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Location: That star on your map in the middle of the East Coast, DMV
8,128 posts, read 7,547,924 times
Reputation: 5785
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Quote:
Originally Posted by personone
I don't see it. The "feel" of the 2 cities is too different. I don't see Baltimore as a smaller version of Philly. The downtowns, people, scale, look and feel are just too different. Even the rowhome styles are very different.
The "feel" of Baltimore to Wilmington neighborhoods is almost identical. Philly-Baltimore (outside of Center City) it may be at best 70-75% alike across the city, but that's still closer than most cities in this nation.
There's some slight mix with Richmond/Norfolk, but it's certainly not greater than the comparisons to Philadelphia. If you've really spent time in those places it's substantially different. For Norfolk it's really just the port. And those cities don't even have a subway/light rail. In fact the points about STL may be better than those two in VA.
What I'd like to know is why do posters highlight the fact that Philly is bigger than Baltimore, but never make that distinction between Baltimore and wilmington. Population wise, Baltimore is by far closer in scale to Philly than it is to Wilmington.
As someone from Maryland who has lived in Baltimore and Philly, the 2 cities are not very similar at all. The similarities are completely overblown on this site. There are some stretches (style) of row homes in certain parts of the city that do look similar, but that is about it.
Here is my take on their differences:
-Philadelphia's scale is MUCH bigger than Baltimore's, and it's palpable. When you are in the heart of downtown Philly, you get a canyon feeling, similar to NY and Chicago. That is not the case at all with Baltimore, a city that doesn't even have a single skyscraper that is 600ft or greater. Philly has a 1000 ft skyscraper and several 600+ buildings. The size/scale of the cities are very different.
-The downtowns feel completely different. Baltimore's is centered around the harbor, whereas Philly's is in Center City, which has a much more traditional downtown feel to it. The heart of Center City feels absolutely nothing like the heart of downtown Baltimore.
-Philly feels much more ethnic and international than Baltimore. Philly has a real Chinatown, and South Philly feels much more authentically Italian. The Italian population in Philly is infinitely larger than Baltimore's and its influence is felt throughout the city. Philly also has a sizable Puerto Rican and Vietnamese population (although neither of these populations felt very pervasive to me). But overall, Philly has much more of an old-school ethnic feel than Baltimore.
-There is no equivalent to University City in Baltimore. This area continues to develop and grow in Philly. The closest thing in Baltimore would be the area around University of Maryland at Baltimore, which isn't nearly as lively, developed, or provide the entertainment, dining, living options that UCity does.
-I have only been to Druid Hill park in Baltimore once, and it seemed ok, but nothing like the scale or scenery of Fairmount Park in Philly.
-There is a tiny subway in Baltimore (that many people don't even know about). There is nothing like the the SEPTA in Philly, with the old school rail lines/subway combos akin to what you find in NY, Boston, and Chicago.
Outside of the "look" of a few of the residential areas, Philly and Baltimore are not very similar. Even the predominant row homes in Baltimore look a lot different. They tend to be shorter, flat (no porch), and very colorful. Now there are different styles, but this is the predominant style in Baltimore. You don't really see this style in Philly. They tend to be taller with porches.
Location: That star on your map in the middle of the East Coast, DMV
8,128 posts, read 7,547,924 times
Reputation: 5785
Quote:
Originally Posted by KodeBlue
What I'd like to know is why do posters highlight the fact that Philly is bigger than Baltimore, but never make that distinction between Baltimore and wilmington. Population wise, Baltimore is by far closer in scale to Philly than it is to Wilmington.
It's because of Center City, people think there first when they think of Philly. Then there's UC right across the river. Few cities match that feel.
But yes Baltimore is significantly bigger than Wilmington Delaware, in a mid-major league with Cleveland, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati etc. In the city it's actually bigger than those.
The "feel" of Baltimore to Wilmington neighborhoods is almost identical. Philly-Baltimore (outside of Center City) it may be at best 70-75% alike across the city, but that's still closer than most cities in this nation.
There's some slight mix with Richmond/Norfolk, but it's certainly not greater than the comparisons to Philadelphia. If you've really spent time in those places it's substantially different. For Norfolk it's really just the port. And those cities don't even have a subway/light rail. In fact the points about STL may be better than those two in VA.
Outside rowhomes (which in many cases don't even look similar), how are Baltimore and Philly so similar? I can never get a clear answer to this.
I agree with you that Richmond/Norfolk are not similar to Baltimore either.
The "feel" of Baltimore to Wilmington neighborhoods is almost identical. Philly-Baltimore (outside of Center City) it may be at best 70-75% alike across the city, but that's still closer than most cities in this nation.
There's some slight mix with Richmond/Norfolk, but it's certainly not greater than the comparisons to Philadelphia. If you've really spent time in those places it's substantially different. For Norfolk it's really just the port. And those cities don't even have a subway/light rail. In fact the points about STL may be better than those two in VA.
I think Wilmington could be considered a good comparison. Norfolk, VA does have light rail also though.
Outside rowhomes (which in many cases don't even look similar), how are Baltimore and Philly so similar? I can never get a clear answer to this.
I agree with you that Richmond/Norfolk are not similar to Baltimore either.
They are not similar. You don't see people from Philly or Baltimore saying that they are. Better yet, why would Baltimore want to be similar to Philly in the first place. You in particular, play up the notion that people think that the cities are similar that it fits into your own narrative that Baltimore thinks that it's a Northeastern city. Baltimore is not a Northeastern city, nor is it trying to be. Hell, Baltimore isn't even a mid-atlantic city. It is an old school, urban southern city.
I think Wilmington could be considered a good comparison. Norfolk, VA does have light rail also though.
Norfolk has light rail, and the Waterside area is a lot like the Inner Harbor, IMO. In fact the same design team designed Harborplace and Waterside Market.
Also, Baltimore and Norfolk might be the only two cities where I'll actually order crab cakes. They're trash in pretty much any other city.
I think the biggest difference might be housing stock. Norfolk bulldozed so much of the old city in the 1950s and 60s there are very few of the old rowhouses, houses, and Norfolk-style triple deckers left.
Norfolk has light rail, and the Waterside area is a lot like the Inner Harbor, IMO. In fact the same design team designed Harborplace and Waterside Market.
Also, Baltimore and Norfolk might be the only two cities where I'll actually order crab cakes. They're trash in pretty much any other city.
I think the biggest difference might be housing stock. Norfolk bulldozed so much of the old city in the 1950s and 60s there are very few of the old rowhouses, houses, and Norfolk-style triple deckers left.
The Baltimore area based Rouse Company built both of them.
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