Jax Chamber Trip: How Houston does it

Started by thelakelander, September 24, 2011, 06:34:50 AM

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fsujax

#15
September 29, 2011, 09:40:20 AM
I am sure Houston has some great attributes. Nice high rise, gleaming towers and the new LRT downtown. My neighbor and his wife just recently moved to Jax from Houston and they speak more highly of Jax.

thelakelander

#16
September 29, 2011, 09:54:59 AM
Although much larger, I thought DT Houston had just as many issues to resolve as DT Jax, the last time I visited in 2006.  At street level, it really gave off the impression of being a vertical office park that emptied out at 6pm.  Other than that, Houston does have some great neighborhoods adjacent to DT, lots of small infill projects and Galveston being 45 minutes down the road is a plus.  It reminded me of Atlanta or Dallas in a lot of ways but its distance to the Gulf Coast gave it the edge over those cities to me.
"A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life." - Muhammad Ali

Steve_Lovett

#17
September 29, 2011, 02:04:28 PM
Quote from: fsujax on September 29, 2011, 09:40:20 AM
I am sure Houston has some great attributes. Nice high rise, gleaming towers and the new LRT downtown. My neighbor and his wife just recently moved to Jax from Houston and they speak more highly of Jax.

Just returned from the Chamber Trip yesterday.

Houston's attributes are oil, a strong medical center, oil, light rail that connects major nodes, oil, a some very nice urban parks, strong philanthropy, oil, and a strong theater and museum district. 

And oil..........

Jacksonville is a superior city with greater potential.

Non-RedNeck Westsider

#18
September 29, 2011, 02:19:45 PM
Quote from: Steve_Lovett on September 29, 2011, 02:04:28 PM
Quote from: fsujax on September 29, 2011, 09:40:20 AM
I am sure Houston has some great attributes. Nice high rise, gleaming towers and the new LRT downtown. My neighbor and his wife just recently moved to Jax from Houston and they speak more highly of Jax.

Just returned from the Chamber Trip yesterday.

Houston's attributes are oil, a strong medical center, oil, light rail that connects major nodes, oil, a some very nice urban parks, strong philanthropy, oil, and a strong theater and museum district. 

And oil..........

Jacksonville is a superior city with greater potential.

May the drillling commence.
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mikemiller

#19
September 29, 2011, 04:58:08 PM
Houston's attributes are oil, a strong medical center, oil, light rail that connects major nodes, oil, a some very nice urban parks, strong philanthropy, oil, and a strong theater and museum district. 

Hey Steve! What about oil ;)

mtraininjax

#20
September 29, 2011, 06:12:02 PM
Houston is a nice town, but its a HUGE town population wise. It is the 6th largest Metropolitan area in the USA, how does that help Jacksonville, which is 40th? Indianapolis at 34th or Milwaukee at 39th would be better matches. Or even Memphis at 41st. Louisville at 42 or Oklahoma City at 44th.

Houston is not the right place, but when did the Chamber ever be worth any of the money that is poured into them?
And, that $115 will save Jacksonville from financial ruin. - Mayor John Peyton

"This is a game-changer. This is what I mean when I say taking Jacksonville to the next level."
-Mayor Alvin Brown on new video boards at Everbank Field

Steve_Lovett

#21
September 29, 2011, 09:31:53 PM
Quote from: mtraininjax on September 29, 2011, 06:12:02 PM
Houston is a nice town, but its a HUGE town population wise. It is the 6th largest Metropolitan area in the USA, how does that help Jacksonville, which is 40th? Indianapolis at 34th or Milwaukee at 39th would be better matches. Or even Memphis at 41st. Louisville at 42 or Oklahoma City at 44th.

Houston is not the right place, but when did the Chamber ever be worth any of the money that is poured into them?

I disagree.  I did not find Houston to be a very nice town.  Jacksonville can blow Houston out of the water in very much the same way as Portland might be compared with Los Angeles.  I think any city can learn from any other, in terms of both successes and failures.     

There is much that The Chamber does well to serve the community; and many passionate, committed people with a sincere interest in making Jacksonville a better place.  It's far from perfect and has missed the mark in many respects, but if these trips are approached in the right way there can be much to learn and benefit from.

simms3

#22
September 29, 2011, 10:05:50 PM
Never heard anyone say anything really positive about Houston (or TX in general...unless they went to UT or visited Austin ha).  We do a lot of deals in Houston and Dallas, and having been to Dallas a couple times (not liking it at all) I thought I would prefer Houston.  I am rethinking that as I study and learn more about that city (albeit from a distance).  Dallas does not remind me of Atlanta at all, and I don't think Houston would either in any way shape or form.  I hate the comparison.

The most recent comments I have heard about Houston are how hot it is.  People I work with go on frequent trips there and literally cannot get over it (granted two are from NY and one is from NJ...and one is from Hyderabad, India!).  I don't think I could last in the heat/humidity there, and I sure as hell would be disappointed in the level of activity downtown and the culture/people there.  Would miss hills and cooler weather along with an older, brick "Appalachian/northern" feel.

And the Gulf (there) is a benefit to port activity there, but I don't think it's a great benefit in the way of swimming, resorts, tourists, and retirees.  Some people I know from the area on up to the lower Plains (college buddies) used to go to South Padre, but not since they have experienced FL beaches (or beaches anywhere else).  And South Padre is far south of Houston.
Bothering locals and trolling boards since 2005

thelakelander

#23
September 29, 2011, 10:36:22 PM
Those three remind me of each other in how they sprawl compared to most metros their size. The best thing I liked about Houston was its proximity to Galveston and the Gulf.  I majored in Architecture and happen to have a soft spot for well preserved cities such as Galveston, Savannah, New Orleans, etc.  The new LRT line was also pretty nice.  Oh, and yes, it does get hot.  Dallas does too.
"A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life." - Muhammad Ali

mtraininjax

#24
September 30, 2011, 12:30:30 AM
Houston provides oil companies with an export location for their product. Makes a nice refugee camp too, thanks to Katrina. Jacksonville does have I 95 and is a major road for drug traffickers, so both cities are used by greedy sob's, who even kill a few people now and again. Nice!
And, that $115 will save Jacksonville from financial ruin. - Mayor John Peyton

"This is a game-changer. This is what I mean when I say taking Jacksonville to the next level."
-Mayor Alvin Brown on new video boards at Everbank Field

Steve_Lovett

#25
September 30, 2011, 04:52:18 PM
Quote from: thelakelander on September 29, 2011, 10:36:22 PM
Those three remind me of each other in how they sprawl compared to most metros their size. The best thing I liked about Houston was its proximity to Galveston and the Gulf.  I majored in Architecture and happen to have a soft spot for well preserved cities such as Galveston, Savannah, New Orleans, etc.  The new LRT line was also pretty nice.  Oh, and yes, it does get hot.  Dallas does too.

I was struck that Houston reminds me most of Las Vegas - Lacking natural intrinsic quality, touting size over all, and based in a wholly unsustainable economy.
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