Does anyone not like the way Houston's skyline is developing? (Austin: sales, rent)

[philopower]

I just came back from Chicago and their skyline is absolutely breath taking because they seem to have all the tall buildings in one place. Houston has 3 very distinct skylines separate from one another and if they were combined, we would probably be on par with Chicago which sucks cause we're not and never will be. At this rate, I think Austin will probably have the best skyline in all of Texas in the future because it's growing incredibly fast, and it's concentrated into one area.

[irishndude4]

Originally Posted by philopower

I just came back from Chicago and their skyline is absolutely breath taking because they seem to have all the tall buildings in one place. Houston has 3 very distinct skylines separate from one another and if they were combined, we would probably be on par with Chicago which sucks cause we're not and never will be.

I am not trying to sound rude, but you're just noticing this? Why would you want to be just like Chicago? I lived in Downtown Chicago for 4 years before coming back to Houston last year, and I couldn't wait to get back. 10% sales tax, ridiculous rent and the awful never-ending winters. Sure, the summers are great in Chicago, but you'd be lucky to get 3 solid months of that, before the dread starts all over again. Personally, I like that Houston is spread out and not ultra-concentrated in one big skyline as you described.

[philopower]

Originally Posted by irishndude4

I am not trying to sound rude, but you're just noticing this? Why would you want to be just like Chicago? I lived in Downtown Chicago for 4 years before coming back to Houston last year, and I couldn't wait to get back. 10% sales tax, ridiculous rent and the awful never-ending winters. Sure, the summers are great in Chicago, but you'd be lucky to get 3 solid months of that, before the dread starts all over again. Personally, I like that Houston is spread out and not ultra-concentrated in one big skyline as you described.

I'm not even talking about their economic policies or their weather. There is no ****ing way I could deal with those winters, I mainly just talking about their planning. I like that Houston has no zoning but the city could have done a lot better job planning in concentrating their central business districts.

[jek74]

Originally Posted by philopower

I just came back from Chicago and their skyline is absolutely breath taking because they seem to have all the tall buildings in one place. Houston has 3 very distinct skylines separate from one another and if they were combined, we would probably be on par with Chicago which sucks cause we're not and never will be. At this rate, I think Austin will probably have the best skyline in all of Texas in the future because it's growing incredibly fast, and it's concentrated into one area.

Where is the 3rd area? You have downtown, uptown and ?

[sxrckr]

Originally Posted by philopower

I just came back from Chicago and their skyline is absolutely breath taking because they seem to have all the tall buildings in one place. Houston has 3 very distinct skylines separate from one another and if they were combined, we would probably be on par with Chicago which sucks cause we're not and never will be. At this rate, I think Austin will probably have the best skyline in all of Texas in the future because it's growing incredibly fast, and it's concentrated into one area.

Austin's tallest buildings have space between too, so not sure what you mean...

[jek74]

Originally Posted by philopower

I just came back from Chicago and their skyline is absolutely breath taking because they seem to have all the tall buildings in one place. Houston has 3 very distinct skylines separate from one another and if they were combined, we would probably be on par with Chicago which sucks cause we're not and never will be. At this rate, I think Austin will probably have the best skyline in all of Texas in the future because it's growing incredibly fast, and it's concentrated into one area.

This is typical of the "older" cities. NY, Chicago, Boston, Philly, etc. Newer cities are spreading out more because more and more people are living further outside the city. The downside to having your "downtown" highly concentrated in one area is traffic! It also makes cost of living in or near downtown ridiculous.

I think big picture, like 50 years from now, Houston's skyline is going to be out of control. Because the outer edges are much wider apart and everything in the middle will fill.

[DanielWayne]

There's more than 3. I moved to Houston for college in the 90's, and it had already been like this for a long time.

[philopower]

Originally Posted by jek74

where is the 3rd area? You have downtown, uptown and ?

tmc

[philopower]

Originally Posted by sxrckr

Austin's tallest buildings have space between too, so not sure what you mean...

Does not compute. All of the skyscrapers are in one area of the city. The space between that you mention is being filled because the skyscraper boom is back in Austin. Lots of new projects in construction and being proposed.

[Bornhouston]

Yea there are more then 3

Downtown
TMC
Greenway
Uptown
Energy Corrider
Westchase
The area around memorial city mall I'm not sure if it would be included in the energy corridor
Greens point

Other areas that could be included as sky lines

Sugarland
The woodlands (which I believe will have a very nice skyline develop in the next few years)

These are the ones I could think of there may be more.