McAllen's aiming to be "the new Austin" (Houston: 2010, homes)

[j96g]

I've heard alot of what coroller said, here's a link to some of the stuff:

News: McAllen in talks on central park | mcallen, city, park - www.themonitor.com

[lemonfresh]

Originally Posted by coroller70

Within the next 15 years, McAllen should reach the 250,000-500,000 population mark. This is indeed possible since a large surge of nationals from northern areas within the U.S. are finding extremely affordable living here in the McAllen Metropolitan area. McAllen is also experiencing a growth in its African-American population, contingent of the Katrina Hurricane refugees. The City of McAllen is aldo in the works to develop, but moreover expand, the "downtown" are of town in order to accomodate and facilitate the construction of skyscrapers in the downtown area-banks and corporate companies need the ample amount of land for the towers they already plan to build HERE IN MCALLEN! Combine the 17th Street development project, which is already renewing the image of downtown by luring in a higher-class of clubers, ofeering them high-end clubs, restaurants, pubs, cafes, and entertainment...McAllen wants to be in direct competition with Austin's 6th Street. The Art District is also growing and will allow for the introduction of a more cultured and refined populace, residing here in McAllen. Take also the Boeye Reservoir which is to be drained soon in order to allow for the development of a New York mimic "Central Park", surrounded by upper-crust hotels, restaurants, science museums, a planetarium, and the Valley's first IMAX theater. Not to forget the rumored "Riverwalk" the city of McAllen intends to place stretching from the "Central Park" into Downtown (17th Street and the Art District). McAllen also plans on expanding its airport to meet the demand set forth by the region. Clearly and evidently, the City of McAllen (and the whole Rio Grande Valley...) is experiencing a major boom in growth, development, and planning, despite the recent recession. McAllen will become a major city in the United States and also a major export/import epicenter at a worlwide level, connecting Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America to McAllen, Mexico, and the whole United States. McAllen will soon be, in essence, the San Fransisco or Miami of the Southwestern United States; just wait and see!

Oh man. I seriously hate to do this but the last sentence was the last line.

McAllen, the city, will probably be at about 180,000 in 15 years. Nowhere close to 250,000-500,000. Where did you get that number from?

As for the demographics and growth of McAllen. Firstly, McAllen's metro growth is fueled by new births. The percentage of growth from people moving to McAllen from outside the metro area is very low.



In 2008 McAllen MSA grew by 21,126 people.

69 percent of that growth came from births.
17 percent of that growth came from international migration.
13 percent of that growth came from net domestic migration.

That means that after they added the new residents who came from outside the metro area and subtracted the number of people who left the metro, the number came out to 2,727. A very small number and an even smaller percentage.

As for McAllen's (city) black population, it's small, very small and its growth is microscopic. Since 2000, per the census, McAllen has added about 600 black people. The black population makes up 1 percent of the city of McAllens population. The Asian population is twice as large at 2% of the city population.

As for the development you are mentioning. Aside from one or two things most of everything you said happening are just your basic city proposals. Nothing is confirmed or planned. And example is the central park idea, as you can see from the article posted on this page from two years ago, it's no closer to a reality than it was then. I remember in 2005 when some businessman down there seriously thought the Valley had a shot at an NFL team. That wasn't you by chance was it? j/k But honestly, that was just crazy.

But the part that really had me stunned is the "McAllen will be the San Fransisco and Miami of the Southwest."

I really don't know what to say about that. I mean, it's one thing to have civic pride and I would never bash that. But it's another thing to be so delusional with said pride. And that sir, is straight up crazy delusional.

[teclog]

Hey my friends, according to the Census almost 27 percent of McAllen residents (not the metro area) have a bachelor's degreee or higher. That's on average with the rest of the country and above the Texas average. It's also better than Ft. Worth, Corpus, Beaumont, Amarillo, Laredo and seveeral other cities. if you take in the whole county, yes, it looks a lot worse. McAllen's unemployment in 2008 was 5.0, again lower that most cities across the state including Dallas, but if you take in the La Joya's, Elsa's and all the rural areas in the MSA, it gets a lot higher. Oh, and by the way Austin snobs, we recycle at a higher rate that you do -- AND you are supposed to be the gree and natural city. Give me a break. Austin is living off the past when it was a really cool city. Now its all traffic jams, racism on the east side, homelessness and screwed up streets.

Originally Posted by elvalle_mayne

Agree 100%. I think first and foremost education should be the focus. Better educated residents will ultimately result in them being able to bring something to the community of substance in terms of economic value. Minimum wage jobs I think is a good start to at least getting the poverty issue taken in the right direction, remember a low end job is better than no job. But eventually (and soon), they must strive to establish a stable and profitable economy of some sort of industry. Example, although may be a bad one, would be the steel industries of the Midwest (although we all know that flopped), but point being at least it brought a stable and strong economy for a time being before it collapsed. Once those two priorities can be fulfilled to a majority portion, than we can focus on the entertainment aspect.

[jluke65780]

Originally Posted by lemonfresh

Oh man. I seriously hate to do this but the last sentence was the last line.

McAllen, the city, will probably be at about 180,000 in 15 years. Nowhere close to 250,000-500,000. Where did you get that number from?

As for the demographics and growth of McAllen. Firstly, McAllen's metro growth is fueled by new births. The percentage of growth from people moving to McAllen from outside the metro area is very low.



In 2008 McAllen MSA grew by 21,126 people.

69 percent of that growth came from births.
17 percent of that growth came from international migration.
13 percent of that growth came from net domestic migration.

That means that after they added the new residents who came from outside the metro area and subtracted the number of people who left the metro, the number came out to 2,727. A very small number and an even smaller percentage.

As for McAllen's (city) black population, it's small, very small and its growth is microscopic. Since 2000, per the census, McAllen has added about 600 black people. The black population makes up 1 percent of the city of McAllens population. The Asian population is twice as large at 2% of the city population.

As for the development you are mentioning. Aside from one or two things most of everything you said happening are just your basic city proposals. Nothing is confirmed or planned. And example is the central park idea, as you can see from the article posted on this page from two years ago, it's no closer to a reality than it was then. I remember in 2005 when some businessman down there seriously thought the Valley had a shot at an NFL team. That wasn't you by chance was it? j/k But honestly, that was just crazy.

But the part that really had me stunned is the "McAllen will be the San Fransisco and Miami of the Southwest."

I really don't know what to say about that. I mean, it's one thing to have civic pride and I would never bash that. But it's another thing to be so delusional with said pride. And that sir, is straight up crazy delusional.

Illegal Immigrants.....

[An0nym0us88]

Originally Posted by jluke65780

Illegal Immigrants.....

I agree.

I would never live anywhere in South Texas except San Antonio. South Texas is a culture shock to me.

[texan55]

Originally Posted by An0nym0us88

I agree.

I would never live anywhere in South Texas except San Antonio. South Texas is a culture shock to me.

i wonder what the rest of the world is to you.

not ragging on you or anything. i'm just honestly curious

[An0nym0us88]

Originally Posted by texan55

i wonder what the rest of the world is to you.

not ragging on you or anything. i'm just honestly curious

Nah, it's cool.

Italy wasn't even a culture shock to me. It was beautiful there.

I don't know why South Texas is a culture shock to me. It is just totally different from East Texas. The culture there is mainly Hispanics and it is just different to me.

West Texas wasn't so much but just very different environment. Anywhere east of Dallas to Houston line would be comfortable to me. I'm so used to with so many trees and hills here.

[Speech]

Originally Posted by gabetx

That is not racist at all. I'm just saying how I feel. Its just anybody that I have ever really noticed being rude are really rich white people. I am not talking about whites in general. My mom is white. She is 100% German.

I am just saying, you don't see Mexican/Hispanic people being all stuck up and rude nearly as much as you do white people. But I think that is just because whites, on average, make a higher income than minorities.

Maybe I meant to say rich people, not white people.

But really though, saying Mexican nationals and hispanics are rude people is rediculous.

They are the kindest, hardest working, and most respectful individuals out there.

I lived in the Valley for a while and before I moved there, I was expecting respect and courtesy, the latin way. Unfortunately, I remember a different picture.
A lot of stuck up and rude people, I just can't recall anyone, foreigner or local being "the kindest most respectful" individual, specially while driving. (Please don't get me started on the drivers).
Before throwing a tantrum or the racist card again, get out of the valley once in a while, you don't have to leave Texas to see people behaving differently, you will run into rude and stupid people everywhere but try to learn from others courtesy.
I'm a proud hispanic myself, we know we are actually nice and working people. Bring that attitude to the RGV.

[crbcrbrgv]

The Valley is its own culture. It isn't American. It isn't Mexican. It's its own world.

[coroller70]

Originally Posted by gabetx

Wow, is all this really true or just a breath of hot air? If McAllen is really planning all of this then kuddos to them! I wouldn't be surprised. McAllen is growing at such an astonishing rate, especially for south Texas. McAllen puts Corpus to shame now.

BTW, do you have any links about these plans and developments coroller? I would love to read up on it.

You have to believe me when I tell you that most, if not all, of this information is secret... I have a friend who maintains very close ties to the Mayor and the City of McAllen. He has "leaked" most of this info. The information isn't however kept secret for safety...its only to surprise the Valley...considering lots of it doesn't keep up with the daily frontpage of the newspaper..