AUSTIN | Projects & Construction II

[wwmiv]

Originally Posted by BevoLJ

I rarely go to 6th street. But as a kid we did have some good times down there. For me there are lots of other places around Austin that are more my style so they are where I frequent. To me I really have no problem with 6th street being what it is and what it has been for quite a long time now. It is what it is. It isn't my thing so I don't bother with it. If you don't like 6th and there is nothing there for you, why do you care? Because you feel it takes away from what you feel people should see as Austin?

Having a street in Austin that draws idiot college kids from across the country to come get drunk and party doesn't mean Antone's, Broken Spoke, Saxon Pub, and so on can't coexist in the same city. And it doesn't mean the warehouse district isn't successful in its own right.

Agreed. Completely.

[migol24]

Originally Posted by wwmiv

If you don't like it don't go there.

I don't. But I'm sure glad there's redevelopment planned for the area.

Do you honestly like it like it is now? Wouldn't you prefer seeing a more attractive area that brings in more tourism, and more money?

The only times I go 6th st, I go to Casino El Camino's (awesome burgers), Ritz, and whenever I know there's a very good band playing in the area.

But simply put man.... the area has gotta get fixed. Fix the sidewalks, bring in better more attractive and sane people, make it family friendly, and make it more diverse.... not just a bunch of clubs and bars. and safer too.... which is most important.

[migol24]

Originally Posted by BevoLJ

I rarely go to 6th street. But as a kid we did have some good times down there. For me there are lots of other places around Austin that are more my style so they are where I frequent. To me I really have no problem with 6th street being what it is and what it has been for quite a long time now. It is what it is. It isn't my thing so I don't bother with it. If you don't like 6th and there is nothing there for you, why do you care? Because you feel it takes away from what you feel people should see as Austin?

Having a street in Austin that draws idiot college kids from across the country to come get drunk and party doesn't mean Antone's, Broken Spoke, Saxon Pub, and so on can't coexist in the same city. And it doesn't mean the warehouse district isn't successful in its own right.

Another thing, it has been a lot longer than I'd publicly admit since I was in college but one thing I do remember was how unbelievably stupid we all were back then. I highly doubt college kids have become any smarter when it comes to drinking and sex. They are going to find outlets no matter what, and given the current state of Mexico I'd rather my daughter make her mistakes here in the US and Austin rather than down there. (wow, I really wish I could click a pause button so she never gets any older. lol)

I simply stated my opinion in reference to someone else's opinion. It's no big deal really. I don't care what others like and they could do as they please. That's not my contention at all. I'm simply stating that I don't like it and truly believe that this area has potential for putting Austin as a top tier city. I'm sure not everyone would agree with me, or others wouldn't like it to be that way. To each their own, I get that. But it's my opinion and I like my opinion very much.

[StoOgE]

Originally Posted by wwmiv

STFU. Seriously. People who come to Austin who think that 6th is still what it was 30 years ago are naive. 6th St. (though not my idea of fun) is still a big deal for Austin and a great moneymaker. There are other places - for instance, those that you mentioned - that are more appropriate for tourists than 6th St. I don't know if you've noticed or not, but Austin had become a much younger city in the past 30 years, and businesses on 6th St. made an intelligent collective decision to market themselves to a demographic off of which they can suck larger profits.

That being said, your histrionics are really annoying.

http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A799104

6th street is about significantly more than what I want the city to look like. It is becoming dangerous.

4-5 years ago I would go to 6th street and feel reasonably safe. I went down there with some friends from out of town and the two females in the group were groped several times in the street and another random person shoved my friend as we were walking.

Maybe this is just a sign of Austin growing up as a city, but it is becoming a scary place to go.. my steering people away from it has more to do with the makeup of the people that frequent the area now (i.e. gangbangers or want to be gangbangers) than the quality of the bars (though that has gone downhill as well).

I feel significantly safer on the East side of 35 bar hopping than I do on 6th street.

[migol24]

Originally Posted by StoOgE

http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A799104

6th street is about significantly more than what I want the city to look like. It is becoming dangerous.

4-5 years ago I would go to 6th street and feel reasonably safe. I went down there with some friends from out of town and the two females in the group were groped several times in the street and another random person shoved my friend as we were walking.

Maybe this is just a sign of Austin growing up as a city, but it is becoming a scary place to go.. my steering people away from it has more to do with the makeup of the people that frequent the area now (i.e. gangbangers or want to be gangbangers) than the quality of the bars (though that has gone downhill as well).

I feel significantly safer on the East side of 35 bar hopping than I do on 6th street.

Oh! STFU.... If you don't like it, don't go there.

[StoOgE]

Originally Posted by migol24

Oh! STFU.... If you don't like it, don't go there.

and if NYC had maintained that attitude Time Square would be full of hookers, Chelsea would be full of crackheads and you wouldn't want to go into certain parts of central park.

6th street is one of the most visible parts of our city. Luckily most people see it during SXSW when it feels like it's old self, but allowing it to continue to degrade in quality and safety is a big mistake.

The rest of downtown has become much nicer in the same time period, but the answer can't be for people to simply avoid the area if they don't like it.

Edit: unless your response was sarcasm. My detector is on the fritz.

[migol24]

Originally Posted by StoOgE

and if NYC had maintained that attitude Time Square would be full of hookers, Chelsea would be full of crackheads and you wouldn't want to go into certain parts of central park.

6th street is one of the most visible parts of our city. Luckily most people see it during SXSW when it feels like it's old self, but allowing it to continue to degrade in quality and safety is a big mistake.

The rest of downtown has become much nicer in the same time period, but the answer can't be for people to simply avoid the area if they don't like it.

Edit: unless your response was sarcasm. My detector is on the fritz.

yes it's sarcasm

And I agree... best times to check out 6th st is during events like SXSW. But what it is now, not even worth my time and it's definitely gotta change. Then again, there's a risk of killing the night life that Austin is known for. I don't know what measures the city could take to change the scene. I don't think that enforcing more patrol is going to change anything.

[BevoLJ]

Originally Posted by StoOgE

and if NYC had maintained that attitude Time Square would be full of hookers, Chelsea would be full of crackheads and you wouldn't want to go into certain parts of central park.

6th street is one of the most visible parts of our city. Luckily most people see it during SXSW when it feels like it's old self, but allowing it to continue to degrade in quality and safety is a big mistake.

The rest of downtown has become much nicer in the same time period, but the answer can't be for people to simply avoid the area if they don't like it.

Edit: unless your response was sarcasm. My detector is on the fritz.

Has 6th really become that unsafe? I always seem to remember it being much worse than it is now. It doesn't seem to be on the news half as much as when I was a kid. Like one of the things I remember was there was a huge problem of used needles just littering 6th street. And teenagers and trouble making kids would take those used needles and go stab random party goers with them. While AIDS is still a huge deal back then it was a whole different kind of scare. There was lot of other kinds of violence and crime I remember was common on 6th back then. I'm a lot older now and am very rarely ever over that way, but it is because I just am not a fan of the clubs and all of that that is over there. I don't avoid it out of fare of my safety like I did many years ago.

On Halloween weekend you just flat out didn't think of going to 6th street back then unless you were suicidal. lol.

[StoOgE]

Originally Posted by BevoLJ

Has 6th really become that unsafe? I always seem to remember it being much worse than it is now. It doesn't seem to be on the news half as much as when I was a kid. Like one of the things I remember was there was a huge problem of used needles just littering 6th street. And teenagers and trouble making kids would take those used needles and go stab random party goers with them. While AIDS is still a huge deal back then it was a whole different kind of scare. There was lot of other kinds of violence and crime I remember was common on 6th back then. I'm a lot older now and am very rarely ever over that way, but it is because I just am not a fan of the clubs and all of that that is over there. I don't avoid it out of fare of my safety like I did many years ago.

On Halloween weekend you just flat out didn't think of going to 6th street back then unless you were suicidal. lol.

6th street isn't anywhere nearly as bad as it was in the late 80s to early 90s. However, 6th street from the mid 90's for about 12 years or so was a really safe entertainment district essentially akin to what "West" 6th is like now. It has been headed back downhill for the last several years and is getting to the point where I don't want to be down there at night unless it is SXSW or a similar event.

[Syndic]

Did I just hear someone say "make 6th Street family friendly"? That is the most asinine thing I've ever heard. No. Don't make 6th Street family friendly. Ever. In case you haven't noticed, college kids like getting drunk, and they act like dumbshits. So what? They have a good time. UT is a major reason Austin has the personality that it does. And vice-versa.

Bourbon Street is not family friendly. Take your family somewhere else. Stop trying to change everything to your liking. That's selfish and un-Austinite.

[KevinFromTexas]

6th Street has long been established as the party area of downtown. That shouldn't ever change. Besides, there are family friendly areas of downtown, and more in the making (think Waller Creek "riverwalk"). There's also 2nd Street, The Capitol grounds, and of course the hike & bike trail.

Besides, 6th Street doesn't have to be family friendly to be safe. Are bars and beer drinkers family friendly? Not exactly. But then again, West 6th Street has plenty of bars, too, and it's safe, and also doesn't earn a non-family friendly label.

[migol24]

Originally Posted by Syndic

Did I just hear someone say "make 6th Street family friendly"? That is the most asinine thing I've ever heard. No. Don't make 6th Street family friendly. Ever. In case you haven't noticed, college kids like getting drunk, and they act like dumbshits. So what? They have a good time. UT is a major reason Austin has the personality that it does. And vice-versa.

Bourbon Street is not family friendly. Take your family somewhere else. Stop trying to change everything to your liking. That's selfish and un-Austinite.

I say whatever the hell I want. doooood. I'm clearly all for the night life that 6th st is offering. I definitely don't wanna change that. I just think they oughtta fix the area, cause it sucks. It's a little violent and not the cleanest or most attractive part of downtown. If they can fix on these areas, that would be awesome. There's nothing wrong with me saying that..... at all.

[migol24]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

6th Street has long been established as the party area of downtown. That shouldn't ever change. Besides, there are family friendly areas of downtown, and more in the making (think Waller Creek "riverwalk"). There's also 2nd Street, The Capitol grounds, and of course the hike & bike trail.

Besides, 6th Street doesn't have to be family friendly to be safe. Are bars and beer drinkers family friendly? Not exactly. But then again, West 6th Street has plenty of bars, too, and it's safe, and also doesn't earn a non-family friendly label.

Everybody knows what I meant by my post... I don't know why it's such a big deal I mentioned "more family friendly" when I only mentioned it like once. It's not like I'm writing it on stone or anything and I could be wrong, but I really think that 6th st can be better.

[KevinFromTexas]

[WAustinResident]

The way i see the 6th street debate is as such. There are 50,000 plus college students in Austin. They will find places to party and typically college kids do more damage to a location than 30 somethings and up. Anywhere they are diverted too will eventually over time turn into a dive. Venue owners don't see a strong need to upgrade because its just going to be trashed again.

Instead of trying to change this dynamic which has been going on for decades in one form or another, people should look to improve the areas that are not as traversed by the younger set.

If you completely fixed 6th street as some people propose it would either fall apart, or they would go somewhere else and make a new 6th street.

I also agree that the marketing of 6th street to out of town tourists is misleading. It should be clearly noted that its a college party area thus not giving people some crazy expectation of what they will experience.

[Jdawgboy]

Im pretty sure there are plans to redo 6th street under the great streets program. That alone should make the sidewalks and streetscapes more pleasant than it is now. I used to go to 6th for years once I turned 18. Now that im older, I just prefer the Warehouse District and West 6th. Plus im really into Dance/Electronica so East 6th isn't really the place for that other than one or two clubs.

One thing I would like to ask for those who have been is the state of our gay club scene. Does anybody feel our gay clubs are really puny and few for a city with a fairly good gay population? We don't really have a true gay district. Our largest gay club is Kiss & Fly which compared to some clubs in other cities is still not that big. Just want to hear others opinions on the subject. I actually know alittle why things are the way they are but would like to hear some input.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

Im pretty sure there are plans to redo 6th street under the great streets program. That alone should make the sidewalks and streetscapes more pleasant than it is now. I used to go to 6th for years once I turned 18. Now that im older, I just prefer the Warehouse District and West 6th. Plus im really into Dance/Electronica so East 6th isn't really the place for that other than one or two clubs.

One thing I would like to ask for those who have been is the state of our gay club scene. Does anybody feel our gay clubs are really puny and few for a city with a fairly good gay population? We don't really have a true gay district. Our largest gay club is Kiss & Fly which compared to some clubs in other cities is still not that big. Just want to hear others opinions on the subject. I actually know alittle why things are the way they are but would like to hear some input.

I don't want to pretend to be the voice from the planet gay...there are many opinions out there....... but, for me:
One of the things that I have always liked about Austin is that I don't feel compelled to go to a gay club if I want to go out. Because Austin has been such an open city, it changes the demand. Yeah, I like to hit the bars with "my peoples" now and then..... but I don't have to. I;d just as soon hang out at Beerland. Many older and more conservative cities developed gay neighborhoods/ghettos out of survival needs. Ultimately I think it is a good thing that we don't have the same need. It becomes more of a choice here.... not a necessity. I like the variety and the mix. As I tell people: This whole town is one big gay neighborhood!. Guess I feel that way about many of the bars here as well. I get that once upon a time the dance scene mostly originated in the gay clubs, But I don't think that is the case anymore. OK... part of that may be sad... but just another stereotype going by the wayside.

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

I don't want to pretend to be the voice from the planet gay...there are many opinions out there....... but, for me:
One of the things that I have always liked about Austin is that I don't feel compelled to go to a gay club if I want to go out. Because Austin has been such an open city, it changes the demand. Yeah, I like to hit the bars with "my peoples" now and then..... but I don't have to. I;d just as soon hang out at Beerland. Many older and more conservative cities developed gay neighborhoods/ghettos out of survival needs. Ultimately I think it is a good thing that we don't have the same need. It becomes more of a choice here.... not a necessity. I like the variety and the mix. As I tell people: This whole town is one big gay neighborhood!. Guess I feel that way about many of the bars here as well. I get that once upon a time the dance scene mostly originated in the gay clubs, But I don't think that is the case anymore. OK... part of that may be sad... but just another stereotype going by the wayside.

I agree. It's a good thing Austin doesn't really have a segregated LGBT area. I think our city as a whole is welcoming and pretty diverse. In my experiences of going to non-gay bars downtown, it rarely ever crosses my mind that I am a gay dude in an unwelcoming environment. If we did have a gay "ghetto" it would definitely be 4th.

[KevinFromTexas]

Man, I cannot wait for this thing. It's going to be one of the coolest things to come to Austin. Construction is supposed to begin in March.

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/boardwalk/about_boardwalk.htm

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/boardwalk/downloads/parbmtg_aug2509.pdf

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/boardwalk/downloads/lbl_concept_111008mtg.pdf

[BevoLJ]

I am really excited about that.

That skyline section looks awesome.