Built Environment and Townhouses Compared to Cinci.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by shinestx

I really like Cincinnati. Has a lot of character. Great German food and culture. Really making a big comeback. Those townhouses are the first thing a driver in from the South notices, as you come down that steep hill and see the city on the river bank. Glad Cinci is getting its act together. It has long been the hub for that tri-state region, but will now blow away all the wannabes along the Ohio.

It will also be even better once continued improvements in air quality occur as it was quite bad in the past.

[cubedeathk]

Originally Posted by Peter1948

You really need to go down to UofL library, and the Filson historical society, and browse old photos on microcache.
It is precisely that moment when I feel in love with a city I already liked, and felt I discovered a New Orleans type city that was a bit of an "atlantis."

I should. Is there much there that isn't available on the digitized UofL archives?

Originally Posted by shinestx

I really like Cincinnati. Has a lot of character. Great German food and culture. Really making a big comeback. Those townhouses are the first thing a driver in from the South notices, as you come down that steep hill and see the city on the river bank. Glad Cinci is getting its act together. It has long been the hub for that tri-state region, but will now blow away all the wannabes along the Ohio.

Yea, as a Louisvillian I don't like it but by some stroke of luck they managed to not tear down so much that I can't help but be fascinated. It's so unique and so urban compared to anything in this region or the south.

[Peter1948]

Originally Posted by shinestx

I really like Cincinnati. Has a lot of character. Great German food and culture. Really making a big comeback. Those townhouses are the first thing a driver in from the South notices, as you come down that steep hill and see the city on the river bank. Glad Cinci is getting its act together. It has long been the hub for that tri-state region, but will now blow away all the wannabes along the Ohio.

Another pot shot at Louisville. Wannabes? No one in Louisville thinks a thing about Cincinnati and if it were;t for job sin Cincinnati, many young people would (and do) move to Louisville as it is more of a hipster city.

[censusdata]

The point isn't that Louisville's urban isn't walkable, its' that it's less dense than Cincinnati's urban core. Anyone that's been around both cities understands that. Old Louisville is the densest neighborhood in Louisville by a lot, in Cincinnati many urban neighborhoods have a similar density to Old Louisville - Covington, Newport, Mt Adams, Over the Rhine, Northside etc certainly as dense. It's not a matter of good vs bad, just different. Personally I prefer a bit more breathing room that you find in Pre WW1 New Albany vs Covington or Over The Rhine.

[Peter1948]

Originally Posted by censusdata

The point isn't that Louisville's urban isn't walkable, its' that it's less dense than Cincinnati's urban core. Anyone that's been around both cities understands that. Old Louisville is the densest neighborhood in Louisville by a lot, in Cincinnati many urban neighborhoods have a similar density to Old Louisville - Covington, Newport, Mt Adams, Over the Rhine, Northside etc certainly as dense. It's not a matter of good vs bad, just different. Personally I prefer a bit more breathing room that you find in Pre WW1 New Albany vs Covington or Over The Rhine.

Moderator cut: see below There is nothing "wannabe" about Louisville or its urbanity. I'd put Louisville's urban nabes neck and neck w Cincy as far as well being, economy, walkability, and general urban feel. It's just one city has more east coast style architecture, and the other one more midwest and southern.

And as well as you know Louisville, Census, I think you leave out some integral areas. Just because Louisville does not have as much row housing intact does not mean it does not have density....Butchertown, Clifton, even parts of Russel, Limerick, Smoketown, Shelby Park, Original Highlands. They all have very high density areas...just different architecture.The rows of very dense shotguns in Louisville....those are Louisvilles answer to those neighborhoods in Cincy.

The only part of Cincinnati which I would say "blows" away anything in Louisville as far as density goes would be Over the Rhine. That is a special neighborhood in the Midwest, but also with lots of very special challenges and problems. There is still much work to do there. The difference between Cincy and Louisville? Cincy was able to preserve (and mainly I mean not give the wrecking ball to) many more of its urban vernacular structures than Louisville. As I noted, almost all of SoBro and even the east and west ends of downtown were very dense, multistory, mixed used retail, residential areas not unlike OTR. Sadly, those areas are parking lots or were replaced with some pretty uninspiring 1960s era midrises.

[veggienut]

I think Louisville is behind in many ways of how bigger cities are~!

[Peter1948]

Originally Posted by veggienut

I think Louisville is behind in many ways of how bigger cities are~!

Chicago? Sure. Which cities do you speak of? I think the biggest issue with native Louisvillians is they have very low expectations and esteem for their city. My thought is this was from years of decline in the 70's and 80s. The biggest proponents of the city are those of us which are transplants here.

Louisville could work on alot, the biggest of which is higher education, particulary for minorities, racial integratoion, and ESPECIALLY, mass transit. But guess what? Every city struggles with these issues, particularly those in the top 20-50 in MSA

[cubedeathk]

Originally Posted by Peter1948

Moderator cut: see below

The only part of Cincinnati which I would say "blows" away anything in Louisville as far as density goes would be Over the Rhine. That is a special neighborhood in the Midwest, but also with lots of very special challenges and problems. There is still much work to do there. The difference between Cincy and Louisville? Cincy was able to preserve (and mainly I mean not give the wrecking ball to) many more of its urban vernacular structures than Louisville. As I noted, almost all of SoBro and even the east and west ends of downtown were very dense, multistory, mixed used retail, residential areas not unlike OTR. Sadly, those areas are parking lots or were replaced with some pretty uninspiring 1960s era midrises.

But I think a lot of Cincinatti is much more dense than anything in Louisville. Pretty much all of the neighborhoods around downtown are built in that very urban style and so much survived compared to almost nothing surviving in Louisville. I was on Eight just north of Broadway and there are two buildings both built right up to the street and it really gives you a hint of what the city was like when pretty much the entire downtown area was built up block after block. Whenever I bring people downtown I try to stick to the 4th st. Main st. T shaped area and it makes people think the city is much cooler than it actually is, not seeing the giant crater of parking lot that surrounds that.

[veggienut]

Originally Posted by Peter1948

Chicago? Sure. Which cities do you speak of? I think the biggest issue with native Louisvillians is they have very low expectations and esteem for their city. My thought is this was from years of decline in the 70's and 80s. The biggest proponents of the city are those of us which are transplants here.

Louisville could work on alot, the biggest of which is higher education, particulary for minorities, racial integratoion, and ESPECIALLY, mass transit. But guess what? Every city struggles with these issues, particularly those in the top 20-50 in MSA

I've been to many cities much, much larger and they offer more than what Louisville has. But like you mentioned: transportation & education. For one our bus service stinks and always have~! And secondly our education here is awful as far as the public schools goes.