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I agree wholeheartedly. It is so much quicker and easier and a heck of a lot more convenient to be outside in 90 degree plus temperatures in nothing more than a t shirt, shorts and flip flops than having to dress in layers of clothing, including gloves, ski mask and snow boots in order to walk around outside in zero degree weather.
I find it so much easier to beat the heat and humidity in the summer than to fight the cold, wind, ice and snow in the winter.
This is kind of an exaggeration of winter weather for many of the Northern cities being referred to. However, the thing that would hinder walkability in Northern cities is clearance of snow on sidewalks, as the municipal system for clearing them is a key in terms of maintaining walkability through the winter. This will depend on the amount of snowfall as well.
I agree wholeheartedly. It is so much quicker and easier and a heck of a lot more convenient to be outside in 90 degree plus temperatures in nothing more than a t shirt, shorts and flip flops than having to dress in layers of clothing, including gloves, ski mask and snow boots in order to walk around outside in zero degree weather.
I find it so much easier to beat the heat and humidity in the summer than to fight the cold, wind, ice and snow in the winter.
"communal" yards don't count to me, it's no different than going to a park
Nah, I mean when people own the rowhouse and the yard is just theirs. It used to be a lot more commonplace in NYC, but the real estate prices and family sizes makes that unlikely these days. Also, even when they are converted to multiple units, a lot of times only the ground floor is allowed to use the yard (since people have to pass through someone’s dwelling to use it.
I know several people in Philadelphia who have the whole rowhouse (those trinity houses are adorable), and all of three people who own and live in their entire own rowhouse in Brooklyn.
I agree wholeheartedly. It is so much quicker and easier and a heck of a lot more convenient to be outside in 90 degree plus temperatures in nothing more than a t shirt, shorts and flip flops than having to dress in layers of clothing, including gloves, ski mask and snow boots in order to walk around outside in zero degree weather.
I find it so much easier to beat the heat and humidity in the summer than to fight the cold, wind, ice and snow in the winter.
I feel the opposite way—I can’t take off layers of skin and flesh for the heat and humidity, but I can put on layers for the cold.
I swear by that heattech stuff from Uniqlo. Super lightweight, thin, and warm.
Regardless, it’s good that some cities in the south are working towarda having more walkable neighborhoods. I remember Richmond being pretty great for a smaller city.
I think this is more of a general thing too though, that things are structured that way, perhaps because in part of the climate? In a southern city, it would seem to matter less about walking a distance between places in the elements, vs. a place like London, Paris, etc., that do have cooler climates, but have stuff so close together that it doesn't feel as taxing to walk a great distance to something vs. how it would feel if it were more spread out. I don't know exactly, but of course, there are a number of cities in Latin America that have this too and offset that theory, so I would ultimately it was places that developed pre automobile, and the American north did that much more so than the American south.
I'm sure it's already been said, cities in the north and Midwest developed before cars. People actually walked to work. Then after air conditioning when the sunbelt cities were developing in the 80 s malls with big parking were all the rage. Now the subnet cities are putting in urban neighborhoods.
NYC is easily mostly apartments/condos. Usually in the style of tenements, brownstones, townhouses, highrises, rowhomes, or generic walkups. But they easily outnumber SFHs. The only borough where SFHs rule is Staten Island. Queens would be next as it is very mixed with housing style, but many homes in Queens that appear as SFHs are actually apartments. BK and BX do see them, but they are somewhat of a rarity, and are only really in the far outskirt areas. And then Manhattan has only one SFH on the whole Island. A giant mansion in The UWS.
I guess I wasn't making a distinction between single family homes and detached single family homes. To me there is a big difference between living in a walk up apartment and owning a brown stone, but I'm sure to lots of people there is no big difference.
Anyway, again, NYC isn't a great example to compare most places to, it's too unique.
I thought this conversation was about CBDs, downtown areas.
Desirability for walkability outside of downtown areas seems more related to if you want to drive a car or not.
From a time standpoint, driving is generally going to be quicker and it seems like going to a grocery store or a Home Depot type store would be problematic without a vehicle, if you are buying a lot of stuff or large items.
sorry that I mislead you. I brought up CBD because usually urban=high walkability, but it's not limited to that, for instance a small town can be considered very walkable. Also the most walkable neighborhoods tend to be near the CBD, that's why I brought it up. But another way of increasing walkability would be urban villages, Seattle has a few so I will show you what I'm talking about
"Urban renewal" killed the Westend in Boston. And the shopping outlets that have since gone out of business killed urban downtown Worcester.
For urban walkable cities in the northeast the 60's 70's and 80's weren't friends
Is it fair to say that Worcester is the least walkable city in New England ?
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