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Location: East Central Pennsylvania/ Chicago for 6yrs.
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The city that INTRIGUES me is still CHICAGO.... where I lived a few years. Despite its All Capone Era and claims of politically corrupt. I'd sat that is on ALL cities small and large. And on their County level. But .... what intrigues me is it STILL made great choices in. It CHOSE after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
It would rebuild better. It created a Wider Street. It chose a full Alleyway system. Where the Power lines were run. It grave Frontage to all neighborhoods as to provide green space and Tree-Lined Streets. Early in the 20th century Street levels were raised.
The Chicago River was REVERSED to flow to the Mississippi. Rather then continue to pollute Lake Michigan and its Water supply. Controversial yes... but it did its goal and spared the Lake.
Its Downtown was ripe with Areas to Build new from scratch. It even utilized AIR-RIGHTS over Railroad beds. To created Parks and skyscrapers over them.
But PRESERVING ITS LAKEFRONT FROM INDUSTRY. was a GREAT accomplishment. Creating Parks , Harbors and BEACHES even in its downtown.... goes against the stereotype.
The Vast majority of visitors/tourist are Impressed with its downtown today. To how clean it is to how MODERN it is.
Its neighborhoods AVOIDED TIGHT ROW HOMES. opting for Singles or 2-3 flats with separation. It CREATED A NEW PRE-SUBURB HOUSING FOR THE NEW EVOLVING MIDDLE-CLASS. Its AMERICAN ARCHITECT, Frank Lloyd Wright inspired CRAFTSMAN BUNGALOW BELT housing for the masses SINGLES WITH CENTRAL HEATING 1910 to 1940. WITH FULL BASEMENTS. Becoming 1/3 of the City. FRONT LAWNS and Back yards.... a FULL alleyway system with garages built as the Automobile era came. GARBAGE PICK-UP and ugly Power-line poles in the Alleys, Sparing the Fronts.
Other things I could mention.... But enough for now. It is a ICONIC.. MOST AMERICAN CITY. It did not follow European styles.
I find Seattle's location very interesting. The city is located on an isthmus between the salt water Puget Sound and freshwater Lake Washington. The city itself is quite hilly but not too far outside of the city are the towering Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges. What an incredibly beautiful setting for a city.
San Diego-near Tijuana, Mexico
Detroit-near and North of Canada
New Orleans-below sea level, surrounded by marshes
Miami-pretty much in the Caribbean, only tropical major city on the mainland
As far as intriguing smaller communities go, the town of Point Roberts, WA comes to mind. Unless by boat, you have to leave the country to go anywhere.
Albuquerque, NM with the magnificent Sandia Crest to the east and the mesa country to the west. The setting sun hitting the Crest is a show stopper. Not to mention the tri-cultural aspect of the city which gives it a flavor very few other places can match.
Cairo, IL. Why did it take this long for somebody to mention Cairo, at the base of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, after the Missouri joins the Mississippi in St. Louis? Cairo and Chicago -- both in IL -- are two amazingly located cities, and I cannot believe Cairo is still obsolescent today!
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