Houston zoning? (Atlanta, West: home, established neighborhood, renewal)

[AlGreen]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

Zoning in and of itself might not make a place PRETTY, but when applied correctly it absolutely does make a place less UGLY.

thank you. and i never once said that zoning itself magically made a place a place attractive

[HtownLove]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

Zoning in and of itself might not make a place PRETTY, but when applied correctly it absolutely does make a place less UGLY.

Hun, that is like saying my cousin in and of herself isn't a good cook, but under the right moonlight and the perfect full moon she manages to boil an egg without burning the house down.

The question is does a lack of zoning make a place ugly?
San Antonio's downtown is nice looking but the miles and miles of neighborhoods surrounding it is a huge dump. That is With zoning (zoning had nothing to do with the nice downtown, San Antonio's growth is as fast as molasses so the bulk of the buildings were there before zoning)

I contend restrictive covenants go hella further in making a place look pretty than zoning.

zoning just says what can go where, while the covenants govern anything from the paint color to the heights of the grass.

The big long example you gave is an example of how zoning can change the direction of an area, not its beauty.

[HtownLove]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

PTC's uber-strict land-use plan and adherence to zoning is why it's so desirable (i.e. there is no zoning category that allows pawn shops, tattoo parlors or adult bookstores ... so you won't find them there).
About 10 years ago, Peachtree City became one of the first places in the nation to ban "big box" retailers ( But I do know a lot of people in Atlanta who think it's too generic, sterile and "neat." To each his own.

Peachtree City, GA - Official Website

So desirable? I don't find anything desirable in what you described. Sounds like a place for old republicans who has a problem with everything.

I would not live in a place that doesn't have big box retailers. With big box retailers a block from my house I can wait till the long lines clear out and have the store to myself at midnight. but going around by golf cart? sounds like a retirement community to me. geez what to people do for fun? do they just go around and say "Hey neighbor!", "whatcha doing neighbor?"

But like you said, each to his own. I would not have Houston any other way. I like its sprawl. Its lack of zoning means anything and everything I could desire is withing 5 miles from my doorstep. Thank you Houston voters for continuing to smack down zoning ordinances. We are big kids we don't need mommy (or uncle Sam) to tell us where to pack away our stuff, and we do not need to hide away our naughty magazines. Its the Texas way. shame that Houston is the only big city Texan enough

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by HtownLove

So desirable? I don't find anything desirable in what you described. Sounds like a place for old republicans who has a problem with everything.

I would not live in a place that doesn't have big box retailers. With big box retailers a block from my house I can wait till the long lines clear out and have the store to myself at midnight. but going around by golf cart? sounds like a retirement community to me. geez what to people do for fun? do they just go around and say "Hey neighbor!", "whatcha doing neighbor?"

But like you said, each to his own. I would not have Houston any other way. I like its sprawl. Its lack of zoning means anything and everything I could desire is withing 5 miles from my doorstep. Thank you Houston voters for continuing to smack down zoning ordinances. We are big kids we don't need mommy (or uncle Sam) to tell us where to pack away our stuff, and we do not need to hide away our naughty magazines. Its the Texas way. shame that Houston is the only big city Texan enough

Like I said ... "TO EACH HIS OWN." But the Houston you describe sounds absolutely horrible. "I like its sprawl" ??? You've been brainwashed.

[EasilyAmused]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

Like I said ... "TO EACH HIS OWN." But the Houston you describe sounds absolutely horrible. "I like its sprawl" ??? You've been brainwashed.

Yes, but a lot of Houston is like Buckhead and it's surrounding areas, an organic mishmash. The sprawl in my thought is the over zoned exurb communities like PTC.

[HtownLove]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

Like I said ... "TO EACH HIS OWN." But the Houston you describe sounds absolutely horrible. "I like its sprawl" ??? You've been brainwashed.

you have been brainwashed sonny. I tried the rest but came back to the best.

there is sprawl, that is true, but you need not drive around in it. everything is withing 5 miles.

geez in ATL you guys make pilgrimages for a good snack

[HtownLove]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

For awhile now I've been curious about this whole "no zoning" thing in Houston. I've heard horror stories about it

come see it for yourself, you just might see that you were the one brainwashed into thinking zoning is a big plus

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by HtownLove

Hun, that is like saying my cousin in and of herself isn't a good cook, but under the right moonlight and the perfect full moon she manages to boil an egg without burning the house down.

The question is does a lack of zoning make a place ugly?
San Antonio's downtown is nice looking but the miles and miles of neighborhoods surrounding it is a huge dump. That is With zoning (zoning had nothing to do with the nice downtown, San Antonio's growth is as fast as molasses so the bulk of the buildings were there before zoning)

I contend restrictive covenants go hella further in making a place look pretty than zoning.

zoning just says what can go where, while the covenants govern anything from the paint color to the heights of the grass.

The big long example you gave is an example of how zoning can change the direction of an area, not its beauty.

I admit Cheshire Bridge Road in Atlanta wasn't pretty then and it ain't pretty now, but it's sure better looking than it was! As for other parts of Atlanta -- absolutely 100 percent YES zoning protects the beauty, desirability and worth of the neighborhood. More beautiful than Houston? I can't say 'cause I've never really been to Houston (only drove through years ago on the way to Arizona). But I'm still inclined, from the way it's described on here by actual real-life HOUSTONIANS, that the answer is yes. Come to think of it, I've never really heard anybody describe Houston as "beautiful"; "Big," "sprawling," "tall," "international" yes ... "beautiful", no. But Atlanta really is a beautiful city, as large cities go. Parts of it are breathtaking. Same for Savannah. And though I'm not so naive as to say it's because of zoning, I'm willing to bet that zoning helps make it so.

CHESHIRE BRIDGE ROAD



ANSLEY PARK


MIDTOWN


SWEET AUBURN (MLK National Historic District)


VIRGINIA HIGHLANDS


BUCKHEAD


BUCKHEAD


BUCKHEAD


LITTLE FIVE POINTS


EAST ATLANTA VILLAGE


MIDTOWN WEST


ATLANTIC STATION
http://www.philipblaiklock.com/blog/uploaded_images/Atlantic-Station-730789.jpg (broken link)

[AlGreen]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

I admit Cheshire Bridge Road in Atlanta wasn't pretty then and it ain't pretty now, but it's sure better looking than it was! As for other parts of Atlanta -- absolutely 100 percent YES zoning protects the beauty, desirability and worth of the neighborhood. More beautiful than Houston? I can't say 'cause I've never really been to Houston (only drove through years ago on the way to Arizona). But I'm still inclined, from the way it's described on here by actual real-life HOUSTONIANS, that the answer is yes. Come to think of it, I've never really heard anybody describe Houston as "beautiful"; "Big," "sprawling," "tall," "international" yes ... "beautiful", no. But Atlanta really is a beautiful city, as large cities go. Parts of it are breathtaking. Same for Savannah. And though I'm not so naive as to say it's because of zoning, I'm willing to bet that zoning helps make it so.

trust me, you're not missing anything. now regardless to what htownlove might think, i do love houston (houstonians, mostly). but it is nowhere as near attractive as atlanta. not in 100 years

[HtownLove]

lol, we have places just as good