What makes Seattle a "European" city? (Starbuck: neighborhood, school)

[Botev1912]

It says Seattle Center or downtown, not the same. Philadelphia has Center City. Also, many small towns in Washington have signs city center. Does that make them European?

[neguy99]

Those musicians aren't the first to say it; I've seen European journalists write the same thing -- both about Portland and Seattle.

I think they all are focussing very much on downtown SEA or PDX, and not their suburbs, which are a lot like suburbs anywhere in the US. The one sort of exception is that Portland especially, but Seattle too, tend to draw sharper lines around where subdivisions stop and where undeveloped land starts than most US cities, but more like EUropean cities. Flying over Germany you see very dense, compact suburban clusters with sharp lines past which farm or forest land begins. But that's a subtle thing you only really notice from flying in or out of town, if you're paying attention.

Downtown, I think they mean that SEA (and PDX, and SFO) have central city areas that are walkable, mixed use, that are neither derelict nor that become totally empty of people at night or weekends -- i.e., popular for shopping and entertainment, not just 9-5 businesses. And streetcars, which are common in Europe but rare in the US (even the Eastern cities with subways like NYC, Chicago, Boston have few or no street-level trams). And areas of low multi-story buildings, like five stories, which is how most European central cities look. In some newer US cities it seems like you go straight from a few downtown skyscrapers to one-story sprawl -- and Manhattan feels like nothing but hi-rise.

Why SEA more Euro than Boston or Philly (NYC is kinda unique)? Don't know, I'd generally say Boston is way more European. In addition to the streetcars I think SEA (and SFO and PDX) do better at mixing plazas and pedestrian shopping streets and urban greenspace in the central cities as in Europe. Boston has the dense old downtown streets but isn't so good at the cute plazas and fountains and stuff. That said, Boston still seems at lot more European-like than Seattle.

[kaday]

Originally Posted by Botev1912

It says Seattle Center or downtown, not the same. Philadelphia has Center City. Also, many small towns in Washington have signs city center. Does that make them European?

I swear I have seen city center around. I will post location next time I see. It doesn't make it European but it reminds of Europe. Also the way homes are built up into the hills...reminds me of places in Italy and Austria....not exactly the same but brings back memories. Pike Place Market is special here...in Europe there are markets like that everywhere. The urban villages here seem similar also. I have lived in many US cities and spent a lot of time in Europe over the years so in my opinion Seattle has a more European feel. Of course everyone has a different opinion and everyone has had different experiences.

[thatguy950]

Maybe they were just confusing Leavenworth for Seattle.

[kaday]

Originally Posted by thatguy950

Maybe they were just confusing Leavenworth for Seattle.

They weren't but I should have taken them!

[thatguy950]

Originally Posted by kaday

They weren't but I should have taken them!

When I come up for Christmas I always make it a point to take my GF over there since she loves the "festiveness" of the little town, plus we have never had a "white Christmas" where we are so Leavenworth ticks all the boxes. It can be down near single digits during the day and close to zero at night (not too common, but it happens) around that time, with snow, but I think that just adds to the effect, plus they have a good brewery.

[Tall Traveler]

I don't think Seattle is like Europe except that the climate has some similarities. Europeans are arrogant and express their arrogantness and rudeness while Seattlites may be arrogant but they keep it to themselves pretty much and they aren't rude.

[BATCAT]

Originally Posted by Tall Traveler

Europeans are arrogant...

I see. Tell me more of these continent-based personality traits, please. What are Africans like? How about South Americans? Australians? I'm positively dying for you to grace this board with more of this interesting information.

[Transmition]

Seattle is more European than most US cities, but nowhere near as much as San Fransisco. The streets are too straight and predictable, the buildings aren't interesting enough, the public transport is awful.

Yes, EMP is an ugly building.

[neguy99]

Originally Posted by Transmition

Yes, EMP is an ugly building.

Europe has had plenty of horrible Gehry buildings inflicted on it too, so there's a commonality