Why I'm leaving Austin: An 8th Generation Austinite's observations (Houston: subdivision, living in)

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by G Grasshopper

NO city is the city it used to be. The US population is growing very quickly, and the cities will have to be crowded. No choice. City governments want their part of that growing tax base. It is the way it is. People who can't adapt to the change need to move to small towns or into the country where the rate of change will be slower. If people want to actually deal with this, we need to deal with the population explosion generally. So far, I see NO real movement nationally to look at that.

I think you must be under the illusion that Texas population growth is any way representative of most of the US. It is not. Many states have seen a much lower population growth rate in percentage terms over time.

[Komeht]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

Kohmeht, I don't know about you, but I used to go downtown after dark in the past - and I'm 5'2" and female. I don't go downtown at all now if I can possibly help it beyond going to Savory Spice two or three times a year. Even Whole Foods has managed to drive me away.

And what, I might ask, is wrong with being a "backwater" (though I never considered it one) with personality rather than just like every other big city out there? If you love big cities so much, why on earth didn't you just move to one?

Perhaps we should get one thing defined first, though - what, to you, is "back in the day"?

Uh, it wasn't dangerous - it was dead. Nothing going on. You could hit golf balls down congress avenue on a friday night without hitting cars.

You don't like stuff - I get that. But most people like stuff. Stuff to do, stuff to see, stuff to eat, stuff to drink. That's why Austin downtown now is hopping now (even though you don't go there anymore). 25 years ago there were a handful of disgruntled aging hippies living out the last years of their youth before they turned to the suburbs. Aging hippies and bums, Austin has always had a healthy population old hippies of downtown bums.

Oh, and the early urban pioneers who have brought the city back from the brink. That group of heros was just getting their start.

What's wrong with being a backwater? it sucks to live in one. Much rather be in the center of attention. Backwaters are fine for vacations when you want to get away from it all.

[TexasHorseLady]

I didn't go downtown to hit golf balls down Congress Avenue. I went to restaurants, bars, etc. From about 1968 on. But I wasn't restricted to downtown for entertainment, either. Maybe I was more interested in seeking out the numerous things to do (my problem was deciding between competing ones rather than not having enough). It certainly didn't "suck" to live here; if it had, all those people wouldn't have wanted to move here, after all, because they heard how great it was to live here.

As far as "hopping", that's not the word I would use to describe downtown based on the few times I've had to go down there lately. Overcrowded, annoying, difficult to get around, difficult to park, I don't even go to Town Lake or Zilker any more because of the crowds. That's not progress.

But I do get it now - you want to be the center of attention, and you think the way to do that is to be just like bigger cities that anyone can find anywhere.

Again, what does "back in the day" mean to you and just how old were you when you got your memories of Armadillo World Headquarters?

[Komeht]

We lost a few aging hippies (frankly, Austin smells a little better for it) and gained a huge thriving populace of urbanites filling all those local businesses with paying customers.

Seems like a good trade to me.

[capcat]

So, who's good enough to live in Austin anymore? According to this thread, not the middle-aged, not the lower economic group (by areas mentioned as hell holes, nightmares). The new urbanites...younger, prettier, with lots of cash?

[Melissa78703]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

As far as "hopping", that's not the word I would use to describe downtown based on the few times I've had to go down there lately. Overcrowded, annoying, difficult to get around, difficult to park, I don't even go to Town Lake or Zilker any more because of the crowds. That's not progress ...Again, what does "back in the day" mean to you and just how old were you when you got your memories of Armadillo World Headquarters?

You touched on something, THL. I (personally) don't mind a more vibrant downtown area, and for a while, Austin hit just the right ratio of people to fun places to go -- as well as downtown residents. But there's a world of difference between being hopping and turning into a theme park. I love the Jo's location in the Warehouse District. Just love it. Know how many times I go there in a year? Maybe once, if that many. It's just not worth the effort of finding parking, or paying for parking. Same goes for a lot of the eateries, bars, clubs, etc. downtown.

The problem is that when Austin expanded, it didn't take that downtown/Central uniqueness and spread it around all over the city in a concerted, focused effort. There are little pockets of "cool", but nothing to draw a big enough population.

[orngkat]

Overcrowded, annoying, difficult to get around, difficult to park, I don't even go to Town Lake or Zilker any more because of the crowds. That's not progress.

Agreed. I cringe now when I know I have to go downtown...not fun.

[centralaustinite]

Well, for several years now, if I have to go downtown I take the bus or a cab (live close enough that it is just a $8-10 cab) ride, and I have a few special places where I know I can almost always find a parking space. Especially when the boardwalk is complete on the south shore, I'll probably start riding my bike to the trail or Zilker or downtown.

Driving and parking will become increasingly difficult but the public transportation options (and walking) are getting easier and easier.

[Komeht]

Originally Posted by capcat

So, who's good enough to live in Austin anymore? According to this thread, not the middle-aged, not the lower economic group (by areas mentioned as hell holes, nightmares). The new urbanites...younger, prettier, with lots of cash?

Anyone who loves a great vibrant thriving city filled with residents and visitors with lots pf local shops, bars and restaurants to choose from. Curmudgeons who have long left Austin for the suburbs and still pine for a lost city that never was all that great need to apply.

[Austinite101]

All I keep seeing is people complaining about the "crowds". Oh the big bad crowds. If one does not like being near a lot of people, one should refrain from moving to a city.