Philadelphia -vs- Miami (York, Washington, Franklin: city hall, condos, crime)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I've been to all downtowns across the nation. Philly's Center City does have 91,000 residents in a 1 1/2 square mile area and about 40 million sq. of office space, but it feels incomplete and work in progress. There are some vitality, particularly on Walnut st and the area around Rittenhouse sq. and also on its "Art Ave" district when there's an event. However, there are alot of dead spots and less than desirable sections of Center City, namely on E. Market and far West Market. There's no more Borders and no first run movie theater downtown. Its shopping mall is mostly empty, and Philly can no way exxagerates that it has the 5th best downtown in the country. However, it has one of the most residences in its downtown in the country only because it includes a broad area, and that could be debatable. It's a fair downtown, not a great one.
Gnutella, nothing. It's just about the truth and honesty. I'm just explaining it is what it is. Nothing against Philadelphia. If you look at my other post, I said Philly is one of the friendliest in the country. Look at the cities with the friendliest people thread.
Phillies2011, are you Phillies for real? Are you kidding?
Downtowns better than Philadelphia Center City:
San Diego - no
Seattle - i disagree but i could see it
San Francisco - never been but yes it's a definite candidate
Denver - no
Portland - very cool an eclectic city but philly offers what portland does and then some
San Jose - NOO
Boston - yes
Chicago - yes
Boise, Id - never been but please
Boulder, Co - never been but please
Ann Arbor, Mi - never been but can confidently say no
Indianapolis - very underrated, beautiful downtown... but are you kidding?
Santa Cruz, Ca - never been... but come on give me a break.
what axe are you grinding? you kidding me man?
some of these cities you've listed have fewer people in the entire city than philly has in it's downtown! they're simply not on the same level.
i could list about 20 more negatives about cc than the ones you've listed but that still wouldn't push philly out of the top ten. and frankly some the negatives you've listed are baffling. who cares about borders? it would be nice if philly had a downtown movie theater... but really? it doesn't have one so now it's a joke of a downtown? get real my man.
the only legitimate negative you've listed is the obvious mess that is market east. but please, 5 blocks of poor urban planning does not discredit one of the biggest downtowns in this country.
my point was this. some people like cc, i for one am one of them and believe it is a top five city center in this country. some people don't like cc philly and for them philly is out of the top 5 and maybe somewhere about the top 10.
you seem to have it out of your top 20. which is just absurd. mind boggling really.
in what possible way does downtown santa cruz compare with downtown philly? the entire city has half the population of cc philly. the sheer amount and quality of restaurants, bars, nightlife, shopping, architecture, history, public transpiration, walk ability, culture, i mean in what possible way is santa cruz comparing?
and i've singled out santa cruz but get real to say that half of these cities have a better downtown than philly is a joke.
listen man you can have that opinion if you want. but the fact that you're incredulous that i believe philly has a top 5 downtown leads me to believe you're just screwing around or have no idea what you're talking about. you must understand that most of america disagrees with you right?
i mean say what you will about the validity of polls and lists. they are of course totally unscientific. but they do have SOME value. there is a reason why philly is regularly listed among the top downtowns and places like santa cruz and ann arbor are not. they may have great downtowns for a city of their size. but to compare them with a behometh like philly, they will always come up wanting.
I've been to all downtowns across the nation. Philly's Center City does have 91,000 residents in a 1 1/2 square mile area and about 40 million sq. of office space, but it feels incomplete and work in progress. There are some vitality, particularly on Walnut st and the area around Rittenhouse sq. and also on its "Art Ave" district when there's an event. However, there are alot of dead spots and less than desirable sections of Center City, namely on E. Market and far West Market. There's no more Borders and no first run movie theater downtown. Its shopping mall is mostly empty, and Philly can no way exxagerates that it has the 5th best downtown in the country. However, it has one of the most residences in its downtown in the country only because it includes a broad area, and that could be debatable. It's a fair downtown, not a great one.
Heh. Sorry, but every downtown in the United States outside of Manhattan is a "work in progress." Center City is, without a doubt, one of our nation's premiere downtown areas.
I cannot think of anything more off-base than to compare Center City to places like Ann Arbor, San Jose, Indianapolis or Boise. Along with Boston and New York, Philadelphia created the very definition of urban America. Moreover, Center City is considered a gold standard for downtown revitalization:
"Now, in 2011, Center City Philadelphia is an international model for animating and enhancing a downtown, with probably the largest budget, at $18.7 million, of all global BIDs. In addition, the CCD has completed $56 million in capital and streetscape improvements and is about to start construction on another $54 million in public space and park improvements. The 1,000 business improvement districts in the United States and another 400 in Canada, with BIDs now formed or forming in Brazil, Germany, Ireland, Scotland, United Kingdom and South Africa, often look to Philadelphia for guidance in accomplishing a coveted turn-around toward a more positive image and growth. In the last 20 years, the CCD has hosted visitors or presented to business groups in 32 North American cities and two dozen European, Asian and South American cities."
No, Center City is not absolutely perfect and there are spots of incompleteness that will undoubtedly get better with more investment, but to claim that cities that are about 10% of the size of Philadelphia have "better" downtowns is absolutely preposterous.
Status:
"Greetings from The City Of Brotherly Love!"
(set 19 days ago)
Location: University City, Philadelphia
9,331 posts, read 1,945,591 times
Reputation: 5074
Quote:
Originally Posted by durf
Phillies2011, are you Phillies for real? Are you kidding?
Downtowns better than Philadelphia Center City:
San Diego
Seattle
San Francisco
Denver
Portland
San Jose
Boston
Chicago
Boise, Id
Boulder, Co
Ann Arbor, Mi
Indianapolis
Santa Cruz, Ca
What a bunch of BS.
You haven't the slightest idea of what you are talking about. Chicago has a better downtown ... because it is a much bigger city.
Which of these other cities have a square as elegant or opulent as Rittenhouse Square? There was even a movie made about Rittenhouse Square. Which of these cities have registered historic districts with colonial landmarks and iconic structures relating to the birth of the US?
Guys, I'm not disputing the decent residential base in Philly's downtown. Remember, it's not only about size. Look at LA's downtown, which has more highrises than Philly's Center City, it has a depressing downtown with lots of abandoned buildings and parking lots waiting for development. I'm including the ambience and how well downtown is served by people, including abandoned buildings, scetchy areas, intertainment, compactness, cohesiveness and etc.
Phillies2011, have you been to San Jose recently. Every Philadelphian conceded that Downtown SJ is way, way better than Philly's Center City. Remember, it has Groundwerks crew that cleans up the city day and every moment. The ceo of BID even said San Jose's downtown is the cleanest he's ever seen, and the BID there done a better job than any other downtowns in the country. He was shocked and impressed. Downtown SJ is better also because it has HP Pavilion arena downtown. It has everything you can possibly want in a downtown. The residential pop in Dt. SJ is 93,000 according to US Census for downtown district #3.
Downtown San Diego and Denver are way more fun and livier than Philly's Center City. Are you guys for real? Haven't you been there? It's also impressive and has more buzz than Philly's Center City. Dt. San Diego has the Gaslamp district and Horton Plaza, which has far more shopping than Center City, and it's fully occupied! Go Padres at Petco Park!
Downtown Denver has 16th St. Mall with successful Denver Pavilion and Larimer Sq. with high end shopping and lots of restaurants. It also has the big four league teams downtown in 3 arenas and stadiums. P
Philly Center City is lacking alot of things that alot of smaller downtowns take for granted like more stores and continuel flow of retail/restaurants space and uninterrupted for more than 10 blcks. Yes, even a movie theater and several bookstores still serve those downtowns. It's active day and night everyday of the week. Look at Santa Cruz, it has tons of shopping and restaurants, border, Co-up grocery stores, historical theater, great plazas, wall to wall people walking and very, very lively all the time. Please check out Dt. Santa Cruz, which is not far from the Boardwalk. Great job by Santa Cruz!
Clark Park, many cities have their own Rittenhouse Sq.. Believe, you, me, San Francisco has the Nob Hill, Boston has The commons, Minneapolis has Loring Park, Boise has the North End, Portland has the Brewer Park district, and I can go on and on.
Hey, I've been to just about all the downtowns, and I've talked to people many times about this. This one thing I know, and I'm certain. Philadelphia does not have the best downtowns, but an ok one. Like all of you agree, it needs more to work to be done. It's still alot better than in 1992. I think I went over all the progress they made since then. Remember, I have nothing against Philadelphia, and I like the people and the city. Please, don't shoot the messager, and I'm only telling the truth from my experience and what other Philadelphians told me when comparing or just expressing opinion of their city and its downtown. No Trolling here on my part or any incitement of loud response here. You can take this and believe me or believe what you want to believe.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $53,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
