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Yeah, if you looked at within 2 miles of downtown based on that census report:
Gains from 2000 to 2010:
Chicago: 48,288
New York: 37,422
Philly: 20,769
San Fran: 19,712
DC: 19,502
yes that is it Had Manhattan wrong and was light for Chicago
the Chicago numbers are really impressive
Think DC will have even more growth
Good news is many centers are growing in this context - Philly at the current will surpass the growth last decade if it keeps up. There are not as many redevelopment areas as in Chicago or even DC so don't think will see that growth, maybe ever in the core
You are probably right about the downtown area, but what you don't understand until you live in both a couple of years, is the vast difference between the Midwest and either coast.
The Chicago downtown has always been about business since I a little child. It is not like Manhattan. Chicago has a diverse public transportation system that includes rail, bus, cab, water taxi, limo, auto, zip car, and bicycle. It is one of the reasons folks in the city do not need to own a car..
I don't know where the city would add light rail. The current project is a rail from Chicago to Champaign primarily so the Chicago students at the flagship university can return home quicker - but the only way to do it is to not make any stops between the two cities. Normal would be the exception as it has the other large university, and the second busiest Amtrak depot in Illinois.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gwillyfromphilly
It doesn't take anything away from Chicago. all it means is that Philly has a larger downtown than Chicago.
As far as transportation is concerned, I would give the edge to Chicago but I will say that Philly has better inter-city rail, light rail, and 24-hr service options.
The fundamental point of contention here is that Chicago and Philadelphia are just two different cities in terms of their structure/layout. It comes as no surprise that there would be a debate about how to measure "downtowns," since it really does not lend to an apples-apples comparison
The point of Chicago having a larger downtown in terms of commercial activity is clear. It has an obviously more robust business district, more restaurants, more stores, etc. I don't think anyone is debating this.
Of course, being a much older city, Philadelphia is essentially based on a more "European" model where people have long lived very close (either above their own business, or within walking distance) to where they work. Hence, its residential population has always been more intertwined with its downtown. And so, you have this paradox where Philadelphia may indeed (depending on how its defined) have a larger population among its downtown area, despite having a smaller business district.
This is not to take away from the grandiosity of Chicago. I don't think this type of study will change the fact that it's seen as America's "second city" as far as urban centers are concerned, but it's nevertheless interesting to see how an older post-industrial urban center like Philadelphia has increased its population continuing on the more human-scaled, intensely mixed-use model, with little distinction between commercial and residential, that it has long had.
No matter what, Philly will always be better than Chicago in walkability, transportation, food, culture, music, arts, and friendliness. Philly has a better library and public health system too.
If you count the residential areas adjacent to Downtown SF (Tenderloin, Nob Hill, Chinatown, North Beach, etc.) it surpasses 200,000 in an area smaller than what you're calling Downtown Philadelphia.
This thread is comparing apples and oranges and is not really valid.
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