The Austin metro today is about the size of the Dallas metro (minus Fort Worth) in the late 1960s. Most of you are too young to remember, but Dallas seemed like a pretty big city back then. It was still quite separate from Fort Worth. Austin is now growing as fast or faster than Dallas was growing back then. Our current skyline certainly is comparable or better than the Dallas skyline of that era. I think we are doing great in the size and skyline department. We are lucky to be living in an era when in-fill development is also taking place. Austin's downtown is never going to be a pile of high rises surrounded by a sea of parking lots.
On who Austin's peer cities are, not really a thing as any attempt would to change every census. Austin has a hard time finding its place amongst other cities, with its population never stabilizing. Always growing steady and sure. I mean 10 years ago the idea Pitt was one of Austin's peer cities would have been seemed silly. 20 years ago? lol!
For the record, I am in no way indicating that Austin is "underperforming" in comparison to other cities I have mentioned. It was a mild attempt to compare skyline sizes alone and nothing more. For all that is being said, I agree with everyone that Austin has come a long way in such a short time incomparable to any other city, but all of that is simly besides the point and much credit to Austin.
Here is another sports comparison. Other cities like Pittsburgh or Cincinnati are like the Spurs who have been there for quite a long time. Austin are still the Thunder team who look awfully scary right now, but it needs a couple more pieces to truly compete. An 800' footer here a 700' there and possibly a light rail and now you have yourself a big leaguer.
That's an awesome picture. There's a bunch of metal on the boardwalk, I'm not sure its the safest place to be when there is cloud to ground lightning around.
What is the 5 story building on the block east of the Westin? I can't make out the signage. I like the entryway but not so much the rest of it.
Somehow I never noticed it before. Is the entryway a recent renovation? It looks nicer and newer from the rest of the building. Like how the Colorado Tower is presenting itself, but I think I'm going to be disappointed with the height. 44 floors would have filled that space nicely.
Last edited by the Genral; Jun 18, 2014 at 2:21 AM.
I believe that it was once the local health department before conversion into lofts. It was one of the earliest loft conversions downtown in the late 1990s. Prior to that, it was a run down government building built in the "moderne" period, probably one of the few such buildings in Austin.
I work at one of the Hilton restaurants, and I agree it's a great view. I just wish they'd consider some improvements to Brush Square (the green space in the foreground) in the near future. I walk past it nearly every day, and though it houses some historic structures, much of it is vastly underused. Considering it may soon be situated right at a key transfer point between the current MetroRail and the new urban rail, a facelift would be welcome.
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BUILD IT. BUILD EVERYTHING. BUILD IT ALL.
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