Vast sections of Austin are "fugly" let's not kid ourselves (Round Rock: condos, townhomes)

[ScoPro]

Originally Posted by CarnivalGal

Much of that is due to the cable cars (as shown in the pictures). I'l give SF a pass on the wires just because they have a pretty effective and efficient public transportation system. Austin can't say the same. We have wires for the sake of having wires, not to move people efficiently around the city.

Also, SF is a much older and denser city, so burying cables is a lot more difficult. I routinely see COA streaming more overhead cables across open fields.

Really?






It is difficult & very expensive to bury utility wires almost everywhere in the Austin area because of the limestone bedrock that is just a few inches under the surface.

[cBach]

Originally Posted by sojourner77

The OP has some harsh criticism, and has received some back. He has a point though. Austin needs to look in the mirror every once in a while.

Yes, this was the whole point of my post.

South Austin has done a much better job of looking "funky and artisty" despite having some of the same plain strip mall character to start with. For some reason it just looks more "Austin-y".

N. Lamar, Burnett, etc.. kind of look like awkward teens trying too hard to grow up.

Nothing compares to the western suburbs, aesthetically.

I think for me, if the scenery is ugly, it kind of makes my life more drudgery. Beautiful scenery (which includes nature and architecture) makes me happy.

I literally went from a somewhat sad state looking at N Lamar to a happy state to return to the beautiful Hill Country windy roads. This happens every time I have to go down to that area, which is twice weekly. I think this is something I've been holding back for several months now and had to let it out.

[CarnivalGal]

Originally Posted by ScoPro

Really?






It is difficult & very expensive to bury utility wires almost everywhere in the Austin area because of the limestone bedrock that is just a few inches under the surface.

Like I said, SF is a much older and denser city, so I get where they can't bury a ton of cables. Austin also has things out of it's control, which I already said. Doesn't explain why Austin feels the need to string wires across intersections to hang stoplights.

I'm not saying other cities don't have wires too, just that Austin seems to have more than most.

I will go further and say, wires or not SF is a much more aesthetically pleasing city than Austin. I don't even think it's a close call on that.

[cBach]

Originally Posted by MoNative34

That depends. If there's an art gallery, Central Market or a yoga, studio leasing space in the strip mall, that makes it okay.

That seems to be the narrative. If the businesses in that center appeal to hipsters/millennials then it's given a pass. To me, if it's ugly, it's ugly. Just because you're a yoga studio doesn't mean you can't mow your grass or plant some flowers.

[cBach]

Originally Posted by CarnivalGal

Like I said, SF is a much older and denser city, so I get where they can't bury a ton of cables. Austin also has things out of it's control, which I already said. Doesn't explain why Austin feels the need to string wires across intersections to hang stoplights.

I'm not saying other cities don't have wires too, just that Austin seems to have more than most.

I will go further and say, wires or not SF is a much more aesthetically pleasing city than Austin. I don't even think it's a close call on that.

You are correct that SF is much more visually appealing than Austin but you are missing the reason why.

Telephone wires don't make a place look ugly. SF has a rich history and architecture and that's why it looks nice. Austin doesn't.

There's only so much you can do with a 1970's gas station or a corrugated steel warehouse.

A Victorian rowhouse, well anything you do it's still gonna look good.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by cBach

Yes, this was the whole point of my post.

South Austin has done a much better job of looking "funky and artisty" despite having some of the same plain strip mall character to start with. For some reason it just looks more "Austin-y".

N. Lamar, Burnett, etc.. kind of look like awkward teens trying too hard to grow up.

Which part of South Austin?

S Lamar/S 1st literally right next to downtown? Or this?
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.2359...7i13312!8i6656

Burnet doesn't even _start_ until 3 miles out of downtown. It's just historically been more suburban (but is getting better).

[cBach]

Originally Posted by Novacek

Which part of South Austin?

S Lamar/S 1st literally right next to downtown? Or this?
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.2359...7i13312!8i6656

Burnet doesn't even _start_ until 3 miles out of downtown. It's just historically been more suburban (but is getting better).

Your post looks better than N. Lamar sorry to disappoint you. At least the grass is mowed in this and the asphalt parking lots are recently paved. Can't say that for N. Lamar.

For comparison:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/N+...188216!6m1!1e1

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by cBach

Your post looks better than N. Lamar sorry to disappoint you. At least the grass is mowed in this and the asphalt parking lots are recently paved. Can't say that for N. Lamar.

For comparison:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/N+...188216!6m1!1e1

You can't?

https://www.google.com/maps/@30.3065...7i13312!8i6656

[sojourner77]

Originally Posted by Novacek

Which part of South Austin?

S Lamar/S 1st literally right next to downtown? Or this?
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.2359...7i13312!8i6656

Burnet doesn't even _start_ until 3 miles out of downtown. It's just historically been more suburban (but is getting better).

That is right next to the Ben White/Mopac interchange - probably the worst looking part of S.Lamar.


That said - your photo shows a Wheatsville Co-op (very Austin-y grovery store), The Park on South Lamar (upscale dining) and part of Pinthouse Pizza (PHP) which is my favorite pizza pub in the city (4.5 on Yelp)

[cBach]

Originally Posted by Novacek

You can't?

https://www.google.com/maps/@30.3065...7i13312!8i6656

We were talking north of Koenig.