The Lansing of Pennsylvania.
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It's got that Pennsylvania look.
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Nice shots and spot on analysis. Altoona's neighborhoods blow away Johnstown while Johnstown's downtown blows away Altoona. I do think Altoona has a pretty beautiful natural location with the neighborhoods climbing steep hills tucked in a narrow valley between the westernmost mountain ridge in the "Ridge & Valley" region and the Allegheny Front. Interestingly, Altoona is VERY red while Johnstown is VERY blue. Altoona also has very little residential sprawl but has a massive commercial sprawl area (Plank Road, Logan Town Centre, etc.). Did you make it by Baker Mansion in South Altoona? That's Altoona's "upscale" area full of mansions on larger lots and lush tree-lined streets. The famous Mansion Park is there. East Altoona is pretty bleak... kinda has the "urban redneck" phenomenon going on. West Altoona is much nicer and has more functional neighborhoods with corner stores and whatnot. One of Penn State's largest branch campuses is on the northern fringe of the city. Downtown Altoona is truly pathetic and depressing... and honestly it looks like it probably didn't even amount to much in its salad days.
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enjoyed the photos:tup:
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I also tend to agree with your summary of Altoona/Johnstown. I did stumble across some quite urban, if shabby, hoods in Johnstown. But I think your pics prove Altoona has(or should that be had) a very stong residential urban fabric. Sadly the city seems to be dying a slow death. I guess even the Horseshoe Curve can't stop the decline.
Thanks for the great pics hero. |
distinctly central PA
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Altoona's downtown is really pathetic, but i personally like Altoona better than Johnstown. Nice pictures, hero.
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Some interesting ramshackle houses in the mix. Good post.
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Stop dissing Johnstown. We Canadians will forever be grateful for Slapshot.
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gee i wish my comments from last night hadn't gone the way of the dodo/SSP server.
a quick summation: nice pics hero; my view of altoona is love/hate, leaning toward love since i grew up with it after all. |
Does Altoona call it "pop" or "soda"? The soft drink slang Mason-Dixon line is somewhere around there.
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Altoona's downtown is so dead it is unbelieveable.
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Hero! I simply agree with your assessment of d-town J-Town.... :) ....and 'toona. Nice pics
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Thanks for the tour. It does feel alot larger than it is... too bad there's so little activity in such a nicely structured downtown.
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The problem with Downtown Altoona is its location.
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You've nailed it.
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Kind of a strange town. Always appreciative of the photos.
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nice tour.
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