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Location: That star on your map in the middle of the East Coast, DMV
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Quote:
Originally Posted by IronWright
I don't know what metrics are being used to equate D.C., S.F., Philly, Boston and even Atlanta with Chicago on some arbitrary "tier" but it's ridiculous...
Chicago is a mega-city by U.S. standards, Chicago's downtown is to every other city what Manhattan is to Chicago and it's not even close. Chicago has like 2,000 high rises and counting. 14 more on October's Plan Commission Agenda alone. The urbanity and scale is laughable by comparison. There is no other city in the U.S. that could give that "New York vibe" and Alpha+ global feel that Chicago oozes.
There is no area from universities, education, to cuisine, shopping, sporting history/legacy, markets, architecture, arts, industry, media, culture, infrastructure, transit, airports, theater, comedy, music, parks, festivals, business, company headquarters, political machines, innovation, organized crime, tourism, diversity, unions, attractions...etc. etc. etc.....that Chicago isn't near the top of or a leader in or was a leader in for decades.
These other cities are simply not on this level....Metro populations and being prominent and known globally for 1 or 2 defining aspects does not compare to America's true "Second City." Tech and politics are for S.F. and D.C. what the auto industry was for Detroit in the mid 20th century. Detroit was never in Chicago's league either.
The "metro population/GDP" gymnastics used here so often and wrongly greatly understates the massive difference in what "cities" are and were intended to be. Relatively high murders totals and some population loss have done wonders for underrating what a behemoth of a (city) Chicago truly is and it's significance in the world both currently and historically.
It's the metro areas/ regions surrounding those cities that only can compare to "Chicagoland". Not the cities themselves in terms of size, skyline or scale. Chicago is the #2 city undisputed in that respect. Although I do think specifically DC gives Chicago a run within the city proper, not on size, skyscrapers or urban feel, but on major institutions and prominent buildings within the city limits simply due to being the capital.
Otherwise it's only when you extrapolate some of the cities you mentioned to metro area or larger, does Chicago come down to balance out on their tier.
It's the metro areas/ regions surrounding those cities that only can compare to "Chicagoland". Not the cities themselves in terms of size, skyline or scale. Chicago is the #2 city undisputed in that respect. Although I do think specifically DC gives Chicago a run within the city proper, not on size, skyscrapers or urban feel, but on major institutions and prominent buildings within the city limits simply due to being the capital.
Otherwise it's only when you extrapolate some of the cities you mentioned to metro area or larger, does Chicago come down to balance out on their tier.
Yeah, for skyline and downtown I would definitely give that to chicago over even LA downtown Chicago is awesome, and very dynamic. However, for even city limits I wouldn't put Chicago over LA, and don't even get me started on metro areas, or even economic might.
This is it, that's why I put the link to the guardian in the OP. It seems like everyone talks about SF now. LA not so much.
In Toronto you may hear a lot of talk about SF but that's not the case state side. IMHO, in the lower 48 you're going to hear a lot more chatter about NY, LA and even Chicago, than SF.
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