What a ridiculous article, Houston is nothing like LA, let alone California (state, better)

[BGS91762]

Yes one of my favorite things about So Cal is the lack of humidity and bugs. We fail to appreciate those two facts.

[sdlife619]

One thing about TX, is that they really take good care of their freeways and streets compared to CA. They're smooth and paved very well without hardly any unevenness or roughness. Similar to Vegas highway system, very smooth quiet asphalt.

Dallas is one city that feels like L.A. in terms of traffic, although Houston is much bigger. Both metros have a multitude of freeways, but L.A. has the most.

L.A. feels more like a real urban city than the cities in TX do.

One thing about L.A.'s suburbs is that they are still very dense compared to many other major cities in the U.S. and are urban in some ways.

They're a mixture of urban and suburban because of the higher density especially in cities like Anaheim, Santa Ana and Long Beach as everything is close by. Houses and Apartments are closer together than in many TX cities. Actually a lot of TX homes have huge lots, and space in between from one house to the next with lots of grassy areas and trees. You don't see this in L.A., or CA for that matter.

[jamills21]

Originally Posted by sdlife619

One thing about TX, is that they really take good care of their freeways and streets compared to CA. They're smooth and paved very well without hardly any unevenness or roughness. Similar to Vegas highway system, very smooth quiet asphalt.

Dallas is one city that feels like L.A. in terms of traffic, although Houston is much bigger. Both metros have a multitude of freeways, but L.A. has the most.

L.A. feels more like a real urban city than the cities in TX do.

One thing about L.A.'s suburbs is that they are still very dense compared to many other major cities in the U.S. and are urban in some ways.

They're a mixture of urban and suburban because of the higher density especially in cities like Anaheim, Santa Ana and Long Beach as everything is close by. Houses and Apartments are closer together than in many TX cities. Actually a lot of TX homes have huge lots, and space in between from one house to the next with lots of grassy areas and trees. You don't see this in L.A., or CA for that matter.

Really? I didn't think the streets were that great in Houston. Houston is cool to me, but maybe because I went during the summer I was a little turned off. Of course it is really freaking hot, especially compared to anywhere in Southern CA or the rest of the South during the summer. There was barely anybody outside enjoying the parks or being active. But maybe I was just in the wrong area at the wrong time?

Also, a lot of the new construction seems to be very suburban in nature. There were def some areas that had new construction that seemed urban but for the most part a lot of the apartment/condo complexes were no where near walkable.

It reminds me of L.A. in the sense that the area is HUGE and there are different nodes throughout the area. However, It was clear to me why Houston is much cheaper than L.A., there is a TON of land to build on. It would be nice if it were a little more urban but I'm sure I could get used to living there after a while.

[Gunion Powder]

Originally Posted by seain dublin

You left out the horrific humidity of Houston. I was there one year in March and it was already miserable.

Originally Posted by BGS91762

Yes one of my favorite things about So Cal is the lack of humidity and bugs. We fail to appreciate those two facts.

For me, it is the lack of humidity or any real precipitation that would make LA less miserable for me. The lushness of Houston is a supreme advantage, in my book.

[Gunion Powder]

Originally Posted by sdlife619

One thing about TX, is that they really take good care of their freeways and streets compared to CA. They're smooth and paved very well without hardly any unevenness or roughness. Similar to Vegas highway system, very smooth quiet asphalt.

Dallas is one city that feels like L.A. in terms of traffic, although Houston is much bigger. Both metros have a multitude of freeways, but L.A. has the most.

L.A. feels more like a real urban city than the cities in TX do.

One thing about L.A.'s suburbs is that they are still very dense compared to many other major cities in the U.S. and are urban in some ways.

They're a mixture of urban and suburban because of the higher density especially in cities like Anaheim, Santa Ana and Long Beach as everything is close by. Houses and Apartments are closer together than in many TX cities. Actually a lot of TX homes have huge lots, and space in between from one house to the next with lots of grassy areas and trees. You don't see this in L.A., or CA for that matter.

Actually, Houston has lot sizes that appear to be smaller or atleast average for the country. If you want to see "huge" lots go to Atlanta.

[JayJayCB]

Austin reminds me of California, and I'm not even talking about the hippie vibe in the city.

Here's a random suburban street in Austin, definitely looks more like California than areas further east:

https://www.google.com/maps/@30.3788...2!8i6656?hl=en

[Gunion Powder]

Originally Posted by JayJayCB

Austin reminds me of California, and I'm not even talking about the hippie vibe in the city.

Here's a random suburban street in Austin, definitely looks more like California than areas further east:

https://www.google.com/maps/@30.3788...2!8i6656?hl=en

Though you do have parts of Austin that look more like a typical Southern city.

https://www.google.com/maps/@30.2739...!6m1!1e1?hl=en

[i'm not a cookie]

sooo basically they are saying that Houston is becoming LA without any of the positive attributes of LA like a beach(and no the "beach" near Houston doesn't count), open minded people, iconic buildings and attractions that attract millions of visitors, Hollywood, or great weather? Okay so now you are now left with a sprawling swampy city that is completely flat, full of bugs and covered in humidity...but now you can add copious amounts smog from all of the traffic. Sounds delightful!

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by i'm not a cookie

sooo basically they are saying that Houston is becoming LA without any of the positive attributes of LA like a beach(and no the "beach" near Houston doesn't count), open minded people, iconic buildings and attractions that attract millions of visitors, Hollywood, or great weather? Okay so now you are now left with a sprawling swampy city that is completely flat, full of bugs and covered in humidity...but now you can add copious amounts smog from all of the traffic. Sounds delightful!

Yes and even funnier, the transplant in the article actually sounded giddy about heavy traffic.

Lol

[Spade]

Originally Posted by jamills21

Really? I didn't think the streets were that great in Houston. Houston is cool to me, but maybe because I went during the summer I was a little turned off. Of course it is really freaking hot, especially compared to anywhere in Southern CA or the rest of the South during the summer. There was barely anybody outside enjoying the parks or being active. But maybe I was just in the wrong area at the wrong time?

Also, a lot of the new construction seems to be very suburban in nature. There were def some areas that had new construction that seemed urban but for the most part a lot of the apartment/condo complexes were no where near walkable.

It reminds me of L.A. in the sense that the area is HUGE and there are different nodes throughout the area. However, It was clear to me why Houston is much cheaper than L.A., there is a TON of land to build on. It would be nice if it were a little more urban but I'm sure I could get used to living there after a while.

Houston could make a few tweaks in the new developments to make it more urban. Larger sidewalks would be a big step. City planners haven't figured out if they want to suburban or urban. They still think it's a small town or everything revolves around one aspect of transportation. The biggest problem I have with Houstons new development is that they are building way to many parking garages. They are pretty much eyesores. Sky house is a perfect example.