By: Cynthia Kurtz
Posted 10/23/2013
Thank you
Livability.com. Finally, a study that doesn’t lump all of Southern California
into one place called the “Los Angeles area.”
Livability is an
online publication that looks at life in small to mid-sized cities. Every
month it publishes a top-10 list ranking some aspect of city life. It is always
looking for the best places to live, work and visit.
Once a year it
selects the top 100 best cities to live in. These 100 cities are selected from more than 1,700 cities nationwide, so it is no easy task to make the list. This year
two San Gabriel Valley cities not only made the list - they made the top 25 -
Pasadena at 20 and Alhambra at 21.
The rankings
aren’t based on opinions or hunches. Access, affordability, choice and
utilization of eight essential attributes of community life are examined -
economy, health care, housing, social and civic capital, education, amenities,
demographics and infrastructure.
Livability
partners with two well-known organizations to prepare the Top 100 list. Martin
Prosperity Institute at the University of Toronto’s Rothman School of
Management prepares the index and Ipsos Public Affairs, a leading market
research company, conducts survey research.
Pasadena’s highest
score was for amenities. Livability looked at physical amenities, weather and
the arts, which have a positive impact on developing creative and innovative
communities. Is it any mystery why Pasadena scored well? Its historic
neighborhoods, exceptional architecture, and exemplary climate all added
points.
Being home to the
Tournament of Roses, Rose Bowl, Kaiser Permanente and Caltech - the number one
school in the world - are all amenities that are unmatched in any other place. With
16 museums, 11 performing art halls, restaurants and shopping all accessible by
walking, Pasadena easily beat the average amenities score of 46 with a whopping
88.
Alhambra scored
especially high in demographics which includes diversity in race, education
level, age and social economic status. Livability says diversity of
demographics is necessary to get “diversity of opinions (and) better decisions
for businesses, governments and societies.” The average diversity score was 50
but Alhambra blew the competition away with a 79.
All that adds up
to a lively mix of businesses, events, international restaurants and markets. Having
excellent schools, charming neighborhoods and an active nightlife also helped
get Alhambra rank high on the list.
Some of the SGV’s
neighbors were also winners. Burbank was 33, Glendale, which just so happens to
have a city manager from the SGV, came in at 52 and Whittier 82.
Of course
Livability didn’t find all the great SGV cities. Many others - Claremont,
Glendora, Sierra Madre, Arcadia, Duarte, and Monrovia just to name a few - are
also great places to live. But SGV can’t take all the top awards in the same
year!
Congratulations
Pasadena and Alhambra for this well-deserved recognition.
No comments:
Post a Comment