Note I live in Marcy Holmes near the old white castle.
I have been residing in Minnesota for a few years now. at the time the biggest city I've ever lived in was Minneapolis.
Visiting Chicago has shocked me just how active and dense north chicago and downtown is.
North chicago near oz Park had people playing sports team games other events parents with kids when it was getting late. I never see this many people packing parks and community spaces.
The sheer density of the city is shocking. But also the fact that most of the bars and businesses remain open. It feels like so many places in the twin cities are empty of closing down outside of shitty chain stores.
There is a fatigued spirit in Minneapolis and st Paul that I do not feel in chicago. I was told chicago was broke. But the city feels like the people are thriving. I've lived near the university of Minnesota. But it doesn't feel the same
Maybe it's due to chicagos historical investment in rail and it's housing structure. Maybe it's due to chicago still have far more historical buildings?
While we have the light rail it doesn't really go where I want it to go. Its sort of terrible outside of it going to the airport. And it's slow.
I don't know maybe there's just work in chicago. Or maybe I'm not going outside enough as a pedestrian in minneapolis. But it feels like in chicago there are more community spaces for people to thrive in.
"Edit people are pointing to chicagos investment in better green spaces and street life."
We do have a fair bit of greenspace in minneapolis that's for sure. Yet the density of housing seems incomparable to Minneapolis where single family homes and duplexes dominate. I will try to learn more about the history of both Minneapolis and chicago .