Great Places in America: 2008
Earlier this month, the American Planning Association named its picks for Great American Places. There are three categories, Neighborhoods, Streets and Public Places, and while some of them are obvious (New York's Central Park as a great public place), some are intriguing and can serve as a guide to travelers seeking out new favorite spots. Neighborhoods, streets and public spaces are deemed "great" by a number of criteria, including form, personality, sustainability, demographics, aesthetics and more.
Among this year's local winners are Baltimore's Charles Village in the Great Neighborhood category; Union Station in D.C. in Public Spaces and Clarendon and Wilson boulevards in Arlington in the Streets field.
I'm always skeptical about the validity of this kind of list (isn't a place's value subjective?), but I appreciate giving credit where credit's due. Plus, who doesn't like lists?
While I haven't been to most places on the three lists (better get out my To Do list!), I'm intrigued by the selection of some of the places, and wondering why there's no emphasis on local businesses, and little mention of access to public transportation. Aren't those important additions to any neighborhood, street or public space?
Also, what about places that weren't on the list, ones that might be below people's radar? One place that might fit into the "Great Streets" category is Ellsworth Drive in downtown Silver Spring. I don't know about the pedestrian area's eco-friendliness, and I wince a little at the generic, pre-fab feeling of it - does the world really need one more Borders, one more Red Lobster?
But ever since I moved to the neighborhood, Ellsworth Drive's been growing on me. I've realized that the people using the space -- a diverse collection of families, teens, friends of all ages -- are enjoying themselves, stimulated by the very crowd they're part of, getting along across ethnic and economic lines. Some good local businesses are there, including Strosenider's Hardware and Moby Dick House of Kabob. Plus, how can you not like a place with a farmer's market?
Do you have a place that you think should be on the APA's list? Do you think the selections are spot-on, or did the APA pick any duds?
By Christina Talcott |
October 29, 2008; 10:39 AM ET
| Category:
Best U.S. Cities
,
Christina Talcott
,
In the News
,
Lists
Previous: Places to See: St. Louis |
Next: United's New Door-to-Door Baggage Program
View or post comments
Posted by: kbockl | October 29, 2008 11:02 AM
My jaw hit the floor when I saw Prescott, Arizona's Courthouse Square on the list! My parents retired to Prescott, so I know the place. For me, the Courthouse Square is remarkable for its originality and authenticity (and zoning protections!) in a sea of strip malls, chain restaurants, big-box retailers and otherwise unchecked sprawl. But it's not like I'd make a special trip to Prescott just to visit the square.
Christina, given that Burlington, VT's Church Street Marketplace (a pedestrian zone with shopping, event space, etc.) is on the list as a public space rather than a street, I wonder if that's where Ellsworth Drive would be placed. They sound very similar, although in the case of Church Street, it's the local stores and people that give character to the area - the big chain retailers are merely backdrop.
I am surprised that Seattle isn't represented on the list, there are plenty of interesting nabes and public spaces there.
I agree that access to public transit should be a criterion in the judging, although if it were, Prescott's Courthouse Square wouldn't have made the cut. There are only a few cab companies in town, forget about public transportation.
Posted by: northgs | October 29, 2008 11:29 AM
In my day Ellsworth Drive was only known for the Silver Spring Library. That was and is enough for me to put it on any list.
Posted by: shlomiesdad | October 29, 2008 11:46 AM
I moved out to an exurb of the Twin Cities from DC a few years ago. I wasn't really surprised to see St. Paul's Summit Avenue listed as one of the Great Streets.
I used to work along Clarendon, so I get why it's there, but it doesn't compare to Summit Avenue (and the surrounding neighborhood) in beauty or actual livability.
My husband and I say if we win one of those huge lotteries (which is a joke, because we never buy tickets anyway), that we're moving to Summit Avenue.
Posted by: Chasmosaur1 | October 29, 2008 5:52 PM
I am a little surprised by the inclusion of Broad Street in Philly. Now, I haven't driven the length of it, but I have walked from City Hall out to where Cirque pitches there tent when in town. I does host a couple of nice entertainment venues (Academy of Music, the Wilma, Kimmel Center etc.) and the Ritz. It is also the site of the Mummers and other Parades, but I have walked down streets with more character.
Posted by: rja112 | October 30, 2008 1:29 AM
OOPs I meant their tent
Posted by: rja112 | October 30, 2008 1:31 AM
The comments to this entry are closed.
Eastern Market is eclectic, easy to reach by Metro, has potentially the most diverse crowd of any DC public space, and has always been a mecca of sustainability, featuring local farmers and artists. Just think of the emotion generated when the building caught fire! (Plus I hear DC's own living icon Gene Weingarten hangs out there from time to time...)