84Hi 75 / Lo 76
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Volume 71, Issue 153,
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Opinion Destruction of landmark ludicrous Christian Ochoa
A Northerner once told me that entering the state of Texas was like entering a different country: Everyone is prideful and has an accent. That's a bit harsh, but a little pride never hurt anyone. Even though proud Texans can be found easily, there are limited options to show the great state to its visitors, especially when corporate America steps in. On Saturday, the Houston Chronicle reported some Houston landmarks are endangered of being demolished, including the West Alabama Bookstop and, most notably, the Landmark River Oaks Theatre. The Chronicle didn't report an official statement from the realty controllers of the property, Weingarten Realty Investors, a Houston-based company, but tenants of the River Oaks Shopping Center reported the unconfirmed rumors to the Houston Chronicle. The Houston Chronicle reported the first building to be possibly razed would be the River Oaks Shopping Center, located on the northeast corner of West Gray Avenue and Shepherd Drive. Tenants of the area told the Chronicle that a multistory Barnes & Noble could be erected near that area. For the West Alabama Shopping Center, the Weingarten Realty could close the Bookstop if a Barnes & Nobel is opened in River Oaks. For the Landmark River Oaks Theatre, Houston's oldest functioning movie theatre, the Chronicle reported that a leasing agent describe plans of erecting a high-rise residential building in the theater's place to its tenants. Short-sighted plans, perhaps? While I respect Barnes & Noble in its attempts to bring books to the masses and offer a place to study and talk, the construction of a multistory building in River Oaks, an area that already has the marks of conspicuous consumption such as the two -- count them, two -- Starbucks across from each other, is another example of Barnes & Noble's exponential growth around the country. In River Oaks, what purpose does another high-rise building serve in an already affluent neighborhood? Maybe it's another declaration of wealth from its ostentatious residents. The River Oaks Theatre is one of the few places in Houston that offers an eclectic form of entertainment. There are a few theatres in the country that still show cult classics such as Tron, Fight Club, Sixteen Candles and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Besides, there aren't many places that sell vegan cookies and show independent films. It's too early to tell what the outcome might be, but don't be surprised if something negative turns up. Houston has some of the weakest historic preservation laws in the country, and many of the cities' historic buildings can be demolished without a waiting period for public discussion, the Houston Chronicle reported. Despite being the fourth largest city in the United States, Houston has a shrinking number of places that tourists and residents might actually enjoy: Astroworld no longer exists; NASA is too far way; and I wonder if anyone knows what the San Jacinto Monument stands for. Sure, Houston has the Galleria and -- well, Houstonians still have the Galleria. Houston is too sprawled out, and it's a difficult task to offer landmarks that don't include high-fashion boutiques and coffee. But, if anyone looks hard enough, enjoyable and quirky places can be found in this Texas-sized city. Sadly, if a famous and popular theater is threatened, the guarantees of protection for other landmarks and eclectic neighborhoods inside Houston's city limits seem bleak at best. Ochoa, an opinion columnist for The Daily Cougar,
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