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Other metros definitely have a node/nodes but I'm having a hard time thinking of too many comparable development patterns in it's peer cities. At least to the point where it's so blatant that downtown development stalled out for multiple decades. Nashville, Orlando, Portland, Sacramento, etc. don't have anything like it AFAIK. Charlotte and Denver to a degree, but I'm pretty sure it's just whatever is at Ballantyne and the Tech Center.
St. Louis, Kansas City and Minneapolis are kind of similar though. Maybe it was a time period thing? Seems like the bulk of the stuff around Clayton/Creve Coeur/Overland Park/Bloomington was built in the 70s-80s too.
Whatever the reason, it's kind of a shame in some ways.
Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood was developed at the height of the City Beautiful movement. Oakland and Downtown Pittsburgh are 3 miles apart and both areas are VERY urban. The urban centers served different needs but fed off one another considering their proximity to each another.
Someone upthread stated that Nashville passed Baltimore and Pittsburgh as far as construction. Nashville cannot compete with regards to connectivity and compact urbanism.
Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood was developed at the height of the City Beautiful movement. Oakland and Downtown Pittsburgh are 3 miles apart and both areas are VERY urban. The urban centers served different needs but fed off one another considering their proximity to each another.
Someone upthread stated that Nashville passed Baltimore and Pittsburgh as far as construction. Nashville cannot compete with regards to connectivity and compact urbanism.
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Agree, and an urbanism advantage many legacy cities will always have.
Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood was developed at the height of the City Beautiful movement. Oakland and Downtown Pittsburgh are 3 miles apart and both areas are VERY urban. The urban centers served different needs but fed off one another considering their proximity to each another.
Someone upthread stated that Nashville passed Baltimore and Pittsburgh as far as construction. Nashville cannot compete with regards to connectivity and compact urbanism.
I'd don't think anyone seriously believes Nashville or Charlotte and Austin for that matter are more built up than Pittsburgh or Baltimore, but in the context of this thread, Nashville has all passed Baltimore and arguably Pittsburgh in objective numerical skyscraper construction.
What Baltimore & Pittsburgh excel in are "mid-rises". Pittsburgh has +130 buildings over 10 stories/115' tall. Baltimore is pushing 200 by that same metric.
I'd don't think anyone seriously believes Nashville or Charlotte and Austin for that matter are more built up than Pittsburgh or Baltimore, but in the context of this thread, Nashville has all passed Baltimore and arguably Pittsburgh in objective numerical skyscraper construction.
What Baltimore & Pittsburgh excel in are "mid-rises". Pittsburgh has +130 buildings over 10 stories/115' tall. Baltimore is pushing 200 by that same metric.
To me midrises makes a city.
The built environment in those photos are awesome.
Lots of the newer skyscrapers, even in some city cores gives suburban office park vibes
To me midrises makes a city.
The built environment in those photos are awesome.
Lots of the newer skyscrapers, even in some city cores gives suburban office park vibes
Mid-rises definitely contribute to a cities “breadth” or “broad shoulders” feel.
That being said, what Nashville, Austin & Charlotte have built in the last decade is nothing short of impressive they just happen to be vastly different cities on the ground than their northern counterparts.
The Pittsburgh/Baltimore differentiator is townhouses. They don't particularly stand out in six-story or 10-story buildings.
Much of the country has a large percentage of its growth in woodframe housing of the 4-8-story varieties. Same with suburban offices, which can go a little taller since they're concrete. Many cities are typically building dozens of buildings in these ranges.
The Pittsburgh/Baltimore differentiator is townhouses. They don't particularly stand out in six-story or 10-story buildings.
Much of the country has a large percentage of its growth in woodframe housing of the 4-8-story varieties. Same with suburban offices, which can go a little taller since they're concrete. Many cities are typically building dozens of buildings in these ranges.
Yeah, I'm not sure where to find these numbers but I very much doubt that Baltimore has more 10 story buildings than Austin. What is visibly different about the cities is that Baltimore has attached brick row houses everywhere, and they come right to the street. Austin has very little "missing middle". It has one of the highest rates of apartment living in the US and is otherwise mostly standalone SFH that have front yards and trees. It also has a lot more auto-friendly infrastructure like wide streets and readily available parking, so even the apartment buildings have more of a suburban layout compared to a legacy city.
The Pittsburgh/Baltimore differentiator is townhouses. They don't particularly stand out in six-story or 10-story buildings.
Much of the country has a large percentage of its growth in woodframe housing of the 4-8-story varieties. Same with suburban offices, which can go a little taller since they're concrete. Many cities are typically building dozens of buildings in these ranges.
2023 ranking of the “tallest” US skylines by building type.
Yeah, I'm not sure where to find these numbers but I very much doubt that Baltimore has more 10 story buildings than Austin. What is visibly different about the cities is that Baltimore has attached brick row houses everywhere, and they come right to the street. Austin has very little "missing middle". It has one of the highest rates of apartment living in the US and is otherwise mostly standalone SFH that have front yards and trees. It also has a lot more auto-friendly infrastructure like wide streets and readily available parking, so even the apartment buildings have more of a suburban layout compared to a legacy city.
By number of buildings over +12 stories, Baltimore is currently ranked #21. Austin is #26 per the link above.
It'd be nice if this article gave the raw numbers. I'm not sure what their source is but looks to be pretty dated.
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