Recently, I visited Johnson City and stayed in a bed and breakfast called Chantilly Lace. Despite the fact that I normally go to bed and breakfasts that are off the beaten path, I appreciated the fact this one was decidedly urban. There are many businesses that are located downtown, and the houses surround them like an oasis. Several people can walk from their homes, and did for the Art Wine and Wildflower festival, which I attended purely on accident. There are two Zagat-rated restaurants with world-class chefs, which is perfect for a weekend stay. On my first night, I attended the Friendly Bar, which has excellent food, a rotating limited menu, and live music on the weekends, generally a casual environment. My second dinner was at the Silver K, which has a more elegant atmosphere, but still has a world class chef and amazing cuisine.
On the way back from Johnson City, I stopped at Marble Falls and was amazed at the amount of urban art in what is generally considered a small town. The downtown area was extremely walkable and close to a very active park, and while there, live music was held in the town square.
At the public park, a store was marketing its products by allowing customers to try them:Mud Outdoor Center http://www.mockayaks.com/.
I say all this to point out one thing: urbanism is not a new idea. Johnson City and Marble Falls are very small towns in a rural part of central Texas, and although some of them commute to Austin, many of them live and work where they are, and many of them are close to downtown. Being close to one's job and entertainment is the most effective way to live because it increases a sense of community and creates shared responsibility. The real problems in Austin are that too few people live near their jobs - thus increasing traffic - and too many people make opportunities for people have long commutes, and cheap property outside city jurisdiction. To add injury to insult, people create barriers to putting jobs near people in the form of developments, and no one wants people from out of town to "desecrate" the "sanctity" of Austin. Johnson City is an old-fashioned small town with 3 art galleries, world class chefs, and Marble Falls is an old-fashioned small town with urban art and live music on a Sunday, and both love visitors and new residents. I would be embarrassed to find that Austin is incapable of following the examples of small towns.
Businesses I visited:
http://www.chantillylacesoaps.com/
http://www.silverkcafe.com/
http://www.friendlybarbistro.com/
On the way back from Johnson City, I stopped at Marble Falls and was amazed at the amount of urban art in what is generally considered a small town. The downtown area was extremely walkable and close to a very active park, and while there, live music was held in the town square.
At the public park, a store was marketing its products by allowing customers to try them:Mud Outdoor Center http://www.mockayaks.com/.
I say all this to point out one thing: urbanism is not a new idea. Johnson City and Marble Falls are very small towns in a rural part of central Texas, and although some of them commute to Austin, many of them live and work where they are, and many of them are close to downtown. Being close to one's job and entertainment is the most effective way to live because it increases a sense of community and creates shared responsibility. The real problems in Austin are that too few people live near their jobs - thus increasing traffic - and too many people make opportunities for people have long commutes, and cheap property outside city jurisdiction. To add injury to insult, people create barriers to putting jobs near people in the form of developments, and no one wants people from out of town to "desecrate" the "sanctity" of Austin. Johnson City is an old-fashioned small town with 3 art galleries, world class chefs, and Marble Falls is an old-fashioned small town with urban art and live music on a Sunday, and both love visitors and new residents. I would be embarrassed to find that Austin is incapable of following the examples of small towns.
Businesses I visited:
http://www.chantillylacesoaps.com/
http://www.silverkcafe.com/
http://www.friendlybarbistro.com/
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