Aerials

[Mike]

Lots of them:


http://lesvants.com/boston/Boston_index.html

[castevens]

Awesome pics, thanks!

[JS38]

Also Alex Maclean's site with Boston aerials:
http://www.landslides.com/

[Waldorf]

Also Alex Maclean's site with Boston aerials:
http://www.landslides.com/

I saw his exhibition at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem not too long ago. Quite incredible!

[JS38]

Another site we used to have for aerial photos of Boston and the region:
http://www.skypic.com/boston.htm

[Mike]

June aerials:


http://www.lesvants.com/stock_web%20gallery%20images_pages/Boston_June_2006/index.htm

[awood91]

aerials always remind me how much space government center wastes.

[Mike]

July aerials for the Seaport and Downtown:


http://www.lesvants.com/stock_web%20gallery%20images_pages/Boston/Boston%20+%20Seaport_7-3-06/index.htm


http://www.lesvants.com/stock_web%20gallery%20images_pages/Boston/Boston_6-21-06/index.htm (scroll to the bottom for July)


a nice look down at the Mandarin construction:

http://www.lesvants.com/stock_web%20gallery%20images_pages/Boston/Boston_6-21-06/images/7-3-06_stock_3550-174%20copy.jpg

[castevens]

There is a gorgeous 12 foot high - by 20 foot long (ish) poster of an aerial photograph in one of Northeastern's buildings (Behrakis) depicting the campus and the city behind it...

[TC]

That aerial shows just how big a project that it really is when compared to the 10 buildings on the opposite side of Boylston.

It never got that impression seeing the project from the ground.

[kz1000ps]

Yeah -- the site is roughly 90 ft by 450, which is a hair under an acre, and by any standard that is big for a building. Let's hope the Boylston streetwall isn't dull or monotonous.

[Mike]

new aerials, taken 3 days ago:


http://www.lesvants.com/stock_web%20gallery%20images_pages/Boston/boston_3-9-07/index.htm

[Mike]

i just hit a boston aerials gold mine :D


these were all taken last October by someone named Philip Greenspun, check em out:


http://philip.greenspun.com/images/20061003-boston-aerials-r44/

http://philip.greenspun.com/images/20061004-boston-aerials/

http://philip.greenspun.com/images/20061019-boston-aerials/


some highlights:

http://philip.greenspun.com/images/20061019-boston-aerials/downtown.3.jpg

http://philip.greenspun.com/images/20061004-boston-aerials/bunker-hill-zakim.3.jpg

http://philip.greenspun.com/images/20061004-boston-aerials/north-end.3.jpg

http://philip.greenspun.com/images/20061004-boston-aerials/hancock-towers-1.3.jpg

http://philip.greenspun.com/images/20061004-boston-aerials/mouth-of-charles-3.3.jpg

http://philip.greenspun.com/images/20061003-boston-aerials-r44/aquarium-backlit.3.jpg

http://philip.greenspun.com/images/20061003-boston-aerials-r44/fort-point-channel-2.3.jpg

http://philip.greenspun.com/images/20061003-boston-aerials-r44/fenway-park-3.3.jpg

http://philip.greenspun.com/images/20061004-boston-aerials/christian-science-church-1.3.jpg

http://philip.greenspun.com/images/20061004-boston-aerials/mass-general-helipad.3.jpg

http://philip.greenspun.com/images/20061004-boston-aerials/pru-and-hancock.3.jpg

http://philip.greenspun.com/images/20061004-boston-aerials/waterfront-from-700-feet-1.3.jpg

http://philip.greenspun.com/images/20061003-boston-aerials-r44/beacon-hill.3.jpg

[briv]

These are great Mike. Thanks.

[saulblum]

Two shots on the approach to Logan on Wednesday. It was the best I could do with the flat lighting.

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/1055/img5115va5.th.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img5115va5.jpg) http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/559/img5116gc1.th.jpg (http://img242.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img5116gc1.jpg)

[Mike]

new aerial photos taken today:


http://www.lesvants.com/stock_web%20gallery%20images_pages/Boston/boston_5-3-07/index.htm

[Roxxma]

new aerial photos taken today:


http://www.lesvants.com/stock_web%20gallery%20images_pages/Boston/boston_5-3-07/index.htm

I assume that's what the plane puttering around yesterday afternoon over downtown was doing..

[ablarc]

^ Where's Homeland Security? ;)

[DudeUrSistersHot]

^ Where's Homeland Security? ;)

too busy requiring passports for those dangerous Americans who travel to tropical destinations...

*exhausted from going through the passport process*

[Mike]

Cambridge, 5/07:


http://www.lesvants.com/stock_web%20gallery%20images_pages/cambridge_5-3_07/index.htm

[bosdevelopment]

Cambridge, 5/07:


http://www.lesvants.com/stock_web%20gallery%20images_pages/cambridge_5-3_07/index.htm

I remember the idea being bandied about last year about making Magazine beach an actual Beach with sand. I know it was a while ago, and the idea may have been forgotten, but walking along the river this afternoon the idea seemed most appealing. This is MDC's jurisdiction I believe.

[ablarc]

I remember the idea being bandied about last year about making Magazine beach an actual Beach with sand. I know it was a while ago, and the idea may have been forgotten, but walking along the river this afternoon the idea seemed most appealing. This is MDC's jurisdiction I believe.
Mishandlers of the public trust.

[saulblum]

Here are some shots I took Monday after taking off from Logan --

http://www.tabblo.com/studio/stories/view/252631/

(plus some of NY too)

[JoeGallows]

Here are some shots I took Monday after taking off from Logan --

http://www.tabblo.com/studio/stories/view/252631/

(plus some of NY too)

:shock:

Thanks for sharing these, they're really great! I've never seen a shot of Manhattan looking south that were as sharp and clear like these. The light really worked in your favor.

[briv]

saulblum these are great. Thanks for posting them.

How 'bout a hi-res version of that first boston photo?

[saulblum]

Click for a larger version of the first one:

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/8818/img5128hu6.th.jpg (http://img172.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img5128hu6.jpg)

[briv]

Thanks Saul. :wink:

[Mike]

june aerials:


http://www.lesvants.com/stock_web%20gallery%20images_pages/Boston/Boston_June,%202007/index.htm


http://www.lesvants.com/stock_web%20gallery%20images_pages/Boston/Boston_June,%202007/images/6-21-07_BOSTON_STOCK_3897-704%20copy.jpg

http://www.lesvants.com/stock_web%20gallery%20images_pages/Boston/Boston_June,%202007/images/6-17-07_boston_3885-200%20copy.jpg

http://www.lesvants.com/stock_web%20gallery%20images_pages/Boston/Boston_June,%202007/images/6-17-07_boston_3885-105%20copy.jpg

http://www.lesvants.com/stock_web%20gallery%20images_pages/Boston/Boston_June,%202007/images/6-17-07_boston_3885-187%20copy.jpg

[Ron Newman]

Wow. I can never get enough of the Hancock Tower.

[statler]

^^Agreed
http://www.lesvants.com/stock_web%20gallery%20images_pages/Boston/Boston_June,%202007/images/6-17-07_boston_3885-200%20copy.jpg
What an amazing building. :shock:

[Mike]

best boston aerials ever. wow:


http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=136379

[TheBostonBoy]

Ya I saw those too. They are absolutely beautiful shots, and capture so much of the city. Also, they are extremely recent too which is great.

[czsz]

Nice perspectives, indeed. And rather comprehensive...even Allston Village got covered. I'd like to see this photographer cover Central Square, Coolidge Corner, and the length of Huntington Ave. too...and retake these later in the day, in better light.

[KentXie]

That was an amazing thread. However I would like to see him cover more on Boston's third skyline, the Longwood area.

[Mike]

193 September aerials:


http://www.lesvants.com/stock_web%20gallery%20images_pages/Boston/Boston_September_2007/index.htm

[vanshnookenraggen]

I noticed that in the shots of Brigham Circle it looks like the city has actually turned it into a traffic circle. Can anyone confirm this?

http://www.lesvants.com/stock_web%20gallery%20images_pages/Boston/Boston_September_2007/pages/9-2-07_boston_stock_3975-280%20copy.htm

[Beton Brut]

It looks like a traffic circle from the air. It doesn't "behave" like a traffic circle from the street. you're seeing those silly painted crosswalks that the city spent to much money on...

[statler]

I think this is somewhat famous as I seem to remember seeing/reading about this before, but for those who have not yet seen it:

http://neatorama.cachefly.net/images/2006-08/boston-from-hot-air-balloon-james-wallace-black.jpg

World?s Oldest Surviving Aerial Photo

The first aerial photo was taken by Gaspard-F?lix Tournachon, better known as Nadar, in 1858, using a tethered balloon over the Bievre Valley, France.

Unfortunately, Nadar?s aerial photos were lost - so the oldest surviving aerial photo, shown here, was that of Boston in 1860, taken by James Wallace Black, also using a balloon.
Link (http://www.neatorama.com/2006/08/29/the-wonderful-world-of-early-photography/)

[Mike]

new aerials taken February 20:


http://www.lesvants.com/stock/boston/2-20-08_boston/index.htm

[czsz]

http://www.lesvants.com/stock/boston/2-20-08_boston/images/2-20-08_boston_stock_4106-106%20copy.jpg

I miss 1860.

http://www.lesvants.com/stock/boston/2-20-08_boston/images/2-20-08_boston_stock_4106-128%20copy.jpg

This city is so fragile. Just a few blocks from the Common, and it falls apart. Why can't Druker build over yonder?

[stellarfun]

When all is said and done, the blocks in this aerial (with the two North End blocks) pretty much constitute the entirety of the Greenway. Nearly every block out of view will be built on with museums, cultural/social centers, or infill.
http://www.lesvants.com/stock/boston/2-20-08_boston/images/2-20-08_boston_stock_4106-126%20copy.jpg

[Mike]

aerial videos plus one old skyline harbor vid:

q8naz5ypezM


try to figure out when exactly these are from :):

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8165270941962375345

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3743140711965529199

[TheBostonian]

The first is recent, with 33 Arch (2004) standing. The 2nd and third are from around 1990 with One International Place ('87) but not TWO IP ('92).

[pelhamhall]

the first video was posted on Youtube in Jan. of 2007, but the video is taken in the summer (greenery everywhere). The Intercontinental appears to be completely finished and skinned, so I am guessing its summer of 2006.

[Mike]

In the second one you can see 222 Berkeley Street under construction ... completed in 1991.

In the third video you can see 125 Summer Street under construction, that was completed in 1989.

[Mike]

a re-post from 5 years ago on the old SSG board ... i think these were taken around 1920:


http://memory.loc.gov/award/mhsdalad/120000//120076v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/award/mhsdalad/120000//120077v.jpg

[cden4]

Looks nice without Storrow Drive. I bet is was actually pretty quiet over there too!

[Ron Newman]

It's not only without Storrow Drive, it's also without the Hatch Shell, the lagoon, or the islands.

[czsz]

Wow...these are insightful. I didn't know the old MIT campus had three buildings and that entire block. Also - what's with all the empty space in the southern Back Bay? What's that gargantuan long building on St. James? The building with the courtyards between St. James and Stuart? What is that round building at Arlington and Columbus? Is the building with the steeple across the street the old rail station left shorn of its purpose?

[Ron Newman]

The 'gargantuan long building on St. James' is still there. It is called the Park Square Building, and contains mostly offices with some retail.

Of those three free-standing buildings between Clarendon and Berkeley, the one not built for MIT is still there. It was originally the Museum of Natural History, which is now (in greatly changed form and location) the Museum of Science. The building contained a Bonwit Teller store in the 1970s, and now contains Louis-Boston.

The other two (MIT) buildings were torn down and replaced by the New England Mutual Life Insurance building (now called 'The Newbry').

I think the 'building with the steeple across the street' is the First Corps of Cadets armory, still standing today as the Park Plaza Castle.

I have no idea about the round building. Some sort of storage tank, maybe?

[czsz]

Huh, you're right about the Park Square Building; funny I never noticed it. And now that you mention it, that building on Columbus and Arlington is indeed the castle. It looked to me like it might still be the Boston & Providence station:

http://www.kellscraft.com/bostonillustrated/bostonillust043.jpg

Were parts of the station incorporated into the armony, by any chance?

Here's a shot of the old Boylston-Berkeley-Clarendon-Newbury block that used to house MIT...apparently the building still standing was originally built as a YMCA.

http://www.kellscraft.com/bostonillustrated/bostonillust050.jpg

Another find: the original Harvard Medical School, at Boylston and Exeter:

http://www.kellscraft.com/bostonillustrated/bostonillust052.jpg

I found these, by the way, in an 1880s illustrated guide to Boston that's been reproduced here:

http://www.kellscraft.com/bostonillustrated/bostonillustratedcontent.html

Back Bay is filed under "West End"...at the time, it was apparently considered the "New West End" much like today's South End aped its name from what is now the Financial District.

[Ron Newman]

I do not see the two photos that your post refers to.

[czsz]

Hm, they don't seem to want to work. Click on the last link and work your way through the "West End" section. You'll see them.

Also recommended: the "practical info" part - amazing how little a nice hotel cost back then.

[Ron Newman]

If you look at 1895 maps of Boston (http://www.communityheritagemaps.com/boston/index.html), and compare them to 1928 maps (http://www.communityheritagemaps.com/boston1928/index.html), you'll see the reason for "all the empty space in the southern Back Bay" -- namely, that it had only recently been vacated by railroads.

This 1895 map (http://www.communityheritagemaps.com/boston/big/boston13.html) identifies the round building as a "Gasometer". Note that Arlington Street did not then extend south of Boylston Street, and that the same street south of Columbus Ave. was then called Ferdinand Street. (Goes along nicely with intersecting Cortes and Isabella streets.) The Gasometer has vanished from the 1928 map (http://www.communityheritagemaps.com/boston1928/restored/boston15.jpg).

I don't think the Natural History (Bonwit-Teller, Louis-Boston) building was ever a YMCA. This is an incorrect reading of the old text, or maybe a caption error. The 1895 map shows a YMCA at the southwest corner of Berkeley and Boylston, across the street from Natural History.

And "The building with the courtyards between St. James and Stuart"? Looks to me like part of the Old John Hancock building complex, still standing today.

[BarbaricManchurian]

Now this: http://www.kellscraft.com/bostonillustrated/bostonillust055.jpg looks positively Parisian! Great site about historic Boston, really shows the granduer of old Boston.

[Ron Newman]

I don't see the picture you are trying to link to.

[pelhamhall]

I wanted to check something out on Google maps and I noticed that they just updated all the aerial photography for downtown Boston and Cambridge. I think as early as last week the satellite aerials showed the Cetnral Artery still up, and now you have the Matriarch of the Alcoholic Crime Family Greenway and other new developments presented. Also, the imagery seems a lot better.

I think they were taken in late summer of 2007. Early morning, judging by the shadows. It's a huge improvement.

[jass]

Looks like Google is now using satalite for Cambridge, not the plane shots. Surprisingly however, Cambridge still has its extra zoom level.

The use of summer images makes the city look nicer.

[Bos77]

New Lesvants aerials from March 30 2008-

http://www.lesvants.com/stock/boston/3-30-08_boston/index.htm

[vanshnookenraggen]

http://www.lesvants.com/stock/boston/3-30-08_boston/images/3-30-08_boston_stock_4140-210%20copy.jpg

This is exactly why there will never be a 800' tower at the Gateway Center and why all the buildings in the SBW are short.

[Lrfox]

^touch

[briv]

http://www.lesvants.com/stock/boston/3-30-08_boston/images/3-30-08_boston_stock_4140-210%20copy.jpg

This is exactly why there will never be a 800' tower at the Gateway Center and why all the buildings in the SBW are short.

What's easier? Moving Logan or moving the CBD?

[vanshnookenraggen]

You move Logan and the CBD gets less desirable since it is now further from Logan.

It would be easier to move the CDB, just build tall buildings in the Back Bay or turn Dudley Sq into a CBD. Where are you gonna find land like you need for a modern airport anywhere inside 128?

[Lrfox]

Is there any way to Infill and change the angle of the runway a bit? Besides the fact that it would be unpopular with the public, is it even feasible? It looks (from the photo) like you could change the angle slightly and move the approach further to the south... far enough from the Gateway site and the rest of the CBD. the SBW would probably still be stubby, but hey, maybe that would encourage more wall to wall density and a nicer human scale.

[belmont square]

You'd have to fill in part of the harbor between the airport and Winthrop in order to shift runway 9/27 counterclockwise. And in order to miss the SBW and Gateway, you'd have to shift it far enough that it would be too similiar to the direction of runway 4/22 which would significantly reduce the capacity of Logan. Finally, on departures to/arrivals from the east on the altered runway, you'd be flying across the widest and most heavily populated sections of Winthrop.

I'm not suggesting that any of these reasons can't be trumped by the needs of the CBD, but as van points out it's probably more realistic to identify a satellite CBD somewhere (although the acres of vacant land in the SBW demonstrate that we are not close to requiring that yet).

[goody]

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/228/508581524_1d92d991f6.jpg?v=0

Perhaps we can lower some of our goals, in hope of rising others.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/loupiote/508581524/

I dont think any one would complain about height in the seaport or else where if we got quailty development in the first place

[statler]

Arg! Density! No parks! No open space! Truly, that is hell on Earth.

[Suffolk 83]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUpTVQLb-1Q

[Boston02124]

some aerials form 1987 and one from 2004 http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn80/boston02124/proposed%20and%20then%20what%20was%20built/bostonfromtheair.jpg 2 http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn80/boston02124/proposed%20and%20then%20what%20was%20built/Picture013.jpg 3 http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn80/boston02124/proposed%20and%20then%20what%20was%20built/Picture015.jpg 4 http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn80/boston02124/proposed%20and%20then%20what%20was%20built/wateregde2004.jpg

[Boston02124]

some more I found. I had photograph these in 1988? from some aerials your could get printed at the BRA map center http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn80/boston02124/proposed%20and%20then%20what%20was%20built/enrTallest003-1.jpg http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn80/boston02124/proposed%20and%20then%20what%20was%20built/enrTallest002.jpg http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn80/boston02124/proposed%20and%20then%20what%20was%20built/Picture34239310.jpg http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn80/boston02124/proposed%20and%20then%20what%20was%20built/overbostonwaterfront1980.jpg

[kz1000ps]

I'd say those aerials are from about 1980. One Devonshire (1983), MGH's Wang building (1984ish), Greenhouse Apartments (1982).. none of them are built yet.

Still, thanks for sharing! I love pouring over old images trying to figure out their exact dates.

[Charlie_mta]

Looking at the second aerial of the ones just above: who is the idiot who allowed Spaulding Hospital to be located so it blocks the path to future expansion of rail apacity at North Station? Short sighted!

[cden4]

It's too bad Google Maps doesn't have a date selector for the satellite images. It would be very interesting to be able to choose images from different years.

[ngb_anim8]

^ That would be cool. But I think it would be even cooler if it were real-time. That would be pretty sweet.

[Boston02124]

the maps were photograph in 1980

[lawtown]

this is cool photographs you should go pro

[Boston02124]

this is cool photographs you should go pro Thanks but,
I took these photos of a 24x36 sepia sheet you could buy at the BRA map center back in the 80's,these are not mine,I,m sure you can still go the the BRA map center on the 9th floor(If you get get thru the metal detector)and purchase up to date maps,they were $5 each back then! Here's what I did with one of the BackBay.
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn80/boston02124/proposed%20and%20then%20what%20was%20built/xcranes4672.jpg

[kz1000ps]

All these are courtesy of the BRA's Digital Atlas (http://www.mapjunction.com/bra/). I encourage everyone to rummage around the site, as I'm sure there's plenty more gems to be found.

This first set is from December 1, 1955, starting with the overview image. You can see how the flash client "layers" whatever images you want it to. To the left is a 2001 aerial, to the right dates from 1969 (those are later in this post). You can toggle back and forth at will.

1.

http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/1734/aerial1955ff1.jpg

2. Harvard Square

http://img357.imageshack.us/img357/6088/aerial1955harvsqsb1.jpg

3. Northern Harvard

http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/185/aerial1955harvnooi7.jpg

4. East Cambridge railyards, future site of Northpoint.

http://img357.imageshack.us/img357/9826/aerial1955camberailbj8.jpg

5. East Cambridge

http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/8250/aerial1955cambegr7.jpg

6. Kendall Square

http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/2752/aerial1955kendallgb0.jpg

7. MIT Central

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/2967/aerial1955mitcenex9.jpg

8. MIT West.. what are those barracks looking structures?

http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/7775/aerial1955mitwestvn2.jpg

9. Copley Square

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/4401/aerial1955copleysd8.jpg

10. Future Prudential Center site

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/6020/aerial1955pruberkqj3.jpg

11. West Fenway

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/2738/aerial1955fenwayvq9.jpg

12. Northeastern

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/9170/aerial1955neumd1.jpg

13. Longwood

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/3567/aerial1955lmaqu5.jpg

14. Kenmore Square

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/5701/aerial1955kenmorelk2.jpg

15. BU Central

http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/2849/aerial1955bueastvx0.jpg

16. BU West... two years after the Braves left town

http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/483/aerial1955buwestlp9.jpg

17. Finally, the old West End

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/4976/aerial1955westendkj4.jpg

--
--

This other set dates to April 9th, 1969. As you'll notice, coverage differs between the images. For instance, this one shows the Seaport area, but not Longwood or Harvard.

18. Downtown

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/5995/aerial1969downtownix2.jpg

19. My, oh my.

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/497/aerial1969westendpk4.jpg

20. Seaport

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/9646/aerial1969sbostonwuw2.jpg

21. Back Bay/Copley/South End

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/7424/aerial1969backbayeb2.jpg

22. Fenway/Kenmore

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/1655/aerial1969fenwaykenmoreql3.jpg

23. Fenway/Northeastern

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/5705/aerial1969fenwayneujw9.jpg

24. East Cambridge

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/9733/aerial1969eastcambao0.jpg

25. Kendall/MIT

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/7375/aerial1969mitkendallfq6.jpg

This image has a higher resolution than the 1955 one, so now we'll zoom in, focusing on visible construction projects.

26. Construction sites include 100 Federal and 99 High

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/2096/aerial1969cnstrdtposqkh9.jpg

27. Arch St. garage and the Five Cents Savings Bank, aka Borders

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/4327/aerial1969cnstrdtcrosslz5.jpg

28. State Street environs

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/6721/aerial1969cnstrdt60stoj1.jpg

29. Center Plaza and One Boston Place

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/5922/aerial1969cnstrdt1beacoau4.jpg

30. Northern Government Center

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/8471/aerial1969cnstrdtgovtxe7.jpg

31. Yep

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/818/aerial1969cnstrwestendut5.jpg

32. Mass General

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/1474/aerial1969cnstrwestmghlt1.jpg

33. South Station. Note how much more of it used to exist

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/8675/aerial1969cnstrsstationib2.jpg

34. Tufts/New England Medical Center ripping apart Chinatown

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/8806/aerial1969cnstrnemcaj0.jpg

35. Midtown

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/799/aerial1969cnstrmidtyu2.jpg

36. John Hancock being excavated, and the BPL prepping for the Johnson building

http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/6483/aerial1969cnstrcopsqqh7.jpg

37. Future home of Copley Place

http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/3503/aerial1969cnstrcopplib5.jpg

38. 101 Huntington in its infancy

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/5886/aerial1969cnstrprufi2.jpg

39. Christian Science Center

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/8585/aerial1969cnstrcscmy7.jpg

40. Last one, Kendall Square and the Volpe

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/7251/aerial1969cnstrkendallya1.jpg

[jass]

Its sad to see all those rail lines destroyed.

[Cojapo]

Wow! Outstanding pics!
So, the logic behind gutting the old West End was.......?

[Mike]

wow @ all those parking lots.

[tobyjug]

Thanks! Nice to see Braves Field in its entirety. Much bigger than Fenway Park, which was marked for football when the photos were taken.

[lexicon506]

wow, there are more parking lots than buildings in those pictures! I can't believe I'm saying this, but overall, Boston looks much better today than it did back then, even with the raping of the West End.

[Ron Newman]

Some of those parking lots are the intermediate stage of 'urban renewal' -- after demolition and before construction began for whatever was replacing the torn-down blocks.

[ablarc]

wow @ all those parking lots.
Seems they're always somewhere; they just migrate from place to place. Where will they migrate from the Seaport?

[Cojapo]

Was the West End run down, with a large amount of dilapitated and abandoned buildings? Was it a poor area back then?

[BostonObserver]

Was the West End run down, with a large amount of dilapitated and abandoned buildings? Was it a poor area back then?

Everyone looks back nostalgically, but I parents always said it was a terrible slum( I had an uncle living there at the time).

[Ron Newman]

It was a working-class area, similar in character to the North End (which fortunately didn't get urban-renewed), though more Jewish and less Italian.

[Lrfox]

Everyone looks back nostalgically, but I parents always said it was a terrible slum( I had an uncle living there at the time).

"Slum" is an interesting word. People didn't think about cities the way we do now, and a notable example would be Jane Jacobs' feelings towards the N. End (similar to our thinking today) vs. the general public perception at the time, that it was a terrible slum. Now, I won't pretend to know what it was actually like (I'm 22), but I'd venture a guess that, like Ron said, it was similar to the N. End (with different immigrant groups of course).

What about those rail roundhouses (that's what they appear to be anyway) in East Cambridge? Were they worth preserving? Maybe it's just my love of rail travel, but it would be nice to have seen some of them saved and renovated (with the rotating piece in the middle being turned into a plaza/park space that acknowledges it's working past). I know it's not practical most of the time, but roundhouses are a dying breed and I'd like to see some saved in a non-museum form.

[Padre Mike]

Wow! Outstanding pics!
So, the logic behind gutting the old West End was.......?

Because they could..."Urban renewal" and "eminent domain" were the catch-phrases at the time. There was a need perceived to "jump start" the city of Boston after a long period of decline. The West End was just one of a series of sections in Boston (Scollay Sq., Cathedral Housing project, parts of Tremont St., the "New York St." section, all in the South End, sections of Chinatown, parts of East Boston near the airport, the Rt. 93 corridor through Medford and Somerville, and more) deemed to have sub-standard housing or no political clout, and therefore good candidates for removal and for the establishment of Bauhaus-style apartment blocks, highways, etc.

The truth is the tenements in the West End were hardly up to today's standard; many shared toilets and had no bathing facilities; they were walk-ups with no elevators, and the footprint of each apartment building was small. (The last tenement standing can be seen off to the side of the O'Neill building near North Station. How this one survived the taking of land all these years is beyond me.) The idea of gentrification or of rehabbing an existing neighborhood was still foreign to many Americans, and anyway, if they had, the rents probably would have skyrocketed and long-time residents would still have been pushed out, unless the city imposed rent control of some sort.

[FrankG]

Is this the building you mean?

http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&q=west+end+boston+ma&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF-8&ll=42.366162,-71.063803&spn=0.002513,0.00478&z=18&layer=c&cbll=42.365325,-71.064432&panoid=dH716gSM1LoAVJVWUDlBlA&cbp=1,54.65359090538266,,0,-14.950237170983252

The truth is the tenements in the West End were hardly up to today's standard; many shared toilets and had no bathing facilities; they were walk-ups with no elevators, and the footprint of each apartment building was small. (The last tenement standing can be seen off to the side of the O'Neill building near North Station. How this one survived the taking of land all these years is beyond me.)

[Ron Newman]

Yep. Though another one still stands on North Anderson Street, between Cambridge Street and MGH.
http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&q=N+Anderson+St,+Boston,+MA+02114,+USA&ll=42.364632,-71.067896&spn=0.011209,0.023239&z=16&layer=c&cbll=42.36187,-71.067903&panoid=alky28bru143GnFyvs8Row&cbp=1,138.04084961091797,,0,-12.443801165899758

[Beton Brut]

And then there's the East Boston equivalent,18 Neptune Road, the last house on a proud street that was destroyed (along with Wood Island Park) when Runway 15/33 was extended in the late 60's.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=16+neptune+road,+boston,+ma,+02128,+usa&sll=42.457645,-70.9658&sspn=0.008485,0.017059&ie=UTF8&ll=42.380516,-71.024508&spn=0.008496,0.017059&z=16&layer=c&cbll=42.37947,-71.024507&panoid=kSTwDnPvwotSYrKB_aX9VA&cbp=1,37.26569808350342,,0,3.492597527874642

My friend Gail and some other folks are trying to "force" Massport to rehab the property and create a neighborhood museum.

[kz1000ps]

(The last tenement standing can be seen off to the side of the O'Neill building near North Station. How this one survived the taking of land all these years is beyond me.)

Is this the building you mean?

http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&q=west+end+boston+ma&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF-8&ll=42.366162,-71.063803&spn=0.002513,0.00478&z=18&layer=c&cbll=42.365325,-71.064432&panoid=dH716gSM1LoAVJVWUDlBlA&cbp=1,54.65359090538266,,0,-14.950237170983252

Here it is:

http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/7441/img5042oe2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[FrankG]

Any idea who owns/lives in these buildings? The ones in the West End look like they're still occupied.

[Padre Mike]

^The rumor was always that a mafioso owned the above building near North Station, and was able to pay off anyone coming to get it. This story always added cache to the situation, esp. when this building was practically the only thing standing in the area for a long time, right next to the Green Line tracks when they were above ground. Currently the apartments are indeed occupied.

[Ron Newman]

And I believe Mass. General Hospital owns the one on North Anderson Street.

[Padre Mike]

And think of what the landlord is making on rent from billboards!

[Mike]

June aerials:

http://www.lesvants.com/stock/boston/6-11-08_Boston/index.htm

[vanshnookenraggen]

woot! This is like a drug fix.

[kz1000ps]

Time for a trip back to 1983-84:

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/5384/img4652di7.jpg

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/1932/img4654yc5.jpg

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/3029/img4655kq7.jpg

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/2056/img4656nj1.jpg

http://img371.imageshack.us/img371/4417/img4651qh0.jpg

http://img371.imageshack.us/img371/3121/img4657dt6.jpg

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/7025/img4671xd8.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/6797/img4658lp1.jpg

http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/9035/img4659pu5.jpg

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/8160/img4664ut3.jpg

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/6337/img4665wk0.jpg

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/4382/img4666qv6.jpg

http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/241/img4670fu1.jpg

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/1779/img4673sp8.jpg

[Ron Newman]

Ooooh, photos of the pre-mall Prudential Center and the previous design of Copley Square park. Some parts of our city have improved quite a bit since then!

[Boston02124]

Very cool,this is when I arrived in Boston so much has changed since then.thanks!

[Pierce]

A question from someone who was not only a tot when those were taken, but a midwesterner as well:

what was going on at south station? It looks like that was under a MAJOR renovation at the time, where they really down to just the two platforms over by the post office? How was that managed? Did they just cancel trains for a time?

[Ron Newman]

South Station was reduced to a temporary trailer ("Amshack") for a few years while they renovated the real station.

[Boston02124]

A book I forgotten I had. Some cool aerials from the 70's http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn80/boston02124/proposed%20and%20then%20what%20was%20built/xxxxxhullseagull2008066.jpg http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn80/boston02124/proposed%20and%20then%20what%20was%20built/xxxxxhullseagull2008071.jpg http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn80/boston02124/proposed%20and%20then%20what%20was%20built/xxxxxhullseagull2008070.jpg http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn80/boston02124/proposed%20and%20then%20what%20was%20built/xxxxxhullseagull2008069-1.jpg http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn80/boston02124/proposed%20and%20then%20what%20was%20built/xxxxxhullseagull2008067.jpg http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn80/boston02124/proposed%20and%20then%20what%20was%20built/xxxxxhullseagull20080588.jpg

[vanshnookenraggen]

Oh hells yeah! I have that book lying around here somewhere. Great stuff, thanks for posting it.

[kz1000ps]

This thread is friggin awesome!

And FYI, I date these pics to 1974-75.

[aquaman]

Man, we often think development is slow here in Boston, but if you look at how much the city has changed and how much growth and in-fill there's been since the 70's (granted, it's 30+ years at this point), it's just amazing. I think we fail to recognize all the small, incrimental developments and improvements that have taken place in that time (decking over the Pike, Copley Place, the Pru, the SW Corridor Park, waterfront development, increased office and residential space in Back Bay, etc.). Count me among the few who think Boston is better than at any time in my life.

[Boston02124]

found these in an old encyclopedia from 1964 http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn80/boston02124/proposed%20and%20then%20what%20was%20built/Contractsfor18Lyndhurst2008004.jpg http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn80/boston02124/proposed%20and%20then%20what%20was%20built/Contractsfor18Lyndhurst2008008bos19.jpg

[Mike]

December aerials:


http://www.lesvants.com/stock/BOSTON/Boston_12-08/index.htm

[Boston02124]

nice pix's thanks!

[vanshnookenraggen]

*sigh* there goes my productivity.

[Mike]

Aerial pics taken in November by bensheldon (http://flickr.com/photos/bensheldon/) on flickr (http://flickr.com/):


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3103/3190994131_5d3e47c257_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3399/3190990607_cd5ffe1657_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3129/3191837242_ab438611ac_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3508/3191837830_069c8f38a4_b.jpg

[Boston02124]

great pix's the 2nd one make
's downtown look really dense.

[johnpaul5]

The third one seems to suggest that there are lots of potentially developable land south of downtown Boston along I-93.

[Ron Newman]

I think those are mostly low industrial buildings rather than vacant lots, though.

[jass]

I took these a month ago

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/jamesinclair/IMG_7066.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/jamesinclair/IMG_7070.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/jamesinclair/IMG_7071.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/jamesinclair/IMG_7072.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/jamesinclair/IMG_7073.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/jamesinclair/IMG_7074.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/jamesinclair/IMG_7075.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/jamesinclair/IMG_7076.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/jamesinclair/IMG_7077.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/jamesinclair/IMG_7078.jpg

[vanshnookenraggen]

ooooooo sooooo pretty..... *drool*

Just a heads up, Google Earth has a flight simulator in it and with a little practice you can view Boston, and everywhere else, just like this.

[KentXie]

What's that section of land on the backside of the TD Banknorth Garden and surrounded by the highway for? There seems to be a good amount of land to develop there.

[Ron Newman]

Behind the New Garden are the Suffolk County Jail, Spaulding Rehab Hospital, and a parking lot that I think belongs to MGH/Spaulding.

[czsz]

Yeah, and that parking lot is probably not going away soon. Not politically wise to tell physical rehab patients to use transit (though I did hear rumors at some point that Spaulding is moving).

[Boston02124]

Thats all slated for development ,of course it has been for over 10 years(see North station thread)

[Boston02124]

Somehow this pix ended up on my photobucket account unsure how it got there?
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn80/boston02124/img4656nj1.jpg

[Ron Newman]

What is being built at the end of the pier?

[statler]

Probably what you see there today.

[PaulC]

This was the far better proposal of the two submitted
http://www.bostonredevelopmentauthority.org/press/PressDisplay.asp?pressID=347

City Selects Restaurateur for Long Wharf Pavilion Site
Eat Drink Laugh Restaurant Group Plans Casual Seafood Establishment
The Boston Redevelopment Authority Board today selected Eat Drink Laugh Restaurant Group (EDL) to redevelop the Long Wharf pavilion site into a thriving dining and entertainment locale. EDL?s winning proposal includes the creation of Doc?s, a unique, casual 88-seat restaurant that will feature a mostly-seafood menu. Doc?s will be a completely new concept for Boston, not just a restaurant, but a full indoor/outdoor experience, anchoring Long Wharf as a ?must visit? destination for locals and visitors. EDL?s previous restaurants include The Paramount on Charles Street, 21st Amendment on Bowdoin Street, The Blarney Stone in Dorchester, Peking Tom?s on Kingston Street and West on Centre in West Roxbury.

?We chose Eat Drink Laugh because of their unique restaurant concept,? Mayor Thomas M. Menino said. ?This restaurant will enliven Long Wharf with increased daytime activity and nighttime entertainment. It will provide another way in which residents and visitors can enjoy Boston?s harbor.?

Doc?s will incorporate leading-edge, ?green,? engineering and strategies in its architectural design that will echo the character of Boston?s historic waterfront. In addition to the 88-seat interior capacity, Doc?s will feature an exterior capacity of 176 ? this includes a seasonal standing deck for 88 patrons, a promenade patio for 12 patrons and a compass patio for 76 patrons.

Doc?s will provide a warm and vibrant meeting point for locals, city visitors, business-people and others who are taking to the harbor or simply enjoying the waterfront. By night, Doc?s will transform to an evening destination for people seeking quality food, beer or wine, and socializing ? with Boston Harbor as a backdrop. Doc?s will be built, first and foremost, for its local patrons. EDL believes that if you build a loyal following in the neighborhood, visitors and tourists are sure to follow. The food at Doc?s will reflect the combination that has made all of EDL?s restaurants so popular: delicious food that isn?t fussy; meals that are moderately-priced, yet made with the highest quality ingredients possible.

EDL was founded in 1993 by principal owner Michael Conlon, a life-long Bostonian and second-generation restaurateur. EDL is distinct in that it is not a restaurant chain, but rather a series of unique establishments created specifically to suit the neighborhoods that they are in.

The BRA advertised a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Long Wharf site in August. The RFP called for a development team to rehabilitate the Long Wharf Pavilion building, which was constructed to serve as a MBTA vent building and Blue Line tunnel emergency egress, into a waterfront restaurant. The BRA sought a team that could create a unique restaurant concept which would further enliven Long Wharf and bring the activity of the city back to the harbor. The location represents one of the last opportunities to operate a restaurant directly on the waterfront with amazing panoramic views of the harbor.

Following this designation, EDL will comply with the City?s Article 80 development review process and complete Small Project Review before proceeding with their project.


Contact: Jessica Shumaker 617.918.4446

Release Date: December 21, 2006

[underground]

Isn't there still an active plan to put a restraunt out there?

[PaulC]

I would bet this is an extremlly complicated project being on the waters edge, however it is a great site and should be a big destination. This is dated 3/10/08:

http://www.tbha.org/policystatements/2008-docsrestaurant3-08.pdf

[Ron Newman]

Anything built there has to accommodate an MBTA Blue Line vent and/or emergency exit, I think.

[PaulC]

the tbha document above talks a lot about that.

[Charlie_mta]

Here's a link to some awesome 1940's/early 1950's aerials of Boston, East Cambridge and Charlestown. A few show some strange proposed alignments for expressways and ramps cutting through East Cambridge and the old West End. Thankfully those weren't built.


http://www.mhd.state.ma.us/default.asp?pgid=content/environ/bos_aerial&sid=about

[vanshnookenraggen]

Holy f-ing crap.

[Lurker]

Sad to see how the city lost so many urban spaces spaces and density which made it comparable to truly ancient cities like Rome. Now every open space mafia and NIMBY lobby does everything it can to extort all new infill into vanilla suburbia-lite.

[FrankG]

Compare the these two. The little remaining townhouse on Lomasney Way in front of the Green Line tracks is a good point of reference.

1940s (http://alum.wpi.edu/~frankg/westend40s.jpg)
2000s (http://alum.wpi.edu/~frankg/westend00s.png)

[vanshnookenraggen]

God that's disgusting.

[Mike]

New aerials are here ...


March (http://www.lesvants.com/stock/BOSTON/Boston_March_2009/index.htm)


April (http://www.lesvants.com/stock/BOSTON/Boston_2009/Boston_4-24-09/index.htm)

[ablarc]

Those aerial photographs are frequently depressing; so much of Boston is parking lot.

And newly-created streets (and the buildings on them) are sculpted by the high-speed movement patterns of automobiles. The new stuff is Autopia --even where it tries hard not to be.

[JSic]

I am always astounded by the sheer amount of empty space in the Seaport......you could squeeze all of downtown in there easily.

[Corey]

You could almost fit downtown in the space occupied by the convention center :P

But anyhow, thanks for posting the links to the new photos, I really enjoy them and could spend a day studying them.

[JSic]

Look at the mess in the middle of this photo. The whole "Newmarket" area should be reconceived as a new highrise zone (should, not that it ever will).

http://www.lesvants.com/stock/BOSTON/Boston_2009/Boston_4-24-09/pages/4-24-09_boston_stock_4470-178%20copy.htm

[Charlie_mta]

Absolutely. Make the Fairmont Line into a heavy rail rapid transit line with a stop there, and it would be perfect for transit oriented, high density development.

[pelhamhall]

The counter-argument is that the city needs its industrial depots/central transit hubs for food and goods distribution.

If not at Newmarket, then where?

And remember, these are blue collar voters that you will be uprooting for your high-rise/mixed-use/real estate schemes. Where are these blue collar jobs going to go?

This is the same argument employed by Jimmy Kelly for 40 years as to why the Seaport had to be warehouses and parking lots...

I say move all the industry into the Newmarket area, not out of it!

[Ron Newman]

I thought all food distribution was in Chelsea?

[belmont square]

Absolutely. Make the Fairmont Line into a heavy rail rapid transit line with a stop there, and it would be perfect for transit oriented, high density development.

Until we start to see that type of development in the industrial areas surrounding Andrew Station (also visible in that aerial) I'm not confident that the Newmarket area--even more removed from the existing urban fabric--would be a TOD magnet.

[pelhamhall]

I drive through the Newmarket area on a daily basis, it's teeming with life - most of the signage is for food distribution.

The counter argument to "why this industrial stain in our city" is the "this is where the down and dirty business of the city is done"

All I'm saying is, that's why it isn't going to be turned into a new urban TOD utopia any time soon.

Which politician is going to vote to send even more of those jobs to Chelsea?

[KentXie]

A few aerials from my trip to San Juan:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y226/DarkFenxmon/DSC02089.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y226/DarkFenxmon/DSC02090.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y226/DarkFenxmon/DSC02091.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y226/DarkFenxmon/DSC02092.jpg

[blade_bltz]

The Fan Pier wall-o-glass makes me want to vomit. The parking lot looked better. I guess it'll stand out less once the other buildings go up, but who knows when that's happening...

[kennedy]

No way, I actually kind of like it. At least it's not brown, as cz noted in the other thread. The palette is even more obvious from these shots. Damn, what a beautiful city. So much potential, it's got so much more to go-and it's already great!

[KentXie]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y226/DarkFenxmon/aerial.jpg

What I circled are probably vents but when I first looked at it, I thought it was a short high-rise with multiple setbacks ending with two spires. I think it would be a great addition to the Seaport if they could design a tower, even a short one, maybe a 16-20 story high rise with a 4 story spire.

[Boston02124]

I thought the same thing too when I 1st view the pix,funny when you only notice the vent building instead of any of the new buildings around it! nice pix's KentXie

[JSic]

Here's an old aerial from about 1982/83; the Devonshire is u/c, which dates it. Wow, really makes you appreciate how far the city has come since then.

http://www.saugus.net/Photos/images/1527.jpg

[Boston02124]

great pix!! I move here one year later in 1984 and this is excatly how the city looked to me! So much has changed and I watch it all happen as I drove thru it everyday working, thanks!

[Patriots_1228]

The waterfront looks like a warzone.

Or worse.

Detroit. :|

[JSic]

New stuff:

http://www.lesvants.com/stock/BOSTON/Boston_2009/Boston_9-09/Boston_9-09/index.html

I love the new format and improved quality.

[sidewalks]

Wow...the city looks terrible...as much as I'm disappointed by missed opportunities it is legions better than it was then.

[Lrfox]

Thanks for the link! There was a shot from about Gov't Center looking West towards Center Plaza and 1 Beacon with the Common in the background that actually made 1 Beacon (or should I just call it, "One") look nice. Not even just O.K., but nice. It looked GOOD in the picture... to me anyway. I don't know what's wrong with me... the woman must have slipped something in my Captain Crunch this morning.

[vanshnookenraggen]

Wow...the city looks terrible...as much as I'm disappointed by missed opportunities it is legions better than it was then.

What the heck are you talking about? The city looks great. You can't even see the disaster of Filene's from that angle.

[Justin7]

I think he may be referring to the above picture from '82, since he comparing past to present. Not sure.

Boston does looks beautiful in these aerials (if you can ignore the Seaport).

Tear down the garages!

Tear down 1-2-3 Center Plaza!

[vanshnookenraggen]

I think he may be referring to the above picture from '82, since he comparing past to present. Not sure.

Oh, well that makes a whole lot of sense; it did look terrible.

Tear down 1-2-3 Center Plaza!

I thought the exact same thing.

[Corey]

New stuff:

http://www.lesvants.com/stock/BOSTON/Boston_2009/Boston_9-09/Boston_9-09/index.html

I love the new format and improved quality.

Those were great. It's always a treat to see Boston from above.

[JSic]

More new stuff:

http://www.lesvants.com/stock/BOSTON/Boston_2009/Boston_Seaport_10-09/index.html

[Boston02124]

These really show how much vacant land Boston has and how much more it could grow!

[Pierce]

If you don't already know Nick DeWolf's photographs on flickr, take some time and peruse--tens of thousands of great shots of the Boston area (and many others) between the 50s and 80s. Here are some recently posted ones taken out of a plane window in 1977.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2756/4196299658_e9891a73b5_o.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/4195543135_273e76ae65_o.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2590/4196299470_8c154a1f5d_o.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2524/4196299378_135202fa08_o.jpg

[Boston02124]

those are great, thanks!

[vanshnookenraggen]

Link?!?!

[blade_bltz]

Wow. Kendall Square is brutal in that 3rd pic. Glad to see history is repeating itself in the Seaport.

[KentXie]

http://www.flickr.com/search/?ss=2&w=47391132@N00&q=Boston+aerial&m=text
You just need to do a search on Boston.

[mass88]

Does anyone have an aerial shots of Boston taken at night?

[czsz]

Sometimes I look back at old aerials and think the Pru looked better then. Its simple modernist logic has been totally upended by all the new additions.

[JohnAKeith]

I'm lazy. What's the black building in the forefront near the Central Artery. This was torn down?? Replaced with 125 High Street?

[Lrfox]

^Isn't it 100 Summer St.? It's still there, it just blends in a bit more with 1 Lincoln, 1 Financial, and the rest of the Financial District towers built afterwards.

[statler]

Sometimes I look back at old aerials and think the Pru looked better then. Its simple modernist logic has been totally upended by all the new additions.

From an aerial perspective I would agree. What was it like from the ground though? It was changed before I started coming into town on a regular basis, so I don't know.

[Ron Newman]

At ground level, the Prudential today is infintely better than it was in the 1970s (when I first saw it). The shopping arcade was open to the elements, windswept, and generally miserable. The whole complex was isolated from the surrounding streets and surrounded by its own 'ring roads'. The pedestrian bridge to Copley Place didn't exist, nor did the indoor connections to the Sheraton and Hynes.

[ablarc]

^ Ron got that right.

[statler]

Too bad. It sure was pretty from afar.

[czsz]

It's still not so fun walking down the Huntington Ave. side of the Pru. And the Ring Road still looks distinctly suburban. Why has the cure for these modernist complexes been so tepid, maintaining or repeating so many of their original mistakes?

[jass]

Took these a month ago, forgot to post them

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/jamesinclair/IMG_3985.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/jamesinclair/IMG_3986.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/jamesinclair/IMG_3987.jpg


Where are the beach condos?
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/jamesinclair/IMG_3988-1.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/jamesinclair/IMG_3989.jpg


*1 minute later*

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/jamesinclair/IMG_3995.jpg

[czsz]

What's the deal with the one dock aligned with the runway?

I assume it has some lights attached for navigation but the others don't seem to.

[crash575]

^I think they're part of the Approach Lighting System (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Approach_lighting_system). Why only two of Logan's runways have them I'm not sure. An uneducated guess is because if the other runways had them it would impede boat traffic.

[JSic]

Here's something I found with some sweet pics including some aerials:

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://metroscenes.com/boston/images/2009/04/boston_mar_09_metroscenes.com_21.jpg&imgrefurl=http://metroscenes.com/cities/boston-massachusetts-late-march-2009/&usg=__moST94hMq2rgv_pgwSWSYDz3xQ0=&h=553&w=900&sz=361&hl=en&start=37&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=VaRpR-azI4r42M:&tbnh=90&tbnw=146&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dboston%2Baerial%2Bphotos%26start%3D36 %26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26ndsp%3D18%26tbs%3Di sch:1

http://metroscenes.com/boston/images/2009/04/boston_mar_09_metroscenes.com_21.jpg

[Lrfox]

^With the exception of the C.C. area, that one looks REALLY dense.

[JSic]

Yup; once the Seaport, Fort Point, and Broadway Station areas are fully developed, this angle will be one hell of a view.

[Boston02124]

that last pix at 1st looked like SF,Thats the 1st time I saw a pix that made Boston look dense! thanks for shareing!

[BostonUrbEx]

Fargo Terminal and Convention Center look like crap. Other than that, wicked awesome shot.

[Boston02124]

That canal should be lined with apt. towers

[kennedy]

That canal should be lined with apt. towers

Yes, and not more of this BS luxury apartment shit. Regular apartments for regular people fa chrissakes.

[Ron Newman]

Isn't the canal now used for cruise ship docking and the container port? I'm all for adding apartments but not at the expense of marine uses that can't go anywhere else.

[briv]

The cruise ship terminal isn't in this photo. That canal runs along Pappas Way, a private road servicing a bunch of industrial buildings and the Boston Athletic Club. Between the populated part of South Boston and the water is an industrial belt that was just beginning to be redeveloped, but most of those projects are now stalled.

[BostonUrbEx]

Isn't the canal now used for cruise ship docking and the container port? I'm all for adding apartments but not at the expense of marine uses that can't go anywhere else.

No ships can get past the Summer Street Bridge anyways, so residential development on the inside of that bridge sounds like a great idea and wouldn't really effect much. I'd like to see where UPS would move their distribution center to, though... I don't think they're too interested in moving.

[stick n move]

sorry not the best quality taken about 5 years ago

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b233/deryn/025.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b233/deryn/024.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b233/deryn/023.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b233/deryn/022.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b233/deryn/021.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b233/deryn/019.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b233/deryn/020.jpg

[Boston02124]

nice^ not much has changed!

[JSic]

Yay! New stuff:

http://www.lesvants.com/stock/BOSTON/Boston_2010/Boston_3-10/index.htm

[czsz]

This is as close as the Seaport has gotten to approximating a neighborhood with closed streetwalls:

http://www.lesvants.com/stock/BOSTON/Boston_2010/Boston_3-10/pages/3-25-10_boston_4660-470%20copy.htm

[BostonUrbEx]

http://www.lesvants.com/stock/BOSTON/Boston_2010/Boston_3-10/pages/3-25-10_boston_4660-404%20copy.htm

I'm so glad there's nothing to divide the city from the waterfront now.

[Boston02124]

took these flying home monday nite http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn80/boston02124/boston%20skyline/tampa%20fla/254.jpg http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn80/boston02124/boston%20skyline/tampa%20fla/257.jpg http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn80/boston02124/boston%20skyline/tampa%20fla/259.jpg NYC

[vanshnookenraggen]

I can see my house from there! Those are awesome.

[Shepard]

I love these views!

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/1899/nymap.jpg

[Boston02124]

Which neighborhood are you(Van)?

[kz1000ps]

I spent an embarrasingly long time trying to identify those pics as Boston...

[vanshnookenraggen]

I live in Manhattan right along the East River. The neighborhood doesn't really have a name (though it is near a lot of Banker douche bags)

http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/1126/myhouseuq.jpg (http://img39.imageshack.us/i/myhouseuq.jpg/)

[briv]

I spent an embarrasingly long time trying to identify those pics as Boston...

Haha! Me too!

[BostonUrbEx]

Haha! Me too!

Same.

At one point I was convinced it was Winthrop-to-Swampscott in one of them, for like 5 minutes.

[Boston02124]

lol! I guess I should of put NYC on the top pix instead of at the bottom!

[czsz]

Shouldn't Enchilladas be Lo Mein (Sunset Park)? And isn't there also an Ikea between it and the Yuppies?

[vanshnookenraggen]

There is an Ikea in Red Hook. And last time I was in Sunset Park it was pretty Hispanic.

[czsz]

I guess it's divided:

"Brooklyn's Little Latin America"

Sunset Park's second age began with a wave of immigration from Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Mexico as well as other Latin American countries. By 1990, Hispanics comprised 50% of Sunset Park's population, rehabilitating property values and developing a thriving community. Along 5th Avenue there is an abundance of Hispanic restaurants and businesses.

Brooklyn's Chinatown(布鲁克華埠)/Emerging Fuzhou Town(福州埠)

Since the 1980s, the neighborhood has attracted many East Asian immigrants, along 8th Avenue from 42nd to 68th Street. Some claim the reason the Chinese settled on 8th Avenue is because in Chinese folklore, the number eight is lucky for financial matters, and "8th Avenue" can be loosely interpreted as "road to wealth". Another explanation is the direct subway ride to Manhattan's Chinatown(紐約華埠) on the N/R and D lines.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunset_park

[statler]

Photo by Jules Aarons (http://www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2010/05/01/jules_aarons_captured_life_on_the_street_in_boston/)

http://www.decordova.org/art/exhibitions/current/images/aarons/full/aarons_15.jpg

[JohnAKeith]

Re: Unnamed NYC neighborhood, NY mag calls it NoMad.

http://nymag.com/realestate/neighborhoods/2010/65365/

[Charlie_mta]

An aerial that corresponds with Statler's pre-urban renewal aerial above:

http://i499.photobucket.com/albums/rr354/Charliemta/oneil.jpg?t=1272819672

The "el" was still standing, which provides a reference feature between the two photos. The buildings along the south side of Causeway Street are still the same.

[Beton Brut]

^^ Nice connection, Charlie.

Cripes, the O'Neil Building is a dog.

[JohnAKeith]

Me likey.

I was sure that was the historic bar near the Pagano Mobil Station near the Trial Courthouse.

Anyway, here are two other views - first is using Google Earth and the second is Google Maps, to give you an idea of where it's situated.

http://thelifeofacity.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/causeway_google_earth.png

http://thelifeofacity.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/causeway_street.png

[JSic]

New stuff:

http://www.lesvants.com/stock/BOSTON/Boston_2010/Boston_CBD_5-7-10/index.htm

and

http://www.lesvants.com/stock/BOSTON/Boston_2010/Boston-Seaport_5-7-10/index.htm

[BostonUrbEx]

^

http://www.lesvants.com/stock/BOSTON/Boston_2010/Boston-Seaport_5-7-10/images/5-7-10_boston-seaport_stock_4696-208%20copy.jpg

What a lovely space.

[JSic]

More new stuff; this time its underappreciated Charlestown:
http://www.lesvants.com/stock/BOSTON/Boston_2010/Charlestown_2010/index.htm

http://www.lesvants.com/stock/BOSTON/Boston_2010/Charlestown_2010/pages/5-20-10_Stock_4734-205%20copy.htm
Man that huge warf is a waste of prime development land. Aside from Logan Airport, this is the one area that in dire need of being reconceived as a new highrise/urban zone complete with 900' footers.

[vanshnookenraggen]

Damn it, I had work I needed to get done.

[Ron Newman]

Man that huge warf is a waste of prime development land

that's a major freight shipping terminal -- Boston Autoport aka Moran Terminal.

[BostonUrbEx]

that's a major freight shipping terminal -- Boston Autoport aka Moran Terminal.

^

And if anything, it needs more capacity and uses. That rail line should be reactivated ASAP.

[Charlie_mta]

Photo 21: Sullivan Square is a mess.


http://www.lesvants.com/stock/BOSTON/Boston_2010/Charlestown_2010/images/5-20-10_Stock_4734-236%20copy.jpg

[Shepard]

The truly sad part is that the industrial land on either side of 93 is better served by the Orange Line than the majority of residential communities pictured here.

[Marley]

These 2 stations(Comm Coll and Sull SQ) are not integrated at all into the neighborhoods which they are located. I can't stand when transit is built on pre-existing ROW just to save money. I'd rather see the money not spent at all than wasted on these half-ass projects. Do it the right way or don't do it at all.

Cut and cover under main roads.

[PaulC]

what is once looked like:

http://www.mysticview.org/walking_tour_sullivan_square2.php

what it may look line in the future:

http://www.cityofboston.gov/transportation/rutherford/

[vanshnookenraggen]

what is once looked like:
http://www.mysticview.org/walking_tour_sullivan_square2.php


Oh the humanity!

[kennedy]

Cut and cover under main roads.

Isn't this a logistic nightmare? I absolutely prefer that the tunnels go underneath main roads, especially if there is any new construction planned, but digging up old roads and laying rail seems like a very difficult undertaking. Not to mention, trains can't turn at 90 degrees like cars can.

[czsz]

After a half century or so of TOD all roads will lead to these stations anyway.

[JSic]

Cool aerial of the Back Bay/high spine; slightly dated.

http://web.mit.edu/landscapeurbanism/images/Boston_Back_Bay.jpg

[KentXie]

I think that shot is on wikipedia, under "John Hancock Tower."

[BostonUrbEx]

Good God! Look at that shadow Mr Hancock is casting! We must take it down immediately!

[Mike]

1975:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1341/4730373945_f8cf1d993d_b.jpg


http://www.flickr.com/photos/24736216@N07/

[czsz]

Wow...if you think Kendall's bad now..

[Ron Newman]

Yes - I was around for this. It was the low point of Kendall Square, after the old manufacturing industry had departed (and largely been demolished), but before most of the new high-tech had arrived.

[JohnCostello]

Wasn't most of the Kendall Square area cleared for NASA? The space program was supposed to have a more Cambridge based control base, rather than Houston, as in "Cambridge we have a problem." Post Lee Harvey Oswald more than a lion's share of NASA money ended up in Houston (and President Johnson's base). The Volpe Transporation Building was a kind of consolation prize for the area to compensate for the loss, with its clean machine gun nest site lines needed to defend traffic studies and seatbelt testing from Commie invaders.

[BostonUrbEx]

Wasn't most of the Kendall Square area cleared for NASA? The space program was supposed to have a more Cambridge based control base, rather than Houston, as in "Cambridge we have a problem." Post Lee Harvey Oswald more than a lion's share of NASA money ended up in Houston (and President Johnson's base). The Volpe Transporation Building was a kind of consolation prize for the area to compensate for the loss, with its clean machine gun nest site lines needed to defend traffic studies and seatbelt testing from Commie invaders.

Yep, pretty much.

I forget the exact areas, but Bell Atlantic (I assume) received some of the communications buildings and electrical substations that were in place in preparation for such large facilities. They are now in the hands of Verizon (which is why I assume it was previously handed over to Bell Atlantic's hands).

I have no idea if it was true, but I also heard that Hanscom AFB was going to be a part of the operations, including shuttle landings. I do know they currently have a satellite control station there or something like that.

[BostonUrbEx]

Ok, here we go, WikiMapia is where I first heard about it, so here it is:

NASA Mission Control (historic proposal) (Cambridge)

During the early days of the Space Race, NASA selected this site to be Mission Control as is was right on or next to the main MIT campus, and in those early days the space program drew strongly on MIT for their brain power. The Cambridge/MA JFK connection also contributed to this siting choice.

The plan to use this site was eventually scrapped and the new mission control facility built in Houston instead where it remains to this day.

Legal legend has it that Cambridge was so modded up at the time that the project got all snarled up due to special interests so NASA abandoned basing the space program in Cambridge. Another legend blames the relocation on LBJ (from Texas), who succeeded JFK as President and moved it for political reasons.

In preparation for the new mission control in Cambridge AT&T built/expanded their regional switch located two blocks to the North of this site.

On a related note, to this day the AT&T facility also provides communications up to Joe English Hill in New Boston, NH where the NRO controls spy satellites, and the plan was to combine NRO operations and NASA Mission Control operations all under one roof.

Today part of the site is home to the US Dept Of Transportation's Volpe Center, named after former Massachusetts Governor John Volpe, who was named Transportation Secretary to LBJ.

- http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=42.3664873&lon=-71.0868001&z=16&l=0&m=b&show=/4237639/NASA-Mission-Control-historic-proposal


The Volpe Center was going to be the main site: mission control.

Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Cambridge)

Built as the NASA Electronic Research Center. NASA departed 1969, DOT took over the complex in 1970.

- http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=42.3664873&lon=-71.0868001&z=16&l=0&m=b&show=/508867/Volpe-National-Transportation-Systems-Center


The communications and electrical stations are just north.

AT&T Fiberoptic cable terminal (Cambridge)

AT&T Lightguide terminal, East Cambridge, Massachusetts.

- http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=42.367708&lon=-71.0840321&z=16&l=0&m=b&show=/1609774/AT-T-Fiberoptic-cable-terminal

Verizon Central Office (Cambridge)

Verizon, formerly New England Telephone central office exchange, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

- http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=42.367708&lon=-71.0840321&z=16&l=0&m=b&show=/1609777/Verizon-Central-Office

[czsz]

I wonder if Boston didn't dodge a bullet with this. How much does Houston actually benefit from having mission control? How much more would Kendall have sucked urbanistically had it become a fortified NASA installation?

[kennedy]

Good point. But how much would the region have benefited if say, mission control had been located at Hanscom instead? Of course, this was never proposed (I don't think,) but it certainly would have been a big economic booster for the area. Except, they probably wouldn't want to land many shuttles in the New England winter.

[czsz]

I sort of wonder if it would really be an economic booster. What kind of auxiliary industry would serve mission control, specifically? Keep in mind most of the construction etc. NASA needs done happens in Huntsville, Ala. or Cape Canaveral...mission control is just an office with some sophisticated tech that employs a few dozen scientists. And the sophisticated tech could probably get made anywhere - some of it is probably made in Cambridge anyway.

(Agreed about the shuttle landing...isn't Edwards AFB used because of year-round good weather not available in Texas or Florida?)

[Beton Brut]

I wonder if Boston didn't dodge a bullet with this.

Nice metaphor. LOL.

[JSic]

East Boston this time:

http://www.lesvants.com/stock/BOSTON/Boston_2010/East_Boston/index.htm

[BostonUrbEx]

Imagine if the airport was put out on the Brewster Islands? So much land to develop and so much more height available.

/dreams

[Shepard]

Really? Rather than have an amazingly convenient airport?

Also, it wouldn't really have saved much developable land, most of Logan being built on landfill.

[Boston02124]

great aerials! never seen east boston like that before.thanks

[jass]

The airport is necessary, all great cities have a major port nearby.

Its not perfect though, the logan southern surface parking lots could easily be developed, and the central lots could hold a hotel on top.

Ie, the undeveloped parking slabs seen in image 18

[JSic]

The airport is necessary, all great cities have a major port nearby.
Yeah but usually not that nearby, to the point where it dicates heights of buildings downtown. Logan is the reason the dt skyline has a flat top at 600' and why the Seaport is stub city.

My ultimate development dream for Boston is for Logan to get replaced. Doubt I'll ever see that, but I'd gladly trade the convenience of its location for less restrictions on development.

[Beton Brut]

...most of Logan being built on landfill.

The same could be said about the Back Bay.

[Charlie_mta]

Maverick Square is a suburban parking lot with a sheet metal quonset hut stuck in the middle:

http://www.lesvants.com/stock/BOSTON/Boston_2010/East_Boston/images/2-18-10_east%20boston_stock_4655-133%20copy.jpg

[aquaman]

Yeah but usually not that nearby, to the point where it dicates heights of buildings downtown. Logan is the reason the dt skyline has a flat top at 600' and why the Seaport is stub city.

My ultimate development dream for Boston is for Logan to get replaced. Doubt I'll ever see that, but I'd gladly trade the convenience of its location for less restrictions on development.

Height isn't everything. We'd have a much better city (Seaport, in particular) if we developed in a lower-rise fashion with all our attention focused on maximizing the street-level experience. I'd rather we follow the London model of urban planning and design than the NYC model. The presence of Logan just across the harbor is an asset of much greater value than the dozen or so Empire State Buildings that could be built if Logan were located in Framingham. As it stands, Logan is where it is. We had better stop fighting that and focus on developing our city as a collection of spaces and not a collection of icons.

[JSic]

The presence of Logan just across the harbor is an asset of much greater value than the dozen or so Empire State Buildings that could be built if Logan were located in Framingham.
I dont buy it. Most cities do just fine without an airport 5 minutes from downtown. And regardless of convenience to downtown, Logan is just an awful airport. The sooner it goes the better.

Boston will need to expand someday and this will be the final frontier. Just probably not in my lifetime. It would be amazing to see towers on both sides of the harbor...

[kennedy]

Funny, I've never once had an issue with Logan. I prefer it over most airports I've been to, especially that new Delta terminal (A?).

[gooseberry]

Maverick Square is a suburban parking lot with a sheet metal quonset hut stuck in the middle:

No it isn't. Have you ever been there? That's the entrance to the Blue Line and bus turn around. East Boston is more urban than most of the rest of Boston.