urban deserts

I wondered why South Berkeley felt so meh to me. The fact that my first 'home' intersection consisted of two gas stations, one small car rental lot, and only one corner with a proper building, might have something to do with it.

The fact that the actual density of businesses is pretty low as you walk around Shattuck and Ashby probably also has something to do with it.

Today I met old college peeps in Daly City, and was struck again that it somehow looks dense and pretty yet dead. Dense and pretty: wall to wall two story buildings, going up the hills, in various colors. Dead became clearer: wide streets and hardly anyone walking around. Even where there were businesses there still weren't many pedestrians.

Also it's a quiet town where my driving instructor took me to practice driving. But today... "where are all the people?"