Re: Hyde Park, M1EK is certainly right about the housing stock declining north of 45th. Hyde Park used to be the #1 desired neighborhood for grad students to live in, but they're mostly priced out now, except for the crap 70s apartments. Most of my grad student friends that claim Hyde Park these days live in near-shacks or duplexes between 45th and North Loop (not really Hyde Park). Although some are getting priced out of that. Someday I need to do a whole post about the politics of grad student housing rental and urban development.
Re: The central Austin debate, I don't agree that south of the river should be included as central. It's not just about geography, it's about history as well. I would argue for 45th as the cutoff.
Speaking of numbered streets, part of me wishes the numbered streets extended father north... would make navigation easier.
Re: Burnet Road VMU, this was a major reason a lot of local NAs are agitating for "open space requirements" with VMU. There was a flurry of posts about it on the Crestview NA. Fears that Burnet Road would become an "urban canyon." I think I read an Allandale newsletter article that said something like "I know that some of you are thinking that anything would be better on Burnet than what is currently there... But think about the reality of VMU!"
Personally I think the Burnet Rd corridor is a great one for further development. There is a lot of great stuff going in there recently. I was very disappointed when they built a suburban style Walgreens at the corner of Burnet and 2222 recently though.