Cities you want to grow, cities you want to see a slowdown.

[Sean in New Orleans]

It really doesn't matter to me too much. I'd like to see Detroit return to it's former glory and bring all of those incredibly beautiful gothic buildings back into commerce and residential! One day when that happens it will be one of the most beautiful cities in the country. For my hometown of New Orleans, I'd like to see it return to around 550,000 or so, but, it would be sad to see it get much larger than that, IMO. We have a way of life down here and a certain laid back attitude towards life. If we got much larger than 550,000, we'd definitely be infiltrated by people from other areas that wouldn't ever get it and it just wouldn't work for them or us. Some of the larger cities such as Houston, Dallas, and Atlanta in the SE can continue to grow and become as big as they ever want to be...I'd just like to see them infill and stop spreading out so much and giving a little more respect to the land that is around them.

[WeimieLvr]

Originally Posted by Sean in New Orleans

It really doesn't matter to me too much. I'd like to see Detroit return to it's former glory and bring all of those incredibly beautiful gothic buildings back into commerce and residential! One day when that happens it will be one of the most beautiful cities in the country. For my hometown of New Orleans, I'd like to see it return to around 550,000 or so, but, it would be sad to see it get much larger than that, IMO. We have a way of life down here and a certain laid back attitude towards life. If we got much larger than 550,000, we'd definitely be infiltrated by people from other areas that wouldn't ever get it and it just wouldn't work for them or us. Some of the larger cities such as Houston, Dallas, and Atlanta in the SE can continue to grow and become as big as they ever want to be...I'd just like to see them infill and stop spreading out so much and giving a little more respect to the land that is around them.

I don't get comments like this...don't you think that they ARE building infill and that sprawl is declining? It's happening pretty much everywhere, and I know it's happening in Atlanta for sure.

[Sean in New Orleans]

Originally Posted by WeimieLvr

I don't get comments like this...don't you think that they ARE building infill and that sprawl is declining? It's happening pretty much everywhere, and I know it's happening in Atlanta for sure.

Not really. At least the last times I've been there in the last year and I've been to all three. Atlanta is the best when it comes to starting to infill, but, Houston and esp. Dallas...it doesn't even feel like an urban environment in some parts of the cities. Atlanta should draw a line in the sand, literally, and say, "STOP!!!! No one else can move into the N. Georgia mountains!!! This is our pristine land and we will not let ANY MORE out of state people who relocate here move onto this land!!!!"

[desertpunk]

I want to see the spawling growth in Honolulu come to a screeching halt.

[WeimieLvr]

Originally Posted by Sean in New Orleans

Not really. At least the last times I've been there in the last year and I've been to all three. Atlanta is the best when it comes to starting to infill, but, Houston and esp. Dallas...it doesn't even feel like an urban environment in some parts of the cities. Atlanta should draw a line in the sand, literally, and say, "STOP!!!! No one else can move into the N. Georgia mountains!!! This is our pristine land and we will not let ANY MORE out of state people who relocate here move onto this land!!!!"

The North Georgia mountains? Atlanta doesn't quite get that far...and if you read up on sprawl you'll find that it's been decreasing all across the U.S. - including the southern metros.

It's kind of hard to tell people where they should live. That's a personal choice.

Atlanta has been building infill for several years, since the '96 Olympics especially. I'm not sure which areas you're talking about that don't feel urban, but I know all 3 cities you mentioned have those areas (as well as every city in the world - they aren't uniformly urban).

[CNB30]

Grow, All cities in the northeast (Baltimore, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, DC, Richmond VA, Providence) also Chicago, The inner Detroit, Austin, Portland Oregon, San Francisco, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati inner ST Louis, any true urban non-sprawl city.

STOP, LA, Houston, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, CHARLOTTE, Phoenix, Miami, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas.

[WeimieLvr]

Originally Posted by CNB30

Grow, All cities in the northeast (Baltimore, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, DC, Richmond VA, Providence) also Chicago, The inner Detroit, Austin, Portland Oregon, San Francisco, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati inner ST Louis, any true urban non-sprawl city.

STOP, LA, Houston, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, CHARLOTTE, Phoenix, Miami, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas.

Non-sprawl city! That's funny...all of the cities you listed are huge sprawlers. Chicago? Give me a break - one of the worst offenders.

[Sean in New Orleans]

Originally Posted by WeimieLvr

The North Georgia mountains? Atlanta doesn't quite get that far...and if you read up on sprawl you'll find that it's been decreasing all across the U.S. - including the southern metros.

It's kind of hard to tell people where they should live. That's a personal choice.

Atlanta has been building infill for several years, since the '96 Olympics especially. I'm not sure which areas you're talking about that don't feel urban, but I know all 3 cities you mentioned have those areas (as well as every city in the world - they aren't uniformly urban).

Even though I live in New Orleans, I probably go to the N. Georgia Mountains more than you...since I camp there three or four times a year. What is happening there is a disgrace and Georgia needs to reign in sprawl up there with serious regulations and laws. They don't seem to be in place now...I love it up there, but, every time I go it seems more and more to succumb to those willing to drive in to Atlanta 60 miles. Look, there are people that will do it...literally, we have people in New Orleans that live almost to Hattiesburg, MS and commute because they want that country life. Do I think it is crazy? Hell yeah, but, they are willing to do it. I KNOW people that commute from those areas south of Hattiesburg--Purvis, Lumberton, Poplarville...they do it. But, it is not enough, yet that damaging up there, like the N. Georgia mountains. I don't understand it, truly. I live less than 2 miles from the CBD in New Orleans and love it....

[WeimieLvr]

Originally Posted by Sean in New Orleans

Even though I live in New Orleans, I probably go to the N. Georgia Mountains more than you...since I camp there three or four times a year. What is happening there is a disgrace and Georgia needs to reign in sprawl up there with serious regulations and laws. They don't seem to be in place now...I love it up there, but, every time I go it seems more and more to succumb to those willing to drive in to Atlanta 60 miles. Look, there are people that will do it...literally, we have people in New Orleans that live almost to Hattiesburg, MS and commute because they want that country life. Do I think it is crazy? Hell yeah, but, they are willing to do it. I KNOW people that commute from those areas south of Hattiesburg--Purvis, Lumberton, Poplarville...they do it. But, it is not enough, yet that damaging up there, like the N. Georgia mountains. I don't understand it, truly. I live less than 2 miles from the CBD in New Orleans and love it....

So there are people there that will drive 60 miles to Atlanta...so what? I'm not sure how Atlanta can control that kind of thing. Since it is mostly retirees moving to North Georgia I don't know how often they "commute", but I'm sure there are people willing to do it.

I go to North Georgia often, at least once a month - isn't it beautiful? I live in the city as well and enjoy getting away as often as possible.

[540_804]

I'd like to see Washington DC city proper grow (in population mainly).

It peaked in 1950 at over 800,000 and has lost about 200,000 since then. I think it could easily accommodate 1,000,000 with it's current pattern of development.

Consider Paris is at over 2.2 million with 40% less space (5 times more dense).
Obviously because of the development restrictions 2.2 million would probably not work in DC but 1 million could.

I'd like to see the DC suburbs slow down considerably, though.

[mhays]

Originally Posted by WeimieLvr

All of the cities on both your lists sprawl a huge amount. Additionally, all of the cities on both lists have attempted to limit sprawl, maintain/increase density, maintain architectural integrity, become more walkable and bikeable, add more/better public transit. What large American city isn't doing all of that?

The controls are much stronger in some cities. Miami and the West Coast mostly.

Actually, extremely little is being done in many cities. No growth controls, and sometimes even continued freeway construction.

[Sean in New Orleans]

Originally Posted by WeimieLvr

So there are people there that will drive 60 miles to Atlanta...so what? I'm not sure how Atlanta can control that kind of thing. Since it is mostly retirees moving to North Georgia I don't know how often they "commute", but I'm sure there are people willing to do it.

I go to North Georgia often, at least once a month - isn't it beautiful? I live in the city as well and enjoy getting away as often as possible.

I totally love it....that's why it is my getaway...we hike, camp, canoe, and go tubing all above Amicalola Falls and Dahlonega...but, you have to admit, there are too many people building homes. I don't like that...I want total quiet at night when I camp. I don't want to hear cars and the more time passes, the more cars I hear in the distance. I don't like it.

[musiccity]

I would like cities in the Interior West like Billings, Boise, Salt Lake City, etc. to grow into large cities with nice skylines. (SLC already is)

Most Southern cities (like Nashville) need to slow the hell down! And people from the North need to stop moving to Southern cities en masse. That's one of the reasons beautiful northern cities are on the decline and are falling (or have fallen) into disrepair and Southern cities are growing and sprawling out like an ugly weed.

[LtBk]

Originally Posted by mhays

The controls are much stronger in some cities. Miami and the West Coast mostly.

Actually, extremely little is being done in many cities. No growth controls, and sometimes even continued freeway construction.

In the long run, those cities will screw themselves badly.

[Sean in New Orleans]

Originally Posted by musiccity

I would like cities in the Interior West like Billings, Boise, Salt Lake City, etc. to grow into large cities with nice skylines. (SLC already is)

Most Southern cities (like Nashville) need to slow the hell down! And people from the North need to stop moving to Southern cities en masse. That's one of the reasons beautiful northern cities are on the decline and are falling (or have fallen) into disrepair and Southern cities are growing and sprawling out like an ugly weed.

I would like to see Boise become a MAJOR Northwestern city....

[CNB30]

Originally Posted by WeimieLvr

Non-sprawl city! That's funny...all of the cities you listed are huge sprawlers. Chicago? Give me a break - one of the worst offenders.

I was mostly talking about cities that are completely sprawling with little to no urban anchor. Chicago has one of the largest urban anchors around. When I meant growth, I did not mean necessarily sprawl, but rather urban and downtown growth (which parts of Chicago need)

[CNB30]

Originally Posted by CNB30

I was mostly talking about cities that are completely sprawling with little to no urban anchor. Chicago has one of the largest urban anchors around. When I meant growth, I did not mean necessarily sprawl, but rather urban and downtown growth (which parts of Chicago need)

also, the cities I wanted to stop, are more sprawling than the ones I want to grow.

[WeimieLvr]

Originally Posted by CNB30

also, the cities I wanted to stop, are more sprawling than the ones I want to grow.

Well, basically most people responding to this question want to see the current fastest growing cities stop and the stagnant cities grow. It's kind of a loaded question. In reality, the faster-growing cities are just more popular outside of skyscrapercity.com...that is always subject to change, of course.

It's kind of hard to separate the bitter comments from the thoughtful ones.

[bayviews]

Originally Posted by desertpunk

I want to see the spawling growth in Honolulu come to a screeching halt.

I notice its tentacles winding thru the low hanging areas of Oahu.

Other than that, with the peaks & the pacific, not much room to sprawl!

[CNB30]

Originally Posted by WeimieLvr

Well, basically most people responding to this question want to see the current fastest growing cities stop and the stagnant cities grow. It's kind of a loaded question. In reality, the faster-growing cities are just more popular outside of skyscrapercity.com...that is always subject to change, of course.

It's kind of hard to separate the bitter comments from the thoughtful ones.

I am just saying that the ones who sprawl the most and grow the fastest should slow down and take some time to buildup their urban areas. That's one main reason why I didn't put your city Atlanta on the list because it has actually worked on making its downtown and urban core larger. The cities that you mention are sprawling are not growing because people want to live in these cookie cutter outer suburbs, and burn ten tons of gas a day, while enjoying the neon strip mall scenery. They are growing because large businesses are relocating people to new jobs, and people are usually more concerned about where work is. I've known plenty of people who lived in these sprawled cities, and disliked them, but stayed because their office was there.

PS. How about you just show me your own list, instead of complaining about my rooted opinion. I like a city with a good urban important central core. I am a big fan of good quality historic urban architecture, and hate suburban sprawl! This is my opinion and it is staying that way!