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To be fair, the ice storm is keeping many people off the streets, and especially the sidewalks, today.
There's always an excuse. Lol. I walked three miles from Elmwood/Bidwell to downtown on Wednesday night after Caffe Aroma closed...my eventual cab driver couldn't believe my 'courage' in weathering those conditions. The sidewalk conditions were fine. I'm more reluctant to repeat the journey tonight, as sidewalks alternate between clear and ice-covered, from what I saw earlier.
Sometime I'm going to commission a 'street team' of people to count 'pedestrians per square mile' in the supposedly vibrant districts of Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse...I think it would be an instructive exercise. There is not enough vibrancy anywhere in Upstate NY to support a sustained feeling of communal well-being.
Good post. It's not the ratio of abandoned neighborhoods or their demography makeup that makes me curious. Understood that those characteristics transcend this discussion. My guess is that it hasn't seen the raw metro growth of an Indy, Cbus, or Omaha. Though I'll have to look at the numbers to be sure. What makes me curious is the ratio of land acquisition to population growth in that time frame. 400% land growth to only 10% population growth. As far as I can tell no other city comes close to the disparity seen in KC. If most of that growth has happened in undeveloped prairie over that time my impression would be that the 80sq mi original core would be quite thinned.
I compiled numbers somewhere where I looked at the city population/land/ and metro growth over that time for several cities. When I get home I'll look it up and see if it's worthy of adding to this discussion.
Given your numbers, KC experienced 300% land growth, not 400%. 80 --> 320 sq mi = 300% growth (despite the 4x multiplier). But point taken. Also it's no surprise eschaton makes a good post; he always makes good posts
There's always an excuse. Lol. I walked three miles from Elmwood/Bidwell to downtown on Wednesday night after Caffe Aroma closed...my eventual cab driver couldn't believe my 'courage' in weathering those conditions. The sidewalk conditions were fine. I'm more reluctant to repeat the journey tonight, as sidewalks alternate between clear and ice-covered, from what I saw earlier.
Sometime I'm going to commission a 'street team' of people to count 'pedestrians per square mile' in the supposedly vibrant districts of Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse...I think it would be an instructive exercise. There is not enough vibrancy anywhere in Upstate NY to support a sustained feeling of communal well-being.
Unfortunately, that's true through most of the US these days. My relatives from Dallas call Buffalo "busy town" compared to where they are from. I lived for years (and paid more than I wanted to) in what was described as the "most walkable" neighborhood of Houston, but the average pedestrian density was typically 1 person per block (me). Our Russian visitors couldn't believe that Houston was the 4th largest city in the US because they would see no people on the streets.
Buffalo, and other Rust Belt cities, take for granted that there are streets and neighborhoods where it is still possible to affordably live and walk without needing a car, even if they are not bustling. I can say by experience that it most certainly isn't true everywhere. But, even though my area is very walkable, I have neighbors that never venture beyond the end of their driveway unless it is on 4 wheels. I plan on trying to keep my 2 legs moving as much and as long as possible, and where I live in Buffalo works for me.
There's always an excuse. Lol. I walked three miles from Elmwood/Bidwell to downtown on Wednesday night after Caffe Aroma closed...my eventual cab driver couldn't believe my 'courage' in weathering those conditions. The sidewalk conditions were fine. I'm more reluctant to repeat the journey tonight, as sidewalks alternate between clear and ice-covered, from what I saw earlier.
Sometime I'm going to commission a 'street team' of people to count 'pedestrians per square mile' in the supposedly vibrant districts of Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse...I think it would be an instructive exercise. There is not enough vibrancy anywhere in Upstate NY to support a sustained feeling of communal well-being.
I'll say this...In Syracuse, in terms of "communal well being", I'd actually say Westcott offers much of that, but in a different way. if you are talking about vibrancy in terms of people being around, the Downtown districts of Armory Square and Hanover square, as well as some of the pubs in Tipperary Hill will offer that for the most part. I guess you can throw in this district when school is in session and due to the multiple hospitals nearby: https://crousemarshall.com/ https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0415...7i16384!8i8192
I'll say this...In Syracuse, in terms of "communal well being", I'd actually say Westcott offers much of that, but in a different way. if you are talking about vibrancy in terms of people being around, the Downtown districts of Armory Square and Hanover square, as well as some of the pubs in Tipperary Hill will offer that for the most part. I guess you can throw in this district when school is in session and due to the multiple hospitals nearby: https://crousemarshall.com/ https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0415...7i16384!8i8192
I'll probably be near Syracuse for several days in mid-late March when the World Series of Poker circuit event hits Turning Stone, and I plan to try to get to the city a couple times (because there's absolutely nothing in Verona NY besides the casino itself). Last I was in Syracuse (city itself) was in the spring of maybe 2018, when I (white atheist that I am) attempted to go see Cornel West speak at some black church, but I got lost and just started driving around the city. There was absolutely nothing to see. This was a Sunday afternoon...I took a walk near SU, and no one was around except a cop who drove by me multiple times at a slow speed. Armory Square looked decent but there was no activity at that hour and the rest of the city was quite frankly depressing
Unfortunately, that's true through most of the US these days. My relatives from Dallas call Buffalo "busy town" compared to where they are from. I lived for years (and paid more than I wanted to) in what was described as the "most walkable" neighborhood of Houston, but the average pedestrian density was typically 1 person per block (me). Our Russian visitors couldn't believe that Houston was the 4th largest city in the US because they would see no people on the streets.
Buffalo, and other Rust Belt cities, take for granted that there are streets and neighborhoods where it is still possible to affordably live and walk without needing a car, even if they are not bustling. I can say by experience that it most certainly isn't true everywhere. But, even though my area is very walkable, I have neighbors that never venture beyond the end of their driveway unless it is on 4 wheels. I plan on trying to keep my 2 legs moving as much and as long as possible, and where I live in Buffalo works for me.
Yeah, I do think you're largely right here. There's some anecdote I remember where the LA cops approached and harassed sci-fi author Ray Bradbury back in the day for having the gall to walk through a stretch of not-frequently-walked part of LA (and at night!) and asking him what he was doing. His response: 'Putting one foot in front of the other.'
I'll probably be near Syracuse for several days in mid-late March when the World Series of Poker circuit event hits Turning Stone, and I plan to try to get to the city a couple times (because there's absolutely nothing in Verona NY besides the casino itself). Last I was in Syracuse (city itself) was in the spring of maybe 2018, when I (white atheist that I am) attempted to go see Cornel West speak at some black church, but I got lost and just started driving around the city. There was absolutely nothing to see. This was a Sunday afternoon...I took a walk near SU, and no one was around except a cop who drove by me multiple times at a slow speed. Armory Square looked decent but there was no activity at that hour and the rest of the city was quite frankly depressing
Yeah, you came on a Sunday afternoon, when some people were probably just waking up or taking it easy. I'd say to come on a Friday or Saturday afternoon/evening, if you can in the areas mentioned. Especially the Downtown districts.
Another option may be to go to Utica's Varick Street/Brewery District just west of Downtown.
Last edited by ckhthankgod; 02-24-2023 at 08:32 PM..
Yeah, you came on a Sunday afternoon, when some people were probably just waking up or taking it easy. I'd say to come on a Friday or Saturday afternoon/evening, if you can in the areas mentioned. Especially the Downtown districts.
Another option may be to go to Utica's Varick Street/Brewery District just west of Downtown.
I'd be up for checking out either/both in the evening. Couple friends and I may AirBnB a house in the area for a week. I'm a big fan of breweries and would love to check out both cities at night (yes, even Utica, hah)
I'd be up for checking out either/both in the evening. Couple friends and I may AirBnB a house in the area for a week. I'm a big fan of breweries and would love to check out both cities at night (yes, even Utica, hah)
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