I just got back from a recent visit to new york... no matter how many times I visit I can't get over how gorgeous and massive their built environment is. So much fine grain development, I love that city.
This morning I'm browsing historical aerial images from 1938 (pretty awesome:
http://collections.carli.illinois.ed...ic_caps/page/4) and it really makes my heart hurt to see all of the lowrise density that was destroyed for parking lots/unused open space. Imagine what Chicago would look like today if west side of the city hadn't been totally decimated for car use? And it's a damn shame because even though we're seeing so much development lately, so much of it is ugly/cheap, or Schaumburgian planned developments. Just a real travesty what the second half of the 20th century did to this city.
Anyway, sorry. That's your downer post for the day.
http://collections.carli.illinois.ed.../id/142/rec/64
http://collections.carli.illinois.ed.../id/214/rec/63
http://collections.carli.illinois.ed.../id/183/rec/70