"A few years ago, some blocks of Austin’s South Congress featured a castle-themed wax museum and comic book shop, a bar w/ $1 taco deals, an auto shop and a Santa on horseback.
Then, as at so many other places in Austin, the construction cranes came."
wsj.com/articles/start…
Then, as at so many other places in Austin, the construction cranes came."
wsj.com/articles/start…
"Those blocks recently reopened w/ a strip of buildings with shops offering brands from Lululemon to Le Labo perfumes. The $2k+ private club Soho House and an Hermès store are on the way.
Office tenants include consulting firm Deloitte & private-equity firm Tritium Partners LLC"
Office tenants include consulting firm Deloitte & private-equity firm Tritium Partners LLC"
"developer said he saw a need for national luxury brands in a place where more well-paid execs were coming.
To manager of Auto Works that was there 28yrs before its lease was terminated, it was another reminder that some longtime Austinites can’t afford their own city any more."
To manager of Auto Works that was there 28yrs before its lease was terminated, it was another reminder that some longtime Austinites can’t afford their own city any more."
"Austin has tried hard to hang on to its particular culture over years of booming growth and popularity, which have attracted money and energy to the city but also brought rising rents and traffic congestion."
"Austin is now one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S., with a population of about a million, versus 675,000 in 2000."
"pandemic also has spurred moves to Austin.
Some NYers and SFers, now working remotely, have come for lower rents, great bars and year-round warmth.
Between April-Oct, Austin metro area saw the highest ratio in the country of arrivals to people leaving, according to LinkedIn."
Some NYers and SFers, now working remotely, have come for lower rents, great bars and year-round warmth.
Between April-Oct, Austin metro area saw the highest ratio in the country of arrivals to people leaving, according to LinkedIn."
"The arrivals have provided the economy with a boost as local businesses struggle with fallout from the pandemic.
But they also are bringing the city more of the same high costs and gridlock they are escaping."
But they also are bringing the city more of the same high costs and gridlock they are escaping."
"Those issues aren’t new.
It has been 20 years since the onetime town of college professors, state employees, musicians and plentiful beer adopted the slogan “Keep Austin Weird.”
It has been 20 years since the onetime town of college professors, state employees, musicians and plentiful beer adopted the slogan “Keep Austin Weird.”
"Riffs on that have sprung up in other cities seeing fast growth and an influx of California cash, such as Portland, Ore., and Boise, Idaho, as they too try to hold on to local flavor and affordability."
"But what is playing out in Austin now is on a sped-up timeline.
The prospect of the once laid-back city turning into another San Francisco, crowded and ultraexpensive, feeds intense political wrangling over zoning, density, transportation and city social programs."
The prospect of the once laid-back city turning into another San Francisco, crowded and ultraexpensive, feeds intense political wrangling over zoning, density, transportation and city social programs."
"Many tech leaders & workers say clustering is good for innovation & they wanted to move to Austin because others were.
Some new arrivals say they wanted to be in a city w/ a socially progressive reputation, but also like limited regulations and the lack of a state income tax."
Some new arrivals say they wanted to be in a city w/ a socially progressive reputation, but also like limited regulations and the lack of a state income tax."
"City and state leaders, often at loggerheads, have celebrated the relocation of people to Austin while disputing whose policies provide the draw."
"The Republican governor credited the state’s business-friendly policies.
“Regulations are a hindrance to innovation,” he said.
“The leaders of these organizations are not coming to Austin for socially liberal reasons.”
“Regulations are a hindrance to innovation,” he said.
“The leaders of these organizations are not coming to Austin for socially liberal reasons.”
"In recent years, more people have moved to Austin from elsewhere in Texas than from out of state, according to census data.
The city is relatively young, with many families and children.
Still, the influx from Silicon Valley, in particular, has caught the attention of locals"
The city is relatively young, with many families and children.
Still, the influx from Silicon Valley, in particular, has caught the attention of locals"
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