Comments for InstantNewsWestU.com

Comment on Residents Complain Matthew’s Market Produces Excessive Noise by Angela Grant

Angela Grant — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:48:55 +0000

Thank you John!

Comment on Residents Complain Matthew’s Market Produces Excessive Noise by John

John — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:29:40 +0000

I am really impressed with your reporting. You have your finger on the pulse of the city and report things that need to be reported in a fair and balanced way.

Thanks!

Comment on Covington Builders Off The Hook With West U. by Resident

Resident — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:19:55 +0000

Great to have the paperwork in place. But let’s keep perspective. It’s paperwork, paperwork from one of our town’s best builders in a town with a clear record of being very sloppy itself with paperwork.

Comment on Students Raise $82,000 For Haiti, Principal Jumps From Plane by Maria

Maria — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:42:41 +0000

This story should be on Facebook or at least able to be Shared.
Thank you
Maria

Comment on West U. Doctor Finds Mastectomy Procedure Helps Only Some Breast Cancer Patients by Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:36:58 +0000

You should not include the personal address of residents. That should be private information.

Comment on Buffalo Grille May Leave Location Near H-E-B by West U Resident

West U Resident — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:38:46 +0000

I hope the Buffalo Grills stays where it is. It seems anytime a restaurant changes location it upsets the restaurants rythm and success. It is my understanding that HEB does not own it’s location, but it has a long term lease. Does anyone know what the situation is with regard to ownership of the property?

Comment on Questions About City Enforcement In Builders’ Paperwork Oversight by W U Builder/Resident

W U Builder/Resident — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:11:14 +0000

What you really want is professionalism on both sides, and the fact remains today, as it always has, that the responsibility for obtaining the Certificate of Occupancy lies with the builder/permit holder.

In short, you want to be treated like a professional, you need to act like one.

One also wonders where the Real Estate agents were in these transactions? I don’t think I’ve ever sold a newly constructed home that the Certificate of Occupancy wasn’t on the checklist of the buyer’s agent.

Comment on Council Reviews Tentative Rec Center Opening Schedule by Angela Grant

Angela Grant — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:15:14 +0000

Dennis, for the Rec Center pool it would be April 12. For Colonial Park Pool it will be Memorial Day weekend.

Comment on Council Reviews Tentative Rec Center Opening Schedule by Dennis Butler

Dennis Butler — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:13:36 +0000

Angela:

Any word as to when the pool will be open for use by West U citizens?

Dennis

Comment on Council Reviews Tentative Rec Center Opening Schedule by George Boehme

George Boehme — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:21:54 +0000

It is really coming together.

Comment on Questions About City Enforcement In Builders’ Paperwork Oversight by Resident

Resident — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 23:22:58 +0000

As expected, with some additional digging, a lot of the fault lies with the city. I do hope that Covington and the others get their paperwork in order, but Covington’s homes are a credit to West U and he shouldn’t lose his license. Hopefully, this results in a professionalizing of our city’s inspection process. It seems like that’s well underway.

Comment on Students Raise $82,000 For Haiti, Principal Jumps From Plane by Susan

Susan — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:50:15 +0000

Great article truly shows a school dedicated to do good!

Comment on Judge Prohibits Assaults On Hans’ Bier Haus by 2520 Robinhood Condos

2520 Robinhood Condos — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:27:26 +0000

Im a resident of 2520 Robinhood. I can attest that a few individuals have intentionally attacked the patrons of Hans Bier Haus with bottles and water many times.

The majority of the residents here like Hans Bier Haus. This fued is between a handful of mentally disturbed residents who cant seem to function correctly with society.

The majority of the residents here are law abiding citizens, and we intend to provide any and all assistance neccessary to Hans Bier Haus in an effort to rid our building and our community of these criminals residing in our building.

Comment on UPDATED: City Says Builders Repeatedly Shirked Inspection Rules by Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 04:04:51 +0000

Regrettably, Mr. Covington is a sub-par builder and a WU scofflaw. Please Google that fact accordingly. His pattern of unprofessional, inconsiderate and illegal behavior is exemplified by a blatant intentional disregard of WU standards, with which the rest of us readily comply. On top of that, he can’t pay what he owes to WU, nor the banks that unfortunately financed him.

PS Apparently, his attorney, Ron Simon, lives in a house built by Mr. Covington.

Comment on UPDATED: City Says Builders Repeatedly Shirked Inspection Rules by Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 04:56:20 +0000

The City’s Building Department has an open file on each and every home from start to completion. I find some fault with the management of the projects by the City. Yes, the builders are at fault, but the lack of record keeping and follow-up on the part of the City leaves you wonder who is running the store!

Comment on UPDATED: City Says Builders Repeatedly Shirked Inspection Rules by WU Resident

WU Resident — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 03:41:36 +0000

What should one do when a builder or contractor attempts to extort money from you? I have heard examples of people who are near completion of a project and the builder/contractor request that they provide more money or face the risk of not receiveing their permits or certificate of occupancy. It sounds like a civil matter but it sure seems wrong to deny someone the right to move back into their home.

Comment on UPDATED: City Says Builders Repeatedly Shirked Inspection Rules by WU Resident

WU Resident — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:56:15 +0000

This article comes as no surprise. People who have delt with Covington Builders say that they cut corners all the time and that they regularly perform work without proper permitting. Apparently, their main office was even flagged by the City of Houston for similar noncompliance and the city forced them to cease use of the building for some period of time.

Comment on UPDATED: City Says Builders Repeatedly Shirked Inspection Rules by George Boehme

George Boehme — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:15:07 +0000

John Brown, the current West U Chief Building Official has been with the West U for a little over a year. He is doing a great job. However I believe West U has had six different CBOs since 2000, so Brown had an unsettled sea to wade though. He discovered that Covington Builders had not obtained the required Certificates of Occupancy for an assortment of the homes they had built in West U going back many years. Brown brought this issue forward to the West University Place Building and Standards Commission with a recommendation for total compliance, and if that could not be achieved a six month suspension of the contractors license would be warranted. At the last meeting of the BSC, they recommended one last attempt to achieve total compliance before suspending Covington’s license. The BSC instructed him to meet with Brown to arrange for compliance with the code requirements. The BSC is an appointed group of West U residents that are appointed to two year terms by the City Council. However their actions and decisions ARE NOT subject to the review of the City Council. And for whatever reason, the BSC decided not to follow the recommendation of John Brown and the city staff to revoke Covington’s license unless he immediately complied with all laws and instead decided to give him another month to comply. As a city councilmember, I want to send a very strong message that we are enforcing our building codes strictly and respond instantly and aggressively against those who ignore them. In my view, that is exactly what John Brown and the city staff did in this instance.

Comment on UPDATED: City Says Builders Repeatedly Shirked Inspection Rules by NG

NG — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:31:40 +0000

There is NO EXCUSE for anyone, especially licensed builders and other professionals, not complying with West U building codes and other rules. However, the City of West U has created the current situation / problem regarding building permits and regulations. Many times the folks in the office are arrogant and just plain rude. Recently I was in for some remodeling permits. Two different people interpreted the rules differently. Finally out of frustration I insisted the interpretation be put in writing. When it came time for the inspection, the inspector didn’t even know what he was to inspect, I had to tell him. As with a previous comment, he just “knocked around” and left.

Comment on UPDATED: City Says Builders Repeatedly Shirked Inspection Rules by W U Builder/Resident

W U Builder/Resident — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:12:12 +0000

Susie is indeed spot on. As long as residents continue to subvert the process themselves, there will be the unscrupulous waiting in the wings to take advantage of that fact. My concern is that all builder’s are being tarred with the same brush here. That is far from being the case. Most of those who build in West U are honorable and understand the benefit and advantages of having a clear inspection process for all the parties involved, as a matter of fact they actually welcome the relationship and requirements because it is inarguable that it leads directly to a better built home for the home buyer. Those who do not, and subvert the process, should lose the privilege of building, end of story. And shame on the residents who are scofflaws themselves and become part and parcel of the problem with shoddy, negligent building practices.