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Excluding the following cities (Chicago, Boston, NYC and San Francisco), what cities and towns have the best Downtowns in the U.S.? Tell us why you believe they are great. Also, if links of a city's or town's central area are available, please include them.
As a side note: I have purposely excluded the four cities above, because these are some of the top urban areas in the country for extreme vibrancy. Plus, it's always good to see what other cities and towns this nation has to offer. So, enjoy!
I think it's a more walkable, soulful, fun, and in many ways "urban feeling" downtown than higher rated cities like Seattle or Minneapolis
Yes I often find Portland underrated also. It is a larger city than many ( such as Minneapolis) but its metro area is much smaller. If I'm correct you may even notice that Portland also has a limit on a buildings height like DC and madison, many but few may overlook the city due to such reasons.
I'd throw DC and Philly in with those top four cities easily. At least with Boston and possibly SF.
I think the preception that keeps those two cities out of most people's top 4 lists is that:
Philly's downtown is still a little run down in comparison to the rest, it still has a lot of parking lots, underdeveloped lots, and not as many high end amenities as the rest. Obviously, that has changed a lot in the past 10 years or so. But, the city still has a ways to go to catch up for several years of little to no investment.
With DC, I think the problem is that downtown is precieved as being too much of an office district. It dosen't have a Union Sq, Michagan Ave type area. There isn't as much retail/residential as in the top 4. This is also changing little-by-little. But to some extent the city is limited by a height limit and a seemingly insatiable demand for DT office space.
In both cases, I think the cities are moving in the right direction. And realitically, the gap between Bos and these 2 is far smaller than the gap between Bos and NYC or even Chicago.
Yes I often find Portland underrated also. It is a larger city than many ( such as Minneapolis) but its metro area is much smaller. If I'm correct you may even notice that Portland also has a limit on a buildings height like DC and madison, many but few may overlook the city due to such reasons.
Downtown Minneapolis would be in a much better position if it didn't have to contend with another city's downtown (10 miles) and the largest mall in the country (10 miles).
1. Chicago (personal bias)
2. New York
3. D.C.
4. Philly (huge and reasonably priced )
5. San Francisco
6. Boston
7. Los Angeles
8. Pittsburgh
9. Minneapolis
10. Seattle
Downtown Minneapolis would be in a much better position if it didn't have to contend with another city's downtown (10 miles) and the largest mall in the country (10 miles).
I agree, I assumed thats why Minneapolis doesn't have a downtown like Portland, or more so another northern city it relates more to is Seattle due to skyscrappers etc...
Very Strong:
Philadelphia
Seattle
Portland
Washington DC (incl Georgetown w DT)
Don't really disagree with your list, but why are you including Georgetown in DC's downtown? They're far from each other. Shaw is closer to downtown than Georgetown is.
Don't really disagree with your list, but why are you including Georgetown in DC's downtown? They're far from each other. Shaw is closer to downtown than Georgetown is.
I don't think they're that far. Last time I was in DC, we stayed at M Street and 24th--a quick walk to Dupont Circle, K-Street or Georgetown. I included Georgetown because it's IMO an extension of the conventional downtown and provides the high quality retail district that a very strong downtown needs to have.
Georgetown is in no way shape or form part of dt D.C.
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