What is the heart of your city? - Page 4

Steely Dan · #61 Posted **Mar 10, 2020, 2:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjp

For Chicago I might say Michigan / Wacker, where you've got the intersection of the Mag Mile, the S. Michigan cultural row (Millennium / Grant Park, Art Institute, etc.), and Wacker which is the city's main business thoroughfare. Also the river / riverwalk is right there and the lake isn't far either. The architecture is pretty epic, too.

another good candidate.

and the riverwalk itself really is maturing into another great focal point of the city, but its probably too linear to be a "heart".

pj3000 · #62 Posted **Mar 10, 2020, 2:37 PM**

Pittsburgh is kinda tough because its urban footprint so fractured by its crazy topography, but overall, the city is very East End-centric. So I will say that the "heart" of the city is the Fifth & Forbes corridor in the Oakland neighborhood -- the cultural/educational hub of Pittsburgh. I think that with the current improvements to Bigelow Blvd. between Fifth Ave and Forbes Ave, the renovation of the Pittsburgh Athletic Assn., and Pitt's planned collaborative innovation center, it will only solidify the immediate area as the very heart of the city.

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.4440...7i16384!8i8192

Steely Dan · #63 Posted **Mar 10, 2020, 2:44 PM**

it's interesting hearing some people here list non-downtown locations as the "heart" of their city.

from my perspective in hyper-centralized chicago, that just seems very foreign to me.

like "how could the heart of a city not be in its downtown?"

Chisouthside · #64 Posted **Mar 10, 2020, 2:45 PM**

For San Jose, CA i would say Cesar Chavez Park. It's in downtown and they host a Christmas festival every year and it's in the middle of downtown and despite San Jose being super spread out I would say the downtown is super pedestrian friendly.

pj3000 · #65 Posted **Mar 10, 2020, 2:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crawford

If you want a real Little Italy, with Italian spoken on the streets, there are still some good options. Morris Park, in the Bronx, is the real deal, esp. alongside Morris Park Ave. and Eastchester Rd.

I like Arthur Ave., and it has some good spots and atmosphere, and an Italian market with some terrific vendors, but isn't actually where Italians live. Mulberry in Manhattan has actually been growing in recent years, with a new wave of real Italian (as opposed to Italian American touristy) restaurants.

Will check it out.

Didn't realize that about Mulberry... shows how long I've been away.

pj3000 · #66 Posted **Mar 10, 2020, 2:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

it's interesting hearing some people here list non-downtown locations as the "heart" of their city.

from my perspective in hyper-centralized chicago, that just seems very foreign to me.

like "how could the heart of a city not be in its downtown?"

Yeah, it seems like any downtown should be the true "heart" of a city.

In the case of Pittsburgh, it's weird because downtown is very dense and active during the day, but it's still a triangular "fortress"... with rivers on two sides and a big hill on the other side (and a mess of 1960s highway design if the hill isn't enough). Functionally, it's been a small island for work for a long, long time. Downtown is simply disconnected from any neighborhoods and difficult to get to. Historically, it never had much of a residential component, and while it's growing now, still doesn't in comparison to other cities.

Obadno · #67 Posted **Mar 10, 2020, 2:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjp

For Chicago I might say Michigan / Wacker, where you've got the intersection of the Mag Mile, the S. Michigan cultural row (Millennium / Grant Park, Art Institute, etc.), and Wacker which is the city's main business thoroughfare. Also the river / riverwalk is right there and the lake isn't far either. The architecture is pretty epic, too.

Yeah Ive always thought of the Michigan Ave bridge as the heart of chicago:

https://goo.gl/maps/L56iq8zHKMVMNGNz9

Obadno · #68 Posted **Mar 10, 2020, 3:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

it's interesting hearing some people here list non-downtown locations as the "heart" of their city.

from my perspective in hyper-centralized chicago, that just seems very foreign to me.

like "how could the heart of a city not be in its downtown?"

Because there are plenty of cities where the "downtown" was abandoned or is a glorified 9-5 business park where the cultural and social life of town left long ago or was never there to begin with.

Traditionally the central square/downtown would be the heart of the city but not always, especially not in the age of automobiles and suburban sprawl.

tdawg · #69 Posted **Mar 10, 2020, 3:44 PM**

♥ Wherever I am. ♥

Steely Dan · #70 Posted **Mar 10, 2020, 3:51 PM**

a new contender for chicago presents itself: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.9908...7i16384!8i8192

the name of this motel has long been a bit of a local joke because its located roughly 8 miles NNW of downtown.

there's also the "Heart of Chicago" neighborhood on the SW side, ~3 miles outside of downtown.

it's home to one of the most spectacular churches in the city, St. Paul's: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8512...7i16384!8i8192

Sigaven · #71 Posted **Mar 10, 2020, 4:28 PM**

For San Antonio I'd say there's three, all of equal importance, pretty close to each other:

Main Plaza
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.4246...7i13312!8i6656

Military Plaza
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.4246...7i16384!8i8192

Alamo Plaza
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.4258...7i13312!8i6656

Obadno · #72 Posted **Mar 10, 2020, 4:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sigaven

For San Antonio I'd say there's three, all of equal importance, pretty close to each other:

Alamo Plaza
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.4258...7i13312!8i6656

I mean...how could it be anything other than the Alamo

Sigaven · #73 Posted **Mar 10, 2020, 4:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Obadno

I mean...how could it be anything other than the Alamo

The alamo is of course the most famous landmark, and it's probably the most important gathering space in the city (battle of flowers parade runs in front of it, it has been the site of presidential speeches, etc) but the historic center of the city has always been Main/Military plazas - the alamo used to be on the periphery of SA when it was a small town.

Acajack · #74 Posted **Mar 10, 2020, 5:12 PM**

I'll do a few Canadian cities that haven't already been done.

For Vancouver, it would be Robson Square:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ro...4d-123.1269807

Acajack · #75 Posted **Mar 10, 2020, 5:14 PM**

For Canada's capital city Ottawa, it would be Confederation Square:

https://www.google.com/maps/@45.4248...7i16384!8i8192

Acajack · #76 Posted **Mar 10, 2020, 5:16 PM**

For Quebec City, it would be Place d'Youville:

https://www.google.com/maps/@46.8126...!7i3328!8i1664

Acajack · #77 Posted **Mar 10, 2020, 5:24 PM**

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Portage and Main. Actually one of the most famous intersections in Canada. Though these days it's become way too beholden to motor vehicles in terms of its design.

https://www.google.com/maps/@49.8955...7i13312!8i6656

JManc · #78 Posted **Mar 10, 2020, 5:34 PM**

Houston:

Acajack · #79 Posted **Mar 10, 2020, 5:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laceoflight

In Montréal, the historic heart is Place d'Armes (link to Street View)

Montreal - Place d'armes by Xtian (See My Albums), sur Flickr

Definitely true.

In terms of the modern heart, several intersections along Ste-Catherine could do the trick.

For a long time people said that the corner of Ste-Catherine Ouest and Peel was the busiest corner in Montreal, in Quebec, and maybe in all of Canada at one time:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.49996...7i16384!8i8192

But the trend over the past decades has been an eastward movement of the heart of the action along Ste-Catherine.

Towards this area:
https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.50187...!7i6080!8i3040

And now even more eastward towards this area, which is still admittedly a work in progress:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGQl0-qHRDw

edale · #80 Posted **Mar 10, 2020, 6:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Portage and Main. Actually one of the most famous intersections in Canada. Though these days it's become way too beholden to motor vehicles in terms of its design.

https://www.google.com/maps/@49.8955...7i13312!8i6656

Why are there those hideous walls/barricades between the sidewalks and the streets? Is it related to snow drifts?