HAKEEM'S DREAM COME TRUE: JUDGE WON'T BLOCK SITE PLANS

          Harris County Judge Robert Eckels and Houston Mayor Lee
     Brown agreed Tuesday that they "will not interfere" with
     Rockets C Hakeem Olajuwon's plans to develop the old World
     Trade Center site adjacent to the city's new ballpark into a
     hotel and shopping center, according to Armando Villafranca
     of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE.  Eckels and Harris County-Houston
     Sports Authority Chair Jack Rains "prefer" a park being
     built on the downtown site instead.  Brown initially
     supported the park proposal but "changed his mind" Monday
     after hearing Olajuwon's new plans for the site.  Brown: "I
     think in the best interest of the city that it should be
     developed and free enterprise take its course here.  I see
     the proposed development as being conducive to our interests
     in developing our downtown area."  Brown added that the
     plans are consistent with what he "had envisioned" for The
     Ballpark at Union Station (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 2/17).