2% of Round Rock ... (Houston, Austin, Center: new home, subdivision, live in)

[RGV]

.... the other 98% of it is uncontrolled growth and sprawl filled with walmarts, targets, best buys, home depots, strip centers, outlets, gas stations, walgreens, cookie cutter houses and streets that don't seem to fit together. It left this Houstonian with wonder and awe. Finally, I found an area that put Houston to shame.

However, I was able to find its very small heart, still beating (barely).














And the rock that gave Round Rock its name:














And the DT:



























































Adios


...

[love roses]

I like these. And I'm glad you took pictures of the homes around the downtown, since all I hear about Round Rock is how cookie cutter it is. And I see this stuff everytime I go through there

[booz30]

great pictures

[achtungpv]

I wonder if you polled RR citizens, how many would know that this part of the city existed? 20%?

[libbykt]

These are great pictures. The first time we went to Austin, we drove out to RR just to check it out. We used the "City Center" option on our navigation system, so this is exactly where we ended up. We never even saw the new homes and developments and shopping centers except for what we could see from the highway when we were trying to get on and off driving in circles(even with, or especially with, our navi!). I loved the area, but I couldn't quite believe that we were in the subdivision city we had heard so much about!

[Rose Red]

I go downtown every Friday morning to take my daughter to story time at the Library. It really is as quaint as the pictures you took. Unfortunately I heard a rumor that some changes may be made to make it more pedestrian friendly and to bring more shops downtown.

[jwb123]

how many would know that this part of the city existed?

How could you live in RR and NOT know?

Unfortunately I heard a rumor that some changes may be made to make it more pedestrian friendly and to bring more shops downtown.

UNfortunately?? Making a "city center" more walkable is what most towns should strive for. Bring locally owned shops to it's core, have a place for families to safely walk around - parks, restaurants, locally owned businesses.... it's a GOOD thing and responsible growth! Right now, the "city center" is basically dead. Preserving it (they aren't planning on bulldozing it), bringing it back, and making it more attractive for people to visit, and businesses to prosper is not an "unfortunately".

[RND]

Originally Posted by achtungpv

I wonder if you polled RR citizens, how many would know that this part of the city existed? 20%?

You must be kidding. It is our DOWNTOWN, not some remote little nook

[love roses]

I think he's saying that lots of people move to Austin and people steer them to only see South Austin, or West Austin and all those people hear about Round Rock is that it's row after row of Big Box and starter homes. They neglect to tell them that there actually is a downtown with cute houses around it, so they move here without doing a little footwork to see for themselves and keep perpetuating the stereotype

I also think it's great that they want to expand it, especially if they keep with the original architecture. I have a hard time believing it's "dead", especially since every time I go there, it's packed to the gills with cars. But I do think that the resturaunts may struggle a bit, since most people tend to go to the chain resturaunts more often. We've eaten out downtown RR, and it's been a good experience every time.

[TexasHorseLady]

I've seen it often, being a fan of Louisiana Longhorn. (Just wish they still served breakfast - it was wonderful!) And I don't live in Round Rock, but know about downtown.