NO ZONING - tell me about it...positives and negatives (Houston: low crime, houses)

[Topaz]

Originally Posted by theSUBlime

Let's face it, lack of zoning is one of the things that puts Houston on the map. I get starry-eyed when I talk about how I can walk from the grocery store, to the porn shop, and go clothes shopping all in the same block.

That type of one block shopping is a lot more fun before you become a parent and start worrying about what your six year old will see when all you wanted to do is buy some groceries and pick up your dry cleaning!

[theSUBlime]

Originally Posted by Topaz

That type of one block shopping is a lot more fun before you become a parent and start worrying about what your six year old will see when all you wanted to do is buy some groceries and pick up your dry cleaning!

Hahaha...I'm really joking for the most part. Unfortunately in many places in the US they learn about stuff like that sooner rather than later. (Fun fact: I just found out today there are no statues against having sex in exchange for money in Rhode Island!) It is unique though, you can't really do it in any other major city.

I think both extremes (meticulously zoned cities and unzoned cities that allow anything and everything to be built) are annoying personally, and I do hope for Houston to lean in the zoned direction one day. There are pros and cons to both sides though really. It's funny though, in this economy, you have to ask yourself, "What has Houston been doing differently than most other cities"?

I MISS HOME!

[Topaz]

Originally Posted by theSUBlime

Hahaha...I'm really joking for the most part. Unfortunately in many places in the US they learn about stuff like that sooner rather than later. (Fun fact: I just found out today there are no statues against having sex in exchange for money in Rhode Island!) It is unique though, you can't really do it in any other major city.

I think both extremes (meticulously zoned cities and unzoned cities that allow anything and everything to be built) are annoying personally, and I do hope for Houston to lean in the zoned direction one day. There are pros and cons to both sides though really. It's funny though, in this economy, you have to ask yourself, "What has Houston been doing differently than most other cities"?

I MISS HOME!

Houston should emulate Rhode Island on that one. We could free up police resources to focus on crimes that really matter.

So, SUBlime, what are you doing in Boston, anyway? School?

Back to zoning...other than smaller cities like Sugar Land, what is an example of a "meticulously zoned city?"

[houstoner]

Originally Posted by theSUBlime

I kind of like and dislike the no-zoning thing. I wish they would preserve older buildings though. I do see how it can be frustrating for homeowners, etc. and things are a little aesthetically unpleasing. However, I admit I miss my tacky old hometown! Let's face it, lack of zoning is one of the things that puts Houston on the map. I get starry-eyed when I talk about how I can walk from the grocery store, to the porn shop, and go clothes shopping all in the same block.

I can't think of any positives to no zoning. Not one. And even if I could, there would still be way more pros to zoning than cons. And where in the city can you WALK to do all those things in one block? A true, actual, walkable block, not a "Houston block" consisting of a dilapidated free-standing abandoned building, a strip mall, a McDonald's, an empty lot, and another freestanding crappy structure currently in use, like a place to buy tires, an auto shop, or a car wash. I can't think of any.

[AK123]

Originally Posted by theSUBlime

I think both extremes (meticulously zoned cities and unzoned cities that allow anything and everything to be built) are annoying personally, and I do hope for Houston to lean in the zoned direction one day.

Yes, and the ideal would be to find a happy medium.

Originally Posted by theSUBlime

There are pros and cons to both sides though really. It's funny though, in this economy, you have to ask yourself, "What has Houston been doing differently than most other cities"?

What it's been doing differently is that is has affordable housing that never hit a bubble, and a large energy sector that has so far weathered the economic storm well.

[theSUBlime]

Originally Posted by houstoner

I can't think of any positives to no zoning. Not one. And even if I could, there would still be way more pros to zoning than cons. And where in the city can you WALK to do all those things in one block? A true, actual, walkable block, not a "Houston block" consisting of a dilapidated free-standing abandoned building, a strip mall, a McDonald's, an empty lot, and another freestanding crappy structure currently in use, like a place to buy tires, an auto shop, or a car wash. I can't think of any.

I love you Houstoner, but if you live in a city like Boston, you start to think of them really quick, but here are some: http://www.rcsanda.com/Experience/Pros&Cons.htm A lot of cities, even Boston, have strip malls. The trick is that they are sleek, incognito and nicer. I agree like you said affordable housing can be a con, but it is also a pro. There be even more people who would be "outta the loop" if zoning was in effect. I think Houston just needs to get hit with the "pretty stick" and that may require zoning.

You and I both know there are no truly walkable blocks like that, and you're right it's not pretty. (It's pretty much one way or the other here.) Down on Westheimer close to Dairy Ashford where I used to live, you most certainly could.

Originally Posted by Topaz

Houston should emulate Rhode Island on that one. We could free up police resources to focus on crimes that really matter.

So, SUBlime, what are you doing in Boston, anyway? School?

Back to zoning...other than smaller cities like Sugar Land, what is an example of a "meticulously zoned city?"

Not a bad idea.

Yup, I'm going to school up here again. (GO TERRIERS!) I transferred back after a stint at UH!

I think places like San Francisco. It's a very small place geographically so land use is very crucial. Boston is probably up there too. Portland, OR might also fall along those lines if not mistaken.

BTW, I am not saying Houston does not need need zoning. It just needs to find a happy medium like AK said.

I found this article too: http://www.planetizen.com/node/21811

[houstoner]

I looked over that list. All the cons look like pros to me, except maybe one.

Houston does not need a happy medium. Houston needs to get with the zoning program like every other major city in the country.

[theSUBlime]

Originally Posted by houstoner

I looked over that list. All the cons look like pros to me, except maybe one.

Houston does not need a happy medium. Houston needs to get with the zoning program like every other major city in the country.

Well, even though I think it makes some valid points on the cons side, at least I helped you think of one.

I suppose...I just believe there is a yin and a yang to everything. It's just that I hope my boyfriend and I could afford Houston. It's just annoying that most cities have been taken over by the wealthy. Other people should be able to have enjoy nice things too.

[AK123]

Originally Posted by houstoner

Houston does not need a happy medium. Houston needs to get with the zoning program like every other major city in the country.

Does anyone know if there have been any movements/campaigns toward this? Or are things just too far gone now?

[usc619]

Originally Posted by houstoner

I totally agree, except for the first part; I'm totally pro-zoning. I don't understand why or how it became such a four-letter word to most Houstonians. I'm hoping the current wave of transplants who actually seem to care about that pesky quality-of-life stuff will change this attitude here. There's some strange head-in-the-sand thinking that it's always been this way so it always will be this way that confounds me. The lack of zoning and the havoc it has wreaked on our (once) fair cityscape really becomes apparent when you look back at old photos of Houston back when it actually was a nice-looking city (no, really! I swear!) and see what we've lost. Because it isn't just the lack of zoning that's the problem, it's the anything-goes, let's not concern ourselves with aesthetics and just throw up a cracker jack box here and a Soviet Russia-style building there mentality that comes with it. It's a slippery slope that invites cheap, gauche CRAP, to be frank. I really think Houston will suffer for it in the long run. If you're always selling yourself as a low-rent city, don't be surprised when that's all you attract.

Good Post