[Sigaven]

Originally Posted by the Genral

From the last pick I just realized what makes Austin's downtown so unique and beautiful. In many large cities, if not most, that ribbon of highway cuts through the heart of their downtowns, ie: Cleveland, Cincy, Houston, even Corpus Christi, or right on the edge of it. Its actually is quite unattractive and not that easy to navigate to get to the city streets from them. Austin's skyline doesn't include any major highways or overpasses running through it. You may disagree with me, but I don't see I35 cutting through downtown, even if more and more buildings are headed towards it. Unless you're on it, you really don't see it from most angles. It really isn't that big of a pain in the ass to get into or out of the city, except during rush hour, I get there via Burnet Rd, or Lamar, but I am so glad we don't have to look at ribbons of winding elevated highways cutting through and ruining the view of downtown. I prefer that we essentially have to take the 'small' roads to get there from the ribbons of highways. By default since no one saw the growth we're seeing in the last 20 years, all those major roadways are thankfully in the distance. Regarding I35, it can be hidden by...what do you call it? Cap and bury? At least most of dt is blocks away from it.

I've thought about this too...most downtowns in most major cities are tightly surrounded by a box of highways...dallas, houston, SA to name cities in TX. Austin doesn't have that...just I-35 right by downtown. Scary to think that we almost had this "box" of highways destroy part of our city...Cesar Chavez, guadalupe, 15th street etc...