Columbia or Greenville? (2013, living, to move)

[redcliffe]

Originally Posted by sandlapper

My friend, those are my setiments exactly. But your previous statements are exactly what I'm talking about. You are trying to pass off how you feel, and what your opinions are, rather than debate with evidence. If you don't like Columbia simply say so that's fine nobody is trying to convince you otherwise. But don't make an outrageous claim and try to pass it off as fact. Why should anyone believe you if you can't back up your claim. It would be like me saying "I invented the question mark."

No facts are needed. I prefer places that have less urban blight. What is there to prove? It doesn't matter does it? Its just what I feel.

[Columbiadata]

gvillesc, as I said Columbia's downtown attractions are all connected by sidewalks. While the walk from one to another might sometimes not be practical, when all the infill is done that is called for by the city's master plan, it will be no different from other big cities that just happen not to have all their downtown attractions sitting basically along one corridor. It's not too hard to connect attractions to each other and say the pedestrian is the center of attention when everything a pedestrian wants to get to is basically along the same spine. (Okay, maybe a block or two removed from the spine in some cases) Downtown Greenville's layout isn't something the sitting city council or mayor cooked up. The small footprint is only something they take advantage of, whereas Columbia's challenge is to take away the psychological barriers (the Assembly Streets) to the entire downtown area's becoming one in people's minds.

[Akhenaton06]

Originally Posted by motonenterprises

No facts are needed. I prefer places that have less urban blight. What is there to prove? It doesn't matter does it? Its just what I feel.

If you think Columbia has "urban blight," then you need to get out more, LOL. There's a difference between some undeveloped areas and true urban blight.

[gvillesc]

Originally Posted by Columbiadata

gvillesc, as I said Columbia's downtown attractions are all connected by sidewalks. While the walk from one to another might sometimes not be practical, when all the infill is done that is called for by the city's master plan, it will be no different from other big cities that just happen not to have all their downtown attractions sitting basically along one corridor. It's not too hard to connect attractions to each other and say the pedestrian is the center of attention when everything a pedestrian wants to get to is basically along the same spine. (Okay, maybe a block or two removed from the spine in some cases) Downtown Greenville's layout isn't something the sitting city council or mayor cooked up. The small footprint is only something they take advantage of, whereas Columbia's challenge is to take away the psychological barriers (the Assembly Streets) to the entire downtown area's becoming one in people's minds.

Maybe I'm just used to the City of Greenville's way of approaching things pro-actively and getting things accomplished. Asserting that sidewalks exist and it's just being a matter of time (decades worth of infill), empowers a sit back and watch mode. I'm not used to my City doing that. Things don't always just happen by themselves. Sometimes a catalyst is needed, and many times that comes in the form of local government.

[Akhenaton06]

Originally Posted by gvillesc

Maybe I'm just used to the City of Greenville's way of approaching things pro-actively and getting things accomplished. Asserting that sidewalks exist and it's just being a matter of time (decades worth of infill), empowers a sit back and watch mode. I'm not used to my City doing that. Things don't always just happen by themselves. Sometimes a catalyst is needed, and many times that comes in the form of local government.

Read my earlier response (long, but worth it) for a detailed assessment of the state of things in DT Columbia in terms of connectivity. The city certainly isn't taking a "sit back, watch, and see" position.

[redcliffe]

Originally Posted by Akhenaton06

If you think Columbia has "urban blight," then you need to get out more, LOL. There's a difference between some undeveloped areas and true urban blight.

You missed my point. That being Greenville seems to have less of this in comparison to Cola. That's one reason I prefer this area.

[Akhenaton06]

Originally Posted by motonenterprises

You missed my point. That being Greenville seems to have less of this in comparison to Cola. That's one reason I prefer this area.

There is no true "urban blight" in Columbia, unless you're referring to a few less than desirable neighborhoods outside of downtown. Even then, that's not true urban blight. Go to Detroit or even certain parts of Atlanta to see real urban blight.

[redcliffe]

Originally Posted by Akhenaton06

There is no true "urban blight" in Columbia, unless you're referring to a few less than desirable neighborhoods outside of downtown. Even then, that's not true urban blight. Go to Detroit or even certain parts of Atlanta to see real urban blight.

Been there and have family that live there. Also have family in DC. Columbia still feels more gritty than Greenville to me. While these other much bigger cities have more urban blight, they are irrelevant to my comparison of Greenville and Cola. No offense. I do think Cola has a much better skyline than Greenville, but that's not enough to make me choose otherwise.

[Akhenaton06]

Originally Posted by motonenterprises

Been there and have family that live there. Also have family in DC. Columbia still feels more gritty than Greenville to me. While these other much bigger cities have more urban blight, they are irrelevant to my comparison of Greenville and Cola. No offense. I do think Cola has a much better skyline than Greenville, but that's not enough to make me choose otherwise.

"Grit" and "urban blight" are not synonymous. Some of the most vibrant urban areas in America are gritty, but not blighted.

This is gritty: the French Quarter in NOLA


http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a50...leans20243.jpg


http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a50...leans20213.jpg


This is blighted: Highland Park, Detroit


http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1029/...f8eed92d0c.jpg


http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1156/...420f6890f7.jpg

I'll agree that DT Columbia feels more gritty than DT Greenville, but blighted? There's no blight in DT Columbia to speak of.

[waccamatt]

Honestly, I find Greenville to be too sterile, kind of like DT Charlotte. I'd rather a city have a little grease under its fingernails.