Comments on: Lubbock is a Suburb of Itself http://lubbockleft.com/2009/03/23/lubbock-is-a-suburb-of-itself/ A strong progressive voice in Lubbock, TX Mon, 21 May 2012 19:04:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Lubbock Left http://lubbockleft.com/2009/03/23/lubbock-is-a-suburb-of-itself/#comment-9704 Lubbock Left Fri, 10 Apr 2009 06:47:24 +0000 http://lubbockleft.com/2009/03/23/lubbock-is-a-suburb-of-itself/#comment-9704 Right on, Ben. I also grew up in SW Lubbock and have scratched my head my whole life, wondering why Lubbock has the eternal capacity to abandon itself for parts South and West. Right on, Ben. I also grew up in SW Lubbock and have scratched my head my whole life, wondering why Lubbock has the eternal capacity to abandon itself for parts South and West.

]]> By: Ben http://lubbockleft.com/2009/03/23/lubbock-is-a-suburb-of-itself/#comment-9703 Ben Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:11:48 +0000 http://lubbockleft.com/2009/03/23/lubbock-is-a-suburb-of-itself/#comment-9703 Being a Lubbockite now living in Seattle, I can truely tell you that Geography matters. The Puget Sound on the West, Lake Washington on the East (and the Cascades farther out East) has created a dense city alive with people walking, using mass transit, and shopping in a downtown that stays open past 6pm. Growing up in SW Lubbock, I remember in the 80s seeing lots of empty space inside the Loop at 60th and Slide. Visiting last year, my Mom and I were thinking of placing bets on when housing will reach (and be completed) at Quaker and FM1585. I never understood what the City's plans were for the town....and handling its growth. Whereas Seattle has focused on urban renewal in its weak spots through mixed-income housing or other redevelopment, Lubbock keeps pushing South and West...leaving Downtown a business-only center, and other business district (parts of 34th and 50th???) weaker as the residental center pushes further away. Areas north and east of downtown do have some positives for mixed-development if you can look through the industrial refuse and any held sterotypes. Overton is really just a start (I think) for what could happen. Geography and Lubbock's access to relatively cheap land shouldn't be an excuse for letting other parts of the city stagnate. And as you mentioned, the community will continue to grow more and more distant. Being a Lubbockite now living in Seattle, I can truely tell you that Geography matters. The Puget Sound on the West, Lake Washington on the East (and the Cascades farther out East) has created a dense city alive with people walking, using mass transit, and shopping in a downtown that stays open past 6pm.

Growing up in SW Lubbock, I remember in the 80s seeing lots of empty space inside the Loop at 60th and Slide. Visiting last year, my Mom and I were thinking of placing bets on when housing will reach (and be completed) at Quaker and FM1585.

I never understood what the City’s plans were for the town….and handling its growth. Whereas Seattle has focused on urban renewal in its weak spots through mixed-income housing or other redevelopment, Lubbock keeps pushing South and West…leaving Downtown a business-only center, and other business district (parts of 34th and 50th???) weaker as the residental center pushes further away.

Areas north and east of downtown do have some positives for mixed-development if you can look through the industrial refuse and any held sterotypes. Overton is really just a start (I think) for what could happen. Geography and Lubbock’s access to relatively cheap land shouldn’t be an excuse for letting other parts of the city stagnate. And as you mentioned, the community will continue to grow more and more distant.

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