Houston vs. Dallas (Cleveland, Trinity: construction, to live in, zoning)

[ClarenceBodiker]

Originally Posted by dallasboi

I think the Dallas Area handles growth exceptionally well.I cant think of one thing that is hindered here because of being overpopulated...I also think that dallas does well with planning for future growth...We still havent filled our britches to capacity yet....Houston feels more overpopulated than DFW and it is twice the size.....hmmmmm..go figure that one out.

It's the sprawl that bugs me more than anything. Dallas and Houston are both doing a lot to beef up and densify their cores, but in both cities growth is always going to be mostly suburban and go mainly to the fringes of the area. DFW and Houston are larger than some states already. When is enough enough? We're about to spend a decade beefing up our freeways across Dallas/Fort Worth only for the population to outgrow the expansion efforts. How much worse will traffic be when Celina, Melissa and so on have 150,000 to 200,000 people in them all fighting for highway space, too?

[dallasboi]

Originally Posted by HtownLove

^^^ That doesn't make sense

if you are talking about physical size, DFW is more square miles. Maybe that is why Houston feels denser.

If you are talking UA size, DFW is larger, Maybe that is why Houston feels denser.

No...What Im saying is.....Even though DFW has more people it still feels less crowded than Houston.....which adds to the point that DFW takes on growth exceptionally well.

[dallasboi]

Originally Posted by ClarenceBodiker

It's the sprawl that bugs me more than anything. Dallas and Houston are both doing a lot to beef up and densify their cores, but in both cities growth is always going to be mostly suburban and go mainly to the fringes of the area. DFW and Houston are larger than some states already. When is enough enough? We're about to spend a decade beefing up our freeways across Dallas/Fort Worth only for the population to outgrow the expansion efforts. How much worse will traffic be when Celina, Melissa and so on have 150,000 to 200,000 people in them all fighting for highway space, too?

I agree with you for the most part...But it would be a much bigger problem if those people in Celina and Melissa all worked in Downtown dallas.Yes the freeways will never catch up and thats the reassurance that as the years go by...Dart will become a vital part in the ebb and flow of DFW.....thats why I laugh when people try and use our ridership numbers against us..."WE WILL GROW INTO OUR RAIL SYSTEM"...Its such a relief that Dallas jumped on the light rail bandwaggon when it did. That puts us right where we need to be to face all this growth that we are about to experience.

[Nairobi]

Originally Posted by dallasboi

No...What Im saying is.....Even though DFW has more people it still feels less crowded than Houston.....which adds to the point that DFW takes on growth exceptionally well.

It's the way that the Metroplex's population is distributed that makes it feel less crowded. It's very multipolar, which is why I've always said that Greater Houston feels more like a big city, while DFW feels more like a big area. Personally, the latter is too relaxed for me and has too much of that "wide open spaces" look. I'm a city boy who needs some chaos in my life.

[Trae713]

Originally Posted by dallasboi

No...What Im saying is.....Even though DFW has more people it still feels less crowded than Houston.....which adds to the point that DFW takes on growth exceptionally well.

Or that DFW is more spread out than Houston.

[HtownLove]

Originally Posted by dallasboi

No...What Im saying is.....Even though DFW has more people it still feels less crowded than Houston.....which adds to the point that DFW takes on growth exceptionally well.

so you are saying that denser cities are somehow less able to handle growth? Still not making sense man.

Originally Posted by Nairobi

It's the way that the Metroplex's population is distributed that makes it feel less crowded. It's very multipolar, which is why I've always said that Greater Houston feels more like a big city, while DFW feels more like a big area. Personally, the latter is too relaxed for me and has too much of that "wide open spaces" look. I'm a city boy who needs some chaos in my life.

Okay this makes sense. Yeah, DFW population centers are more spread out so the overall effect of the population feels more dispersed.

Originally Posted by Trae713

Or that DFW is more spread out than Houston.

In short, yes.

[dallasboi]

Originally Posted by HtownLove

so you are saying that denser cities are somehow less able to handle growth? Still not making sense man.

Okay this makes sense. Yeah, DFW population centers are more spread out so the overall effect of the population feels more dispersed.

In short, yes.

Okay...all of this does make sense......and in the long run this will cause Dallas to densify the right way....with more areas to choose from...we wont have to throw buildings up cheaply to accomidate the influx of people thats pouring in....my 2cents.

[HtownLove]

Originally Posted by dallasboi

Okay...all of this does make sense......and in the long run this will cause Dallas to densify the right way....with more areas to choose from...we wont have to throw buildings up cheaply to accomidate the influx of people thats pouring in....my 2cents.

what is the right way to densify??

Or rather, how is densifying in 55 different cities in 10,000 square miles better than densifying in one city in the same 10,000 sq miles?

[Exult.Q36]

Originally Posted by HtownLove

what is the right way to densify??

Or rather, how is densifying in 55 different cities in 10,000 square miles better than densifying in one city in the same 10,000 sq miles?

The same...Why do ya'll act Houston is just field with residental towers like NYC or Chicago. Houston is mostly suburban with tons of single family homes and strip malls all cluttered together.

[HtownLove]

Originally Posted by kdogg817

The same...Why do ya'll act Houston is just field with residental towers like NYC or Chicago. Houston is mostly suburban with tons of single family homes and strip malls all cluttered together.

I never said that at all.

All I am asking is why he thinks DFW is any different in its development pattern.

I never alluded to one being more dense than the other. All I said is how one developing in multiple cities in the same area different from developing in one city in the same area.