How would the Gulf Region of developed if it were hurricane free and Galveston stayed the financial core? (Houston: how much, home)

[I Eat Texans 4 Breakfast]

I'm sure many of us know Galveston was the ripe city for massive growth up until historic hurricanes interrupted it's progress. Imagine Downtown Houston being 3 miles away from Pleasure Pier? We would of possibly surpassed Chicago in skyline AND density.

Oh well, i guess i like Houston the way it is now, but it feels like an LA if you took away the mountains, smaller palm trees, further inland. I see nothing wrong with it but it lacks regional design uniqueness.

[Dopo]

We can still move it to Galveston

[mikeyyc]

Not really. Galveston is a sand bar. Skyscrapers wouldn't happen until you hit the mainland. The biggest challenge with Houston is the geographic features. There are none. It's a drained bayou that is table flat. If the buildings weren't there you could watch your dog run away for a week. It's so flat you can look out the front door, and see the backside of your house.


Mountains, hills, valleys, rivers, that's what makes for interesting cities, and "character".

[Jack Lance]

Originally Posted by mikeyyc

Not really. Galveston is a sand bar. Skyscrapers wouldn't happen until you hit the mainland. The biggest challenge with Houston is the geographic features. There are none. It's a drained bayou that is table flat. If the buildings weren't there you could watch your dog run away for a week. It's so flat you can look out the front door, and see the backside of your house.


Mountains, hills, valleys, rivers, that's what makes for interesting cities, and "character".

This is total bullcrap, would you say the same thing about the entire state of Florida ? Houston is built where a city should be built and that's where there is economic opportunity to support the city.

Threads like this are nothing but flame bait posted merely as a platform for the OP and others to denigrate the region. Its just total nonsense to fantasize about what obviously didn't happen and really had no chance of ever happening.

[mikeyyc]

Originally Posted by Jack Lance

This is total bullcrap, would you say the same thing about the entire state of Florida ? Houston is built where a city should be built and that's where there is economic opportunity to support the city.

Threads like this are nothing but flame bait posted merely as a platform for the OP and others to denigrate the region. Its just total nonsense to fantasize about what obviously didn't happen and really had no chance of ever happening.

Huh?


I love Houston and it's been my home for over eight years, and no plans to change that but it's flat as all hell. I genuinely believe some of the hate that people have about the city is related to that. There's no reference anchor. In LA you know where you are in relation to either the mountains or the beach. I'm from Calgary originally. You use the mountains and the river to place yourself in the city. Here, you use freeways, as they're the only significant geographic feature other than Buffalo Bayou, and that barely touches a fraction of the inhabited city.


Galveston never would have happened, as you were limited to a sand bar that is hardly secure.


Florida has the same problem, but Miami is on a beach, so everyone gives it a pass. What's the most maligned city in Florida? Orlando, the only one that's inland.


I think you misread the intent of my post. Houston has countless amazing things, geographic variety isn't one of them.

[CosmicDragon]

It is indeed funny how much Houston is criticized for "lack of geographic feature;" the setting (in terms of access to geographic features of note), is not much different than that of London, Paris, Berlin, and New Orleans. The only difference is, unlike the former cities, Houston didn't utilize the many bayou waterfronts in a way to serve QOL needs of the city; however, as far as being present, the features are indeed there.

[Clever nickname here]

Originally Posted by mikeyyc

If the buildings weren't there you could watch your dog run away for a week.

I'm dying! It is so true.

[Clever nickname here]

Originally Posted by mikeyyc

Huh?


There's no reference anchor.

ITL v OTL?

[Jack Lance]

Originally Posted by mikeyyc

Huh?


I love Houston and it's been my home for over eight years, and no plans to change that but it's flat as all hell. I genuinely believe some of the hate that people have about the city is related to that. There's no reference anchor. In LA you know where you are in relation to either the mountains or the beach. I'm from Calgary originally. You use the mountains and the river to place yourself in the city. Here, you use freeways, as they're the only significant geographic feature other than Buffalo Bayou, and that barely touches a fraction of the inhabited city.


Galveston never would have happened, as you were limited to a sand bar that is hardly secure.


Florida has the same problem, but Miami is on a beach, so everyone gives it a pass. What's the most maligned city in Florida? Orlando, the only one that's inland.


I think you misread the intent of my post. Houston has countless amazing things, geographic variety isn't one of them.

The same can be said for other cities in Texas but you don't see these threads asking to imagine if it were somehow different in those forums.

Here is a similar thread that was closed about 3 weeks ago I guess some may have missed it.

https://www.city-data.com/forum/houst...ike-hills.html

[Dopo]

What's funny about Houston is that it's extremely flat
Yet, most highways in Houston look like a roller coaster