Will Austin lose its character as the area grows? (Houston: to rent, condos)

[socrates1234]

My first contact with the Austin metro was Round Rock, as I came south down I-35. I saw all the big box stores, and said to myself, "Oh no, looks like I'm back in Schaumburg again!(NW suburb of Chicago). As I had a chance to get familiar with the area, I saw that the central core had a markedly different persona. Everything seemed locally based, funky, and unique. I eventually saw that there were two distinctly different sides to Austin. One was a sprawling big-box look that was the same as any sprawl in any metro, same stores, same bat station, same bat time. The other was a pleasantly unique inner-core, possibly more unique and ideosyncratic than any I've ever seen. This core had a strong strain of localism, and was considered by most to be the heart and soul of the region. Now, my question......as the area grows out, high-rise condos dig ground DT,and a national presence, per relocatees and national chains, takes root, how long can the Austin metro retain its requisite uniqueness? Has it already "jumped the shark"? Or can we stop/turn back the inroads these forces are bringing? How much do some of you who have been in Austin for awhile think we have lost here per the changes?

[llkltk]

That's why I'm moving to SW Austin from North Austin. It's ugly up here!

[achtungpv]

Well if those micro-chain restaurants and stores that blanket the 2nd street district spread like a cancer to the rest of downtown, Austin will turn into South Dallas.

[HappyTexan]

It already has. In the past 10 years more chain outfits have come to Austin in droves.
There used to be lots more unique local places. But most folks coming here seem to like the big box and national chains..maybe it's the name familiarity. I prefer seeking out the local places myself but they are getting fewer and fewer these days.

[socrates1234]

Originally Posted by achtungpv

Well if those micro-chain restaurants and stores that blanket the 2nd street district spread like a cancer to the rest of downtown, Austin will turn into South Dallas.

It's right on the verge of it...in 10-15 years, we will be telling newcomers of the days just before the big-box, national, corporate interests took control of the retail and lifestyle infrastructure. And recall fondly how you saw the lasp gasp of the old Austin, along with the last bit of old Austin boomers still active and living in the area in their 50's and 60's....Everytime I go to Eeyore's Birthday Party, I think of how this is the last living, vibrant vestige of the 60's-70's Austin still left, when it indeed was something special. I was lucky to meet up last April at EB with an older character from the 60's, and an invite to a monthly get-together in a backyard near Zilker Park, that has been going on first Wednesdays of the month for 35 years....you bring something to eat, and put a few bucks in the jar, and its a huge potluck...they play acoustic instruments like stand-up bass and fiddle. They have a bell they ring when they make monthly announcements for local movements, people needing a place to rent, and such, and everyone hushes up. Then they sing and talk into the night. I remember this guy from Houston there that fought in Vietnam, talking about space travel, Nasa, Moon landings, and the significance of Kubrick's 2001, under a tent while it poured rain, and a little trio of singers playing stand-up base and fiddle, singing "I love tea".......Most of the attendees were very long-term Austinites, prob going back 20-40 years...It was an unforgettable experience..........this is what I will tell MY kids in my 50's -60's....how Austin still had those old characters left, and how I saw the very end of precious "Old Austin", soon to be destroying forever by the corporate takeover of the Austin metro....All things must pass, I suppose, but my hate for big-box retail culture like Wal-mart and Starbucks is seething, let me tell you.......they will soon have
erased the face of old Austin completely and resolutely...

[nativeDallasite]

Originally Posted by HappyTexan

It already has. In the past 10 years more chain outfits have come to Austin in droves.
There used to be lots more unique local places. But most folks coming here seem to like the big box and national chains..maybe it's the name familiarity. I prefer seeking out the local places myself but they are getting fewer and fewer these days.

I agree. I started college at UT in 1993 and the Austin of today doesn't resemble the Austin of almost 15 years ago.

[love roses]

Yes, Austin will lose some of it's vibe. Look at the Broken Spoke. Even though the developer it was sold to said they won't tear it down, now that it's not owned by a small businessman anymore, what do you think they'll end up doing to it? And downtown RR has it's own unique feel. You actually don't get a true feel for RR driving down I35. or even downtown Austin for that matter. If you stayed on 35 straight on through to San Antonio, you wouldn't get the true feel of Austin. You have to get off the highway.

[achtungpv]

Originally Posted by love roses

Even though the developer it was sold to said they won't tear it down, now that it's not owned by a small businessman anymore, what do you think they'll end up doing to it?

If the developer is from Dallas, it'll be a chain soon. I swear there are more chains from that town...Chili's, Flying Saucer, Fado's, Cantina Laredo, etc.

[love roses]

Yeah, I get the feeling it'll get the Disney treatment or something

[twange]

Originally Posted by socrates1234

All things must pass, I suppose, but my hate for big-box retail culture like Wal-mart and Starbucks is seething, let me tell you.......they will soon have erased the face of old Austin completely and resolutely...

This is happening to America in general. I hate it. If you drive across the country, sometimes you can't tell where the hell you are, unless there's something very distinctive, like skylines, mountains etc...There's always WalMarts, fast-food, restaurant chains, super-sized gas stations, strip malls...blah, blah, blah. I think Austin is still way more more interesting than most other cities of it's size, especially central. I think you have to hope that folks who come here, do so for it's perceived unique personality, lifestyle and amenities(music, art, outdoors, creative spirit, eccentricity, casual laid-back attitude) and not just for the weather, cheap(er) housing, and other generic reasons. If they love the city, they'll take on some of the spirit that older citizens have and can protect the city's heart. Some people say that has happened to SF and NYC over the decades, but there's still plenty of the original "vibe" to those places even though so many social and economic changes have taken place.

I agree, I-35 is a terrible way to experience any city, but first impressions can linger. Interstates are like untreated wounds that become infected all along and around it.

Thanks Eisenhower.

Treat yourself to Edward Abbey's "Monkeywrench Gang". While extreme and probably over-the-top, it's fun to fantasize about putting a stop to unnecessary development and "white-washing" of local culture.