Which of these midwest cities has the best RESIDENTIAL architecture? (comparison, places)

[tribecavsbrowns]

^That's why Chicago wins this contest.

[slengel]

being from philadelphia, st. louis is the most eastern style of the cities in this poll, chicago included. while chicago has examples of greystones, brownstones and some rowhouses, it is generally comprised of prairie-style neighborhoods common in the great lakes region. st. louis, on the other hand, is extremely rich from end to end with dense red brick housing stock. the exceptions are few and far between. it is easy to see that st. louis grew up with the eastern cities.

[mas23]

I hear kansas city has some nice architecture but I wouldn't know b/c I've never been there

EDIT: I still say Chicago wins. Also St. Louis and cincinattin have some nice buildings as well so I voted for them also

[r small]

I think the neighborhoods in K.C. are basically single family (detached) homes.

[DC's Finest]

Originally Posted by tribecavsbrowns

^That's why Chicago wins this contest.

If we are talking row houses, Chicago is not even in consideration. They do have nice homes there but not huge areas of row houses as far as the eye can see.

[ForYourLungsOnly]

if anyone took time to walk around the incredibly dense neighborhoods in Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Wicker Park, Kenwood etc, with their mixture of rowhomes, flats, brown/greystones, victorians, etc..then went to the Gold Cost/River North to view Chicago's amazing highrise living, then went to Oak Park to see the gorgeous Frank Lloyd Wright houses along with the other beautiful/unique homes in Oak Park, Evanston, Winnetka, etc., it's not hard to see that Chicago wins this for sheer variety, quantity and quality. There are certainly other FANTASTIC neighborhoods/residential areas in other Midwestern Metros (STL and Cin come to mind), but they cannot match Chicago's variety and quantity.

[ForYourLungsOnly]

Originally Posted by DC's Finest

If we are talking row houses, Chicago is not even in consideration. They do have nice homes there but not huge areas of row houses as far as the eye can see.

WHO CARES....why do threads about RESIDENTAL architecture (that means of ALL sorts) always have to come down to "which city has rowhouses as far as the eye can see" (no matter how ugly or rundown those rowhouses are)... it makes no sense. Chicago HAS rowhouses (beautiful ones), as well as residential options the other cities listed don't even have. Sure rowhouses have their place..but they are not the be all end all when it comes to residential architecture like so many on CD seem to believe.

[DC's Finest]

I've seen almost every style of home in Chicago and the perception that I have is that bungalows and flats dominate the entire city. You may find a small amount of streets here or there with row houses but that's not the norm. Some of the bungalows are incredible but they scream suburbia. That's why I picked "The Loo."

[mas23]

Chicago has no shortage of row houses but they're not as continuous as say Baltimore or Philadelphia. For example you'll have maybe a block of row houses wile the next block is mostly two/three flats.

Or you're have 6 attached 3 flats (which basically resemble row homes) while the rest of the block is mostly detached units. This doesn't mean it's less urbane or anything.

mas23

[DC's Finest]

Originally Posted by ForYourLungsOnly

WHO CARES....why do threads about RESIDENTAL architecture (that means of ALL sorts) always have to come down to "which city has rowhouses as far as the eye can see" (no matter how ugly or rundown those rowhouses are)... it makes no sense. Chicago HAS rowhouses (beautiful ones), as well as residential options the other cities listed don't even have. Sure rowhouses have their place..but they are not the be all end all when it comes to residential architecture like so many on CD seem to believe.

Spend some time in Back Bay in Boston. Or in Philly and then you will definitely see the difference. Nothing comes close to urban residential architecture as a nice row house or brownstone. That's why they cost so much more than bungalows or flats.