More urban LA, SF, DC, Philly, and Boston? (Los Angeles, size, districts)

[HockeyGuy85]

Originally Posted by munchitup

Also known as... neighborhoods? Other than in the Valley (and maybe, maybe the Westside), where this assessment is sort of true, Los Angeles is just a city of neighborhoods.

LA did gobble up some municipalities through annexation, but how is that different from Philadelphia? Hollywood is sort of like its own city with its own CBD, but how is that different than Brooklyn?

When people say it's like a bunch of cities looking for a center, are they referring to Santa Monica, Pasadena, Glendale, Long Beach? Those areas are not in LA, nor are they really very close. I suppose the saying "100 cities in search of a center" makes sense in reference to the Metro area, because DTLA is pretty weak compared to traditional big city CBDs, but it really never made sense to me on the city level for LA.

for the record, the "there's no there, there" saying makes little sense to me too. Maybe they are just outdated.

Not necessarily.

I guess what im saying is, is that downtown LA isnt the main draw within LA really, at least as much as SF, Philly and Boston's downtowns are to them. There is a definitive CBD within those last three. Even despite there obviously being many different neighborhoods in any city really, LA just seems to have a bit more "satellite cities" I guess you could say that defer the draw or attention. Nevermind the fact that its different from the other three in terms of layout. Its more sprawl than anything.

[munchitup]

Originally Posted by HockeyGuy85

Not necessarily.

I guess what im saying is, is that downtown LA isnt the main draw within LA really, at least as much as SF, Philly and Boston's downtowns are to them. There is a definitive CBD within those last three.

Generally I agree, though there is a definitive CBD in LA too. It holds less weight and isn't the center of the 'universe' in LA, as it is in SF and especially in Boston and Philly. Just the largest node.

Originally Posted by HockeyGuy85

Even despite there obviously being many different neighborhoods in any city really, LA just seems to have a bit more "satellite cities" I guess you could say that defer the draw or attention. Nevermind the fact that its different from the other three in terms of layout. Its more sprawl than anything.

This again sounds like you are talking about the LA area, not the city itself. Generally most of the LA area is sprawl, but other than parts of the Valley and the Westside, there aren't many very low density neighborhoods in the city (and the ones in the mountains but that should go without saying). Yes LA is more car oriented than the others, but the majority of Central LA is not reliant on the vehicle. In another thread, someone posted a site that can show you what parts of the city you can get to in a designated amount of time. In 17 minutes I can get to nearly anywhere in Central LA on PT.

The major reason for the satellite cities and the multi-nodal quality of LA are the streetcars which pushed growth outward and allowed for unprecedented growth in Long Beach, Santa Ana, Santa Monica, Glendale, etc. But still, that is the LA area, not the city. It seems like you are mixing the two up or using them interchangeably.

[HockeyGuy85]

Originally Posted by munchitup

Generally I agree, though there is a definitive CBD in LA too. It holds less weight and isn't the center of the 'universe' in LA, as it is in SF and especially in Boston and Philly. Just the largest node.



This again sounds like you are talking about the LA area, not the city itself. Generally most of the LA area is sprawl, but other than parts of the Valley and the Westside, there aren't many very low density neighborhoods in the city (and the ones in the mountains but that should go without saying). Yes LA is more car oriented than the others, but the majority of Central LA is not reliant on the vehicle. In another thread, someone posted a site that can show you what parts of the city you can get to in a designated amount of time. In 17 minutes I can get to nearly anywhere in Central LA on PT.

The major reason for the satellite cities and the multi-nodal quality of LA are the streetcars which pushed growth outward and allowed for unprecedented growth in Long Beach, Santa Ana, Santa Monica, Glendale, etc. But still, that is the LA area, not the city. It seems like you are mixing the two up or using them interchangeably.

I think you mentioned the Westside but Century City would qualify as within city.

[munchitup]

Originally Posted by HockeyGuy85

I think you mentioned the Westside but Century City would qualify as within city.

Century City and its environs is a perfect example of what most people think the entire city of LA looks like. I am no fan of that part of the city, it is definitely car-oriented and significantly lacking in public transportation options. Century City is a bunch of highrises set on superblocks, and is not what I would call pedestrian friendly. It is surrounded for the most part by medium to low density single-family-home neighborhoods.

This area is significantly different than what LA looks like east of say, La Cienega. (EDIT: Ok maybe significantly is an exaggeration... but it looks quite different in Central LA)

[HockeyGuy85]

I like LA. Its definitely different, and I guess thats expected because coming from the East Coast, theres only one city thats anything like what we have here and thats SF. What I look for in a city is different.

SF is a perfect mixture of what you want in a city and a climate. ****, even geography. I wish it did get a little warmer though.

[munchitup]

Originally Posted by HockeyGuy85

I like LA. Its definitely different, and I guess thats expected because coming from the East Coast, theres only one city thats anything like what we have here and thats SF. What I look for in a city is different.

I think you'd be surprised that you can maintain a very similar lifestyle in Central LA to that of an East Coast city. It doesn't look the same as the East Coast cities but the huge area that is central LA is just as walkable and dense as any other city in this thread (This is an area with 800,000 residents, so its not some tiny area). I know from experience (lived carfree in Boston), and there are myriad posters on this board that agree.

[nei]

I think a truly urban city would have lots of street life and lots of people walking on the street, and in some places feel crowded and packed with people, not just cars.

[HenryAlan]

Originally Posted by nei

I think a truly urban city would have lots of street life and lots of people walking on the street, and in some places feel crowded and packed with people, not just cars.

And there are substantial areas of LA that fit that description. Like munchitup, I've lived in both places, and LA is not just the collection of freeways so many people think it is.

[munchitup]

Originally Posted by nei

I think a truly urban city would have lots of street life and lots of people walking on the street, and in some places feel crowded and packed with people, not just cars.

The north side of the Hollywood Blvd. between Highland and La Brea has got to be one of the most jam-packed pedestrian areas in the country. This is the area that has the Graumen's Chinese Theater, Hollywood Wax Museum and the Kodak Theater, but at the same time my gym and and Fresh and Easy are there, plus some restaurants and a CVS. That equals a huge crush of people at all times; it is a bit of a pain sometimes to walk to the gym, but worth it every time for the ridiculous/entertaining things that I see.

This is just one example; though a very extreme and strange one, of pedestrian activity throughout LA.

This just got built in Silver Lake: Check Out Sunset Triangle Plaza, LA's First Pedestrian Plaza - Curbed Outside - Curbed LA

That area too is always bustling with activity - sure the road is wide and there are occasional strip malls, but that does not stop people from walking. The band Silversun Pickups are from Silverlake and are named after a liquor store (Silversun) around the corner from that pedestrian plaza.

Their current name is derived from a liquor store across from Silverlake Lounge. One of the friends would often arrive at the store late at night to buy liquor, and would be as such making the "Silversun Pickup". In interviews, the band often says their name is more of "a state of mind" - supposedly from living so close to everything an L.A.-based indie rock band would need late at night.

Coincidentally, the liquor store is in a strip mall! http://g.co/maps/m5gkf

[kidphilly]

View from the rooftop of 1500 Locust.

Looking South then East which is actually the shortest distance of development