Why do Texans dislike Houston? (Dallas, Roma: 2014, insurance, credit)
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Htown, I am very much aware of the activity that goes unknown in Houston's DT tunnels, and if you gave a second's thought to it, you'd realize that tourists are much more better to have on your streets, because they stay there PAST 5/6 PM, tend to spend more money, and add to the vibrancy, because they aren't in a rush to get back to their office, etc. And trust me, there were actual residents, I could see people walking their dogs, etc. Also, I already clarified that San Antonio felt like a bigger city, until you look up, and miss that the tall gleaming office towers aren't there like in Houston and Dallas. Outside of DT, of course Houston has more to offer, unlike San Antonio, sans the missions, etc. Do you read my posts at all, I already said that Houstons skyline(s) put SA to shame, as it should, im talking about STREET LEVEL ACTIVITY.
what else would you expect to see in a tourist area but tourists?? Houston and Dallas are business cities, SA the big thing there is the Riverwalk. Personally I would rather the business end helping us be the 4th or 5th largest economy in the US that a bunch of tourists that contribute 15B to the economy
Tourists are certainly not better than business men.
Business people buy houses (some of them in the millions), they pay taxes and pay taxes on their homes. They each contribute thousands and tens of thousands to the economy, while tourists spend a couple of hundred at best.
And I still think you are crazy for thinking SA feels like a bigger city than Houston or Dallas. That is just crazy talk. Street level activity is the stupidest judge of feel of a city without that activity being sustained for any considerable distance because small towns like Gruene and Spring have the highest level of street activity in Texas but they are all towns smaller than 20K. It is just nonsense to see a block of street activity and say it feels bigger.
I would agree if SA had street after street of activity, but it is all just one River path. sheesh, I guess it doesn't take much to get you into thinking you are in a big city. You might stroll down a busy street in a small town and think you are in Hong Kong.... until you look up. I do give you props on having a good imagination though.
what else would you expect to see in a tourist area but tourists?? Houston and Dallas are business cities, SA the big thing there is the Riverwalk. Personally I would rather the business end helping us be the 4th or 5th largest economy in the US that a bunch of tourists that contribute 15B to the economy
Tourists are certainly not better than business men.
Business people buy houses (some of them in the millions), they pay taxes and pay taxes on their homes. They each contribute thousands and tens of thousands to the economy, while tourists spend a couple of hundred at best.
And I still think you are crazy for thinking SA feels like a bigger city than Houston or Dallas. That is just crazy talk. Street level activity is the stupidest judge of feel of a city without that activity being sustained for any considerable distance because small towns like Gruene and Spring have the highest level of street activity in Texas but they are all towns smaller than 20K. It is just nonsense to see a block of street activity and say it feels bigger.
I would agree if SA had street after street of activity, but it is all just one River path. sheesh, I guess it doesn't take much to get you into thinking you are in a big city. You might stroll down a busy street in a small town and think you are in Hong Kong.... until you look up. I do give you props on having a good imagination though.
To be fair, you can't completely count out tourist appeal as not mattering when it comes to the commercial and national perception of the city. That's the only think that's keeping Houston and Dallas from being on the level of the New York's, LA's, and Chicago's when it comes to big city perception right now. All those cities have landmarks and attractions that everybody in the nation, and even around the world knows about. What is Houston and Dallas's Empire State Building or Statue of Liberty or Hollywood sign? Sure they have businessmen, but who's interested in businessmen?
To be fair, you can't completely count out tourist appeal as not mattering when it comes to the commercial and national perception of the city. That's the only think that's keeping Houston and Dallas from being on the level of the New York's, LA's, and Chicago's when it comes to big city perception right now. All those cities have landmarks and attractions that everybody in the nation, and even around the world knows about. What is Houston and Dallas's Empire State Building or Statue of Liberty or Hollywood sign? Sure they have businessmen, but who's interested in businessmen?
oh I am not saying it does not matter. He said tourists are more important. Tourists are only more important than tourist towns like Vegas or Orlando. But Tourists are finicky and when the economy dives, they tend to take staycations.
I like tourists. I just would not see a bunch of them on a street and remark, man this city feels like it is bigger than cities 3 times its size before I look up.
again Houston and Dallas are business towns and do not need a statue of liberty.
and who is interested in Businessmen? The 12.5M people who live in DFW and Houston that's who.
Downtown Houston just had a 600+ ft. building top out in MainPlace (well, BG Group Place tower now). You have Hess Tower over by Discovery Green that was recently completed also. Not to mention the Embassy Suites (which has been getting very good business) and One Park Place tower. In fact, Dallas (all of DFW for that matter) doesn't even have a single tower built in the last boom taller than BG Group Place. And there is more in the pipeline for Downtown Houston (like 5 Allen Center and Chevron's new site at the old YMCA building). Both cities have new towers going up. It's just that Dallas' is concentrated in one area. You can't escape the other skylines in Houston though, when you are in and around the Inner Loop. When I was driving friends from DFW around Houston, they were getting confused as to what skyline was Downtown Houston, asking "didn't we just come from here" when going from Downtown to Uptown.
Some of the Buffalo Bayou plan is already completed (the new pedestrian bridges near Memorial and Allen Parkway, south of I-10). And they recently got big donations for more bridges/improvements. Brays Bayou over in the Third Ward has had its concrete walls taken down in favor of turning it back into its natural state as well. Construction has been well under way there. And the tracks have begun being places along the SE Line route already, so the rail expansion is well underway. Just got to hope our politicians and the NIMBYs don't screw the city over with the University Line. The Uptown Line can't happen without the University Line, so it's double the hurt. And like many things this recession, the Intermodal was scrapped. TBH, they could find a better location for that, where more rail/bus lines could be connected.
I know all about Houston's recent construction. I followed OPP, Hess Tower, Main/BG Group Place Tower, and the dinky little ES, even the cool new Houston Ballet Center, the new YMCA... That doesn't change the fact that, now, DT Houston has no major construction going on, while our neighbor to the north does, but like I said, no biggie, since prior to 2010, Dallas was the same way Houston is now. And that is just a factual observation, nothing else, not saying Houston is destined to be dead and will never build again, obviously there are numerous areas of intrest just waiting for something to catalyze that development. Our multiple legitimate skylines are awesome though.
And yes I am aware of the completed work of the Master Plan, but the completed stuff is essentially just trails, pathways, art installations, etc, nothing too "visionary"; however, that is the perfect start to utilizing our bayous, so its a great thing. I actually went to a presentation by the BBP that talked in great detail all about the 2nd addition, which IMO, is a lot better than the beggining near Downtown. It was pretty exciting, and they did go into detail about the bayou returning to its natural course. I am well aware of Houston and what happens here, I wouldn't discuss the shortcomings of Houston without prior knowledge of the history, and current events. I don't want people to think i'm a senseless person thats ranting about Houston and doesn't even know half the story.
oh I am not saying it does not matter. He said tourists are more important. Tourists are only more important than tourist towns like Vegas or Orlando. But Tourists are finicky and when the economy dives, they tend to take staycations.
I like tourists. I just would not see a bunch of them on a street and remark, man this city feels like it is bigger than cities 3 times its size before I look up.
again Houston and Dallas are business towns and do not need a statue of liberty.
and who is interested in Businessmen? The 12.5M people who live in DFW and Houston that's who.
You don't honestly think that everybody in those two metros really care about what the businessmen in those cities are doing? You have to remember, us City-Data posters are uncommonly nerdish and interested in what is going on in cities. I promise most people in those cities don't care if the city has just added 2000 business related jobs that they don't qualify for anyway.
You don't honestly think that everybody in those two metros really care about what the businessmen in those cities are doing? You have to remember, us City-Data posters are uncommonly nerdish and interested in what is going on in cities. I promise most people in those cities don't care if the city has just added 2000 business related jobs that they don't qualify for anyway.
They care about business in general, and they care about the business they generate. This is a silly discussion anyway. It is being looked too much in the extreme
Quote:
Originally Posted by SVTRay
It just doesn't have the same ring with Dtown or Mtown
I know all about Houston's recent construction. I followed OPP, Hess Tower, Main/BG Group Place Tower, and the dinky little ES, even the cool new Houston Ballet Center, the new YMCA... That doesn't change the fact that, now, DT Houston has no major construction going on, while our neighbor to the north does, but like I said, no biggie, since prior to 2010, Dallas was the same way Houston is now. And that is just a factual observation, nothing else, not saying Houston is destined to be dead and will never build again, obviously there are numerous areas of intrest just waiting for something to catalyze that development. Our multiple legitimate skylines are awesome though.
And yes I am aware of the completed work of the Master Plan, but the completed stuff is essentially just trails, pathways, art installations, etc, nothing too "visionary"; however, that is the perfect start to utilizing our bayous, so its a great thing. I actually went to a presentation by the BBP that talked in great detail all about the 2nd addition, which IMO, is a lot better than the beggining near Downtown. It was pretty exciting, and they did go into detail about the bayou returning to its natural course. I am well aware of Houston and what happens here, I wouldn't discuss the shortcomings of Houston without prior knowledge of the history, and current events. I don't want people to think i'm a senseless person thats ranting about Houston and doesn't even know half the story.
What do you mean by major??? Houston has a lot going on in and around its downtown. Technically Dallas is catching up to Houston.
What do you mean by major??? Houston has a lot going on in and around its downtown. Technically Dallas is catching up to Houston.
Couldn't have said it better myself.
Such as the Dynamos pro soccer arena that just broke ground on the East Side of downtown which will mark the 3rd pro sports arena built in DT Houston & 5th within a 7 mile radius!
By comparison Dallas has just 1, the AA Arena.
Houston has had a well respected arts/theater district in its downtown for quite some time. Dallas is just now catching up with that.
Houston also has better shopping & more retail in its downtown than Dallas. Sorry one luxury store your average person can't afford doesn't count.
Last edited by Metro Matt; 07-22-2011 at 11:37 AM..
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