I have a question about big cities

[dewey]

Phoenix is one of the largest cities in the U.S. but it's not densely populated (per square mile) like some other of the top 5 biggest U.S. cities...I think density is a big factor in many areas in the "nobody is your neighbor" syndrome.

Some specific areas in Phoenix have been well known for many years as literal war zones where even authorities fear to tread, and those areas keep engulfing more space, while most other areas are pretty much laid back and friendly (but not on the freeways, anywhere, lol). Really, it's a city of many transplants from all over the nation and world so we get all mindsets that migrate here from other places. And there's pockets of don't-go-there-under-any-circumstance areas mixed in with higher-end neighborhoods. Even in those terribly bad areas there's kind hearted caring people that have had the bad elements take over their neighborhoods but they have no way out. The majority of the older Phoenix-grown generation in those areas would give the shirts off their back to help a stranger in need. It's still the wild, wild, west and will always be, and it's getting wilder from other elements in many ways, but most folks here have no qualms about helping strangers.

What comes to mind when I think of huge cities is some in the Asian countries.

 

[GardenerGal]

I liked Phoenix and Tempe when I visited in the late '90s. The Sun Valley region was sprawling even then, and I imagine it is even moreso now with suburban development. The city people were nice, though I got the feeling that a lot were from elsewhere. Arizona is a retirement mecca, isn't it?

The one thing I really didn't like, however, was the "Taco Bell" architecture of new development - condos, houses and commercial buildings. Everything new looked like a Taco Bell! Here in New England we have the equivalent in quickly assembled Colonial-style homes made of cheapo materials including plywood, composite resin sheeting, pre-framed walls, synthetic siding and sheet-shingle roofing. The structures aren't made to last for more than 30 years in our climate! I'm guessing the the newer developments in Phoenix are constructed of similarly less-sturdy materials, but in your climate they may last longer.

 

[Fierlin1182]

I love how in Adelaide we have a lot of older, brick and stone buildings. Sure, nowhere near as many as, say, Europe, but these days nearly all new houses here are like huge concrete cubes.

 

[GardenerGal]

That sounds like our New England architecture of the late 19th century through the mid-20th -- lots of brick and stone. Boston's brownstones reminds many Londeners for their home city.

Adelaide sounds like it followed that English architectural tradition, too.

 

[Fierlin1182]

Probably, I honestly have no clue, I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to history.

The older buildings are mostly situated along the "culture strip" on North Terrace - library, museum, art gallery, university. More of the buildings in the shopping and business precinct are being replaced with more modern high rises these days.

 

[mom'sfolly]

I've lived in the Minneapolis suburbs...2 million I think. I've been in Seattle, Los Vegas, Phoenix, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Boston, NY City, Baltimore, Washington DC, London, Amsterdam, Paris, Berlin, Munich, Prague, Rome and maybe some others.

I would say they all have different characteristics...with NYC and Paris being strangely similar. The Texas cities are huge, and spread over many miles. Each is unique, San Antonio is the most influenced by it Mexican heritage. Houston traffic is insane...12 lanes in each direction in some places. Boston has the best people watching of any city I've ever been in; Rome and NYC feel the edgiest. Rome and NYC both, to me, feel like place that I could be mugged, and I always feel like I need to be looking over my shoulder. Parts of Washington DC made me feel that way too.

I think most cities have a variety of people, good and bad. I think they have areas that most people would avoid, charming areas where anyone would be glad to live, and everything in between.

 

[Fierlin1182]

Nicely put, mom'sfolly.
I have been to Paris before, I remember it as a pretty nice place. I agree with you about Rome.

 

[Mattemma]

I lived in Budapest Hungary for a while.It was nice before the country went from socialism to capitalism.More crime now,and less repair/maintanence(sp).