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Knoxville TN. Been down so long it looks like up to me.
Previous boom was around the turn of the 20th century, then renewal started around the turn of the 21st. I'm talking about Downtown going from a ghost town to someplace quite lively.
The suburbs have continued on a steady state - some growth but not like the sunbelt boomtowns. So Renaissance??? Depends on what part of town you are looking at.
But L.A. seems to be becoming wildly too large and expensive.
I don't know what you mean by 'too large' as L.A. has essentially stop sprawling, and all its current growth is happening both with infill and vertical development.
I could understand Pittsburgh and Oakland to some extent.
But wait a minute. Did Seattle boom in the past, and then go downhill, and now it's going uphill? I was under the impression that Seattle was on an uphill incline for over a century.
Seattle became a boomtown around 1900, rapidly grew from that point on to about the 1960s, slowed down from that point through the 70s and 80s, and then started growing quickly again during the 90s due to the emergence of the tech industry. Today, it is experiencing super rapid growth again.
Yeah, in the 80's Seattle was pretty economically depressed as I recall. The first time I ever went there was in '82, and it was a VERY different kind of city back then than it is today. High unemployment, urban decay, dead downtown, suicide capitol, etc. It really wasn't until the tech boom that began in the early 90's that Seattle started to bounce back. That has only increased exponentially since then.
As far as more recent "Renaissance cities" go, my vote goes to Pittsburgh as the comeback kid. That town has really bounced back. I guess Cleveland is doing better than it was in the 70's and 80's, but nothing on Pittsburgh's level.
Yeah, in the 80's Seattle was pretty economically depressed as I recall. The first time I ever went there was in '82, and it was a VERY different kind of city back then than it is today. High unemployment, urban decay, dead downtown, suicide capitol, etc. It really wasn't until the tech boom that began in the early 90's that Seattle started to bounce back. That has only increased exponentially since then.
As far as more recent "Renaissance cities" go, my vote goes to Pittsburgh as the comeback kid. That town has really bounced back. I guess Cleveland is doing better than it was in the 70's and 80's, but nothing on Pittsburgh's level.
The lack of major employers and the drug wave that hit the entire country really hurt Seattle in the 80s. It must have been a very depressing, grimy, ugly place back then. Glad the city really bounced back from that version of the city!
Pittsburgh, perhaps Oakland, Philly. Any news with Cincinnati?
The lack of major employers and the drug wave that hit the entire country really hurt Seattle in the 80s. It must have been a very depressing, grimy, ugly place back then. Glad the city really bounced back from that version of the city!
It was still pretty back then, if just for the mountain backdrop, the waterfront, and the Space Needle... but yes. Nowhere I would have wanted to move to at that time. There was a general atmosphere of depression and boredom that permeated the whole city. Everything looked old and neglected. Hardly any new construction. People were losing their jobs and moving away. I was a teenager at the time, and I was amazed at just how little there was to do for young people. Lots of bored, frustrated kids who's only outlet was getting high or drunk. Not much of a music scene. Pretty much the opposite of what it's like today.
But L.A. seems to be becoming wildly too large and expensive.
LA/OC is not as expensive as everyone seems. Sure it cost more. If you don't get caught up in the "Keeping up with the Jones" trap, and downsize your expectations, you can have a very enjoyable lifestyle.
Bottom line, Los Angeles is definitely experiencing a renaissance and transforming itself in a way few cities are.
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