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Baltimore, wtf?? What a waste! At least our homely triple deckers in New England aren't being abandoned like this. Maybe they work better in some way-- people can adapt them physically or financially. They seem flimsier than these handsome rows in Baltimore but it's Baltimore's housing stock that's melting like ice cubes in July.
It gets oh so much worse than that... Heres West Baltimore
Couple years ago I rode out on the Broad Street elevated line to Upper Darby and was struck by the view out the window of streets like this one, where the whole layout is incredibly tight-- narrow streets, tiny back yards, all to accommodate as many houses as could possibly be jammed in within a given area. These aren't the narrowest streets in Philly either but common enough. Could show narrower ones in Queen Village and other places closer to Center City but some of them look so cute and gentrified as to undercut the whole critique of not enough space/greenery. An incredibly narrow street can be cozy and neighborly and its dimensions are human scale so it feels nice walking along one. Philly is an amazing city -- rowhouses and streets of every description. If the tiny house movement needs inspiration just look at those Trinity houses in Philadelphia alleys.
Certainly the Baltimore scenes are very nice. Personally I like your King Street, Mattapan and South Boston scenes better; the wood-frame vernacular seems more interesting with its variety and individuality, the stacked porches make such a lively street scene and it's so New England. All these streets would be much nicer with trees. Cambridge, Somerville and Brookline maintain their street trees; in Boston it's hit or miss. Your Lawrence scene too-- would be so much better if Lawrence had the $$ to replace the curbs and sidewalks and maintain street trees.
its all personal preference on of my favorite things about nicer areas in east baltimore is the proliferation fo rooftop decks!
Baltimore, wtf?? What a waste! At least our homely triple deckers in New England aren't being abandoned like this. Maybe they work better in some way-- people can adapt them physically or financially. They seem flimsier than these handsome rows in Baltimore but it's Baltimore's housing stock that's melting like ice cubes in July.
Depends on the neighborhood in Baltimore. Federal Hill is pretty nice. When you're anywhere near Inner Harbor, it's all pretty gentrified. Baltimore is just way down the gentrification curve compared to Boston. I had a college roommate from the South End in the 1970s when that was still a tough city place. That's all million dollar condo conversions now.
Depends on the neighborhood in Baltimore. Federal Hill is pretty nice. When you're anywhere near Inner Harbor, it's all pretty gentrified. Baltimore is just way down the gentrification curve compared to Boston. I had a college roommate from the South End in the 1970s when that was still a tough city place. That's all million dollar condo conversions now.
there’s other areas in Baltimore that are much grander in their suburban nature and orderliness than anywhere in Boston city limits-the areas around the harbor get the most attention. A large of Baltimore’s problem is that as some places gentrify places in the northwest, southwest and northeast deteriorate l-to a degree that I can’t draw a reasonable comparison in Massachusetts .
Those parts of Baltimore are kind of deteriorating like Waterbury or East Hartford.
Definitely worse in Hartford than other new england cities (thinking specifically of that giant parking lot east of the capitol building)-most notably Providence
What? There are giant parking lots surrounding the Rhode Island State House and the state office buildings there off State Street, Olms Street and Park Street. They are stretched around the perimeter of the buildings rather than one full block but they certainly are similar in size.
Also note that those lots are being eyed for development. The state just completed a new parking garage on Buckingham and has started construction of another near The Bushnell. Once completed, they will free up those surface lots for development. Jay
Could show narrower ones in Queen Village and other places closer to Center City but some of them look so cute and gentrified as to undercut the whole critique of not enough space/greenery. An incredibly narrow street can be cozy and neighborly and its dimensions are human scale so it feels nice walking along one. Philly is an amazing city -- rowhouses and streets of every description. If the tiny house movement needs inspiration just look at those Trinity houses in Philadelphia alleys.
Exactly! And streetviews don't do justice for the on-the-ground "vibe" of a narrow street. Obviously aesthetics of the architecture and greenery matter, but the simple feeling that a street/neighborhood was inherently designed to put human beings first before an automobile is a breath of fresh air, especially in country where that's very much the exception to the rule.
Quote:
Originally Posted by btownboss4
You think Philly is far more pedestrian friendly than Boston?
I wouldn't say far more; only that the rowhome layout, narrow streets, and small, gridded blocks makes for better pedestrian-friendly ingredients as compared to much of Boston.
Not to say Boston doesn't have plenty of walkability/planning for pedestrians. But if one had to philosophically choose which city's predominate layout would better serve a pedestrian, the objective answer seems fairly clear.
I wouldn't say far more; only that the rowhome layout, narrow streets, and small, gridded blocks makes for better pedestrian-friendly ingredients as compared to much of Boston.
The narrow, non-gridded streets of the North End provide a better pedestrian experience than anywhere in Philly. As for the neighborhoods outside of either cities’ center: Southie and much of Dorchester are on a grid, but the streets aren’t as narrow. Perhaps that does reduce walkability somehow? Idk.
I'd rather walk through a Chicago ( or Milwaukee) bungalow neighborhood. Milwaukee's bungalows ( often divided into two-families, or "two-flats") are spacious, comfortable and homey, with a great deal of built-in cabinetry and with nice, small, well-manicured lawns. Very affordable, and the best combination of urban-suburban mixed dwellings..
Buffalo has a cousin to the Milwaukee “two-flat” or “Polish flat”. The Buffalo doubles probably make a plurality of households in Buffalo and I know of someone living on the top floor with their elderly parents on the bottom floor which sounded really quaint. They’re separate residences so you get some privacy, but you’re still very close.
I wonder if that’s something that occurs with triple-deckers.
The narrow, non-gridded streets of the North End provide a better pedestrian experience than anywhere in Philly. As for the neighborhoods outside of either cities’ center: Southie and much of Dorchester are on a grid, but the streets aren’t as narrow. Perhaps that does reduce walkability somehow? Idk.
As for the North End, it's certainly a fantastic and unique neighborhood. Pedestrian "experience" is rather subjective, but I can see how someone might make that argument vis-a-vis the North End v. all other Philly neighborhoods.
I was really speaking more about pedestrian "friendliness," which to me is more technical and not so subjective. Things like a street wall consistency, lack of curb cuts, smaller blocks, narrow streets, etc. are more straightforward than judgements of how neighborhood is "experienced."
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