AUSTIN | Misc. Discussions - No Politics - Page 126

ahealy · #**2501** Posted **Jun 16, 2021, 2:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by drummer

Ok, it's official. We have a house in Georgetown. I'm officially a property owner of a small - read: kinda tiny - piece of U.S. soil after being overseas for so long. (Ignore the details about something with a bank and a mortgage, please.)

So I formally want to say, "Yes, in my backyard." But not really IN my backyard...it's quite small, and I need a place for my kids to play since we don't have a neighborhood park....

But seriously, can a guy get a few good restaurants and a grocery store within walking distance in the burbs, please? Just glad I could afford something in this crazy market.

WOW CONGRATS!! That is awesome, especially in this insane market. I really like Georgetown and always have a good time there. It's so quaint and pretty....lots of potential all around. I'm sure with the mass influx of people, RR/PF/CP will gain so many new hotels, restaurants, retailers, grocers & more. They have to.....

drummer · #**2502** Posted **Jun 16, 2021, 4:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahealy

WOW CONGRATS!! That is awesome, especially in this insane market. I really like Georgetown and always have a good time there. It's so quaint and pretty....lots of potential all around. I'm sure with the mass influx of people, RR/PF/CP will gain so many new hotels, restaurants, retailers, grocers & more. They have to.....

Thanks!

And definitely. I know we're going to have a Costco in Georgetown before too long, which will be nice for our family. So far as walkability, the downtown area is nice, but the neighborhoods for now will likely remain very suburban. At least we'll have Blue Hole just down the road!

the Genral · #**2503** Posted **Jun 16, 2021, 7:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by drummer

Thanks!

And definitely. I know we're going to have a Costco in Georgetown before too long, which will be nice for our family. So far as walkability, the downtown area is nice, but the neighborhoods for now will likely remain very suburban. At least we'll have Blue Hole just down the road!

I really like Georgetown. Just had dinner at Tony's and Luigie's Monday (Spelling?) Was pretty good. You made a good choice. Nice little downtown and square. Lots of restaurants and shopping. I'd move there.

kingkirbythe.... · #**2504** Posted **Jul 9, 2021, 4:08 PM**

Okay, Maybe Most of Austin Doesn’t Want To Move ACL From Zilker After All

https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/sho...13438&page=126

After calling attention last week to the surprising results of the Zilker Vision Plan’s first community survey, which indicated that a considerable number of Austinites would like to see the Austin City Limits Music Festival moved from Zilker Park to another location more accommodating of its large crowds, we got a front-row seat to the intensity of local debate surrounding this subject — for one, our Facebook post of last week’s article is still generating comments back and forth a full seven days later:

Still, a lot of people would like it moved. Plus, this is a very unscientific, self selecting poll. So take it with a grain of salt.

KevinFromTexas · #**2505** Posted **Jul 9, 2021, 5:01 PM**

I saw that. Undoubtedly, there are the "I hate traffic!" people, which is funny because if you move it out of the park you're creating a situation where people will have to drive to wherever they hold it, particularly at COTA. Then there are the ones who just get annoyed because it preempts their volleyball, soccer, football, frisbee games in the park. I just want it to stay at Zilker because it makes getting there easier, and I can't think of another place to have it. I don't think I'd go to another ACL Fest if it wasn't at Zilker. I still hate that they don't have regular concerts at Auditorium Shores. I used to go to every single one they had there. I miss standing there as close as I can get to the stage and gazing over at the skyline. I rode my bike down there for the 4th, and it was almost like the good old days.

wwmiv · #**2506** Posted **Jul 9, 2021, 8:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

I saw that. Undoubtedly, there are the "I hate traffic!" people, which is funny because if you move it out of the park you're creating a situation where people will have to drive to wherever they hold it, particularly at COTA. Then there are the ones who just get annoyed because it preempts their volleyball, soccer, football, frisbee games in the park. I just want it to stay at Zilker because it makes getting there easier, and I can't think of another place to have it. I don't think I'd go to another ACL Fest if it wasn't at Zilker. I still hate that they don't have regular concerts at Auditorium Shores. I used to go to every single one they had there. I miss standing there as close as I can get to the stage and gazing over at the skyline. I rode my bike down there for the 4th, and it was almost like the good old days.

It could realistically be done at Walnut Creek. It would NOT have the same vibe, though.

AustinYIMBY · #**2507** Posted **Jul 9, 2021, 8:46 PM**

ACL holds a very special place in my heart because that is where I met my wife, so I am quite biased in saying that I would 100% be against moving it from Zilker. As has already been mentioned, being in Zilker gives people many options for getting there, walking down Barton Springs Rd going to the festival is an experience in and of itself, and having the skyline in the background is obviously great! When I lived closer and would take our dog to Zilker, I will admit that it was kind of annoying having the great lawn part of the park closed from basically September to January (ACL and then Trail of Lights), but in a way, i think it made me appreciate the park, and being able to spend time there the rest of the year, even more.
I also 2nd the comment about needing to have more concerts at Auditorium Shores. While I never experience Fun Fun Fun when it was at Waterloo, I loved it for the couple years I experienced it at Auditorium Shores.

freerover · #**2508** Posted **Jul 9, 2021, 8:55 PM**

Move it to Walter E Long and have a festival on the water. It might help get investment this way.

ahealy · #**2509** Posted **Jul 10, 2021, 4:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwmiv

It could realistically be done at Walnut Creek. It would NOT have the same vibe, though.

Ahem, where in the hell would it be at Walnut??? There are too many trees everywhere.

I would be fine seeing it stay or go from Zilker. I am not a fan of packed music fests, so maybe not the best to answer. I'd love to see Zilker become a more iconic metropolitan park with a planned skeleton of pathways and trees. To me, (no shade intended) it's a big hot baking grass field with a stellar skyline view.

wwmiv · #**2510** Posted **Jul 10, 2021, 7:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahealy

Ahem, where in the hell would it be at Walnut??? There are too many trees everywhere.

I would be fine seeing it stay or go from Zilker. I am not a fan of packed music fests, so maybe not the best to answer. I'd love to see Zilker become a more iconic metropolitan park with a planned skeleton of pathways and trees. To me, (no shade intended) it's a big hot baking grass field with a stellar skyline view.

Have you been to the main parking area of walnut and the ball fields there? There is about as much open land in ball fields as the green at Zilker.

ahealy · #**2511** Posted **Jul 10, 2021, 9:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwmiv

Have you been to the main parking area of walnut and the ball fields there? There is about as much open land in ball fields as the green at Zilker.

Yep, live right there. The ball fields would need to be demo'd for that to work. I'd be totally down for that.....it would be insane though lol.

KevinFromTexas · #**2512** Posted **Jul 11, 2021, 5:16 PM**

It's just that I sort of fancy Zilker Park as being Austin's version of Central Park and that it's where everyone "goes". Big grassy field and a grand skyline view showing off the city and close in. I wouldn't mind seeing some more landscaping take place in some parts of it. I do sort of feel like that's lacking. I'm also bummed that the botanical gardens aren't open more often. Every time I'm by there they seem to be closed. And so, I haven't been there in a long time. I think some parts of the park are just sort of there without purpose. Some of the areas near Mopac for example. I'd like to see some urbanized uses with public art/plazas that sort of thing, but not in the great field. That should be left the way it is.

ahealy · #**2513** Posted **Jul 11, 2021, 11:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

It's just that I sort of fancy Zilker Park as being Austin's version of Central Park and that it's where everyone "goes". Big grassy field and a grand skyline view showing off the city and close in. I wouldn't mind seeing some more landscaping take place in some parts of it. I do sort of feel like that's lacking. I'm also bummed that the botanical gardens aren't open more often. Every time I'm by there they seem to be closed. And so, I haven't been there in a long time. I think some parts of the park are just sort of there without purpose. Some of the areas near Mopac for example. I'd like to see some urbanized uses with public art/plazas that sort of thing, but not in the great field. That should be left the way it is.

Yeah, the great field is lovely (during the cooler months) and I'd love to see something more curated around the entire park. Hell, I'd like the same for Walnut since they're nearly twin sized metro parks. I'm on an observation tower kick now and would love to see something like the F1 tower at Zilker for tourists/locals. That would be so dope....but ultimately dreaming of one downtown

ahealy · #**2514** Posted **Jul 26, 2021, 3:11 AM**

y'all...what the hell is going on with the skyline? All our major lighting has been off for the past week or so. It looks terrible.

H2O · #**2515** Posted **Jul 26, 2021, 11:32 AM**

Crickets?

ahealy · #**2516** Posted **Jul 26, 2021, 2:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by H2O

Crickets?

I guess? It just seems like everything is half lit or completely off.

427MM · #**2517** Posted **Jul 26, 2021, 3:16 PM**

The loudest group trying to move ACL out of Zilker are the NIMBY homeowners nearby who do all they can to protect exclusionary zoning and work to keep Austin 1982. No thanks. ACL and Zilker go hand in hand and are amazing together. We’d get a lot less of this nonsense if we’d allow for more housing around our premier park. SF zoning in this area is limited to our top 5% of income earners--Austin is better than this.

wwmiv · #**2518** Posted **Jul 26, 2021, 9:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahealy

y'all...what the hell is going on with the skyline? All our major lighting has been off for the past week or so. It looks terrible.

Does the African dust season have anything to do with it? They tend to be off for a few weeks every summer and the timing seems to be tied to African dust?

DaveinWimberley · #**2519** Posted **Jul 27, 2021, 6:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwmiv

Does the African dust season have anything to do with it? They tend to be off for a few weeks every summer and the timing seems to be tied to African dust?

It's also cricket mating season, so the crickets will soon be swarming around all over the lights and making a mess. I think that is a more likely reason.

wwmiv · #**2520** Posted **Jul 27, 2021, 11:34 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveinWimberley

It's also cricket mating season, so the crickets will soon be swarming around all over the lights and making a mess. I think that is a more likely reason.

Ahhhhhhh!

Bingo!

Thank you for the insight.