Comments on: From the Train, Baltimore Looks Like Hell http://davetroy.com/posts/from-the-train-baltimore-looks-like-hell Design, Entrepreneurship, Economics and Software Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:56:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Ken http://davetroy.com/posts/from-the-train-baltimore-looks-like-hell#comment-623 Ken Mon, 21 Dec 2009 03:51:56 +0000 http://davetroy.com/?p=590#comment-623 I just came across your post, oh about months late, however, better late than never. I live in Ottawa now, but used to live in a city in Ontario called Hamilton. People driving to Toronto or oppositely, to Niagara Falls would always drive over the Skyway Bridge. As they drive over they get only one view of Hamilton and this is it: <br><br><a href="http://frumoutdoorsman.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/216425595yokwlq_fs.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://frumoutdoorsman.files.wordpress.com/2009...</a><br><br>People always think that Hamilton must be hell on earth, but actually surprisingly it actually quite livable. The west end is lushly forested and there are many quaint shopping areas and parks. I always say that Hamilton is Ontario's best kept secret, which you can immediately see why when you get the view non-residents get as they pass by. I just came across your post, oh about months late, however, better late than never. I live in Ottawa now, but used to live in a city in Ontario called Hamilton. People driving to Toronto or oppositely, to Niagara Falls would always drive over the Skyway Bridge. As they drive over they get only one view of Hamilton and this is it:

http://frumoutdoorsman.files.wordpress.com/2009...

People always think that Hamilton must be hell on earth, but actually surprisingly it actually quite livable. The west end is lushly forested and there are many quaint shopping areas and parks. I always say that Hamilton is Ontario's best kept secret, which you can immediately see why when you get the view non-residents get as they pass by.

]]> By: Ken http://davetroy.com/posts/from-the-train-baltimore-looks-like-hell#comment-609 Ken Sun, 20 Dec 2009 22:51:56 +0000 http://davetroy.com/?p=590#comment-609 I just came across your post, oh about months late, however, better late than never. I live in Ottawa now, but used to live in a city in Ontario called Hamilton. People driving to Toronto or oppositely, to Niagara Falls would always drive over the Skyway Bridge. As they drive over they get only one view of Hamilton and this is it: <br><br><a href="http://frumoutdoorsman.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/216425595yokwlq_fs.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://frumoutdoorsman.files.wordpress.com/2009...</a><br><br>People always think that Hamilton must be hell on earth, but actually surprisingly it actually quite livable. The west end is lushly forested and there are many quaint shopping areas and parks. I always say that Hamilton is Ontario's best kept secret, which you can immediately see why when you get the view non-residents get as they pass by. I just came across your post, oh about months late, however, better late than never. I live in Ottawa now, but used to live in a city in Ontario called Hamilton. People driving to Toronto or oppositely, to Niagara Falls would always drive over the Skyway Bridge. As they drive over they get only one view of Hamilton and this is it:

http://frumoutdoorsman.files.wordpress.com/2009...

People always think that Hamilton must be hell on earth, but actually surprisingly it actually quite livable. The west end is lushly forested and there are many quaint shopping areas and parks. I always say that Hamilton is Ontario's best kept secret, which you can immediately see why when you get the view non-residents get as they pass by.

]]> By: Clarence Wooten http://davetroy.com/posts/from-the-train-baltimore-looks-like-hell#comment-448 Clarence Wooten Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:44:09 +0000 http://davetroy.com/?p=590#comment-448 This post is spot-on. Something does need to be done about it. It basically confirms to many that the images that they saw on the acclaimed show 'The Wire' are indeed correct (the Wire was my favorite show but that's no excuse). I'd get involved in making something happen to improve or at lease block the view of those row homes. This post is spot-on. Something does need to be done about it. It basically confirms to many that the images that they saw on the acclaimed show ‘The Wire’ are indeed correct (the Wire was my favorite show but that’s no excuse).

I’d get involved in making something happen to improve or at lease block the view of those row homes.

]]> By: dotcommunist.wordpress.com/ http://davetroy.com/posts/from-the-train-baltimore-looks-like-hell#comment-447 dotcommunist.wordpress.com/ Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:03:05 +0000 http://davetroy.com/?p=590#comment-447 I used to commute to New York on a regular basis on Amtrak, and would look out the window as the train passed through that stretch of Baltimore headed out toward Middle River. It *is* post-apocalyptic. There's no more harsh view of the city than the early morning light filtering through gutted rowhouses and reflecting off shattered glass, revealing rubble and ruin. Of course, the view from the train passing through parts of Philadelphia is at least as bad. But that's not an excuse. I used to commute to New York on a regular basis on Amtrak, and would look out the window as the train passed through that stretch of Baltimore headed out toward Middle River. It *is* post-apocalyptic. There’s no more harsh view of the city than the early morning light filtering through gutted rowhouses and reflecting off shattered glass, revealing rubble and ruin. Of course, the view from the train passing through parts of Philadelphia is at least as bad. But that’s not an excuse.

]]> By: davetroy (Dave Troy) http://davetroy.com/posts/from-the-train-baltimore-looks-like-hell#comment-444 davetroy (Dave Troy) Tue, 01 Sep 2009 20:06:59 +0000 http://davetroy.com/?p=590#comment-444 Apparently John Waters references my blog post in the October 2009 issue of <a rel="nofollow" href="http://twitter.com/BaltimoreMag">@BaltimoreMag</a>. http://davetroy.com/?p=590 Apparently John Waters references my blog post in the October 2009 issue of @BaltimoreMag. http://davetroy.com/?p=590

]]> By: aviars http://davetroy.com/posts/from-the-train-baltimore-looks-like-hell#comment-439 aviars Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:58:28 +0000 http://davetroy.com/?p=590#comment-439 I agree it really looks bad from the train comming from D.C. One word TREES! This city needs a lot more trees! I know they are working on it. More attention to garbage collection in the bay/harbor. 100s of floating Utz chip bags...yuck. I agree it really looks bad from the train comming from D.C. One word TREES! This city needs a lot more trees! I know they are working on it. More attention to garbage collection in the bay/harbor. 100s of floating Utz chip bags…yuck.

]]> By: LootBag http://davetroy.com/posts/from-the-train-baltimore-looks-like-hell#comment-437 LootBag Wed, 22 Jul 2009 01:46:58 +0000 http://davetroy.com/?p=590#comment-437 It's probably important to note that real estate next to railroad tracks has always been less-than-desirable. Noise has always been a factor, and, in the past, the pollutants from steam engines was no picnic either. It might be nice to create parks and fix up the houses next to the tracks, but anyone looking to invest in such a venture would want an answer to the question: "who would want to live there?". I think it's safe to say that many fine and beautiful cities look pretty ugly when approached by railroad. The view from the train is fleeting, whereas the view (and the noise and the smell) from the land adjacent to the tracks is more persistent. It’s probably important to note that real estate next to railroad tracks has always been less-than-desirable. Noise has always been a factor, and, in the past, the pollutants from steam engines was no picnic either.

It might be nice to create parks and fix up the houses next to the tracks, but anyone looking to invest in such a venture would want an answer to the question: “who would want to live there?”.

I think it’s safe to say that many fine and beautiful cities look pretty ugly when approached by railroad.

The view from the train is fleeting, whereas the view (and the noise and the smell) from the land adjacent to the tracks is more persistent.

]]> By: davetroy http://davetroy.com/posts/from-the-train-baltimore-looks-like-hell#comment-436 davetroy Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:02:04 +0000 http://davetroy.com/?p=590#comment-436 Yeah, our east-coast peer cities don't look a lot better, but in my opinion Baltimore is appallingly bad. And with our reputation for crime and blight, I think we need to work extra-hard to overcome those stereotypes. Many of the remedies don't involve a lot of money. If the city were to release accurate information so that interactive blight maps could be prepared, for example, we could raise awareness about areas where the city is ailing and start a dialog about solutions. Unfortunately the city seems to want to sit on that kind of data, and that's to everyone's detriment. Open data means better cities. And it doesn't cost anything. Yeah, our east-coast peer cities don’t look a lot better, but in my opinion Baltimore is appallingly bad. And with our reputation for crime and blight, I think we need to work extra-hard to overcome those stereotypes.

Many of the remedies don’t involve a lot of money.

If the city were to release accurate information so that interactive blight maps could be prepared, for example, we could raise awareness about areas where the city is ailing and start a dialog about solutions.

Unfortunately the city seems to want to sit on that kind of data, and that’s to everyone’s detriment. Open data means better cities. And it doesn’t cost anything.

]]> By: ecogordo http://davetroy.com/posts/from-the-train-baltimore-looks-like-hell#comment-435 ecogordo Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:34:47 +0000 http://davetroy.com/?p=590#comment-435 Philly and Jersey going into New York look pretty much the same as Baltimore unfortunately. Actually, the view is appropriate since it is an accurate picture of who we are or who we have become as a society. Artists could come in and paint a different view, but it would be a facade. Decay is a part of captialism, but the re-building has a cost and we have run out of money, mostly spent on McMansions and SUVs. That is the old normal, get ready for the new normal. The new picture is being painted as we read. Philly and Jersey going into New York look pretty much the same as Baltimore unfortunately.

Actually, the view is appropriate since it is an accurate picture of who we are or who we have become as a society.

Artists could come in and paint a different view, but it would be a facade. Decay is a part of captialism, but the re-building has a cost and we have run out of money, mostly spent on McMansions and SUVs. That is the old normal, get ready for the new normal. The new picture is being painted as we read.

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