Aquarium wants more city land

Update: City Council has "tagged" this item for a week... next week!

You may remember that a few years ago, the Downtown Aquarium leased portions of an old Houston Fire Dept. land to build the entertainment complex.  Now the Aquarium, owned by Landry's Restaurants, Inc., is looking to lease the old Fire Alarm Building property.  According to City Council documents, Landry's wanted to redevelop the land back in 2003 but it couldn't reach an agreement with the City.  The City tried to sell the land, but couldn't get the money it was looking for.  Now, the City wants to enter into a lease agreement that would be effective through 2041!  According to the City Council documents, Landry's rent would go from $150,000 a year to $250,000 a year.  It would require any development to compliment the existing Downtown Aquarium.  We don't know what Tilman Fertita will build yet, but the proposal is set for City  Council approval today.  I have uploaded the specific documents.  Just click on the images to read.

Comments

[Nom]

Haven't we seen enough of Fertitta's rape and pillage scenarios yet? I wouldn't lease, sell, trade or do any business with the guy. That ferris wheel fiasco is an abomination, not to mention the late great town of Kemah.

[Royko]

I appraised that original lease deal in late 2000. Anyone can look at what it was valued at back then by making an open records request for the appraisal of Parcel # LEY1-001 (Fire Station #1) and Parcel # LEY1-001B (Central Water Works). And then send another taxpayer's heartfelt "thank you" to Jordy.

Further, I spoke with someone who made an offer on the recent deal. It is my understanding that the City wanted too much, and there was asbestos to abate. I will be curious to see if the City will abate the asbestos for Tilman like they did for both the FS#1 and the CWW (which was well over $1 million if I recall).

[Sue]

I won't eat at Landry's ever again after that terrible atrocity he built in Kemah which ruined that family's quiet enjoyment of a house they'd owned for decades! I just don't understand how that could have been allowed to happen (personally I think someone got paid off to approve it), and I fondly remember the "old" Kemah and enjoying boiled shrimp fresh off the boats with friends. Good old days, long gone!