Houston's transformation is going in opposite directions

The Chronicle has two articles in the business section about how Houston is changing. In one instance we're getting a whole new living concept in downtown. A new high-rise with a new park:

The Finger Cos. is planning to build a 37-story apartment tower on land crowning the city's new downtown park -— the first residential tower to be put up in this area in decades.

Construction is expected to begin sometime late this year or in early 2007 on the upscale high-rise, which is valued at more than $100 million.

How does this affect us when we probably won't be living there personally? There will be retail for us to enjoy on the first floor.

And just when things couldn't get more cosmopolitan and urban, other parts of Houston are trying to steal the Hill Country vibe:

Houston doesn't have Austin's hills and lakes, but that love of the bohemian lifestyle and outdoors mixed with a laid-back attitude found in countless bars, cafes and shops in the capital city is creeping into town.

Places like Onion Creek, Barton Springs Grill, Tacos A Go-Go and Sig's Lagoon, a music and gift store, seem more suited for Austin than a city that boasts the headquarters of more Fortune 500 companies than anyplace outside of New York.

At least things will be interesting around here in the future. The redevelopment fever of the late 90s seems to be alive and well. When I was growing up, things seemed so placid in the construction world after the oil bust - minus the freeways of course, they're always under construction around here. CONTACT: Leave me a Houston or Texas media news tip | COMMENT: Click to leave your thoughts on this post here