Site of the Day: Now and Then

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Change sometimes comes slowly in our towns and cities, but come it does: and it can alter the "feel" of a block — or the look of a skyline. On the Flickr pool Now and Then, photographers around the world have submitted more than a thousand images that show the before-and-after of urban development as seen on their streets and avenues. What does it mean that in most of these pictures, I prefer the "before"?

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Comments (1-7) of 7 Add your comment

BrandonK
Thu 10/16/08 4:38 PM

It means you don’t like mid-20th century modernist hotel architecture?

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Scott Schrantz
Thu 10/16/08 7:48 PM

This stuff is great. I’ve submitted a few of my own, and my father is the #2 contributor. There are also tons of books you can buy like this. Most of the then pictures are better because the 60s were a bad time for old buildings. It’s amazing any old buildings made it out of that decade alive.

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Raven_Moon
Thu 10/16/08 10:29 PM

The befores are almost always better.

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Crystal
Fri 10/17/08 12:23 AM

That you usually prefer the “befores” just goes to show the habit of tearing down anything “old” that has character because it’s cheaper than attempting to renovate it leaves you with well…glass and steel. Such is life. Like Scott, I am amazed there’s as much left as there is.
National Trust for Historic Preservation:
http://www.preservationnation.org/about-us/

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Anonymous
Fri 10/17/08 1:03 AM

Preferring the “before” picture means you like looking at things like, oh, say, SKY and TREES. Finding things like pedestrian-friendly spaces attractive. You know, spaces for PEOPLE instead of CARS. Buildings made of “warmer” materials like brick, marble, stone; with decorative touches instead of sterile glass. Can you tell I’m with you, dawg?

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Nix
Fri 10/17/08 7:30 AM

For everybody who liked all the “befores”—or think they do—visit http://www.shorpy.com : best (mostly American) vintage photograph site on the Web. Not involved in it, just a big fan of Shorpy.

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Dominique L.
Sun 10/19/08 2:21 AM

Hey, that’s Montreal! Represent!

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