Greetings from Austin 2027, er Vancouver…

Looks a little like Seattle… feels a little like San Fran.

The thing I can’t get over is the unbelievable density of residential buildings here. Laura mentioned this place has the highest residential population density in North America. You can definitely feel it.    That prompted a Google search which delivered this expansion. (Vancouverism vs Manhattanism)

The crazy effect of all this vertical residential density is that you’re surrounded by windows into other peoples’ rooms. People looking up to you, people looking down on you. It’s a bizarre effect and not easy to get used to. As I type this entry, I occasionally find myself drawn to look outside to think about something. But instead of a view, I’m seeing some other dude at HIS computer. He’s 50 feet of air and 2 inches of glass away.

Vancouver? Or Austin’s Skyline in 20 Years? You be the judge

Also, the Vancouver Sun is running an interview with Laura today. I liked how the author summed up Barton Springs’ destiny. (Underlined)…

Spring of strife

Dunn’s movie is called The Unforeseen, and in addition to featuring screen time with Mr. Sundance himself - who also co-produced the movie with Terrence Malick — the documentary explores a specific water hole in Texas called Barton Springs.

Naturally stunning, but poised to disappear forever amidst increasing suburban sprawl, Barton Springs became a flashpoint in the fight between developers and citizens looking to protect the environmental assets of a given location.