Video about Houston Urban sprawl
9,134 Views |
65 Replies |
Last: 3 mo ago by Sea Speed
Good ol' 1960.
I don't think anybody would accuse Houston of being pedestrian friendly or walkable. That Canadian narrator was one of the more sanctimonious and whiny folks I've listened to. Good thing there's room for him in El Paso.
rilloaggie said:
That Canadian narrator was one of the more sanctimonious and whiny folks I've listened to. Good thing there's room for him in El Paso.
1. Agreed but he's also not wrong
2. How the hell is he gonna get to El Paso when he doesn't have a car?
ATM9000 said:rilloaggie said:
That Canadian narrator was one of the more sanctimonious and whiny folks I've listened to. Good thing there's room for him in El Paso.
1. Agreed but he's also not wrong
2. How the hell is he gonna get to El Paso when he doesn't have a car?
I couldn't make it through the whole video to be honest but his point about having to own a car in Houston making it prohibitively expensive to live and function in society falls flat imho. Some quick google-fu shows that average rent for a 1br apt in Houston is about $800 less per month than Toronto and $1,400 less than NYC. That's a hell of a car payment to make up for. I've never been a huge fan of living in a dense urban area but while I think pedestrian infrastructure is great, acting like it's criminal or life being unlivable without it is false.
rilloaggie said:
I don't think anybody would accuse Houston of being pedestrian friendly or walkable. That Canadian narrator was one of the more sanctimonious and whiny folks I've listened to. Good thing there's room for him in El Paso.
Yeah, I'm someone that is generally supportive of smart urban design but good Lord what a sanctimonious whiner.
Good gawd.
If you're nothing but an urban dwelling idiot who knows nothing outside of the city limits, buy a damned used VW Golf.
Affordable. Reliable. Useable for city.
Damned urban ****s and their desire to make the world revolve around them.
If you're nothing but an urban dwelling idiot who knows nothing outside of the city limits, buy a damned used VW Golf.
Affordable. Reliable. Useable for city.
Damned urban ****s and their desire to make the world revolve around them.
His video walking to the store, over the bridge etc. demonstrated the issues. There are clearly areas of town that could use upgrading.
Doss Park -has ballfields, playground etc. It's located on Frick Rd, across the street from lots of residential housing. However Frick Rd (at least last time I was there) has no sidewalks, no curb, no shoulder - it only has steep drainage ditches on either side of a narrow road. So if you're a kid on a bike living north of Frick Rd, it's unsafe to go to the nearby park; better to drive.
Crossing Buffalo Bayou - you can walk/bike across the Lockwood bridge. However there is no safe way to cross over the bayou east of Lockwood. Wayside was rebuilt recently, they took out the sidewalk/shoulder on the northernmost portion of that long crossing - leaving only traffic lanes. Wayside should have a pedestrian option.
Doss Park -has ballfields, playground etc. It's located on Frick Rd, across the street from lots of residential housing. However Frick Rd (at least last time I was there) has no sidewalks, no curb, no shoulder - it only has steep drainage ditches on either side of a narrow road. So if you're a kid on a bike living north of Frick Rd, it's unsafe to go to the nearby park; better to drive.
Crossing Buffalo Bayou - you can walk/bike across the Lockwood bridge. However there is no safe way to cross over the bayou east of Lockwood. Wayside was rebuilt recently, they took out the sidewalk/shoulder on the northernmost portion of that long crossing - leaving only traffic lanes. Wayside should have a pedestrian option.
The randomly-thrown-in commentary about the best slow-smoked brisket being from NYC (11:40 mark) invalidates everything else the guy has to say... about anything.
And let's be real here, walking anywhere Houston between about mid-May and early-October is absolutely brutal. How many other major cities which are NOT car-centric like Houston have similar climates?
Also, is 1960 between 249 & 45 really "Houston?"
Also, is 1960 between 249 & 45 really "Houston?"
chico said:
His video walking to the store, over the bridge etc. demonstrated the issues. There are clearly areas of town that could use upgrading.
Doss Park -has ballfields, playground etc. It's located on Frick Rd, across the street from lots of residential housing. However Frick Rd (at least last time I was there) has no sidewalks, no curb, no shoulder - it only has steep drainage ditches on either side of a narrow road. So if you're a kid on a bike living north of Frick Rd, it's unsafe to go to the nearby park; better to drive.
Crossing Buffalo Bayou - you can walk/bike across the Lockwood bridge. However there is no safe way to cross over the bayou east of Lockwood. Wayside was rebuilt recently, they took out the sidewalk/shoulder on the northernmost portion of that long crossing - leaving only traffic lanes. Wayside should have a pedestrian option.
I understand what you are saying regarding the drainage ditches versus sidewalks. This type of setup is all over Houston. The problem is, we get so much damned rain and flooding, trying to put in RCP or box culverts, cover with dirt and a sidewalk becomes prohibitively expensive when you look at the water volumes we need to channel.
That was 1960 and 249. Basically Willowbrook mall. I promise you we could find a place IN Toronto that would be as difficult to walk. We was worried about the cars he should have been more worried about other things in that area.
I misread the title as being something about an "urban BRAWL." Was looking forward to a nice WORLD STAR video at Chuck E. Cheese.
That Canuck could've just walked to the mall to buy his stupid luggage and not have to cross any streets. Poor planning on his part.DrZ said:
That was 1960 and 249. Basically Willowbrook mall. I promise you we could find a place IN Toronto that would be as difficult to walk. We was worried about the cars he should have been more worried about other things in that area.
Or cross the street at the traffic light he walked right by and go over to Academy.RealTalk said:That Canuck could've just walked to the mall to buy his stupid luggage and not have to cross any streets. Poor planning on his part.DrZ said:
That was 1960 and 249. Basically Willowbrook mall. I promise you we could find a place IN Toronto that would be as difficult to walk. We was worried about the cars he should have been more worried about other things in that area.
I love going to Europe and staying in cities there with easily walkable areas. It's great for vacations. I wish that we would build places like that around Houston with street areas converted into pedestrian only paths. Overall though, it's dumb to try to make everywhere walkable in Houston. As stated above, the heat, how spread out the city is, ect.I don't want my day to day life to involve walking everywhere, it's stupid. If you don't like it, be like this guy and move to a city that is more like what you like but stop complaining about other cities you don't live in.
7nine
RealTalk
That's a great point. I went back to his video and looked at the map he supplied.
The video was posted July 19th. Basically three weeks ago.
The building he pointed to was originally a Walmart. That closed 5 years ago. Now a giant storage facility and its 1100 meters away. No luggage there.
A little farther is a Target. Maybe luggage there. But its 1400 meters away.
He was so specific about 800 meters and determined to walk it.
What is located 800 meters from his hotel that was risking your life for?
Strip mall massage.
That's a great point. I went back to his video and looked at the map he supplied.
The video was posted July 19th. Basically three weeks ago.
The building he pointed to was originally a Walmart. That closed 5 years ago. Now a giant storage facility and its 1100 meters away. No luggage there.
A little farther is a Target. Maybe luggage there. But its 1400 meters away.
He was so specific about 800 meters and determined to walk it.
What is located 800 meters from his hotel that was risking your life for?
Strip mall massage.
What a ****ty part of Houston to pick. All that shows is what a metro line and low income housing can do to a once nice area.
when he talked about zoning, he mentioned some speaking points from a concept called "livable spaces" that Houston city council just voted to look into with a consultant from Austin. Contact your city council member. They have a survey going till the 16th.
Concept is overriding your HOA so that they can build apartments or townhomes into your current neighborhood (single family neighborhoods). Basically allowing the city to buy houses in your neighborhood, turn them into Section 8 housing.
Concept is overriding your HOA so that they can build apartments or townhomes into your current neighborhood (single family neighborhoods). Basically allowing the city to buy houses in your neighborhood, turn them into Section 8 housing.
A Section 8 complex going up on 34th in Oak Forest.
Can't wait.
Of course, the arguments on Facebook fell right where you expect, with the hypocrisy, or cognitive dissonance, of progressives on full display.
Progressives argue that Section 8 and an influx of poor won't increase crime and it is racist, because only minorities are poor, to oppose it. Yet, at the same time, they live in Oak Forest rather than a poor 'hood because crime is rampant.
Can't wait.
Of course, the arguments on Facebook fell right where you expect, with the hypocrisy, or cognitive dissonance, of progressives on full display.
Progressives argue that Section 8 and an influx of poor won't increase crime and it is racist, because only minorities are poor, to oppose it. Yet, at the same time, they live in Oak Forest rather than a poor 'hood because crime is rampant.
Houston- a great place to live, but I wouldn't want to visit.
20 miles from Downtown. What does a shopping center 20 miles from the cbd of any major city look like?DrZ said:
That was 1960 and 249. Basically Willowbrook mall. I promise you we could find a place IN Toronto that would be as difficult to walk. We was worried about the cars he should have been more worried about other things in that area.
Someone a long time ago, can't remember who, said that these "urban planning" hobbyists must take a shuttle from Bush airport to 1960 so they can ***** about Houston not being walkable. Still true, and still a played out, dishonest schtick.
The only thing somewhat unique about Houston sprawl is the square milage of the actual city boundaries, due to annexation. 20 miles from the center of any major city is a long slow traffic slog that stops looking touristy or fun pretty quick.
I grew up in that area and still can't figure out where the hell he went for luggage. The defunct toys are us that's now a Chinese buffet? The hood Walmart behind it? Best Buy? Sherwin Williams or the lighting store? At least walk a little further, get a marg at pappasitos and quit yer *****in.
Why luggage? Are luggage deserts now a thing?
first Arcade Fire, now this *******.
Why must Canadians denigrate our fair north side?
Why must Canadians denigrate our fair north side?
i'd say being in the city limits of a city qualifies as being part of that city. (willowbrook mall and surroundings)TarponChaser said:
And let's be real here, walking anywhere Houston between about mid-May and early-October is absolutely brutal. How many other major cities which are NOT car-centric like Houston have similar climates?
Also, is 1960 between 249 & 45 really "Houston?"
schmendeler said:i'd say being in the city limits of a city qualifies as being part of that city. (willowbrook mall and surroundings)TarponChaser said:
And let's be real here, walking anywhere Houston between about mid-May and early-October is absolutely brutal. How many other major cities which are NOT car-centric like Houston have similar climates?
Also, is 1960 between 249 & 45 really "Houston?"
Is that in the Houston city limits? I didn't think it was.
Probably.TarponChaser said:schmendeler said:i'd say being in the city limits of a city qualifies as being part of that city. (willowbrook mall and surroundings)TarponChaser said:
And let's be real here, walking anywhere Houston between about mid-May and early-October is absolutely brutal. How many other major cities which are NOT car-centric like Houston have similar climates?
Also, is 1960 between 249 & 45 really "Houston?"
Is that in the Houston city limits? I didn't think it was.
7nine
Yup, almost all of the major highways and the businesses along those highways are technically Houston city limits as they were land grabs to get tax revenue.TarponChaser said:schmendeler said:i'd say being in the city limits of a city qualifies as being part of that city. (willowbrook mall and surroundings)TarponChaser said:
And let's be real here, walking anywhere Houston between about mid-May and early-October is absolutely brutal. How many other major cities which are NOT car-centric like Houston have similar climates?
Also, is 1960 between 249 & 45 really "Houston?"
Is that in the Houston city limits? I didn't think it was.
Looks like a fungus spreading.Texaggie7nine said:Probably.TarponChaser said:schmendeler said:i'd say being in the city limits of a city qualifies as being part of that city. (willowbrook mall and surroundings)TarponChaser said:
And let's be real here, walking anywhere Houston between about mid-May and early-October is absolutely brutal. How many other major cities which are NOT car-centric like Houston have similar climates?
Also, is 1960 between 249 & 45 really "Houston?"
Is that in the Houston city limits? I didn't think it was.
Seems appropriate.
Willowbrook is "inside the limits."
rilloaggie said:ATM9000 said:rilloaggie said:
That Canadian narrator was one of the more sanctimonious and whiny folks I've listened to. Good thing there's room for him in El Paso.
1. Agreed but he's also not wrong
2. How the hell is he gonna get to El Paso when he doesn't have a car?
I couldn't make it through the whole video to be honest but his point about having to own a car in Houston making it prohibitively expensive to live and function in society falls flat imho. Some quick google-fu shows that average rent for a 1br apt in Houston is about $800 less per month than Toronto and $1,400 less than NYC. That's a hell of a car payment to make up for. I've never been a huge fan of living in a dense urban area but while I think pedestrian infrastructure is great, acting like it's criminal or life being unlivable without it is false.
For me and you yeah no big deal. But it isn't just about me and you or the people who probably read this thread. Houston wages are also comparably lower than the rents in those cities and nobody wants section 8 housing around them and rightfully so. Houston's public transportation sucks and probably will continue to do so for our lifetime. We want restaurants and stores and the like right around us for convenience which requires low wages workers so what are we really asking for?
We can pretend the issue is only in the one area of town but all know it isn't. And yeah it's hot and gross out in the summer and not fun to walk in those conditions, but I'd argue that just making certain areas of the city more walkable could be the start to spurring an actual decent public transportation network in Houston one day.
Yep. CoH annexed the retail centers to expand the tax base, but didn't take any of the residential areas that would require emergency service. I think that was part of the last CoH limited annexation in the early 2000's.Satellite of Love said:
Willowbrook is "inside the limits."
https://www.houstontx.gov/planning/Annexation/docs_pdfs/HoustonAnnexationHistory.pdf
the target on Taylor was completely empty yesterday. Walmart only had a couple left
https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2021/08/15/video-2-men-rob-willowbrook-mall-cell-phone-store-at-gunpoint/
The guy made a good decision by avoiding Willowbrook Mall. I'd rather risk getting hit by a car walking to Wal-Mart than getting shot by going to the mall.
The guy made a good decision by avoiding Willowbrook Mall. I'd rather risk getting hit by a car walking to Wal-Mart than getting shot by going to the mall.
The chap who appropriated the sail foams is wearing a hoodie that says "Rarity." I do appreciate some good irony.
