Most thriving American cities at the turn of the 20th century were built very much in this style. Many of those buildings were demolished to make way for parkin

Most thriving American cities at the turn of the 20th century were built very much in this style. Many of those buildings were demolished to make way for parking lots, expressways, or higher density development in the later decades. This street in Chicago (http://www.iroquoistheater.com/pics/madison-street-chicago-in-1900-2.jpg http://www.iroquoistheater.com/pics/madison-street-chicago-i...) is typical of most cities of that time, be it Cleveland, Cincinnati, Buffalo, or New York City. The effects of the automobile were only just starting to be felt. Cities had to be walkable because apart from trolleys or horse-drawn carriages there wasn't much else in the way of options. Cycling was an option for the brave as I can only imagine how much horse crap there was in the streets back then.