tamtagon

6th Street appeals to the 21 year old college kids, who like shot bars and vomiting on the sidewalk. ... but most people outgrow that after a few years, though the memories remain.

20 years later, and I still havent outgrown it.

anywho, are they adding more colleges to the area?

UNT anticipates the Oak Cliff Campus will grow to an enrollment over 20,000 within 10 years. The campus will have a DART train station and the general campus design seems led by "New Urbanist" mixed-use sensibilities.

UNT is also planning to open a law school in the Dallas central business district, but I'm not sure if all these ducks are in a row.

I've read that the prime time soap opera was set Houston at first-- but relocated to Dallas because the Cowboys won the superbowl and got all popular and stuff.

... anything in the metroplex is part of the "Dallas" universe, and therefore either no one elses or not on its own.

That's a prideful perception which generates a lot of interesting anti-Dallas lip service. The negative spin is uncommon in Atlanta although there seems to be more city-lable 'sharing'. It's a geographically small city, Atlanta, and the name is used all the time to identify people, places and things which are not in the city - but rarely does "Atlanta" get accused of unrightful claiming. I'm just guessing it's the same with Boston, Miami, and a bunch of other places.

In the past, Dallas and Fort Worth were more evenly scaled cities, and an identy tied to either city was a much more important regional marketing position. But starting in the 70s, Dallas started to become the dominant city for business. When the TV show got all popular, it's like all things North Texas came with the Dallas Label. Even though downtown neighborhoods spent more than half of the last generation of the 20th century in hibernation - the only significant positive occurance was the emergance of a highly organized Gay oriented neighborhood (that's a big deal, too) - the record breaking growth and expansion in Dallas' satellite cities still identified with Dallas.

Has the Gaylord Texan hurt the Dallas Convention Center?

That's a hard call to make. Since it opened, Gaylord Texan has been a very successful convention & meeting destination as well as an excursion for area residents. During this time, bookings at the Dallas Convention Center have seen healthy growth as well. The Conv Ctr got a new head honcho and his efforts/innovations have been widely praised. So, any of Dallas Conv Ctr business which moved to Gaylord Texan was replaced.

The Gaylord Texan facility is credited with attracting events for which no Metroplex destination would have been a consideration. Grapevine Lake is a small and pleasant setting, lots of trees and a few hills. It's looking like the area is going to end up with a Lake Resort branding signature. Gaylord Texan is expanding as a consumer destination (although not a mall like the Gaylord mega-complex outside Nashville) and another resort-styled destination hotel has been approved on the lakefront. All things considered, the Gaylord Texan and future Grapevine Lake facilities have expanded consideration of the Metroplex among convention & meeting planners.

This should be viewed as the potential to provide Reliant Stadium, the Harris County Domed Convention Hotel, and the two remaining convention halls with an entertainment/retail/residential district of their very own while simultaneously putting a high density of residents within easy access of an underutilized stop along the Red Line.

If someone could put that deal together, it would probably be a huge success. (daydream: Could the Astrodome ceiling be used as a giant projection screen?) Developing a consumer oriented retail, dining and entertainment complex/promenade directly linking the New Astrodome with the New Stadium would be fantastic.

A somewhat similar situation exists in Arlington, and a billion+ dollar mixed-use consumer development will connect the baseball stadium, new football stadium and amusement park - and it's named Glorypark. What was promised to the folks of Arlington when they agreed to help pay for the baseball stadium is finally making good - now that the folks of Arlington have agreed to help pay for an even more expensive football stadium. Although $800 million in highway improvements are coming to that part of Arlington and should be completed before the Cowboys opening day, the connectivity convenience of off-grade rail service to the destination remains a challenge.

In Atlanta, another similar setting has been very successful for ten years. Centienniel Olympic Park provides the cohesive setting (making up for the lack of a 'masterplan') uniting the baseketball/hockey stadium, football stadium, convention facilities, hotels and significant tourist destinations with the ebb & flow of the city.

Put a resort hotel atmosphere inside the Astrodome (I love the idea) and build mixed-use consumer oriented direct connection to the football stadium and convention facilities. It'll work.

RMA updated for July 2005:

RMA estimates for July 2005:

Rank - - Core City - - July 2004 ----- July 2005 ------- urban pop increase

1) New York City------19,799,374-----------19,935,000-----136,000

2) Los Angeles--------13,671,048-----------13,814,000-----143,000

3) Chicago--------------9,026,690-------------9,086,000------60,000

4) San Francisco-------6,034,656------------6,033,000-----(0)

5) Philadelphia---------5,931,045------------5,964,000------33,000

6) Miami-----------------5,307,359------------5,383,000------76,000

7) Dallas----------------5,154,855------------5,259,000-----105,000

8) Washington DC----4,904,263------------4,967,000------63,000

9) Boston---------------4,748,174------------4,754,000-------6,000

10) Detroit-------------4,694,293-------------4,705,000------11,000

11) Houston-----------4,472,646-------------4,561,000------89,000

12) Atlanta-------------3,992,259------------4,055,000-----63,000

13) Phoenix------------3,495,656------------3,591,000------96,000

14) Seattle-------------3,165,807-------------3,196,000------31,000

I got these Ranally Metro Area data from the Rand McNally Commercial Atlas & Marketing Guide.

Rank - - Core City - - Population -- Change '00-'04 - - Area square miles

1) New York City------19,799,374-----------2.3%---------------6905

2) Los Angeles--------13,671,048-----------5.2%---------------3224

3) Chicago--------------9,026,690------------3.2%---------------4068

4) San Francisco-------6,034,656------------0.7%---------------2041

5) Philadelphia---------5,931,045------------2.0%---------------3912

6) Miami-----------------5,307,359------------7.3%---------------1660

7) Dallas----------------5,154,855-----------10.1%---------------3360

8) Washington DC----4,904,263------------7.1%----------------3479

9) Boston---------------4,748,174------------1.5%---------------3609

10) Detroit-------------4,694,293-------------1.1%---------------3656

11) Houston-----------4,472,646-------------9.6%---------------2576

12) Atlanta-------------3,992,259------------10.2%--------------3132

13) Phoenix------------3,495,656------------13.6%--------------2071

14) Seattle-------------3,165,807-------------4.2%---------------2604

29) San Antonio------1,511,381--------------7.5%---------------1032

37) Austin-------------1,122,107--------------11.2%--------------1071

59) El Paso-------------729,987----------------5.0%---------------469

23) El Paso/Juarez---2,004,987--------------34.5%--------------529

The biggest difference between OMB Census and Ranally metro area definition is that Ranally is not restricted to county boundaries. Ranally metro areas contain at least 70 persons per square mile and at least 20% of the labor force commute to the central urban area.

Let's go Hou, Dal, Aus, SA, and any other city in the Texaplex that would like to brag on its own merits.

El Paso may be the next boom town.

Rushmore

hydroponic

haystack

I long for the days when the maturity level of this forum's members reaches the point where comparison threads, such as this one, are no longer needed. IMHO, this thread, and others like it, only serves to validate Houstonians' infeiority complex. Let's move on. . .shall we?

Until people start delicate flower-slapping each other because of city preference, I really enjoy this topic. A lot of the general compare/contrast points are going to be predictable and/or previously stated - this is a common theme - but the individual perspectives can be informative, sometimes entertaining.

I'm not as familiar with Houston as with Dallas and Atlanta, but I think Houston's the prettiest, just a little prettier than Atlanta. Like, I love the hills in Atlanta, but extra punch of variety through tropical foliage in Houston is more than makes up for it.

Architectural beauty in each city, to me, pretty much equal.

People in Houston seem to be more imaginative, but it's been a long time since I've spent much time there.

hydroponic

Fair Park would be perfect!!

This just irritates me to no end.

I'm going to contact ALL my rep's and mention this article and demand that we need some funding as well!

It has been a much more difficult political battle in Houston, but I'm confident that as soon as local pressure to expand rail service overcomes oil industry politicians' defiance the Houston transit agency will pull it all together to become every bit as successful as the one in Dallas, probably in less time:

DART's system is recognized nationally for its successful 10-year operating history and its impact on the region, Ms. Bushue said. In addition, DART helps its standing with federal officials because it can pledge more of its sales tax revenue to projects than many other transit agencies, she said...."

Before the Feds hand over the money, they have to be convinced the agency knows how to spend it. DART gets the prize for that one.

==============

On my wish list: as the Federal funding for passenger rail service in Houston comes together, Federal and State funding for direct passenger service between downtown Dallas and downtown Houston is also secured.

Even before the hurricane that place was a mess.

A mess, sure - a different kind of mess than any other city, but a whole lotta fun and a favorite destination for people around the world. Who goes to Houston for a good time?

I'd have to say, most of the negative comments over the staging of this event in Houston noted by those media are little more displaced frustration. It's funny, and expected, that the pep squad would get bent out of shape because of it.

I'm having a hard time understanding the [isolated] cold shoulder given to this added spice of diversity in Houston. Cajun culture is endemic to Houston, still thriving 90 miles to the East in the Beaumont area.

Anyway, the Essence Music Festival has its roots in New Orleans and seems best suited there, but if it stayed in Houston, that would be fantastic. I'm kinda surprised this year's "off-site" festival went to Houston rather than Atlanta.

Really? Really?

Yes, Rip van Dallas is coming out of a twenty year nap.

the route that Dallas is taking of developing essentially a new downtown while continuing to hollow out the old one.

That's an inaccurate way to view the current commercial and residential construction occuring in Uptown Dallas between Routh/Good Latimer and Houston Street. An expansion of downtown is more accurate as the urban density grows from the historic downtown (Commerce-Main-Elm corridor) into a contiguous environment to Reverchon Park. It's even more inaccurate to state the old downtown continues to hollow out. But whatever.

It's great that Uptown Dallas is thriving as a residential and commercial addition to the downtown setting. Uptown Dallas, broadly defined, will increase the downtown geography by about 40% when it's built out. But the lopsided demographics of the current downtown expansion are little worrisome. East Dallas and South Dallas/The Cedars have been slow garner much kinetic energy toward high density residential neighborhoods for the middle income majority. The lifestyle image and social status symbol finally coming to residential Dallas through high rise projects like The Ritz will do wonders for the delicate, viscious scene of social climbers. At last, Dallas will have a healthy concentration of high caliber see-and-be-seen venues that can be realistically categorized among the country's top hot-spots. The last time anything like this existed in Dallas was The Starck Club - 20 years ago. I really hope a thick coating of bonafide jet-setters keeps the Victory Park/Ritz/Crescent/Mansion top of the food chain thingie going in Dallas to balance the attitude of the West Village/Knox Village 30K millionaires.

Not until Deep Ellum leads revitilization of East Dallas, the Farmers Market hosts a middle class population boom and The Cedars engulfs the Convention Center area with artistic and creative atmosphere will I think Dallas has made any progress as a city.

... I can't help but feel that the changes to the area are rapidly accelerating and aggressively eliminating some of the few "eclectic" mixed neighborhoods that we have left in the city for an enclave of ultra high-end condo towers and townhomes reserved for an "elite" class.

The rise of a really expensive, fashionable, highrise-living, "urban" neighborhood is exactly what Dallas needs, imo.

I felt like throwing up during the pregame stairmaster interviews.

Nice, tam. Even put the German version link, so Nowitzski can read it.

I'm glad someone else thought it was funny. The folks at dallasmetropolis.com just ignored it. HAHAHAHA

The Spurs are my favorite team, but I really wanted the Mavericks to win. Better luck next year.

Our new city slogan

Houston's got camel toe.

Various reference information, poetry, and other stuff:

http://cameltoe.org/

The Tower Residences will feature a 23-story Regency-designed tower consisting of 96 units .... Prices range from $700,000 to $8 million.

That part of town is well on its way to becoming the fanciest neighborhood in Dallas.

(1993 some downtown venue) Cocteau Twins

It was in some night club, right? Heaven or Las Vegas tour?

Although this is the only concert I've ever seen in Houston, it's one of my all time favorites. I saw them in Dallas the following evening (maybe two days later, it's a pleasant blur...) in a converted gym or something. The two shows are a combined experience for me.

Sounds to me like those folks are working exceptionally hard to come up with a compromise/plan to replace the most of the Wright Amendment restrictions on Love Field. If it becomes law, all that hard work might last 20 years, at which time, the details of the agreement would have become inhibitive and another expensive compromise is needed.

Truly, Metroplex politicians are whacked out.

Then, I wonder why the planners at ForwardDallas! said this...

Beats me. I havent read the whole thing, but several passages state that the city is essentially landlock, and obviously there are passages stating the city is landlacked. Perhaps context led the document preparers to use varying wording.

I think the annexation talk is some sort of wishful thinking on the part of some non-decision making types, who are concerned about the "Detroit effect" of being hemmed in. ForwardDallas! contemplates not needing to annex to avert the "Detroit effect", but instead intelligently developing its long-ignored southside.

As far as I'm aware, the Dallas City Council isnt talking about annexation around Balch Springs, Seagoville, Hutchins, Wilmer Lancaster or Sunnyvale. The City of Dallas has, however, approved the formation of municipal utility districts in Kaufman County.

\http://forum.dallasmetropolis.com/showthread.php?t=522

...

Relatively rare in North Texas, MUDs are commonplace in southern Texas cities, including Austin and Houston, said Barry Knight, a shareholder with Winstead Sechrest & Minick and the lead zoning attorney for Travis Ranch.

"With a municipal utility district, the financing of the major infrastructure normally provided by a city, such as water and sewer, falls to the developer," he said. "He advances the funds and makes a reimbursement agreement whereby, once there is a sufficient tax base to justify the passage of bonds, the MUD issues the bonds and pays back the developer."

MUDs then collect the taxes normally paid to a city for basic utility services. Once the bonds are paid off, and if it makes sense from a tax standpoint, the city typically will annex the property, Knight said.

Travis Ranch will give Dallas one of the few chances it has to expand its city limits.

As a non-decision maker, I do wish Dallas would become more aggressive toward the annexation of developing residential areas.

The ForwardDallas!!! plan is the first of, like, a kagillion plans, which actually identifies the need to focus on the development of high density, residential, owner-occupied neighborhoods. That's a big step for the biggest suburban population center in Texas. I think the ForwardDallas!! encourages the city to promote high density residential ownership to increase the population of the downtown area (within a couple mile radius) by 180,000.

Without reading the whole chapter from which the quote was taken, it seems that there's a specific relationship between the 18% of Dallas that is vacant but landlocked either by fully developed areas OR entirely rural areas.