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It’s a tough comparison. For classic, urban beauty I would definitely choose Philly. The historic colonial fabric of the city mixed with the classic northeast big city urban look, gives Philly great scenery all around. However, the monuments and views of DC also create some great scenery. I give the slight nod to Philly, but it is close.
I don't know about Philly too much, but DC's natural topography, steep, steep hills and scenic overlooks are nice. DC has huge hills
I don't know about Philly too much, but DC's natural topography, steep, steep hills and scenic overlooks are nice. DC has huge hills
One reason the OP chose to compare the two is because both cities sit astride the fall line.
Those steep hills and scenic overlooks are primarily located in DC's northwest quadrant and the adjacent areas on the opposite bank of the Potomac in Virginia.
The Great Falls of the Potomac remain in their natural state and are the centerpiece of a major park. The Falls of Schuylkill are now merely rapids because the city dammed the river at the site of America's first water works, and the resulting reservoir extends all the way to the falls. If you were to draw a line running diagonally NE-SW (or NNE-SSW) through the location of the falls, you would find the city gets hillier above it - and the Wissahickon Valley Park is our answer to Rock Creek Park, with the added bonus that no one is allowed to drive through it above the point where the Wissahickon Creek makes a right turn on its path towards the Schuylkill. There are some pretty steep hills bordering both the Wissahickon and the Schuylkill northwest of the submerged falls.
Something Philadelphia did that Washington did not do was bury or channelize many of the streams that fed the Schuylkill and the Delaware. The buried streams announce their presence above ground via dips in the terrain heading towards and away from their sewerized stream beds. Both Mill Creek in West Philadelphia and Wingohocking Creek in North Philly exist only in this form now (a street runs above part of Wingohocking Creek's bed). This is in part because the city grew explosively in the late 19th century and embarked on the channelizations before the City Beautiful Movement arrived on the scene; had the movement arrived first, some of these streams might have become parks as Tacony Creek in the Northeast did.
Something Philadelphia did that Washington did not do was bury or channelize many of the streams that fed the Schuylkill and the Delaware.
I don't think that's true. There are a few buried streams in DC, which was the reason why so many lower NWDC neighborhoods suffered from extensive flooding for so long.
I didn't say there was no housing built for the wealthy outside of Center City. In Strawberry Mansion, for example, the signs of a once-guilded past are still evident.
One major problem Philly has, as you noted, is that a lot of this type of housing has been lost to demolition. The other issue, as I see it, is that a lot of the housing was relatively inexpensive workforce housing and was never intended to be fashionable. And while gentrification has certainly helped to improve the appearance of many of these homes, there's simply no way they are going to ever be as attractive (IMHO) as rehabilitated Victorian rowhomes.
Strawberry Mansion has some beautiful homes (although much blight) , but Germantown, East Falls, Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill homes are more attractive, ornate and "built for the wealthy" than just about anything in DC, and no comparative area in DC is as large. Seems weird to leave out a huge section of Philly (Northwest Philly always seems to be ignored in these discussions, because it honestly blows anything in most cities out the water in terms of beautiful homes and gardens---The "Wissahickon Style" gardening has been emulated throughout the US most notably Beverly Hills.)
This discussion seems to be focused on rowhomes so I will post links of them, but the real "wow factor" are the many mansions and single and even twin homes found all over these neighborhoods.
(And I know you know this being from Gtown if I remember)
Honestly, the homes in DC and Baltimore are so identical to each other in each city. I love rowhomes and so do love the streetscape, etc but Philadelphia just has so much variety in rowhomes and homes in general---which makes sense since Philly is so much larger in size, and has been more prominent (and wealthier) for much longer. Where else can you find tudor homes set in what looks like an English village down the street from ornate Victorians?
Seems weird to leave out a huge section of Philly (Northwest Philly always seems to be ignored in these discussions, because it honestly blows anything in most cities out the water in terms of beautiful homes and gardens---The "Wissahickon Style" gardening has been emulated throughout the US most notably Beverly Hills.)
Because my focus has been on the central city. That's why I've mentioned neighborhoods in Baltimore like Bolton Hill and Mt. Vernon and not neighborhoods like Roland Park. NW Philly is more or less the equivalent of Roland Park and some of the Upper NW DC neighborhoods. Nobody will disagree that those are all very nice areas.
Because my focus has been on the central city. That's why I've mentioned neighborhoods in Baltimore like Bolton Hill and Mt. Vernon and not neighborhoods like Roland Park. NW Philly is more or less the equivalent of Roland Park and some of the Upper NW DC neighborhoods. Nobody will disagree that those are all very nice areas.
That's fair. If anything, NW Philly really served as the original "Main Line" of Philadelphia, with larger-plot homes and estates serving as summer homes for Philly's wealthy. Obviously it's still counted as Philly proper, but it functions and is structured as more of a suburban hub to Center City and abutting neighborhoods.
But regardless, 2e1m5a's examples are fantastic for exemplifying Philly's highly unique and varied rowhome styles.
Strawberry Mansion has some beautiful homes (although much blight) , but Germantown, East Falls, Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill homes are more attractive, ornate and "built for the wealthy" than just about anything in DC, and no comparative area in DC is as large. Seems weird to leave out a huge section of Philly (Northwest Philly always seems to be ignored in these discussions, because it honestly blows anything in most cities out the water in terms of beautiful homes and gardens---The "Wissahickon Style" gardening has been emulated throughout the US most notably Beverly Hills.)
This discussion seems to be focused on rowhomes so I will post links of them, but the real "wow factor" are the many mansions and single and even twin homes found all over these neighborhoods.
(And I know you know this being from Gtown if I remember)
Honestly, the homes in DC and Baltimore are so identical to each other in each city. I love rowhomes and so do love the streetscape, etc but Philadelphia just has so much variety in rowhomes and homes in general---which makes sense since Philly is so much larger in size, and has been more prominent (and wealthier) for much longer. Where else can you find tudor homes set in what looks like an English village down the street from ornate Victorians?
Love the links! Yes, Baltimore DC and Philly are my favorite cities for homes--all 3 are so unique and beautiful. Brooklyn too, but it doesn't have as many of the quaint narrow streets which I love. Mid-Atlantic urbanism is the best urbanism (in US).
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