Ugly Houston??? (El Paso, Bellaire, Katy: for rent, living in, zoning)

[stoneclaw]

I want to know why I hear some people refer to Houston as ugly. I know it doesn't have much natural beauty but you have to appreciate what it has. I think people always use the No strict zoning laws as reason to say why Houston appearance looks bad.

I think areas in the West part of Houston (Off Katy Freeway), Uptown/ Galleria area, Bellaire, Greenway Plaza area, River Oaks, Rice U area, Medical Center areas, and Bay areas are all nice areas. I will admit that there are areas in Houston that just look downright awful, but I always thought that it comes with the territory in living in a big city. All large cities have ghettos, crime, and other things. Some of the roads in Houston are very ugly but I hear Philadelphia, Detroit and a few places have even worse roads. I rarely hear those cities being called ugly. I'm just curious because I know Houston isn't the prettiest place, but it shouldn't just be classified as ugly because there's just as many nice areas in the city.

[Wysiwyg]

Houston isn't romantic, I dont know any place here to shoot a romantic scene. Pretty professional women or younger moms or students or kids enjoying the walk is uber rare, they drive or hidding from the sun or somewhere else maybe. lots of fatties, the sun beating on these is an ugly scene. lots of space for rent signs, old vacated buildings, bum concentration. frustrated bus patrons waiting on a boring corner (just a whitewall) is just a pathetic sight. I think any city will look ugly if the street level has less fit/well dressed people. Times square, NY is fugly at 3AM

[crbcrbrgv]

You could easily shoot a romantic scene in the Heights or by the museum district. People who say Houston is all ugly or, for that matter Philadelphia and Chicago is all beautiful need to drive around a lot more in these cities. Ugly in Houston is Westheimer near Dairy Ashford. Ugly in Chicago is the projects. I'll take Westheimer/Dairy Ashford any day.

[Muhnay]

I think Ugly is really just off I-10.. I have driven though Houston a couple times, and found many parts of it to be very nice. Hey it Beats any part of El Paso.

[stoneclaw]

Originally Posted by Muhnay

I think Ugly is really just off I-10.. .

I think ugly is off I-45 north off W. Little York. N. Main past downtown over by UHD is a depressing site. I-10 to me is not ugly on the west part of downtown but once you pass downtown going out towards the east side through 5th Ward. It looks bad. Southeast loop 610 East of 45 spells ugly.

My point in this thread is, it seems like people judge Houston way too harsh when compared to other big cities. They act like the ugly in Houston IS Houston. Most big cities have ugly in them with the exception of San Diego and probably Seattle.

[Kandy]

It has grown on me a little more in my time here. But this is where I came from:

[pacific_trader]

It isn't ugly, just a little boring.

[I LOVE NORTH CAROLINA]

Originally Posted by pacific_trader

It isn't ugly, just a little boring.

Yep I agree with that.

[kpoeppel]

Kandy,

Is that the Columbia River gorge area?

[Muhnay]

Oh Seattle has its ugly too.. lived there.

I think hearing street kids yell YUPPIE DIE, and meth heads out side DICKS Burgers begging for food.. is rather ugly. But thats me.