Austin's urban growth.... (Houston, Dallas, San Antonio: condo, home, neighborhoods)

[mesmer]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

Is Austin planning on developing itself into a major city?

I'll leave the value judgments out of it and just answer the question.

[A-Tex]

Originally Posted by Austinite76

No. Your post was that last screeching sound that made me start an account.

Much like the phrase "like the west coast"

I'm sure it appeals to you. You don't even know where Opal Divine's or Doc's were. You don't see the corner of Rainey and Driskill and look up at the soulless behemoth while remembering the Pearl and the first dates you had there. You don't remember when ACL was a thing with a mystery lineup that you bought tickets to regardless. You don't know what Devil's Cove was. You never went to Polvos on a whim on a Friday night with your girl and just got wasted on Mexican martinis and queso, without a 45 min wait. You never parked by the Pennybacker and hiked alone without a million DB's taking selfies along the way. You don't remember when dirty 6th wasn't dirty. And west 6th didn't exist. You don't know what it looked like to see the Capitol building the entire drive up 35, back when it moved.


Those are all pieces of the real Austin that are gone to lure scrapadactyls like you in.

The money may win in the end, but there's plenty of soul left to fight it.

Plus one million. Nothing better than someone from somewhere else who's obsessed about Austin for years telling us how we need to change to fit the image of what they think we should be (an image that's basically modeled on the place they're fleeing.)

[Rynldsbr]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

... Austin ...is planning to really change up the cityscape at all? You guys have nature and parks on lock. The city is beautiful and I would move to the city for the natural landscape alone, but as far as the city itself I did find it a little lacking. Now before I get pelted for saying that I am just curious as to what the plans are for transforming the city into something bigger and better? ....
No. Yes. No plans for transformation. Austin will go into the future kicking and screaming, hoping the growth will stop, the housing bubble will pop, and we can all go back to 1990.
Yet, is the city planning on adding some world class museums, theater, opera? I didn't really see a lot of fine dining, or upscale shopping areas. Does Austin have a River Oaks or Beverly Hills? Is the city just not interested in that? I figured it was taking a page from Dallas and becoming upscale.
No. No. More No.
I guess the reason I am asking is that I am torn between Houston and Austin to make my final decision on where I'll move to in the next month. I have the option of both and I can afford both cities.
I love the natural landscape and the hip tech scene which reminded A LOT of the Bay Area (minus SF) but I like the cityscape of Houston a bit more. If I could combine the two, I would have the perfect city but alas life is a series of trade-offs.

Is Austin planning on developing itself into a major city?

I've only been here a couple years and regularly get blasted for my opinions regarding Austin. I think you are generally correct but should add that when I posted similar views on the entertainment and culture I was crucified while being lectured on the many options for culture that are apparently available but not widely advertised. It would almost seem there is a subculture reserved for the long-term residents that part of the "in crowd". They keep these things under wraps while Austin promotes itself as weird (it isn't anymore) and the Live Music Capital of the World (it isn't) and lets the true arts dally along without full city/regional support.


Having seen your posts and remembering a little, I propose you will be happier in Houston and can make regular visits to Austin for the particular aspects you enjoy.

[A-Tex]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

The creative parts of Austin didn't seem world's apart different to me from Montrose and The Heights in Houston. Sure I will give you that they're still different and that is the appeal. The slacker past will probably never be shed and the city will look more and more like the Bay Area in my opinion. It looks great so far and I only wanted to say that Austin is doing a fantastic job with it's growth while maintaining a semblance of it's past. I don't see the big deal in the development. I don't see it being corporatized like Dallas, and I think you're underselling Houston a bit. It has it's eclectic spots.

I think the growth is different than Dallas and Houston in that I find it reminds me more of the West Coast. So I don't see what the gripe is. Isn't it developing in a way that appeals to y'all? I was just wondering if the plans for the city were to continue this trend. Does it bother you that it could grow into something bigger, better and unique?

Also, are you saying you started a sock puppet account to bash the thread?

Please move to Houston. You'll fit right in.

[ClaraC]

I love this thread. Thank you, Austinites for very eloquently stating what Austin is about.

OP - basically, your first post was "Man this place is GORGEOUS! Now can we please turn it in to Dallas?"

Thank y'all for answering back, no, thank you.

[A-Tex]

Originally Posted by Rynldsbr

I've only been here a couple years and regularly get blasted for my opinions regarding Austin. I think you are generally correct but should add that when I posted similar views on the entertainment and culture I was crucified while being lectured on the many options for culture that are apparently available but not widely advertised. It would almost seem there is a subculture reserved for the long-term residents that part of the "in crowd". They keep these things under wraps while Austin promotes itself as weird (it isn't anymore) and the Live Music Capital of the World (it isn't) and lets the true arts dally along without full city/regional support.


Having seen your posts and remembering a little, I propose you will be happier in Houston and can make regular visits to Austin for the particular aspects you enjoy.

Perhaps if you actually lived in Austin, you'd know that the cultural events you claim are never promoted are actually heavily promoted and not inaccessible. They're around us every single day. Like the symphony you claimed doesn't exist that's actually been around over 100 years. Or the opera you claimed didn't exist that's been around for over 30 years. Your ignorance to even the most basic cultural amenities offered to the citizens of Austin doesn't reflect on their "lack of promotion." Five seconds on this new fangled thing called the internet allows even the most culturallly sheltered person access to discovering all that's available here.

[JJG]

Originally Posted by ClaraC

I love this thread. Thank you, Austinites for very eloquently stating what Austin is about.

OP - basically, your first post was "Man this place is GORGEOUS! Now can we please turn it in to Dallas?"

Thank y'all for answering back, no, thank you.

Seriously, what does mean?

[ClaraC]

Originally Posted by JJG

Seriously, what does mean?

My impression of Dallas from having family there and visiting frequently is that it is very focused on money and appearance, and it is full of strip malls with chain restaurants and brand new cars and nowhere nice to hike.

[Austinite76]

Originally Posted by JJG

Seriously, what does mean?

Sanitize, corporatize, monetize. Make it bigger instead of more authentic. Take the soul and offensiveness out to package it for everyone.

No knock on Dallas, but there are two very distinct vibes between there and here.

[JJG]

Originally Posted by ClaraC

My impression of Dallas from having family there and visiting frequently is that it is very focused on money and appearance, And it is full of strip malls with chain restaurants and brand new cars and nowhere nice to hike.

...Dallas isn't the only city in America with strip malls, chain restaurants, and brand new cars. As for the hiking part, you have Southwest Dallas. I'm sure there's more, but I don't really hang out there as much.

Originally Posted by Austinite76

Sanitize, corporatize, monetize. Make it bigger instead of more authentic. Take the soul and offensiveness out to package it for everyone.

No knock on Dallas, but there are two very distinct vibes between there and here.

You can still be "authentic" and be a major city.

I'm not a huge fan of Dallas, but that annoys me... when cities grow, they have evolve and build for the growing population like every other major city.

Your city, just like mine, isn't losing an identity when gaining more skyscrapers/companies, or better transportation, or growth and I don't get why people automatically think that. Dallas has its own identity as well, but it's no different than Atlanta, or Philly, or Houston when it comes to business or having the basics of what every major city needs.

Austin will still be Austin... I mean, the skyline has changed dramatically just within the last 7 years, but people can still tell the difference between that, Dallas, Houston, Ft. Worth, El Paso, and San Antonio as far as identity goes.