Does Chicago feel like the third largest city? (Lincoln, Washington: crime, houses)

[Drover]

Originally Posted by durf

Just I as was leaving the post, you guys brought me back in. Chicago doesn't feel like a true urban center since its downtown is a lackluster where people just go and work and then take off! Not happy with its mediocre downtown. Chicago feels smaller than LA and NY. It's not any better than San Jose since San Jose has a nice downtown and Santana Row(it acts like a European Michigan Ave shopping district). I even prefer Boston and LA over Chicago. It doesn't matter because it doesn't matter to Chicagoans. They just want a comfortable city with different neighborhoods with cool people. Most Chicagoans are happy with the way it is. I still like that Gino's pizza even though I make better deep dish myself with Pillsbury dough, lots of Paul Newman tomato/basil souce and slices of cheese on the bottom.

When you've made the same point 8,371 times and you haven't convinced anyone yet, it's time to a) consider that your opinion is an outlier, and b) GTFO.

[Alacran]

Originally Posted by tonythetuna

and San Jose.

I don't get it.

[sunnyandcloudydays]

Originally Posted by chet everett

I suppose much depends on what sort of "range" you have in Chicago and the other cities. I have spent some time in Philly and it is tiny -- literally by the time you get as far from downtown as maybe Linclon Park you are into the "mainline" suburbs, and by the time you drive as far as maybe Evanston you are in New Jersey....

With DC it is as bad -- outside of the core of the Federal Government there are very few "real" spots inside the District. The area around Georgetown U is very compact and rapidly falls off. The crossover to suburban Maryland or Virginia is pretty dramatic. Affleunt estate sized parcels dot the Potomic. The greater Metro area spreads out pretty quick, and the relationship between Dulles and Reagan National is not dissimilar between Midway and OHare, with many of the suburban office parks like those along 294 being similar to the Dulles area...

LA is kinda weird , as the real old core of the part of town where the "Dragnet" era police headquarters is located is more like a real small old midwestern town (think Clevland) than Chicago, but they have pockets of moderately recognizanle high rises spread out over an area that is more like the stretch of the burbs from like Schuamburg to Naperville or Oak Brook. Odd mix of overly wide surface streets and ridiculosly over built freeways connect in dozens of ways but still "inside" LA... There are pockets of horrendously neglected older homes and apartments too. Drive inland and you get to burbs (Valley girl) or drive to Pasadena for sections that have a feel maybe a bit like the desirable areas of the north Shore...

You described LA to a tee. well said -

[Jandur]

Originally Posted by durf

Just I as was leaving the post, you guys brought me back in. Chicago doesn't feel like a true urban center since its downtown is a lackluster where people just go and work and then take off! Not happy with its mediocre downtown. Chicago feels smaller than LA and NY. It's not any better than San Jose since San Jose has a nice downtown and Santana Row(it acts like a European Michigan Ave shopping district). I even prefer Boston and LA over Chicago. It doesn't matter because it doesn't matter to Chicagoans. They just want a comfortable city with different neighborhoods with cool people. Most Chicagoans are happy with the way it is. I still like that Gino's pizza even though I make better deep dish myself with Pillsbury dough, lots of Paul Newman tomato/basil souce and slices of cheese on the bottom.

First off you obviously have little to no knowledge of Chicago. Saying Chicago doesnt' feel like an urban center and that people just work and leave is a pretty far off.

Secondly, by Ginos, I'm assuming you mean East. It's not really that great of pizza by Chicago standards.

ps. Stop trolling.

[kidphilly]

Originally Posted by durf

Just I as was leaving the post, you guys brought me back in. Chicago doesn't feel like a true urban center since its downtown is a lackluster where people just go and work and then take off! Not happy with its mediocre downtown. Chicago feels smaller than LA and NY. It's not any better than San Jose since San Jose has a nice downtown and Santana Row(it acts like a European Michigan Ave shopping district). I even prefer Boston and LA over Chicago. It doesn't matter because it doesn't matter to Chicagoans. They just want a comfortable city with different neighborhoods with cool people. Most Chicagoans are happy with the way it is. I still like that Gino's pizza even though I make better deep dish myself with Pillsbury dough, lots of Paul Newman tomato/basil souce and slices of cheese on the bottom.

I see your point (where I am not sure but I see it)

Downtown San Jose | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/brisan/4361875880/ - broken link)

chicago_skyline | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/isaacsingleton/2634336315/ - broken link)

[Attrill]

Chicago feels like the second largest city - mostly because it has all of the traditional urban characteristics:

1 - Skyscrapers. Chicago is obviously second to NYC, but has twice as many highrises as the next closest city (LA).
2 - Public Transit. Chicago is one of the few cities to have an old school heavy rail system, and once again it is second only to NYC in just about every measurement (ridership, miles of track, etc.). You can easily live without a car in much of Chicago.
3 - Population density. This basically follows having a comprehensive transit system, and Chicago is in the same league as the other US cities with transit (San Fran, Boston, etc.).

Those are the main criteria that I see for a city "feeling" big, or even being considered an urban city really.

[Tex?Il?]

It depends on how one judges a "city."

If you judge or care mostly about a cities center of downtown, then yes Chicago might still feel like the second city.

However, if what you care about, or judge a city is, is all about the size of the metropolitan region, and the number of people and things to do or see, then Chicago might feel like a distant third, behing NY, LA, with number 4, 5, and 6th largest metro area, coming up right behind Chicago.

It all depends on your perception of urban space. Many people, especially many on this board feel like the downtown is more important than the region.

[prelude91]

Originally Posted by Tex?Il?

It depends on how one judges a "city."

If you judge or care mostly about a cities center of downtown, then yes Chicago might still feel like the second city.

However, if what you care about, or judge a city is, is all about the size of the metropolitan region, and the number of people and things to do or see, then Chicago might feel like a distant third, behing NY, LA, with number 4, 5, and 6th largest metro area, coming up right behind Chicago.

It all depends on your perception of urban space. Many people, especially many on this board feel like the downtown is more important than the region.

I agree with this.

[Bluefox]

Originally Posted by Tex?Il?

It depends on how one judges a "city."

If you judge or care mostly about a cities center of downtown, then yes Chicago might still feel like the second city.

However, if what you care about, or judge a city is, is all about the size of the metropolitan region, and the number of people and things to do or see, then Chicago might feel like a distant third, behing NY, LA, with number 4, 5, and 6th largest metro area, coming up right behind Chicago.

It all depends on your perception of urban space. Many people, especially many on this board feel like the downtown is more important than the region.

That's a very reasonable assessment. I am one of those posters who judges my "feel" for the city based on the urban core...because that is the most tangible and visible measure of size, if we're talking about the "feel" of the city. Chicago without a doubt "feels" like the second largest city based on that factor.

[Drover]

Ah yes, how we pine to be a "real" city. If only we had a few jugglers...

Seems to me like San Jose has at least one clown.