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RESIDENTIAL - I don't know about Austin, but Nashville has added a large amount of residential high-rise buildings in both districts but is about to 'explode' even more with such growth. As many as 50 residential buildings over 15 stories are either under construction or planned in the near future.
Looking at the population densities, Nashville is easily the least-dense of these three residentially. The most dense census track near downtown Nashville is around Music Row / Vandy, and it only gets to about 12k ppsqm. Charlotte goes as high as 28k ppsqm and Austin actually gets all the way to 72k ppsqm in this area of West Campus.
Within Florida I’d rank it as follows:
1. Miami / Miami Beach
2. St. Petersburg
2. Orlando
4. Tampa
5. Ft Lauderdale
6. Jacksonville
7. Sarasota
St Pete and Orlando are about even right now. Sarasota is last here, but it’s better than you’d think for a city that size so it might crack the top 30 in the Southern US.
Looking outside of FL, I think you have Greenville underrated. It’s pretty good, roughly on par with Charleston.
This is my take on Florida as well. Orlando and St. Pete are definitely above Ft Lauderdale. Tampa, a bit more debatable, as its core is still quite lacking.
Orlando has been making huge strides these past two decades, if only overlooked due to its relative lack of highrises. Multiple stadiums, performing arts centers, highly walkable throughout... Just needs to step it up in terms of retail, which is likely soon to change with the new Creative Village and UCF campus popping up on the west side.
I'd actually add in West Palm Beach to this list, and either place it before or after Tampa, above Fort Lauderdale.
Which cities have the top amenities for residential, office, entertainment, hospitality and retail, in the southern US? If you combine their downtown and midtown areas--if the city has a district defined as such.
My top rankings would go like this, in 2022, in my opinion:
30 El Paso
29 Greenville
28 Knoxville
27 Virginia Beach
26 Winston Salem
25 Little Rock
24 Savannah
23 Chattanooga
22 Louisville
21 Jacksonville
20 Raleigh
19 Fort Worth
18 Oklahoma City
17 Charleston
16 Memphis
15 Birmingham
14 Orlando
13 Richmond
12 Tampa
11 St Petersburg
10 Fort Lauderdale
9 San Antonio
8 Austin
7 Nashville
6 Charlotte
5 New Orleans
4 Houston
3 Dallas
2 Atlanta
1 Miami
Thoughts and opinions?
Does Virginia Beach include Norfolk or was the ranking based on Virginia Beach alone? Even Virginia Beach alone should probably be at least ranked above Chattanooga. Virginia Beach is the largest city in Virginia by population and is also a major east coast tourist destination. It should really be top 10 based on hospitality and entertainment. Not to mention it has a pretty strong office market with the development of Town center. Between Town center and the Oceanfront district it certainly offers as much as Ft. Lauderdale or St. Petersburg.
Does Virginia Beach include Norfolk or was the ranking based on Virginia Beach alone? Even Virginia Beach alone should probably be at least ranked above Chattanooga. Virginia Beach is the largest city in Virginia by population and is also a major east coast tourist destination. It should really be top 10 based on hospitality and entertainment. Not to mention it has a pretty strong office market with the development of Town center. Between Town center and the Oceanfront district it certainly offers as much as Ft. Lauderdale or St. Petersburg.
As much as Ft Lauderdale, I can agree with.
St. Pete? Nah. Not close.
St. Pete is ranked too low on that list.
Ft Lauderdale way too high. West Palm Beach should be included in that list, as it is (IMO) easily South Florida's second busiest, most robust "downtown" area, after Miami. Ft Lauderdale's downtown doesn't have much going on, quite possibly hampered by being too close to Miami.
Which cities have the top amenities for residential, office, entertainment, hospitality and retail, in the southern US? If you combine their downtown and midtown areas--if the city has a district defined as such.
My top rankings would go like this, in 2022, in my opinion:
30 El Paso
29 Greenville
28 Knoxville
27 Virginia Beach
26 Winston Salem
25 Little Rock
24 Savannah
23 Chattanooga
22 Louisville
21 Jacksonville
20 Raleigh
19 Fort Worth
18 Oklahoma City
17 Charleston
16 Memphis
15 Birmingham
14 Orlando
13 Richmond
12 Tampa
11 St Petersburg
10 Fort Lauderdale
9 San Antonio
8 Austin
7 Nashville
6 Charlotte
5 New Orleans
4 Houston
3 Dallas
2 Atlanta
1 Miami
Thoughts and opinions?
I'd add Columbus, GA in the mix. It's an up and coming under-the-radar city with a great UpTown and the longest urban whitewater course in America.
I think by 2030, Nashville and Austin will be ahead of Charlotte, with most of these metrics.
The way both cities are booming with hotels, residential and even office--it is leading many hotspot restaurants, bars, and heavy hitting retail to come to both cities.
Charlotte is continuing to grow very fast too, but I think the differentiator between Charlotte and Nashville/Austin, is that Charlotte does not have that tourist/entertainment/excitement branding that the others do.
Also, since so much of Charlotte is focused on the financial sector, a lot of their growth rises and falls with how that sector is doing. They have been diversifying much more the past decade or so, but they still are a heavy finance city.
You guys have no idea about Charlotte at all. Neither one of those cities cores is better than Charlottes core or will pass it in the next few either. Charlote is ahead of both right now and is adding on and growing as we speak. Charlotte's core includes downtown, Midtown, SouthEnd, NoDa, Plaza MidWood, Dilworth, Wilmore, Wesley Heights, Enderly, Camp North End, etc... Charlotte's light rail extends Charlotte's core for miles beyond Nashville or Austin. These are both fine cities but, they are not there yet....
You guys have no idea about Charlotte at all. Neither one of those cities cores is better than Charlottes core or will pass it in the next few either. Charlote is ahead of both right now and is adding on and growing as we speak. Charlotte's core includes downtown, Midtown, SouthEnd, NoDa, Plaza MidWood, Dilworth, Wilmore, Wesley Heights, Enderly, Camp North End, etc... Charlotte's light rail extends Charlotte's core for miles beyond Nashville or Austin. These are both fine cities but, they are not there yet....
C-D loves to boost cities with highrise construction, ignoring the fact that midrise infill, corporate presence, proper transit, etc., all contribute far more to an urban core than a few tall buildings (which Charlotte isn't lacking either.)
Major sunbelt cities are all exploding. Nashville and Austin seem to be the main ones being talked about here (again, due to highrises.) But Orlando, Charlotte, Raleigh, Tampa... All are booming just as fast, if not faster, than Nashville, and are right behind Austin.
Guaranteed the counterargument you will get from your post will involve highrises. Charlotte is exploding, and is looking more and more like Atlanta with each passing year.
You guys have no idea about Charlotte at all. Neither one of those cities cores is better than Charlottes core or will pass it in the next few either. Charlote is ahead of both right now and is adding on and growing as we speak. Charlotte's core includes downtown, Midtown, SouthEnd, NoDa, Plaza MidWood, Dilworth, Wilmore, Wesley Heights, Enderly, Camp North End, etc... Charlotte's light rail extends Charlotte's core for miles beyond Nashville or Austin. These are both fine cities but, they are not there yet....
With my limited time in Austin and many many time in Charlotte, Austin definitely has a better core.
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