Impressions after returning to New York for the first time in a few years

[MAC123]

Originally Posted by pj3000

To me, the problem with Hudson Yards is that because it's all similar, very tall buildings clumped together... it just feels like it's a single building in a way. It's hard for any of the impressive buildings to really stand out.

At the ground level, sure... the landscaped parks and walkways connecting the buildings are nice, but at the end of the day, it's a collection of high-end office/hotel/apartment towers. It's much more Midtown than it is the Village.

Don't expect phase 2 to be any different. High end is what is selling HY. If anything it should be even more bombastic with the casino resort and huge park. The main tower will be one of the largest and (possibly) tallest in the entire city. Hopefully we get some unique features and architecture because it's a resort tower.

[Capsicum]

Originally Posted by nito

Funny and ironic how the communist/"Second World", the US fought against, as leader of one bloc against another is later the major source of those desiring New York.

Also, a few other things jump out.

How the Asia-Pacific region favors NY over London broadly (favoring US vs. UK). Kind of like a map of where the US had a military presence (in Asia) throughout the 20th century.

Canada picks London over NY (reversal of typical trend of Canada's ties strongest to its southern neighbor over Commonwealth abroad).

So does Brazil. Enough that of course, just eyeballing it not very precisely -- the region of Latin America that favors NY is also seeming very close to countries that lie under the US from a longitude perspective.

[iheartthed]

Originally Posted by nito

Americans certainly don't prefer London over New York lol. Nor do British prefer New York over London. I also am extremely skeptical that Canadians prefer London over New York.

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by Quixote

I've been to arguably three of the top four greatest cities in the world in the last four months. And while I enjoyed my time in each immensely, I was always itching to get back to LA.

The superlative of 'greatest in the world' to me works against any place. I've heard that description of NYC for yrs, & such a claim is hard to live up to. It makes me think of proud parents describing their little johnny or little susie as the bestest, brightest, most good looking kids in the neighborhood.

I recall returning from a trip to NYC yrs ago, before the giuliani yrs, & not being bothered by its idiosyncrasies at all. Back then, tall bldgs were more in my vocabulary & I was more affected by 'greatest city...' In a way, NYC is better today than it was back then....but that's true of other places too. Although, a city like SF...Ca in general too...is going through a lull or dark period right now.

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by iheartthed

I also am extremely skeptical that Canadians prefer London over New York.

I recall several yrs ago talking to a person based in Canada...the montreal area...who regularly traveled to NYC. At the time, I was more affected by the claim of 'greatest city...' & assumed the person had to be enamored of NYC. He was more matter of fact about it, however, neither bubbly nor dour about it. I recall assuming he should have been more the former than the latter. I now realize that taste & preferences are very personal & 'I love it!' to one person is more 'business as usual' to another person.

As for london, because English is its main language, I view it somewhat differently vs the idea of living in some other capital of europe, Asia, south america, etc. Or adjusting to London would be less of a challenge than adjusting to a city where French or Japanese, etc, is the main spoken language.

[kool maudit]

You would have to be a VERY specific sort of Canadian to find London as familiar as New York, whatever your preference. I don't, and I've lived in London (but never in New York).

[iheartthed]

Originally Posted by citywatch

The superlative of 'greatest in the world' to me works against any place. I've heard that description of NYC for yrs, & such a claim is hard to live up to. It makes me think of proud parents describing their little johnny or little susie as the bestest, brightest, most good looking kids in the neighborhood.

I recall returning from a trip to NYC yrs ago, before the giuliani yrs, & not being bothered by its idiosyncrasies at all. Back then, tall bldgs were more in my vocabulary & I was more affected by 'greatest city...' In a way, NYC is better today than it was back then....but that's true of other places too. Although, a city like SF...Ca in general too...is going through a lull or dark period right now.

Canadians preferring London would be as odd as French people preferring New York. It's just far too easy for Canadians to get to New York. I've worked in offices full of Canadians for my entire career.

[Gantz]

Originally Posted by iheartthed

Americans certainly don't prefer London over New York lol. Nor do British prefer New York over London. I also am extremely skeptical that Canadians prefer London over New York.

I am guessing London is a layover destination for Canadians (and maybe other countries as well). Also, I'd imagine certain number of Canadians simply drive to NY. New Yorkers certainly do the other way around.

[Acajack]

Not sure that "preferring" one city or the other is the right term. Are we really talking about that?

I think Kool might be closer to the mark when he talks about "familiarity".

[Nouvellecosse]

I think we'd need more information to interpret the Leading City Destination image. My intuition is that it means "tourist destination" in which case it makes sense because it's more interesting and exciting to visit a place that's less familiar. Most people in the US and Canada are going to be much more familiar with NYC than London. Many more have already visited NY and those who have visited both have likely visited NYC more often. The opposite would be true of people in the UK as an even greater percentage of them would be familiar with London and have visited at least once since everyone in the country lives close to be by NA standards. If someone offered me a free flight and lodging for a week in either city, I'd probably choose London too, both the foe greater novelty and greater value. If I wanted to visit NY I could drive down fairly easily but with London that's not possible.

But if the graphic represents general preference as in which city is just nicest or which people would prefer to live in, each of those would have a different result.

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by iheartthed

Canadians preferring London would be as odd as French people preferring New York. It's just far too easy for Canadians to get to New York. I've worked in offices full of Canadians for my entire career.

The geographical factors make NYC more in the territory of ppl based in eastern candada...toronto, otawwa, montreal. But London makes me think of the scale & tone...some will say charm...of a montreal more than that of a NYC. NYC, however, is a more complete, complicated city than any of Canada's major cities are, but that doesn't necessarily make the so called Big Apple the type of place a person will quickly warm up to.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by kool maudit

You would have to be a VERY specific sort of Canadian to find London as familiar as New York, whatever your preference. I don't, and I've lived in London (but never in New York).

Part of this is also related to expectations.

When I first visited, I expected little "environmental" familiarity in the UK as a Canadian, but anticipated at least some human affinities and interest.

I ended up finding a bit more similarity in my physical, practical and logistical surroundings, but on the human side it was way less than I thought it would be.

- Hey, we're the good guys who sided with Britain in the American Revolution plus we still have the Queen and are part of the Commonwealth!*

- Uh... sure. Yeah. So, have you ever seen Michael Jordan play live since you're right next to the States?

*OK, I didn't actually say that.

[kool maudit]

At most, people in the UK will play along with the premise that we are "the nice sort of American" or whatever, but we are ultimately a sort of American.

That's the same across a lot of Europe, which is because it's true.

[iheartthed]

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

I think we'd need more information to interpret the Leading City Destination image. My intuition is that it means "tourist destination" in which case it makes sense because it's more interesting and exciting to visit a place that's less familiar. Most people in the US and Canada are going to be much more familiar with NYC than London. Many more have already visited NY and those who have visited both have likely visited NYC more often. The opposite would be true of people in the UK as an even greater percentage of them would be familiar with London and have visited at least once since everyone in the country lives close to be by NA standards. If someone offered me a free flight and lodging for a week in either city, I'd probably choose London too, both the foe greater novelty and greater value. If I wanted to visit NY I could drive down fairly easily but with London that's not possible.

But if the graphic represents general preference as in which city is just nicest or which people would prefer to live in, each of those would have a different result.

Even as a tourist destination I'd be extremely skeptical. But I think it's supposed to represent foreign-born migration, and I just don't see how that's accurate. I wouldn't be surprised if 10% of the people living in my apartment building were born in Canada. Canadians seem as well represented in New York City as people from just about any state other than New Jersey.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by iheartthed

Even as a tourist destination I'd be extremely skeptical. But I think it's supposed to represent foreign-born migration, and I just don't see how that's accurate. I wouldn't be surprised if 10% of the people living in my apartment building were born in Canada. Canadians seem as well represented in New York City as people from just about any state other than New Jersey.

How would you tell they are Canadian, in most cases?

[iheartthed]

Originally Posted by Acajack

How would you tell they are Canadian, in most cases?

The same way I'd know someone is from Ohio -- they'd tell me lol. Most of NYC isn't from NYC, so it's pretty common for people to talk about where they're from.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by iheartthed

The same way I'd know someone is from Ohio -- they'd tell me lol. Most of NYC isn't from NYC, so it's pretty common for people to talk about where they're from.

Gotcha.

[Crawford]

Originally Posted by iheartthed

The same way I'd know someone is from Ohio -- they'd tell me lol. Most of NYC isn't from NYC, so it's pretty common for people to talk about where they're from.

There are a lot of Canadians in finance and certain niche industries in NY. Lots of Toronto grads. Not sure that's generally true across the metro area, though. I think it's more niche employment opportunities, as with Canadians in, say, Bay Area tech or LA entertainment, or Boston academia. Canadian domestic employment prospects are very broad, but there's a certain sort of striver type that goes abroad and eschews comfort for greater risk/reward.

[iheartthed]

Originally Posted by Crawford

There are a lot of Canadians in finance and certain niche industries in NY. Lots of Toronto grads. Not sure that's generally true across the metro area, though. I think it's more niche employment opportunities, as with Canadians in, say, Bay Area tech or LA entertainment, or Boston academia. Canadian domestic employment prospects are very broad, but there's a certain sort of striver type that goes abroad and eschews comfort for greater risk/reward.

Well, that was specifically about the claim that there are more Canadians going to London than New York. I'd expect the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Seattle to attract a lot of Canadians too. I'd probably expect them all to pull more than Canadians than London, tbh.

However, I know Canadian born bartenders in NYC, so it's just hard for me to believe that there are more going to London.

[Crawford]

Originally Posted by iheartthed

Well, that was specifically about the claim that there are more Canadians going to London than New York. I'd expect the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Seattle to attract a lot of Canadians too. I'd probably expect them all to pull more than Canadians than London, tbh.

However, I know Canadian born bartenders in NYC, so it's just hard for me to believe that there are more going to London.

I'm guessing the main reason you see Canadian professionals in the U.S. is higher salaries/higher career ceilings. So yeah, they would be more likely to go to U.S. than UK, given that professional salaries are apples-apples generally much higher in the U.S.