Houston vs. Dallas (San Antonio, Fort Worth, Arlington: worst cities, arrests, mcmansion)

[First24]

Originally Posted by AK123

For whatever reasons, Houston has almost always been under the radar and not noticed or mentioned by the national media unless it's something negative. Rather, I'd say perception is not reality. Once the media chooses a city to love on, whether by luck or other factors, you will mostly see positive things about that city while negatives are swept under the rug. This has a big effect on perceptions. Case in point - Austin.

I could almost guarantee that if a television serious, large scale reality show, national festival, or similar were to come to Houston and film it in a positive light highlighting the best of the city (basically marketing the city, as has happened with many other cities), perceptions would start changing on Houston rather significantly. But would reality change? No.

Until Houston gets more than just negative publicity, perceptions won't change much. The exploding population and fact that many more people are coming than going, and staying long term, is a testament that reality is much nicer than perceptions. This is also why Houston has made it on to "underrated cities" lists.

How in the World could the Nation's fourth-largest city be "under the radar"? lol

Houston's problem is that city leaders haven't grasped what image to project out onto the World. Therefore, many outsiders are indifferent about the city.

Dallas projects out that it's eveything BIG Texas. The good, bad and ugly of it all. Whether people love it or hate it, attention is attracted to that.

Austin projects that it's in the Heart of Texas but with a cool, funky and free-spirited twist.

The image of Texas attracts attention; Dallas and Austin figured that out long ago and have capitalized, Houston hasn't, yet anyways.

[JJG]

Originally Posted by dallasboi

The Dallas Zoo is the best and biggest in the state NOW.

Biggest? Ok. BEST ?...

[Nairobi]

Originally Posted by Metro Matt

Both Denton & Tyler have 2 or more major colleges. Denton has UNT & TWU. Tyler has UT, Texas College (historically minority college), & TJC (one of the oldest & largest Junior colleges in the nation)

Both Denton & Tyler have loops though Tyler is building a 2nd outer loop (tollway) as we speak.

Denton has approximately 10K more people than Tyler.

Tyler has the larger, more urban feeling downtown.

Tyler is more diverse than Denton.

The cities are more similar than different.

Don't even try to compare Tyler to Lewisville based on population. Lewisville is a suburb, Tyler is a city. True, Denton is in the D/FW Metro, but its just way out there for most people to commute to Dallas daily & functions more like its own city than a suburb of a much larger city. Yes, I realize there is a new commuter train in Denton County, but few people utilize it yet.

Denton is a commuter town, and not a real city, like Tyler. The two places really aren't all that alike.

[HtownLove]

Originally Posted by ClarenceBodiker

You should get out of Houston once in a while. There's nothing interesting about dirty brown beaches and flat-as-a-pancake terrain.


HTH

sure is more interesting than that burnt out hell called DFW. You should get out of hell more, its burnt your thinking cells out

Originally Posted by dallasboi

The Dallas Zoo is the best and biggest in the state NOW.

Originally Posted by JJG

Biggest? Ok. BEST ?...

LOL he crazy, He knows that Houston and FW have the best zoos in Texas.

and when did DAllas zoo became the biggest? I thought Houston Zoo was second only to SD zoo in number of species?

http://www.wrsol.com/usatravelguide/...os-in-america/

Both Houston and San Diego Zoos has over 900 species. Dallas Zoo has 400

The Houston Zoo is a 55-acre (22 ha) zoological park located within Hermann Park in Houston, Texas, United States. Housing over 6,000 animals belonging to over 900 species, the zoo receives 1.6 million visitors each year and is the seventh most visited zoo in the nation. The zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
The Houston Zoo's mission statement is "The Houston Zoo provides a fun, unique, and inspirational experience fostering appreciation, knowledge, and care for the natural world."

Dallas has what 406 species and 1800 animals and not in the top ten most visited zoos list. So much for biggest and best

[Nairobi]

Originally Posted by AK123

For whatever reasons, Houston has almost always been under the radar and not noticed or mentioned by the national media unless it's something negative. Rather, I'd say perception is not reality. Once the media chooses a city to love on, whether by luck or other factors, you will mostly see positive things about that city while negatives are swept under the rug. This has a big effect on perceptions. Case in point - Austin.

I could almost guarantee that if a television serious, large scale reality show, national festival, or similar were to come to Houston and film it in a positive light highlighting the best of the city (basically marketing the city, as has happened with many other cities), perceptions would start changing on Houston rather significantly. But would reality change? No.

Until Houston gets more than just negative publicity, perceptions won't change much. The exploding population and fact that many more people are coming than going, and staying long term, is a testament that reality is much nicer than perceptions. This is also why Houston has made it on to "underrated cities" lists.

But let's be honest, now. A lot of this comes from the fact that Houston does not market itself enough. City leaders either don't know how or don't care to.

We've often seen it as a good thing that Houston isn't as thirsty for the limelight as Dallas and Austin are, but hey, they've put in more work and they're certainly reaping the benefits, similar to our peer a few hundred miles to the east (Atlanta).

[Trae713]

Originally Posted by Metro Matt

Both Denton & Tyler have 2 or more major colleges. Denton has UNT & TWU. Tyler has UT, Texas College (historically minority college), & TJC (one of the oldest & largest Junior colleges in the nation)

Both Denton & Tyler have loops though Tyler is building a 2nd outer loop (tollway) as we speak.

Denton has approximately 10K more people than Tyler.

Tyler has the larger, more urban feeling downtown.

Tyler is more diverse than Denton.

The cities are more similar than different.

Don't even try to compare Tyler to Lewisville based on population. Lewisville is a suburb, Tyler is a city. True, Denton is in the D/FW Metro, but its just way out there for most people to commute to Dallas daily & functions more like its own city than a suburb of a much larger city. Yes, I realize there is a new commuter train in Denton County, but few people utilize it yet.

You should see traffic heading south on 35 in the mornings. Most people moving to Denton aren't working in Dallas anyway. Mostly North FW/Alliance and the busineas districts in the north Dallas suburbs and Westlake area. I never compared Tyler and Denton either. Most of the new growth around Denton is just typical commuter suburban growth.

[Exult.Q36]

Far North Fort Worth This is the area responsible for Fort Worth massive growth last decade... The population of North Fort Worth is 122,000. If it was it own city it would be the 3rd largest city in Tarrant County. Very impressive.... This area could be the equivalent to Plano in population in the next 10 years. Only difference is it in Fort Worth city limits.

http://media.star-telegram.com/smedia/2012/02/20/15/49/1pWRRJ.St.58.jpg (broken link)

http://media.star-telegram.com/smedia/2012/02/20/15/53/1lRXeN.St.58.jpg (broken link)

http://media.star-telegram.com/smedia/2012/02/20/15/53/uih7h.St.58.jpg (broken link)

http://media.star-telegram.com/smedia/2012/02/20/15/52/1jgJC6.St.58.jpg (broken link)


http://media.star-telegram.com/smedia/2012/02/20/15/49/nwAK3.St.58.jpg (broken link)


http://media.star-telegram.com/smedia/2012/02/20/15/52/TzQsw.St.58.jpg (broken link)

In far north Fort Worth, many feel like they're not part of the city | Local News | News...

[Metro Matt]

Those McMansions make me wanna vomit as do those suburban strip malls found in anywhere USA.

[Spade]

That is what most of FW growth is. Extremely suburban. Most of Dallas growth now is urban. FW is growing faster. You can tell which environment is still more popular.

[JJG]

Originally Posted by Spade

That is what most of FW growth is. Extremely suburban. Most of Dallas growth now is urban. FW is growing faster. You can tell which environment is still more popular.

If I'd have to put it in percentages:

Dallas growth - 62% suburban / 37% urban
FW growth - 85% suburban / 15 % urban.

That's gotta stop.