Livability.com's Top 10 Downtowns

[thelakelander]

No Jacksonville isn't on this list.  Nevertheless, here it is:

1. Indianapolis
2. Winston-Salem, NC
3. Burlington, VT
4. San Antonio
5. Savannah
6. Louisville
7. Fort Worth
8. Chattanooga
9. Eugene, OR
10. Franklin, TN

Full article: http://livability.com/top-10/top-10-downtowns/

[north miami]

"...great places in between the big cities"

Is the 15th largest Metro Statistical Area too big to consider?

[thelakelander]

Over the years, we've had photo tour articles featuring seven of these downtowns.

1. Indianapolis

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2009-jul-elements-of-urbanism-indianapolis-2009

2. Winston-Salem, NC

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2008-oct-elements-of-urbanism-winston-salem

4. San Antonio

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2006-sep-downtown-texas-vs-downtown-jacksonville-part-2-san-antonio

5. Savannah

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2007-oct-elements-of-urbanism-savannah

6. Louisville

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2009-dec-elements-of-urbanism-louisville

7. Fort Worth

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2006-oct-learning-from-fort-worth-texas

8. Chattanooga

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2008-jan-roadtrip-chattanooga

[thelakelander]

"...great places in between the big city's."

Is the 15th largest Metro Statistical Area too big to consider?

Probably not if you're comparing it to a metro the size of NYC, LA, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, Philadephia, or Miami, etc.

[Ocklawaha]

Jacksonville is rapidly earning the reputation of a dog that won't hunt.

OCKLAWAHA

[north miami]

Joel Garreau's 1991 work "Edge City" 'Life On The New Frontier' profiled the emergence of 'Edge Cities' as America's next urban frontier.
"Fascinating.....no one has explained the geographical,economic,and sociological forces that have produced these 'new downtowns' as well as Garreau.".                    -David Broder,Washington Post


Only Livability's number 4,7 noted in "Edge City"

[fsujax]

Franklin, TN deserves to be in the top ten. They have a very nice downtown. It is amazing how cities get it and others dont (Jacksonville!).

[thelakelander]

I think we get it.  It isn't rocket science.  There have been vibrant urban centers since the beginning of mankind.  For whatever reason, we just lack the political will to do the things necessary for vibrancy to happen.

[dougskiles]

I think we get it.  It isn't rocket science.  There have been vibrant urban centers since the beginning of mankind.  For whatever reason, we just lack the political will to do the things necessary for vibrancy to happen.

It is changing.  More and more people that I talk to want things to change.  Thanks in large part to the good work done on this website.  Keep it up!

[tufsu1]

Joel Garreau's 1991 work "Edge City" 'Life On The New Frontier' profiled the emergence of 'Edge Cities' as America's next urban frontier.
"Fascinating.....no one has explained the geographical,economic,and sociological forces that have produced these 'new downtowns' as well as Garreau.".                    -David Broder,Washington Post


Only Livability's number 4,7 noted in "Edge City"

yes...and some of the edge cities in that book (like Bethesda, MD) have morphed into very nice, walkable downtowns

[Tacachale]

I would put Asheville on this list. My favorite city other than Jacksonville.