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Most downtowns around America were mixed-use vibrant bustling neighborhoods in the 1920s. Photos of their streets showed bustling street scenes with a mixture of office, retail, and housing. Many people have predicted the downfall of downtown's because of WFH, but I think that prediction lacks vision. If office buildings in downtowns around America convert to residential space, downtowns will become neighborhoods again and come alive especially at night and weekends when most people experience them anyway. The highest density mixed-use neighborhoods in America are the most vibrant so adding tens of thousands of new residents to downtowns will create a great mix of office workers, residents, and tourists' day and night.
Which downtowns are already similar to their 1910-1930 version of themselves, and which downtowns could turn back into that version of themselves in the future?
I have added street scenes from cities all over America below:
Most downtowns around America were mixed-use vibrant bustling neighborhoods in the 1920s. Photos of their streets showed bustling street scenes with a mixture of office, retail, and housing. Many people have predicted the downfall of downtown's because of WFH, but I think that prediction lacks vision. If office buildings in downtowns around America convert to residential space, downtowns will become neighborhoods again and come alive especially at night and weekends when most people experience them anyway. The highest density mixed-use neighborhoods in America are the most vibrant so adding tens of thousands of new residents to downtowns will create a great mix of office workers, residents, and tourists' day and night.
Which downtowns are already similar to their 1910-1930 version of themselves, and which downtowns could turn back into that version of themselves in the future?
I have added street scenes from cities all over America below:
I hate to break it to you, but none of those cities will ever have a downtown as active as they did in 1920. Americans back then lived in much tighter spaces than we do today, and owning a personal automobile was still uncommon. We won't return to that unless there is some kind of economic collapse. If you want to see this level of population density travel to a less-developed country.
I hate to break it to you, but none of those cities will ever have a downtown as active as they did in 1920. Americans back then lived in much tighter spaces than we do today, and owning a personal automobile was still uncommon. We won't return to that unless there is some kind of economic collapse. If you want to see this level of population density travel to a less-developed country.
Was the "adult" population density really that much higher than what we can achieve today? Children don't create downtown vibrancy, so they are irrelevant to this discussion. I don't know if there were really more adults living in cities in the 1910-1930s than we can achieve today. What makes you say that?
You can make an argument that we won't return to that level of vibrancy because shopping isn't done downtown, but the vibrancy isn't really what I am focused on with this thread. I am talking about downtown's becoming neighborhoods where tons of people live and play. That shift could be coming I think with a much higher density than anywhere else in cities which hasn't been the case for most cities because of the prevalence of office space.
Was the "adult" population density really that much higher than what we can achieve today? Children don't create downtown vibrancy, so they are irrelevant to this discussion. I don't know if there were really more adults living in cities in the 1910-1930s than we can achieve today. What makes you say that?
You can make an argument that we won't return to that level of vibrancy because shopping isn't done downtown, but the vibrancy isn't really what I am focused on with this thread. I am talking about downtown's becoming neighborhoods where tons of people live and play. That shift could be coming I think with a much higher density than anywhere else in cities which hasn't been the case for most cities because of the prevalence of office space.
I don't see that shift coming at all to be honest. Even with people in their 20s it's not *that* popular to live in a highly urban area. Outside of that demographic forget about it. In the 1920s people would raise large families in less than <1000 sqft. That's just not how it is today.
Those were glorious times for downtowns in America! At least in terms of vibrancy, activity, and density of people.
Today, Americans love the automobile and lots of living space, and city living does not fit into those categories, unfortunately.
There are a handful of US cities with still-vibrant downtowns, but most will never return to the bustling nature of those shots in the 1920s.
With the digital "remote era of work anywhere," this also disconnects people from having to live in cities. They can live anywhere they want and still work and get paid well.
Last edited by jjbradleynyc; 09-30-2022 at 11:02 AM..
I hate to break it to you, but none of those cities will ever have a downtown as active as they did in 1920. Americans back then lived in much tighter spaces than we do today, and owning a personal automobile was still uncommon. We won't return to that unless there is some kind of economic collapse. If you want to see this level of population density travel to a less-developed country.
From what I know and have seen, average people back then lived in smaller houses. The old apartments seem quite large compared to today. Regardless, people can live very well in smaller places if the amenities around them are there. No need for a car if transit is good, bike paths available, car share programs and walking is safe and pleasant. Also walking to shops and entertainments, is not only convenient, but healthier than getting into a car. A city should force developers to add public art and park spaces.
The idea that this level of density only exists in less-developed countries is simply not true. It exist in the US in parts, it exists in Canada ( my neighbourhood is exactly as I have described above ), and many other places.
I believe there are millions of Americans who are tired of the drive to work, or having to get into a car to buy milk, or see a movie. They would love to live in a vibrant, safe, downtown walkable neighbourhood.
A few I have been to possibly already have (obviously was not alive then so can't reasonably compare), but they are much more related to tourism than ever before and were minimally impacted by urban renewal and interstate construction. But sidewalks do seem to always be busting at the seams whenever I go including places such as:
Charleston, SC
Asheville, NC
Savannah, GA
St. Augustine, FL
Frederick, MD
Maybe Greenville, SC
And quite possibly few college towns as well I have been to such as:
Athens, GA
Boulder, CO
Charlottesville, VA
Cambridge, MA
Ann Arbor, MI
Chapel Hill, NC
One thing is most of these places had streetcars a hundred years ago which definitely added to the bustling streets and vibrancy.
Unfortunately, major center cities of the US were so completely wrecked by urban renewal, disinvestment, suburban sprawl, retail flight, dismantling of the streetcars and interurbans, white flight, McMansionization, etc, I do not see them coming back to where they were. Perhaps towards the end of the century who knows. Another factor is smaller household sizes. I live in the center of a very historic city (by US standards) where most of the historic neighborhoods are still intact, but the demographics of those households has changed dramatically. Whereas 100 years ago these homes had 5 - 6 people living in them including 4 kids, today it is 1 - 2 mainly retired individuals, yuppies, or young professionals and usually without children. This has cut the center city population in half since the 1940's, even as the city at-large has sprawled and doubled in population in that time.
Downtowns I will say are doing better by and large than when I was a kid in the 80s and 90s, but still a far cry from what they were 1890 - 1940.
Last edited by dbcook1; 09-30-2022 at 11:49 AM..
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