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As the title says, what major cities do you think are CBD versus neighborhood oriented in terms of things to do, where people hang out, etc.? I'll list a few for now and feel free to add.
NYC (probably too big to do this for, but...)
Chicago
Houston
Philadelphia
Phoenix
Atlanta
Miami
DC
Boston
Minneapolis
San Francisco
Los Angeles
San Diego
Seattle
Orlando
Cleveland
Cincinnati
Nashville
Louisville
NYC, Chicago, and Philadelphia have big cbds, but they are far from not being neighborhood focused. They all have many distinct neighborhoods. I think anyone familiar with most of these places could tell you this.
Detroit. While a large percentage of its neighborhoods sit in dismal decay, its core has seen a good bit of rejuvenation.
The same can be said for Baltimore.
Of course, there are always things to do in many of those neighborhoods, they just aren't so positive.
Also, Charlotte, as a banking hub has a growingly impressive skyline but outside of the CBD many of its neighborhoods feel much more suburban to people who are used to urban feeling neighborhoods.
St. Louis is a perfect example of a neighborhood oriented city. Downtown St. Louis is pretty much unimpressive where as neighborhoods are pretty decent. If you can get over to patchy thriving neighborhood syndrome and a very ok downtown, St. Louis can be a great city.
Seattle is really both....CBD-focused in many ways, but it also focuses most growth into "urban village" districts around town, some of which are pretty vibrant.
St. Louis is a perfect example of a neighborhood oriented city. Downtown St. Louis is pretty much unimpressive where as neighborhoods are pretty decent. If you can get over to patchy thriving neighborhood syndrome and a very ok downtown, St. Louis can be a great city.
The thing that's a bummer about downtown St. Louis is that it used to be impressive once upon a time, and the fact that it still has the bones to be impressive again but that it hasn't hit its potential. The architecture is awesome, most of the streets are narrow making it more compact and highly walkable, the rehabs have been coming along nicely, etc, but so much thunder has been stolen by the rest of the central corridor that it's a shame. Maybe in another decade it'll finally be where it should be.
It doesn't help that so many of St. Louis' tourist attractions are not located downtown.
The thing that's a bummer about downtown St. Louis is that it used to be impressive once upon a time, and the fact that it still has the bones to be impressive again but that it hasn't hit its potential. The architecture is awesome, most of the streets are narrow making it more compact and highly walkable, the rehabs have been coming along nicely, etc, but so much thunder has been stolen by the rest of the central corridor that it's a shame. Maybe in another decade it'll finally be where it should be.
It doesn't help that so many of St. Louis' tourist attractions are not located downtown.
If CWE was closer to Downtown or if Grand Center or the Loop could fill in Old Post Office District, Downtown would be a totally different place.
NYC, Chicago, and Philadelphia have big cbds, but they are far from not being neighborhood focused. They all have many distinct neighborhoods. I think anyone familiar with most of these places could tell you this.
Agreed, I think most BIG cities have this mix. Center City Philadelphia is the CBD, but you can still enjoy amenities and general activity in other neighborhoods not close to CC.
New York obviously, Chicago, San Fran, Boston and DC also fall into this mix. LA is unique because the CBD is not the liveliest part of the city.
Once you get to smaller cities, I think the center of action is mainly in one area with a few other pockets here and there.
Then there are some cities that don't really have either, like Phoenix.
If CWE was closer to Downtown or if Grand Center or the Loop could fill in Old Post Office District, Downtown would be a totally different place.
Central West End reminds me of a vibrant neighborhood in Paris and makes one exclaim “I could totally live here,” and then you get downtown and wonder where all the people went.
Philly: very downtown oriented as well as neighborhood oriented, very versed city.
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