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I'm not very familiar with SF, but one factor that leads to SF being cosmopolitan "on paper" as said in this thread, is that it is a huge tech hub and that is probably the main thing that brings people all over the world there.
But aren't most of the Tech Firms in places like Palo Alto and San Jose?
I ask because I think that should be considered when comparing SF to Chicago in terms of which is more cosmopolitan.
I believe the financial centers and institutions of Chicago are IN Chicago. Same as the ones in NYC.
SF and the Bay as a Metropolitan area can certainly account for all the Tech activity, but how much of that is in SF proper by itself?
I think on either count, it's not a massive difference in "magnitude" in how cosmopolitan or how urban one is versus the other.
An interesting note about Victorian architecture is that Chicago also has a massive amount of Victorian architecture and has probably more variety and total numbers than SF and the Bay Area has. Remember, they both had catastrophic fires with SF having multiples of such and Chicago was a much larger city than SF and surrounding municipalities during the Victorian era. I think the differences are that SF has the Painted Ladies (with the bold colors mostly a 1960s and on embellishment rather than the original color schemes of the Victorian era itself) and that there's generally a lot less tree canopy on SF streets and home lots so you more often get an unobstructed view when taking pictures from further out.
You're right. Didn't think of that. There's like no trees in SF. So the architecture pops out more. In Chicago you really have to walk the neighborhoods to appreciate it. It doesn't show up in pictures from afar.
You're right. Didn't think of that. There's like no trees in SF. So the architecture pops out more. In Chicago you really have to walk the neighborhoods to appreciate it. It doesn't show up in pictures from afar.
Chicago victorians are made from stone SF victorins are made from wood and a large number of them are on hills. SF's victorian architecture is more similar to the antelbellum south than most of the midwest's stock. California style victorians are generally rare outside of Cali.
Chicago victorians are made from stone SF victorins are made from wood and a large number of them are on hills. SF's victorian architecture is more similar to the antelbellum south than most of the midwest's stock. California style victorians are generally rare outside of Cali.
I know Milwaukee and the Twin Cities have a fair amount of wood Victorian homes
I know Milwaukee and the Twin Cities have a fair amount of wood Victorian homes
St Paul definitely does
Milwaukee has some, but most are located in a rough area of town west of downtown, constantia or something I think.....
Others are scattered about though.
SF's are also unique though in that most of them are also row homes and the ones that aren't are usually spectacular mansions.
The strip of houses running down castro st towards noe valley and beyond are spectacular. I think Chicago has no answer, although SF has little answer to some of chicago's historic skyscrapers
You're right. Didn't think of that. There's like no trees in SF. So the architecture pops out more. In Chicago you really have to walk the neighborhoods to appreciate it. It doesn't show up in pictures from afar.
Yep, and likely some part of that has to do with the prevalence of above ground electrical and comms infrastructure in San Francisco even in some rather ritzy neighborhoods while Chicago with its alleyways tends to put them there or bury them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MidwestCoast714
St Paul definitely does
Milwaukee has some, but most are located in a rough area of town west of downtown, constantia or something I think.....
Others are scattered about though.
SF's are also unique though in that most of them are also row homes and the ones that aren't are usually spectacular mansions.
The strip of houses running down castro st towards noe valley and beyond are spectacular. I think Chicago has no answer, although SF has little answer to some of chicago's historic skyscrapers
A lot of very urban cities have Victorian rowhomes as it coincides with the boom of a lot cities in a time period when attached SFHs were fairly common. Chicago's turn towards stone and opting towards small spaces between homes probably has a bit to do with fear of fires.
I do like that strip of houses, but I also like a lot of vernacular Chicago architecture though it's generally harder to take pictures of such for Chicago because Chicago streets tend to have much lusher and more prevalent tree canopies though it is nice on the ground level to walk among the trees. I think one thing I don't love about SF vernacular architecture are the garages.
Two cities with a good deal of very attractive neighborhoods and interesting vernacular architecture though Chicago as a much larger city during the era and without as great of a threat of fires has a lot more in number and in variety of Victorian style buildings.
I do like that strip of houses, but I also like a lot of vernacular Chicago architecture though it's generally harder to take pictures of such for Chicago because Chicago streets tend to have much lusher and more prevalent tree canopies though it is nice on the ground level to walk among the trees. I think one thing I don't love about SF vernacular architecture are the garages.
Another positive for Chicago is having power and media cables running down the alleys for the most part, and not streetside, marring the view of the front facades of the greystones.
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