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I'd say it's between Seattle and LA. LA is obviously much bigger but having been to both cities, Seattle to me seemed to have a stronger urban fabric in/around the core, and in general didn't seem as extremely spread out as LA.
But LA is really trying to turn itself around, and is even expanding their subway which is a very expensive to do these days and shows they are serious about this. I think the fact that LA even has a rapid transit system gives it a huge advantage, even though it is very lacking. So I'm going to go with LA with Seattle close behind.
Whenever I'm in LA, I get around without a car. But as much rail lines as the city builds, I don't think it'll ever be known as a good place to live car free. So that's an advantage Seattle has.
Yes I know that. Which is why I said you will never see cities like that built again. Try as any city might, it won't happen. Again though, that doesn't mean they can't become urban.
Seattle is-in effect-coping with a rising population by throwing together apartment buildings. This seems to be a relatively quick way to provide housing. And also raises the population density in a rather compact form.
I can imagine creating new mixed use areas by grouping apartment buildings with retail and offices. (The retail would likely be chain stores).
Last edited by Tim Randal Walker; 05-14-2017 at 10:06 AM..
Seattle is-in effect-coping with a rising population by throwing together apartment buildings. This seems to be a relatively quick way to provide housing. And also raises the population density in a rather compact form.
I can imagine creating new mixed use areas by grouping apartment buildings with retail and offices. (The retail would likely be chain stores).
It's quite exciting to live in Seattle at the moment because nearly every conceivable vacant lot or mediocre property within Seattle's several primary urban districts is slated for redevelopment. Housing costs are rising, but that's at least kept in check by the blistering rapid construction of apartments throughout the city. Seattle's also getting dozens of new underground/elevated light rail stations within the next decade. The Seattle region as a whole is going to be absolutely changed and different by 2030. Certainly by 2050, I foresee Seattle becoming an ultra-dense city. Very exciting times.
I'd say it's between Seattle and LA. LA is obviously much bigger but having been to both cities, Seattle to me seemed to have a stronger urban fabric in/around the core, and in general didn't seem as extremely spread out as LA.
But LA is really trying to turn itself around, and is even expanding their subway which is a very expensive to do these days and shows they are serious about this. I think the fact that LA even has a rapid transit system gives it a huge advantage, even though it is very lacking. So I'm going to go with LA with Seattle close behind.
Good points overall, but don't forget Seattle just approved a $54 billion rail expansion, including a second subway tunnel through the urban core and several other grade separated lines across the city and region.
Last edited by Edward234; 05-14-2017 at 10:49 AM..
I think LA, Seattle and Miami are all the next group coming in to join the pack.
Seattle's downtown and surrounding core neighborhoods are certainly getting there.
LA has Downtown, Koreatown, Hollywood/West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Century City, Santa Monica/Venice which are all there or getting there. Basically urban nodes, and now it's just filling in the holes and connecting the dots between those.
Miami has Downtown and Brickell which are getting there, and then Miami Beach and South Beach which are already there, and as vibrant and walkable as Philly, DC, San Fran and Boston.
So I would say:
NYC
Chicago
San Fran
Philly
D.C.
Boston
LA
Seattle
Miami
The only thing is, who is 10? Atlanta? San Diego? Honolulu? Baltimore? Denver? Minneapolis? They all make a good case.
Good points overall, but don't forget Seattle just approved a $54 billion rail expansion, including a second subway tunnel through the urban core and several other grade separated lines across the city and region.
I went in 2008, before the light rail and all this new development. I remember taking the bus in the underground tunnel, was pretty cool. I was impressed with Seattle even back then.
Since everyone has difference preferences and likes, there's no way to choose one overall "iconic" city. This poll simply can't be meaningful, other than to take a sampling of the highest preferences of those on this forum.
It's quite exciting to live in Seattle at the moment nt by 2030. Certainly by 2050, I foresee Seattle becoming an ultra-dense city. Very exciting times.
LA's pervasive development is taking it a long way. But on a per-square-mile basis, Seattle's urban districts seem to be urbanizing more quickly...both greater Downtown and dozens of other nodes around town, from Ballard to Bellevue. Downtown Seattle is well ahead of DTLA in most regards and also growing faster (a lead in housing, and several multiples in offices). The two cities are the leaders in rail funding as well, though LA is ahead on its system (Seattle will always be way ahead in transit use overall due to buses).
It's hard to compare a city that's already iconic and huge but lacks the top-end traditional urbanity with one that's closer to traditional urbanity but is much smaller. LA is obviously iconic already. And it's denser as a UA and in peak neighborhoods in terms of residents. But Seattle is sorta iconic in a second-tier way already, and its finally starting to live its urbanity and transit destiny. So I voted Seattle.
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