Most urban southern city from Northeasterners' prespective

[KnAobserver]

I am new to this so please be gentle in your responses. I have not had the priviledge of exploring many of our southern cities, but from what I have seen most of them seem like large suburbs with an established downtown area. Am I wrong about this? What southern city would you consider to be the most urban and city like (excluding DC and Baltimore) I am posting this on here because I would like the opinions of people from the northeast who may be more likely to understand what I am getting at.

[ExWNY'er]

Originally Posted by KnAobserver

I am new to this so please be gentle in your responses. I have not had the priviledge of exploring many of our southern cities, but from what I have seen most of them seem like large suburbs with an established downtown area. Am I wrong about this? What southern city would you consider to be the most urban and city like (excluding DC and Baltimore) I am posting this on here because I would like the opinions of people from the northeast who may be more likely to understand what I am getting at.

I'd say Miami, Atlanta, Dallas and Houston in that order.

Second tier would be New Orleans, Charlotte, Nashville, Austin, Tampa, Orlando, San Antonio, Birmingham, Louisville, Richmond and Memphis in no particular order. Maybe Littlerock too?

[Shawn]

If you're looking for old-school Northeastern urbanity, New Orleans stands above the rest, and you'll also find large portions of Richmond feel quite similar to DC and Baltimore. Savannah and Charleston, while much smaller, have large sections of 18th-19th century brick and stone + squares which feel a lot like Beacon Hill or Center City.

You'll find lots of relatively dense, newer neighborhoods in Houston and Dallas - Houston especially has a bunch of what can only be described as contemporary row houses inside the 610 Loop. Atlanta has some bright spots too, with the bonus of having an actual heavy rail subway system, even if it's limited in scope.

Miami is hard to peg as a Northeasterner - it's denser and more urban on a larger scale than any other Southern city, but the public transit is laughable and does a lot to lessen its otherwise strong Big City feel.

[sin|ill]

Savannah and Charleston.

[VelesHomais]

my guess is Miami or Richmond

[KnAobserver]

Thank you to all for your input.

[bayviews]

Originally Posted by Shawn

If you're looking for old-school Northeastern urbanity, New Orleans stands above the rest,

New Orleans for sure.

Even the accent & politics could pass for North Jersey.

[ScanTron]

Never been to New Orleans, but Savannah is definitely right up at the top. It has more of a complete urban feel than many much larger American cities. I was more impressed with Savannah than Charlotte on a number of levels.

[QuantumX]

Originally Posted by Shawn

Miami is hard to peg as a Northeasterner - it's denser and more urban on a larger scale than any other Southern city, but the public transit is laughable and does a lot to lessen its otherwise strong Big City feel.

Yeah you're right, in spite of all the Canadian and New York snowbirds who come down during the fall and winter months and in spite of those who have a second home here, and this lonely Metrorail train hardly goes anywhere anybody wants to go, though a leg has now been extended to Miami International Airport. Oh, and absolutely nobody takes the Metromover, the little blue elevated cars that loop above the streets of downtown Miami. When was the last time any of you came down to visit who seem to know so much about what you are talking about?

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Rainy saturday flickr walk 072 by rcadimenisa, on Flickr

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Rainy saturday flickr walk 070 by rcadimenisa, on Flickr

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DSCN0654 by QuantumX, on Flickr

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[Shawn]

^--- Four out of four of my grandparents are/were among those Northeastern snowbirds who retire to Miami. Twice a year I'd visit my grandparents from 1993 through my grandpa's death last year. The last time I was in Miami was December 2011. For his wake. Don't make assumptions.

And Metrorail + Metromover sees a combined 96,000 riders per weekday. For a metro of over 5 million - especially one as dense, linear and geographically tailored for widespread public transit as Miami - that is laughable. Atlanta's MARTA sees almost three times that daily ridership, and Atlanta is the poster child for decentralized sprawl. And compared to urban Northeast centers? Boston's Green Line alone sees triple the daily weekday ridership of the entire Miami system. The T as a whole has over a million daily riders. Metro Miami has about 75% the population of Metro Boston but less than 10% of the public transit usage rate.

Tall buildings do not necessarily equal urbanity. Especially when they're gated off and isolate themselves from the pedestrian experience. All those towers in the pics you posted, while visually beautiful, do nothing to help create a cohesive, pedestrian-inviting street wall. This is where New Orleans, Charleston and Savannah shine.

The OP asked Northeasterners which Southern city is the most urban from a Northeasterner perspective. I stand by my Miami assessment, as a Northeasterner with substantial Miami experience and based on what "urban" means to people from places like Boston, New York, Philly, Baltimore etc.

[diablo234]

I will have to agree with Shawn here, in the sense that the older Northeastern cities share far more in common with New Orleans, Charleston, and Savannah than they do with Miami, mostly because with Miami even though it is very dense, it is still car orientated (with the exception of a maybe a handful of neighborhoods) since it developed much later wheras older cities such New Orleans are still very dense from a population standpoint while also having a more pedestrian friendly layout similar to Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore.

[QuantumX]

Originally Posted by Shawn

Don't make assumptions.

Don't make assumptions? That is why I asked a question.

[QuantumX]

Actually, I agree with both of you. Miami seems more like Los Angeles to me.

[bayviews]

Originally Posted by QuantumX

Actually, I agree with both of you. Miami seems more like Los Angeles to me.

Yeah, quite true, but a smaller & much more compact versian of LA.

[QuantumX]

Originally Posted by bayviews

Yeah, quite true, but a smaller & much more compact versian of LA.

I have lived in both and they always have reminded me a lot of each other. That having been said and in keeping with thread topic, I'd have to go with New Orleans with its density and the charm the streetcars brought to the city.

[CNB30]

Richmond is sometimes considered mid- Atlantic

Architecturally, it has more in common, with Baltimore, or DC

[mstem58]

i'd have to say new orleans, quite an old city.

[CNB30]

Originally Posted by mstem58

i'd have to say new orleans, quite an old city.

Cities like New Orleans, Savannah, and Charleston are what deep southern cities used to look like, before the disgusting says of the new south sunbelt city