Welcome to the AstroJungle

The Chronicle reported this weekend on the current state of the former AstroWorld site — and it's not too good: The site's new owner, Angel-McIver Interests of Conroe, has been cited by the city for letting the 104 acres become overgrown. Angel-McIver last week was given 30 days to clean up the site or face a city cleanup bill and a fine of up to $1,500; officials with the company blamed the recent rainy weather. "It's been too wet to mow," Michael McIver, president of Angel-McIver, said. "As soon as the weather clears up, we will mow it."

The AstroWorld site was cleared early last year and was sold to Angel-McIver last May for $77 million. Since then, McIver said the company has mowed the site twice, and HPD Neighborhood Protection Corps spokesman Norris Davis said the city knows Angel-McIver has been keeping it up. Nevertheless, the corps has to issue citations when grass and weeds get so high that they might harbor pests. "When you have high weeds, you are making a breeding ground for mosquitoes, and snakes can live in there, and rats," corps spokeswoman Jodi Silva said. "It's just a potential health hazard." Angel-McIver apparently thought about putting the property to short-term use while it makes development plans, but the best use they could come up with was parking — the highest and best use for any plot of land in Houston. Fortunately, the cost of paving even part of the 105 acres was too high. "The short-term use was not economically feasible," McIver told the Chronicle.

The company said last year it plans to build a transit-oriented development, including housing, offices, stores and a hotel, on the site. Plans are expected to be released Aug. 1.

- The Chron also has a story about the AstroWorld pedestrian bridge over 610, which was the first privately owned highway bridge in the U.S. Who knew?