For some, no downtown is livable because they just prefer single-family housing, and by livable, I'm not talking about affordable (which is another discussion), but for those who enjoy urban living, there are plenty of great cities with great downtowns in America. Austin just isn't one of them (at least not yet). Based on personal experience, New York, Boston and Chicago come to mind immediately. Toronto (while just across the border) is amazing for downtown living. Downtown Chicago was primarily a business district for decades up until the last fifteen years or so, but the edges of it made for excellent livable areas even before the recent push for downtown residences. Cities like Miami and San Diego provide a functional downtown living experience. There are tons of mid sized cities that provide great downtown living as well, such as Greenville or Burlington. These places have the infrastructure and amenities (not just laundromats, but museums, art galleries, etc.) to make living downtown comfortable and functional, starting with transit systems but also including everything one might need within walking distance or a short transit ride. Austin has places to eat and drink downtown and rows and rows of condos. Living down there takes a lot of effort you don't have to put in many other major cities, and provides very little in terms of features. The library stands out as something great for reason. It's about all we have. Downtown Austin is designed for tourists, not residents, and building more condos won't change that.