Austin American Statesman Series on Hill Country Development
The Statesman has begun what appears to be a "fair and balanced" series on development west of Austin, with particular attention to Hamilton Pool Road. It's a must read!
The Statesman has begun what appears to be a "fair and balanced" series on development west of Austin, with particular attention to Hamilton Pool Road. It's a must read!
From the article:
"We have to strategically plan our Starbucks run."
God, the things people have to give up by moving out here.
But will she be there to fight the new Starbucks or Wal-Mart or the rest of the over illuminated eyesore corporate disney world they are planning for us? Or will the beauty of " a smoothly paved, quiet cul-de-sac ringed with large houses and well-tended lawns" be their idea of paradise.
We already know the answer.
"I see a ton of city folks who would rather bring the city with them than assimilate to a foreign culture," No shit.
You don't have to move to HPR to live in a cul-de-sac neighborhood. You could do that anywhere. They love "view" from their Suburbans, on the way to Best Buy!
"You could do that anywhere". Indeed. Might I suggest buying a home in one of Austin's central suburbs, on a cul de sac, demolishing it and building your new mac mansion there? You could drive to work without building new toll roads. In fact it would help in creating the logic that is required to have a real public transportation system.
Apparently they are fond of 'Water features' as well, witnessed by what's his name pumping out who knows how much water to make some eye soothing Disney land 'lakes'.
The issue I guess, beyond the obvious environmental and resource ones, is about opposing lifestyle and vision.
My lifestyle of dark skies, rainwater harvesting, land preservation, management and attempted escape from nanny state control interferes with their desire of lawns and smoothly paved roads. This could be no problem if the influx was of a scale that didn't change the entire character of a region, and waterlines, highways, and malls disguised as villages do just that.