AUSTIN | Economic Development

[enragedcamel]

Originally Posted by wwmiv

Such as most anyone? Two people doing construction at the same cost greatly outweighs one person sitting at a computer creating a gaming app.

Your disdain is misdirected. Software developers might make good money but they are quite low on the totem pole of people whose value adds are grossly disproportional to how much they make.

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by wwmiv

Such as most anyone? Two people doing construction at the same cost greatly outweighs one person sitting at a computer creating a gaming app.

THIS. Bring in more diverse industries to Austin so it doesn't feel like the whole circus tent is collapsing when on of these tech groups skips town.

and def not jealous of the edgers lmao. So depressing.

[freerover]

Originally Posted by ahealy

THIS. Bring in more diverse industries to Austin so it doesn't feel like the whole circus tent is collapsing when on of these tech groups skips town.

and def not jealous of the edgers lmao. So depressing.

You really think it feels like the whole circus tent is collapsing? I think you might be blowing this out of proportion.

[enragedcamel]

Yeah, that sounds like a wild exaggeration that is completely out of touch with reality.

[Lobotomizer]

Originally Posted by enragedcamel

Yeah, that sounds like a wild exaggeration that is completely out of touch with reality.

Ridiculous comments by out of touch people on SSP?!? I'm shocked and appalled! Mostly just shocked, though.

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by freerover

You really think it feels like the whole circus tent is collapsing? I think you might be blowing this out of proportion.

I personally don't feel that way, it's just all I hear from friends and colleagues. I am not at all interested in the tech world.

Bring on more diverse jobs and industries. That's all I meant.

[chinchaaa]

Originally Posted by ahealy

I personally don't feel that way, it's just all I hear from friends and colleagues. I am not at all interested in the tech world.

Bring on more diverse jobs and industries. That's all I meant.

You first

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by chinchaaa

You first

Me first what??

[siriusdog]

What are the thoughts on the 'skyscraper effect' but on a local scale? For the uninitiated, this the prediction that we'd go into a global recession when the tallest building in the world is constructed. With 6X now complete, we might be in for a recession?

[siriusdog]

On a related note, I also don't understand the hysteria around Austin's tech scene being in trouble. I work in the tech industry (hardware side) and we are still seeing growth and hiring. It's just more normal growth associated with a mature business rather than the double every year growth we saw a few years back.
On an individual basis, the current environment can be challenging. There is cost cutting going on by companies and it is painful on individual basis but I don't know anyone in Austin who got laid off (and I know quite a few) that didn't land a position within three months. Considering most of them got six months of severance, this is a sweet deal.

[ILUVSAT]

^^^It's culling the gluttony of the COVID-era hiring. AI is going to continue to aid sales figures for some companies. And, it will assume rolls/jobs in some others.

[urbancore]

I believe that Austin has a LONG way to go far as skyscrapers go.

Because of our zoning laws, the population of Austin "proper" may never reach much higher than it is...$1.3m (is my guess in the next 20 years)....but I believe we will see a steady supply of new construction as the years tick by. At least 1-2 skyscrapers breaking ground each year. The burbs, of course, will continue to explode.

Jobs drive the residential real estate market, we all know this. But I believe that retiring Boomers will make a significant impact to our skyline as some of them slowly give up their SFH to purchase condos in vibrant cities. NYC and SF are the best of course, but they are unattainable to most. Austin will always be a more affordable option than the coasts, apples to apples. Many Texas based Boomers who are still active and "fun", will look to our skyline, nightlife, music, comedy, nature...and increasingly shopping....and decide downtown Austin is amazing. As prices moderate in the near term, the sales will only increase. We have seen this movie a few times before. Boomers have the $, and they aren't getting younger.

All of this to say, I think Austin is sitting pretty. And I'm very proud of my city. I know it doesn't appeal to a LOT of people (conservatives who hate Austin, and liberals who hate Texas), and we will have a shit ton of problems to solve, but we are set to grow (downtown) into something unique in the US.

Austin hasn't lost anything. We are not going to turn into Phoenix in my or my children's lifetime, jobs will not dry up, water will not dry up, the musicians will still play, young people will continue to flock here for opportunity, diversity, jobs, and school. Its the young people that make the future of your city bright, and from what I see...the young people LOVE it. (at least till they get older and can't party as much and have a stack of bills....but that's not unique to any generation)

So with all that, I propose the only voter ID requirement that every Austinite must prove is; to be able to sing one Willy song by heart, name any SRV song in 3 notes, own 1 "Hi How are You" t-shirt, and complete the lyric....."who were you thinkin of when you were......" No further identification needed.

Now off to find my Willy songbook......RIP Doug Sahm

[clubtokyo]

I like your attitude urbancore!

[H2O]

Originally Posted by urbancore

I believe that Austin has a LONG way to go far as skyscrapers go.

Because of our zoning laws, the population of Austin "proper" may never reach much higher than it is...$1.3m (is my guess in the next 20 years)....but I believe we will see a steady supply of new construction as the years tick by. At least 1-2 skyscrapers breaking ground each year. The burbs, of course, will continue to explode.

Jobs drive the residential real estate market, we all know this. But I believe that retiring Boomers will make a significant impact to our skyline as some of them slowly give up their SFH to purchase condos in vibrant cities. NYC and SF are the best of course, but they are unattainable to most. Austin will always be a more affordable option than the coasts, apples to apples. Many Texas based Boomers who are still active and "fun", will look to our skyline, nightlife, music, comedy, nature...and increasingly shopping....and decide downtown Austin is amazing. As prices moderate in the near term, the sales will only increase. We have seen this movie a few times before. Boomers have the $, and they aren't getting younger.

All of this to say, I think Austin is sitting pretty. And I'm very proud of my city. I know it doesn't appeal to a LOT of people (conservatives who hate Austin, and liberals who hate Texas), and we will have a shit ton of problems to solve, but we are set to grow (downtown) into something unique in the US.

Austin hasn't lost anything. We are not going to turn into Phoenix in my or my children's lifetime, jobs will not dry up, water will not dry up, the musicians will still play, young people will continue to flock here for opportunity, diversity, jobs, and school. Its the young people that make the future of your city bright, and from what I see...the young people LOVE it. (at least till they get older and can't party as much and have a stack of bills....but that's not unique to any generation)

So with all that, I propose the only voter ID requirement that every Austinite must prove is; to be able to sing one Willy song by heart, name any SRV song in 3 notes, own 1 "Hi How are You" t-shirt, and complete the lyric....."who were you thinkin of when you were......" No further identification needed.

Now off to find my Willy songbook......RIP Doug Sahm

I think you are mostly right except about us Boomers. The youngest among us are turning 60; the oldest 80. Most Boomers have been retired for some time, and the generation is now dying off. Austin's recent skyline boom is largely the result of retiring boomers.