Last month, we described plans for Shipley Do-Nuts’ gimongous “experiential” headquarters, which will allow visitors to drive through the east-side building, watching through their windshields as workers make yeast dough. City Cast reader Robin Holzer was alarmed that, judging from published reports, Shipley seemed only to imagine an experience for guests in cars.

“What I want to know is whether and how Shipley CEO Clifton Rutledge will welcome guests who arrive on foot and bike?” she wrote.

In response, Shipley president Craig Lindberg sent us the great new “sneak-peek” rendering above. He writes: 

"I was happy and excited when a friend recently forwarded your post, 'The hole in the Drive-Thru Do-Nut Plan,' because I share your passion. In short, the answer to your question whether Shipley will welcome guests who arrive on foot and bike is a resounding YES!

"In addition to the amazing Houston history and proximity to downtown, the one thing that most excited me about the Cullen property when I first laid eyes on it was the bike lane headed straight into UH (I’m a proud Coog)! I couldn’t be more excited than I am about the human-powered accessibility of this location which you so aptly pointed out.

"Shipley guests have not traditionally hung out in our shops to enjoy a cup of coffee or a bottle of milk with the world’s greatest do-nuts. Part of this is the generally on-the-go nature of the do-nut business, and part of it is that we can do a better job creating a slower-paced, relaxing environment. It’s something I’m working to change, and I believe embracing our guests who prefer to bike or walk is very important to that end.

"While I do hope the shop at the new HQ is an experience for all and becomes a destination, I also want it to be an integrated and important part of the East Downtown and neighboring communities. I look forward to personally showing you in about a year that while there will always be holes in those melt-in-your-mouth Shipley Do-Nuts, we’re working hard to keep the holes out of the plan."

🚛 Why I-45 is a testing ground for driverless 18-wheelers: Since late 2020, FedEx big rigs equipped with Aurora software and hardware have driven tons of freight from Dallas to Houston, often without a human’s intervention. And last month, Waymo (owned by Alphabet, the Google company) announced that it’s partnering with UPS to do the same thing. Why I-45? Stable weather, a flat drive, loads of freight – and Texas laws that make it easy. (Houston Chronicle)

⚖️ Your QAnon uncle can’t sue to make Twitter let him back on – for now: A federal court has temporarily blocked a Texas law that would allow social-media users who’ve been kicked off a platform to sue for reinstatement – and would also allow the Texas attorney general to sue on the user’s behalf. Tech trade groups argued that the law would stop companies from blocking stuff like Nazi propaganda, hate speech, and disinformation from foreign agents. (Houston Public Media) 

🚢 $15 mill for a 2014 oil spill: Kirby Inland Marine LP, which is based in Houston, agreed to a $15.3 million settlement related to a Houston Ship Channel oil spill caused by one of the company’s barges. The money will go to restoring shoreline and marsh habitat on Matagorda Island. (CBS)

🏫 Help wanted at HISD: Halfway through the school year, Houston ISD, the state’s biggest school district, is still hundreds of teachers short. In case you’re interested: Starting pay is $56,869, and there’s a job fair tomorrow. (KHOU, HISD)

URBAN ALMANAC: YOU'VE GOT KALE!

💸  Regarding Harris County’s Ship Channel Bridge fiasco, John Gladu writes: “The Ship Channel Bridge debacle is worthy of being in Hawaii. They are the grand masters of botched infrastructure projects. Honolulu Rail Transit broke ground in 2011, and is now projected to cost $12.4B for 20 miles of track. None of it is currently in use. It is projected to take another 10 years to complete to the eastern terminus.”

💸 As for the subsidy for that downtown skyscraper with the glass-bottom sky pool, Bill Mintz writes: 

“The subsidies for downtown apartment development were clear when the policy was proposed and implemented. It shouldn't be stunning to anyone. 

“A lot of people were cheering on our leaders at City Hall when this was discussed. If I recall the discussion correctly, it was something like this: ‘We've already subsidized building stadiums and transit and big corporations to move (or stay) downtown, but nobody is living there, so we need to subsidize some jazzy apartments for young professionals who can live anywhere.’

“The subsidies were enacted by a very progressive mayor and city council. The juxtaposition of subsidizing downtown high-rise living with the lack of affordable housing for the rest of the city deserves more attention.”

What’s on your mind? Let us know: houston@citycast.fm.