City vs. City #4: Seaside, FL vs. Ford Heights, IL

[Cardinal]

Seaside - planned by DPZ, expensive, elite (elitist?), lily-white, shiny and new, on the ocean, sterile, little industry

Ford Heights - master plan updated in 1961, very low income, leads the nation in unwed mothers, mostly minority, run down (run away!), near the landfill, anything but sterile, little industry

OK, planners, try this one.

 

[NHPlanner]

I like a challenge....give me IL over the serility of Seaside.

 

[Bucky alum]

I've been to Middleton Hills(Middleton,WI), and at first I thought noone had moved in and that is why none of the shops had opened. Fast forward two years. The streets are like any other suburb except there are no kids in the street because the homes are too expensive and it was built away from any business so you still have to drive everywhere. All in all, a major failure IMO.

 

[Cardinal]

I've been to Middleton Hills(Middleton,WI), and at first I thought noone had moved in and that is why none of the shops had opened. Fast forward two years. The streets are like any other suburb except there are no kids in the street because the homes are too expensive and it was built away from any business so you still have to drive everywhere. All in all, a major failure IMO.

I have watched it as well. It is slower to develop than most TND's because the Madison market is smaller, and it is developing slower than other subdivisions in the Madison market. On the positive side, it is at the least a good example of a mixed-density residential neighborhood. Over time and as the project develops out towards the highways (where more commercial is planned to cluster) I think that part of the development will come into being.

 

[Cardinal]

Ford Heights leads by a nose. Anyone want to forward this post to DPZ? El Guapo?

 

[Chet]

Middleton Hills is being watched by just about every planner in Wisconsin. Most of us want it to work, and most of us would use it as a positive example of urban form. But we're all wary of the example for the reasons Buckyalum cites. "Downtown" Middleton is great and up-and-coming IMHO, especially the redeveloping west side towards the interchange.

 

[lakelander]

Does anyone have any pics of these two communities?

 

[Super Amputee Cat]

I like a challenge....give me IL over the serility of Seaside.

I have to say I'm with NH on this one. I've been to Seaside and was initially impressed by it's architecture and layout. But then I heard the horror stories about $300 nightly rates and $350,000 one bedroom cottages.

Just another goddamn yuppie theme park. So Ford Heights by default.

BTW, I tried to vote but the poll is closed. So it's at least 11-6