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I don't think this is Austin. Austin is not a well kept secret. It was a major destination for people to flock to during the 90s and 2000s. If anything, I would say its problems might result more from being loved to death.
Agree. But I'm not really clear on the premise of this thread - city farthest from its potential? In that regard, Austin does qualify. Austin didn't address its growth, and now it's sprawled just like mini-versions of Dallas and Houston. Now that that cat's out of the bag, I'm not sure it can reach what potential Austinites feel (felt?) their city had.
I agree with annie: BR should be much better than it is (my definition of being far from one's potential) given its size, LSU and govt. St Louis, as well: a great downtown and riverfront, good adjacent neighborhoods and a very nice park, yet it kind of languishes. Baltimore, however, is actually within reach of its potential, so IMO doesn't belong on this list.
Restaurant and retail aren't anything to really wish for, they come with population. We need to focus on public amenities. (transportation, education, taxes, etc) we need more job opportunities, we do have medical, petrochemical, education, and government jobs but not enough jobs to keep LSU and SU graduates from going to Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, and Orlando. If we could just keep most of our graduates, we would have a much younger population who is more open to progressive measures.
Restaurant and retail aren't anything to really wish for, they come with population. We need to focus on public amenities. (transportation, education, taxes, etc) we need more job opportunities, we do have medical, petrochemical, education, and government jobs but not enough jobs to keep LSU and SU graduates from going to Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, and Orlando. If we could just keep most of our graduates, we would have a much younger population who is more open to progressive measures.
I think most similarly-sized metros in the South have the same problem (Jackson, Little Rock, Knoxville, Mobile, Augusta, Columbia, Greensboro, etc.).
Do you mean that BR should have more restaurant/retail options, cultural amenities, etc. given its current size and institutions?
What he said:
Quote:
Originally Posted by annie_himself
Restaurant and retail aren't anything to really wish for, they come with population. We need to focus on public amenities. (transportation, education, taxes, etc) we need more job opportunities, we do have medical, petrochemical, education, and government jobs but not enough jobs to keep LSU and SU graduates from going to Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, and Orlando. If we could just keep most of our graduates, we would have a much younger population who is more open to progressive measures.
Louisiana just doesn't do enough to diversify its economy, as if oil, fishing and gambling are enough. And as bad as I found Houston in this regard, there is even less concern about the environment there.
Which city actually has the same things to offer as Baton Rouge? Example: Little Rock doesn't have UA or a large port, Jackson and Mobile are significantly smaller, etc.
I don't know much about what those cities have so I want to be able to draw a better conclusion.
jm02-I find that Lafayette, BR, and NO seem to be trying to diversify is economy and job base. Baton Rouge does have a new EA games testing facility, New Orleans is gaining some business back from Katrina, and it appears that Lafayette is a small Austin, TX. The progress is in the prenatal stage though.
Which city actually has the same things to offer as Baton Rouge? Example: Little Rock doesn't have UA or a large port, Jackson and Mobile are significantly smaller, etc.
I don't know much about what those cities have so I want to be able to draw a better conclusion.
I was just saying that these are all similarly-sized state capitals or college towns (500K-1 million metros) that have the same problem with creating a more dynamic local economy and losing college grads to surrounding larger cities.
It isn't well known outside it's region but Springfield, Massachusetts has all the ingredients to be a great little city. It's natural setting on the Conneticut River is beautiful. It has the bones of a great downtown core which is surrounded by what could be beautiful city neighborhoods. Surrounding those are some of the most spectacular suburban towns (some disguised as quaint new england villages) that can be found anywhere. The problem is it is filled with poor, uncivilised criminals who have destroyed it over the last 40 years. Neighboring Hartford, Conneticut is in the same boat but it hasn't fallen as far as Springfield.
I think most similarly-sized metros in the South have the same problem (Jackson, Little Rock, Knoxville, Mobile, Augusta, Columbia, Greensboro, etc.).
I'd tend to agree with you. I think you also have to include Birmingham.
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