HomeDiagramsDatabaseMapsForum About
     

Go Back   SkyscraperPage Forum > Discussion Forums > City Discussions


Reply

 
Thread Tools Display Modes
     
     
  #1  
Old Posted Jul 12, 2018, 3:35 PM
Cirrus's Avatar
Cirrus Cirrus is offline
cities|transit|croissants
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 18,344
What is your city's #1 (and only 1) most walkable urban neighborhood?

Tell us your city's one most walkably urban residential neighborhood.

Please read these brief guidelines before continuing:


- Tell us 1 (one) neighborhood only. I realize your city is a special snowflake with many such wonderful neighborhoods. The purpose of this thread is to force you to identify the ONE that best fits the description.

- This should be the place where a person who wants to have the walkable urban lifestyle would live if they had adequate financial resources and no commute requirements. That is to say, it should be functionally urban (arranged primarily around pedestrians, not cars), and it should be dense and mixed-use enough for most daily needs except maybe commute to be handled on foot. It should have very high vitality, ideally during both day and night, however it is not necessarily the same place as your city's nightlife district(s). Focus more on normal day-to-day living, not just late night fun. This is the part of your most where, if you wanted to buy milk or toilet paper, you would walk to the store to do it. Or, if there are not really any such places in your city, where gets the closest?

- Do not select your city's immediate downtown, even if it's really the most walkably urban place. The purpose of this thread is to ID non-downtown neighborhoods.

- At the very least, all responses should name the city you're answering for and the neighborhood itself. Do not assume we have all memorized what city you live in.

- Feel free to share a picture or two, or a map, but please be judicious and refrain from hijacking the thread with a single response. No more than 2 or 3 images per response, please.

- Seriously, for the love of god, only include one neighborhood in your reply.

Thank you!
__________________
writing | twitter | flickr | instagram | ssp photo threads

Last edited by Cirrus; Jul 12, 2018 at 5:14 PM.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #2  
Old Posted Jul 12, 2018, 3:52 PM
JManc's Avatar
JManc JManc is offline
Dryer lint inspector
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Houston/ SF Bay Area
Posts: 37,789
For Houston, I'd say Midtown. It's still a work in progress but is night and day from what it was a couple of decades ago and there's a ton of dense new development going up.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #3  
Old Posted Jul 12, 2018, 4:32 PM
Cirrus's Avatar
Cirrus Cirrus is offline
cities|transit|croissants
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 18,344
For Washington, DC the answer is the Logan Circle/14th Street neighborhood, immediately north of downtown following the 14th Street spine. Statistically it's the city's densest neighborhood (although others are structurally denser, with more larger buildings, this one is more full with people), is unquestionably easier to get around via foot or bike than via car, is walkable to all 6 Metro lines, and is replete with all manner of shopping and dining. It's really the center of local DC.

Interestingly, it was not for a long time. From roughly 1968 until maybe 2010, this neighborhood was dense but kind of an afterthought. 15 years ago I would have given you a different (though nearby) answer. But around 2010 it re-emerged as the city's prime local main street.


Overview image from Google Maps.


14th Street. My image.


Neighborhood rowhouses, mostly converted to apartments. My image.
__________________
writing | twitter | flickr | instagram | ssp photo threads
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #4  
Old Posted Jul 12, 2018, 4:36 PM
Steely Dan's Avatar
Steely Dan Steely Dan is offline
devout Pizzatarian
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Lincoln Square, Chicago
Posts: 29,635
for large cities, you could probably argue for any number of neighborhoods as #1, but for chicago i'll propose Lakeview. it's not at all downtown adjacent, so it can't be confused for an extension of downtown like gold coast/old town/south loop/etc.

not only is it eminently walkable for day-to-day living, it also has an urban-format MLB ballpark plunked right down in the middle of it. walk to the ballgame! and it's served by both the CTA red and brown lines, so rail access is great.

Lakeview:

area: 2.8 sq. miles

pop.: 98,212

density: 35,075 ppsm

overall walkscore: 91 (not the highest in chicago, but whatever, walkscore isn't perfect)

map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/La...!4d-87.6583642


characteristic streetviews:

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.9422...7i13312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.9429...7i13312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.9453...7i13312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.9428...7i13312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.9353...7i13312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.9398...7i13312!8i6656


source: https://www.belmontbyresideflats.com/
__________________
"Missing middle" housing can be a great middle ground for many middle class families.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #5  
Old Posted Jul 12, 2018, 4:40 PM
Crawford Crawford is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Brooklyn, NYC/Polanco, DF
Posts: 30,551
I would say Dupont for DC. I think it has stronger mixed-use urbanity, better services and is built to higher density, and better Metro coverage (centered on the Red Line, easily the most important line).

For Chicago, I agree with Lakeview, but esp. East Lakeview, around Broadway. IMO that's the strongest non-core mixed-use area.

For NYC, no good answer. There isn't dramatic variation between core-adjacent neighborhoods. Maybe North Williamsburg?
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #6  
Old Posted Jul 12, 2018, 4:52 PM
MonkeyRonin's Avatar
MonkeyRonin MonkeyRonin is offline
¥ ¥ ¥
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 9,874
Probably Kensington Market. Pedestrians dominate the busy, narrow streets (which are often closed to auto traffic); it has a high residential density; is busy day & night; and has everything that one might want for their day-to-day needs, packed in with everything from clothing shops to grocers to barbers to bars and restaurants and cafes. The only thing that's lacking is commercial office space - though the CBD is still within walking/biking distance.



https://www.blogto.com/kensington/


http://www.printscanada.com/blog/ope...store-toronto/
__________________
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #7  
Old Posted Jul 12, 2018, 5:17 PM
Steely Dan's Avatar
Steely Dan Steely Dan is offline
devout Pizzatarian
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Lincoln Square, Chicago
Posts: 29,635
i don't live in milwaukee, but i'll do it because no one else likely will.

i would propose that the Lower East Side is milwaukee's most walkable non-downtown neighborhood.

i thought about nominating the 3rd ward (which is a treasure) but i think it might be a bit too downtown adjacent (directly on the other side of an elevated expressway).


Lower East Side:

area: 0.6 sq. miles

pop: 11,246

density: 18,743 ppsm

overall walkscore: 91

map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Lo...!4d-87.8966983


characteristic streetviews:

https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0529...7i13312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0554...7i13312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0565...7i13312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0500...7i13312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0521...7i13312!8i6656




source: http://advance247.org/milwaukee-travel-job/
__________________
"Missing middle" housing can be a great middle ground for many middle class families.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #8  
Old Posted Jul 12, 2018, 5:27 PM
Cirrus's Avatar
Cirrus Cirrus is offline
cities|transit|croissants
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 18,344
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steely Dan View Post
the Lower East Side is milwaukee's most walkable non-downtown neighborhood.
Looks fantastic from the air. I'm embarrassingly ignorant of Milwaukee.
__________________
writing | twitter | flickr | instagram | ssp photo threads
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #9  
Old Posted Jul 12, 2018, 5:34 PM
Steely Dan's Avatar
Steely Dan Steely Dan is offline
devout Pizzatarian
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Lincoln Square, Chicago
Posts: 29,635
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cirrus View Post
I'm embarrassingly ignorant of Milwaukee.
don't worry, most people are.

but they shouldn't be.

it's obviously not an alpha level urbanism city or anything like that, but it's a solid sleeper hit of a city that's all too often hidden/overlooked in the mighty shadow cast by that obnoxious, loud-mouthed city 80 miles to the south.
__________________
"Missing middle" housing can be a great middle ground for many middle class families.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #10  
Old Posted Jul 12, 2018, 5:44 PM
destroycreate's Avatar
destroycreate destroycreate is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 1,608
Capitol Hill, Seattle (where I live)

It's extremely walkable, vibrant, and actually quite a large area with about 5 separate commercial/nightlife corridors. I live right off Broadway which is I'd argue the main thoroughfare of the neighborhood for residents. All of the action in Seattle tends to happen here to. Quality of life is excellent and I'd argue it's one of the best urban neighborhoods in the country right now.


https://media2.fdncms.com/stranger/i...ive_dinner.jpg


https://media.istockphoto.com/photos...re-id953018554

15th Avenue - more of our mom n' pop, local street that's got a chill vibe
https://www.google.com/maps/@47.6229...7i13312!8i6656

19th Avenue - even more chill than the above, smaller but still cute
https://www.google.com/maps/@47.6243...7i13312!8i6656

Broadway - this is where I live
https://www.google.com/maps/@47.6230...7i13312!8i6656

https://www.google.com/maps/@47.6207...7i13312!8i6656

Pine Street - Party area but still full of gyms, restaurants, barber shops
https://www.google.com/maps/@47.6152...7i13312!8i6656

Pike Street - Same as above
https://www.google.com/maps/@47.6140...7i13312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@47.6141...7i13312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@47.6140...7i13312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@47.6142...7i13312!8i6656

Union Street - A little more industrial but same as above
https://www.google.com/maps/@47.6129...7i13312!8i6656
__________________
**23 years on SSP!**
Previously known as LaJollaCA
https://www.instagram.com/itspeterchristian/
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #11  
Old Posted Jul 12, 2018, 5:50 PM
Steely Dan's Avatar
Steely Dan Steely Dan is offline
devout Pizzatarian
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Lincoln Square, Chicago
Posts: 29,635
^ Capitol Hill looks like an awesome hood.

how's the pizza at Sizzle Pie? the name is fantastic.

and it's right next door to a combo coffee house/bike shop.

pizza and bikes! bikes and pizza! everybody wins!
__________________
"Missing middle" housing can be a great middle ground for many middle class families.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #12  
Old Posted Jul 12, 2018, 6:05 PM
McBane McBane is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 3,717
This seems like a bit of a challenge for older, larger cities like Philly, NY, etc. because "downtown" is more than just office buildings and the area just bleeds into adjacent, dense neighborhoods, creating miles of continuous walkable neighborhoods. How to pick one?
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #13  
Old Posted Jul 12, 2018, 6:18 PM
Cirrus's Avatar
Cirrus Cirrus is offline
cities|transit|croissants
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 18,344
It's not really hard. I'd say the Philadelphia answer is Rittenhouse Square. I know it's part of "Center City," which Philadelphians equate with "downtown," but it's a separate more residential place than the office tower-heavy area that any other US city would call its downtown.
__________________
writing | twitter | flickr | instagram | ssp photo threads
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #14  
Old Posted Jul 12, 2018, 6:44 PM
Steely Dan's Avatar
Steely Dan Steely Dan is offline
devout Pizzatarian
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Lincoln Square, Chicago
Posts: 29,635
^ if we're including downtown adjacent residential areas like rittenhouse, then i might have to change my chicago answer to Gold Coast, which is certainly more intensely urban and perhaps slightly more walkable than lakeview.

ahhh, the nebulous age-old "what is downtown?" problem.
__________________
"Missing middle" housing can be a great middle ground for many middle class families.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #15  
Old Posted Jul 12, 2018, 7:31 PM
Pavlov's Avatar
Pavlov Pavlov is offline
Khan
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Kingston, Ontario
Posts: 4,915
For Calgary: In a way, it is difficult to answer because Calgary doesn't really have any neighborhood which qualifies as "urban" in the way that someone from larger, older, more established North American cities would think of "urban". However, in another way, it is simple to answer because it has one neighborhood which is clearly more urban and walkable than others: the beltline.

Smokey Calgary by @wellingtonwx, on Flickr

It is the area on the left of this photograph (immediately south of the CBD).

A couple of random flickr photos:

Uptown 17th by Surrealplaces, on Flickr

The Chinook; public art in Calgary's Beltline neighbourhood by Kristina Bedward Photography, on Flickr
__________________
Confucius says:
With coarse rice to eat, with water to drink, and my bended arm for a pillow - I have still joy in the midst of these things. Riches and honors acquired by unrighteousness are to me as a floating cloud.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #16  
Old Posted Jul 12, 2018, 7:32 PM
the urban politician the urban politician is online now
The City
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Chicago region
Posts: 21,375
^ Yeah, definitely you could then say that much of Manhattan obviously counts.

To me, Manhattan is considered a borough but I've always viewed Manhattan itself as, essentially, New York City's "downtown".
__________________
Supercar Adventures is my YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4W...lUKB1w8ED5bV2Q
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #17  
Old Posted Jul 12, 2018, 7:37 PM
TempleGuy1000 TempleGuy1000 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,225
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cirrus View Post
It's not really hard. I'd say the Philadelphia answer is Rittenhouse Square. I know it's part of "Center City," which Philadelphians equate with "downtown," but it's a separate more residential place than the office tower-heavy area that any other US city would call its downtown.
I think if we are weighing daytime activities higher than nighttime, I think a lot of people might enjoy Fitler Square more than Rittenhouse. Fitler includes the river trail and park which is a real nice amenity.

Some of my photos of the neighborhood from the last year

From the deck


The square itself is usually full of children and a nice spot to relax


View coming into the neighborhood from West Philly


During the summer you can take guided boat or kayak tours along the river. Going over the history of the river and the neighborhoods industrial past.


I’m on phone so I can’t tell how large these photos are so apologizes if it’s obnoxious. My hood doesn’t get enough love so I wanted to post some pics.

Last edited by TempleGuy1000; Jul 12, 2018 at 9:48 PM.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #18  
Old Posted Jul 12, 2018, 7:45 PM
JManc's Avatar
JManc JManc is offline
Dryer lint inspector
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Houston/ SF Bay Area
Posts: 37,789
^ Pics are yuge. I like both Rittenhouse and Fitler Sq. both have their unique vibes. RH struck me as more yuppie and Fitler more eclectic.

Quote:
Originally Posted by destroycreate View Post
I want to live in that grey Victorian right in the middle of the action (lower right)
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #19  
Old Posted Jul 12, 2018, 7:46 PM
Steely Dan's Avatar
Steely Dan Steely Dan is offline
devout Pizzatarian
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Lincoln Square, Chicago
Posts: 29,635
Quote:
Originally Posted by JManc View Post
^ Pics are yuge.
and there are too many of them.

cirrus explicitly asked people not to photo-spam this thread.

from the OP:

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cirrus View Post
- Feel free to share a picture or two, or a map, but please be judicious and refrain from hijacking the thread with a single response. No more than 2 or 3 images per response, please.
__________________
"Missing middle" housing can be a great middle ground for many middle class families.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #20  
Old Posted Jul 12, 2018, 7:50 PM
McBane McBane is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 3,717
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cirrus View Post
It's not really hard. I'd say the Philadelphia answer is Rittenhouse Square. I know it's part of "Center City," which Philadelphians equate with "downtown," but it's a separate more residential place than the office tower-heavy area that any other US city would call its downtown.
I'm confused b/c in the OP, you describe a utopian mixed use neighborhood where one could live without a car and then state downtowns should be omitted. But in the above reply, you've limited the definition of downtown to just an office district or CBD. That's all well and good but no one would ever nominate a boring Mon-Fri 9-5 office district (e.g., NY's Financial District) as a city's #1 walkable neighborhood, which then makes your guideline to not include your city's downtown (CBD?) - somewhat odd.

For many cities - Philadelphia included - the CBD is just one part of a historically mixed use downtown (Center City) that would definitely include Rittenhouse Square.

Perhaps you need to clarify the stipulations for this thread a little more. The way I understood it to be, you were looking for more neighborhoody places. Like perhaps Queen Village, Fairmount, or Passyunk Square.
Reply With Quote
     
     
This discussion thread continues

Use the page links to the lower-right to go to the next page for additional posts
 
 
Reply

Go Back   SkyscraperPage Forum > Discussion Forums > City Discussions
Forum Jump


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 1:01 PM.

     
SkyscraperPage.com - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.