Does Toronto's urban structure have more in common with large US Midwest Cities or large US Northeast Cities? (compare, places)

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by waronxmas

After all, Toronto is a Midwestern city...

You mean a Great Lakes city?

[waronxmas]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

You mean a Great Lakes city?

Isn't everything after the Appalachians and before the Rockies the Midwest? Not being facetious here, that's just kind of how it's always worked in my head.

[kidphilly]

Originally Posted by gladhands

When we say "like the northeast" I get them impression that we're basically "lots of rowhouses". In reality, northeast cities outside of the Big-4 aren't that rowhouse-centric. A handful of midwestern cities like Chicago, St Louis and Cincinnati have rowhouse neighborhoods.

well not sure, especially for smaller Mid Atlantic cities, many are loaded with row houses eactually




places like Hoboken, JC, Newark, Trenton (heck even AC had a lot historically), Reading, Allentown, Wilmington are all with a lot




Even smaller places like an Upper Darby, Chester, Norristown, Conshy have a lot


not as much north of the Mod Atlantic area though

[North 42]

Midwest is an American term, it's not applicable to anywhere in Canada.

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by waronxmas

Isn't everything after the Appalachians and before the Rockies the Midwest? Not being facetious here, that's just kind of how it's always worked in my head.

"Midwest" isn't a Canadian designation though; "Great Lakes" is a shared one between Canada and the U.S.

[IrishIllini]

Originally Posted by gladhands

When we say "like the northeast" I get them impression that we're basically "lots of rowhouses". In reality, northeast cities outside of the Big-4 aren't that rowhouse-centric. A handful of midwestern cities like Chicago, St Louis and Cincinnati have rowhouse neighborhoods.

Chicago is an old city (by U.S. standards) without a ton of remaining 19th century architecture. Downtown has been basically rebuilt a few times at this point and tear downs are dime a dozen in trendy neighborhoods.

Chicago has some blocks of row homes in neighborhoods adjacent to or near downtown, but not much outside of that. Most of them burned down and were unable to be legally rebuilt under the revised Fire and Zoning Codes. River North historically has had a lot of row homes, but many have met the wrecking ball and been replaced by high rises. It's a shame too...they're quite beautiful.

West of downtown is a bit different. There's a lot of older, more historic buildings to be found, but many areas are former slums that just managed to stand the test of time. They're gentrifying, so that'll definitely make for some cool neighborhoods in the future. The University of Illinois at Chicago was actually an urban renewal project that wiped an entire neighborhood off the map. I think it was once the most densely populated neighborhood in the country?

I personally feel Toronto is more akin to Chicago than the NE. It may have pockets that feel like the "old world", but by and large it's mostly a product of modern architecture and planning practices like Chicago and other Midwest cities. Strong core with grid-based development spanning out in all directions.

[gladhands]

Originally Posted by IrishIllini

Chicago is an old city (by U.S. standards) without a ton of remaining 19th century architecture. Downtown has been basically rebuilt a few times at this point and tear downs are dime a dozen in trendy neighborhoods.

Chicago has some blocks of row homes in neighborhoods adjacent to or near downtown, but not much outside of that. Most of them burned down and were unable to be legally rebuilt under the revised Fire and Zoning Codes. River North historically has had a lot of row homes, but many have met the wrecking ball and been replaced by high rises. It's a shame too...they're quite beautiful.

There are a fair number of extant rowhouses in Bronzeville and Hyde Park too.

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.7974...8i6656!6m1!1e1

https://www.google.com/maps/place/54...899318!6m1!1e1

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8083...8i6656!6m1!1e1

[Edward234]

Originally Posted by peterlemonjello

I think Toronto is most like Chicago, but not like the Midwest outside of Chicago. Toronto is exceptionally diverse. Much more so than Chicago, Philly, or any other city in the US not NYC or LA. The vibe is incredibly international. As such, I think its more like the Northeast overall.

But we're talking about the urban form and structure. I did say vibrancy but more in the sense of foot traffic and street activities. I totally agree that as Canada's largest city Toronto has a much more cosmopolitan feel than all US cities besides NYC and LA. But we're talking about urban form, layout, and vibrancy/bustling-ness here.

[Edward234]

I'm surprised the Midwest is winning by so much.

[waronxmas]

Originally Posted by North 42

Midwest is an American term, it's not applicable to anywhere in Canada.

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

"Midwest" isn't a Canadian designation though; "Great Lakes" is a shared one between Canada and the U.S.

Ok, ok. I get that Midwest is a U.S. designation, but in my head I've always felt Toronto was more close aligned and situated to that part of the States than it is the east. Montreal, minus the French, has more in line with the Northeastern/Mid-Atlantic cities.