Downtown Portland News - Page 106

Rhome · #**2101** Posted **Jan 30, 2009, 5:21 PM**

San Antonio's tallest is almost exactly the same height as Wells Fargo (166m). San Antonio approx. city pop = 1,330,000 (7th in U.S.) and metro pop = 2,000,000.

PDX City-State · #**2102** Posted **Jan 30, 2009, 6:38 PM**

7th largest? San Antonio doesn't feel really big. That's surprising. It's interesting how it's twice the size of Portland with a smaller metro population. Did it just annex its suburbs?

Downtown_Gal · #**2103** Posted **Jan 30, 2009, 6:46 PM**

This list from Wikipedia shows the tallest buildings in each state (which would presumably but perhaps not always be in the state's largest city). No info on population but still sort of relevant to the topic.

The shortest "tallest" building is in Wyoming... only 200 feet. Can you imagine having a tallest building of only 200 feet?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._by_U.S._state

brandonpdx · #**2104** Posted **Jan 30, 2009, 7:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PDX City-State

7th largest? San Antonio doesn't feel really big. That's surprising. It's interesting how it's twice the size of Portland with a smaller metro population. Did it just annex its suburbs?

yea, it sure seems like it. I was just there a couple of weeks ago and man does that city sprawl. the downtown felt a bit like Salem, OR to me

MR. Cosmopolitan · #**2105** Posted **Jan 30, 2009, 8:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tworivers

The old days:

There were some very handsome buildings before; maybe it could be a good idea to rebuild some of the old buildings that were demolished in the past, that would be cool.

MR. Cosmopolitan · #**2106** Posted **Jan 30, 2009, 9:47 PM**

What an ugly bridge is the Marquan bridge; wouldn't it be a good idea to bury the bridge and the ugly i-5 on the central east side like Ron Buel said in this article http://bikeportland.org/2006/11/16/i...pesky-freeway/ I think that could change drastically the East side for the better.

Okstate · #**2107** Posted **Jan 30, 2009, 10:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhome

San Antonio's tallest is almost exactly the same height as Wells Fargo (166m). San Antonio approx. city pop = 1,330,000 (7th in U.S.) and metro pop = 2,000,000.

I guess San Antonio wouldn't count under my "requirements" having a smaller metro, which the census estimates at 1.8 million currently. I never look at "city" population b/c under that definition Oklahoma City is the EXACT same size as Portland + or - a couple measly thousand.

So we have- Baltimore, San Diego, Phoenix

At least we're not the only Stumptown... i couldn't resist

PacificNW · #**2108** Posted **Jan 30, 2009, 10:24 PM**

When Vera was mayor she promoted the idea of burying I-5......I agree the Marq. is one ugly bridge.

65MAX · #**2109** Posted **Jan 30, 2009, 11:32 PM**

You should do the opposite exercise. Which smaller metro areas have taller buildings than Portland. I know Mobile has one. That tower in Omaha looks taller. Sacramento maybe? Any others?

WonderlandPark · #**2110** Posted **Jan 31, 2009, 3:37 AM**

Yes, Omaha is taller

I can think of several, also looked on wikipedia for some of these:

Tulsa
Indianapolis
Columbus
Des Moines
Louisville
Milwaukee
Cincinnati
Jacksonville
Las Vegas
Little Rock*
Nashville

as you mentioned:
Mobile

*tie

Okstate · #**2111** Posted **Jan 31, 2009, 3:46 AM**

^ I know Tulsa is for sure with a couple towers right at/near 200 meters.

Edit- whoops wonderland didn't see yours
*Cincinnati has a larger metro than Portland- 2.176 Vs 2.175 per the US census estimates for 2009

And Austin/ New Orleans/ Kansas City

urbanlife · #**2112** Posted **Jan 31, 2009, 7:42 AM**

umm, if we are looking at tallest, then we might want to look at urban density because I dont care if Tulsa has anything taller than Portland, I would never want to have the amount of surface lots Tulsa has.

Oh and it is just a matter of time before Baltimore has a new tallest. They at least get proposals for a new tallest.

Okstate · #**2113** Posted **Jan 31, 2009, 8:01 AM**

deleted.

-Oklahoma City is currently building a 925 footer

urbanlife · #**2114** Posted **Jan 31, 2009, 8:02 AM**

I was thinking about that when driving over it the other day...it makes no sense that they didnt try and make it a good looking bridge when they knew it was going to be that tall and massive.

hymalaia · #**2115** Posted **Jan 31, 2009, 10:02 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WonderlandPark

Yes, Omaha is taller

I can think of several, also looked on wikipedia for some of these:

Tulsa
Indianapolis
Columbus
Des Moines
Louisville
Milwaukee
Cincinnati
Jacksonville
Las Vegas
Little Rock*
Nashville

as you mentioned:
Mobile

*tie

Portland barely beats out Hartford, CT, by a whopping 11 feet.

hymalaia · #**2116** Posted **Jan 31, 2009, 10:08 AM**

well look at the bright side. The Marquam being so ugly makes it that much easier to appreciate the Fremont. Honestly, I don't mind the Marquam that much. Sure it's nothing special but I don't really find it imposing in it's functionality. Provides kind of a nice contrast towards some of the other, more picturesque bridges. Then again, I'm a weirdo who kind of also likes the I-5 freeway butting up against the Eastbank Esplanade. Sure it's not "pleasant" but the ambiance is well, unique to say the least. You don't find a nice, heavily used promenade so close to a major freeway in just any city, only pdx.

Okstate · #**2117** Posted **Jan 31, 2009, 8:31 PM**

Delete. Thought Charlotte had a smaller metro.

zilfondel · #**2118** Posted **Feb 1, 2009, 5:33 AM**

Marquam and the Eastbank freeway imposes their noise and pollution on everyone downtown and in the Central Eastside.

http://www.portlandonline.com/planni...47518&a=104959

urbanlife · #**2119** Posted **Feb 1, 2009, 1:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hymalaia

Portland barely beats out Hartford, CT, by a whopping 11 feet. Maybe I'm biased cause I grew up in that area, but I find it strange that PDX's skyline seems almost less impressive than Hartford while driving by on the freeway. They're fairly close in size, but PDX is not only much bigger a city but a more important regional center.

anyway...

Well, which city would you say has a better downtown atmosphere?

I actually find the height conversation to be a bit funny since living in Portland. I once was all about taller buildings, but now, I would rather take a vibrate, active city over tall towers. Though that is not to say that I wouldnt mind having a building like the proposed 5th and Columbia up in Seattle, that is definitely one amazing looking tower and would be an awesome new tallest for the city.

Tykendo · #**2120** Posted **Feb 1, 2009, 4:35 PM**

Growing up in Portland, I remember the West Hills Cronies always complaining about THEIR view. Which kept Portland projects in a short, square, & STUMPY design philosophy. I remember people complaining about coming out of the eastbound tunnels and crying about how the Koin Center ruined the view of Mt. Hood. Whether true or not, For crying out loud, your'e suppost to be paying attention to the road, not the mountain. There are plenty of viewplanes which could support a 700 ft. HQ building, but even when the economy rebounds, the Cronies will get their way again and any futuristic gleaming tower will get shot down into a small, wide, suburban blah of a design. So goes the ballad of 'STUMP'town.