igon

Didn't you forget to mention that you drove by a Checkers too?

For those interested a little more in Vickery http://www.vickeryvillage.com/ http://www.hedgewoodhomes.com/neighborhoods/profile.aspx?cid=2 For context, it's about 25 miles outside the core of ATL, but well within the expanding northern suburbs that stretch north to Dawson County. The "horse ranch thingee" across the street is part of the Polo Golf and Country Club. So, some people who could buy a $1MM house across the street at the Polo Club on a 1 acre lot are choosing to buy a comparably priced house on a .2 acre lot within whispering distance of their neighbor...all to be part of a "community."

For what its worth, I expected worse...

Wow..J... To say that Uptown Charlotte has less than Hamilton! is truely baised, and wrong. Probably the most idiotic thing I've ever read on this website to tell you the truth. Honestly, yes, Hamilton! is older but has done absolutely nothing (relative to the rest of the world, except for say...Flint) in the past 40 years. When was the last time you were in Charlotte. I'm here now...and there's 22 cranes in the air, and all incorporate pedestrian friendly design into their construction..You can't fault a city for not having history, but for what it started with (or didn't demolish in the 1960's (thanks to planners)) Charlotte is light years ahead of many cities with much of a head start...Unless you are comparing age (and age alone) of buildings, the statement holds no water...Oh wait, there's no crappy Elder Beerman in Uptown Charlotte...you win.

Hate to be a debbie downer...but The fact that the Dayton Business Journal is celebrating four new employees moving downtown is evidence to how bad it really is.

Won't be much of a loss

I dont get the move to Findlay market...I think they'll do well when the markets open but it'll lose a lot of the nighttime traffic and local business.. Not nearly enough residents nearby (with disposible income to spend on a $3 cup of coffee) to support the local component and its too far for the residents of south OTR to walk to..but it's not my business so I wish them the best. Hopefully another coffee shop/bar will open in their place is the net gain to OTR is +1.

I think a ballpark would fit quite nicely at Broadway Commons. I recommend holding out until 2030 when its time to replace GABP

I agree with David...suburban when they were built, urban today...Perhaps the lifestyle is suburban but it is an extremely urban environment (by Atlanta standards).

Metropolis is a great club, Randy...don't forget about Metropolis...and the parking is fantastic! Don't forget your glow sticks, and E...

Rossville X 1000...and hardly suburban. Arguably, an ideal urban life for the very wealthy who want to be in the middle of everything (walk to the museums, theatre, work, park) yet want a yard for the kids and dog

I miss America Live! and Metropolis at Forest Fair. That was a real bar hopping experience. Safe, secure and great parking! What else could anyone ask for? Plus after putting in good night of drinking I was always felt safe only having to drive a few miles home to my posh spread in Fairfield.

Randy, when you're back in the ATL we will go to all kinds of walkable neighborhoods, in weather that actually makes you want to walk.

It's always remarkable that when these BS rankings go in one's favor, people rave about how great their city is, etc...etc, and when they aren't as complimentary people bash the logic and integrity. I do think this survey is BS. I would agree with jpop and most reasonably logical people. Hands down, NY is number one, and it's not just Manhattan, all the borroughs except Staten Island are extremely walkable, and considering the that 8.2MM people live in the city in a metro area of +/- 18MM; over 45% live in walkable neighborhoods. (42% if you take out the 500,000 on SI. (This is at a very high level. There are probably places you can walk to on Staten Island and parts of the Bronx you can't)) Using the same logic for #1 DC, which is very pleasant city to walk in. Lets reason that with 400,000 living in the District and a metropolitan area of +/- 6MM, only about 7% of the population live in largely walkable communties. The same can be said for Boston, SF and number of other top cities on the list. Cetainly, older suburbs such as Arlington and Alexandria are walkable, but the fast majority of the people in Greater DC living in the far reaching suburbs of MD and VA. Just a thought. This survey sucks, but Tampa probably does deserve last place....on a lot of surveys.

I live in Atlanta and enjoy walking from my car across a sea of parking to Target...If no one drove, I'd be able to park so close to the store, I wouldn't walk nearly enough. Actually, in my opinion the "urban" areas of Atlanta are on par with Cincinnati and the suburban areas are probably the same, however there are many more TND style shopping opportunities in suburban ATL than there are in Cincinnati.

I know this is about Ohio, but you have to really hand it to NYC, which will likely end up with fewer than 500 murders this year. In 1990 they had over 2200...7 a day!!! For a city of 8.2Mil...that's remarkable. Also of the 400+ murders so far, only 35 have been "random." And of those 400, over 80% have felony convictions. Source: NY Times http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/23/nyregion/23murder.html?hp

Wish I could be there to play broomball on the square

Inkaelin, regardless of what urban planners think is best for people, the people of Wisconsin voted to put and supported the new Miller Park in the middle of a sea of parking so they can continue to tailgate for baseball...A proposal to build downtown failed... Went to opening day for the Brewers a few years ago, and it was an absolute blast. Would have thought I was at a Bengals tailgate. The people just really get into it...had a blast. But yes, there is not one bar in within walking distance, but the people got what they wanted.

Smart people will invest there money where they think they can make money (unless their's a REAL civic calling or corporate initiative). If it's not Dayton, then so be it... Perhaps everyone in Dayton is very smart and should be looking to bring in more dumb ones to invest their money. Or perhaps you're right, the companies in Dayton don't really care enough to improve the city...dumb because good luck getting and SUSTAINING and top quality talent...ultimately affecting bottom line. C-Dawg, I expect that people will begin "rediscovering" the cheap Ohio midwest, in about 2100 when every major comparable city in the south...think Huntsville or Greensboro maybe...become comes too crowded and possibly hot, depending on when global warming makes a real noticable difference in the winters. Randy and I disagree on this, but I personally think its a LONG way off. There wont be a mass migration to Ohio from the south in a very, very long time. That doesnt mean however that Dayton can't improve on its own, but its going to take a hell of a lot more work/money/brainpower and more imporatantly time. (After having typed this I realized I'm responsing to posts from April, but don't feel like deleting it)

David, Marietta is doing quite well. The square has been revitalized and the old Strand theatre is expected to reopen soon. The city is trying to increase the amount of homeownership and has created many TAD districts (TIF) to encourage redevelopment (ie forcing out renters and other more income challenged people.) There is a new Varsity in Alpharetta off of Holcomb Bridge Road, exit nine off of lovely GA400, but prefer the Varsity in Midtown after a drunken day of watching Tech across the connector

David, interesting to note is that the Viewpoint from the "180's" was from the "200's" about 2 weeks ago...but you get about 650SF for that price...the condo market in midtown and Buckhead has gotten pretty saturated...and across the street, the Spire, also built by Novare and very similar in size and design has over 50 units for resale out of about 300 total. Actually, if Western Southern ever gets off its ass, they may want to copy Novare's model for high rise condo construction on 5th and Race. They've given up space to keep prices "low" while offering lifestyle and amenity. Unfortunately, their model in ATL has begun to resememble a "cookie-cutter" high rise because so much of their architecture and design is similar. Randy, I would also mention about the Midtown Mile and the 1.2MM+ SF of retail on its way between North and 14th Streets on Peachtree... While not perfect, Midtown offer's Atlanta's best shot at urbanity in the near term...that's why I live there. Go Bengals...

I've been reading a lot of "planning" but not much "doing" for the past 4 years

Randy, it's just going to bring more of that sprawl that people really don't want, but since developers create the market, the people really have no choice.

Lazarus/Macy's moved to be closer to Fountain Square. They weren't getting the foot traffic on 7th Street, although it probably also made sense to downsize the store as well.

Sorry...I was on my 4th drink when I wrote that post. Didnt mean to be antagonstic. I love Cincinnati...I would just have to say that it's a very frustrating place to live.. Cheers