Why does the spotlight not shine brightest on Houston in Texas? (compare, places)

[Jack Lance]

I'm not a big fan of urbanity just for the sake of urbanity. When it occurs as a organic consequence of the free market then it is what it is. But bringing about a dense urban landscape simply to pander to pier pressure is way to contrived for me.

For what its worth, I like dal's outlier analogy with Houston being coastal and not situated along the I-35 corridor like the other inland metros in Texas. But Houston subsidence in the spotlight of Texas has only been recent at least by historical terms. In the 60's and 70's Houston was by far the brightest light in Texas. I have always thought that the national medias recent fascination with other Metros in Texas was a way to counter the national insurgence of Houston in an attempt to contain it somehow.

The development of some kind of indigenous media that will allow Houston to control its own message and a return to manned spaceflight by NASA will help bring that spotlight back to Space City, but even without a robust manned space program the local economy will keep on churning and attract new people to our grand town....

[dalparadise]

Originally Posted by Metro Matt

I lived in NW Houston right off of 1960 for several years in a not so diverse area & then SW Houston for a year smack dab in the middle of Texas' most diverse area aka Alief. I've had my fair share of city related experiences & cultural awakenings.

That's the cool thing about Houston is you don't have to live right in the heart of the city to experience large amounts of diversity. In fact, the majority of Texas' diversity is actually found in the suburbs, not the city itself where you claim you lived.

I'd put Alief's per capita diversity up against the Bay Area's any day.

Right, so you lived in far-flung suburbs, then ran home to mommy in Tyler. What in the world is "per capita diversity"?

[Fitzrovian]

Originally Posted by dalparadise

I don't mean to actually suggest they are substantively similar, just that they are both big cities that are either justly or unjustly overlooked for a lot of similar reasons and similar "urban deficiencies," as you put it. Each seems to also lack a solid, marketable identity or draw for visitors and from a national perspective, each seems to live in the shadows of other cities within its state and region in this regard.

I spent 20+ years in Houston, and am well aware of its positives. It is a great place to live for many people, but not a positive environment for creative professionals like me. It is also a poor example of an urban environment, which exacerbates the bad creative environment.

Is that true though? I've always thought of Houston as the top dog in Texas. Whose shadow is it in - Dallas?

I know Austin has been the "hot" city in Texas for quite awhile but there is no question Houston has a much higher national (and certainly global) profile.

[Metro Matt]

Originally Posted by dalparadise

Right, so you lived in far-flung suburbs, then ran home to mommy in Tyler. What in the world is "per capita diversity"?

Alief is 11.1% White, 27.4% Black, 21.2% Asian, & 37.9% Hispanic.

San Francisco is 48.5% White, 6.1% Black, 33.3% Asian, & 15.1% Hispanic.

As a White person you are 5 times more likely to bump into someone of different race in Alief than San Francisco.

Houston is 50.5% White, 23.7% Black, 6% Asian, & 43.8% Hispanic.

So much for San Francisco being a "world class" city. Blacks & Hispanics are barely even represented there! LOL

All the Blacks are across the segregated Bay in Oakland & all the Hispanics are 48 miles south in San Jose.

[PostOak5115]

Originally Posted by Fitzrovian

Is that true though? I've always thought of Houston as the top dog in Texas. Whose shadow is it in - Dallas?

I know Austin has been the "hot" city in Texas for quite awhile but there is no question Houston has a much higher national (and certainly global) profile.

Houston and Dallas unknowingly seem to be in each other shadows for over 4 decades now.

[Fastphilly]

Originally Posted by Metro Matt

Alief is 11.1% White, 27.4% Black, 21.2% Asian, & 37.9% Hispanic.

San Francisco is 48.5% White, 6.1% Black, 33.3% Asian, & 15.1% Hispanic.

As a White person you are 5 times more likely to bump into someone of different race in Alief than San Francisco.

Houston is 50.5% White, 23.7% Black, 6% Asian, & 43.8% Hispanic.

So much for San Francisco being a "world class" city. Blacks & Hispanics are barely even represented there! LOL

All the Blacks are across the segregated Bay in Oakland & all the Hispanics are 48 miles south in San Jose.

Take a trip into the Mission District and in the Southeast quadrant of San Francisco then report back. You have no idea what garbage you are typing up

[Jack Lance]

Originally Posted by Fitzrovian

Is that true though? I've always thought of Houston as the top dog in Texas. Whose shadow is it in - Dallas?

I know Austin has been the "hot" city in Texas for quite awhile but there is no question Houston has a much higher national (and certainly global) profile.

I believe the OP was speaking to the Pop culture media spotlight which unfortunately has a lot of influence over the attitudes of the average American.

Of course Houston is Top Dog in Texas but is in the shadow of Pop Culture these days.

[dalparadise]

Originally Posted by Fitzrovian

Is that true though? I've always thought of Houston as the top dog in Texas. Whose shadow is it in - Dallas?

I know Austin has been the "hot" city in Texas for quite awhile but there is no question Houston has a much higher national (and certainly global) profile.

In terms of marketable identity and draw for tourists state-wide and regionally, I think Houston is below Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and certainly, New Orleans.

[Jack Lance]

Originally Posted by dalparadise

In terms of marketable identity and draw for tourists state-wide and regionally, I think Houston is below Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and certainly, New Orleans.

Funny thing about New Orleans is they built the Superdome as a direct result of the Astrodome in Houston making Houston a greater tourist attraction than New Orleans. Whether they admit it or not all the cities in Texas compare themselves to Houston as a means to measure themselves and that gives them a sense of camaraderie with each other.

Well we will see if the Texans pick Johnny Football tomorrow maybe he will bring tourism back to Houston

[westhou]

Originally Posted by Metro Matt

Alief is 11.1% White, 27.4% Black, 21.2% Asian, & 37.9% Hispanic.

San Francisco is 48.5% White, 6.1% Black, 33.3% Asian, & 15.1% Hispanic.

As a White person you are 5 times more likely to bump into someone of different race in Alief than San Francisco.

Houston is 50.5% White, 23.7% Black, 6% Asian, & 43.8% Hispanic.

So much for San Francisco being a "world class" city. Blacks & Hispanics are barely even represented there! LOL

All the Blacks are across the segregated Bay in Oakland & all the Hispanics are 48 miles south in San Jose.

In Alief you're also more likely to get shot, raped, mugged, car jacked, and assaulted walking down the street. Alief is not a place worth bragging about. You're crazy if you think there isn't just as much segregation in Houston. See if any of those blacks in Alief can take a stroll into Royal Oaks. That wall surrounding Royal Oaks is there to keep out Alief.