Some seem to think Houston doesn't take pride in its appearance. Thoughts? (Post: apartment, rent)

[jfre81]

So we agree that getting rid of these apartments in places that most people avoid anyway is going to do something about the aesthetic quality of the city?

[TexasTheKid]

Originally Posted by EasilyAmused

School taxes on homeowners 65+ are frozen. So actually their taxes are worth less than us younger working smucks who get it hiked annually.

Edit: I looked up the school tax deal.

They still pay property taxes. School taxes pay for schools, not other city services.

[EasilyAmused]

Originally Posted by TexasTheKid

They still pay property taxes. School taxes pay for schools, not other city services.

yeah, but I was answering the "schools would benefit from their taxes" statement. A frozen tax rate doesn't really help a school as much as the frustratingl annual hike would. I often forget about the freeze deal too. Without it, I definately think they would improve the schools with tax pace and cleaning up an area.

Originally Posted by AK123

They just want something newer that doesn't cost a fortune. Of course with their tax base, the schools would start to improve.

[AK123]

Originally Posted by jfre81

So we agree that getting rid of these apartments in places that most people avoid anyway is going to do something about the aesthetic quality of the city?

Well, that had all gone a little off topic.

But to answer your question, on some points, possibly. With new homes and new people able to spend more money, new businesses/shopping/restaurants might move in. The parts of town with nothing but apartment complexes have been known to stagnate and businesses move out. Apartment renters have little connection to the area and generally could care less about how it looks. No pride of ownership in those areas. With subdivisions and homeowners, it would probably be different.

And it wouldn't be getting rid of all the apartments. Just so it's not that's all there is, so that single-family homes would outnumber the apartments instead of the other way around.

[TexasTheKid]

Originally Posted by EasilyAmused

yeah, but I was answering the "schools would benefit from their taxes" statement. A frozen tax rate doesn't really help a school as much as the frustratingl annual hike would. I often forget about the freeze deal too. Without it, I definately think they would improve the schools with tax pace and cleaning up an area.

Sounds like AARP lobbied their fragile-hipped constituency into an odd predicament. If a bunch of bluehairs move into a neighborhood, school funding decreases relative to population, which in turn lowers the quality of the schools, which in turn lowers the value of the houses, which in turn causes more low-income people to buy in the neighborhood, which in turn means they'll enroll their kids (who statistically aren't as inclined to perform as well on state mandated tests) in the schools, which in turn will lower average school test scores, which in turn will decrease state funding, which in turn will further erode the quality of the education provided, which in turn will further devalue the cost of homes, so they can work longer, so they can earn more, so they can do more coke, so they can work longer, so they can...

In other words, bad parts of Houston are bad, not because of the crappy apartment complexes, but because of the elderly.

[EasilyAmused]

Originally Posted by TexasTheKid

Sounds like AARP lobbied their fragile-hipped constituency into an odd predicament. If a bunch of bluehairs move into a neighborhood, school funding decreases relative to population, which in turn lowers the quality of the schools, which in turn lowers the value of the houses, which in turn causes more low-income people to buy in the neighborhood, which in turn means they'll enroll their kids (who statistically aren't as inclined to perform as well on state mandated tests) in the schools, which in turn will lower average school test scores, which in turn will decrease state funding, which in turn will further erode the quality of the education provided, which in turn will further devalue the cost of homes, so they can work longer, so they can earn more, so they can do more coke, so they can work longer, so they can...

In other words, bad parts of Houston are bad, not because of the crappy apartment complexes, but because of the elderly.

Another well thought out governemnt move don't you think?

[theSUBlime]

Originally Posted by AK123

Well, that had all gone a little off topic.

But to answer your question, on some points, possibly. With new homes and new people able to spend more money, new businesses/shopping/restaurants might move in. The parts of town with nothing but apartment complexes have been known to stagnate and businesses move out. Apartment renters have little connection to the area and generally could care less about how it looks. No pride of ownership in those areas. With subdivisions and homeowners, it would probably be different.

And it wouldn't be getting rid of all the apartments. Just so it's not that's all there is, so that single-family homes would outnumber the apartments instead of the other way around.

Mmmm...I don't think that's necessarily true either, at least in many other cities' cases. It has more to do with Houston's layout IMO. The fact that most people get in their car to do everything does little to help local neighborhoods. Why do you think neighborhoods in this city are so ill-defined? I think one reason could be that people have never walked many of the streets in their neighborhoods. While there are many neighborhoods in Houston, you would think that a city with 600sq miles would have a lot more. (This would also be where I throw in the people who do not live close to Downtown (or frequent it), but complain about it not being vibrant. Just so those types know: you are the PROBLEM, not the solution.) It's not to say that visiting other parts of the city is a bad thing, but if you want an area to thrive, I do agree with AK on the point that you have to help it along a little.

[AK123]

Originally Posted by TexasTheKid

In other words, bad parts of Houston are bad, not because of the crappy apartment complexes, but because of the elderly.

If you're talking about crime, no. Elderly people usually don't commit much crime.

Originally Posted by AK123

The parts of town with nothing but apartment complexes have been known to stagnate and businesses move out. Apartment renters have little connection to the area and generally could care less about how it looks. No pride of ownership in those areas.

Originally Posted by theSUBlime

Mmmm...I don't think that's necessarily true either, at least in many other cities' cases. It has more to do with Houston's layout IMO.

But isn't that what I keep hearing from homeowners in places like Greenspoint, Bammel, etc? That the area used to be "nice" with thriving businesses, and now filled with massage parlors and abandoned strip centers?

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by AK123

The parts of town with nothing but apartment complexes have been known to stagnate and businesses move out.

Like Midtown? Or is there a socioeconomic thing we're missing here?

Most people in NYC are renters. Does this mean most New Yorkers don't care how the city looks?

[TexasTheKid]

Well, one thing's for sure, given the current state of the economy and the now stagnant pace for development, even if the scummy complexes were bulldozed, nothing positive would be built to replace them in the near future. If it's bulldozed, the lot will just sit vacant and continue to contribute to Houston's dreaded sprawl. What do you want more, safe and vibrant neighborhoods or population density bragging rights in the City-vs-City forum on City-Data?

And, if they're bulldozed, the residents will just pack up and move someplace else, taking their shifty eyes and criminal code of ethics with them. You never know, they may just convert all those empty strip mall store fronts on 1960 into residential housing. That would be a unique solution. Then we could moan about all the empty lot eyesores and how the unwashed masses literally live like zoo animals separated from us civilized folks only by a giant display window.