| From
one of the depot photos, it can be seen that the old Kyle water tower not only
has been saved, but it has been repainted in the same familiar colors.
Kyle's explosive growth in recent years could be compared to boom town growth
for Texas oil towns in the 1930s. But in this case the newcomers are planning
to stay. For many people looking for small town charm, the choice has been between
commuting a great distance to a charming town short on amenities or commuting
a short distance to a suburb where the identical houses are on steroids. "McMansions,"
as some have called them.
In Kyle at least one developer has retained
the classic small town look of years past - houses have porches - something that
everyone says they miss - but few developers seem to provide. These houses have
lawns, fences and above all else, the promise that they will age gracefully and
not be identified with a particular period (which may be judged unfavorably in
the future).
Neighborhoods in Houston have had their bungalows bulldozed
to accommodate the fortresses that now serve as residences. Castles with six-inch
margins of grass which pass for lawns. Plano's grid of identical houses and matching
strip centers reach the horizon. It's always a surprise to discover that even
rude, broad-shouldered Plano, once had a friendly and quaint downtown.
Growth
is something we have to deal with - but no one said it couldn't be dealt with
wisely. With the spirit of sensible development that Kyle
is enjoying, it's likely that someone thirty years from now will be asking for
the name of the charming little town between Austin and San Antonio --he one with
the water tower, the girlhood home of the famous author, and the "old fashioned
homes."
Preservation is more than restoring old buildings - it's building
a community incorporating all elements - historic and contemporary - of what makes
a town livable.
© John Troesser
April
19, 2004
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Depot Today
See Kyle,
Texas | Texas Historic Preservation
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