Dire impact of rezoning on Austin's neighborhoods (Houston, Dallas: mortgage, tech jobs)

[m1a1mg]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

I am from the dreaded, hated, Houston (a native). Austin should have taken more cues from it rather than looking to the West Coast.

Austin is what it is. Austinites, at least a plurality, have chosen that it be this way. For some reason, other Texans get their knickers in a knot about this. Care to explain?

[Westerner92]

Originally Posted by atxcio

But why? Austin has never had an interest in being more like Houston, that much should be well known from a native Houstonian. Austin has always been more about what has been happening on the coasts.

Be careful, you might accidentally bring out THL to berate you for not believing Austin in the 60s-90s was the bestest, uniquest, perfectest utopia that ever was and was ruined by "outsiders" (while she reaps the benefits of her financial portfolio growing 3-6% a year for decades).

But you're right. Austin has always been a safe haven for Texans who didn't fit in, whether it's Houston, Dallas, West Texas, the RGV, etc., and they looked to the coasts for cultural cues. It's the mix of coastal counterculture with Texas attitudes that has always made Austin what it is. In fact, now that Austin is on the map more and more, it's looked to as a source for a lot of counterculture. The vast majority of in-migration is from within Texas, and Austin is IMHO, the best distiller of Texas culture.

A place's "character" isn't in its buildings or urban structure. It's in the characters. Austin will cease to be Austin if only wealthy families can live in the core.

[Trainwreck20]

The no-zoning in Houston is a very interesting beast. There are restrictions (i.e. minimum distance between adult bookstores and schools), so it isn't completely 'wild west'. It is possible that the sprawl of Houston is partially attributable to the lack of zoning - people moving out to escape mixes that they did not like. HOAs have a much more significant impact, as well.

I will say that I deal with people and companies all the time that are in litigation or mediation due to industrial facilities right next to residential facilities. There are some very unhappy people.

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by Westerner92

Be careful, you might accidentally bring out THL to berate you for not believing Austin in the 60s-90s was the bestest, uniquest, perfectest utopia that ever was and was ruined by "outsiders" (while she reaps the benefits of her financial portfolio growing 3-6% a year for decades).

But you're right. Austin has always been a safe haven for Texans who didn't fit in, whether it's Houston, Dallas, West Texas, the RGV, etc., and they looked to the coasts for cultural cues. It's the mix of coastal counterculture with Texas attitudes that has always made Austin what it is. In fact, now that Austin is on the map more and more, it's looked to as a source for a lot of counterculture. The vast majority of in-migration is from within Texas, and Austin is IMHO, the best distiller of Texas culture.

A place's "character" isn't in its buildings or urban structure. It's in the characters. Austin will cease to be Austin if only wealthy families can live in the core.

Obsessed with your own version of reality, are you? It's sad to see. What are you, 13 or something?


No, Austin has not "always" looked to the coasts for its cultural cues. (Unless always means a very short period of time that involves only since you've been a teenager or later - and if that's the case, to quote a famous Spaniard, I don't think that word means what you think it means.) And no sane adult looks to Austin today for a source of counterculture. That's long gone and it's rapidly turning into AnyCity, USA.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

Exactly, allowing densification is no guarantee of objective affordability (like in Houston where new townhomes inside the Loop are $400K and up), but it at least allows the construction of units that can be produced less expensively per unit, like duplexes, ADUs and townhomes.

Ultimately land prices determine whether there's real affordability in a neighborhood. If the market believes that someone will pay $500K or more for a home on a particular piece of land, the land price will adjust, and affordability is gone.

What's often overlooked, though, is that generally allowing more housing production over a given market area where demand is increasing will also help slow down price appreciation at the macro level.

actually supply vs demand determines if there are affordable units. The land price is irrelevant so long as there is enough supply

[Westerner92]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

Obsessed with your own version of reality, are you? It's sad to see. What are you, 13 or something?


No, Austin has not "always" looked to the coasts for its cultural cues. (Unless always means a very short period of time that involves only since you've been a teenager or later - and if that's the case, to quote a famous Spaniard, I don't think that word means what you think it means.) And no sane adult looks to Austin today for a source of counterculture. That's long gone and it's rapidly turning into AnyCity, USA.

Clueless, clueless, clueless. Austin didn't invent the hippie revolution that you look so fondly upon (then deserted).

[DPatel304]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

No, Austin has not "always" looked to the coasts for its cultural cues. (Unless always means a very short period of time that involves only since you've been a teenager or later - and if that's the case, to quote a famous Spaniard, I don't think that word means what you think it means.) And no sane adult looks to Austin today for a source of counterculture. That's long gone and it's rapidly turning into AnyCity, USA.

Agreed. I know some people in Austin seem to like to think they are akin to Portland or California, but, IMO, that could not be further from the truth. To me, it just felt like a slightly younger version of the hip parts of Dallas/Houston.

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by Westerner92

Clueless, clueless, clueless. Austin didn't invent the hippie revolution that you look so fondly upon (then deserted).

You are the one who is clueless. However, I, at least, am an adult and decline to any longer play this childish game you seem so intent on without one shred of actual knowledge about me, just irritation that I disagree with you. Typical teenager behavior. Play on - I already raised two of thoes, recognize the signs, and decline to do it again.

[Westerner92]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

You are the one who is clueless. However, I, at least, am an adult and decline to any longer play this childish game you seem so intent on without one shred of actual knowledge about me, just irritation that I disagree with you. Typical teenager behavior. Play on - I already raised two of thoes, recognize the signs, and decline to do it again.

I'm just returning your shrill attitude that you always bring to this forum. It would make sense that you recognize it in the kids you raised.

[DPatel304]

Originally Posted by atxcio

But why? Austin has never had an interest in being more like Houston, that much should be well known from a native Houstonian. Austin has always been more about what has been happening on the coasts.

It seems like Austin is becoming more and more like Houston/DFW everyday, rather than like the coastal cities. I'm seeing more sprawl in Austin every day and it's a very car-centric metropolitan area which is 90% cookie cutter, suburban development.