Vast sections of Austin are "fugly" let's not kid ourselves (Mesquite: appointed, big house)

[cBach]

Originally Posted by 10scoachrick

As discussed in other threads, just cutting the weeds and clearing the medians/curbs would go a long way in improving the appearance of many of the roads. Part of 5th Street near MoPac was finally mowed; but they left weeds encroaching into the driving lanes 2 to 3 feet!

We are still much much greener than we were for the first five years we lived here...add completely toasted brown weeds to the scenery and it looked even more dismal from '08 to '11!

Austin doesn't have to do squat and the 150 people just keep coming.

[Westerner92]

Originally Posted by dbsteel

Every big city has the "cookie cutter neighborhoods" too. But there is something about the ones in Austin and suburbs (and Dallas and Houston for that matter) that are really ugly. I think its simply that they are bigger, and more jammed to the point where you need those ugly privacy fences. A cookie cutter neighborhood where the lot is three times as big looks nicer.

Exactly. Texas suburbs manage to combine the worst of both urban and suburban living. They have all the blandness and isolation of suburbs without any of the privacy, green space, or respite from traffic.

[riaelise]

Originally Posted by Westerner92

Exactly. Texas suburbs manage to combine the worst of both urban and suburban living. They have all the blandness and isolation of suburbs without any of the privacy, green space, or respite from traffic.

There are many Texas suburbs that are nothing like you described. Frankly speaking, my neighborhood is anything but bland and the subdivision is wooded with mature trees...so there's lot of green, thank God. I say thank God because oak wilt would be particularly devastating to not only our neighborhood but the entire area since there are so many oaks. You'd be hard pressed to consider major Texas suburbs as being "isolated". With all of the encroaching development the only thing "missing" (and even that is debatable) are the jobs.

[petro]

Originally Posted by 10scoachrick

As discussed in other threads, just cutting the weeds and clearing the medians/curbs would go a long way in improving the appearance of many of the roads. Part of 5th Street near MoPac was finally mowed; but they left weeds encroaching into the driving lanes 2 to 3 feet!

The medians are not mowed until early summer so that the wildflowers can reseed for the following year. At least, that's my understanding.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by petro

The medians are not mowed until early summer so that the wildflowers can reseed for the following year. At least, that's my understanding.

That, and to allow ground nesting birds to fledge before cutting.

[Antny12]

I live in the suburbs and love it however I would agree that the way they build subdivisions here is awful. Some of them have houses jammed so tight together you could spread your arms across and probably touch both houses. But when they can sell them like hot cakes at McDonald's at 7am then why wouldn't they make the most of the property they bought.... More homes=more money.

I wish they would space them out more and have bigger lots all together but It's not my call. So it goes.

[Westerner92]

Originally Posted by riaelise

There are many Texas suburbs that are nothing like you described. Frankly speaking, my neighborhood is anything but bland and the subdivision is wooded with mature trees...so there's lot of green, thank God. I say thank God because oak wilt would be particularly devastating to not only our neighborhood but the entire area since there are so many oaks. You'd be hard pressed to consider major Texas suburbs as being "isolated". With all of the encroaching development the only thing "missing" (and even that is debatable) are the jobs.

I'm happy that you can afford that. When I say isolated, I mean that you don't see people out and about and most amenities are 10+ minutes away (especially in rush hour traffic). Most Texas suburbs fit that definition in my experience.

[riaelise]

Originally Posted by Westerner92

I'm happy that you can afford that. When I say isolated, I mean that you don't see people out and about and most amenities are 10+ minutes away (especially in rush hour traffic). Most Texas suburbs fit that definition in my experience.

I disagree - there are many similar neighborhoods that are affordable. Older housing stock tends to not be as cookie cutter and has more trees and green space. Unfortunately I can't deny that many suburban areas are being colonized by the "Remington Oaks" 1/8 acre subdivisions but that isn't just specific to Texas. It's like that all over America. Having amenities more than 10 minutes away isn't a big deal at all. In Austin proper there are areas where amenities are more than ten minutes away. Surely you mean 20+ minutes because 10 ain't nuthin'....except to someone from Manhattan or somethin'....

People are probably inside because it's so dang hot. On a fall day I'd bet you see a lot more people.

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by petro

The medians are not mowed until early summer so that the wildflowers can reseed for the following year. At least, that's my understanding.

Yawn...pretty sure there wasn't a wildflower in the bunch...just switchgrass or coastal bermuda or similar. It was never 'pretty' with flowers and sure as heck isn't pretty now.

Having even wildflowers falling from their own weight into the travel lanes is pretty sad.

Notice how I used 'pretty' a lot so it would sound prettier...didn't work.

[radiolibre99]

Originally Posted by Westerner92

Exactly. Texas suburbs manage to combine the worst of both urban and suburban living. They have all the blandness and isolation of suburbs without any of the privacy, green space, or respite from traffic.

Really? I don't get these impressions at all. I think of Texas burbs as being bigger versions of the typical burbs you'd find in CA.

I go around the OC and think that the homes are too close together and that in Texas you get more land. The homes in CA seem a bit smaller, closer lots and cost four times as much.

Just how does anything in Texas get to look that much uglier, blander, nastier, tackier, etc to the transplants or detractors on CD. Seriously, everything is just worse? It's always on another level of bad all the time. If it's not weather it's the way we build our homes now. LOL