Is Ann Arbor still a small town?
One version of Ann Arbor's skyline, this one from downtown.
Photo illustration by Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com
Is Ann Arbor still a small town?
I’ve spent a lot of time in recent years telling new staff members at AnnArbor.com that the answer is: Yes.
People in Ann Arbor tend to recall its history. We share memories, as witnessed by reaction to my column from last week on the Top 5 stores where I still wish I could shop. We encounter people we know when we randomly go somewhere in town. And we remember relationships: We honor the people who’ve treated us well and reputations are slow to heal from slights (I’m speaking mostly from a business perspective here).
But two things started to change my perspective on that answer.
The first was a drive in full sunlight on South Main Street. As I headed north past Michigan Stadium, I caught a view of the city that took my breath away.
It was Ann Arbor’s skyline from that perspective, which allows shorter buildings to be seen even as the new high rises and other new construction and even University of Michigan Medical Center creep into view.
The breadth of the town from that view drove home to me just how much the city has changed over the past decades.
And it reminded me of how much it still stands to change as new construction is proposed in town. Three new high-rise projects haven’t even started construction, and two more are taking shape right now. One, The Varsity, is growing to its 13 stories outside of my 7th floor office window, and every week or two at least one colleague remarks: I can’t believe how fast that’s coming along.
These buildings last forever, creating a contrast that leaves me (and my non-engineering oriented brain) to conclude that their speed of change — as they emerge from a vacant lot to completed building in a matter of months — is somewhat of a miracle.
The second event that changed my perspective on how small a town Ann Arbor remains is our coverage of the first anniversary of Mott Children’s Hospital at U-M.
This is a facility that many in Ann Arbor may never visit. (I’m hoping I don’t, despite an injury-prone son who prompted multiple visits to its predecessor).
Yet it represents a large portion of our employment base and a large part of our national health care reputation, generating thousands of visits from patients and their families from around the country.
And its physical presence, for someone who rarely wanders near the hills of the medical campus or gets a clear view of the city skyline, is stunning: It’s a $754-million, 12-story building with a second 9-story tower.
What happens inside is even more remarkable: It’s a world-class medical facility with a global reputation. It's huge, physically and figuratively.
I value the changes — like the expansion of Mott — and growth that I’ve seen in Ann Arbor during my 20-some years here, but I will admit: Living in a place that still feels like a small town matters to me.
And while I’m watching the changes here on our skyline, I’m also asking myself: How long will Ann Arbor be a small town?
Paula Gardner is Community News Director of AnnArbor.com. She can be reached by email.
Comments
Tru2Blu76
Wed, Dec 5, 2012 : 8:10 a.m.
I like the photo for this article- taken from my favorite photographic perch - showing the Ann Arbor skyline (which I've photographed many times over the past few years). I send my photos to my daughter (an Ann Arbor native now living near San Francisco) and to other friends who moved away many years ago. I send the photos to show them how much Ann Arbor is changing (growing). I also send my photos to those outsiders who criticize Ann Arbor (with the question: "Does your city have a billion dollar construction agenda?"- knowing the answer is "no.") I also constantly send out articles and movie clips showing or referring to Ann Arbor - something which most towns of this size do not have (national publicity). I'm glad I came here (1974) from a small town where I worked after school at a hardware store because I can still go into shops here (including hardware stores & barber shops) and have personal conversations with the proprietors and staff. That part of "small town" still exists here in "cosmopolitan" Ann Arbor (the only city with that name in the entire world). I like the parks here - and I love the Michigan Theater, Power Center, etc. I try every day to be a good "adopted son" of Ann Arbor. I love Ann Arbor. :-)
Unusual Suspect
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 11:47 p.m.
No, we are a big, important town! You can tell by our public art!
Tru2Blu76
Wed, Dec 5, 2012 : 8:12 a.m.
Funny! Because it's true! LOL!
Top Cat
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 9:16 p.m.
It's a small town because when I am out, I feel I have to behave myself lest I run into someone I know.
Lizzy Alfs
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 5:14 p.m.
There is some really interesting conversation here. It's all about your perspective. For me, Ann Arbor definitely feels like a small town. But I essentially do everything downtown, so downtown is "my" Ann Arbor. I live, work, exercise, shop, eat out - all downtown. As a recent U-M graduate, when I talked to my friends in Chicago, D.C., etc, Ann Arbor feels even smaller. The lifestyles in those other cities is much different than here. As a business reporter, I also think people's reactions to things here show that Ann Arbor is still a relatively small town. The fact that residents get involved and have opinions on a new high-rise proposal, or a new restaurant opening -- that doesn't happen in bigger cities!
RiverRat
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 4:15 a.m.
By any measure Ann Arbor might still be considered small (although certainly getting bigger by the day), but that clouds the fact that the place I have always called a "town" no longer feels like a town. As a person born and raised in the city, it is a far cry from the place I grew up -- on and off campus. And the move to taller buildings and greater density is only part of its demise. Much of what made Ann Arbor unique no longer exists as your "Top 5" piece demonstrated and for many of the places that do remain, they are virtually unrecognizable.
Steven Murphy
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 3:55 a.m.
I have a question and it's not intended to be disrespectful towards the lovely gem we know as Ann Arbor. ... Back in 1991 I visited the place for two or three days and there was this really(!) bad air, it struck me as being "dead air" (if it's possible to kill air); just NOT good. And what struck me as being rather odd was that everybody else walking around seemed as if they didn't notice it! At the time I was certain that it probably drifted over from Gary, Indiana. Does anyone know what I'm talking about or was that just an aberration? (For whatever reason, I didn't bother going up to anyone at the time to pursue a discussion about it, but have ever since wondered if that dead air was a common thing that people just live with.) Btw, I was a "ward-of-the-sate" when I lived in Ann Arbor circa '64 and thus got to on occasions walk through the campus with college psyche majors that scored free football tickets. Back then it was a way cool place and time because the Beatles and the Rolling Stones were coming on the scene ... creating an amazing vibe that blended well with the fall colors and general college atmosphere (even if the Kennedy assassination was just awful). Well, my post probably violates all kinds of rules ... but I've been wondering for a long time now about that bad air experience ... and hope that it's not something that's a common occurrence, as it would make me sad to know that my favorite college town is plagued with something so awful!:-(
Steven Murphy
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 4:29 p.m.
Thanks for the reply, LXIX. Well, based on your comment and the fact that others didn't jump in and say they knew what I was talking about, I suspect that that dreadful air I was breathing way back then was not a normal thing and so I'm thinking Ann Arbor must have pretty good air after all. And so THAT'S good!!:-)
LXIX
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 3:44 p.m.
Besides the exhaust fumes near City Hall the air is usually breathable. I also have noticed a stink downtown from time to time. Smells like burning greasy paper or diesel exhaust. Maybe a restaurant kitchen trainee. The UM power plant has a tall exhaust stack but could contribute depending upon the weather. Could be an aromatherapy spa for the big city visitors.
lorayn
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 2:50 a.m.
has not been for decades. it's a medium sized city and has been for at least 50 - 60 years. and there's no problem with that.
javajolt1
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 1:34 a.m.
Just returned from a weekend in Chicago. Ann Arbor is a small but progressively cosmopolitan town.
genetracy
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 1:32 a.m.
A2 is not a small town but it is still the center of the universe.
say it plain
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 11:41 p.m.
I think the biggest change in Ann Arbor over the last 20 or so years has been the level of pretension. That's changed it from "cozy" and genuine-feeling to wannabe-feeling and pseudo-big. Because the core hasn't changed really, just the facade. That facade is getting unpleasant in a stepped-up pace, what with the asking-rents getting extra-silly and leaving us with chains and meh cocktail-serving operations and no-skin-in-the-game-developer projects everywhere in the downtown. I think the recent voting down of public art funding and of a proposed new library for people to schedule meetings to discuss all their impressive pretensions--but the approval of a renewed parks millage--reflects that belief among the populace.
Steven Murphy
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 11:38 p.m.
Size is relative. Also, you should place the period inside the parentheses when putting the entire comment inside: (I'm hoping I don't, despite an injury-prone son who prompted multiple visits to its predecessor).
anti-thug
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 10:50 p.m.
Ann Arbor should we really compare it to , Dexter ,dixboro and saline?
anti-thug
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 10:48 p.m.
small town like 500 people, Ann Arbors away larger then , you want see small town go up north hahhahahahha
SoftwareCEO
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 10:11 p.m.
Ann Arbor is a small city, but perhaps has graduated from being a small town. All the talk of the need for increased density, affordable housing, and urbanization of the town is silliness -- there aren't enough people here for that, and there isn't evidence that the population is growing much at all. Compared to the real cities I've been to--Boston, San Francisco, Paris, London, and smaller ones like Dublin, Edinburgh, or even gritty Glasgow--Ann Arbor is a hamlet. It compares well to some other college towns (Palo Alto, Boulder, and a little bit like Berkeley), so it's not all that unique either.
jen777
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 10 p.m.
Just because you build tall buildings does not make you a city - Bakersfield Calif is almost twice the size of this town. this is a town - not a city despite its pretensions. The University adds a factor to the housing situation both good and bad but it is still a small city. It offers average chain stores and average chain restaurants as places to eat. There are a few good places to eat but they are limited and tend to be a higher end (and also not updating menus). . While UMS brings in some high end music acts, and the Ark for its uniqueness, it still doesn't offer much for an average "what should we do this weekend." It still lives off chain restaurants (and a few local restaurants), has no real shopping or uniqueness. It cannot figure out what it wants to highlights. Having lived in 7 other cities, small, medium and large, A2 needs a bit more sophistication to be a something other than a city with overrated image of itself. It wants to be a larger city but has no real planning or infrastructure to determine what that means.
Soccer Mom
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 8:17 p.m.
It's all one's perspective... I have a friend who lives in Whitmore Lake and the other day, she said that she would be going to the city this weekend. I thought she was referring to Detroit (which would be "the city" to me), turns out she was referring to Ann Arbor. Having been here the majority of my life, it just occurred to me that someone in the outskirts of Ann Arbor, in Whitmore Lake or Chelsea for example, may actually think of Ann Arbor as "the city".
genetracy
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 1:33 a.m.
I lived in Belleville when I was young and "going to the city" meant Ypsilanti.
microtini
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 7:27 p.m.
How can you write an article about the size of a town and not list the town's population. Did I miss something?
st.julian
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 6:01 p.m.
It is a small city controlled by the real estate interests and the mayors business cronies.
lorayn
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 2:52 a.m.
sounds republican, but it seems to be true. How long has Heftje been mayor???
genetracy
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 1:35 a.m.
That sounds so republican. However, you will be as likely to find a republican in Ann Arbor as you will an Eskimo in Detroit.
DBH
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 4:06 p.m.
I stopped considering Ann Arbor to be a small town after I realized one day that, on a weekday at 5:30 PM, it took me close to a half hour to get from one end of the city to the other.
Barb
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 5:08 p.m.
Amen to that. It hasn't been "small" for some time.
MMB95
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 3:52 p.m.
I was born in Ann Arbor and lived there for 30 years. I now live 30 minutes away in a true small town. In my opinion, Ann Arbor is a medium sized town, no question about it.
B2Pilot
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 3:31 p.m.
The city has changed and not for the better. Beuracracy is alive and well, look to Detroit and Wayne county as what A2 will be in 10 years
A2GastroBoy
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 2:50 p.m.
"Small" is perhaps an inappropriate adjective... At 100K people, whether growing or shrinking, Ann Arbor is far from small. Milan is small. Manchester is Small. Having said that, the absolute charm of Ann Arbor is it's ability to sustain a global community and simultaneously foster "small town" connections. As an editor at our "paper of record" I encourage you to keep nurturing these connections through rich profiles on local peeps and detailed histories on the building and events that host these human connections.
Jamie Pitts
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 2:50 p.m.
Ann Arbor is becoming a medium-sized city, yet a large number of us are in denial about this reality and can't figure out how to keep our old values while growing bigger. We embrace the old Ann Arbor, and want to defend the things that we love about our... town. Yet we continue to worry about our day-to-day. How could we not? We're trying to pay for the higher costs of living here in a media environment which has figured out how to constantly and deeply distract us. Where does that leave us in terms of being active in guiding our city as it grows? Meanwhile, a group of people are fanning the growth, profiting from it, guiding it in their own way. We watch the flimsy looking skyscrapers pop up, we know that they are not our Ann Arbor. We watch the greedy decisions being made by runaway wings of our local government. We watch as our mayor points to a few sandwich-eating areas as sufficient, central public space for a... city. It makes us so mad that instead of gathering in protest we... Pur a comment in AnnArbor.com. Wow. we really made a difference today!
Dog Guy
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 2:44 p.m.
Ann Arbor is a theme park.
rusty shackelford
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 2:24 p.m.
In terms of streetscape, Ann Arbor is 1-1.5 square miles of "town" surrounded by a lot of suburb. Hard to see how that is ever going to change.
sellers
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 2:34 p.m.
Can you explain how you mean 1-1.5sq miles? How does one define "town"?
Arboriginal
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 2:18 p.m.
Ann Arbor was built to be small and will remain so. Our tiny streets are the streets of a small town, nothing will change this. No amount of high rises affects this detail. It's a good thing!
mercury69
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 2:04 p.m.
Our population has barely changed over the last 10 plus years, and in fact it dropped a little from 2000 to 2010 (to just a hair under 114,000). Our nationally known amenities do not make this a big city be default. No, we are no longer the 1960's version of our selves, as some in our city would like us to stay like. As someone who has lived in Boston, Cincinnati, Louisville for extended amounts of time, we are not a large city. If you come here from the U.P, we're hugh.
Jamie Pitts
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 5 p.m.
This is surprising to me because it conflict with the cranes that I see downtown. It confirms what I've been thinking about lately, that it takes a lot of tall buildings to increase the population by 10,000 people.
sellers
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 2:33 p.m.
Realize that population remained static, while the # of babies born to parents decreased (national tread for multi-employeed families) and the land mass chartered to the city was mostly constant. Thus, density must have increased at some level. ref: http://www.babycenter.com/0_surprising-facts-about-birth-in-the-united-states_1372273.bc http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr60/nvsr60_07.pdf
David Cahill
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 2:02 p.m.
Paula, Ann Arbor is still what it was 40 years ago: a small town impacted by a giant University. The City's population (including about 40,000 students) has remained unchanged at about 114,000. Yes, there are a few more buildings, but the basics of Ann Arbor are stable. Because Ann Arbor is a strange hybrid, we have some strange results: ** The "Sovereign Nation of the U of M"'s population is largely isolated from the rest of the city's politics. Students vote in huge numbers in presidential elections. But in local (off-year) elections, student polling places are virtually empty. ** The city is overwhelmingly liberal in its politics because of those who come here attracted by the University and the activities it spawns. ** Ann Arbor is the most highly-educated city in the country based on the percentage of its population that has advanced degrees. ** Ann Arbor is a trap for unwary developers who think (wrongly) that with all the things going on here, there must be a market for large projects. Unfortunately for them, nearly every large project in the past 40 years has become insolvent at least once because the rents from tenants can't support the costs of these projects. ** Similarly, "civic boosterism" caused by the perception that we are a world class "whatever" has led to a variety of unfortunate boondoggles. The saga continues.
Vivienne Armentrout
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 7:08 p.m.
One reason developments fail is that some developers (those "out-of-town" guys) are in business to make a deal, not to build a long-term self-sustaining project. They'll build an Ashley Terrace hoping that units will sell out right away, or leverage heavily for a Gallery (Concannon's project at site of Greek church on Main), then fail spectacularly when the financing or sales don't come through. Look at long-term local developers like Ed Shaffran, Dennis Dahlmann or Bill Martin. They don't get into these so-big-they-must-fail deals but invest only in developments that will actually fill a need.
Jamie Pitts
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 5:06 p.m.
Great response here... I am interested in how every big project has flopped. This could be clearly illustrated for all to see... and if it is compelling it could prevent more attempts to build ridiculous things like the mini-COBO Center next to the library, etc. If developers are getting burned, why do they keep going at it, and what banker would finance this idiocy? Or is it the public being hung on the hook?
rusty shackelford
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 2:23 p.m.
Yup. Right on
vida
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 1:54 p.m.
It's a small town - small town attitudes. Big town dreams.
MRunner73
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 1:40 p.m.
Technically, Ann Arbor is a medium sized urban are with dual characteristics of large and small town America. Populationwise, it is a medium sized city. If Ann Arbor were it's own TV market (Nielson ratings by viewing housholds), it might not be in the Top 100 out of 200. Infrasturcture factors make it more medium size. Areal size, it is not large. It is too easy to lose perspective when comparing Ann Arbor to cites like Chicago or Philly or any of the real top 10 cities. Ann Arbor would need many surrounding suburbs, not just Dexter and Saline. Having lived in Ohio Valley cities like Cincinnati, Lousiville and Evansville, Ann Arbor has an Evansville feel but the expansion in high rises and world class medical facilaties coupled with a major university, makes it truely unique.
anti-thug
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 10:54 p.m.
in michigan city dont get any biggers then Ann Arbor onless you comapre detriot
LXIX
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 1:37 p.m.
With its regional vision I would say closer to a medium-sized city - soon. "World-class" is no longer a desireable catagory to be in. Resistance is futile, you've been Globalized. Safe depends upon being self-sufficient - Ann Arbor is not safe. Cried me a misty Huron once, years ago, after returning from LA, only to get stuck in local traffic. Ann Arbor is nationally recognized as first place leader in ________? If you had a $billion, would you live anywhere else? A $million? $100k? Dream it for free?
LXIX
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 3:22 p.m.
Leaders challenge and judges interpret the law daily.. Change happens . Ultimately the rules will reflect what is in the people's best interest.
ordmad
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 11:18 p.m.
@LXIX: 7 of let's say your serious sixteen proposals violate state law. Think first, speak second.
say it plain
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 8:41 p.m.
Such a comprehensive list @LXIX! I like a lot of your suggestions, but it strikes me that the ones regarding how the UM fits into our lives and problems here in AA are the most pressing. They should be the most do-able as well...why oh why can't we get the UM to make payments in lieu of taxes to the city?! Why for instance is there a thread gathering comments right now about proposed trolley cars and light rail to connect all the UM hubs, and no word about the UM's paying for it? I don't want to deny that the UM is so central to what has made AA a great place to live, but it's feeling a little like a vampire right now, and surely a kind of magnet for the blood-sucking forces at work in the larger global economic context...
LXIX
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 4:35 p.m.
If I, were king, of the forrrrest... 1. Help UM hospital(s) relocate out to Plymouth & Earhart. Tax non-A2 commuters. 2. Send the UM a relevant service bill based upon acreage/value owned within City Limits. 3. Bar the UM from purchasing any more City tax base property and recoup lost tax revenue in court (Pfizers). 4. Require UM students to register their vehicles and pay a parking fee if they reside here. 5. Rescind the crosswalk ordinance. Art % program, and review AATA and DDA city relationship. 6. Limit new construction to underground or 3 stories agl. Visions to include resident input/approval. 7. Encourage new constructions to be locally built and owned. 8. Require City service providers to be locally managed and owned. 9. Move the city to power, food, and work independence. (wealth producers). 10. Invite retail chains out if not local goods supporters. 11. Facilitate micro-supply entrepreneur productions for outlying industry/retail. 12. Support the micro-prosumer residents with tools like fiberoptics and background shipping networks. 13. Require landlords to live in town or in their rental property as second house. 14. Make the city unique as THE education, energy, art, food showcase, indie film base, Think & R/D base, software machine, plebescite example, parks and sport fun place. 15. Coordinate with outlying communities how to secure against while profiting from globalization. 16. Bypass outside finance and interest with smarter barter systems. 17. Encourage Tesla and Space-X to relocate their HQ here. 18. Free Teslas for all city workers. Yup. Easier just to move on.
ordmad
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 4:07 p.m.
You're right. Who wants to be world class at anything.... Specious.
Jamie Pitts
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 2:35 p.m.
LXIX, how do you think we could stop this effect? How would you bolster the factors that made Ann Arbor a great place, while allowing that a great place will attract people with resources?
LXIX
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 2:30 p.m.
Loved BH - Barton Hills too. Also once thought money was the root of all happiness. Hint - like derivatives, the money is worthless. Its the real value that has value. To me, overpopulation and fake money are rapidly destroying the real value of olde Ann Arbor. So?
tdw
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 1:50 p.m.
Never been to Barton Hills hills have you ? ( MAN I hate defending Ann Arbor )
Craig Lounsbury
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 1:21 p.m.
having lived the first 10 years of my life in Yellow Springs Ohio with a current population less than 3500 (it wasn't any bigger when I lived there) I don't see Ann Arbor as a small town. I never have.
CincoDeMayo
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 7:05 p.m.
Yellow Springs? You?! I love Yellow Springs - especially the nearby parks and bike paths. But my first thought on my first visit there was, "Can any place be more 'Ann Arbor' than this downtown in Yellow Springs?!" Like the Ann Arbor of old - and on steroids. But, yes, much, much, much smaller. The population of which I am guessing has severely decreased since the closing of Antioch College. Although Antioch's current independent operation seems to be growing.... Ann Arbor is still a small town. Any place that you can't go anywhere without running into people you went to Junior High with is a small town.
ordmad
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 1:01 p.m.
It's a small city and by all measures a safe and world class one. Things change except the misty-eyed wishes of some that they didn't.
anti-thug
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 10:52 p.m.
Ann Arbor not super safe depending wear go , nearer is ypsi its shame call ypsi so dangers and Ann Arbor so safe..
LXIX
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 12:15 p.m.
Ann Arbor was once a unique and cozy, "world-class" town. It served as thinktank for Washington D.C. and bedroom community for the Big Three. It had a nationally feared football team, coach Bo, and the biggest small stadium. It was a leader in medicine, engineering, space, and the fine arts. It was an activist hotbed for american rights, revolution, drugs, movies and music. Ann Arbor had only a few schools, 5&dimes, corporate HQs, ballparks, and burger joints. It was a perfect natural spot unlike any other in the entire world. It felt like home ! All that remains now are the wannabes chasing stardust with their fake wealth and egos. C'est la vie. That is our universe - things change.
tdw
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 1:32 p.m.
Ooops....I miss spoke.Tennessee had a bigger stadium for a year or so.( which didn't fly well with Michigan so they added more seats )
tdw
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 1:19 p.m.
Huh ? first I don't care for Ann Arbor much at all so this comment pains me to make.It still has a feared football team ( basically ) the stadium has always been the biggest and still is the biggest in the US ( third largest in the world ) It still is a leader in medicine and everything else you mentioned.The other things you mentioned are still pretty much there.I certainly don't think of it as a small " town " it's, in my opinion, a medium sized city . And I'm not sure how you can have " fake " wealth.As far as egos go that's a under statement
romuloid
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 11:52 a.m.
A small town does not have traffic gridlock on a daily basis. A small town does not have a hospital with 10,000 employees. A small town does not have a world class university. A small town does not pay its school superintendent a quarter of a million dollars per year. A small town is a place where it is safe to walk alone late at night.
simone66
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 2:08 a.m.
Amen romuloid! I would add that a small town does not have standing room only buses at 7:27 am A small town doesn't have taxis all booked at a certain hour of the day. A small town does not feel the need to have a $65 million new library. A small town doesn't have cars with license plates from California and New York/New Jersey as every 7th car. A small town would have kept the White Market open. I can go on and on...
anti-thug
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 10:49 p.m.
I see one horse town on one street alone. haha
BOBBY
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 10:28 p.m.
we have traffic gridlock cause most of our streets are only 1-2 lanes for traffice traveling the same way. and our freeways are the same 2 lanes! real cities have bigger freeways!
treetowncartel
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 2:47 p.m.
Williamsburg and William and Mary put up against the third argument
Ming Bucibei
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 11:40 a.m.
When a town has a phone book as large as detroit's, it no longer a small town!! Ming Bucibei
StopCrying
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 10:28 a.m.
"Whats the number again?" "Check the phone book, it is over by the TV Guide....." Said no one since teh internetz
sellers
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 2:26 p.m.
Why would Detroit be a measure stick ?
PWJT8D
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 1:47 p.m.
They still make phone books?