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Having only been to Pittsburgh on a layover, I have heard it compared to Seattle before, in terms of the hills, cloudy weather and the greenery. From your previous posts, it seems you do not share the same opinion, so I assume it wouldn't be very accurate to compare the two? Obviously the built environment is different with the older housing stock and architecture styles.
No, geographically they're relatively similar. Portland, too. And San Francisco. Nine times out of ten I'd get laughed off the forum (or worse) for saying that, but living in Seattle and SF and moving back east, Pittsburgh was practically my only option. I got addicted to hills somewhere along the way.
Seattle is in the midst of their glory days as speak - Pittsburgh, well they have seen theirs.
The housing stock in Seattle is different too, you won't see too many rows, and the ones you do see are relatively new.
Seattle never declined the way Pittsburgh has, so there are no areas of abandonment, no slums really to speak of, and a very virbrant, clean and thriving downtown that remains the entire regions retail hub exists. Again, very different from Pittsburgh. The residents of Seattle are not self-hating, either.
Not really a fair comparison.
He was talking about geography. Seattle did have hard times in the 70s, and I think part of the 60s too, back when Boeing made them a one industry town, but they're obviously still ascendant being so young. I'm pretty sure the entire world is aware of that by now.
The thing is, these things go in cycles. Cities rise and fall and shrink and grow and change over time. This country is still a baby by world standards. In twenty years (or less), Seattle could end up a shell of its former self. I hope it doesn't, but anything's possible. What's more likely is that a new, I'd say improved, Pittsburgh will have clawed its way back from the brink as almost a new city as opposed to a shell of its former self. Or the whole country could collapse and we'll go all Thunderdome. Who knows?
He was talking about geography. Seattle did have hard times in the 70s, and I think part of the 60s too, back when Boeing made them a one industry town, but they're obviously still ascendant being so young. I'm pretty sure the entire world is aware of that by now.
The thing is, these things go in cycles. Cities rise and fall and shrink and grow and change over time. This country is still a baby by world standards. In twenty years (or less), Seattle could end up a shell of its former self. I hope it doesn't, but anything's possible. What's more likely is that a new, I'd say improved, Pittsburgh will have clawed its way back from the brink as almost a new city as opposed to a shell of its former self. Or the whole country could collapse and we'll go all Thunderdome. Who knows?
That's a great point. In 100 years, Vegas could be desert again while Detroit and its abundant fresh water is the booming town. Our country is so young that we're still kind of going through a trial & error phase regarding which areas can support population long-term. It wasn't that long ago that New Orleans was our third largest city.
If we're talking about uniqueness, and not necessarily cities we LIKE ot that we think are NICE, then I'd have to say (narrowing it down to 4):
1) Las Vegas, Nevada - I've there many times on business, and I hate it there, but, come on, it's cornered the market on quirkiness.[/i]
2) Washington D.C. - It's the only National Capitol we've got, and it's the only city in the WORLD with such fantastically FREE museums all over the place. It's also unique because it's the only US city which does not lie within a state itself. Again, it's not the nicest of cities - I lived there for 4 years and would not care to move back - but it's interesting to visit, and it's quite unique.
3) Honolulu, Hawaii - Our only true city (population over 300k witin the city proper) on a tropical isle in the South Pacific. It's got it's own food, music, flora and fauna, all of which is very famous and totally unique among any city from the other 49 US states. Overall, Honolulu is a not-so-nice city, with some very serious crime, drugs and racial problems (even compared to other, larger cities) but it does happen to be in a totally unique part of this country.
4) Anchorage, Alaska - Our only true city (population over 250k within the city proper) with non-stop daylight during summer months, and also the only city where grizzly bears and moose are are regularly spotted wandering the city streets. http://animal.discovery.com/tv-sched...803.112349.0.0
New York City - Not Really.....
New Orleans - Yes
Las Vegas - Yes
Atlantic City - Sort of......
Miami - Kinda
Honolulu - Yes
San Francisco - Maybe.....
Los Angeles - No
Orlando - No
I'd probably Add:
Santa Fe
San Antonio to some degree.....
Alaska Cities.....
Washington DC
Chicago - NO
St. Louis - NO
Pittsburgh - NO
New York City - NO
Boston - NO
Seattle - NO
San Francisco - SURE
Miami - SURE
New Orleans - YES
Washington, D.C. - YES
Denver - NO
Las Vegas - SURE
Memphis - NO
Atlanta - NO
As Appalachia's only large metro area, Pittsburgh is unique by definition. The only city I've seen with an even remotely similar ambiance is Cincinnati.
I can't believe anyone would list Seattle or Portland. I defy someone to distinguish between neighborhoods in those two cities, or Vancouver, BC. Not knocking them, but they're not unique when there are three very similar cities so close together.
They're practically the same city in three different locations. That's not bad though, they're three of the best cities on the continent.
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