City Aerials

[Richhamleigh, DC]

Doing a little travel this evening...

I thought the following images - each from about 11500' - offer an interesting perspective on the cores of many cities. I don't think they say anything - necessarily however - about the "urbanity" of each city.

With regard to the Charlotte image, I think it's pretty remarkable how much of the core is comprised of parking lots that are now either, under construction or in the planning stages for construction. The other things I noticed - density in Portland, OR, Greensboro and Raleigh; how many parks penetrate the center of Berlin; how much has been demolished in Detroit and St. Louis.

Enjoy...and discuss...

[Cotuit]

We have a member in Providence who is a pilot and posted some of his photos in this thread

[alon504]

I like this one of New Orleans...

From one end of the top of the pic to the other is approx 35 miles..

[TheBostonian]

Notice how massive Manhattan is compared to other city centers. And I think DC is the best looking city from above.

[facilities man]

DC has the best grid. What's up with the football stadium and parking lots in Nashville? That area is as big as the city. Ever hear of a parking garage? Charlotte has to be the smallest city center with the largest skyline. It's very different looking staight down to see how compact it is. The skyline shots make Charlotte look big.

[Richhamleigh, DC]

DC has the best grid. What's up with the football stadium and parking lots in Nashville? That area is as big as the city. Ever hear of a parking garage? Charlotte has to be the smallest city center with the largest skyline. It's very different looking staight down to see how compact it is. The skyline shots make Charlotte look big.

The DC footprint is poetic...very beautiful in plan - it demonstrates how a good street plan contributes to a beautiful city on the ground.

Regarding Charlotte - yes, it's pretty remarkable isn't it? Now imagine what happens when that intensity in the core is complimented by structures filling in the remaining surface parking lots. I think that urban Charlotte's future is going to be very exciting.

[Richhamleigh, DC]

We have a member in Providence who is a pilot and posted some of his photos in this thread

It true that Providence is one of the country's most underrated cities when one considers its natural setting. Portland, ME is another city with incredible natural features.

Providence:

Portland, ME:

(from 18K' - to give a better sense of it's form...Portland, ME has always reminded me of a physically smaller version of SF...)

SF:

[dimebag1980]

There's something about Boston... it looks really cool to me from the sky.

Also, the street patterns in Paris and London look really cool from the sky as well... with great emphasis on Paris.

[TheBostonian]

The Providence aerial shows its great downtown, intact and not heavily damaged by mid-century highway construction. Few American cities' density and streetscape compare favorably with their European counterparts. Even Boston, as European as it is in design, is scarred heavily by highways through its core and the tragedy of urban renewal. I have high hopes for cities like Charlotte and Atlanta whose growth includes serious public transportation and other attempts at classic urbanness.

[ironchapman]

Could you get Atlanta up there? Or have you already? I thought I searched them all and didn't find it.

[satalac]

DC has the best grid. What's up with the football stadium and parking lots in Nashville? That area is as big as the city. Ever hear of a parking garage? Charlotte has to be the smallest city center with the largest skyline. It's very different looking staight down to see how compact it is. The skyline shots make Charlotte look big.

most nfl stadiums have parking lots that big. and trust me, it's a lot better than what was over there.

[facilities man]

most nfl stadiums have parking lots that big. and trust me, it's a lot better than what was over there.

True, most stadium lots are huge. Sometimes the stadiums are located right next to the city center and can share use with some parking garages. That can reduce the massive empty space look. Having the large open lots is better for tailgating though.

[satalac]

True, most stadium lots are huge. Sometimes the stadiums are located right next to the city center and can share use with some parking garages. That can reduce the massive empty space look. Having the large open lots is better for tailgating though.

yeah, downtown still has to use a lot of it's garages for the games. believe it or not that huge lot isn't enough for all of the parking . i always park at my dad's office tower downtown. it's free and i don't have to deal with postgame traffic. plus i have friends that always tailgate at the stadium so i get the best of both worlds. haha. i do wish the lots could be made to not look like a total waste of space though. they do use it for multiple things however.

[Evergrey]

No Pittsburgh aerial? That's one of the most interesting urban cores from the air.

[krazeeboi]

I was surprised at the relative density of Indianapolis.

Paris' density is staggering.