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Boston isnt empty by a long shot, definitely some spots 10 years ago... Its more or less designed in a different way than NY. But those photos are not the most flattering images lol
Those images were not unflattering at all. I thought they were nice and accurate. And not empty.
Boston as a whole has less pedestrian activity than someone not from here might expect for many reasons:
1) MTBA isn't really reliable (i know you dispute this-but its only you, massachusetts) radial or practical for a lot of thing, its not convenient for going from neighborhood to neighborhood or making quick trips.
2) entertainment is highly centralized downtown and a few select spot-many of which aren't in Boston proper.
3) Lack of rowhomes diminishes stoop culture, and makes walking a little less practical and inviting, especially when you're walking down from the third floor.
4) Relatively hilly and cold.
5) Most of the downtown shopping areas cater to high-end workers and tourist not the local populace
6) lack of liquor licenses ensure that most neighborhoods don't have sit down restaurant that are nice because they're trying to make ends meet on food alone. Lack of Happy Hour also keeps foot traffic to a minimum at times when other cities see a lot of it
7) many of the colleges are technically on the northwestern edge of the city and tis hard for them to travel anywhere but downtown. So over most of the landmass of Boston proper you don't see college student son foot being..'collegiate' and what not
All of these are relatively unique to Boston when compared to Philly Chicago and NYC. SF and Philly share the lack of radial transit though. Obviously Sf is hilly but i'm not talking about SF really..
Those images were not unflattering at all. I thought they were nice and accurate. And not empty.
Boston as a whole has less pedestrian activity than someone not from here might expect for many reasons:
1) MTBA isn't really reliable (i know you dispute this-but its only you, massachusetts) radial or practical for a lot of thing, its not convenient for going from neighborhood to neighborhood or making quick trips.
2) entertainment is highly centralized downtown and a few select spot-many of which aren't in Boston proper.
3) Lack of rowhomes diminishes stoop culture, and makes walking a little less practical and inviting, especially when you're walking down from the third floor.
4) Relatively hilly and cold.
5) Most of the downtown shopping areas cater to high-end workers and tourist not the local populace
6) lack of liquor licenses ensure that most neighborhoods don't have sit down restaurant that are nice because they're trying to make ends meet on food alone. Lack of Happy Hour also keeps foot traffic to a minimum at times when other cities see a lot of it
7) many of the colleges are technically on the northwestern edge of the city and tis hard for them to travel anywhere but downtown. So over most of the landmass of Boston proper you don't see college student son foot being..'collegiate' and what not
All of these are relatively unique to Boston when compared to Philly Chicago and NYC. SF and Philly share the lack of radial transit though. Obviously Sf is hilly but i'm not talking about SF really..
I think the top 6 reasons
1. The T . its not the worst thing ever, but its better than a lot of cities. If it was interconnected and electrified, and we didnt have it cut in half (literally) .. it would be so much more efficient. Also there are large swaths of Boston not even connected by rail or transit. It makes no sense. But the system we currently have serves a minimal job. Again, better than nothing or a good majority of cities out there.
2. The lack and hardship for nightlife, alcohol liquor license policies,
3. NIMBYism in Boston
4. Elitism
5. A horrible horrible Bus System. Its not good, so when you dont have rail, you don't have the T
6. Triple Deckers. They look and feel and scream out, uninviting. And they are all over Dorchester, Quincy, Southie, Everett, Chelsea, Brighton, Roxbury, etc ... (similar to your #3)
7. New developments unattractive to Minorities-diversity, unconnected by transit and sometimes, bland.
#7 is pretty much the biggest one. You cant increase street level pedestrian traffic being unconnected to transit and only adhering to one group of people..
It depends on what part of NYC you're even talking about. Parts of downtown Chicago can be likened to parts of Manhattan (The Loop vs. parts of Midtown in the 40s around Lexington) and the same could be said about parts of SF, Boston, Philadelphia, Toronto, etc. There's a bunch of Chicago that could be likened to Queens and parts of Brooklyn too just as other cities.
If I had to pick a city that encompasses most boroughs in a similar fashion - I'd pick Chicago and you could make the case for SF, Philadelphia, and Boston too in some ways. Chicago is the biggest example of it and the other cities smaller of course.
1. The T . its not the worst thing ever, but its better than a lot of cities. If it was interconnected and electrified, and we didnt have it cut in half (literally) .. it would be so much more efficient. Also there are large swaths of Boston not even connected by rail or transit. It makes no sense. But the system we currently have serves a minimal job. Again, better than nothing or a good majority of cities out there.
2. The lack and hardship for nightlife, alcohol liquor license policies,
3. NIMBYism in Boston
4. Elitism
5. A horrible horrible Bus System. Its not good, so when you dont have rail, you don't have the T
6. Triple Deckers. They look and feel and scream out, uninviting. And they are all over Dorchester, Quincy, Southie, Everett, Chelsea, Brighton, Roxbury, etc ... (similar to your #3)
7. New developments unattractive to Minorities-diversity, unconnected by transit and sometimes, bland.
#7 is pretty much the biggest one. You cant increase street level pedestrian traffic being unconnected to transit and only adhering to one group of people..
7 is what I disagree with the most far far more to do for minorities than in years past. Boston as the same bland generic offering everyone else does but so many more things for POC than even just 10 years ago I couldn’t list them all. If anything it’s the smallest one. The larger issue is there aren’t any entertainment or dining districts at all in any POC neighborhoods Entertainemnt is around but is scattered and often tucked away or discreet, not walkable.
6. I don’t know exactly how it screams uninviting but I sit there honk they’re great for pedestrian life compare to rowhomes or greystones.
5. It’s pretty bad but growing up where I did I used it more than the train and found it way less aggravating.
4. Not sure what that has to do with anything, related to 3? If anything I’d say that because the city caters its entertainment to the high-end those people don’t really amble about all that much, they drive whenever they can because they can afford it.
3. Sure yea
2. Yes
1. It’s so bad honestly . Like yea the coverage is alright and it’s bet the r but it’s really unreliable dirty closes early somewhat dangerous and generally uncared for and more of a necessities only thing.
Last edited by BostonBornMassMade; 02-11-2020 at 04:33 PM..
It depends on what part of NYC you're even talking about. Parts of downtown Chicago can be likened to parts of Manhattan (The Loop vs. parts of Midtown in the 40s around Lexington) and the same could be said about parts of SF, Boston, Philadelphia, Toronto, etc. There's a bunch of Chicago that could be likened to Queens and parts of Brooklyn too just as other cities.
I'd say Chicago's best argument here is that it most resembles a mashup of all five boroughs stripped of their borough identities.
I'd say Chicago's best argument here is that it most resembles a mashup of all five boroughs stripped of their borough identities.
Depends on where you are really. Certain parts of Chicago - small parts - could be trade ins for other parts of NYC. I don't think any city as a whole is like NYC and that's a good thing. Uniqueness is good. But in the end, if we're going to bring up NYC, then all 5 boroughs should be included because ultimately I think there are a small handful of cities that can lay claim to having sections that are like various parts of NYC counting all 5 boroughs.
For example, I think that parts of Albany Park on commercial streets like Lawrence or West Rogers Park on Devon Street or Little Village on 26th Street in Chicago have a little bit of a Queens commercial-street feeling about them in a way. Residential streets? Not necessarily because Queens has a specific kind of look in many buildings, but commercial street wise a little bit.
It definitely has the most demographic similarity with NYC especially in its outer neighborhoods but I wouldn't rank it above Philly or Chicago, maybe just a little ahead of DC because it has taller buildings and narrower streets.
I agree with Boston's Chinatown giving off a NYC feel. Not as big obviously. But it has a very similar organic urban feel. Densely built, textured architecture, small scale retail, active streetlife, etc. Overall, I agree Philly is closer to NYC than Boston in feel. But, you can definitely see the familiar urban northeast feel.
It definitely has the most demographic similarity with NYC especially in its outer neighborhoods but I wouldn't rank it above Philly or Chicago, maybe just a little ahead of DC because it has taller buildings and narrower streets.
Some of these actually remind me a bit of Chicago.
Massachusetts every single one of these things is a new minority owned recreational ventureS in Boston that did not exist in 2010. And that ignoring expanded hip hop/soca/dancehall/Latino nights nightclubs of which there are at least twice as many. If they’re not minority owned they’re heavily targeted towards them.
That’s not the issue it’s that their are no designated zones where why’re concentrated.
Keep in mind I don’t even live in Boston anymore this is just what I’ve read and heard of from friends. Let alone people who actually live there. So to say no new developments are to people of color shows a good intention and inclusion on your part but also that you probably don’t socialize in those circles very much.
Last edited by BostonBornMassMade; 02-11-2020 at 07:44 PM..
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