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SE Queens might lack subway service, with the exception of Far Rockaway, which is actually exceptionally urban considering how close it is to Long Island. But the buses get A LOT of use, the Q5 goes down Merrick Blvd at a frequency of every 2 minutes during peak. Some neighborhoods are getting more and more dense as more 4 family houses get built.
Although I think South Jamaica is actually more like middle of the road as far as NYC urbanity. 27k per square mile, pretty walkable, etc.
I live in a suburb of NYC and my neighborhood looks like this, definitely at the higher end for suburbs IMO
I'd be curious to hear your opinions on what this would be. I consider it high density suburbs.
I completely agree that that it high density suburban. It could be in any of the places I mentioned in another post, like parts of Essex/Union Counties or the South Shore of Long Island. I am guessing that is Long Island South ashore. I just have a feeling.
SE Queens might lack subway service, with the exception of Far Rockaway, which is actually exceptionally urban considering how close it is to Long Island. But the buses get A LOT of use, the Q5 goes down Merrick Blvd at a frequency of every 2 minutes during peak. Some neighborhoods are getting more and more dense as more 4 family houses get built.
Although I think South Jamaica is actually more like middle of the road as far as NYC urbanity. 27k per square mile, pretty walkable, etc.
I live in a suburb of NYC and my neighborhood looks like this, definitely at the higher end for suburbs IMO
I'd be curious to hear your opinions on what this would be. I consider it high density suburbs.
Those pictures remind me of Rockville Centre/Western Baldwin. Maybe the area around South Side High School. I don't know where those pictures are from though. If it's either one of those towns, they are both nice communities and you are probably happy living there.
Easily, without a doubt. Even for CBD neighborhoods. In any other city in America this would be the center of the CBD or prime “Downtown” neighborhoods. Are there any cities that even reach those levels of density even within their CBD? And these all have subway access too. Definitely a huge step up from the SouthEast Queens ones from earlier. This is way past the line of urban/suburban.
Here you have rowhome style buildings with private parking/driveways one side and the other side has tiny lawns instead of driveways. But down the block it turns into mid rise apartment buildings. So this street right here be my ideal transition area where I would draw the line between urban/suburban.
Yeah definitely way past the point of the suburban/urban cutoff, I was just wondering if my use of "extremely urban" to describe the West Bronx is correct.
I agree that the West Bronx is easily more urban than most US city's CBDs. The only places that seem to top it are parts of Manhattan, and maybe parts of Chicago?
I think the Rego Park streetview you posted is pretty solidly passed the point of that cutoff too, I can't think of a single place considered the suburbs where the housing stock looks like that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by geographybee
Those pictures remind me of Rockville Centre/Western Baldwin. Maybe the area around South Side High School. I don't know where those pictures are from though. If it's either one of those towns, they are both nice communities and you are probably happy living there.
Yep, Northwestern Baldwin! I love it here, even though I'm more of a city guy. This is probably my favorite place on Long Island.
The second set of pictures is Northeast Baldwin, though.
Yeah definitely way past the point of the suburban/urban cutoff, I was just wondering if my use of "extremely urban" to describe the West Bronx is correct.
I agree that the West Bronx is easily more urban than most US city's CBDs. The only places that seem to top it are parts of Manhattan, and maybe parts of Chicago?
I think the Rego Park streetview you posted is pretty solidly passed the point of that cutoff too, I can't think of a single place considered the suburbs where the housing stock looks like that.
Yep, Northwestern Baldwin! I love it here, even though I'm more of a city guy. This is probably my favorite place on Long Island.
The second set of pictures is Northeast Baldwin, though.
I think that Rego Park streetview is a transitionary area, not fully urban or suburban, where I personally would draw the line. But to me that is on the line. The urban side of the line sure, but on or just past the line. It’s definitely not completely suburban but it has suburban qualities. I’ll call it Sub-suburban.
Private driveways for parking are a suburban thing IMO, and so are private lawns with fences around them. Those homes have either one or the other, but not both so it stops them from being completely suburban. And they don’t have garages either, plus they are attached rowhomes — actually a lot of these are probably apartments instead of single homes. But I guess I’m really just talking about appearance for the most part. Rego Park in general is definitely a very urban neighborhood overall, so I’m really just talking about that one streetview shot in isolation, just to be clear.
Obviously, this is in terms of build, so I think they all look suburban with the possible exception of three, maybe. I don't consider something urban in build unless it is predominantly apartment complex towers like is the case in South Korea (and other places, but I have less experience with them).
Obviously, this is in terms of build, so I think they all look suburban with the possible exception of three, maybe. I don't consider something urban in build unless it is predominantly apartment complex towers like is the case in South Korea (and other places, but I have less experience with them).
I don't associate apartment towers with urbanity. London and Paris aren't filled with apartment towers, and contrary to popular belief, neither is NYC. It's interesting that you mention South Korea, a place where apartment towers are definitely not associated with urbanity. My father-in-law lives somewhere that looks exactly like this (same developer) and it isn't even remotely urban.
I don't associate apartment towers with urbanity. London and Paris aren't filled with apartment towers, and contrary to popular belief, neither is NYC. It's interesting that you mention South Korea, a place where apartment towers are definitely not associated with urbanity. My father-in-law lives somewhere that looks exactly like this (same developer) and it isn't even remotely urban.
Apartment complexes are not the only requirements for being urban, I actually define an urban area based on commute numbers completely regardless of build, but I cannot see anything else just from the OP's pictures that would lead me to believe they are otherwise urban. And, yes, I don't consider all of London, Paris, or NYC to be urban in the build sense.
Someone already said it but I'll agree that an urban lifestyle is one that can be experienced without the use of a car. That said, I think that many Americans want to have it both ways. They want their car, their "suburban" lifestyle and be immediately on the edge of a walkable urban area for when they want to ditch the car.
I think that Rego Park streetview is a transitionary area, not fully urban or suburban, where I personally would draw the line. But to me that is on the line. The urban side of the line sure, but on or just past the line. It’s definitely not completely suburban but it has suburban qualities. I’ll call it Sub-suburban.
Private driveways for parking are a suburban thing IMO, and so are private lawns with fences around them. Those homes have either one or the other, but not both so it stops them from being completely suburban. And they don’t have garages either, plus they are attached rowhomes — actually a lot of these are probably apartments instead of single homes. But I guess I’m really just talking about appearance for the most part. Rego Park in general is definitely a very urban neighborhood overall, so I’m really just talking about that one streetview shot in isolation, just to be clear.
I mean, I think the fact that they're a consistent strip of rowhomes or maybe even multifamily disqualifies them from being suburban. That's just my opinion, but if the average Long Islander woke up tomorrow morning and their block looked like that, they'd have a heart attack.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gladhands
I don't associate apartment towers with urbanity. London and Paris aren't filled with apartment towers, and contrary to popular belief, neither is NYC. It's interesting that you mention South Korea, a place where apartment towers are definitely not associated with urbanity. My father-in-law lives somewhere that looks exactly like this (same developer) and it isn't even remotely urban.
Right, I think Bushwick and Bed Stuy are more urban than Co-op city for instance.
However I don't think apartment towers are unurban either, of course. Chelsea has a lot and I think it's an extremely urban neighborhood.
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