In 20 years, (Houston, Sugar Land, Missouri City: home, employment, construction) - Texas (TX) - City-Data Forum

calien · 06-12-2011, 12:07 AM

what area will have developed into the next Sugar Land, Woodlands, or Katy? Meaning the place you drive through w/o ever imaging anything would ever develop there - ever and then it happens. How far from the inner loop can the city continue to grow and still have people commute into the city to work?

llmrkc07 · 06-12-2011, 01:03 AM

the woodlands will be amazing

MrSykes · 06-12-2011, 01:20 AM

Richmond/Rosenberg will be the next Sugar Land/Missouri City. Also keep an eye on the area around Rosenberg and Fulshear along the Brazos river. Brookshire as well.

DanielWayne · 06-12-2011, 07:10 AM

League City has grown and developed a lot in the past decade.

modster · 06-12-2011, 10:21 AM

One of the wild cards in the deck, I suppose, will be energy prices. That could influence development patterns, although to what extent would really depend on how bad prices might get. There will always be, however, a market for people who want to live outside of the city regardless.

The creation of more major employment centers such as the Exxon campus on the north side, combined with technology or other changes that allow more people to work from home could also be a game changer over the next 20 years that significantly affect growth patterns.

I am not holding my breath on this one, but if they ever figured out a way to get the serious commuter rails, either on new lines or the existing rail lines like the one going up 290 or the on that runs up past Willowbrook mall, that could cause some serious shifting too.

I guess there is more than one wild card in the deck.

TimBomb · 06-12-2011, 11:57 AM

How many Katrina events will happen in 20years, is another wildcard. I heard that totally freaked you guys out. The real 'undesireables' are a rare sight these days, after 6 years.

H'ton · 06-12-2011, 03:30 PM

Don't look out of the city......Look in it

Regent Square with its 20+ mixed-used buildings along Allen Parkway will merge into the West Grey corridor which will merge into the Fingers owned site where the Whole Foods is under construction right now. We will have that walkable urban district a mile or two outside of downtown.

EasilyAmused · 06-12-2011, 03:52 PM

I think Modster nailed it.

People are starting not to be tied to offices anymore. You can work from anywhere. Three weeks away living where you want, one week in for entertaining/meetings is all that's needed even now. I'm not saying everyone can do it, but if you are in the right section of an industry, or own your own company, it's certainly is becoming a reality. In my experience the world moves on Yahoo IMs or the golf course.

But with this comes the fact that you don't HAVE to live in Houston to work for a Houston company anymore, if the situation allows. Just be within reasonable driving distance from a major airport. That said, why live in a burb when you can live in a place with natural beauty, or somewhere where your hobbies/interests are? Or for the public school slaves, a better school system.

Malvie · 06-12-2011, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EasilyAmused

I think Modster nailed it.

People are starting not to be tied to offices anymore. You can work from anywhere. Three weeks away living where you want, one week in for entertaining/meetings is all that's needed even now. I'm not saying everyone can do it, but if you are in the right section of an industry, or own your own company, it's certainly is becoming a reality. In my experience the world moves on Yahoo IMs or the golf course.

But with this comes the fact that you don't HAVE to live in Houston to work for a Houston company anymore, if the situation allows. Just be within reasonable driving distance from a major airport. That said, why live in a burb when you can live in a place with natural beauty, or somewhere where your hobbies/interests are? Or for the public school slaves, a better school system.

Well, it's funny you should say that...

I LIKE the big city. I lived in a small town in Arkansas for 15 years. Lots of scenic beauty. Pristine lakes/rivers, mountains, etc (much prettier than the Texas Hill Country and East Texas combined).

I was ready to get back to "civilization"---24 hour everything, big freeways, big airports, restaurants of every variety at your fingertips, lots of cool things to do---

Not all of us want to go live in the country (or in a small town). I've done it. Bleah. I like the city.

EasilyAmused · 06-12-2011, 04:10 PM

Malvie, I love the city too. I could never live in a burb full time or even the country full time. However, I could live in Atlanta or Charlotte or Richmond or the eastern mountains for the summer or or or. These are certainly not a mega city like Houston, but certainly urban enough to attain the same lifestyle of everything within a mile...plus four seasons and a view.

I love Houston, but I just can't take the caving that goes on from June-September. It's not my nature not to be outside all the time. My skin just can't take 95+ degrees anymore.

With Yahoo, Skype and other services, taking the summer "off" from Houston is more that doable