What Metro Area has the most "ticky tack" ugly commercial development? (houses, zoning)

[Refugee56]

I love to travel cross country by car but recently I have been saddened how many cities and towns have been spoiled by over development that is not architecturally or environmentally pleasing. There are some really ugly developments out there. I remember when the area was a beautiful meadow or forest, but it was built with no concern about appearances.

There can be development that is both economically healthy but still environmentally sound and attractive but some communities do not have much of this.

What city or metro area has the most development that does not have any redeeming qualities architecturally or visually?

[SouthCali4LifeSD]

phoenix

[blkgiraffe]

Houston! This city really needs to get some zoning because the sidewalks suck, large parking lots,too many parking garages,etc.

[Newarkbomb]

Originally Posted by jluke65780

Houston! This city really needs to get some zoning because the sidewalks suck, large parking lots,too many parking garages,etc.

I've heard that about Houston.


Tampa, FL too.. i was there last year and... damn

[tahiti]

Originally Posted by SouthCali4LifeSD

phoenix

phoenix metro - i agree with this. It's monochrome: the buildings (with the exception of the small downtown area), houses, mountains, land. Everything looks the same. You get a large concentrated dose of this driving on I-17 in/out of the city.

[toughguy]

Phoenix, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Houston, basically any city that has had explosive population growth the last 15-20 years.

[Billiam]

Surprisingly Rochester,NY. Tons of Strip malls etc

[STLCardsBlues1989]

I've heard that about Houston also.

I've never been there, though. I've only seen pictures. But from what I've seen Houston doesn't have much historical architecture, at least downtown. Other people may be different, but I'd like a mix of historical and modern. Houston only seems to have modern.

[Billiam]

^ That's a misconception about downtown. I thought the same till i visited.


Downtown Houston on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

the rest of Houston Ill agree on

[hsw]

Logic, elegance and daily-enjoyability in architecture and environmental matters require many bucks and much taste....rare in any urban/suburban/rural region anywhere in world, esp places w/weak regional economies and lots of obese people....