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On top of the world

Posted at 2:16 PM on June 25, 2008 by Bob Collins (8 Comments)

Two American Cities have been named to Monocle magazine's (I've never heard of it, either. Does that matter?) list of the 20 most livable cities in the world. Honolulu is one. And a city that is decidedly not Honolulu is the other. Minneapolis.

Columnist Tyler Brule gives us enough ammunition to feel smug that should take us well past next winter:

What is still something of a shock is how many cities still get it so very, very wrong. London doesn't make the grade for the simple reason that it has somehow managed to grant planning permission to a most uninspired shopping centre in Shepherd's Bush, an area that is rapidly becoming a part of central London

But here's the thing: The article that justifies Minneapolis' lofty reputation is for subscribers only. But on a cover page it says, "A rustbelt revival is attracting young art, new money - and old problems."

Rustbelt?

Minneapolis, meanwhile, is on the ball, issuing a press release that said...

In giving Minneapolis a top-20 ranking, the magazine notes the city's thriving arts and cultural institutions, festivals, and rising culinary reputation. Monocle also gives Minneapolis high marks for environmentalism, with more than 80 green rooftops and 90 percent of households that recycle. Minneapolis is also one of the sunniest cities on its list. Of the top twenty cities, only four average more hours of sunshine each year.
It also recognizes Minneapolis residents' high participation in block clubs and other neighborhood groups, and notes that Minneapolis is more diverse than most outsiders believe. Monocle also highlights the city's nearly complete wireless broadband network, which will help the City provide better services and create unique opportunities for businesses, residents, and visitors.

It's pretty bad timing to be cited for thriving arts and cultural institutions in the same week that one them announced it's closing, and the curator of another announced he's blowing town for a gig in New York.

The press release didn't indicate what "old problems" the city faces.

Cubicle neighbor Stephanie Curtis, who has heard of Monocle says Brule is from Winnipeg and that may account for a bias toward Minneapolis.

Keep in mind, of course, there are other surveys of livable cities that doesn't mention Minneapolis.

For example:

Partners for Livable Communities (Denver)

Places Rated (Pittsburgh)

The Economist (Vancouver)

Comments (8)

Actually, it appears that there are five American cities on the list, not just two. Three of them are in the United States and two of them are in Canada. (I do not subscribe to the horribly narrow and arrogant presumption that "America" refers to only one country in the Western Hemisphere, but rather to any of the 40+ countries in the Americas. ;-) )

Out west, Vancouver (#8) tops Honolulu (#12) (and Portland (#25), not mentioned in your blog post), and farther east (although Minneapolis, compared to Saint-Paul at least, is fundamentally a western city, and Saint-Paul has somewhat more of the elegance and civility of an eastern city in style and architecture, despite its legendary "rough and tumble" settlement origins as Pig's Eye ;-) ) Montréal (#16) tops Minneapolis (#19).

Nonetheless, all five seem to be worthy choices!

Posted by American | June 25, 2008 3:00 PM

It's a top 20 list. Five extra cities were added.

As for St. Paul, I'll admit it's stock is rising since Pot Belly became one of the few restuarants in the skyway where you could actually buy lunch after 2p.m.

But empty and locked stores at 2 p.m. downtown on a weekday disqualify it as being considered elegant.

Posted by Bob Collins | June 25, 2008 3:16 PM

would you ever admit that you live in Shepard's Bush?

Posted by c | June 25, 2008 3:34 PM

Okay, four in the top-20. But what I saw when I followed the link to this mysterious magazine was a top-25 list:

http://www.monocle.com/Magazine/volume-02/issue-15/ which leads off with:

Affairs Report: Top 25 liveable cities - 01 Copenhagen
Copenhageners rejoice: your city (and its design) has our gold medal

Affairs Report: The world's top 25 most liveable cities - 2008
Months of good-natured, frequently late-night and occasionally jetlagged debate have resulted in this: our definitive (and a little subjective) guide to the world's most liveable cities.

---

As for the fact that a lot of downtown Saint-Paul rolls up the sidewalks awfully early, no disagreement there. My comment was directed more toward the architecture of the two downtowns, Saint-Paul as perhaps the westernmost "eastern" city. and Minneapolis and its sterile "western" city look.

Posted by American | June 25, 2008 3:37 PM

Ah, now I see that you are referring to Minneapolis' own press release about the article, not the article itself. Sure, the city called it a "top-20 ranking" (even though the list is top-25) because that's the next nice round number after #19. You wouldn't boast of having a "top-19 ranking," now, would you? :-)

Had Minneapolis been ranked #9, the press release would have referred to it as a "top-ten" ranking. It still wouldn't have changed the number of cities ranked in the article, right?

Posted by American | June 25, 2008 3:43 PM

I LOVE the architecture of St. Paul, and you're right, American. It reminds me of a Providence. I wonder if that reflects the influence of the railroads.

Keillor used to say "Minneapolis is white bread; St. Paul is pumpernickel." St. Paul is so much more interesting in the regard you highlight than Minneapolis.

(BTW, I was referring to the article, not the press release. #s 21-25 have * . They're not officially liveable, apparently.)

Posted by Bob Collins | June 25, 2008 3:53 PM

It's funny, I'd started reading that article last night not knowing Mpls made the cut .... I love Monocle and read it whenever I can. Tyler Brule is a very savvy observer of cities and design ... and I think it's great that he counts Mpls in the top 20. The more uncomfortable question, perhaps, is: Has he ever been here? How about in winter? I mean, the only thing rusting in Minnesota are our salt-corroded cars.

Posted by Andrew Haeg | June 26, 2008 8:35 AM

... and gusset plates.

I sent an email to Brule asking several questions. but he didn't respond.

I think it's because I live in the East Metro and we're not in the cool club on this side of town.

Posted by Bob Collins | June 26, 2008 10:27 AM

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