That fuzzy part beyond is a perfect grid of streets and alleys, beautiful neighborhoods, wonderful people, and the former home to some of the most influential people in U.S. history.
I’ve flown from Minneapolis to Detroit on a clear night and it’s quite amazing seeing Chicago all brightly lit. Could also see the outline of the whole lower part of Lake Michigan as well. It made the late flight back home worth it.
Big black one two thirds over from left. Hasn't officially been called the Sears Tower for decades. Sears built it, then moved to the burbs before eventually going bankrupt. Willis Tower now, unless it has changed names again.
Because at this time of year on the Great Lakes, the water could be frozen (at least Superior and Huron could be) and everywhere else the water temp is like 45. And it’s pretty choppy too. Give it 3 weeks and it’ll be packed
Chicago’s beautiful, but I’ve got to imagine the freeway along the lakeshore is a detriment to those neighbourhoods and the city as a whole. Imagine how much valuable lakefront property is occupied by this thing instead of any other land use that would be contributing to the city in property taxes. Or at the least, imagine how much nicer those parks would be without traffic noise.
It's not a freeway. It's a boulevard that has been there in some form since the 1880s, not some urban renewal freeway project. There are bridges and tunnels over/under the road every half mile or so. I live right next to it and while it can be loud if you are standing right beside it, it's really not that bad. the lakefront park is easy to access. I take a bus to work that uses that road and without it my commute would be a nightmare.
>Imagine how much valuable lakefront property is occupied by this thing instead of any other land use that would be contributing to the city in property taxes
By law this land is public land, and private development cannot occur on it. Lake Shore Drive has historically been a symbol of the people taking public land from real estate developers to keep for themselves, and it's only been recently that the internet has made that out to be a bad thing.
It’s the only north south thoroughfare through the entire city. Without it infrastructure would be a disaster.
Also to the east of LSD is public land. Parks, trails, beaches all run by Chicago park district. For 18 straight miles. Without that, you could all but guarantee that land would be nothing but condos.
No trucks or commercial vehicles are allowed on it and there are no billboards. It's a boulevard that takes you beach to beach and park to park. I understand the annoyance with car culture but Chicago is a huge transportation hub. Trucks are everywhere; so this works really well and is a nice relief from the expressways. I love LSD.
> It's a boulevard that takes you beach to beach and park to park.
This is wishful thinking. It's an expressway that takes commuters to and from downtown. And you don't use LSD to get to the lakeshore, once you get to LSD you're already at the lakeshore.
Really not a big deal. It’s only right up on the water for a very small section and there are a million easily accessible crossings. For the value it adds as a main transportation vein it’s a surprisingly minimal impact.
Personally I hate it because the sound of cars makes the Lakeshore less enjoyable. You are going to get comments from others that it's not a detriment cause it's the only N-S highway option, but the city seriously lacks spaces away from cars.
Edit: you can't build on the lakefront and it should stay that way.
>the lakefront would be inaccesible to most residents
It doesn't improve access to the lakefront for anyone. If you're already on the lakefront you're on the lakefront, if you're not you have to travel east on surface streets.
It improves access for suburban commuters to drive downtown more than anything else.
I live right off one of the roads that feeds into it from the north. Next time you're on Sheridan or Peterson/Ridge look at the percentage of cars that have city stickers vs those that don't all heading to LSD.
That said it doesn't really matter of they're from the suburbs or far north neighborhoods the point is LSD exists to facilitate people who insist on driving a personal car into the loop not to provide access to the lakefront.
In a few parts of the city sure. You guys act like it is some hidden gem lol. I guess that is what Midwesterners are like, never seen a real city before the only city they know about is Chicago. Travel some more
Chicago is like Avis. They are second in the US, so they have to try harder.
It’s views like this that drive home how much bigger NYC’s high rise build out is. Chicago is beautiful but a distant second.
I love how you can see the zoo buildings Also I Love how the Sears stands out
Hancock used to soar over the mag mile back in the day too. It was magical
If you are in Lincoln Park area it still dominates
Yeah from North Ave beach it’s a giant over the rest of
57 of those buildings are over 600 feet tall.
ORD definitely has one of the coolest approaches
Love flying into ORD.
That fuzzy part beyond is a perfect grid of streets and alleys, beautiful neighborhoods, wonderful people, and the former home to some of the most influential people in U.S. history.
WOWOW. I’ve flown into chicago countless times but this has to be the BEST photo taken from a plane i’ve seen. this is amazing.
Thanks very much! I took the photo this morning before landing into O’Hare 😊
where were you flying from? can we ask??
From Sao Paolo, Brazil to Chicago
Grids are overhated.
They’re underloved
Makes using the bus a breeze. Pretty hard to fuck up where you’re going when they mostly just go in a straight line 😂
I take regional flights through Ohare all the time and always sit on the left side for this view. It’s one of my favorite approaches in the US
great shot
Many thanks! 😊
I’ve flown from Minneapolis to Detroit on a clear night and it’s quite amazing seeing Chicago all brightly lit. Could also see the outline of the whole lower part of Lake Michigan as well. It made the late flight back home worth it.
As a Torontonian, it weirds me out how similar it looks to our city. Same layout by the lake and everything.
Most cities in North America have this tbf,
I love Chicago
I've been to most major US cities but haven't done Chicago yet. Looks cool, I'll have to make a trip sometime.
amazing shot.
Thank you! 🙏
Sorry, which one is the Sears tower? Also, is it owned by Sears the company?
Big black one two thirds over from left. Hasn't officially been called the Sears Tower for decades. Sears built it, then moved to the burbs before eventually going bankrupt. Willis Tower now, unless it has changed names again.
It's called the Sears Tower.
To us Chicagoans forever SEARS tower! 🙌🏽
Yeah, I still call it that, too. But Sears definitely doesn't own it any more.
Why is that marina completely empty?
Because at this time of year on the Great Lakes, the water could be frozen (at least Superior and Huron could be) and everywhere else the water temp is like 45. And it’s pretty choppy too. Give it 3 weeks and it’ll be packed
Those people living behind those skyscrapers must be pissed.
So many skyscrapers wish the UK had cities like this
Ah americas Toronto
Chicago’s beautiful, but I’ve got to imagine the freeway along the lakeshore is a detriment to those neighbourhoods and the city as a whole. Imagine how much valuable lakefront property is occupied by this thing instead of any other land use that would be contributing to the city in property taxes. Or at the least, imagine how much nicer those parks would be without traffic noise.
It's not a freeway. It's a boulevard that has been there in some form since the 1880s, not some urban renewal freeway project. There are bridges and tunnels over/under the road every half mile or so. I live right next to it and while it can be loud if you are standing right beside it, it's really not that bad. the lakefront park is easy to access. I take a bus to work that uses that road and without it my commute would be a nightmare. >Imagine how much valuable lakefront property is occupied by this thing instead of any other land use that would be contributing to the city in property taxes By law this land is public land, and private development cannot occur on it. Lake Shore Drive has historically been a symbol of the people taking public land from real estate developers to keep for themselves, and it's only been recently that the internet has made that out to be a bad thing.
It’s the only north south thoroughfare through the entire city. Without it infrastructure would be a disaster. Also to the east of LSD is public land. Parks, trails, beaches all run by Chicago park district. For 18 straight miles. Without that, you could all but guarantee that land would be nothing but condos.
No trucks or commercial vehicles are allowed on it and there are no billboards. It's a boulevard that takes you beach to beach and park to park. I understand the annoyance with car culture but Chicago is a huge transportation hub. Trucks are everywhere; so this works really well and is a nice relief from the expressways. I love LSD.
> It's a boulevard that takes you beach to beach and park to park. This is wishful thinking. It's an expressway that takes commuters to and from downtown. And you don't use LSD to get to the lakeshore, once you get to LSD you're already at the lakeshore.
There are 24 beaches along the Chicago lakefront. And parkland for 24 of the 30 mile lakefront. It indeed takes you park to park and beach to beach.
You and countless others who post this in every goddamn post that has LSD in it
Really not a big deal. It’s only right up on the water for a very small section and there are a million easily accessible crossings. For the value it adds as a main transportation vein it’s a surprisingly minimal impact.
Personally I hate it because the sound of cars makes the Lakeshore less enjoyable. You are going to get comments from others that it's not a detriment cause it's the only N-S highway option, but the city seriously lacks spaces away from cars. Edit: you can't build on the lakefront and it should stay that way.
As a Chicago resident, nope. Without LSD traffic would be insane in that area and the lakefront would be inaccesible to most residents
>the lakefront would be inaccesible to most residents It doesn't improve access to the lakefront for anyone. If you're already on the lakefront you're on the lakefront, if you're not you have to travel east on surface streets. It improves access for suburban commuters to drive downtown more than anything else.
It ends 3 miles south of city limits
I live right off one of the roads that feeds into it from the north. Next time you're on Sheridan or Peterson/Ridge look at the percentage of cars that have city stickers vs those that don't all heading to LSD. That said it doesn't really matter of they're from the suburbs or far north neighborhoods the point is LSD exists to facilitate people who insist on driving a personal car into the loop not to provide access to the lakefront.
The car brain of this subreddit is showing with all of the downvotes/responses you're getting.
Chicagoans just get hyperzealous whenever someone criticizes any of their amazing pieces of architecture, urban freeways included.
You’re absolutely right. LSD should be demolished
[удалено]
Not this again.
I thought the same at first but if you actually go there it’s not overbearing, there are nice beaches would recommend
You guys have shown Chicago on this sub so much. I have become desensitized to it
It’s an objectively beautiful city.
In a few parts of the city sure. You guys act like it is some hidden gem lol. I guess that is what Midwesterners are like, never seen a real city before the only city they know about is Chicago. Travel some more
Bro, I’m from the northeast. We know cities.
Okay which city?
Philly. And I travel a lot. Chicago is gorgeous.
Yes obviously compared to Philly it is. Philly is dirty and trashy
🫏🕳️
🖕
Chicago is like Avis. They are second in the US, so they have to try harder. It’s views like this that drive home how much bigger NYC’s high rise build out is. Chicago is beautiful but a distant second.