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It's a two in one question. You can choose either city for being better in the urban core or the Downtown CBD or both. Open discussion... I imagine there will be those with mixed answers to both questions.
Gotcha. For me Baltimore's urban core is very impressive and I would put it above Pittsburgh's. For downtown only I would imagine Pittsburgh's would be better though I can't truly say confidently. I have only been to Pittsburgh once, for 3 days, 8 years ago lol
Its a little hard to compare these two on just downtown terms. I mean that Baltimore has a couple of fairly thriving spots on the outskirts of downtown (Inner Harbor, Harbor east, little Italy) even if they are considered tourist traps. I guess to compare to Pgh, you would have to include station square and north shore because they are so close even though separated by rivers (but you can walk across the bridges or take the light rail)
For CBD only Pittsburgh for sure because Bmore is kinda dead in that area. But DT Baltimore has lots of places close by which still make it a center of activity even if just for staying at hotels, etc. Its hard to compare even though they are similar areas. I'd give it to Pittsburgh for just downtown. Baltimore slightly for greater downtowns.
I'd say that the Inner Harbor itself connects seemingly with the eastern half of downtown, along with Camden Yards and Convention Center for the western half. I would argue though that Mt. Vernon is sort of "Midtown" along with Belvedere and Station North, and all are zoned as being in part of Baltimore's CBD. It's a shame that this couldn't be a more vibrant corridor since Charles St. was once the lifeblood connecting downtown up through the Penn Station area with its array of shops, restaurants, offices, and bars, yet there are several surface lots in the Mt. Vernon/Belvedere sections these days despite being a major thoroughfare. Prior to the Inner Harbor's development, it was the most popular section of Baltimore for tourists to visit. Howard Street as someone mentioned was another important thoroughfare and not just Royal Farms Arena, with its department stores, antique row, and even the Mayfair theater. But sadly, downtown is a combo of 9-5 offices, parking garages without street level activity, and converted apartments that most tenants tend to stay in. I've never personally been to downtown Pittsburgh, but being surrounded by water on three sides like lower Manhattan does help to focus a center of gravity for people to gather, and the stadium area across the Allegheny provides a nice secondary focus that doesn't detract from the main downtown. Also, now that the prison just east of Mt. Vernon is closed, redevelop that as well as all of those surface parking lots into something as well as to renovate Old Town Mall to provide a better buffer with the CBD and the Johns Hopkins Hospital area to further spur investment.
Hopefully a favorable election and the pandemic give Baltimore an opportunity to reboot for the better, and at least we don't have to suffer the Orioles from being a laughingstock this year.
Pittsburgh. Much bigger, grander, and picturesque skyline. Pittsburgh downtown is much more attractive and more of a traditional big-city downtown.
Baltimore's Inner Harbor, Harbor East, and Canton are unique and nice. Although outside of maybe the Inner Harbor, it's hard to classify those places as "downtown" in a traditional "center-city" interpretation. The line of boxy buildings along Pratt Street extending north a few blocks is Baltimore's true downtown core, which isn't impressive at all.
Again, the Inner Harbor, Harbor East, Canton and Fells Point are really nice, but I wouldn't consider them downtown proper.
Downtowns evolve over time, and I consider the Inner Harbor and the convention center part of downtown Baltimore. Harbor East feels like an extension of downtown but due to its orientation its hard to consider it part of downtown totally. It's absolutely within the urban core though.
Baltimore. Pittsburgh is great but its best areas are outside of downtown.
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