Baltimore's Demise: The Urban Legend of the Uninformed Masses (market, Pittsburgh, houses)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 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 spent plenty of time in Baltimore and I see some potential. The Harbor is beautiful at night, the downtown area has some nice art centers and the food is great. Especially that seafood fest they have yearly. I forget the name. I also love the areas with the cobble stone streets. I'm a sucker for streets like that. However, I can't help but feel depressed and miserable when in Baltimore. Like another poster mentioned, the BAD is bad. I don't like being in Baltimore for more than a few hours.
Unfortnately, the cons outweigh the pros in Baltimore. For me at least.
It’s a shame that Baltimore is nationally misunderstood as a dying city/region.
Most of that misunderstanding is based right there in your premise statement: city/region.
Aside from a very few cities in the country (or the world ftm) Baltimore is an independent political entity.
Quote:
The reality in Baltimore's case is that the metro area (as a whole including the City) remains
among one of the most vibrant in the country
Yet B'more doesn't get the benefit from that which other regions can enjoy.
All the other regions that it gets misunderstandedly compared with...
are able to draw from, rely on, and maximize efficiencies by being a legal, functional, operational
financial, and (most importantly) political whole with their outlying suburbs.
Instead B'more has to compete with the county it is surrounded by for everything.
It shows.
Last edited by MrRational; 12-10-2012 at 08:42 PM..
One has to be careful looking at statistics of population change/decline. Cities can decline in population because the number of households is declining. That's a real indicator of decline, especially if the numbers are significant. But they can also decline in population because the number of persons per household is falling. This can happen in cities where the population is aging, but also in cities where young, generally childless adults are moving in. Often persons per household will fall during gentrification, as more affluent households that can afford more space per person replace less affluent, more crowded ones. There needs to be a closer look, in Baltimore or anywhere else.
Most of that misunderstanding is based right there in your premise statement: city/region.
Aside from a very few cities in the country (or the world ftm) Baltimore is an independent political entity.
Actually, a fair number of cities in the country are independent. New York (has subsumed 5 counties), Philadelphia (unified city&county), Washington D.C., Jacksonville (unified), Richmond (independent city), Miami (unified), etc.
Actually, a fair number of cities in the country are independent. New York (has subsumed 5 counties), Philadelphia (unified city&county), Washington D.C., Jacksonville (unified), Richmond (independent city), Miami (unified), etc.
NY was able to expand at the turn of the 20th century because it was not an independent city. There are other slight differences in the unified city-counties and independent cities.
All cities in VA are independent. The only city of size that is also indepenent is St Louis, a place with problems similar to Baltimore's.
Unique for Baltimore is its being almost wholly surrounded by one county.
NY was able to expand at the turn of the 20th century because it was not an independent city. There are other slight differences in the unified city-counties and independent cities.
All cities in VA are independent. The only city of size that is also indepenent is St Louis, a place with problems similar to Baltimore's.
Unique for Baltimore is its being almost wholly surrounded by one county.
Not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing. Richmond is surrounded by three counties, and there are four layers of municipal government (including the city), and they all have their hopes and dreams for what the metro should be.
Not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing. Richmond is surrounded by three counties, and there are four layers of municipal government (including the city), and they all have their hopes and dreams for what the metro should be.
Interesting. Including or excluding the city? Most in Baltimore County (the one which surrounds us) seem to think an electrified fence should be built at the city line. Yet its lawmakers have a lot to say about us in the city: Delegate warns of 'black youth mobs' - Baltimore Sun
Interesting. Including or excluding the city? Most in Baltimore County (the one which surrounds us) seem to think an electrified fence should be built at the city line. Yet its lawmakers have a lot to say about us in the city: Delegate warns of 'black youth mobs' - Baltimore Sun
I'd say it's 30:70, inclusion:exclusion. Despite Richmond being small, it has a strong core and downtown that have a lot to offer. Because it draws some great amenities (e.g. 2015 Cycling Championships, Folk Festival, NCAA Basketball, Redskins Training Camp, etc.), there is some inclusion by the counties. However, they'd rather build the electrified fence along city lines if it weren't for that.
Henrico county is the strongest county, and they are full-steam ahead with suburban development. However, the city is growing and gaining more and more of an advantage. I've run into a lot of people in my neighborhood that lived in the Far West End (Short Pump) for years, and they said it's just unbearable (traffic, strip malls, etc.).
The other counties have some nice rural living and some nicer, less yuppified suburbs that have a lot to offer (if that's what you like). Unfortunately, there's always a divide when it comes to any regional strategy such as transportation or employment centers.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 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 2 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.
