Wonder or eyesore?

More shaky plans for the Astrodome: What should be done with the ex "EighthWonder of the World"?

Cairo has the Pyramids. Paris has the Eiffel Tower. London boasts of Big Ben while St. Louis touts the Gateway Arch.

Houston has a signature symbol, too — the Astrodome — but we don't know what to do with it.

Ever since Bud Adams abandoned the Astrodome, taking his Oilers to Nashville in 1996, and the Astros followed a few years later with their own move to a downtown stadium, Harris county officials have tried to figure out what to do with the structure that, depending who you're talking to is either:

a) a symbol of Houston's glorious history, or

b) a costly white elephant.

The latest scenario, released today, is a $1.35 billion plan to convert the dome into a convention and science center as part of a redevelopment plan that would add a 1,500-room hotel and demolish Reliant Arena. But it would require voter approval for up to $900 million in taxpayer financing, so the odds of it happening anytime soon falls somewhere between slim and none.

The plan is one of three options commissioned by Harris County Commissioners Court, which is responsible for upkeep of the dome. I've always been partial to the concept of turning the dome into a movie studio, although I'm not sure how feasible it is, either.

It would cost $128 million to demolish the dome and create an outdoor plaza. And doing nothing costs nearly $5 million a year, for debt and interest payments, insurance, and maintenance, as the building crumbles.

It's a quandary. How much is Houston history worth? Any ideas on what we should do with the dome?

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In Memoriam

Legendary Texas singer-songwriter Joe Ely dies at 78

Joe Ely/Facebook

Joe Ely was a major figure in Texas' progressive country scene.

Joe Ely, the legendary songwriter, singer and storyteller whose career spanned more than five decades, has died from complications related to Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and pneumonia. He was 78.

In a statement posted to his Facebook page, Ely died at his home in Taos, New Mexico, with his wife, Sharon, and daughter, Marie, at his side.

Born February 9, 1947, in Amarillo, Texas, Ely was raised in Lubbock and became a central figure among a generation of influential West Texas musicians. He later settled in Austin, helping shape the city’s reputation as a hub for live music.

As with many local legends, it's hard to tease out what specifically made Ely's time in Austin so great; Austin treasures its live music staples, so being around and staying authentic from the early days is often the most important thing an artist can do.

Ely got his local start at One Knight Tavern, which later became Stubb's BBQ — the artist and the famous venue share a hometown of Lubbock. He alternated nights with emerging guitar great Stevie Ray Vaughn. He built his own recording studio in Dripping Springs, and kept close relationships with other Texas musicians. Later in his career, Ely brought fans into the live music experience, publishing excerpts from his journal and musings on the road in Bonfire of Roadmaps (2010), and was inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame in 2022. Austin blues icon Marcia Ball was among Ely's friends who played the induction show.

"Joe Ely performed American roots music with the fervor of a true believer who knew music could transport souls," said Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

In the 1970s, Ely signed with MCA Records, launching a career that included decades of recording and touring around the world. His work and performances left a lasting impact on the music scene and influenced a wide range of artists, including the Clash and Bruce Springsteen, according to Rolling Stone.

"His distinctive musical style could only have emerged from Texas, with its southwestern blend of honky-tonk, rock & roll, roadhouse blues, western swing, and conjunto. He began his career in the Flatlanders, with fellow Lubbock natives Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock, and he would mix their songs with his through 50 years of critically acclaimed recordings. [...]"

Read the full story at KVUE.com. CultureMap has added two paragraphs of context about the Austin portion of Ely's career.

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