River Oaks update: Weingarten puts tape on the mouths of nearby residents

Today's online article in the River Oaks Examiner further shows that Weingarten Realty Investors is continuing its murky stance about what's going on at the River Oaks Shopping Center.

It started as a meeting of concerned homeowners who live on Brentwood Drive, just north of the River Oaks Shopping Center, and ended with about the same statement that Weingarten has been notorious for dropping - "We did give them an update on where we were,” he said. “But I told them this is all preliminary, and when we do have final plans, we will let the public know.” This particular meeting had to do with the plans of a garage that would abut properties on Brentwood Dr., as laid out in (unconfirmed/quasiconfirmed...heck, no one knows!) plans of the River Oaks Shopping Center redevelopment.

So what's the update? No one can really say, since Weingarten apparently told them to hush up about everything.

Resident Cynthia Rice also mentioned that "The rest [of the Brentwood folks] are not as upset because they hope Weingarten will buy a vacant home on the corner of Brentwood and Shepherd to save it from becoming a commercial development." Of course, if you look at Weingarten's repertory, it's all commercial.

Rice blamed Houston's lack of zoning for companies like Weingarten to have the ability to construct three storied garages about seven feet from resdential property, but we have the feeling that the disrespectful redevelopment plans for the unique shopping center have less to do with zoning, and more to do with...well, shortsighted disrespectful redevelopment (but we mentioned that already, right?).

We also wonder why the company seems so naive about dealing with the public - could there be something else up some sleeves? Unfortunately, as most know, only time may tell since the voices of many concerned Houstonians (and non-Houstonians alike) can do little to nothing to protect architecture and landmarks in this city.

Photo: Flickr user jeffbalke