People Say Houston's ugly but not cities like Chicago, NYC, etc? (Dallas: home, living in)

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by jd2008

As far as options for dealing with these things, the city needs to strengthen the public nuisance laws. The city needs to have greater power to act against slum landlords who abandon their property and don't maintain the structure. They can fine them, force them to clean it up and, if needed, place a lien on the property, foreclose on the property and auction the property to pay off the lien. Other cities have tools to deal with these problems. So should Houston.

OK. First of all we'd have to define what makes an abandoned building a public nuisance. Is it when it's literally falling down, like the Savoy, or does it apply to a structurally sound building that is merely deemed ugly?

The problem with the fines, liens and auctions is that after it's all said and done, you've still got an old building with asbestos on the property, and if demolishing it isn't economically feasible given the property's market value then nothing's going to happen. To make an auction work you've got to have a willing buyer, and somebody's got to put forth the money to redevelop the property. Either that, or the city tears it down with public funds with no guarantee that they will recoup that money. This isn't as easy as you make it sound.

If the same building was in Manhattan, then yes, it would've been cratered and done something with a long time ago. But that's because if it was in Manhattan it would be sitting on much more valuable land, that it would make it worth paying for an expensive remediation and demolition job so it can be redeveloped. It's just a totally different animal.

[SteveArmy]

LOL You guys still debating the 'ugliness' of Houston is what can be seen? Moderator cut: inappropriate language . I think thats the same thing that put other 'beautiful' cities on the map.

[AddieJane]

It's all personal opinion. I personally think LA is a hideous city (for the most part), but it has things that Houston does not. The hills are beautiful, Griffith Observatory is gorgeous, the oceans and beaches and coastal communities are beautiful for the most part. The actual downtown of LA is not pretty to me like San Diego or San Fran. In my opinion NYC is an absolutely gorgeous city. All of it. I even love that old blue dilapidated (sp?) door photo that someone posted above. THat's what give NYC it's character and history. I lived there and loved it --even the dirtiness and homeless. Loved the energy. Chicago is not the prettiest city, there are bad areas (as in all cities), but it has Lake Michigan and it has a ton of character. Have you ever been to those cities? They are truly beautiful. What I think many cities have that Houston doesn't is topography. Houston is flat. Other cities have hills and mountains and interesting terrain. Just my opinion... like everyone elses.

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by AddieJane

Houston is flat. Other cities have hills and mountains and interesting terrain. Just my opinion... like everyone elses.

You mean cities named something other than Chicago or New York City, right?

[AddieJane]

Originally Posted by jfre81

You mean cities named something other than Chicago or New York City, right?

NYC has bridges and water to make up for it's flatness. Central Park isn't so bad either... of course in NYC you can drive to mountains and hills and beaches which are nice as well. Chicago has Lake Michigan. Much of the midwest has hills, lakes, mountains in addition to flat farm land.

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by AddieJane

NYC has bridges and water to make up for it's flatness. Central Park isn't so bad either... of course in NYC you can drive to mountains and hills and beaches which are nice as well. Chicago has Lake Michigan. Much of the midwest has hills, lakes, mountains in addition to flat farm land.

So at least you concede that beauty can exist on flat land.



I don't know, I do like how green things (usually) stay around here.





Oh wait, I showed some ugly there. My bad.



We can go back to bashing if you like. Anyone can spend a few minutes typing out a post but like they say, a picture's worth a thousand words.

And I haven't even shown I-45 frontage yet.



Wait, nevermind.

[AK123]

Originally Posted by AddieJane

NYC has bridges and water to make up for it's flatness. Central Park isn't so bad either... of course in NYC you can drive to mountains and hills and beaches which are nice as well. Chicago has Lake Michigan. Much of the midwest has hills, lakes, mountains in addition to flat farm land.

You can drive to hills and beaches from Houston. As well as multiple lakes.
Wow, I'd hate to see what you think about Dallas.
Jfre has done a good job explaining things here. It's obvious that Texas is not for some people. I've lost count of how many people I've known who have moved to Austin from out of state, and were extremely disappointed that it didn't live up to the hype, still had strip malls, some ugly freeways, unattractive parts of town, and (gasp) sprawl and car culture. Like I said... Texas is Texas. If you're going to move to Texas, take it for what it is and try to enjoy it, rather than getting on these forums and complaining all day long (especially when half the complaints are misguided and not completely valid.) We're getting really tired of it, if you can't tell. If there's something you don't like, form a citizen's group to try and do something about it, or move back home, whether that's CA or NY. But please, don't whine all day long on these forums about how it's not like where you came from. If where you came from is so superior and you can't stand it here, then by all means, please just go back so the rest of us can enjoy it.

[stoneclaw]

since people on here don't seem to think that houston has an urban scene or the people who are walking around are just huddled up waiting for a train ride, I'm going to take my digital camera on a sunny day and show people the houston pavilions, discovery green, one park pl developments and how many people actually hang out in discovery green on weekdays and weekends. People also seem to discredit Montrose and everytime I'm in that area, I see several pedestrians walking up and down those streets.

[Cowboys fan in Houston]

Originally Posted by AK123

Wow, I'd hate to see what you think about Dallas.

The only thing Houston has that Dallas doesnt is the beach.

There are just as many (if not more) really nice lakes up here in North Texas and while DFW may be flat compared to a place like LA, DFW does have many hills. Houston is flat.

Those things dont make the city better or worse, but they are facts.

[feufoma]

[quote=LAnative10;10915194]The only thing Houston has that Dallas doesnt is the beach.

quote]


Yeah, but access to the ocean is a pretty big difference. White Rock Lake, notwithstanding...