Miami 3rd largest skyline in the USA

[Elnerico]

Goes North from Lake and not so much east-west.


http://www.blogto.com/upload/2009/07...731-aerial.jpg

Clusters looking north of downtown.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...r/DSC07261.jpg

More buildings in the background looking east.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...r/DSC07256.jpg

[massp88]

People bash Miami because they feel having a large amount of condo towers does not qualify. Or that Miami's CBD is not as large as cities like New York, Boston, Chicago, Toronto, San Francisco, Seattle and Philadelphia.

[Aceventura]

Originally Posted by Aceventura

The first post on the thread contains a link to the world's biggest skylines

and then the link disappears! No matter, I have it here: http://homepages.ipact.nl/~egram/skylines.html

Now just looking at the numbers from this list, Miami+Miami Beach-4909(I initially did not notice that they were put together already) Sunny Isles-1094, and Aventura-144 that adds up to 6147, Toronto's number is 6053. If Coral Gables, Surfside, Bal Harbor, North Bay Village, and North Miami, and wherever else in the county are added that will be a couple hundred more. I'm not gonna argue it beyond that. I was just adding the numbers presented. If there are more areas close enough to Toronto that are not already included in the total please add them, because maybe I am mistaken then.

[QuantumX]

Originally Posted by Elnerico

Goes North from Lake and not so much east-west.


http://www.blogto.com/upload/2009/07...731-aerial.jpg

Thanks for the great shots of Toronto! Do you have a larger version of this one? I really like this one.

Originally Posted by massp88

People bash Miami because they feel having a large amount of condo towers does not qualify. Or that Miami's CBD is not as large as cities like New York, Boston, Chicago, Toronto, San Francisco, Seattle and Philadelphia.

Facts are facts, and that is no reason to bash the city with snide, sarcastic remarks and gross generalizations that I hear all the time on other threads and on other websites. And I will warn, brig, and then ban anybody anywhere on SkyscraperCity for persisting in this type of adolescentile behavior. My boss has no problem with that as long as I follow procedure. A tall buildling is a tall building, giant condo or office tower. So what? Different cities have CBDs of different sizes. So what? There is no reason for city-bashing. I don't do it as far as other cities are concerned, and there is no real reason for the degree of Miami bashing that I see going on these websites.

Originally Posted by Aceventura

and then the link disappears! No matter, I have it here: http://homepages.ipact.nl/~egram/skylines.html

The link didn't disappear. It is still there. It's just that I merged this thread with a pre-existing thread on the same subject and the link is not where you expected it to be.

[Barfolomew]

How or why does Toronto even fit in with the discussion? It's not a U.S. City, so obviously it's really not among the U.S. rankings. If I had to make a list today on skyline ratings, I would ultimately have to agree that Miami's skyline, although quite linear, is large enough to be put at #3, not for the number of towers or the central business district, but simply because when one looks at it to scale from a distance, all the other potentials don't measure up to it's girth. Almost all the other cities, even those with dense cores like Philly, San Fran, Houston, Atlanta, LA, or Seattle, all lack the linear perspective that makes a large skyline a large skyline.

However, it could also be argued that San Francisco is only dwarfed because of issues with hills. Some buildings roofs in that town stand eye level to the street depending on where you're standing....

[QuantumX]

Originally Posted by Barfolomew

How or why does Toronto even fit in with the discussion? It's not a U.S. City, so obviously it's really not among the U.S. rankings.

Actually, Toronto doesn't fit into all of this and shouldn't be on the thread. It's just that Aceventura was arguing that counting all of Miami-Dade county, Miami would actually be third in North America instead of Toronto, and some other people were simply stating this was not true. Toronto is off topic here, but at least we got some nice pictures.

[Aceventura]

Originally Posted by QuantumX

but I find it interesting that we've moved back up into the teens worldwide.

Miami moved up from the 20's to 19 because Miami Beach was counted separate before, with the additional 800 or so points Miami was able to leapfrog a few, sorry to stray off topic again.

[Barfolomew]

I always thought KCPhotos did a good job of capturing the dense core of San Francisco....






If this shot were taken from the hill in the foreground, it would probably reveal the actual true linear skyline of San Francisco... there really are some rare shots out there, if anyone has them, please.... post them...



And of course, the general compact sardine effect....




And dont forget Chinatown.... Miami or any FLA city for that matter doesn't have a real "China" town like the older bigger cities....

[QuantumX]

Having lived in San Francisco, I'd probably be more inclined to vote for it for third best over Miami. I certainly never imagined that one day people would be saying Miami had a larger skyline than San Francisco.

[ukiyo]

People under estimate Density so much. If you look at the number of skyscrapers sure Miami is #3, but when you combine skyscrapers with tons of lowrise buildings (like San Francisco) it looks more impressive imo.

[QuantumX]

Originally Posted by NihonKitty

People under estimate Density so much. If you look at the number of skyscrapers sure Miami is #3, but when you combine skyscrapers with tons of lowrise buildings (like San Francisco) it looks more impressive imo.

San Francisco is quite impressive!

[ukiyo]

What do you guys think about Atlanta?

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by QuantumX

Then, could perhaps provide us with a photograph that is more of an example of the point you are making rather than the one you posted which doesn't speak to that.

More of an example? No, I can't as the photo I posted is a good example of the point I was trying to make: that a lot exists behind the wall of towers one sees in the traditional lake front views. That photo is what lies behind the wall of towers along the lake front.

Regarding the second point I made that Toronto has multiple skylines, I could post those as well (unless you'd prefer it not clogged up with Toronto photos). There are significant clusters in Mississauga, North York, Scarborough, Yonge/Eglinton, and highrises scattered throughout the metropolitan area. You can see some of them in the photos Elnerico posted.

Then there's always Hamilton. It's not really that important though. Miami has a lot of towers regardless.

[QuantumX]

Originally Posted by isaidso

More of an example? No, I can't as the photo I posted is a good example of the point I was trying to make: that a lot exists behind the wall of towers one sees in the traditional lake front views. That photo is what lies behind the wall of towers along the lake front.

Regarding the second point I made that Toronto has multiple skylines, I could post those as well (unless you'd prefer it not clogged up with Toronto photos). There are significant clusters in Mississauga, North York, Scarborough, Yonge/Eglinton, and highrises scattered throughout the metropolitan area. You can see some of them in the photos Elnerico posted.

Then there's always Hamilton. It's not really that important though. Miami has a lot of towers regardless.

You may think what you posted was a good example of the point you were trying to make, but much is cut off, and to me this shot just looks like a generic overview of a CBD. Elnerico's first photo that I like a lot is the kind of photo that I had in mind that would have been a better example of the point you were trying to make.

Originally Posted by isaidso

Are you sure about that? You realize that Toronto has lots of skylines besides the downtown one, and the downtown skyline is bigger than what you see from the lake:

Toronto

image hosted on flickr

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1383/...a47e4557_b.jpg

[QuantumX]

Originally Posted by NihonKitty

What do you guys think about Atlanta?

I think lots of U.S. skylines are better than that of Atlanta.

Anyway, not to belabor this Miami-Dade County versus Toronto issue any more, but I would like to elaborate a bit on the point Aceventura was making. I know some of you have heard it before, but bear with me for the people who haven't.

Miami-Dade County has the distinction of having three major skylines noteworthy enough to have their own separate listing in the World Almanac and Book of Facts. Those skylines are the skylines of Miami, Miami Beach, and Sunny Isles Beach which has the distinction of being the second largest skyline in all of the State of Florida after Miami. Each of these cities has buildings over 500 feet tall. Then, you have the high rises in Aventura and the mid-rises in North Bay Village, Coconut Grove in Miami, Coral Cables, and then Dadeland down in Kendall. Then, you have the mid rises which are scattered throughout all of unincorporated Miami-Dade County.

image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr

[miami305]

Originally Posted by NihonKitty

It's one thing for people to disagree with Miami being #3 and bashing it. With that being said alot of people are not used to Condo skyscrapers like Miami has and for many people I assume they feel like it's not real buildings or something. Which is nonsense, but it doesn't really matter afterall Miami just needs to get a supertall (which it is right?) and then it's position as #3 in US can't be questioned by anyone anymore..

By the way if you personally ask me what is the most underestimated city in the world and especially on this website it's of course Tokyo. Just look at this Panorama
http://www.neox.to/skytree/tokyo20100104.jpg
^ Click link since it's kind of big to post here. Sky tree is on the right of this photo but it's not even halfway done when that pic was taken.

If you have the time check out this video (which I made in HD).

I really enjoyed watching that video of Tokyo...it brought back memories of this great amazing-cosmopolitan city, look at those buildings, streets, the lights on the buildings at night, that's what you call a "city". Only when one travels outside of the USA, one can realized that maybe 1,2 maybe 3 cities in the USA can trully call themselves "Cosmopolitan" - New York City, Chicago and perhaps San Francisco...everything else does not even compared...we still got a long way to go Miami.

[ukiyo]

Originally Posted by QuantumX

I think lots of U.S. skylines are better than that of Atlanta.

I really like Atlanta. It's probably my favorite city in the US I really like their train (as far as US trains go).

Here I am in Atlanta


Some of my "Skyline" pics

[img]http://i37.************/2e2gx0o.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i33.************/2zez61i.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i36.************/2rnizyc.jpg[/img]

(This is one of the skylines the problem with Atlanta is it has 3 CBD)
[img]http://i38.************/2jeeqhh.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i37.************/2jeenn4.jpg[/img]

Originally Posted by miami305

I really enjoyed watching that video of Tokyo...it brought back memories of this great amazing-cosmopolitan city, look at those buildings, streets, the lights on the buildings at night, that's what you call a "city". Only when one travels outside of the USA, one can realized that maybe 1,2 maybe 3 cities in the USA can trully call themselves "Cosmopolitan" - New York City, Chicago and perhaps San Francisco...everything else does not even compared...we still got a long way to go Miami.

I really think Japanese cities should be a model for Urbanity and Cities

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by QuantumX

You may think what you posted was a good example of the point you were trying to make, but much is cut off, and to me this shot just looks like a generic overview of a CBD. Elnerico's first photo that I like a lot is the kind of photo that I had in mind that would have been a better example of the point you were trying to make.

Alright, but I was only attempting to show the CBD in response to my first point. I hadn't addressed my second point regarding multiple skylines at all. Trying to do too much in one photo isn't always effective. No worries, you preferred his method.

At least we agree on Atlanta. I'd put New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Miami, and Seattle all above Atlanta as far as skylines go.

[Elnerico]

Hey QuantumX, I don't have a larger pic as that seemed to be what I could find on the internet but I have two similar pics if your interested - in larger size of course.

http://www.lucaciriani.it/wp-content...nto-aerial.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...own_aerial.JPG

Anyways, I was surprised to learn that Miami ranked so highly, as Miami is not one of those cities you think about when you think about North American city skyline's. It has come a long way.

[QuantumX]

Originally Posted by isaidso

Alright, but I was only attempting to show the CBD in response to my first point. I hadn't addressed my second point regarding multiple skylines at all. Trying to do too much in one photo isn't always effective. No worries, you preferred his method.

At least we agree on Atlanta. I'd put New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Miami, and Seattle all above Atlanta as far as skylines go.

Originally Posted by Elnerico

Hey QuantumX, I don't have a larger pic as that seemed to be what I could find on the internet but I have two similar pics if your interested - in larger size of course.

http://www.lucaciriani.it/wp-content...nto-aerial.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...own_aerial.JPG

Anyways, I was surprised to learn that Miami ranked so highly, as Miami is not one of those cities you think about when you think about North American city skyline's. It has come a long way.

Well, the two of you certainly have opened my eyes to the degree that the Toronto skyline extends northward from Lake Ontario. I mean it is HUGE! I had no idea. It would be nice to see some taller buildings farther north in the skyline to really add to that impressive spread.

The photo of mine that I've posted below serves to illustrate the point Aceventura was making where I tried to incorporate all three of Miami-Dade county's major skylines into one photo. It's hard! Whether all of Miami-Dade county's high-rises altogether beat the Toronto skyline, I really don't care, but Miami's new ranking among U.S. skylines surprises a lot of people because it's very recent, only in the last three years. It even surprised many of us when we learned of this. Many of us knew that with so many projects planned and then approved by the city, we could still have the third largest skyline in the country at some point even if they didn't all get built, but when it happened so soon, it was like "WHAT? WE ARE ALREADY THERE?" It's just that many of us weren't expecting it to happen as quickly as it did and even without a new tallest building making it to construction (I don't count the Four Seasons as part of the most recent boom), but so many condos in the 400 feet tall and up height range made it to construction that Miami is now ranked third in the U.S. even though lots of other American cities have buildings that are taller. We are third in the U.S., but it's really kind of on a technicality. That's why when I tell people Miami now has the third largest skyline in the U.S., they go "Are you sure about that?"

image hosted on flickr