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Discovery Park – Houston

Posted on August 04, 2011 by Tadd Miller

I was fortunate to have my family join me on my recent business trip to Houston and we became a daily user of Discovery Green, Houston's "Central Park." It is a must-see for visitors to Houston, especially considering that this phenomenal 12 acre park was created on a site of former parking lots and vacant land. Sandwiched between the convention center, Minute Maid Park, CBD Office core, and the Toyota Center, the park is filled with families, conventioneers and sports fans. A family day downtown happens around Discovery Green with an Astros game, remote sailboats, and a hamburger stand. Our visit included cheering on our home state universities, Purdue and Rose Hulman, in their quest for the Shell Cup solar powered car race that intersected the Green. The water feature and directly adjacent playground were great additions to an already multi-faceted public-space. That evening, a dinner on the balcony of The Grove, overlooking Discovery Green was a nice finish.

Currently, the sole residential project in the area is One Park Place, a 37-story, 346-unit apartment project that overlooks the park. However, the presence of such a park is definitely a step in the right direction to attract more residential development to the area. One of the biggest things missing in many of the urban locations I visit is the availability of open green space and play sets for children. These amenities are key to attracting and keeping families in downtown urban markets. All in all, Discovery Green was a great place to spend an afternoon with the family, and a place that I would like to see us emulate in Indianapolis sometime in the very near future.

Photos

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This entry was posted in Lifestyle, USA West

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The Changing American Dream

Posted on July 15, 2011 by Jake Dietrich

It is no secret that today’s average American household is different that it was when our parents were our age. Back in the ‘50s and ‘60s, over 75% of American households were married couples. Today, that number is less than 50%. The average American household is no longer a family consisting of a married couple with their three children and a golden retriever living in their suburban home. In fact, the growth of non-family homes versus family homes is staggering. According to a recent report by CNBC, in the past fifty years, non-family households have grown nearly 500%, from 7.9 million to 39.2 million. Meanwhile, family households have increased just 1.7 times, from 45.1 million to 77.5 million.

Family households value sheer size more than any other factor in housing. Non-family households are less willing to commute, valuing location and proximity to work and entertainment. The “McMansions” that were the all the rage 10 years ago are beginning to see their demise. High property taxes, daunting mortgage payments, and long commutes have made this type of living increasingly less desirable. In turn, the downtown condominium or full-service apartment is the piece of the housing sector that has seen continued growth in development and demand from consumers. Suburban “Hummer House” owners will continue to keep for sale signs in their yards while downtown communities will have minimal vacancies or even waiting lists.

The American Dream is changing.

This entry was posted in Housing, Lifestyle, News

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Rooftop Gardens Coming Near You?

Posted on May 18, 2011 by Tadd Miller

At Milhaus it is our business to provide indoor space to buyers or renters. However, what we do with the outdoor space is just as important to interior finishes. The downtown lifestyle doesn’t always provide for personal outdoor space, but they can be spectacular amenities if designed and built correctly. The most elusive of outdoor spaces is the rooftop garden. Since we built our initial rooftop on our home in 2000, it has now become a necessity of almost all new construction condominium buildings in downtown Indianapolis. However, even with this open space on the roof, there is still not often an option for a garden. Most rooftops are hard surface, with potted plants at best, without the opportunity to really cultivate such a space.

However, requests are increasing in our market for implementation of rooftop garden plots in addition to just providing rooftop access. However, a lot of issues arise very quickly, specifically the ability to meet the code restrictions, as well as providing for the weight of soil, the vertical transportation of materials, irrigation, tool storage, and the overall aesthetics. Our biggest dilemma is trying to figure out a program for approaching the management and the ownership/rental valuation of these implementations. Internally we still debate the true viability and efficiency of these gardens, however when customers are demanding this as part of their organic and desired attempts at self-sustainability, the market must respond. In the bigger picture, we will be delivering a minimum of 600 new units within urban areas in the next 12-24 months. We’re thinking about how we can provide functional outdoor space accessible to each one of them, with the potential for gardening.

Photo from Care2

This entry was posted in Lifestyle

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Tacos in a Van – Creating Sense of Place through Food

Posted on March 28, 2011 by Tadd Miller

Food Truck MilhausAfter having some great food from trucks in both the US and in China this past year, I really would like to see this happen in Indianapolis. Possibly we could incorporate it as part of the Market Square Area redevelopment, the City Market, North of South, or at least as part of the Superbowl preparation. Indianapolis already seems to lack dining options in comparison to other cities its size. While most people that I know who visit Indianapolis are impressed with the city, the one thing I hear regularly is the lack of a variety of dining options. Although Harry Izzy’s and St. Elmo's have become a mainstay and are great places, they are not meant for every night. For those conventioneers and visitors that stay for a longer period of time, we need to increase these options. One of the potential solutions would be to increase the volume of the street vendor/food trucks within the downtown market.

For those of us who have eaten out of a truck at Pop’s burgers in Oklahoma City, or West Coast Taco’s in CA, it seems to me that if they can do it in Oklahoma City, we can figure out how to do it in Indianapolis. Here are just a few other examples I found:

Houston Chow New York GQ Article from 2009

This entry was posted in Lifestyle, Our Philosophy

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Urban Public Art - through eyes of a child

Posted on March 22, 2011 by Tadd Miller

Public Art mixed use milhausThere is something about the inclusion of public art, that whether subconsciously or consciously adds so much character and vibrancy to a city. Whether or not it makes a difference is often questioned. However, I can tell you regardless of the outcome for others, it sure provides a significant amount of entertainment to my son Ethan, who’s eyes dart to moving flashes, bright colors and anything he can climb or sit on. For him it is not about the definition of “art” but about the variety and interruption of the street that he has to walk. It’s that distraction that you can tell makes him think about something different than what he was thinking about before the piece came into view. Not only does art and music affect how an individual feels, it also creates opportunity for people to communicate with one another, which leads to healthier neighborhoods and cities. Most major cities have natural scenery (think Denver, San Francisco, Miami) that frames the public art in our minds completing a strong visual reminder of a place. For smaller cities and all of those inland locations, the challenge is greater to create all man-made forms of public art. However, the results are equally as important. What better way to promote a smile, a laugh, or simply induce a variety of distracted thoughts than through a strong program on public art.

This entry was posted in Lifestyle

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What cities can learn from retailers (and sea lions)

Posted on January 31, 2011 by Tadd Miller

sealions milxed use milhausIt's too bad that all cities can't have some natural programming for their public spaces and retail areas. The sea lions in San Francisco have that lone distinction. Most cities have to create their own attractions. Retailers have long found merchandising to be a significant part of their sales campaigns and a driver of volume of product. It is interesting to me that cities don’t think more about programming their core just as a retailer does merchandising. These cities want to attract tourists while residents live, work and spend time in its core already. Programming their streets would seem a low capital and affordable way to increase the activity in urban centers. It is amazing the crowd that comes out of the woodwork when the mimes and 20 foot unicycle show up. It would be great to see more cities bring these activities on a regular and recurring basis to their downtowns. The cost is a fraction of the cost of the new buildings they seem to focus so much upon.

Street vendors, actors, and entertainers are part of most of the coolest urban settings I visit. Who doesn’t love off beat sightings and tunes from the Times Square underwear guitar man, the painted statute of liberty mime, the single song (barely) saxophone player, or the 5 gallon bucket, cardboard box and dishpan drummer. Activity, music, colors, personal interaction and constant vibrancy is the hallmark of great public spaces. These things seem easy to replicate, as they are low cost, somewhat spontaneous, and can be implemented at the hours necessary. Add in some good food vendors with unique varieties, hot roasted and caramelized nuts on a cold New York day, or a hot dog and cold drink on the sunny steps of Monument Circle in Indianapolis. It really doesn't take much to make an interesting place.

Photo by Planetware

This entry was posted in Lifestyle, Our Philosophy

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Homelessness in Downtown Indianapolis

Posted on January 19, 2011 by Tadd Miller

Recent heated and contentious debate has engulfed several neighborhood associations that I am involved in regarding the increasing homeless population downtown. The associated litter, defecation, theft, and panhandling/begging has been increasing over the last couple of years. The balance between compassion and self-help is a delicate one, and sometimes the emotional feelings of those directly affected on both sides make the situation seem unsolvable, and it very well may be at some level.

Part of the problem today are the “half-Good Samaritans" participating in the process without understanding the risks associated therewith. Many people will provide food to homeless people, but forget that there are many other social issues at stake. For the organizations that serve the homeless, food is basic and only the beginning of a much longer process. In the long term the independent givers undermine the professional organizations that have programs to help these people reform themselves. The trend today is more empty beds at the shelters as some have figured out they can get food from the food-car drops. As a result they do not have to participate in the counseling they receive or other services to encourage them back off the streets. This has led to strained relations of the residents/business of the area trying to cope with the issues.

As a downtown resident this increasing trend is an annoyance, but we are fortunate that there haven’t been worse problems. Still, I have not really heard of any viable options for adequately dealing with this issue. I do not think congregating the homeless populations in one location is the best solution, as some have advocated. I clearly understand the efficiency gained by proximity and supply and demand, but at the same time it also seems to be a breeding ground limiting reformation of the issues. The former Cabrini Green in Chicago comes to mind as an example of what that can do to an urban area.

I don’t like being in a position where I don’t have at least some clear ideas of options, however I do not know how we reconcile this problem. On any given day I find myself struggling with the right answer somewhere between the NIMBY (“Not in My Backyard”) approach and the need to reform and rehabilitate. I am hopeful that we can work together to confront the issues, respect each side of the debate, and make progress toward keeping our urban core open, safe and attractive for everyone who calls it home or work.

This entry was posted in Lifestyle

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Bicycle Sharing Programs Growing Worldwide

Posted on January 06, 2011 by Tadd Miller

Bike Rental mixed use milhausWalked by a SmartBike stand a couple weeks ago in DC, and then the Millennium Park bike garage in Chicago not long before that, and I've read about the proposed bike facility at City Market in Downtown Indianapolis. MetroBike, LLC, a consultancy that assists cities and organizations around the world in such programs, reports a 49% increase in 2010 in bike sharing services around the world. As a regular bicycle rider for transportation around downtown, I am curious if these bicycle sharing programs will ever be usable for actual business use vs. just recreational. It seems like if enough of these can be placed in the appropriate locations, and if easily identifiable on a smart phone, then when out of town on business, I would likely see myself trying it out instead of foot, taxi’s or subway. I often find myself hoofing it because cabs are full, or the ones available do not look real exciting to step into. Or maybe it’s more likely the fact that I am too cheap to pony up that extra cash for a cab. However, if I have confidence in the location of multiple Smartbike-like locations I think I would consider their use very often. They have to be cheaper and smell better than cabs!

Most bicycle rental places that I have seen are tourist trap locations with tandems and 6 person bikes, but not just normal bicycles. And the rates with these are significant hourly commitments, returnable to the same place, most likely also a place you rent paddleboats or other touristy accommodations.

For residents and business travelers, the other programs seem to work to allow very short usage stints, cheap enough rates to make it worth the consumer’s while, and the locations are easily identifiable. I hope that I continue to see more of these options available, as I think it is a cool trend in the right direction, and the next time I see one of these, I am going to take it on a spin just to test it out and understand the workings even better.

This entry was posted in Lifestyle, Transportation

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Urban Schools Gain Momentum

Posted on August 24, 2010 by Tadd Miller

When the number one excuse to move to the suburbs by my peer group is schools, I get pretty excited when I see articles like IBJ’s Norm Heikens article “Urban Schools gather momentum in Indianapolis Area.” According to one of the experts interviewed, ”Parents who believe they must flee Marion County to find good schools might do as well or better by staying put” (Johnathan Plucker; Indiana University). As the article states, we are not 100% there, and it is not that affluent suburbs average test scores are not still above, however, it appears that urban schools are improving, and at a much faster rate than the suburban schools. What excites me is the fact that there is improvement, and all the work so many of us have done to improve the urban core, some of the final pieces, like education are starting to come together. It is not so much that I am happy with where the schools are, but that we are finally starting to see some signs that the trend is moving in the right direction for the first time in decades. It is amazing what happens when competition starts to enter the market, how things start to improve!

This entry was posted in Education, Lifestyle, News

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Is Driving more Convienient - Update

Posted on August 03, 2010 by Tadd Miller

TWO MONTHS, NO CAR. One drenching bike ride, and one out of the way drop off by a colleague, and this no car thing is better than expected. My wife (and her mother) worried about this idea, literally sending me lists daily of car deals. However, I think she has found it easier than expected. I get rides to about 3-4 meetings a week (not sure why I didn't do this before), and borrow my wife's car about once or twice a week for a half day. Most my meetings flexible, and with a little planning, I have improved my overall efficiency even if I buy a car in the future. I haven't calculated my financial savings, but I know it is a positive number, which also makes Andy happy!

Most surprisingly are the responses of people who talk about it to me. Ninety percent of the people I talk to regarding "no car" start the conversation with "that is so cool, I would get rid of my car except [Enter your own excuse here]." It is not a condemnation, because I will likely have a car again, and know that we are an auto focused economy, but it is funny the very thought that people want to justify to me unprompted and immediately their justification for car ownership. They jump to the conclusion they are doing something bad, even though I had no intent of talking about the topic. Funny how people think but don't act.

This entry was posted in Lifestyle

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Older Posts

07.15.10 - Is driving really more convenient?? by Tadd Miller
07.12.10 - “Third Thursdays” turns to Milhaus by Milhaus Development
06.23.10 - Urban farming is not an urban myth by Tadd Miller
06.21.10 - Baby strollers roaming downtown Indianapolis by Tadd Miller
06.17.10 - Holographics for Real Estate? by Tadd Miller
06.11.10 - Million Dollar Commute by Tadd Miller
06.04.10 - Cultural Trail – Indianapolis by Tadd Miller