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Consider the vicinity of the squares of Cambridge and Somerville, MA (Harvard Square, Central Square, Davis Square, Kendall Square, etc.) and the middle of the northside of Chicago northward to the city line (consider anything north of Fullerton Ave.).
Which has sections of higher peak pedestrian volumes?
Since Chicago does have a grid it doesn’t have as many true squares like Boston/Cambridge/Somerville where it’s the center of a hub with major roads radiating out.
“Squares” in Chicago are basically just random intersections that they named. Not to say Chicago isn’t as urban or more Urban than Boston in a lot of ways and a lot of places but it’s set up differently
Wrigleyville, especially during events, and some North Side beaches during the summer is probably the busiest among all options, but otherwise it's the squares of Cambridge and Somerville which are much more centralized points for the community than anything the North Side has though the North Side certainly has some retail stretches that have a lot of acitvity.
Wrigleyville, especially during events, and some North Side beaches during the summer is probably the busiest among all options, but otherwise it's the squares of Cambridge and Somerville which are much more centralized points for the community than anything the North Side has though the North Side certainly has some retail stretches that have a lot of acitvity.
This is largely true. Day to day foot traffic in Cambridge/Somerville and activity is higher in the squares than it is in any given location around the northside of Chicago, less weekend nights. On the weekends, however, N Clark/N Broadway/Wrigleyville probably have more buzz than any of the squares individually.
If this were all of the north side (incl. near north side/Michigan Avenue) I think Chicago would win this easily. That's why I restricted Chicago to North of Fullerton Avenue.
I think Cambridge/Somerville wins this by a bit (though not too much).
somerville is 16th densest city in the country.
cambridge is 26th.
chicago is 75th.
Well Somerville is 4 square miles with 80,000 people. Cambridge is 6.4 square miles and 110,000 people. They would simply be neighborhoods in Chicago as that city is around 240 square miles.
I mean I live in Lakeview in Chicago, 100,000 people in around 3 square miles. Edgewater to our north is 55,000 people in 1.5 square miles.
It's hard to look at cities based on density when some are dozens of times larger than others with wildly different built environments over their hundreds of square miles.
Well Somerville is 4 square miles with 80,000 people. Cambridge is 6.4 square miles and 110,000 people. They would simply be neighborhoods in Chicago as that city is around 240 square miles.
I mean I live in Lakeview in Chicago, 100,000 people in around 3 square miles. Edgewater to our north is 55,000 people in 1.5 square miles.
It's hard to look at cities based on density when some are dozens of times larger than others with wildly different built environments over their hundreds of square miles.
Absolutely. At peak density, Boston and Chicago are probably identical.
Absolutely. At peak density, Boston and Chicago are probably identical.
Right, and Chicago (which is clearly the larger city) sustains that density over a larger area. It just so happens that at 240 square miles, it starts to taper off at the edges which impacts overall density numbers. Cambridge and Somerville both at well under 10 square miles and close to the center of Boston easily sustain the density throughout.
I live in Somerville and I'd call apples and oranges on this whole comparison (even if it's just Chicago's North Side neighborhoods). Cambridge and Somerville's layout lends itself to little urban nodes like Harvard Square, Central Square, Inman, Kendall, Davis, Union, etc. Each of these functions as a little island unto itself which buzz with activity while the residential areas around them are fairly quiet. Chicago's North Site neighborhoods are more cohesive and the pedestrian activity is more sustained throughout even if it doesn't regularly reach the "peak" level you get in Camberville's squares (aside from Cubs game nights, events, etc.). Anyone looking for an active urban experience will be happy in either place.
Right, and Chicago (which is clearly the larger city) sustains that density over a larger area. It just so happens that at 240 square miles, it starts to taper off at the edges which impacts overall density numbers. Cambridge and Somerville both at well under 10 square miles and close to the center of Boston easily sustain the density throughout.
I live in Somerville and I'd call apples and oranges on this whole comparison (even if it's just Chicago's North Side neighborhoods). Cambridge and Somerville's layout lends itself to little urban nodes like Harvard Square, Central Square, Inman, Kendall, Davis, Union, etc. Each of these functions as a little island unto itself which buzz with activity while the residential areas around them are fairly quiet. Chicago's North Site neighborhoods are more cohesive and the pedestrian activity is more sustained throughout even if it doesn't regularly reach the "peak" level you get in Camberville's squares (aside from Cubs game nights, events, etc.). Anyone looking for an active urban experience will be happy in either place.
Agreed.
If we went south of Fullerton, and made this a division and up conversation, that obviously opens this thing wide open as Old Town/Wells St., Viagra Triangle, etc. are on a whole different level of activity.
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