Favorite downtown spot in order give or take.

[Clint.]

I really like Pittsburgh's Downtown, and think it is still on the upswing. From what I understand, it was unthinkable 25 years ago that people would actually want to move and live in the Downtown area, but I've been seeing quite a few new condos and apartments advertised. The area really needs to have people living in it these days to keep that vibrancy going. I believe there are a couple low-income high rises between 5th and 9th near Penn Ave., and if they should be, if they haven't already, be renovated and transitioned to market rentals...or at least rents high enough to price out SSI and cash assitance recipients, etc., then that will be a big boon for the for the atmosphere down there as well.

My wife used to live in Detroit (well, it wasn't really Detroit, it was near Troy, and apparently everyone there is not as eager to lay claim to being a "Detroiter" as we are here to the Pittsburgher label) and was amazed by how nice and vibrant Pittsburgh was in comparison.

[BrianTH]

I grew up right next to Troy, and my mom lived in Troy for many years. Outside of Michigan I tell people I am from Detroit (or the Detroit area), but in that area people would find it strange.

Anyway, I much prefer the core Pittsburgh area to those Oakland County suburbs of Detroit, although I do think downtown Detroit has a lot of potential.

[cheezit34141988]

I grew up in Rochester. I worked in Troy (16 and Bellingham)...I then lived for a year downtown (off Brush) and 3 years in Royal Oak. I tell everyone here I'm from Detroit area.

If I told people back home I was from Detroit I'd get laughed at.

Pittsburgh downtown wins over any Detroit suburbs so far in my opinion. Population density and walkability (proximity to everything as well as general safety) being key factors. I've walked from my place in Southside to Consol and back...no sweat.

Downtown Detroit does have huge potential - they just need to link up the various clusters within the city. There's vast space of nothing, with little pockets of great areas. Its frustrating to have to drive from one nice area, through a bombed out wasteland just to get to another nice spot (i.e. Royal Oak down Woodward into the city. Or Hamtramck down into the city...etc).