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The Transformation of a City Block

Real map · 2019 · Urban transformations

TLDR

This map details my city block in San Francisco in 1899 and 2019.

Juicy details

This map is actually real. I know this because I spent days of my life I won't get back navigating the San Francisco Property Information website to track down the construction dates of every building on my block.

The 1899 version of the map is heavily inspired by a Sanborn Map of my block which I located in the Library of Congress database. The 2019 version was reconstructed from open-source mapping data and lots of Google Maps satellite images zoomed way in. The very few buildings that have survived intact from 1899 to 2019 are located on the southwest corner of the block, which is where I'll be heading ahead of the next major fire or earthquake.

Format

Format
Digital Print

Zoomed details

The map's key, escape hatch included.
Our condo is old, but not 1899 old.
The buildings in polka dot are the few that were present in 1899...
...and still stand on the block today.