What is the heart of your city?

[homebucket]

Got this idea from another thread. Post/describe an intersection in your city that you feel is its "heart". It can be an iconic, cultural or economic center, or simply a geographic center, but please specify. It'll be interesting to see what differing intersections people pick from the same city. If you have a difficult time picking just one intersection, feel free to pick two, one that you feel is an older heart of your city, and one that is a newer heart, more representative of the present.

An example would be Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo:
https://goo.gl/maps/pgnqDiRpydNuBm2N8



https://www.airpano.com/360video/Video-Tokyo-Shibuya/

[Steely Dan]

for Chicago: the intersection of State & Madison, in the heart of the loop

it's the 0,0 of the entire city's (and even many suburbs') coordinate grid.

everything in chicago is measured in terms of its distance from State/Madison.

streetview: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8819...7i16384!8i8192

[badrunner]

Depends on who you ask in LA

7th and Broadway
Figueroa and 11th/Chick Hearn ct
Hollywood and Vine
Sunset Strip
Miracle Mile

[mrnyc]

public square for cleveland

although for business traditionally it would be euclid ave and e9th st

[Obadno]

Yeah much like LA there isn't a unified center do to newer car oriented metros.

For phoenix

Until Very recently the "heart of the city" would probably be Camelback road between central and 44th street. For a very long time as the Downtown languished this area was really where all the business and action was.

You could also argue Old Town Scottsdale (which is an extension of the Camelback corridor).

Although I would argue that the Downtown is once again becoming the heart of the city, revived after nearly 50 years being forgotten.

[hauntedheadnc]

That would be Pack Square, where the city was founded at the intersection of two Cherokee paths. Formerly known as Court Square, it took its current name from George Willis Pack, a Michigan lumber baron who moved to town and set about showering the city with civic improvements as soon as he settled in the 1800's. He donated property to build a new courthouse on the condition that the old one be razed and its property incorporated into the park. He funded construction of the monument to Civil War-era governor Zebulon Vance in the new park, and built a new library overlooking the square as well.

Pack Square then...


Source.


Source.

...and now:

• Video Link

This video was taken in 2017, and there have been even more changes in the square since then. The art museum, partly housed in the old Pack Memorial Library building, completed a fancy new wing, and that big brown office tower got an Art Deco makeover.

[JManc]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

for Chicago: the intersection of State & Madison, in the heart of the loop

it's the 0,0 of the entire city's (and even many suburbs') coordinate grid.

everything in chicago is measured in terms of its distance from State/Madison.

streetview: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8819...7i16384!8i8192

I've been to that Target...probably the most aesthetically appealing of any department store..

[Handro]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

for Chicago: the intersection of State & Madison, in the heart of the loop

it's the 0,0 of the entire city's (and even many suburbs') coordinate grid.

everything in chicago is measured in terms of its distance from State/Madison.

streetview: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8819...7i16384!8i8192

Hm that's a good one for Chicago, I was trying to think of where one might say. For a more "cultural" heart (vs. technical) I would probably say Millennium Park.

[dc_denizen]

For DC I would argue

Chinatown

14th and U

Georgetown

Dupont Circle

[Kenneth]

Campus Martius is Detroit's gathering spot, Woodward Ave, Michigan Ave and Cadillac Square.

[homebucket]

San Francisco

Old - California and Stockton
It's kinda the converging point between 4 major districts. At this intersection, you can see the FiDi, Union Square, Chinatown, and Nob Hill. You can also see the Bay, Bay Bridge, and North Beach off in the distance. And of course you've got the California St cable car line.
https://goo.gl/maps/quLVXiouzezg5JLZ7


https://imgur.com/gallery/Eh3HkJ9

New - Mission and Fremont
This is where Salesforce Tower, Park and Transit Center are located, along with nearby 181 Fremont, the entire office portion of which is leased by Facebook, and the controversial leaning Millennium Tower. This modern, glassy intersection is representative of the new techie way of SF, punctuated by Salesforce Tower, which many long time locals loathe.

https://goo.gl/maps/1dTb6QR2N46ikpGK6


Shot by me

[hauntedheadnc]

Originally Posted by homebucket

San Francisco

Old - California and Stockton

Phooey. I thought for sure it would be Lotta's Fountain.

[Boisebro]

for Boise, it's definitely the Grove plaza:


source


source

the Grove is surrounded partly by the convention center, but also hosts festivals, farmer's markets, holiday events and parties, and Alive After Five which is a free concert every Wednesday during the summer.

[mrnyc]

Originally Posted by hauntedheadnc

That would be Pack Square, where the city was founded at the intersection of two Cherokee paths. Formerly known as Court Square, it took its current name from George Willis Pack, a Michigan lumber baron who moved to town and set about showering the city with civic improvements as soon as he settled in the 1800's. He donated property to build a new courthouse on the condition that the old one be razed and its property incorporated into the park. He funded construction of the monument to Civil War-era governor Zebulon Vance in the new park, and built a new library overlooking the square as well.

oh snap -- now i wanna change my name to zebulon.

you could be like a star trek villain.

[homebucket]

Originally Posted by JManc

I've been to that Target...probably the most aesthetically appealing of any department store..

Not a department store per se, but kinda reminds me of this Old Navy building.

https://goo.gl/maps/rvHWdLbApNzxg1v78

[iheartthed]

Originally Posted by Kenneth

Campus Martius is Detroit's gathering spot, Woodward Ave, Michigan Ave and Cadillac Square.

It's also Detroit's point of origin. And is a reference point that was used to establish the boundary between the states of Illinois and Wisconsin.

[mrnyc]

Originally Posted by Boisebro

for Boise, it's definitely the Grove plaza:

i like that half ring or hook of trees. its a pretty cool idea for the square.

[Buckeye Native 001]

Cincinnati's is Fountain Square (Vine & Fifth Streets)

Flagstaff's is probably Heritage Square or the stretch of Aspen between Leroux and San Francisco streets.

I'm not sure about Phoenix?

[homebucket]

Originally Posted by hauntedheadnc

Phooey. I thought for sure it would be Lotta's Fountain.

That's a good one too.

[mrnyc]

yeah definitely the beautiful fountain sq for cinci






for nyc you could say something like times sq or central pk i suppose, but i would put it at 5th ave and 42nd st.

might be fun to pick the center of the outer boros?