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I find it hilarious that this discussion has to center on skyline height for Houston to even be considered. It displays very keenly the general ignorance our posters from Texas seem to have regarding urbanity.
I'm not saying Houston is a bad place. I'm not even expressing a preference, because I live in LA in suburban housing when I could easily move to Seattle.
What I am stating is that you can add ten thousand mile high towers to Houston. It would not change a thing. It is still a giant, sprawling sunbelt suburb. In the future, who knows; as infrastructure becomes older and texans are faced with the severe difficulty of updating and maintaining in an area of critical overpopulation and resource scarcity, doubtless there will be infill. And at least someone down there has to realize that a simple train with its own right of way is cheaper and faster than sitting in gridlock.
Until then, as per the question in this thread's title, Seattle is the more urban of areas.
a simple "i disagree" would've sufficed... i'll give you a few reasons for my opinion; uptown houston is spread over a much wider area, bellevue is also on the water/mountain backdrop, etc. ut h has 3 taller buildings.
Everytime I get out it is serious I am sure that I have been to more countries than you. I am sure that I have dined in more world class cities than you.
Its funny how people may visit LA and San Fransisco and suddenly believe they are a world class expert on what cities are
1. New York, NY (incl. Jersey City, NJ)
2. Chicago, IL
3. Houston, TX
4. Los Angeles, CA
5. San Francisco, CA
6. Atlanta, GA
7. Miami, FL (incl. Miami Beach, FL)
8. Dallas, TX
9. Boston, MA
10. Philadelphia, PA (incl. Camden, NJ)
Oh my god. Seattle has more urbanity and pedestrian-friendliness than Houston, or any sprawling metro would desire. Houston has the big city status that Seattle would desire. Whats so hard to comprehend. Seattle is more urban, Houston is the bigger city.
Seattle has more walkable neighborhoods, and a more urban atmosphere, but that doesn't translate to major city status even if it gives off the feeling of a bigger city, so I'd still prefer Houston. I think more people would prefer Seattle given a choice, but at the end of the day Seattle is still a metro of 3.4 million while Houston is a metro of 6 million. Houston's in another league, and has a brighter future, not to say Seattle doesn't.
Seattle's skyline has a better backdrop, and scenery. It has the density, and great architecture. Its stunning, and arguably a top US 5 skyline. Houston has multiple skylines, a lot more height and is impressive when taking into consideration all of it. Its different clusters means that it has less density. It has been argued as a top 5 US skyline, but is always considered a top 10 usually.
Height and quantity isn't everything, so using that as a main point when comparing skylines will tick off CD's density-urban loving members.
Also, while Downtown Houston isn't as urban as most major city's downtowns, due to various reasons, it still doesn't deserve being labled as suburban. Anyplace that I can watch a proffessional sports game, enjoy a proffessional performing arts play or concert, hit a club, pub, or bar, visit a doctor, shop from various stores, get at least some form of groceries, stroll around a park, eat out from a restaurant, check out a book,get a haircut or a spa treatment, go to a gym, get my prescriptions, watch a movie, have public transportation as an option SHOULD be considered urban. Considering I can do all of that plus MORE, Downtown Houston is urban. There are people living there, and its a major employment center.
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I am sure that I have been to more countries than you. I am sure that I have dined in more world class cities than you.