9th best downtown in the country? (Atlanta, Chicago, building, beautiful)

[btownboss4]

While the top 8 Downtowns are pretty set in stone (NYC, Chicago, SF, Bos, Philly, DC, Seattle, LA) while the order can be debated I don’t think any other city can dethrone those any of 8

However I think there is maybe a dozen cities than can make an argument for being #9. Frankly the majority of the remaining cities over 2,000,000 would probably be in the discussion.


I’m not going to include a poll because I think it’ll get messy and not really be informative

But criteria is
1) Economic vitality (how important is the Downtown to the metro area)
2) Retail
3) Dining
4) Entertainment (theatres, festivals, Arena events)
5) Transit
6)Overall Vibrancy

[Stlcards31]

Hmm...potential cities here could be Atlanta, Dallas, San Diego, Minneapolis. Any others that I'm missing that would even be close?

[SkyDog77]

Originally Posted by Stlcards31

Hmm...potential cities here could be Atlanta, Dallas, San Diego, Minneapolis. Any others that I'm missing that would even be close?

Portland and Denver. New Orleans easily.

[Enean]

Originally Posted by Stlcards31

Hmm...potential cities here could be Atlanta, Dallas, San Diego, Minneapolis. Any others that I'm missing that would even be close?

Minneapolis downtown is not a top downtown. There are some beautiful buildings if you look up, but at street level, it's sorely lacking.

[btownboss4]

Originally Posted by Stlcards31

Hmm...potential cities here could be Atlanta, Dallas, San Diego, Minneapolis. Any others that I'm missing that would even be close?

Portland, Houston, St Louis, Pittsburgh, Denver, Baltimore.

[elchevere]

Miami is definitely on the list, ignoring some who like to arbitrarily exclude Brickell even though it is included in every City of Miami reference and definition of downtown and is connected via Metromover transit link.

After this plus the ones mentioned above almost all other downtowns have more of a suburban, rather than urban, feel to them and/or are deserted business central areas after 6PM. I associate urban with downtown. Portland, OR should be added, have not been to Baltimore or Pittsburgh in 20 years.

[Vincent_Adultman]

I'd say Atlanta, Portland, Denver, and Pittsburgh.

[Mutiny77]

I'm inclined to say Baltimore.

[gladhands]

Not sure I’d give LA that 8th spot. DTLA is in the pool with the also-rans.

[projectmaximus]

Once again gotta define downtown. Is it purely the area known as "downtown" or are we speaking about the general CBD?