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Elements of Urbanism: Stamford & White Plains

Metro Jacksonville takes a look at White Plains, New York and Stamford, Connecticut, two cities successfully living in the shadow of New York.

Published December 9, 2008 in Learning From      8 Comments    Open printer friendly version of this article Print Article

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Tale of the Tape:

Stamford Population 2007: 118,475 (City); 895,015 (Bridgeport Metro) - (incorporated in 1893)

White Plains Population 2007: 57,398 (City); 18,815,988 (NYC Metro) - (incorporated in 1916)

Jacksonville Pop. 2007: 805,605 (City); 1,300,823 (Metro) - (incorporated in 1832)

City population 1950: Jacksonville (204,517); Stamford (74,293); White Plains (n/a)


Metropolitan Area Growth rate (2000-2007)

Stamford (Bridgeport): +1.41%
White Plains (NYC): +2.69%
Jacksonville: +15.86%

 

Urban Area Population (2000 census)

Stamford (Bridgeport): 888,890 (ranked 41 nationwide)
White Plains (NYC): 17,799,861 (ranked 1 nationwide)
Jacksonville: 882,295 (ranked 43 nationwide)

 

Urban Area Population Density (2000 census)

Stamford (Bridgeport): 1,910.3
White Plains (NYC): 5,309.3
Jacksonville: 2,149.2

 

City Population Growth from 2000 to 2007

Stamford: +1,392
White Plains: +4,321
Jacksonville: +69,988

 

Convention Center Exhibition Space:

Stamford: Does not have a convention center downtown.
White Plains: Does not have a convention center downtown.
Jacksonville: Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center (1986) - 78,500 square feet

 

Tallest Building:

Stamford: Trump Parc - 350 feet
White Plains: Trump Tower at City Center - 354 feet
Jacksonville: Bank of America Tower - 617 feet

 

Downtown-Based Fortune 500 companies:

Stamford: Pitney Bowes (399)
White Plains: ITT (285), Starwood Hotels (396)
Jacksonville: CSX (261), Fidelity National Financial (435), Fidelity National Information Services (481)

 

Urban infill obstacles:

Stamford: Downtown is cut off from the waterfront by Interstate 95.
White Plains:
Jacksonville: State & Union Streets cut off Downtown Jacksonville from Springfield.

 

Downtown Nightlife:

Stamford: Atlantic Street
White Plains: Mamaroneck Avenue
Jacksonville: East Bay Street, located between Main Street and Liberty Street.  This four block stretch is home to four bars and clubs.

 

Common Downtown Albatross:

Too many surface parking lots

 

Who's Downtown is more walkable?

Stamford: 89 out of 100, according to walkscore.com
White Plains: 80 out of 100, according to walkscore.com
Jacksonville: 88 out of 100, according to walkscore.com

 

 

Downtown Stamford, CT

 

 















 

Unique Stamford, CT

- Stamford is tied with Iowa City, Iowa for the US metropolitan area with the highest percentage of the adult population holding a bachelor's degree or higher; 44 percent of adults hold a degree.
- Downtown Stamford is the home of New York's Metro-North's third busiest commuter rail station (45 minutes to NYC's Grand Central).
- According to the FBI, Stamford was the ninth-safest city in the United States in 2006 (among cities with populations of 100,000 or more).
- World Wrestling Entertainment has its international headquarters in Stamford.
- Notable residents over time include Christopher Lloyd, Cyndi Lauper, Jackie Robinson, Rihanna and Rapper 50 Cent.





















 

 

Downtown White Plains, NY











 

Unique White Plains, NY

- White Plains is one of several edge cities that have developed outside of New York City.
- White Plains developed as a dominant suburban shopping district during the early 20th century.
- White Plains is an attractive location for urban professionals who seek relatively moderate housing costs while retaining decent commuting distance (35 minutes by express train) to Manhattan.
- Notable residents throughout history include Tupac Shakur, Art Monk, J.C. Penney and Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook.















Article by Ennis Davis








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» 8 Comments

zoo

December 09, 2008, 07:25:14 AM
I also noticed that Stamford has a fair amount of public art well-integrated in its public spaces - something Jacksonville is working on (but struggling with in terms of integration, imho).

ruck

December 09, 2008, 10:53:07 AM

This could be that building on e bay street with the jaguar on it.


I see riverside ave, where that everbank tower is.


I can see this being the old convention center, across from the new transportation center. If they can ever agree on building a much needed bigger convention center.

 ;D

jeh1980

December 09, 2008, 09:42:15 PM
It seems to me that ALMOST ever city we see on this here site has too many surface parking lots!   ;) :D

RiversideGator

December 10, 2008, 12:03:53 AM
Those dang cars!

thelakelander

December 10, 2008, 01:44:36 AM
It seems to me that ALMOST ever city we see on this here site has too many surface parking lots!   ;) :D

Yes.  Try getting out of the car and walk past a few blocks of surface parking and you'll realize why you may be the only one on the sidewalk.  Surface parking is the kryptonite of walkability.

Lunican

December 10, 2008, 09:48:36 AM
One Jacksonville.com contributor disagrees:

Quote
Lack of parking downtown

What has become of the available parking downtown for special events such as the Boat Parade and Fireworks? Used to be, you could park almost anywhere, lots were open and free, and there was plenty of room (I'm refering to 5 years ago - not 50). When trying to find a parking space for the boat parade, lots were charging $10, City lots next to Skyway stops were closed and locked, and you were fearful of parking in a private area for fear of being towed. Also, the private lots that used to let people park (CSX, etc.) are now chained closed. Lets stop the runaway building downtown and save some room for the people. If you want people downtown, give them a place to park.

http://www.jacksonville.com/node/44710

He started with a good point, but then instead of concluding that the current parking should be made available, he concluded that there are too many buildings.

RiversideGator

December 10, 2008, 10:49:36 AM
Perhaps parking spots on the street could be increased in number and made free for 2 hours.  End the parking meter monopoly downtown and watch it bloom.

stephendare

December 10, 2008, 10:55:41 AM
excellent idea River.!

As a downtown business, you nailed it on the spot.
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