[Leica] Friday porch

[Don Dory]

Interestingly enough, large parts of Austin are still a 15 minute city.
Where I live almost all services are at most a 20 minute walk at a
photographic pace.  In Mueller which is a re-development of the old airport
site the same applies.  The image is Hyde Park which has remained a 15
minute city.  East Austin has gentrified into a rich 15 minute city.  These
have proved so desirable that property prices have skyrocketed.  Most
affordable housing is now a 45 minute commute away.  The local government
is largely useless in fixing this: however, many private individuals and
non-profits have stepped in to build, create, or lobby for funds to have
affordable housing in these desirable areas.

Governments at the state and national level have created laws and funding
sources to aid in these endeavors.  Texas has a land trust so a non-profit
can own the land which is the major driver of cost.  They lease the land
inexpensively to the owner who does gain the appreciation of the structure
but not the land.  There are also grants to subsidize the construction of
largely affordable rentals for those who fit the bottom ~25% of income.

I find it fascinating that the ultra affluent have chosen to live in far
away gated communities that isolate them from the ebb and flow of the
society broadly speaking.  One of older civilizations legacy gifts are the
central squares that most gather at and mingle.

Don

On Mon, Nov 2, 2026 at 11:47 PM Nathan Wajsman via LUG <lug at leica-users.org>
wrote:

> A proper house in what was a 15-minute city…
>
> Nathan Wajsman
> photo at frozenlight.eu
>
> http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws
> http://www.greatpix.eu
> http://www.frozenlight.eu
> @nwajsman.bsky.social
>
> Слава Україні! Героям слава!
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > On 9 Oct 2026, at 15:00, Don Dory via LUG <lug at leica-users.org> wrote:
> >
> > Greetings to all.  Today we go north to the Hyde Park neighborhood which
> is
> > north of the UT campus.  This is an older neighborhood as it is on the
> > Capitol and campus side of what was once an unpredictable river crossing.
> > It is also home to many professors and government mid level and higher
> > officials.  The home shown today dates from the 1920-30's and sits very
> > near a commercial corner.  Back when cars were not common you wanted to
> > live near the services you needed.
> >
> > In any case, the current homeowner is supporting pollinators and in
> general
> > native plants.
> >
> > https://dondory.smugmug.com/Austin-Porche-and-yards/i-f2MPCx4/A
> >
> > All the best.
> >
> > --
> > Don
> > don.dory at gmail.com
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Leica Users Group.
> > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>


-- 
Don
don.dory at gmail.com