P Terminal Apts very appealing. Also, might spur some movement with the T&P warehouse. Any news on the warehouse development plans??

http://www.dfw.com/m...al/12274596.htm

[John T Roberts]

No news on the warehouse.

[vjackson]

I was in FW and noticed the ongoing work at the T&P. My question is when the work on Lancaster is completed .... it seems to be taking far to long....I mean how long has the overhead been gone..but as I always say.. it seems things in FW seem to go at a snail's pace...anyway, when the work is completed, will the T&P and its new apts be on the street. It would be nice if they were much closer to the street to make it more pedestrian friendly. With all of the frontage it has now, I'm so afraid the developers will be tempted to put a parking lot in front of the buildings. I hope not!!!

[Sam Stone]

I would not like to see a parking lot there either. I think a circular drive would be appropriate. Put a fountain in the center of it and you've got perfection.

[safly]

I would not like to see a parking lot there either.  I think a circular drive would be appropriate.  Put a fountain in the center of it and you've got perfection.

What's with you and fountains? You would like Las Fuentes.

[Sam Stone]

I would not like to see a parking lot there either.  I think a circular drive would be appropriate.  Put a fountain in the center of it and you've got perfection.

What's with you and fountains? You would like Las Fuentes.

Ever been to Rome?

[safly]

The pizza place? Yes.

Maybe in another life.

Would love to go, and see the Pope, and then take in an opera in Venice.

What is Rome like, any pic's?

[Sam Stone]

Alas, no pics. But there's no shortage of them on the net. Rome is not my favorite Italian city--I suspect that many of the world's largest cities have more in common with each other than they have with the rest of their countries--but it has many wonderful piazzas (plaza to you and me) with fountains in the center. There are other interesting urban lessons to be learned from Rome. For instance, many restaurants have these "outdoor" dining rooms that are actually entirely enclosed and even have air conditioning. But they are in the middle of the sidewalk and look like a cross between a greenhouse and a subway car. Italians also take a very casual view of parking (they kind of have a casual view of everything). They will park anywhere and everywhere: sidewalks, medians, berms, anywhere that you can drive your car/scooter/motorcycle onto. It's actually really refreshing to see people dealing with urban life in such a practical way.

Anyway, Rome: big, and beautiful, and grand, and a must see. But like New York, it's fast paced, crowded, and overwhelming at times.

[renamerusk]

Traveling southbound on Houston Street (DT) now has a new look. The T&P Apartments can be seen. I can imagine that the view from the apartments looking northwards towards Sundance Square and the nightlights/auto will be akin to looking up a "great white way". Should be awesome.

"Keep Fort Worth folksy!"

[safly]

I do know what a piazza is. Not only a ML slugger too. That sounds beautiful. I carried on a related conversation w/ mi tia who runs the kitchen sometimes in my restaurant. She tells me of a place in Mexico City that has a piazza like structure that is mostly spanning brick, very flat and surrounded by local merchants. It is always crowded, I picture Red Square in my head. Supposedly there is a nearby castle, which was built by request of an Austrian king whom many of Mexican nationals wanted to reside there and defy the leaders of Mexico at the time. So the countrymen built him a European-Austrian mode castle. Does anyone here know anymore detail about this? I never kneww that Mexico had such a culture and architecture of many influential POI from the European theme.

She said that the most beautiful state is Guanajuato (homes, architectural influence, countryside, temp, and vegetation). And that the best food hails from el estado de Puebla (mole dishes and native chiles).

Puebla, MX

y

Guanajuato, MX

[Sam Stone]

Actually, the piazzas in Rome that I liked the best were the smaller informal ones. Rome is a city of hills and many of these little piazzas (piazzettas?) are built on slopes. They have irregular shapes and Romans have no problem navigating them in cars sans lane markers, or any kind of traffic signage for that matter. They also park on them if they feel so inclined. They didn't all seem to be beehives of activity. They were just kind of there, just a bit of open space in among the medieval streets.

Re: the Italian attitude toward parking, it's basically a free for all. If they don't want you parking somewhere, they put up small barricades. Once, we were on a bus and had trouble making it around a corner. The bus driver got out, rounded up a couple big guys and they picked up a car and moved it a couple feet so the bus could get by. I was already in love with Italy at point, but that totally cemented it.

Ok, I've gotten off topic. Perhaps urban design in foreign cities is worthy of a thread somewhere else on the forum. With regard to Lancaster, I think Constitution Ave. in DC might be a good model.

[safly]

She tells me of a place in Mexico City that has a piazza like structure that is mostly spanning brick, very flat and surrounded by local merchants. It is always crowded, I picture Red Square in my head.

What is "Plaza de la Constitución (Zócalo)"? I'll take Austrian-born Monarchs of Mexico for $200.

Supposedly there is a nearby castle, which was built by request of an Austrian king whom many of Mexican nationals wanted to reside there and defy the leaders of Mexico at the time.

Who is "Maximilian I"? I'll take North American Castles for $500.

So the countrymen built him a European-Austrian mode castle. Does anyone here know anymore detail about this? I never kneww that Mexico had such a culture and architecture of many influential POI from the European theme.

What is "Chapultepec Castle"?



And to get back on topic, wouldn't Paseo de la Reforma be a great field trip for ideas for the downtown section of Lancaster?


Some links for ye, safly...

http://en.wikipedia....ilian_of_Mexico
http://en.wikipedia....iki/Chapultepec
http://en.wikipedia....o_de_la_Reforma

http://www.mexicocit....mx/castle.html
http://www.mexicocit....mx/chaprk.html
http://www.mexicocit....mx/reform.html

http://www.latinamer...epec-castle.htm

http://www.castles.o...pec-MexicoCity/

http://www.zanzig.co...city-photos.htm

Thanks, but I do know of some of this countries rich past. Way way back stuff. Very interesting how this country so close by can hold so much to discover. I just threw the post out there to try and get some peoples attention and start a Google search or something. Worthy topic to discuss. As for Archduke Ferdinand Maximillian and wife Charlotte, it was a well hearted noble try by them. Though one with grave results. Thanks again g-money and here is another fresh link for you:OLD MEXICO
VIVA Benito Juarez!