Columbus vs Louisville (live, best, state, better)

[Peter1948]

These are 2 cities you often do not see compared. They are (technically), the largest cities in their respective states and the center of the states' culture as University centers.

Both cities are growing and have strong, urban cores and rejuvenating downtowns. The action in both cities is in the neighborhoods, and this is where this battle begins.

So, if you have not been to Short North or German Village, to the Highlands or Crescent Hill, don't vote here.

Columbus is a bit bigger in MSA, but my vote goes to Louisville as an all around city, and having a bit more potential.

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by Peter1948

These are 2 cities you often do not see compared. They are (technically), the largest cities in their respective states and the center of the states' culture as University centers.

Both cities are growing and have strong, urban cores and rejuvenating downtowns. The action in both cities is in the neighborhoods, and this is where this battle begins.

So, if you have not been to Short North or German Village, to the Highlands or Crescent Hill, don't vote here.

Columbus is a bit bigger in MSA, but my vote goes to Louisville as an all around city, and having a bit more potential.

I'm sure a pretty strong and convincing argument could be made that that would actually be Lexington for Kentucky.

[Mplsite]

I've been to both and they seem rather comparable, although Louisville hands down has a better "main street" in its downtown. It's more intact, the architecture is way superior, but outside of Main St and the adjoining touristy/chain-filled 4th St Live it's rather comparable to Columbus', except Columbus unfortunately has little islands of intact buildings with interesting destinations all spread out. That wouldn't be so bad if it was pleasant to walk or bike, but too many parking lots and dull office buildings break up interesting areas. Biking between them would be ideal, but you'll have to wait til Spring for the new bike-share and even then: not a single bike lane Downtown: have fun riding and changing lanes in three lane one-ways of 40+ MPH commuter traffic.

Neighborhood-wise it seems Columbus has more based on how long High St goes on and its variety. Bardstown Rd is a cool strip, but I think it's shorter and not as diverse. In either case, it looks like both cities are lagging in moving beyond having one major street as both are almost totally defined by them.

[Toxic Toast]

Originally Posted by Peter1948

These are 2 cities you often do not see compared. They are (technically), the largest cities in their respective states and the center of the states' culture as University centers.

Lexington is the center of Kentucky as a University center, not Louisville.

[abr7rmj]

Columbus: it's bigger with more amenities and more things to do.

[motorman]

Louisville has a mile-wide Ohio River running past it, but Columbus has a 50,000+ OSU running through it--so where would you go to have some fun?

[cali3448893]

Columbus wins...

[Peter1948]

Originally Posted by Mplsite

I've been to both and they seem rather comparable, although Louisville hands down has a better "main street" in its downtown. It's more intact, the architecture is way superior, but outside of Main St and the adjoining touristy/chain-filled 4th St Live it's rather comparable to Columbus', except Columbus unfortunately has little islands of intact buildings with interesting destinations all spread out. That wouldn't be so bad if it was pleasant to walk or bike, but too many parking lots and dull office buildings break up interesting areas. Biking between them would be ideal, but you'll have to wait til Spring for the new bike-share and even then: not a single bike lane Downtown: have fun riding and changing lanes in three lane one-ways of 40+ MPH commuter traffic.

Neighborhood-wise it seems Columbus has more based on how long High St goes on and its variety. Bardstown Rd is a cool strip, but I think it's shorter and not as diverse. In either case, it looks like both cities are lagging in moving beyond having one major street as both are almost totally defined by them.

Your assessment is a bit off. Columbus I do agree is defined by high street. Louisville is not solely defined by Bardstown. There are so so so many more strips of urban areas, and perhaps more important, "nooks and cranny" types of neighborhoods. But off hand, two major big time urban strips you left off were Frankfort Ave and E Market St. Even New Albany, IN is in on the urban action!

It is hard to summarize in one post, but if you check out the heat map on Louisville's eater site, it would give you a much better idea of how Louisville's true urban hoods are:

The Eater Louisville Heatmap: Where to Eat Right Now - Hot Hot Heat! - Eater Louisville

You will not found any Ohio cities on eater.com, incidentally, a NY based foodie site.

[Dayton Sux]

Louisville has a lot more character than Columbus does, when it comes to the older neighborhoods and architecture.

Foodie scene is much better in Louisville.

Oddly enough both places have a sort of quirky/eccentric side to them....Columbus is the probably the best city in Ohio for outside-the-box thinking.

OSU is in Columbus, so you do have that contributing to the city...which makes Louisville a better contender since it has developed a hip happening urban qausi-bohemian lifestyle without a big state university in town.

[Dayton Sux]

Your assessment is a bit off. Columbus I do agree is defined by high street. Louisville is not solely defined by Bardstown. There are so so so many more strips of urban areas, and perhaps more important, "nooks and cranny" types of neighborhoods. But off hand, two major big time urban strips you left off were Frankfort Ave and E Market St. Even New Albany, IN is in on the urban action!

Correct. Maybe 20 years ago Bardstown Road would have been all there was...like High Street is pretty much all there is in Columbus.

Now there is the Frankfort Avenue corridor, aka Clifton and Crescent Hill. And also NuLu, and the development of those nooks and crannies in other neighborhoods (Preston Street in the St Joe part of Germantown, and Germantown in general is the best example).

So things have went well beyond Bardstown Road.