When I first read Alvin Toffler's Future Shock in college I felt change came along at a reasonable pace and I would be more than capable of absorbing and adapting to that change in my self and life. Sometimes of late I must admit I am not as sure about those initial beliefs, primarily because the time to sit and reflect on the continual state of change is at a premium. In this particular column I will be targeting several or important issues, each of which will affect us now or in the near future.
The first issue actually continues my train of thought from last months column and to receive press. As you are well aware, several local legislators along with others throughout the state have introduced legislation aimed at hindering the ability of cities to annex territory. Obviously, Houston is one of the prime targets. While I am not a proponent of unlimited annexation (annexation for annexations sake) and unplanned growth, I am well aware of the impact on cities where the ability to grow has been restricted. Inner cities decay, suburbs grow at the expense of the inner city and significant investments both in infrastructure and construction decline to a fraction of their original worth. Cities are business. Cities are commerce. We need to maintain and use to the fullest our public and private investments. Otherwise we lose our competitiveness and efficiency. We must maintain the interchange of ideas and opinions - the synergy that is a city. The ability to annex should not be responded to in a knee jerk fashion. Annexation, just like any other growth and development activity of the city, needs to be considered as a part of an overall development or business plan for the city - by the city - not by a distant entity which does not have a first hand stake in the process.
Following on the annexation issue, this past week I became aware of a study completed recently for a large, national bank and significant lender. I will relay more information about the study in a later issue once I have had the opportunity to delve into it, but I can whet your appetite by putting forth my understanding of the policy being proposed: the intention is to not invest in projects that encourage sprawl. This bold statement is significant change of such magnitude that development nationwide will be affected by such a policy.
Last months newsletter broke new ground with the first Contractor's Corner column written by Paul Lawson of Pepper - Lawson who is AGC's president this year. We will be seeing their thoughts on issues important to both the contractor and the architect and the importance for us to truly work as a team. One forthcoming column, which I must admit I am intrigued about, deals with why contractors think we architects should receive higher fees. I have definite thoughts on this subject but I look forward to other viewpoints on this issue - especially from those whom we collaborate with most often. Should you be wondering, we have a reciprocal column in AGC's quarterly publication which is distributed to about two thousand contractors, owners, bankers and other professionals. Our first one mirrors one of my previous columns on the issues that face this city in the upcoming elections and asks for the AGC member's input and thoughts. The results of that election will have a direct impact on us all.
Change is about to have a direct impact on AIA/Houston. Shortly after, or possibly even before, you receive May's newsletter, the Chapter offices will have been relocated. We are moving to 3000 Richmond Avenue, Suite 500. Our new space will be in one of the first multi-story office building developed by Gerald Hines and designed by Wilson, Morris, Crain and Anderson in 1964. In the new offices we will have the capacity to conduct large seminars in-house and will have additional small meeting room capacity to allow us greater flexibility to handle multiple meetings. We also do not see this as our permanent home. Our move was necessitated by the new owners of the Innova building who gave us barely thirty days notice to move. We had been told that one of the projected buyers wanted us to day. Obviously, another prospect was the buyer. We will be beginning our search for a permanent home shortly and will keep you informed of our progress in addition to soliciting your thoughts on where and what we target.
And lastly, change has impacted the University of Houston College of Architecture. Last week, the Hines family donated seven million dollars to the college and the university renamed the college as The Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture. Gifts of this magnitude are rare for colleges of architecture. The college now becomes one of only handful of named colleges of architecture in the United States. When you consider the value of architects and architecture to the success of Mr. Hines' ventures and additions to the built environment, his donation is most fitting and will surely be noticed by others who likewise benefit.
