Alleys, Chicago has a lot of them

[ChiNaan]

Originally Posted by jwuk45

I'd like to see more alleys that look like this one in Boston

If that's an "alley," where do they put their garbage, recycling, utilities, garages, etc.? That might be an alley in name, but it looks more like a pedestrian walkway in practical terms.

Alleys in Chicago serve their purpose, which is to keep stuff like that off of the streets (See: City, New York). That's all they're supposed to do.

The real problem is that we only have garbage pickup once a week, and many buildings do not have enough bins, which means they overflow and garbage gets blown all over the alleys AND streets. That's all that needs to be fixed.

[key4lp]

Originally Posted by jwuk45

I'd like to see more alleys that look like this one in Boston

Sure that alley in Boston is great but it's Boston which is an older city than Chicago. I've
never seen a small cobblestone alley like that here.

Originally Posted by OyCrumbler

Sure, and if they can do something even better, then great. You know, like discovering petroleum was for more useful things than taking tar baths in.

Well, most of the alleys you see in the link are in areas that are fairly urban and the ones highlighted are just the ones that have been converted--this doesn't mean all alleys are like that in those cities. One solution mentioned in the comments of the link was to have frequent trash pickup days such that a small dumpster or garbage can could be sufficient. I definitely don't think all alleyways, especially those in quieter residential districts, should be used this way.

So, where do you suggest to place these elite alleys in Chicago (which neighborhoods or locations)?
I would like to be informed when and where this happens because I certainly wouldn't want the
crowds, noise and everything else that would go with this behind me.

[jwuk45]

Originally Posted by key4lp

Sure that alley in Boston is great but it's Boston which is an older city than Chicago. I've
never seen a small cobblestone alley like that here.
.

I know, you'd think with all the technology we have these days they could manufacture quaint cobblestone alleys though!

[ChiNaan]

Originally Posted by key4lp

So, where do you suggest to place these elite alleys in Chicago (which neighborhoods or locations)?
I would like to be informed when and where this happens because I certainly wouldn't want the
crowds, noise and everything else that would go with this behind me.

Good point.

[OyCrumbler]

Originally Posted by key4lp

Sure that alley in Boston is great but it's Boston which is an older city than Chicago. I've
never seen a small cobblestone alley like that here.



So, where do you suggest to place these elite alleys in Chicago (which neighborhoods or locations)?
I would like to be informed when and where this happens because I certainly wouldn't want the
crowds, noise and everything else that would go with this behind me.

That's what I was asking. If we assume that alleys don't necessarily have to be vermin-filled and uninviting to pedestrians and that at least part of the purpose they serve can be served in other ways, then what good locations are there in the city for this? The ones mentioned in the link are generally in denser, more urban parts of their respective cities. Are there any specific alleys in the city that seem to have good potential as a pilot project?

Also, there's the less apparent ones that you find in places in Tokyo where they have semi-hidden in plain sight shops and venues in their alleyways. Those were neat.

[key4lp]

Originally Posted by OyCrumbler

That's what I was asking. If we assume that alleys don't necessarily have to be vermin-filled and uninviting to pedestrians and that at least part of the purpose they serve can be served in other ways, then what good locations are there in the city for this? The ones mentioned in the link are generally in denser, more urban parts of their respective cities. Are there any specific alleys in the city that seem to have good potential as a pilot project?

Also, there's the less apparent ones that you find in places in Tokyo where they have semi-hidden in plain sight shops and venues in their alleyways. Those were neat.

I personally can't think of an area in Chicago. But when you bring up Tokyo that is the most expensive
and densely populated city. Rent for a tiny 300 sq ft apartment is insane. A pineapple costs $46.00.
So any space, even a nook, in Tokyo would be used for housing or a very small business.

[OyCrumbler]

Originally Posted by key4lp

I personally can't think of an area in Chicago. But when you bring up Tokyo that is the most expensive
and densely populated city. Rent for a tiny 300 sq ft apartment is insane. A pineapple costs $46.00.
So any space, even a nook, in Tokyo would be used for housing or a very small business.

Yea, totally. Though even the comparatively cheaper parts of Tokyo with no tourists that I was in had these funny small side streets and then a random shop or something else appearing. That pineapple business is dependent on where you buy it from--the primo pineapple you're talking about is going to be amazing. They have the same for other fruits, too, where there is an extremely expensive and absolutely amazing apple or asian pear but you can also buy pretty good ones elsewhere for much, much cheaper.