The fact that the mayor shunned the Marriott resort since it's very detached from the city, is a pretty clear sign he's more interested in what will actually bring jobs, a tax base and people to the core. The Marriott resort is great, but it's so far out. I used Google Earth to view the property, and it's in the middle of nowhere. It's great to see a mayor who is focusing on the inner city and breathing new life back into it. It's encouraging. Remember that most of the tall buildings in the city increased the value of the land they're sitting on. They're taxed higher than say a car wash, small apartment complex or a grocery store would be. The money from those property taxes are spread all over the city to help pay for city services like fire, EMS, schools, garbage collection, streets and utilities. Something like 80 percent of the money collected from property taxes in downtown Austin are used all over the city. I'm sure San Antonio does the same thing.
Besides the taxes that pay for everything, it's always best to have your urban core be healthy. Have the focus on the center of the city, not the suburbs or suburban/rural areas of town.
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