Tag Archives: Astrodome

Time once again for reimagining the Astrodome

Knock yourselves out. Alfonso Hernandez recalled growing up in a little town in Venezuela with a population of about 500,000 people, but still knowing what the Astrodome was due to seeing so many monumental moments on TV — including Nolan … Continue reading

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Checking in on the Astrodome

With the Final Four in town, we have visitors at Reliant Stadium looking over at its unused predecessor and wondering what’s going on with it. The short answer is, not much. The state of the dome and prospects for its … Continue reading

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Harris County ponders a bond election

First one in awhile. Harris County leaders will begin discussions Tuesday about whether to add a bond election to the November ballot. The bond would be a hybrid measure to raise money for roads, parks, flood control, and public safety. … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2022, Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Wait, what Astrodome mural project?

How is it we hadn’t known about this before now? A proposal to repaint the Astrodome with a series of murals expressing opposition to human trafficking was rejected Friday by the Texas Historical Commission out of concern for the 56-year-old … Continue reading

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

It’s time for another Astrodome redevelopment effort

Astrodome redevelopment for a new generation. Nineteen years after the Astrodome last hosted an event, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving Houston’s most famous building hopes to finally develop a renovation plan that will actually come to fruition. The nonprofit Astrodome … Continue reading

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on It’s time for another Astrodome redevelopment effort

Astrodome renovation officially on hold

Not a surprise, given everything that is going on right now. The COVID-19 pandemic upended most aspects of normal life, but this year has clutched dearly to one bit of normalcy for Houston residents: inaction on the Astrodome. For 12 … Continue reading

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Astrodome renovation officially on hold

What’s going on with the Astrodome?

It’s on the back burner for now. A $105 million county-approved plan to renovate and build parking at Houston’s most famous relic has been put on pause since the plan’s most prominent advocate, Republican Ed Emmett, lost his seat last … Continue reading

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Astrodome song

A little bit of nostalgia for you today. Like many of us, Bruce Robison has driven by the Astrodome and gotten emotional. He is of that age — born in 1966, one year after the Dome opened — that gives … Continue reading

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston, Music | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Does the Astrodome redevelopment need air conditioning?

I hadn’t thought about this, to be honest. As work continues on the initial stages of preparing the Astrodome for its new life as a parking and events venue, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo raised questions last week about the … Continue reading

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The timeline for the Astrodome

Work will get started after the Rodeo. According to Ryan Walsh, executive director of the Harris County Sports & Convention Corporation and NRG Park, the final phase of asbestos abatement is scheduled to get underway at the Dome next week … Continue reading

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

That’s the Texas State Historical Astrodome to you, pal

It’s got a marker and everything. More than 56 years after ground was broken on what would become the world’s first domed stadium, the Astrodome is now a bonafide recorded Texas historic landmark. Installed on the stadium’s southwest end, a … Continue reading

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on That’s the Texas State Historical Astrodome to you, pal

Another designation for the Astrodome

It’s quite the historic place. The famed Astrodome will be designated as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark — the highest honor the state can bestow on a historic structure. The marker will finally and officially tell the story of the … Continue reading

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The case for the Astrodome

Lisa Falkenberg lays it out. But here’s the thing: leaders have to balance today’s needs with tomorrow’s. The long view has its virtues. And frankly, it’s been all to absent in the decision-making of Houston and Harris County. Shortsightedness has … Continue reading

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

County approves Astrodome plan

Like it or not, here it comes. Harris County Commissioners Court voted unanimously Tuesday to move forward with the final design and construction of a $105 million project to transform the cherished piece of Houston’s sporting history into what officials … Continue reading

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Dome bash planned

Mark your calendars. Next year, Astrodome lovers will be able to once again take a gander at the stadium’s iconic roof before it embarks on its next adventure. During a mixer/meeting for friends and supporters of the Astrodome Conservancy, organizers … Continue reading

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Bonds on the ballot

Mayor Turner has one more item to deal with this November. Mayor Sylvester Turner is poised ask voters to approve bonds this fall to fund improvements to city parks, community centers, fire stations and health clinics, adding hundreds of millions … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2017 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

No Astrodome vote this fall

This is a bit of a surprise. [Sen. John] Whitmire filed a bill that would force the county to get voter approval before spending any money on the Dome. “It’s a dream and you shouldn’t spend taxpayer dollars on a … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2017, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Busy day in the Senate

They got stuff done, I’ll give them that. Whether it was stuff worth doing or not, I’ll leave to you. 1. Senate bill would let Houston voters weigh in on fix to pension crisis. The Senate on Wednesday voted 21-10 … Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Busy day in the Senate

Whitmire Astrodome bill passes out of committee

Whatever. A Senate committee voted Monday in favor of a bill that would require Harris County residents to approve a county project to renovate the Astrodome by raising its floors and installing parking underneath. The bill could effectively could torpedo … Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Whitmire Astrodome bill passes out of committee

More on the Whitmire Astrodome bill

I still don’t care for this. Harris County Judge Ed Emmett voiced concern Tuesday that a bill filed by a veteran state senator jeopardizes the county’s plan to revitalize the Astrodome, adding that county representatives would continue to try to … Continue reading

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

We don’t need another vote on the Astrodome

Not for this we don’t, anyway. Less than five months ago, the future of the Astrodome seemed to be more secure than it has been in the decades since it hosted its last Astros game, with Harris County commissioners moving … Continue reading

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Astrodome gains antiquities status

Nice. The aging behemoth billed as the Eighth Wonder of the World has joined the revered ranks of the Alamo and State Capitol as an honored historical site. Just days before a crowd of more than 70,000 files past for … Continue reading

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Astrodome architects chosen

For the first phase. Harris County commissioners on Tuesday chose Kirksey Architecture to design a project to retrofit the Astrodome by raising its floor and installing parking spaces underneath. Commissioners designated the Houston-based firm as their top pick to conduct … Continue reading

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

No Astrodome laser light show for the Super Bowl

Alas. Organizers have nixed a proposal to use high-tech lasers to project dazzling images of Houston’s culture and history onto and through the roof of the Astrodome during Super Bowl LI. Harris County Judge Ed Emmett said the NFL turned … Continue reading

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on No Astrodome laser light show for the Super Bowl

Commissioners Court approves Astrodome parking plan

Here we go. Harris County commissioners approved the first piece of a $105 million plan to transform the stadium into part parking garage and part event space for things like concerts and trade shows. After years of indecision, advocates for … Continue reading

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Commissioners Court approves Astrodome parking plan

The Astrodome parking proposal is about to get real

Here it comes. Harris County commissioners are poised to make their largest investment yet in the Astrodome’s future next week. They are slated to vote on the first piece of a $105 million plan to raise the ground level two … Continue reading

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Astrodome parking plan coming

Better get ready. Harris County officials on Friday unveiled a $105 million plan to raise the floor of the Astrodome and build two new levels of parking beneath it, the strongest signal yet that the county plans to maintain and … Continue reading

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Hey, look, it’s another Astrodome proposal

Meet A-Dome Park. A Houston architect is touting a new idea for the Astrodome’s overhaul, urging the county to avoid an indoor park concept and instead strip the structure down to its bones. The concept, dubbed “A-Dome Park,” is being … Continue reading

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

A way to use the Astrodome while we figure out what to do with it

How does a Super Bowl light show grab you? The future of the Astrodome still might be in the dark, but that doesn’t mean the iconic building can’t return to the spotlight for at least a few minutes. A pair … Continue reading

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

State of the county 2016

This year’s theme is cooperation and meeting challenges. In his ongoing effort to revive the Astrodome, Harris County Judge Ed Emmett on Tuesday proposed using the aging landmark for an outdoor light show when Houston hosts the Super Bowl next … Continue reading

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Under the Dome

The latest plan to save the Dome takes a step forward. Harris County Commissioners Court moved forward on Tuesday with one piece of the Astrodome revival that needs to happen whether or not the park plan is achieved, according to … Continue reading

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Chron on the El Franco Lee successor selection process

First, a lamentation. Not even a month has passed since Sylvester Turner was sworn in as Houston’s new mayor, and already the next election cycle is just around the corner. Early voting for party primaries is about a month away, … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Highlighting wages in the Mayor’s race

From the inbox: Coalition Calls on Next Mayor to Raise Minimum Wage for Publicly Funded Projects Today, a coalition of community and labor organizations staged a tour of of sites that received tax dollars to tell the story of how … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Katrina, ten years after

Hurricane Katrina made landfall ten years ago this weekend. The Chron looks at the role Houston played in the aftermath, and the changes that resulted. Before and after Katrina’s Aug. 29 landfall as a strong Category 3 storm, more than … Continue reading

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Katrina, ten years after