What you DON'T like about San Jose (Berkeley: how much, live in)

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by bigdumbgod

Unfortunately, these would invariably be more cookie-cutter Legolands. Lots of money for something that looks exactly like a thousand others in a sterile, homogeneous planned community.

You've identified a different problem: that of cookie cutter architectural styles and cheap construction. That's a problem that needs to be dealt with regardless of density (and I agree...it is a problem).

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by BayAreaHillbilly

It prevents an impressive skyline from developing. Plus the West end of downtown is very noisy from the aircraft.

Yes, the west end of downtown IS noisy, that's true. And I know it prevents the skyline from being higher, although it's high enough for me (but not high enough for many potential developers, I know).

Of course, we're now stuck with it where it is...there's nowhere else to put an airport at this point.

But ths silver lining is if you do live downtown, it's not that hard to get to the airport.

[calif408]

Im glad you said it....One of the best and worst things about SJ is the diversity
Its also ridiculously expensive

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by calif408

Im glad you said it....One of the best and worst things about SJ is the diversity

I'd take that over lockstep homgeneity.

[ashlandbus]

Best thing about San Jose is diversity in people, cultures, food, etc.

Worst thing... it is BORING. I lived in downtown San Jose when I first moved to CA and decided not to stay, despite the fact that my job was a short 15 min drive away. Decided to move to Oakland and stomach the hour commute. The East Bay (preferably Oakland or Berkeley) generally has everything San Jose has and much more in terms of action and nightlife. People in San Jose love to hate on Oakland because they are too afraid to get off the freeway. If they actually did, they would realize that a) it is nowhere near as dangerous in 95% of the city as they are lead to believe by our media, and b)where they live is just plain uninteresting, characterless, and boring.

[krudmonk]

Originally Posted by ashlandbus

People in San Jose love to hate on Oakland because they are too afraid to get off the freeway.

Other way around...except it's BART they can't get away from

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by ashlandbus

The East Bay (preferably Oakland or Berkeley) generally has everything San Jose has and much more in terms of action and nightlife.

In the Bay Area, most of the musicians and other artists congregate in Oakland/Berkeley or San Francisco, which has the effect that there are more artistic venues and jazz clubs up there.

The other thing is that Oakland has a decades-long urban history. It is a large port city and has historically attracted a lot of business and diversity of people, compared to the more "sleepy" San Jose.

[krudmonk]

That's where people move to live the stereotypical hipster lifestyle (complete with juvenile politics and naive worldviews) they so desperately want from California.

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by krudmonk

That's where people move to live the stereotypical hipster lifestyle (complete with juvenile politics and naive worldviews) they so desperately want from California.

Like with anything, there are the authentic people and there are the wannabes. San Francisco/Oakland has both. There are a lot of true artists and musicians, and then there also are the people without talent who go there because they want to live the lifestyle.

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by krudmonk

That's where people move to live the stereotypical hipster lifestyle (complete with juvenile politics and naive worldviews) they so desperately want from California.

Which leaves more of the real people down here in the South Bay ( the people who have grown up and/or been here for a while, not here today, gone tomorrow techies). But don't tell anybody...we'll let the haters keep on hatin' and moving out.