Cities with the most potential (Austin, Waco: violent crime, club, vs.)

[MrMcCoySays]

Originally Posted by jluke65780

Eventually Killeen is going to surpass Waco. They are growing much more faster.

Yeah and that's gonna be strange

[txstate]

Originally Posted by MrMcCoySays

Yeah and that's gonna be strange

But Waco's metro area will always be bigger because all people move to the burbs. Waco is still the central hub of this part of CenTex ( not the austin section)

[jluke65780]

Originally Posted by txstate

But Waco's metro area will always be bigger because all people move to the burbs. Waco is still the central hub of this part of CenTex ( not the austin section)

Killeen's metro area is actually more popular.

[Spade]

Originally Posted by txstate

But Waco's metro area will always be bigger because all people move to the burbs. Waco is still the central hub of this part of CenTex ( not the austin section)

Actually, I don't think Waco is the hub at all for Central Texas.

So I guess I understand where you're coming from. But are you young and single or are you settled down with a family?

Yeah I'm young and single. But even when I get my family, I won't even dare move to any metro area under 5 million people. More than likely, I'll live in the city. But I just do not like small towns.

Waco is in central Texas which is nothing like Killeen or Temple. I know your more into the urban scene, but saying it's nothing there is so far from the truth. Also Waco is densifying and making a more urban core.

But Killeen is nothing like Temple or Waco and Waco is nothing like Killeen and Temple. Each are three different cities. However, all are suburban in nature and it's going to take decades for that to change for either city. I don't find Waco to be very fun at all. In fact, I find it slower in pace to Killeen and that goes back to what I said in my past post.

[mayhem154]

It will still take a few years for Killeen to catch Waco. That is also assuming Killeen continues to grow at its current pace. Killeen also has the potential to lose population more quickly than Waco, due to the whims of Congress and the Army.

[jluke65780]

Originally Posted by Spade

Actually, I don't think Waco is the hub at all for Central Texas.


Yeah I'm young and single. But even when I get my family, I won't even dare move to any metro area under 5 million people. More than likely, I'll live in the city. But I just do not like small towns.



But Killeen is nothing like Temple or Waco and Waco is nothing like Killeen and Temple. Each are three different cities. However, all are suburban in nature and it's going to take decades for that to change for either city. I don't find Waco to be very fun at all. In fact, I find it slower in pace to Killeen and that goes back to what I said in my past post.

Temple and Killeen are alike to be honest. They aren't exactly that different from one another. Waco would be suburban for a northern city, but in Texas, it's not suburban. It has too much history to be considered suburban. Killeen looks like a suburb of Waco.

[TXTwizter]

Originally Posted by An0nym0us88

I like to have someone else that is not from Waco to confirm this.

When I went there last time, a lot of buildings there are rundown and even several of my friends said that also. Maybe I'm looking at the wrong part of the city or is that what happen after losing Paul Quinn?

Well I can tell from growing up in Waco in the 70s and 80s that it has to a degree improved , but also has lost alot at the same time.

For example.....Paul Quinn was the heart and soul of East Waco. Back when it was open, Elm Avenue flourished with diners, clubs, stores, etc. Even with it being in a high crime area. Once Paul Quinn moved to Dallas, all that vanished. Today I can count on both hands the number of business's in a 10 block area, and the crime is higher than ever.

Downtown was all but deserted in those days. The opening of Lake Air Mall and the Richland Mall sealed its deal. Today, new apartments and condos are opening up, more retail, etc are starting to give downtown new life.

Waco nightlife was somewhat better IMO, we had clubs like The Outer Limits, 25th Street Theatre, Magic Music and The Night Owl. Today The OL has been torn down, 25th Street Theatre is abandoned, Magic Music is a Bingo Hall,,and The Night Owl is vacant as well I believe. Today, the nightlife is starting to make a comeback with places like 5th Street IceHouse, Austin on the Avenue, Square Bar and Wild West.

Waco has TONS of potential, especailly with the 2015 goal, Brazos River development, etc.......But, this will never happen unless the city can convince a major company or two to open up here (with High Paying jobs), instead of McDonalds or Wal-Mart. Waco also needs to work on its embarrassments as schools, or I highly doubt it'll attract anything more than Micky Ds or Wally World

[jluke65780]

Originally Posted by TXTwizter

Well I can tell from growing up in Waco in the 70s and 80s that it has to a degree improved , but also has lost alot at the same time.

For example.....Paul Quinn was the heart and soul of East Waco. Back when it was open, Elm Avenue flourished with diners, clubs, stores, etc. Even with it being in a high crime area. Once Paul Quinn moved to Dallas, all that vanished. Today I can count on both hands the number of business's in a 10 block area, and the crime is higher than ever.

Downtown was all but deserted in those days. The opening of Lake Air Mall and the Richland Mall sealed its deal. Today, new apartments and condos are opening up, more retail, etc are starting to give downtown new life.

Waco nightlife was somewhat better IMO, we had clubs like The Outer Limits, 25th Street Theatre, Magic Music and The Night Owl. Today The OL has been torn down, 25th Street Theatre is abandoned, Magic Music is a Bingo Hall,,and The Night Owl is vacant as well I believe. Today, the nightlife is starting to make a comeback with places like 5th Street IceHouse, Austin on the Avenue, Square Bar and Wild West.

Waco has TONS of potential, especailly with the 2015 goal, Brazos River development, etc.......But, this will never happen unless the city can convince a major company or two to open up here (with High Paying jobs), instead of McDonalds or Wal-Mart. Waco also needs to work on its embarrassments as schools, or I highly doubt it'll attract anything more than Micky Ds or Wally World

I agree with everything you said! The nightlife is only good for the rock/country scene, more and more black clubs are being closed down due to violent crimes. The city is doing a great job reviving downtown, but the East side should of been their number one priority. Just 5 years ago, Elm street was the place to be. Now it's completely DEAD.

[MrMcCoySays]

Killeen and Temple are very different. For one, Temple has the advantage of being located on I-35. Not only is Killeen not on a major interstate, but its outside the TX triangle. No one passes thru it unless theyre going to or coming from the countryside. If someone were to visit both places I'm sure they wouldnt guess that Killeen is the bigger city......Killeen however is a younger more active city with a better nightlife (which isnt saying much)......Demographic wise, Killeen is seen by some as a "black city" (one of the blackest cities in Texas percentage wise) while Temple is much more white. These factors alone serve to create a much different social climate in each city. Gangs and crime are a real problem in Killeen, but probably not at all in Temple........I've lived in both and there are definitely big differences between them. In fact I'd probably say that Temple and Waco are better compared (not counting size of course).

[TXTwizter]

Originally Posted by jluke65780

I agree with everything you said! The nightlife is only good for the rock/country scene, more and more black clubs are being closed down due to violent crimes. The city is doing a great job reviving downtown, but the East side should of been their number one priority. Just 5 years ago, Elm street was the place to be. Now it's completely DEAD.

Yeah Club Legacy just had its liquor license revoked. I wonder how long Club Energy is gonna make it, from what I hear its pretty bad!
I agree that East Waco needs help Bad, but I think you have to look at it in an economical standpoint. With violent crime, robbery, rapes, etc. running rampant in East Waco, why would a private investor want to take the chance on it, when they can just as easily locate in West Waco with much less stress to deal with.
jluke, do you ever read Carol Dugat's blogs about East Waco on the Trib website? Interesting reading if you have the time.

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