Characteristics of City Living

There are all kinds of ways to live in the city: lofts, studios, high-rise condos, town or row houses, garden districts, industrial conversions, residential hotels. And of course, homeless shelters and Section 8 housing. There are also all kinds of reasons to live in the city. Some people live in the city by choice, some because there is nowhere else for them to go. Some live there because they don't have a car and need to be close to mass transportation systems. Some want to be close to work, or to the night life, or to other amenities a city has to offer. Some like to get lost in the crowd; some like to watch the crowd. Some people even feel safer where there are lots of people, notwithstanding the city's reputation for crime.

For these reasons and many others, it's hard to generalize about city living. The experience gap between the professional person in a penthouse and a homeless person on the streets is about as wide as it can be and still be within the same square mile. This diversity is one of the leading characteristics of an urban environment. Only in the midst of the downtown area can one find the mix of activities, occupations, education, incomes and housing that we traditionally think of as typifying city living. Being in proximity to the downtown does not automatically make one's lifestyle an urban one. But there are some characteristics common to all types of city living.

1) Closeness to the arteries of the city's transportation systems (including freeways).
2) Closeness to government entities.
3) Ability to walk to many types of enterprises and activities.
4) Constant activity (legal or illegal).
5) Open spaces are at a premium.
6) There is generally more noise, more pollution and more trash.
7) Crime is a major concern.
8) A diverse population.
9) Exposure to things that are unfamiliar.
10) Easy access to more cultural experiences.

I will discuss each of these characteristics in upcoming blog entries.