Ugly Utility Poles (Dallas, San Antonio, Austin: appointed, how much, utilities)

[maxus40]

Is it me, or does San Antonio have the most numerous amount of early 20th century brown utility poles on the planet? Take a picture from anywhere in the city and you'll get them propped up somewhere. How much would it cost to bury these suckers along the ten busiest roads in SA?

[Bowie]

It would cost millions to do that. Earlier this year, the city council voted to do buried utility conversions along a stretch of more than half a mile on NW Military Drive alongside Voelcker Park and on the West Side at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower. Those two projects will cost over $2.6 million.

Considering that the 10 busiest roads in SA are places like Fredericksburg Rd. and Bandera Rd., which extend for miles... I wouldn't be surprised to hear that it would cost over $1 billion to bury utilities along those roads.

[catriona]

Originally Posted by maxus40

Is it me, or does San Antonio have the most numerous amount of early 20th century brown utility poles on the planet? Take a picture from anywhere in the city and you'll get them propped up somewhere. How much would it cost to bury these suckers along the ten busiest roads in SA?

I agree about the ugly poles. It's one reason why we love our subdivision - no ugly power poles! I'm glad that the builder/developer decided back in the 80's to bury the utility lines. However, it does come with some downside -- when there's a problem, CPS/phone co/etc. will dig up our alleyways and yards to fix the problem. Good thing is, they almost always are quick to repair the damage and don't leave a big mess behind.

[wCat]

I hate them too! It wasn't until the late 70's and early 80's that developers began to bury them....thus the older (inside 410) will have a lot more visible. Also...from another POV....they also stick out like a sore thumb on treeless streets (ie commercial areas). Depending on what was there to begin with (ie farmland)....or just a greedy developer, trees are sometimes absent.

Anyone remember the flack in the community when Lowes @ Callahan cut down that huge Oak tree just for more parking lot???? UGH! Not to mention the demise of the mansion that stood there for decades. (can't remember the owners name.....OLD SA family).

Progress is great....but a few detours around history and the environment would be nice. And no...I'm not a "tree hugger". I just liked that one in particular!

[catriona]

Cutting down that huge oak tree was a senseless action. It took me forever to even shop at Lowes after that happened.

We drove in from Austin via 281 a couple of weeks ago, and when you round one of the bends, there before you stands a horrible subdivision, devoid of trees. I think that's the one that caused all the controversy when the developer razed all the trees. The shopping center in front of the subdivision is just as stark and uninviting. One friend of mine described the scene as making her feel dizzy to the point of being nauseated. It's the staggered appearance of the rooftops, some 2-story, some 1-story. And no trees to break it up. Sad sad sad...

[wCat]

Originally Posted by leslie b

Oh, yes, that is so horrible on 281. I recently saw it coming back from Dallas. For those of us who remember the area pre-development (I lived in Hollywood Park back in the late 60s)- and for others I'm sure, it IS frighteningly nauseating.
Hey, I AM a tree hugger and proud of it!

Leslie.....you made me think! In South Texas....where we NEED more trees, I am with you....hugging all of them! I am also nauseated by the ugly sprawl up 281. Where did our oak covered hillsides go? It's not quite as shocking going up 35 and seeing the Shertz developments, because that was mostly flat farmland.

This has to stop before the Hill Country is no longer part of the rustic beauty of Central/South Texas.

[quest51210]

King William Association tried to get CPS and the city to bury their utilities. They wanted the city to foot the bill if they came up with 10%. the total cost was going to be $100Million.

it was fun to see the KWA's look on their faces when it was reported that the median income in their area was under 30K a year...snobs

[MaryMS]

I also don't understand why so much of San Antonio has ugly utility poles since it is common in many other cities to bury the utility lines now. I can understand in the older communities, but in the newer communities it is a shame that the City planners and developers don't see aesthetics as a valued resource. Although I like the city overall, I am disappointed in how the city leaders and planning officials are designing the city. Or maybe I should say their lack of design. Some things just don't make sense!

[TexHwyMan]

You know, the ugly wood utility poles really are everywhere. Some cities just do a better job of hiding them.