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Why do you disagree with it? For the most part, Santa Monica appears to be a little more mixed-use and three dimensional than other areas of LA. When you turn a corner, the built environment stays rather consistent. It actually reminds me of Miami Beach.
IMO I'd just say it has a more consistent streetwall and doesn't have many strip malls, parking lots, big-box stores, industrial uses, etc. At least not in the tourist-y part that most people see when visiting Santa Monica . The only real difference in Santa Monica is the commercial arteries rarely have flaws, where in Central LA there are. Residential in Santa Monica is no different than other dense parts of the Westside, not nearly as urban looking as in Hollywood or Mid-Wilshire and certainly not even close to DTLA residential.
Santa Monica is probably the most urban part of the Westside, though I think Palms or Venice have a decent argument.
Agree on the Miami Beach comparator. Though for both even though they have a decent cohesion. They both lose it. It to me might seem that Santa Monica loses the dimensionalty somewhere like maybe 8th street
Yes, but it holds it a little longer than other places, imo, and it's also more mixed-use. I can see why Dweebo would say what he said.
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Originally Posted by kidphilly
That said I still find other parts of LA more urban. Maybe I am different than others but South Beach doesnt scream urban to me - maybe to me it feels too resorty. Santa Monica does feel a little resorty but less so when compared to South Beach.
"Urban fabric," imo, relates to the built environment more than anything else. When Donald Shoup talks about parking and how it causes "significant disruptions in the urban fabric," it's clear he's talking about the built environment, no?
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Originally Posted by kidphilly
LA though (like Miami to a lessor extent) is a place hard to really understand, especially how it all connects in the urban fabric.
Not really. The city was built by Americans from the East...not aliens.
The city's layout is partially due to its coming of age during the streetcar era. And partially due to its coming of age during the auto era. It just became denser than most cities of that era. Just like NYC became much denser than cities of its era (i.e., Philly, Boston, Baltimore).
I don't think he's off at all. I've been to Santa Monica and I get what he's saying. There are fewer parking lots, narrower streets and more three dimensional walkability. It's a bit more cohesive than other parts of the city.
And why is it that anytime someone has a different opinion of LA you have to claim that the poster's "not familiar with the city?" If I'm not mistaken, Dweebo's from LA and lives there now. And not in the Valley...he lives in Central LA.
So because you've been to Santa Monica for a visit that makes you an expert? You like many others judge the city of LA from the Westside, but any native angeleno will tell you that the area adjacent west of downtown is by far the most urban, this is followed closely by mid city, east Hollywood, and Hollywood, also city west has the best PT on top of that, this is not a matter of debate.
IMO I'd just say it has a more consistent streetwall and doesn't have many strip malls, parking lots, big-box stores, industrial uses, etc.
In other words, it has a better urban fabric.
Quote:
Originally Posted by munchitup
Residential in Santa Monica is no different than other dense parts of the Westside, not nearly as urban looking as in Hollywood or Mid-Wilshire
The urbanity in these places is more ephemeral, imo. Yes, you have some tall buildings and lots of storefronts on a few thoroughfares, but the development overall is choppy, inconsistent and more car-centric.
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Originally Posted by munchitup
and certainly not even close to DTLA residential.
The CBD will invariably be the most urban part of any city. That's kind of a given and therefore excluded from the analysis (in my mind anyway).
So because you've been to Santa Monica for a visit that makes you an expert? You like many others judge the city of LA from the Westside, but any native angeleno will tell you that the area adjacent west of downtown is by far the most urban, and has the best PT on top of that, this is not a matter of debate.
I said nothing about being an "expert." I said that I could see where Dweebo, who could be considered an "expert" of sorts pertaining to most things Los Angeles, was coming from.
I said nothing about being an "expert." I said that I could see where Dweebo, who could be considered an "expert" of sorts pertaining to most things Los Angeles, was coming from.
So you have 3 other angelenos telling you he's sorely mistaken, yet you take his word just to ruffle feathers right?
The urbanity in these places is more ephemeral, imo. Yes, you have some tall buildings and lots of storefronts on a few thoroughfares, but the development overall is choppy, inconsistent and more car-centric.
The CBD will invariably be the most urban part of any city. That's kind of a given and therefore excluded from the analysis (in my mind anyway).
Well considering the Hollywood you saw was the one in the Bing Maps aerial view, then I can see what you are talking about. These are just a few mega projects that have gone in since probably around 07 or so... Maybe they haven't changed much but they take up entire blocks by themselves and are right in the most tourist-y parts of Hollywood:
I saw about 10 other new developments that were not in the older Bing Maps from about 5 years ago vs the 2 or 3 year old Google Maps too, there has been a lot of change in the area.
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