What has happened to Austin? (Houston, San Diego: home, calculation, wages)

[Denver303TJC]

I've even seen a change since when I visited Austin in 2010, before I moved here this year. But, I can relate to the what the (bleep) happened sentiment, being from Denver, I can relate to big changes in the past 20 years!

[homeinatx]

How To Keep Your City Weird - CityLab

[ScoPro]

Originally Posted by centralaustinite

Austin today bears very little resemblance to Austin of 1991. Most expensive housing market in Texas, much higher COL than in 1991, much worse traffic. Different vibe.

The Austin of 1991 bore very little resemblance to Austin of 1961, which in turn to 1931.......and so on.
Jacob Harrell would be aghast, as were the Tonkawas when he started up Waterloo.

New York City looks nothing like it did in 1950 either.

[centralaustinite]

Originally Posted by ScoPro

The Austin of 1991 bore very little resemblance to Austin of 1961, which in turn to 1931.......and so on.
Jacob Harrell would be aghast, as were the Tonkawas when he started up Waterloo.

New York City looks nothing like it did in 1950 either.

I totally agree. I tried to be neutral and just state facts in my descriptions and posts on this thread.

Austin is nothing like it was in 1991 and frankly, I wouldn't still be here if this town was like it was in 1991. So freaking insular!! I still mourn Les Amis and the pace of some of the changes has been painful but on balance I'll take the Austin of today, no way would I go back to the Austin of 1991.

[radiolibre99]

But what are the positive changes? Is the city much more modern and vibrant? From the pics I've seen it looks gorgeous and unlike the other cities in Texas in a way. Can't wait to visit this winter.

[CT_ATX]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

But what are the positive changes?

I'm here now. It has to be more awesome.

[JoninATX]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

But what are the positive changes? Is the city much more modern and vibrant? From the pics I've seen it looks gorgeous and unlike the other cities in Texas in a way. Can't wait to visit this winter.

Positive changes: Beautiful skyline, more open minded people, less violent crime, more things to do and transportation options.

Bad changes that once was old Austin: Think of gangs, bad neighborhoods, and a non vibrant downtown except 6th street. Those are really the only negative things that come to mind in 1991. Today as you can see Austin is much different and much larger than it was. While Austin suffers from traffic, high cost of living, and lack of roads. The city is no where near as dangerous as it once was. The only dangers I've seen are drunk people on 6th, and road rage across the city because traffic is near a breaking point.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by JoninATX

Positive changes: Beautiful skyline, more open minded people, less violent crime, more things to do and transportation options.

More interesting restaurants, the food truck scene.

Breweries and brewpubs.

An actual start to a fairly comprehensive bike lane/trail network (thought still much more to do).

The boardwalk and great streets downtown.

[mikem1977]

I don't know how Austin of past was as I have only been here since March, but the Austin of Present is above and beyond the best Area I have ever lived in my life.

I grew up in Albany, NY and have spent the past 20 years in Louisville, Heidelberg Germany, Kansas City , Augusta (GA), Columbus (GA), Syracuse and Raleigh.

Austin blows them all out of the water (Although Germany is very close). There is just something majical about the area. Yes the traffic does suck and the cost of living is high but so what honestly. The cost of living here is still cheaper than most areas of upstate NY where it sucks for 9 months out of the year, we don't pay state taxes, there is always stuff to do cheap, patio dining everywhere, the list goes on and on.

All cities change, many for the worse (i.e. almost all the Rust Belt cities), but Austin is still on the up and up. Also for the comment about Raleigh handling growth well, yeah that is only because Raleigh is a very suburban city with "Little Boxes" developments and a dead downtown except for a few special events throughout the year.

[CT_ATX]

Originally Posted by Novacek

More interesting restaurants, the food truck scene.

Breweries and brewpubs.

An actual start to a fairly comprehensive bike lane/trail network (thought still much more to do).

The boardwalk and great streets downtown.

I think that is some of the trade off for the crowds. Some of these music festivals wouldn't exist without the crowds, neither would the local brews and many other things. I assume public transportation will eventually hit that point too. As the crowds demand it, the options will increase. I still get frustrated sometimes by the mobs of people, but they make a lot of the things I enjoy possible.