Austin will be the largest city in the US I predict (insurance, college)

[migol84]

Originally Posted by eepstein

Tourists? Dude you must be drunk. Besides SXSW and ACL, what possible reason could anyone have to come to Austin besides get drunk on 6th street? Float on the rapidly sinking Lake Travis in the 100 degree heat? Count the pickups and Tahoes driving by?? Ok sir, time to sober up!!

And just for the record. California will ALWAYS be the place to be. There is no reason to live anywhere else. Sure, the economy sucks now, but do you really think the worlds 8th largest ecomony won't bounce back?? The moving to Texas "fad" will eventually come to an end.

if austin is as bad as you say it is, why does it seem you try very hard to convince people? none of us here are trying to convince people what is cool about austin... but you... boy. you write essays and whatnot. what's even more strange is that you throw in california and try to convince them california is where its at. i think it's the other way around... california has lost its fad. it may recover, but it will never get any better than it is. texas on the other hand has much room for improvement and its cities like austin that is telling texas is on a good direction.

[Trae713]

Originally Posted by N. Olikee

I think Austin is going through a "growth spurt." Just like Houston did in the '70s and Dallas did in the '80s......not that those cities aren't still growing, but "all of a sudden" people from all over the country / world were moving in.

I can remember coming to visit familly here back 15 - 16 years ago. We flew into the old "rinky dink" airport, and Austin was still a smallish town. At that time, my cousins lived in a (podunk) place I'd never heard of............Round Rock, and my Houston friends questioned why I would ever want to live in a small town, since I'm really a Big City girl.

Yeah, this is all it really is. Austin is going through its big growth spurt. It'll mature and slow down (though the metro should keep chugging). Austin is definitely one of the places to be in America right now.

[ScoPro]

Originally Posted by eepstein

Tourists? Dude you must be drunk. Besides SXSW and ACL, what possible reason could anyone have to come to Austin besides get drunk on 6th street? Float on the rapidly sinking Lake Travis in the 100 degree heat? Count the pickups and Tahoes driving by?? Ok sir, time to sober up!!

And just for the record. California will ALWAYS be the place to be. There is no reason to live anywhere else. Sure, the economy sucks now, but do you really think the worlds 8th largest ecomony won't bounce back?? The moving to Texas "fad" will eventually come to an end.

Het eep, don't scare off the tourists....just focus on discouraging the immigrants.

[80SC]

Of course drunk tourists are going to profess their love of Austin. They're on vacation, having a great time and rubbing elbows with friendly locals. However, I fail see what tangible benefits (other than a lower cost of living, which is among the highest in Texas) that someone from NY, LA, or DC would gain from living in Austin.

Austin is a all but a foot print of those cities--an overgrown suburb with a few tall buildings in it's miniature central business district. If someone from NY or LA moved to Austin, they'd quickly become bored with the cities scant, laughable cultural avenues, its distinct lack of diversity, the much slower pace, and a prevalent slacker attitude. Not to mention a horrible infrastructure and mediocre at best culinary options.

What specifically does Austin offer that world class cities do not? Absolutely nothing. While I think Austin will continue to grow, I do not think the city can reasonably sustain a population over 1 million.

And what's with this mass desire to have more people move here about anyway? As if the neighborhoods in central Austin aren't overpriced as it is. An influx of Californians and New Yorkers will push already astronomically expensive central Austin real estate to prices never seen in Texas. Is that a good thing?

Frankly, I'll never understand what all the Austin hype is about.

[migol84]

Originally Posted by 80SC

...However, I fail see what tangible benefits (other than a lower cost of living, which is among the highest in Texas) that someone from NY, LA, or DC would gain from living in Austin.

Austin is a all but a foot print of those cities--an overgrown suburb with a few tall buildings in it's miniature central business district. If someone from NY or LA moved to Austin, they'd quickly become bored with the cities scant, laughable cultural avenues, its distinct lack of diversity, the much slower pace, and a prevalent slacker attitude. Not to mention a horrible infrastructure and mediocre at best culinary options.

Despite agreeing with you on a certain level, I'd have to mention that I've met people who've moved from NYC, or LA to Austin and they love it just as much. Not everybody, but there are people who do actually love Austin. It's okay if you don't understand it, but many people do get tired of living in gigantic cities such as LA or NY.

What specifically does Austin offer that world class cities do not? Absolutely nothing.

who said it did? Who said that is what is to love about Austin?

While I think Austin will continue to grow, I do not think the city can reasonably sustain a population over 1 million.

And what's with this mass desire to have more people move here about anyway? As if the neighborhoods in central Austin aren't overpriced as it is. An influx of Californians and New Yorkers will push already astronomically expensive central Austin real estate to prices never seen in Texas. Is that a good thing?

I agree with this. Although I do see Austin growing at about 3 million in its metro and it will grow no further.

Frankly, I'll never understand what all the Austin hype is about.

No, you never will and rightfully so. Austin would never seem to fit in with close minded folks like you.

edit: I mean, this is really getting on my nerves. Nobody is saying that Austin is any better than San Francisco, LA, Las Vegas, NO, or NYC. There's just a good mix of people who have come to appreciate what Austin is. What's so wrong about that? Why is that overhyping? Why is it that its okay if Californians hype even a measly fast food burger place a la In-n-Out but when Texas says something great about one of their cities that is overhyping? like seriously what the hell?

[Trae713]

Originally Posted by migol84

Despite agreeing with you on a certain level, I'd have to mention that I've met people who've moved from NYC, or LA to Austin and they love it just as much. Not everybody, but there are people who do actually love Austin. It's okay if you don't understand it, but many people do get tired of living in gigantic cities such as LA or NY.

who said it did? Who said that is what is to love about Austin?

I agree with this. Although I do see Austin growing at about 3 million in its metro and it will grow no further.

No, you never will and rightfully so. Austin would never seem to fit in with close minded folks like you.

edit: I mean, this is really getting on my nerves. Nobody is saying that Austin is any better than San Francisco, LA, Las Vegas, NO, or NYC. There's just a good mix of people who have come to appreciate what Austin is. What's so wrong about that? Why is that overhyping? Why is it that its okay if Californians hype even a measly fast food burger place a la In-n-Out but when Texas says something great about one of their cities that is overhyping? like seriously what the hell?

What? People have been saying In-N-Out is too hyped since it opened here in Texas.

[migol84]

Originally Posted by Trae713

What? People have been saying In-N-Out is too hyped since it opened here in Texas.

I'm not sure I understand what you're saying.

[Trae713]

Originally Posted by migol84

I'm not sure I understand what you're saying.

You were saying why is it okay for people to hype In-N-Out, but people have been saying In-N-Out is overhyped for the longest time, especially now that it's open in Texas. My point is, no one gives Californians a pass.

[FueledByBlueBell]

Originally Posted by 80SC

Of course drunk tourists are going to profess their love of Austin. They're on vacation, having a great time and rubbing elbows with friendly locals. However, I fail see what tangible benefits (other than a lower cost of living, which is among the highest in Texas) that someone from NY, LA, or DC would gain from living in Austin.

Austin is a all but a foot print of those cities--an overgrown suburb with a few tall buildings in it's miniature central business district. If someone from NY or LA moved to Austin, they'd quickly become bored with the cities scant, laughable cultural avenues, its distinct lack of diversity, the much slower pace, and a prevalent slacker attitude. Not to mention a horrible infrastructure and mediocre at best culinary options.

What specifically does Austin offer that world class cities do not? Absolutely nothing. While I think Austin will continue to grow, I do not think the city can reasonably sustain a population over 1 million.

And what's with this mass desire to have more people move here about anyway? As if the neighborhoods in central Austin aren't overpriced as it is. An influx of Californians and New Yorkers will push already astronomically expensive central Austin real estate to prices never seen in Texas. Is that a good thing?

Frankly, I'll never understand what all the Austin hype is about.

do you know how many people have moved here from NYC who love it? Not that any of this matters, but lived in new york for quite some time and hardly ever heard anyone talk about LA.

[cBach]

Okay, folks, now that I've sobered up a bit, let me explain my post.

I met some people from DC that came here on vacation for the night club scene. Do you know how great the nightclub scene is there? And they came here to party? That is the sole reason they came here: to party? That says something about how great Austin is. Explain that. Also, they said everyone up in the northeast realizes how great Austin is. It is absolutely unbelieveable they say.

I met account reps, execs, and other high end people that said they are putting everything they have into Austin. There is only positives associated with Austin, no negatives, and they are putting their money where their mouth is.

Sure, some will say we are overhyped, but whether that's true or not, the fact remains that people want to visit here, want to live here, want all things Austin, deserved or undeserved that is the truth.

About the girls with bodyguards. Why would I be a jerk to beautiful women that are all over me? Does not compute. I liked it because they gave the okay to their bodyguard while the "unworthy" were kept at bay. That means I don't have to worry about competition I still can't figure out why they needed a bodyguard, but they were beautiful and there were many tools there so maybe they have the bodyguard as insurance.

You know sometimes when you see a trend in advance, that's what I saw last night. This is the tip of the iceberg. I happened to go over Congress Ave bridge when the bats were flying earlier last night. The bridge was 3 to 4 deep people the whole way across. When I used to watch the bats 5 years ago, there were maybe a handful of people on both sides of the bridge. Now there are professional photographers and others.

Will we surpass NYC like I originally said, well unlikely. However, we will be growing faster than the rest of the nation for some time to come.