Why do Californians seemingly ALWAYS want to come to Austin vs the other big cities? (Houston: condo, to live)

[HtownLove]

Originally Posted by HOAPRESIDENT

I think that is good analysis. It is absolutely a very cool city, but is overhyped.

Like any town, it does have its problems. Ironically, one if its problems is being laid back and simultaneously exclusionary. But that will probably be toned down as the city matures.

overhyped to the nth degree and Austonians believe in the hype and tend to look down on other Texas cities.

[atxcio]

I think perhaps Houston and Dallas need to spend more time working on their less-than-desirable reputations, rather than worry about how Austin handles its own.

The superbowl in DFW, unfortunately, was a case in point. They got handed a tough situation with the weather, but couldn't come back with anything positive about the city or organizational efforts to offset the bad. Perhaps it's just the distributed nature of the Metroplex, such that the SB was really in Arlington, and events were happening in different cities/jurisdictions... no one entity to really take up the cause. I could be mistaken, but that's the way it came across.

The city of Austin, UT, etc... gets the love for obvious reasons that are silly to try to argue (although we have artsyguy and eepstein to give it the old college try!). Overhyped? Sure, I'll agree with that. Are Dallas and Houston equally nice places to live? For many people, yes. But they seem perpetually unable to put a good foot forward, or fix the issues that make people consider them undesirable. Perhaps the issues can't be fixed, I don't know. But as long as people are still moving there, I guess they are doing something right.

[Trae713]

What do you mean "put a good foot forward"? Houston and DFW have increased their growth as the decade went on, while Austin has started to decline (at least with domestic migration). Austin is a cool city, but is way overhyped and the residents there like to think it's the only liberal area in Texas, which is funny.

[Cowboys fan in Houston]

I never thought I would find myself doing this, but I think you guys are being way to unfair to Austin.

I personally prefer Dallas and Houston because of the diversity and the ammenities, but I happen to think Austin is still a really cool town. It produces a different vibe than the other cities and while I get the occasional sneer when I say Im from Dallas, most people there have been very friendly and I have enjoyed my visits. Downtown Austin is a lot of fun and I always enjoy myself.

[hoffdano]

Originally Posted by Scarface713

What do you mean "put a good foot forward"? Houston and DFW have increased their growth as the decade went on, while Austin has started to decline (at least with domestic migration). Austin is a cool city, but is way overhyped and the residents there like to think it's the only liberal area in Texas, which is funny.

"The residents there"....25+ year resident here who doesn't think Austin is that liberal. And most of the people I know have no illusions about how liberal Austin is (or not).

For those of you here that think Dallas and Houston are liberal - please tell me why you think that might be true. Is it because both cities have Democratic mayors? Or because Houston's mayor is a lesbian?

In what way are Houston and Dallas like San Francisco or Portland?

[feconi]

Originally Posted by Scarface713

Houston and DFW have increased their growth as the decade went on, while Austin has started to decline (at least with domestic migration).

The only thing you can really base this statement on is MSA population change from 2008 to 2009. Problem is, year-to-year fluctuations in migration aren't terribly meaningful; in some respects it's like noise against a large-scale background trend of increasing growth.

Case in point: look at the dramatic change between 2006 and 2007 for migration into Houston: in 2006 it gained nearly 92,000 by domestic migration, and then in 2007 it gained only around 19,000. Did you think Houston had started to "decline" back then?

Over a more meaningful timeframe--say, over any five year period--migration has trended upwards in Houston, and the same could be said for Austin.

[atxcio]

Originally Posted by Scarface713

What do you mean "put a good foot forward"? Houston and DFW have increased

I don't know, it's stuff like this: Muller: Michael Vick Gets Key To The City Of Dallas? Unreal « CBS Chicago

In Austin, Portland, SF, etc.. the animal cruelty issue would trump the other factors. Easily. No one, not even the assistant to the assistant of the mayor pro tem, would ever think that was a good idea.

Perhaps Houston and Dallas just don't care about their image, or aren't as good at marketing as Austin. Although I thought Dallasites were known for caring about appearances... even overly so. Either way, I don't see why they should get their panties in a wad about the good rep Austin gets.

[Metro Matt]

Originally Posted by Scarface713

Houston and Dallas are. Austin is full of people trying to be liberals. It's forced. Houston and Dallas are more genuine.

Yeah they try way too hard & it shows.

Liberalness in Houston is just there naturally. Its not forced.

I'm sure Houston's no zoning, "Laissez faire" attitude plays a role in this.

[HtownLove]

Originally Posted by atxcio

I think perhaps Houston and Dallas need to spend more time working on their less-than-desirable reputations, rather than worry about how Austin handles its own.

work on what???

Do you not see all the people coming in to those cities?


at least we are not lying and trying to act like everything is just peachy like Austin's marketing

[atxcio]

Originally Posted by HtownLove

at least we are not lying and trying to act like everything is just peachy like Austin's marketing

Sigh. Do you really believe "marketing" is lying? If so, the Detroit chamber of commerce must have closets filled with flame-resistant pants.

Anyway, I don't see why Houstonians and Dallasites even care how Austin is seen by the rest of the country. It's certainly entertaining that they will fill 10 pages worth of a thread discussing Austin's rep vs. their own, but honestly I don't understand why.