Quote:
Originally Posted by enragedcamel
...yes, I know that the Windsor Park subdivision was developed in the 1950s and 60s by NP/C. But, as you yourself point out, it's not a planned community in nearly the same way as Mueller is, not just because the times (and cultural attitudes, and priorities, and zoning laws) were different back then but also because the processes via which the two places are/were developed are totally different. Windsor Park does not even remotely resemble Mueller. It's apples and oranges.
I don't know why you homed in on Windsor Park and ignored the bit about "and surrounding neighborhoods." What other neighborhoods in East Austin are master-planned subdivisions similar to Mueller?
Again I'm not sure why you are obsessed with Windsor Park, especially since its proximity to Mueller is a major part of what has been driving up the prices there and gentrifying the neighborhood. Virtually every house that goes on sale in WP prominently features "within X minute drive to Mueller!" in its description and sales pitch.
Price per square foot comparisons aren't useful in this context because lot size is a major part of the value of houses outside Mueller. When you buy a house in Pecan Springs you also get a yard that is anywhere from 5k to 15k square feet, but that's not factored into the price per sqft metrics so they tend to be misleading, especially when used across different house styles and categories.
I'm sorry, what? This is laughable. You accused me of not basing my criticism on "actual knowledge" but perhaps it is you who needs to do some basic research.
https://bestneighborhood.org/race-in-austin-tx/
The maps speak for themselves, especially if you overlay them.
Your comment is funny for another reason though, and that is it's an absolutely perfect example of how white people's idea of diversity tends to massively differ from that of everyone else. From what I've seen, a white person surrounded mostly by other white people will think they live in a super diverse community if there happens to be an "ethnic" restaurant on the corner and if they find themselves standing behind a Hispanic family at the grocery checkout line. I don't know if you yourself are white of course but based on the above race map, and everything else you've posted, I'm willing to go out on a limb on it, and further suggest you haven't experienced true diversity. That's the only explanation for why someone might actually believe that Mueller is the pinnacle of diversity in Austin.
The only other neighborhood in East Austin that is as white as Mueller is University Hills, and University Hills has always been a predominantly wealthy and white enclave. Aside from that, if you look at the map above, the trend is clear: Mueller has been having a strong gentrifying effect on surrounding neighborhoods that have traditionally been diverse, and is making them predominantly white just like itself.
I don't know what you mean. The "true definition" of a ghetto is a neighborhood occupied by minorities. The only reason you would think those neighborhoods aren't actually diverse is if you believe minority populations are not extremely diverse within themselves (e.g. if you think every Hispanic person you see hails from Mexico, or that a Venezuelan shares the same culture and values as a Guatemalan). If that's the case I encourage you to spend more time with minorities, as hard as that may be in Mueller.
Well, it's certainly instructive that you refer to people like me as "outsiders." If that isn't a strong signal regarding how insular and out-of-place Mueller is, I don't know what is.
Like I said previously, I drive and ride through Mueller several times a week. I also spend a fair amount of time there. I shop at the HEB. I drink at BD Riley's. Up until recently I had friends living in some of the low-rises (before skyrocketing rents forced them to move out). I'm not passing judgment on Mueller based on internet photos or articles. |
Oh, man! I HATE arguing about such things on the internet, and should have kept my mouth shut. I probably should continue to, but I think I owe you a response.
First of all, I apologize for using the term 'outsider'. It is totally inappropriate in this context and actually contrary to my world view and what I believe to be the spirit and intent of Mueller, which is to be an inclusive and welcoming community. You don't have to sleeps most nights in Mueller to be part of the Mueller community. I should have chosen my words more carefully, but the point I was trying to make is that it annoys me that a lot of people seem to judge Mueller based on assumptions and what they see on the internet and very little lived experience. Apparently that is not you.
Yes, I am white. Many of my neighbors are also white, but many are not. You and I clearly are using the term
diversity differently. I am using the dictionary definition of: the condition of having or being composed of differing elements : VARIETY
especially : the inclusion of people of different races (Merriam Webster)
You seem to be using diversity as a synonym for a majority of minorities within a population. If that is your life experience, you are entitled to use it that way, but it is not what I meant. That is actually a description of being segregated, which would have been a better term for me to use than ghetto, although both are somewhat loaded terms. Segregation is the opposite of diversity.
Diversity (by the dictionary definition) is a relative term. I have lived in far more diverse cities and neighborhood than Austin and Mueller. In fact, Austin has been rated as one of the most (economically) segregated cities in the country. I am under no delusions that Austin is as diverse as some cities, but Mueller is relatively diverse among Austin neighborhoods. Note that there is not a single neighborhood on the map you posted that indicates "multiple/other" races. That would be a true indication of diversity if there was not a clear majority at all.
Also, a majority of 50% +1 can be a lot more diverse than a majority of 99%. The maps you posted indicate only what the majority is, not what the percentage mix is. Yes, Mueller is more white and affluent than much of East Austin, but that does not mean it is less diverse (by the dictionary definition) internally. Another neighborhood may have more minorities and be lower income, but if those groups are a strong majority it is an indication of segregation not diversity.
If we don't want Austin to be as segregated in the future as it has been in the past, we should want it to look a lot more like Mueller. To get there we need more economic development (good paying jobs of all kinds) in East Austin and more affordable housing in West Austin.
Finally, I was not intentionally picking on Windsor Park. That was really just a stand in for any number of Austin neighborhoods. I just happen to be more familiar with Windsor Park because my daughter goes to school there and many of her friends live there. For the record, her friends parents think it is boring too and wish it were more like Mueller. My daughter, on the other hand, is jealous of her friends big back yards. If you (or anybody else) values big back yards Mueller is not the place for you. If, like me, you value a walkable, mixed-use neighborhood with a variety of housing types and income levels and great parks in close proximity to all the homes, Mueller is pretty hard to beat.
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