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I agree. Other than Decatur I don’t think Atlanta’s suburbs are any more urbanized than Dallas’. I actually also think Dallas’ burbs have better transit access as well.
Very nice videos. I actually grew up in East Cobb and remember going to Marietta Square quite a lot when I was younger. However I still don’t think these are any better than Downtown Plano, Legacy West, The Shops at Legacy, Downtown McKinney, City Line in Richardson, Las Colinas in Irving, Downtown Denton, Addison Circle, Downtown Grapevine, Southlake Town Center, etc. I think where these Dallas burbs actually get an edge though is that many of them are connected by DART or Commuter Rail.
Houston's aggressive annexation history eliminated the competition, so the equivalent town centers were either annexed (such as Harrisburg) or completely encircled (Bellaire, West U) by Houston city limits.
The ones that made it were really small far flung towns, like Old Spring or Old Katy. Galveston and Pasadena were big enough to have their own cushion around.
Midtown Atlanta is pretty, as is Virginia-Highlands. Uptown Dallas is also pretty, remarkably upscale, and lively. I've also seen pictures of Bishop Arts (wow!) and visited Downtown Fort Worth (fabulous).
However, in Houston I can't think of a single spot where you can walk around and have a community feel. Everyone says Montrose, the Heights, and Midtown, but from what I can see on google maps, even in those areas the restaurants and bars are almost always completely separated from each other (blocks apart etc), rather than together in a Main Street, urbane or village-like fashion. Even Rice Village feels a bit shopping center-esque to me.
I keep wondering why the people of Houston haven't risen up and stood up to the big developers and politicians who have systematically ruined their city (a giant skyline surrounded by parking lots next to the mall...why???) and threatened to physically run them and their families out of town, or worse, if they don't start working to make Houston beautiful. People must have a breaking point with the ugly sprawl.
Very nice videos. I actually grew up in East Cobb and remember going to Marietta Square quite a lot when I was younger. However I still don’t think these are any better than Downtown Plano, Legacy West, The Shops at Legacy, Downtown McKinney, City Line in Richardson, Las Colinas in Irving, Downtown Denton, Addison Circle, Downtown Grapevine, Southlake Town Center, etc. I think where these Dallas burbs actually get an edge though is that many of them are connected by DART or Commuter Rail.
Arlington is a big one missing from this list. They have a 30,000 student university right in their downtown. Also Garland is big, Rowlett, Lewisville, Allen, etc. Then you have smaller downtowns like Cedar Hill, Mansfield, Duncanville, or Mesquite that are the sizes of many of the Atlanta towns posted above.
Quote:
Originally Posted by atadytic19
Houston's aggressive annexation history eliminated the competition, so the equivalent town centers were either annexed (such as Harrisburg) or completely encircled (Bellaire, West U) by Houston city limits.
The ones that made it were really small far flung towns, like Old Spring or Old Katy. Galveston and Pasadena were big enough to have their own cushion around.
Houston didnt have to demo town centers even with annexation. Plenty of cities have annexed another but kept the town center intact (see Seattle and Ballard as an example). Old Town Spring barely surviving. It would be like one of these traditional downtowns had Houston let Spring incorporate. Old Katy survives because it is actually in an incorporated city (Katy).
I've eaten at that steakhouse in dt norcross. The commercial/retail area is just one block (and barely). DFW's burbs downtowns are just as numerous as Atllanta's but many have more going on. Having said that it is for sure an asset to have all these county seats around Atlanta area with these historic cores. Many cool shops and restaurants depending on which one you go to
Midtown Atlanta is pretty, as is Virginia-Highlands. Uptown Dallas is also pretty, remarkably upscale, and lively. I've also seen pictures of Bishop Arts (wow!) and visited Downtown Fort Worth (fabulous).
However, in Houston I can't think of a single spot where you can walk around and have a community feel. Everyone says Montrose, the Heights, and Midtown, but from what I can see on google maps, even in those areas the restaurants and bars are almost always completely separated from each other (blocks apart etc), rather than together in a Main Street, urbane or village-like fashion. Even Rice Village feels a bit shopping center-esque to me.
I keep wondering why the people of Houston haven't risen up and stood up to the big developers and politicians who have systematically ruined their city (a giant skyline surrounded by parking lots next to the mall...why???) and threatened to physically run them and their families out of town, or worse, if they don't start working to make Houston beautiful. People must have a breaking point with the ugly sprawl.
Post the examples youre talking about. There are several spots where you can walk around in Houston and have thay community feel, including in the areas you named. I was just visiting Houston over the holidays and was impressed with the amount of foot traffic in Montrose. Montrose has always had people, but with the ped improvements and new housing it has gotten a lot better.
You cant just google map it. Go visit. Many bars, shops, and restaurants all next to each other
Post the examples youre talking about. There are several spots where you can walk around in Houston and have thay community feel, including in the areas you named. I was just visiting Houston over the holidays and was impressed with the amount of foot traffic in Montrose. Montrose has always had people, but with the ped improvements and new housing it has gotten a lot better.
You cant just google map it. Go visit. Many bars, shops, and restaurants all next to each other
True. And not only that, but the areas mentioned in Dallas are no different from areas in Houston. Bishop Arts looks like a cleaned up version of 3rd ward. Downtown Fort Worth's equivalent in Houston would be the Strand in Galveston which people seem to be conveniently forgetting. https://youtu.be/o0dqAaS4bPE
In fact, downtown Galveston blows DTF away.
There is no satellite downtown equivalent in either DFW or ATL. Might be the most urban spot among all 3.
Midtown Atlanta is pretty, as is Virginia-Highlands. Uptown Dallas is also pretty, remarkably upscale, and lively. I've also seen pictures of Bishop Arts (wow!) and visited Downtown Fort Worth (fabulous).
However, in Houston I can't think of a single spot where you can walk around and have a community feel. Everyone says Montrose, the Heights, and Midtown, but from what I can see on google maps, even in those areas the restaurants and bars are almost always completely separated from each other (blocks apart etc), rather than together in a Main Street, urbane or village-like fashion. Even Rice Village feels a bit shopping center-esque to me.
I keep wondering why the people of Houston haven't risen up and stood up to the big developers and politicians who have systematically ruined their city (a giant skyline surrounded by parking lots next to the mall...why???) and threatened to physically run them and their families out of town, or worse, if they don't start working to make Houston beautiful. People must have a breaking point with the ugly sprawl.
Since your using Google Maps as a basis for your comments try typing in White Oak Blvd between Studewood and Heights.
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