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I'd say that the cities and the perceptions of city life overall have definitely improved since 1990. It seems like before the late 90's, the vast majority of Americans young and old still believed in the "American Dream" ideal of large houses way out in the suburbs and mega shopping malls. I've noticed those ideas changing drastically, even within the last 10 years or so. Most of the young people I know want to live in the city, not the suburbs. It seems like that was the complete opposite not too long ago.
I'll measure whether city life has improved, but measure it as of 2007 since all city's have pretty much crumbled in the recession.
New York City : MUCH better since 1990 in 2007 (Crime WAY down, economy up)
Los Angeles : Better since 1990 in 2007. (Crime and gang wars way down, economy up)
Chicago : Better since 1990 in 2007 (Crime down, economy up, gentrifying neighborhoods)
Detroit: Worse (crime up, economy worse)
Philly: About the same?? (declining population but no real signs of economic depression)
New Orleans: Worse (hurricane katrina, crime up, economy down)
All cities in Texas, Arizona, Florida: Way up (Sun belt boom along with dramatic increases in crime, but still life in the cities blossomed)
Las Vegas: Better
Everything in North Carolina: Better
Washington DC: Don't even know
^ The recession made some cities return to the early 90's. The economy is actually worse now than then, since its said to be the worst since the Great Depression, however the crime rate is much lower now than it was back then. I think the crack epidemic was the largest contributing factor for the high crime rate of the late 80's/early 90's, more than the economy.
People also seem friendlier now than back then (I don't know about recently since it's been about a year since I've been in the States). I noticed that people are more passive and do most of the trash talking on the internet, and less out on the streets in peoples faces, which often times lead to fist fights. Then again it could be because I'm older so I'm not hanging around a crowd that's looking for trouble.
Locally in Atlanta, things are better and worse. Better in that it has grown, more progressive, more things to do, and many neighborhoods have cleaned up; but worse as far as the higher crime rate throughout the metro area (back in 1990 crime was concentrated in certain inner city neighborhoods that most people stayed out of, like other cities), and also more disturbing crimes.
I'd say that the cities and the perceptions of city life overall have definitely improved since 1990. It seems like before the late 90's, the vast majority of Americans young and old still believed in the "American Dream" ideal of large houses way out in the suburbs and mega shopping malls. I've noticed those ideas changing drastically, even within the last 10 years or so. Most of the young people I know want to live in the city, not the suburbs. It seems like that was the complete opposite not too long ago.
I'd have to agree with that and also add that there are three (good) bandwagons that many cities have gotten on: 1)installing pedestrian/bike trails, 2)building town centers/power centers with outdoor shopping like the small town downtowns, and 3)building TND or new urbanist developments. All of those have dramatically improved walkability and therefore pedestrian quality of life, although #3 has unfortunately turned out to typically be geared toward the wealthier clientele in actual build-out as opposed to offering affordable pricing points as "the philosophy" behind them originally included in the design and planning phases. #1 and #2 have improved pedestrian quality of life for people of income levels besides just the affluent.
I'll measure whether city life has improved, but measure it as of 2007 since all city's have pretty much crumbled in the recession.
New York City : MUCH better since 1990 in 2007 (Crime WAY down, economy up)
Los Angeles : Better since 1990 in 2007. (Crime and gang wars way down, economy up)
Chicago : Better since 1990 in 2007 (Crime down, economy up, gentrifying neighborhoods)
Detroit: Worse (crime up, economy worse)
Philly: About the same?? (declining population but no real signs of economic depression)
New Orleans: Worse (hurricane katrina, crime up, economy down)
All cities in Texas, Arizona, Florida: Way up (Sun belt boom along with dramatic increases in crime, but still life in the cities blossomed)
Las Vegas: Better
Everything in North Carolina: Better Washington DC: Don't even know
Actually, DC has probably gone through one of the most amazing turnarounds since the 90's
New Orleans: crime up, economy is up comparitively speaking....and life in the unflooded areas is much more vibrant, especially Uptown than before Katrina I'd venture because high ground is considered safer to live on/own property...influx of Lakeview residents, etc.
Actually, DC has probably gone through one of the most amazing turnarounds since the 90's
I agree. It went from the murder capital of the country to on of the most cosmopolitan, vibrant cities in the country with less than half of the murders per year that it had back then.
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