Quote:
Originally Posted by zrx299
Most people tend to have a rose colored view of places from the past. Entertainment districts are no different.
"It's just not the same." Well of course it isn't, but mostly because YOU are likely not the same. You are now a 40-something with a family instead of a 20-something post-college kid regularly going out and socializing. ("You" is just a general reference. This is for no one specific)
Long time locals and visitors seem to pine so hard about the warehouse district among other areas (and the "Austin of yesteryear"), yet conveniently ignore the fact that downtown was a barren disconnected sea of surface parking lots, un-activated sidewalks that rolled up at 5pm except for certain pockets during that era. You can't have one without the other when being nostalgic.
Had I been around and visited those places during the same time, maybe I too would have similar feelings, but since I wasn't, I don't.
But I DO think it's very important to be smart about development and preserve the "play" part of the whole modern Live/Work/Play motto. Otherwise it becomes a pretty sterile and generic environment very quickly.
|
Very well said. I get tired of hearing people complain and try to convince others that Austin has changed for the worse. (People who have spent much less time here than I have no less.) I vehemently disagree with their assessments. Many of the old restaurants, bars, etc. that people lament about losing were never all that great to begin with. If they were that great, they would probably still be in business. Plus, for every place that has been lost, many more have sprung up to take their place. Many of those new places are now considered Austin institutions. There are now more cool, great spots in town than there ever were.
The culture of Austin hasn't changed much over the last 20+ years that I've known it as home. The Austin culture is what created all of the old and continues to create the next generation of new and awesome. I don't see the Austin culture changing anytime soon. All it seems to do is draw in more like minded, creative, entrepreneurial, etc. people that help make it even better.