Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Yea, I just don't think many people have been to Portland. Portland is actually trending urban. Atlanta is not. However, Atlanta has more to do, for sure, and is a much larger city. The nightlife in Portland is better these days (it's like the cities have done a switcharoo over the last 10-20 years in that department). Both cities are near others, too. But if you like truly urban environments, Portland is 3-4 hours from Seattle by car and 10 hours from SF, which is about as far as Atlanta is from Chicago or DC.
Yea, I just don't think many people have been to Portland. Portland is actually trending urban. Atlanta is not. However, Atlanta has more to do, for sure, and is a much larger city. The nightlife in Portland is better these days (it's like the cities have done a switcharoo over the last 10-20 years in that department). Both cities are near others, too. But if you like truly urban environments, Portland is 3-4 hours from Seattle by car and 10 hours from SF, which is about as far as Atlanta is from Chicago or DC.
What do you mean by "trending urban"? If you're talking about transforming into a more urban setting, Atlanta is doing that by leaps and bounds. Portland already seemed to be there in my book, but Atlanta is rapidly transforming itself by adding massive infill and urbanizing very quickly within it's city limits.
If we're comparing what Atlanta is doing and what Portland is doing, I prefer what Portland is doing. And yes, Portland was already smaller and more tight knit, but it's also still urbanizing rapidly, as well. Atlanta new urbanism is that: new urbanism (the south is urbanizing in much the same way across all the cities, but I just expect better from a city that anchors a region of 5-7 million people, which is why I think the Atlantas/Dallas's/Houstons are such disappointments). I'm not so much a fan, and I think it will take a long time to really get there. And then aesthetically, just not my style - the rents aren't really high enough to support true quality design at the building level. That makes a difference to me.
Midtown Atlanta will be a great urban neighborhood in 10 years. World class by 2030 where densities spike to 75k-80k ppsm. I think Atlanta's apartments now are a lot better than 10 years, even 5. If rents continue the way they are, Atlanta will be the 12th most expensive city in the country to rent in by the end of Fall, higher than Philly and Portland and this is with half the city being a ghetto(West and SW sides).
Unlike many cities in the South, Atlanta's Midtown actually has pretty strict design requirements especially when it comes to the first floor retail. These days, they can afford to be selective however since there are so many projects being built in the neighborhoods and want to build there.
If we're comparing what Atlanta is doing and what Portland is doing, I prefer what Portland is doing. And yes, Portland was already smaller and more tight knit, but it's also still urbanizing rapidly, as well. Atlanta new urbanism is that: new urbanism (the south is urbanizing in much the same way across all the cities, but I just expect better from a city that anchors a region of 5-7 million people, which is why I think the Atlantas/Dallas's/Houstons are such disappointments). I'm not so much a fan, and I think it will take a long time to really get there. And then aesthetically, just not my style - the rents aren't really high enough to support true quality design at the building level. That makes a difference to me.
In regards to density alone, Houston/Dallas are closer to Portland/Seattle than they are Atlanta. I don't know if you've been to Texas, but you may be impressed with what you see in those cities
In regards to density alone, Houston/Dallas are closer to Portland/Seattle than they are Atlanta. I don't know if you've been to Texas, but you may be impressed with what you see in those cities
This is ridiculous. I was just in Dallas and Uptown Dallas doesn't even compare to Midtown Atlanta when it comes to walkability(lawns in front of buildings and a general lack of mixed used). Houston has zero neighborhoods that compare to Midtown Atlanta.
Houston/Dallas might be denser on paper, but Atlanta is definitely easier to walk in than both of those cities due to it's smaller width of streets, larger sidewalks, and more cohesive urban core.
^^^yes I have, and no. I actually prefer Atlanta to Dallas by a long shot but I'm intrigued by Houston.
Houston is quite possibly worse than Dallas. At least Dallas has a pretty built out Uptown area. Houston's "Midtown" still has a long way to go and it has no cohesiveness...there's downtown, then that's it.
Too many people on this website confuse walkability for urban. While I want out of my big city to be walkable, it's not the only consideration. There are plenty of small towns (especially in Europe) which are highly walkable but not urban (aka big city).
In Atlanta I just have more big city amenities at my fingertips, but without the walkability. Portland never felt like a big city, or even a medium sized city to me, that's because it's not. It's a small city.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
