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Canadian usually compare Toronto to Chicago - similar city population, geography, weather, but are they indeed close?
As a resident of Toronto and frequent visitor of Chicago, I don't think Toronto is already where Chicago is now, or even was 10 years ago. Chicago does have its own problems and is losing population, but it still is a much wealthier, more beautiful city with better infrastructure, especially transit and waterfront. I don't have exact numbers, but I would think Chicago has more financial jobs than Toronto as well. Chicago has a much larger downtown core as well. To me, Chicago just looks like a league ahead of us.
On the other hand, I tend to think Philadelphia is more of a closer peer to Toronto. Metro population is similar (5.6M), GDP is similar (3.8bn -Philly vs 3.2bn-Toronto). The "feel" of Toronto is probably closer to Philadelphia than to Chicago too. I know Philly has been decline (if I am not mistaken) and Toronto is kind of booming (construction everywhere), but Philly is a well established city for centuries and has been America's top 10 city since inception of the country. Plus, Toronto's largely gritty appearance in the core area does remind me more of Philadelphia than the much prettier and taller Chicago.
yes, although Toronto is quite safe, its inner neighborhoods look very gritty, just like Philly. More graffitti , narrower streets and more wear on the old Victorian buildings than you will find in Chicago. The housing stock in West Philly is almost identical to Toronto.
Downtown Chicago felt like an overly sanitized theme park version of a "downtown". Like something you'd find at a Disney park. Toronto and Philly are definitely more alike in this regard. Look at an area like Kensington Market, with it's wonderful grit and eclecticism. Nothing like that in downtown Chicago.
Downtown Chicago felt like an overly sanitized theme park version of a "downtown". Like something you'd find at a Disney park. Toronto and Philly are definitely more alike in this regard. Look at an area like Kensington Market, with it's wonderful grit and eclecticism. Nothing like that in downtown Chicago.
Nah, I'd say the Loop is cleaner than Disney. A lot more jobs, too. Some that you can even raise a family on.
Downtown Toronto has large number of two to three storey Victorian houses either converted into stores or still remain residential. They look strikingly similar to M street in Georgetown near DC. I don't remember any part of Chicago like that.
No, Toronto doesn't look like Chicago at all, no matter what many people think. The appearance is very very different.
I think Toronto and Chicago are compared the most because they look similar from a far (large shiny modern skylines along the lake shore) and they are both similar in size, are very diverse, and are often seen as mini-New Yorks. I always thought Toronto was most similar to Chicago, but I haven't spent that much time in Toronto so there are a lot of areas of the city that I haven't seen so it may in fact be more similar to Philadelphia. I honestly don't really know.
In regards to Philadelphia being in decline, it's actually quite the opposite as that city has been on a pretty solid upswing for a while now. Also, I think Chicago has been growing for the past couple of years.
Philadelphia was in decline... but it is growing again and the growth started probably in the mid 2000's. Since 2010 it has been growing much faster and Philly is actually entering a building boom again. A ton of housing is being built all over the city.
Well personally I think Philly is more comparaable to Montreal. Nightlife, streetscape, historical districts, ect. Toronto not so much. You cannot fond the diversity, food, vibrancy, or history that you will find in Philly. Chicago is another story.
I think Toronto and Chicago are compared the most because they look similar from a far (large shiny modern skylines along the lake shore) and they are both similar in size, are very diverse, and are often seen as mini-New Yorks. I always thought Toronto was most similar to Chicago, but I haven't spent that much time in Toronto so there are a lot of areas of the city that I haven't seen so it may in fact be more similar to Philadelphia. I honestly don't really know.
You probably haven't stayed Toronto for long or didn't have time to take a close look.
Toronto doesn't have large shining modern skylines along the lake shore. Most of our tall buildings are on a south-north corridor near Yonge st. not East-west along the lake. There are some highrises along the lake, mostly glass condos, like these
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