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It ain't all about looks. No question Downtown Detroit is more visually varied/ interesting. Griswold Street- I've been in that large building- the Guardian building. But Downtown DC is a lot more vibrant, larger, and blends a lot better into surrounding areas.
The primary DC poster is higher on Downtown Detroit than I am to be fair.
DC's office buildings, on average, are just plain ugly: glass, steel, or concrete boxes where, of course, the Capitol building height restriction robs the city of anything really majestic. Downtown Detroit's gorgeous old buildings, such as the Guardian, blow DC out of the water... It's the interspersing gorgeous old (often 19th-century) rowhouse residential areas in downtown DC that make it special. Few cities have this, esp ones off the Colonial-era East Coast (before you say it: we know DC technically is post-Colonial because it was laid out after the American Revolution, but it still was developed close enough in time, and physical distance, to have Colonial city characteristics).
I feel like Cincinnati has potential to get up some day. It’s one of the few “good bones” cities that are actually growing. Although I think it’s starting to run into a modal share issue where as long as people are driving and residents need cars. The density of residents, attractions and amenities and such is going to flat line
DC's office buildings, on average, are just plain ugly: glass, steel, or concrete boxes where, of course, the Capitol building height restriction robs the city of anything really majestic. Downtown Detroit's gorgeous old buildings, such as the Guardian, blow DC out of the water... It's the interspersing gorgeous old (often 19th-century) rowhouse residential areas in downtown DC that make it special. Few cities have this, esp ones off the Colonial-era East Coast (before you say it: we know DC technically is post-Colonial because it was laid out after the American Revolution, but it still was developed close enough in time, and physical distance, to have Colonial city characteristics).
I"ve never been to D.C., and up to this point, I"ve assumed that D.C. has some really amazing parts of downtown that I've just never seen photo/video of.
Now I"'m starting to understand the reason why pretty much all "establishing shots"in TV/movies of D.C. are of monuments and the Capitol.
I don't know if I can buy into height restrictions as a reason for D.C.'s downtown homogenization, as Los Angeles had height restrictions allowing them to build just 20 feet taller up until 1958, and they were able to produce streets like this under those constraints:
DC's office buildings, on average, are just plain ugly: glass, steel, or concrete boxes where, of course, the Capitol building height restriction robs the city of anything really majestic. Downtown Detroit's gorgeous old buildings, such as the Guardian, blow DC out of the water... It's the interspersing gorgeous old (often 19th-century) rowhouse residential areas in downtown DC that make it special. Few cities have this, esp ones off the Colonial-era East Coast (before you say it: we know DC technically is post-Colonial because it was laid out after the American Revolution, but it still was developed close enough in time, and physical distance, to have Colonial city characteristics).
DC’s height limit is based on street width, not the Capitol Building. Buildings can be built as high as the street is wide +20’ (street width include sidewalks)
I feel like Cincinnati has potential to get up some day. It’s one of the few “good bones” cities that are actually growing. Although I think it’s starting to run into a modal share issue where as long as people are driving and residents need cars. The density of residents, attractions and amenities and such is going to flat line
I havent visited Cincinnati yet, but it's core seems similarly built to Pittsburgh and other East Coast cities as opposed to Midwest cities. Also, the urban neighborhoods outside of the downtown area contribute to its core and have tons of nightlife and entertainment much like DC, Boston, Philly, and NYC.
I havent visited Cincinnati yet, but it's core seems similarly built to Pittsburgh and other East Coast cities as opposed to Midwest cities. Also, the urban neighborhoods outside of the downtown area contribute to its core and have tons of nightlife and entertainment much like DC, Boston, Philly, and NYC.
“the basin” in 1880 has something like 52,000 ppsm. Unfortunately it lost about 88% of its population since then. (Tbh losing like 50% was pretty necessary for anything resembling modern living standards you see similar drops in like the LES o Manhattan)
It’s a generation older than Cleveland/Detroit/Milwaukee and as a result was built as a walking city vs streetcar city. But never completed its subway and went all in on Freeways flattening the west end and cutting off Mt Adams. But about 2.5 sq miles is still pretty cohesive.
OTR or Downtown having lots of parking isn’t super noticeable until you start walking around to do things rather than just like wandering and realize how much further things are away from each other compared to like Boston’s Chinatown or North End. It’s still walkable but a block walk becomes a 3 block or 4 block walk to get to XYZ.
Even if in passing it actually looks really similar.
DC’s height limit is based on street width, not the Capitol Building. Buildings can be built as high as the street is wide +20’ (street width include sidewalks)
Whatever the case, there are no high-rise office buildings in downtown DC, just a lot of bland, horizontal boxes.
I"ve never been to D.C., and up to this point, I"ve assumed that D.C. has some really amazing parts of downtown that I've just never seen photo/video of.
Now I"'m starting to understand the reason why pretty much all "establishing shots"in TV/movies of D.C. are of monuments and the Capitol.
I don't know if I can buy into height restrictions as a reason for D.C.'s downtown homogenization, as Los Angeles had height restrictions allowing them to build just 20 feet taller up until 1958, and they were able to produce streets like this under those constraints:
The reality is, most downtown’s in America could fit 2-3 times within DC’s downtown. You should look around the Penn Quarter neighborhood for some architecturally pleasing buildings. You’ve been looking at the Golden Triangle which is going to be bland.
Whatever the case, there are no high-rise office buildings in downtown DC, just a lot of bland, horizontal boxes.
DC has historic architecture within its downtown, it's just proportionally a lot less than what you'd find in Chicago, Baltimore, Philly, NYC, Boston, Detroit, etc..
Berlin would be nice. Lots of nice downtowns on rivers out there. Prague is closer in population size, I guess?
Quote:
Originally Posted by mjtinmemphis
The problem with the Mississippi is it is a working river and I've heard the current is strong.
I would love to see Prague mentioned to some of the leaders in St Louis as a model city. The mindset doesn't go that far in most midsized cities.
Warsaw and Perth come to mind as well, which have active downtowns and extensive mass transit. I feel like St. Louis is too urban to look to cities like Minneapolis or Detroit to model its downtown, especially in terms of mass transit. With the right investment it could be better. I think Boston (shopping, neighborhood, commercial/entertainment districts) and some aspects of DC (infill projects/streetscape/roundabouts) make sense.
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