Good examples of dense, vibrant cities without skyscrapers?

[john_starks]

wow, i didn't know Madison was that dense. looks like in mini DC

[UKUKUK]

Outside of the USA, Madrid doesn't have too many hi-rises, neither does Seville.

Inside the USA? Madison hands down. I think there's some kind of law or building code that says a building can't be taller than the Cap building... This, plus the two bodies of water surrounding the city lead to a very dense, evenly developed city.

[tmac9wr]

Originally Posted by EndersDrift

Hialeah, FL - The densest city in the country without a single skyscraper.
Density: 11,767.3/sq mi

No place else can compare to it.

Is it really that vibrant though? From the looks of the satellite/street views it's just a bunch of single-family homes and demographically it appears to be a slum.

[Overcooked_Oatmeal]

My current city of Washington, DC

[BKmachine]

D.C. all day

[boreatwork]

Originally Posted by -.-

D.C. all day

cuz stay reppin

[Boston14]

I would say San Diego, or Oakland?

[BPerone201]

Hoboken, Union City, Weehawken, West New York, Cliffside Park, Guttenburg, Edgewater (I'm naming the densest cities in the nation pretty much).. That whole area north of Jersey City is pretty dense and without a skyscraper.

Pictures:

Hoboken

By wallyg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/ - broken link) Wally Gobetz (http://www.flickr.com/people/wallyg/ - broken link)

By ke_lav (http://www.flickr.com/photos/73908072@N00/ - broken link)

By Dan Beards (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7355435@N04/ - broken link) Dan Beards (http://www.flickr.com/people/7355435@N04/ - broken link)

By Jim in Times Square (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jim-in-times-square/ - broken link)




Weehawken

By Andy961 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/8348059@N02/ - broken link)

By SirDuke2k (http://www.flickr.com/photos/11259658@N02/ - broken link)

By Dean Luis (http://www.flickr.com/photos/deanluis/ - broken link) Dean Luis (http://www.flickr.com/people/deanluis/ - broken link)

By Dean Luis (http://www.flickr.com/photos/deanluis/ - broken link) Dean Luis (http://www.flickr.com/people/deanluis/ - broken link)






Union City (densest city in the nation)

By jag9889 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jag9889/ - broken link)

By Dan Bea (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7355435@N04/ - broken link)

By judy marciano (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcianojudy/ - broken link) judy marciano (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcianojudy/ - broken link)

By NJ Photographer (http://www.flickr.com/photos/njphotographer/ - broken link)

[queensgrl]

San Jose

File:SanJose Infobox Pic Montage.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[lrfox]

Many of the countries best urban neighborhoods have no high-rises. I understand that much of Midtown Manhattan (and Lower Manhattan) are full of towers, but some of the best neighborhoods in NYC are decidedly low-rise. SoHo, Greenwich Village, Park Slope, etc, etc, etc. "Manhattanization" is one of my least favorite terms as it's a fear-mongering term in many cities (including my own).

Boston has high rises, but the best neighborhoods don't. The North End, Beacon Hill (except for a VERY small pocket, one building really), Back Bay (again, except for the Boylston Spine), South End, etc are all among the best neighborhoods in the city but they're not high-rise areas.

San Francisco has lots of highrises in the Financial District, but the Castro, much of Nob Hill, the Sunset, etc are all relatively low rise.

I think the only people who believe that high rises make urban neighborhoods great are suburban kids who mostly look at cities from afar and of course are drawn to the dramatic skylines. When it comes down to it, the best neighborhoods are mostly low-rise.