TheNiche Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 Niche...you're a weird guy...I had to go to the Galleria earlier this week so as to interact with some "normal" people...and in light of that and what you just said, I should certainly hope so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 If we may please return to the topic [ ] Good article, although of course being from Houston I'm going to be a bit prejudiced about it. It is a little thinly argued, but I like the overall point that the next great city might not arise from the popular (and overblown) "creative class" theory. Not that there isn't a place for it, but ultimately real growth is going to come not as much from young hipsters as much as people looking to work and make money. Note though that buying into the economic argument the article makes for Houston doesn't mean that it necessarily follows that Houston's urban design - sprawl, lack of zoning etc. - must therefore also be optimal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 Need a moderator to COMBINE threads please. KimberlySayWhat? has the same thread. BTW, Texasvines, good way to come out of the shoot. Good thread, WELCOME to Haif !!!done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 If we may please return to the topic [ ]Good article, although of course being from Houston I'm going to be a bit prejudiced about it. It is a little thinly argued, but I like the overall point that the next great city might not arise from the popular (and overblown) "creative class" theory. Not that there isn't a place for it, but ultimately real growth is going to come not as much from young hipsters as much as people looking to work and make money. Note though that buying into the economic argument the article makes for Houston doesn't mean that it necessarily follows that Houston's urban design - sprawl, lack of zoning etc. - must therefore also be optimal. It would seem that the conditions that allow sprawl are our greatest asset in terms of keeping housing prices down. Put in a regional context, it allows people to sort themselves according to their preferences. In a larger perspective, perhaps it is a good idea that there be at least one metro area in the United States like Houston, where the bulk of suburban areas are in unincorporated areas maintained by those that live there through small MUDs, and regulated by deed restrictions that residents may voluntarily choose to accept or reject. In that way, people have options not only to freely sort themselves within a region but among regions. As for zoning, the City of Houston is mostly built-out. Zoning would either be a meaningless patchwork reflecting what's there now, or would act to encumber developers and subsidize ex-politicians that hire themselves to developers out as consultants that can get rid of encumberances. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N Judah Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 I don't think it's the sprawl that helps us but the absence of zoning. I think as long as we avoid zoning we could have quite a city -- that appeals to everyone, creative class as well as anyone who grew up in Houston -- without the suburban-lifestyle subsidies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 It would seem that the conditions that allow sprawl are our greatest asset in terms of keeping housing prices down.Quite true, if low housing prices are your sole priority for the region. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 Quite true, if low housing prices are your sole priority for the region.For the sake of population and employment growth, low housing prices are tremendously important.Much has been made of 'quality of life' issues, but if all that can be done is to keep housing prices low, then people can sort themselves geographically to optimize whatever factors comprise quality of life to them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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