Natural gas pipelines key to U.S. energy policy

Today we need a rational discussion on energy policy that isn’t run by a single group or agenda. There aren’t any perfect solutions, because we don’t live in a perfect world. We need to evaluate and manage the risks and rewards from different energy sources; and we need consumers, business owners, energy companies and environmentalists…

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Enforce Houston traffic laws to decrease congestion

Car crashes in Houston increased 67% from 2011 to 2015, more than 26,000 crashes a year. Traffic delays have increased along with the rise in accidents. The delays have very real costs – 61 hours in delays, $1,490 in lost time, and 29 gallons of wasted fuel per auto per year, according to the Texas…

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HOUSTON OFFICE MARKET – 2nd Qtr 2016

Houston’s second place rank in Fortune 500 headquarter locations, coupled with one of the healthiest population and employment growth rates among major U.S. cities, has resulted in one of the most stable commercial real estate markets in the nation over the past ten (10) years. Houston’s population growth, affordable housing and cost of living, young…

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Houston Office Market Summary – 1st Quarter 2015

Relationships in Real Estate HOUSTON OFFICE MARKET — 1st QTR 2015 Houston’s second place rank in Fortune 500 headquarter locations, coupled with one of the healthiest population and employment growth rates among major U.S. cities, has resulted in one of the most stable commercial real estate markets in the nation over the past ten (10)…

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Restructuring among factors shaking up office market

Houston’s office market is still heavily weighted in tenants’ favor. Big picture: The market will continue to soften, even as leasing activity (coming back from deeply depressed levels) picks up. Huh? Let me explain. Last year, we were left with 230,000 feet on the market after the implosion of Stanford Financial. More vacancy is looming…

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‘Extend and pretend’ strategy won’t avoid the inevitable

Office building values have plummeted in value as much as 50 percent since their 2007 peak. The factors causing this decline were many. Fully cognizant of the real estate value implosion and the general economic malaise, office tenants wonder, “Why haven’t rental rates come down more?” Good question. Unlike past downturns in commercial real estate,…

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Parker should start at beginning to improve public safety

J.W. “JAY” WALL III and STAN BURTON Police matters An open letter to Parker: Start at the very beginning Every city, no matter what the size, has certain obligations it must meet before it spends money on nonessential things. As in any household, a family must pay for essentials like rent and food before splurging…

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Houston: You have a very real problem…a crime problem!

By ALAN HELFMAN, J.W. “JAY” WALL III and WILLIAM A. WOLFF Based on the 2005 FBI Uniform Crime Reports (UCR), one can compare crime in Houston to New York City on a per capita basis: In the category of “Violent Crime,” you are: 2.28 times more likely to be murdered; 2.52 times more likely to…

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