For the planning geeks....

[bluedogok]

I came across this blog on an Architect Newswire email. It is a short post about the various downtown block sizes in the US and has a PDF poster with various sizes depicted.

GreaterGreaterWashington.org - The Variety of American Grids

[Spartan]

Is an OKC block bigger or smaller than a Salt Lake block?

[Kerry]

Is an OKC block bigger or smaller than a Salt Lake block?

A quick Google Earth reading shows downtown OKC blocks are 322'X520' (mol). Residential areas around downtown are much smaller at 275'X275' (mol).

[mugofbeer]

Is an OKC block bigger or smaller than a Salt Lake block?

I couldn't tell you with certainty, but my experience is that SLC blocks (downtown anyway) are significantly bigger than OKC blocks - perhaps twice as large, plus they are square rather than rectangular. If you look at some, on Google Earth, the developers have paved the alleyways to make them street-like because the blocks are so large.

[BG918]

I couldn't tell you with certainty, but my experience is that SLC blocks (downtown anyway) are significantly bigger than OKC blocks - perhaps twice as large, plus they are square rather than rectangular. If you look at some, on Google Earth, the developers have paved the alleyways to make them street-like because the blocks are so large.

Interesting fact about SLC is that the streets are so wide due to Brigham Young wanting the streets to be large enough for a horse-drawn carriage to turn around without the driver having to swear. If you've ever been to SLC, or many other cities in Utah, you'll notice the insane width of the streets. It worked really well though when they routed the light rail through downtown because they still had ample room for cars on the street.

[Kerry]

Interesting fact about SLC is that the streets are so wide due to Brigham Young wanting the streets to be large enough for a horse-drawn carriage to turn around without the driver having to swear. If you've ever been to SLC, or many other cities in Utah, you'll notice the insane width of the streets. It worked really well though when they routed the light rail through downtown because they still had ample room for cars on the street.

To be totally accurate, it wasn't a horse drawn wagon, it was a team of mules.

[Spartan]

No wonder he wasn't welcome elsewhere.