SA run by atavistic planners ?

[Blake]

I don't think there's any question that Austin has more white collars than SA.

[rjv]

SA has 3 main industries that contribute in the $25B range: medical, (light) manufacturing, military. disease and "socialistic" taxpayer $Bs keep SA in good shape. USAA is of course a derivative of SA's long mlitary history.

it also has a strong higher education sector (UTSA, st. mary's, UIW, trinity, the alamo colleges, texas a&m san antonio, UTHSCSA, a law school, a medical school, a pharmacy school and several nursing schools). this with the aforementioned sectors all have one common denominator-they are all inherently stable (even the miltary presence in SA is since it has invested strong medical research facilities at fort sam and BAMC-some of the best in the world in fact). that is why SA managed to survive the recession so well. it also has very affordable housing when compared to austin.

[rjv]

I don't think there's any question that Austin has more white collars than SA.

certainly, within the demographic. but keep in mind that SA has members of the population that are not necessarily included (military personnel and mexican nationals) in the mean for income. but there is clearly more poverty in SA than austin.

[coyotes_geek]

I think Austin probably does have more money than San Antonio, but not by much. The difference with regards to downtown development is that San Antonio is just spread out more geographically. In Austin you've got UT and the Capitol right there in downtown, plus you've got a ty roadway network that limits expansion away from downtown because it's such a pain in the ass to get around. Thus, greater incentive to develop in downtown. San Antonio has a good roadway network and the result of that has been development spreading out more.

[Th'Pusher]

Top 10 private sector employers in SA:

http://m.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/...8330c65&r=full

Medical, finance dominate.

[rjv]

plan may not be dead yet:

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/downtow...ion-on-joskes/

[ChumpDumper]

lol, if they wanted to preserve the historical aspects of the area it would be a cow pasture.

[gameFACE]

The difference with regards to downtown development is that San Antonio is just spread out more geographically. In Austin you've got UT and the Capitol right there in downtown, plus you've got a ty roadway network that limits expansion away from downtown because it's such a pain in the ass to get around. Thus, greater incentive to develop in downtown. San Antonio has a good roadway network and the result of that has been development spreading out more.

The awful decision to build UTSA out on 1604 rather than Hemisfair still has a lasting impact.

On the hotel development - there are more serious issues to deal with on Alamo Plaza than a tall building that will cast little shadow on it. Things like crappy wax museums, fast food restaurants and fake rubber tired trolley cars (although that's VIA).

[Blake]

The awful decision to build UTSA out on 1604 rather than Hemisfair still has a lasting impact.

Wut