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Even when strictly using the Central Business District metric, Philly still has the larger downtown core population than Chicago.
Philadelphia CBD: 57,000
Chicago CBD: 33,000
Interesting to note that Center City Philly was a residential neighborhood first and foremost so the population has always been there long before buildings + commerce. They knocked down part of those neighborhoods to build the business district and Independence Mall Historical Park.
Its really only been the past 20 years or so where Philadelphia has entered the modern era of building apartment + condo towers. The vast majority of the population of Center City still live in the 4 story Brownstones and Townhomes.
I'm actually, genuinely surprised that Philly is #2. However, since Chicago has allowed itself to go to crap in recent years in a way not seen since the mid- to late-1990s, then I think Philadelphia deserves this title. Congrats, City of Brotherly Love!
I'm not a Chicago hater, but it needs to get its s**t together. Philly, Boston, DC, L.A., SF, Seattle, Miami, Atlanta, Minneapolis, and even Indianapolis all have in recent years; obviously NYC really has, having gone from scary hellhole to chic in only 20 years.
When's the last time you were in the central/downtown area of Chicago if you think it's all gone to crap lately?? I've been here 20 years and the downtown area is FAR more polished and has way more things to do, activities, retail, riverwalk, residents, new hotels and towers everywhere etc. than it ever has before. Downtown is so greatly improved, especially the past 2-4 years I would say. I'm surprised you think it went to crap.
You might disagree but I also think Philly as a city has better architecture than Chicago. The way the city is able to blend its historic architecture with modern new age architecture is something Chicago simply cannot match. Philadelphia has become one of the biggest architectural meccas in North America.
As much as I'm a major Philly proponent, I personally wouldn't go that far. Chicago certainly has much to brag about in the architecture department, and especially for major, more visionary projects compared to Philly.
I would agree that Philly excels compared to Chicago for better "granular" (by that I mean the look and feel/vibe simply from a pedestrian perspective) and historic architecture. But since we're experts at splitting hairs on this thread, Philly by no objective measure is comparable to Chicago for large-scale modern architecture.
Again, architecture is just another area where both just offer something considerably different, and perspective is just a matter of preference.
I'm actually, genuinely surprised that Philly is #2. However, since Chicago has allowed itself to go to crap in recent years in a way not seen since the mid- to late-1990s, then I think Philadelphia deserves this title. Congrats, City of Brotherly Love!
I'm not a Chicago hater, but it needs to get its s**t together. Philly, Boston, DC, L.A., SF, Seattle, Miami, Atlanta, Minneapolis, and even Indianapolis all have in recent years; obviously NYC really has, having gone from scary hellhole to chic in only 20 years.
I was just in Chicago a little over a week ago, and downtown is stunning. Nothing about downtown Chicago has gone to "crap."
I was just in Chicago a little over a week ago, and downtown is stunning. Nothing about downtown Chicago has gone to "crap."
While most people visit the downtown area, like many cities, more than a few local neighborhoods are in decline or at ''crap'' level.
Visiting downtown Chicago one would never guess the city is broke and its debt is rated junk.
Chicago is now estimated to be at the trifecta level of decline: city, county, and region. Visiting its downtown area, one would never guess that, especially at the city level, there are economic and crime issues.
While most people visit the downtown area, like many cities, more than a few local neighborhoods are in decline or at ''crap'' level.
Visiting downtown Chicago one would never guess the city is broke and its debt is rated junk.
Chicago is now estimated to be at the trifecta level of decline: city, county, and region. Visiting its downtown area, one would never guess that, especially at the city level, there are economic and crime issues.
I lived in Chicago, and you are trying your best to denigrate the city. There are areas, just as there are in any city with crime...you avoid those. The rest of the city is looking good, and the beautiful areas, are just as beautiful as they always were. I read the news, too, and I know that Illinois is struggling, but there are still PLENTY of wealthy people and neighborhoods in Chicago...there, nothing looks any different. It's not just downtown that's beautiful. The state might be broke, but if I lived there, that wouldn't mean I was broke, now does it?
This whole thread is pure nonsense. In no way is downtown Philly larger than downtown Chicago.
It's nonsense because Philly surpass Chicago in a population statistic?? Was it nonsense when Chicago moved ahead of Philly in population in 1890? Things change and time moves on. It's a fact that Philadelphia now has pass Chicago to become the 2nd largest downtown population in the US. Our downtown population is growing faster than Chicago. There is no need to feel bitter over Philly's success. Chicago is still a great city but now its downtown population has drop to 3rd.
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