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The Tenderloin? It's a neighborhood of what 10 city blocks, tops. Any older city has 10 gritty city blocks. Gritty parts of San Fran are the Mission and Hunters Point. And still those parts of town look like Beverly Hills compared to much of Detroit.
And if you've really been to Houston; you'll be able to determine if it is or not. I shouldn't have to prove it to you through pictures (which pictures don't do any type of justice considering the city is VERY large).
True...
Anyone who has been to Houston at all knows we have some very gritty areas (unfortunately). Show them some pics of Alief, 3rd or 5th wards or greenspoint for the person that does not believe it.
NY is not the most gritty city anymore. Alot of the city looks far better than it did in the 1970's (the height of its grittiness)
Detroit, Buffalo, Cleveland, Chicago and Philly are the "grittiest" overall
The Tenderloin? It's a neighborhood of what 10 city blocks, tops. Any older city has 10 gritty city blocks. Gritty parts of San Fran are the Mission and Hunters Point. And still those parts of town look like Beverly Hills compared to much of Detroit.
What is your definition of grit? Abandoned neighborhoods full of bombed out falling apart buildings and empty lots that are slowly getting reclaimed by nature? Is that alone "grit" to you? Because yes, in that case then SF as well as as MOST OTHER cities in the US look like Beverly Hills compared to Detroit. The tenderloin is also just as gritty as HP and the Mission in terms of grime and shady people out and about. You're more likely to, i dunno, get car jacked or something in HP or the Mission though. As far as abandoned buildings, the TL, HP and Mission all have their share (not Detroit level abandonment, obviously), though i'd put HP first, followed by the Mission and TL.
Also, the Tenderloin is more than "10 blocks." Try 40-50 square blocks. Go count them out on google maps if you don't believe me.
when i think of gritty I think blue-collared over anything else. This working class influence is seen culturally, socially, and visually. San Fran would not be included in this list imo.
Location: northern Vermont - previously NM, WA, & MA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cmo1984
In Boston, Southie is no longer gritty, nor is East Cambridge. Roxbury is still "gritty" in that sense the poster described. East Boston and Chelsea though are def gritty.
The dynamic of residents in Southie may have changed and neighborhood is somewhat gentrified but by appearences Southie remains most definitely gritty. Same triple decker homes, the monstrosity power plant, and industrial waterfront are all still there
Location: Concrete jungle where dreams are made of.
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Ok, this is NOT gritty at all. Looked up those areas in Houston. Gritty means lots of old buildings, cars all over, graffiti. This doesn't even look like a city. Our suburbs are more dense than this. Thanks for the laugh...
Pittsburgh is very gritty in some parts. Add the entire Upper Ohio Valley to that list too.
I find being surrounded by grit depresses me. I just got back from eastern Ohio (Bellaire, Martins Ferry) and although they are not major cities, both are just plain gritty and depressing.
When I'm in a gritty area for a while, I start feeling gritty myself. I grew up in a gritty area and it does something to your psyche.
I was so happy to return to my bland, yet not gritty, suburb.
Anyone who has been to Houston at all knows we have some very gritty areas (unfortunately). Show them some pics of Alief, 3rd or 5th wards or greenspoint for the person that does not believe it.
NY is not the most gritty city anymore. Alot of the city looks far better than it did in the 1970's (the height of its grittiness)
Detroit, Buffalo, Cleveland, Chicago and Philly are the "grittiest" overall
I'd have to agree with your choices.
As regards San Francisco -- gritty? FFS! A beautiful city, no doubt, but most definitely NOT gritty. San Francisco is "Legoland." If it has "grit," it's "toy grit."
Now Oakland, on the other hand...THERE is a gritty city.
Finally, shouldn't this question really be inverted? Nearly all the American cities I have been too have significant "gritty" elements. Wouldn't it make more sense to hone in on major or mid-size American cities that are "not gritty? (despite some "gritty" elements)"
Major "Not Gritty" city: Minneapolis-St. Paul (the only "non-gritty" rustbelt city!)
There was a book written in 1978 by Mary Procter which was actually called "Gritty Cities". It is a collection of photos and histories of several smaller gritty cities. Included in that book were:
Allentown, PA
Bethlehem, PA
Lancaster, PA
Reading, PA
Paterson, NJ
Trenton, NJ
Hoboken, NJ
Bridgeport, CT
Norwich, CT
Waterbury, CT
Troy, NY
Wilmington, DE
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