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No, Houston isn't being built to look like a suburb. Urban design is obviously in mind, but there are just imperfections; the grid/fabric is obviously there. You have no clue what truly entails a distinction of "suburban" and "urban."
Nobody is boosting anything. Nothing but facts were laid out in this discussion, but leave it up to the old timers, who never went to the city since the 80s/90s, to spout inaccuracies.
No, the true problem is that people don't know how to read. Show me where anyone has said that Houston has more topography than Boston, I dare you.
There is also a problem with flawed thinking seen with many of you posters, wherein a city can't be interesting because it isn't urban. Perhaps those who say Los Angeles is more interesting than NYC, London, or Paris are out of their minds?
Just stop, you know nothing.
I believe the phrase is "you know nothing Jon Snow"
Like clockwork lol. I mean I already know Houston isn't urban and I prefer urban cities. I'd still take it over most cities in the nation. Then I see how people say it isn't interesting. What makes a city not interesting? I like the swampy,oak tree lined streets, nature sounding parts of these cities. I have my issues with Houston myself but I never outright bash the place or any place for that matter. I also like how the density is increasing as well.
I love Urban environments myself, I've been able to live or experience living in both Boston and NYC. I'd probably choose Houston over living in Boston to be quite honest, but that's because of personal reasons; I really don't find Boston that interesting, even though I have some issues with Houston as well.
There is also a problem with flawed thinking seen with many of you posters, wherein a city can't be interesting because it isn't urban. Perhaps those who say Los Angeles is more interesting than NYC, London, or Paris are out of their minds?
Good point, I get the flawed thinking you are talking about and it's aggravating. I think it's very absurd to say that a city is not intersesting just because it's not urban but that's a very poor example you used. No they wouldn't because LA is LA. LA is the center of the entertainment industry and is home to every major studio, the pacific ocean, mountains in the middle of the city, world famous neighborhoods(venice beach, Beverlly Hills, Malibu) and world famous boulevards..not to mention it's one of the most iconic cities on earth. Please don't put LA and Houston in the same boat lol.
Good point, I get the flawed thinking you are talking about and it's aggravating. I think it's very absurd to say that a city is not intersesting just because it's not urban but that's a very poor example you used. No they wouldn't because LA is LA. LA is the center of the entertainment industry and is home to every major studio, the pacific ocean, mountains in the middle of the city, world famous neighborhoods(venice beach, Beverlly Hills, Malibu) and world famous boulevards..not to mention it's one of the most iconic cities on earth. Please don't put LA and Houston in the same boat lol.
Where did I put Houston and LA in the same boat? I used LA as an example of the fact that cities can still cultivate interest, even though they can have lapses in urban development. Learn to read.
Where did I put Houston and LA in the same boat? I used LA as an example of the fact that cities can still cultivate interest, even though they can have lapses in urban development. Learn to read.
Really Houston fine place to live but not an interesting city at all. Heck even Houston's skyline is the least inspiring of the three! Womp womp.
The skylines don't really look much different from each other, from a general standpoint. Seattle's skyline, minus the Space Needle, is basically like Houston's. If anything, Boston's skyline looks to be the weakest of the three.
Sorry it's obvious which one is more interesting and interacts better with the city's core. Either you are blind or in denial.
Both waterways are suitable for interaction with the city core; it all just comes down to whether or not the city is able to effectively integrate the natural feature into the core. As in, will the city bring the walkable urban life to the waterway, or will it neglect the waterway?
Boston's waterfront development pattern involves the classic "overlooking" aspect, since the waterfront involves large water bodies (bays and sound). Houston, it seems, can take on a linear pattern, with development lining the waterway for its length from downtown on east. The wide water areas in Houston seem like "outskirts," but that is more of an illusion that results from Houston's lack of extensive walkable urban fabric (i.e. continuous mid/highrise extending from downtown); there is, thus, a clean slate, wherein the city can chose to take this path, rejuvenating any areas of former industry via "brownfields." I could see a Berlin, or Paris type situation going on, in regards to Houston's waterfront development:
Houton does have a "waterway" in the heart of the city, but at the end of the day it really doesn't compare to Boston or Seattle. UrbanCheetah is right when he says Boston's waterfront is very engrained in the core part of the city...it serves as a huge tourist attraction and is always bustling with foot traffic.
Boston's waterfront - https://goo.gl/maps/whQ1Dcd19RR2 https://goo.gl/maps/r2rBNfoRr3R2
Both waterways are suitable for interaction with the city core; it all just comes down to whether or not the city is able to effectively integrate the natural feature into the core. As in, will the city bring the walkable urban life to the waterway, or will it neglect the waterway?
Boston's waterfront development pattern involves the classic "overlooking" aspect, since the waterfront involves large water bodies (bays and sound). Houston, it seems, can take on a linear pattern, with development lining the waterway for its length from downtown on east. The wide water areas in Houston seem like "outskirts," but that is more of an illusion that results from Houston's lack of extensive walkable urban fabric (i.e. continuous mid/highrise extending from downtown); there is, thus, a clean slate, wherein the city can chose to take this path, rejuvenating any areas of former industry via "brownfields." I could see a Berlin, or Paris type situation going on, in regards to Houston's waterfront development:
Just stop. Every time I think you're finally being reasonable or leading to a decent point, you go and create posts like this. It's going to be a long, long while before Houston develops a reasonable waterfront, and by the time it (as you say) looks like Paris or Berlin, who knows what Boston or Seattle evolve into?
You seem to place a heavy weight- in this and other threads- on things that may happen in the future, rather than what the reality of the situation is now. As of now- and the foreseeable future- Houston doesn't have anything comparable to the waterfronts of Seattle or Boston, as we've discussed. I'm glad they're putting some bike trails along your bayous, but give me a break. Just concede the loss in this category and move onto another aspect that you'd like to compare that Houston can certainly .... Like the number of big box department stores in the area, or the number of refineries, or the lowest air quality ratings.... see, Houston can beat the others in vital areas!
Last edited by bartonizer; 08-19-2016 at 02:25 AM..
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